Demos aren't following Yapias out of task force
He left after being elected to helm of Hispanic caucus
Archie Archuleta, a Democrat who co-chairs the task force along with Republican Marco Diaz, says he was surprised to learn of Yapias' move, which was announced via e-mail to task force members.
"The important thing to note is the task force will continue with or without him, and it will have Democrats," said Archuleta, immediate past chairman of the Utah Hispanic Democratic Caucus.
Yapias suggested in his e-mail that the task force does not adequately represent the Democratic caucus. "I look forward to entertaining a proposition from the Utah Hispanic Republican Assembly to craft renewed and relevant joint legislative efforts," he wrote.
Task force spokesman Michael Clara, a Republican, said last week he wasn't aware of any other Democrats stepping down.
"We still have all the individual members who are Democrats," Clara said. "It shouldn't hurt our ability to lobby at all."
The task force, which meets weekly during the legislative session and monthly during the interim, is currently focused on the federal immigration debate, Clara said.
"I strongly believe there is a role for Hispanic Legislative Task Force," Yapias said. "We are supposed to work together . . . on issues that impact our community."
It takes a two-thirds majority for the task force to take a position. During this past legislative session, the task force's successful stands included opposing a proposed repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students and supporting enforceable hate crimes legislation.
Democratic task force member Frank Cordova said the group has been effective on a few issues, but he'd like to see it expand to areas such as full-day kindergarten and raising the minimum wage.
"We have to get stronger on those issues," Cordova said. "Those need more debate and more time, you've got two different philosophies butting heads. That's what it's all about."
Yapias has been critical of some task force decisions, including one to sponsor last month's "Unity Rally," a day after his Proyecto Latino de Utah's planned "Dignity March." Both events drew thousands of mostly Latino protesters to downtown Salt Lake in opposition of a House measure to crack down on illegal immigration.
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com
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