El Paso's congressman has it right. Here's his statement:
REYES STATEMENT ON THE STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) today released the following statement regarding his position on the Stop Online Piracy Act, SOPA:
"The Internet is a powerful tool that has changed the way we communicate. As with every powerful tool, it has the potential for good and bad. As your federal representative, I will continue to work to ensure that our community has both access to the Internet and the security tools needed to safeguard our communities, especially children, from inappropriate and unsuitable material.
"Any legislation that aims to curtail online piracy and enhance security must take a balanced and fine-tuned approach. The current version of SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, does not take a balanced approach. For that reason, I cannot support SOPA and will oppose it in its current form."
Texans should remember that Texas Republican Congressman Lamar Smith is the primary supporter of SOPA. He's fighting tooth and nail to protect big business and end Internet freedom. We must prevent this atrocious bill (and Texas embarrassment) from becoming law.
Now that the November elections are over, it's time to check in on some upcoming ballot initiatives around the state, including one led by a homophobic "family values" group in El Paso.
Last year, as part of their annual budget and in a victory for equality, the El Paso City Council extended health benefits to same sex and unmarried domestic partners of city employees. Outraged that their government was rewarding fornicators and homosexuals, a group called El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values spearheaded a successful referendum to make sure that health benefits are only awarded to straight, heterosexual couples in wedded bliss. It passed with 55% of the vote.
Believing the voters had gone too far, the City Council voted by a majority to overturn the referendum and restore the benefits to gay and unmarried partners. And now they're fighting for their jobs.
El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values is trying to get three city officials instrumental in overturning the referendum (and whose terms were not already expiring) - Mayor John Cook and Reps. Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega - recalled in a special election. And they have enough signatures to do it.
But the plot thickens. Though rounding up enough signatures for a recall election wasn't too difficult, there's now a major lawsuit involved. The El Paso Mayor is suing El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values for using churches illegally for recruiting and distributing petitions. The case may even be headed for the Supreme Court, with implications that could be much broader.
El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values is led by Tom Brown, a prominent El Paso exorcist. (Every city has one, right?) Whereas most Religious Right wing-nuts stick to the usual arguments about protecting the sanctity of marriage, etc., Brown took it a step farther by claiming he was actually advocating for civil rights by protecting the "sanctity" of people's votes, which the city officials "stole" when they restored rights to gay couples.
So there may be a special recall election in the spring. But first there's a hearing about whether the petitions for the recall can be used at all. It started in October, and though it should have been fairly straightforward, several witnesses pleaded the Fifth rather than declare which church they belong to, and Tom Brown wouldn't show up to court despite a subpoena. So the hearing is still ongoing, and there is no resolution yet as to whether or when the election will be held. We'll update you as we find out more!
Timeline:
2009 - City council approves a budget that expands health benefits to same-sex and unmarried domestic partners of city employees
November 2010 - El Paso voters, led by El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values, pass a referendum preventing city employees from sharing benefits with domestic partners
June 2011 - City Council rejects the referendum and restores benefits to domestic partners; El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values begins recall petition
September 2011 - El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values submits required petitions for a recall election on city employees
October 2011 - Hearing begins on whether petitions can be used; ongoing
State Representative Chente Quintanilla (D-El Paso) will not be returning to the legislature next session.
The long-time state rep will be taking on fellow Democrat Willie Gandara, Jr. for his seat on the El Paso County Commissioner's Court.
Quintanilla's district overlaps the county commissioner precinct that is currently held by Gandara.
Quintanilla is a retired school administrator and will be eligible for a pension as a state legislator.
With Quintanilla leaving the legislature, it will leave District 75 with an open seat and redistricting lines make the district more rural and more Republican than the previous lines.
Eleven people -- including the mayor of Socorro, two lawyers and several current and former elected officials -- used a scheme of bribes and kickbacks to obtain contracts for Access HealthSource, a local health-care provider, federal prosecutors allege.
The workings of the enterprise were unveiled in a 27-page indictment that became public Thursday. The indictment charges all of them with six counts of bribery and fraud. Most of them are also charged with one count of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, known as RICO.
