Annotations for People: Escutia-martha M

Many Americans are living longer, healthier lives, but that's not true for minority youth or for many of those living in the central cities or rural areas. That was the finding of the government's annual survey on the state of the nation's health, which outlines disparities in health status depending on educational level, race and ethnic group. In unveiling the survey, Health and Human Services secretary Donna Shalala pointed to the rising rate of AIDS and homicide as major health problems. This is news from Latino USA.

The California lawmakers defeated measures that would restrict health and education services to undocumented immigrants. However, they approved a bill that would prevent that same group from obtaining a driver's license. The Latino legislators were divided in their support of the measure. Assembly member Louis Caldera defended the bill, saying it is reasonable and it could diffuse pressure from other more drastic measures. But Assembly woman Martha Escutia and most of the other Latino legislators voted against, saying it could foster more drastic discrimination against non-white immigrants. Other bills that were approved with the backing of Latino legislators would require proof of legal residency to those who apply for employment training under state funds and would make smuggling undocumented immigrants into California a state crime. Reporting for Latino USA in Sacramento, California, I'm Armando Botello.