State lawmakers introduced Thursday a series of bills that, if enacted, would change election of assembly members and city councilmen.
Assemblywoman Rocío Gorosave, a member of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, proposed a measure to reduce the number of assembly members from 25 to 21.
The measure would limit to four the lawmakers elected by the proportional representation principle that allows losing candidates to get elected to the assembly and give small parties legislative seats.
The proposal would also mandate voting councilmen by district.
The measure also seeks to reduce public funds provided to political parties.
Assemblyman Jorge Núñez, a Mexicali member of the Baja California party, proposed a measure to allow recall vote against all elected official from the governor to council members.
The recall vote would be allowed until the official has been in office by half of their respective terms.
Proponents would have to gather signatures equivalent to a fifth of the votes cast in the last state election for the measure can make it to the ballots in the governor’s case. For city officials the required signatures would be 15 percent and for lawmakers just a tenth of the vote.
Alejandro Arregui, Assembly Leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, recalled his caucus introduced a bill to forbid political parties from obtaining public funding for their activities.
The bill, if enacted, would finance political party activities exclusively from private donations.
State parties are entitled to access 120 million pesos or $6 million this year in taxpayer money.
National Action Party Assemblyman Andrés De La Rosa introduced a bill to request Mexico’s Congress to repeal Constitutional Articles to get rid of a legal shield protection that covers just elected officials from being charged for crimes.
The shield was approved about a century ago in order to stop the federal government from arresting lawmakers who criticized presidents.
De La Rosa said in today’s Mexico this legal provisions are outdated.
The lawmaker’s proposal differs from others introduced at the assembly given these focus on reforming the state constitution, which would oppose the Mexican Constitution.
Valentine’s Day business inspection announced
The City of Mexicali will inspect ambulant businesses during Valentine’s Day in order to make sure business owners have proper licenses.
The City’s Secretary Antonio López said inspectors with the Ambulant Trade Department and personnel with the Environmental Protection and Alcohol Departments will review businesses during Feb. 14 to detect people who sell items on the street without permits.
Staff will inspect businesses all over the city, the official said.
The city would discipline those in violation with fines or merchandise seizure, López said.
Those interested in selling items in public ways like cups, flowers, stuffed animals or other similar merchandise can request a temporary permit valid for up to three days, the secretary said.
American fugitives arrested
Two U.S. fugitives were arrested recently in Mexicali after allegedly fleeing from authorities, said the state Secretary of Public Safety.
International Liaison Coordinator Rodolfo Luna said one of the suspects was identified as Jesús Manuel Orozco, 20, or El Monte, who had an arrest warrant for homicide.
Orozco was apprehended at Morelia Street at Colonia Nacionalista neighborhood, the official said.
The other individual arrested was identified as Ángel Fernando Hernández, 40, or Los Angeles.
The suspect was found and arrested at Sur Street at Colonia Pasadina, just few blocks southeast of the Calexico West Port of Entry.
Hernández was sought by U.S. Marshals for drug-related crimes.
The suspects were turned to the Mexican National Institute of Immigration for their deportation, Luna said.
States seek alternative opportunities
Economic development officials from seven Mexican states met recently in order to create a framework to seek other trade opportunities in countries with which Mexico has economic agreements.
Baja California Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante said the officials met Thursday in Chihuahua for the very first time as the Northern Border Commission of the Mexican Association of Secretaries of Economic Development.
“We are working on a technical advisory group to create a plan that will be introduced to the Mexican government to contribute in providing certainty to standing and future investments within the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the potential impacts of the anti-immigration policies enacted by the U.S. government,” said Bonfante, who presides the commission. “We are trying to take advantage the strength of our industrial base.”
The secretaries also agreed to meet in the next couple of months with their colleagues from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