The RICO charge is commonly used by the government to fight criminal organizations.
Privatization has failed all across Texas, most famously with the failed contracts of Accenture to mange the state's children's health care programs, and more recently with the IBM fiasco. Republicans will continue to push privatization as the "be-all, end-all" of solutions -- but without accountability, this is what we're left with.
I think we'll be hearing more about this story in the coming weeks. Stay tuned...
Over the last week or so the entire newly-elected Executive Committee of the Camino Real Mexican-American Democrats resigned from the organization, with the exception of State Rep Norma Chavez who recently lost her re-election bid to Naomi Gonzalez.
The members of the Executive Committee were elected in July and include the Chair Willie Gandara Sr. (Mayor of Socorro, Texas), Vice-Chair Dora Oaxaca (staffer for Willie Gandra Jr, El Paso County Commissioner, and Secretary Alfredo Longoria (local El Paso businessman).
The only member of the Executive Committee to not resign was out-going State Representative Norma Chavez. Chavez has played a leadership role since the beginning of the organziation and has never been out of Executive Leadership. Many characterize the organization as "Norma's group".
The members resigned following the revelation by Chavez that the organization was set-up as a proprietorship, which raised questions among the Executive Committee about taxes, reporting, etc.
The resignation is another addition to an already bad year for Representative Chavez following her defeat to Gonzalez, and a falling-out with several members of her close political inner-circle.
In an email to membership dated August 6th, 2010, Chavez characterized the recent departures as an "organizational restructure".
Related postings can be found at www.thelionstarblog.blogspot.com
Now, as the conventional wisdom appears to be that Chavez is behind in her race to win a sixth term, things have gotten personal. Chavez has said that Gonzalez is a lesbian and should publicly come out.
Chavez claims that the issue is relevant because it may influence their legislative opinions. Chavez opposes gay marriage. Gonzalez has not stated her personal opinion on the issue but has said she will respect the wishes of Texas voters, who voted to add an amendment banning gay marriage to the state constitution in 2005.
The El Paso Times reported that many El Paso Democrats, including County Party Chair Danny Anchondo, have shown disapproval for Chavez's tactics.
"If somebody is lesbian or gay, our arms are open to all these individuals," Anchondo said. "All these people are part of the party, so I don't understand why someone would be using those terms to attack somebody."
Early voting in this race (and all other Texas runoffs) begins tomorrow.
Updated: A reader from El Paso sends in this video from the Lion Star Blog of the candidate forum during which Chavez brought up Gonzalez's sexual orientation. The statement begins around the 6:29 mark.
There are another two weeks until Election Day, but the back-and-forth attacks in the Democratic runoff in El Paso between State Rep. Norma Chavez, a ten year incumbent, and challenger Naomi Gonzalez, a 31-year old assistant county attorney, are well under way.
Chavez is no stranger to tough political battles, but the challenge from Gonzalez represents her most serious test since entering the Texas House in 1999. Gonzalez has been able to run a better campaign due in the large part to the generosity of Texans for Lawsuit Reform. TLR made over $146,000 in in-kind contributions to Gonzales over the course of three weeks in January and February. In that same time period, Chavez took more than $90,000 from Texans for Insurance Reform, a trial lawyer funded group founded to counter TLR.
The El Paso Times reported that TLR, who in past years had supported Chavez, has given a total of $169,000 to Gonzalez. She has raised a total of $192,000, a strong number for a challenger but still behind the $272,000 that Chavez has received.
Each candidate has accused the other of being a Republican. Gonzalez has sent out a mailer showing Chavez kissing George W. Bush and hugging Rick Perry. Chavez was also one of the first Democrats to support Tom Craddick for speaker in 2003 and was rewarded with an appointment as chair of the House Border Affairs Committee.
Chavez, predictably, has attacked Gonzalez for her heavy reliance on TLR money. Chavez told El Paso Inc, “I’m not calling [Gonzalez] a closet Republican, I’m calling her a Republican. She’s already bought and paid for."
