This weekend was a testimony to the strength of the community as a whole when organizing pools all the local resources. The Health Care Rally effort led by Organizing for America was joined by practically every local democratic club and organization including the Travis County Democratic Party and the strength of Texans for Obama. The success was particularly due to the additional support lent by our elected officials, Chair Andy Brown, Senator Kirk Watson, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Council Member Sheryl Cole, Former Representative Ann Kitchen, who all put their names and support behind this important issue. I'd like to think that the rest of us, the candidates, grassroots organizers and volunteers who also supported this effort helped to build the crowd which has been estimated between 600 to 1000. This was the biggest rally in the country, again proving to the Obama administration that you can't mess with Texas.
In addition to the incredible success of this rally, I personally worked with friends in a rummage sale to benefit an Austin family in dire need due to health care crisis. The outpouring of support was awe-inspiring. We had hoped to raise about $1K at best, but when the day was done, it became clear that we more than doubled our expectations and was able to give $2400 to this very needy family. The donations poured in, the street was packed for 2 blocks in each direction, and we were all shocked and amazed all day by the generosity and love in this community.
In one day, I witnessed the very best of our community. I am very proud to be a Texan.
There were some interesting votes in Congress this week that effected District 21. Representatives Gonzales and Smith put out a statement in support of the passage of H.R. 3170, the Financial Services Appropriations bill, which included $4 million for a new federal courthouse in San Antonio. Representative Gonzales voted for passage of the bill, but Representative Smith voted with the Republican party against the bill.
On the same day, another statement was released by the San Antonio Congressional Delegation about the passage of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which included over $3 million for San Antonio area projects. Again Representative Smith voted with the Republican party against this bill, while the three other San Antonio Representatives voted for the bill.
In one day, the other representatives were able to bring in over $7M for local projects, while Lamar Smith voted no.
Help me say no to Lamar Smith. Please support my campaign to bring change to Texas District 21.
I was sitting around today, and decided to look up the bills that Kelly Hancock, State Representative for Texas State District 91, had authored. I really didn’t expect much. He is a freshman Representative who took a lot of special interest money from insurance and utility companies during his 2006 campaign.
But two House Bills, authored by Mr. Hancock, were so self-serving even I was shocked that he would stoop this low. HB 1540 calls for excused absences, for elementary and secondary students, for trips to the Texas State Capitol or a State Park. The student would need to write a paper about his/her experience. This bill came about due to Mr. Hancock’s swearing-in ceremony. He brought his family, including his daughter, along for the ceremony. I applaud him for that. She should be there to see her father become a State Representative. But, he then wanted the absence excused by the school, which is not allowed by the Texas State Code. So, to solve this problem, Mr. Hancock decides to submit a new bill to fix his problem.
That was nothing compared to HR 863. This resolution calls for the Texas State House to honor the “milestone” of Kelly and Robin Hancock’s 20th wedding anniversary. It then goes on to give a short biography of their lives together. I know that I don’t vote for my elected officials to find ways to honor themselves. If another House member had submitted this honor for the Hancocks, I could understand that. To submit a resolution to honor himself is downright pompous and conceited. Will Mr. Hancock honor the “milestone” of my 20th wedding anniversary in a couple of years? Aren’t there enough “real” issues in Texas to deal with, such as education, property taxes, insurance reform, transportation, etc..
Mr. Hancock appears to be using the State Legislature as a personal toy, rather than representing his constituents in District 91. I hope that voters in his district remember this in 2008. We need a representative who cares about District 91 more then putting himself on a pedestal.
House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has decided against naming either Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, or Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (Fla.), the panel's No. 2 Democrat, to chair the pivotal committee next year. [. . .]
Instead of picking Harman or Hastings, Pelosi will look for a compromise candidate, probably Rep. Silvestre Reyes (Tex.), but possibly Rep. Norman D. Dicks (Wash.), a hawkish member of the Appropriations defense subcommittee, or Rep. Sanford Bishop (Ga.), a conservative African American with experience on the intelligence committee.
As Kuff has pointed out, having Reyes as committee chair would help Texas crawl a little bit out of the seniority hole that Tom DeLay dug for us during redistricting.