While Chavez has relied on strong grassroots support to overcome past controversies and challenges, Gonzalez seems to have established herself as the favorite. Gonzalez led Chavez 48 to 46 percent in the initial primary. The only Democratic House runoff will be decided on April 13. Early voting begins on Monday, April 5.
(Austin, San Antonio, now El Paso. At what point does Bill White starve Farouk Shami of political oxygen outside of his checkbook? - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Houston Mayor turned-Senate-Candidate-turned-Gubernatorial Candidate, Bill White visited El Paso on Sunday and attended the El Paso County Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner. White recieved the support of every major Democrat elected official in El Paso, which is significant considering that El Paso County is the Democratic stronghold of Texas.
The consolidation of support for White from El Paso's Senator, State Reps, County Commissioners, and City Reps is further underscored by lingering divisions over the Obama-Clinton battle in the last general election. El Paso Democrats have finally found something they agree on, Bill White for Governor.
Senator Shapleigh alluded to the fact that he was considering a gubernatorial bid of his own until White threw his hat in the ring for the Governor's office. Shapleigh said that he was still having conversations with people around the state about future runs, but gave no indication as to what office he might be thinking about.
Update by KT: Here is the list of local endorsing elected officials from El Paso.
Endorsing El Paso Leaders
Mayor John Cook
State Senator Eliot Shapleigh
State Representative Norma Chavez
State Represenative Marisa Marquez
State Representative Joe Moody
State Representative "Chente" Quintanilla*
County Commissioner Veronica Escobar
County Commissioner Willie Gandara
County Commissioner Anna Perez
City Representative Eddie Holguin
City Representative Steve Ortega
State Senate Candidate and former County Attorney Jose Rodriguez
Former State Representative Paul Moreno
(I'm also happy to promote this local report from the Western edge of Texas! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Many in El Paso and in some parts of Texas were expecting to see a shoot out here in El Paso over the Senate seat left vacant by Senator Shapleigh who made the decision not to seek re-election back in October. The presumed participants in the shootout go by the last names Rodriguez and Chavez.
Rodriguez, being long-time El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez, a man who was a one point a farmworker, and Chavez being long-time State Representative Norma Chavez, who at one point worked for the United Farmworker's Union.
That's how many people thought it was going to play out. They were half right.
Rodriguez is a candidate, but State Representative Norma Chavez chose to stay in the House and run for re-election. Chavez has been the senior Chicana in the El Paso delegation and the two Democrats appear to be on the road to reconsiliation.
Unless a Democratic challenger arises for Rodriguez he will face another Chavez (no relation), but in November from El Paso Republican businessman, Dan Chavez. Dan Chavez has previously run for several offices but has never won.
Rodriguez has received the support of El Paso's major Republican contributors earlier this month and many feel that was a signal that the Republicans were going to concede the seat to Rodriguez. The entrance of Dan Chavez in to the race is not considered to be a development that will cause Rodriguez to lose any sleep. El Paso County is overwhelmingly Democratic and Dan Chavez has never won an election at any level in El Paso.
In the end, the race is still Rodriguez V. Chavez, just not the way most people thought it would be.
State Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) has decided not to enter the race to replace retiring State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, who announced he would not seek reelection last week.
Pickett said he could not justify giving up his chair of the House Transportation Committee because it was too important to El Paso. From the Statesman:
“I am incredibly grateful and appreciative for all the support and encouragement I have received over the past few days. I received phone calls from numerous legislators on both the House and Senate side, as well as calls from constituents, friends, and family urging me to strongly consider running for the open Senate seat.
“After serious consideration and prayer, I have decided that I can best serve my constituents, the citizens of El Paso, and the State of Texas through my current position.
“It is a tremendous honor for me to serve as the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and it is simply a position that I cannot, in the best interest of my constituents and the residents of El Paso County, relinquish. As a Chairman, I possess the ability to influence legislation that will best serve the region of El Paso and this is an opportunity that El Paso has never before possessed.”
State Rep. Norma Chavez and County Attorney Jose Rodriguez both have expressed interest in running. El Paso Mayor John Cook has said he likely will not run, but has not ruled anything out. Judge Richard Barajas is also said to be considering entering the race.
