Voters in Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4 have been barraged by campaign ads in recent days and weeks, and it should be no surprise that one local incumbent, Margaret Gomez has decided to go negative in the waning days of the election.
One attack ad run by the Margaret Gomez campaign against her opponent, former City Councilman Raul Alvarez, goes so far as to depict the Republican party's elephant-logo bearing the name of the well known Democratic challenger Raul Alvarez. It bears noting that challenger Raul Alvarez's record reflects a considerably more progressive pattern of votes than Gomez's.
Another ad run by the Margaret Gomez campaign involves the unauthorized use and implied endorsement of popular Congressman Lloyd Doggett.
Upon being contacted, Congressman Doggett's office has stated that they in fact did not endorse Margaret Gomez and further stated that the Gomez campaign has no permission to use either Congressman Doggett's name or his likeness.
The unauthorized use of Congressman Doggett's name and likeness is the latest in a series of controversies regarding the Margaret Gomez campaign's use of the names of high-profile residents and public figures without their consent, including her former chief of Staff Joe Vela. Joe Vela noted this in a letter to the Austin Chronicle, adding "the name Joe Vela appears on the supporters list of both candidates for Precinct 4 Travis County Commissioner. To clarify any confusion, I support Raul Alvarez for this office. We need an advocate who will show up for work and speak to the needs of precinct 4."
This shows the fevered pitch that the race for Precinct 4's Commissioner seat has reached, as well as the desperation of the incumbent Gomez to hang on to her seat.
It's no secret that the House version of health reform is a stronger, more progressive bill. That's what happens in a body with strict majority-rule, and none of this Nelson and Lieberman courting needed to get to 60 cloture votes.
The bill now moves to conference committee, where leaders from the House and Senate work to resolve differences between the two bodies' legislation. The House version has better cost controls, as well as a public option. It is imperative that we keep the pressure on and keep pushing for a better bill that can pass both bodies and be signed into law by President Obama.
Congressman Doggett, TX-25, sent out the following statement after the vote:
"Opening up this Senate health care package reveals much good wrapped up with unwise taxes on employer plans and too little competition for insurance monopolies. Let's take time for a little Christmas cheer now that the Senate finally acted, but make and keep a New Year's Resolution in the House demanding at least a little more consumer and taxpayer protection."
Come Monday, let's keep the pressure on. Folks in Texas can volunteer with Organizing for America to make calls into swing-vote Senators' states, encouraging their constituents to call in favor of a stronger bill to come out of committee. Folks in Blue Dog Congressional districts can call their Representatives in favor of an even stronger bill.
And folks in Austin can remind our one Democratic representative, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, that even though this bill is far from perfect, it goes a long way to insure the 24% of Texans who lack access to care. This bill may well become the greatest social achievement of our time, normalizing access to quality, affordable care for all Americans. There is room to improve, but so it was with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and many other government programs that are now viewed as the fabric of our society.
Two years ago, despite our majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats could only dream of one day passing sweeping health insurance reform legislation. Today, a Democratic president makes that reform not only possible but probable. We must all keep working to expand those majorities and elect more and better Democrats, in order to have the votes to pass the legislative changes we need.
As the House of Representatives continues debate on health reform, we've heard appalling untruths from Republicans and heart-wrenching stories from the Democrats. One of our great Texas Democratic representatives stood up tonight to oppose the Republican "alternative," that won't insure the 37 million Americans who lack coverage, and won't cut costs as well as the Democratic bill.
To help cover huge medical bills in Bastrop, Texas, they hold a Main Street pancake supper, an American Legion auction. Essential health care shouldn't depend on the kindness of strangers, the goodness of neighbors, and certainly not the just say "No" of Republicans or the weak tea parties brewed up by the insurance lobby.
Now, belatedly, they offer a scheme as skimpy as a hospital gown. They do nothing to help seniors. Their proposal is inefficient, ineffective, and wasteful. Masquerading as reform, their bill authorizes insurers to continue denying coverage for pre-existing health conditions, such as acne or a C-section. Republican obstructionism has, itself, become a giant pre-existing condition to any meaningful change.
This is a typical old time Republican medicine show--do a little for 5% of the uninsured, do nothing for the other 95% and leave the portion of American families uninsured largely unchanged. The only thing they propose more of is more insurance policy loopholes. Freedom? The only freedom they offer is the freedom to go broke from medical debts - the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.
24% of Texas residents are uninsured, the highest rate in the nation. We have the most uninsured adults, and the most uninsured children. Tonight, all Texans are lucky to have Rep. Lloyd Doggett fighting for our access to quality, affordable healthcare on the floor of the House tonight.
If you can't follow along at CSPAN, I've been live-Tweeting the highs and lows: @KathTX. I'll have some of the better comments from our Texas delegation tomorrow.
A Fayette County "teaparty" activist is planning to protest the opening of a Veterans Affairs clinic.
That's right. A VA clinic. You know, where veterans receive their benefits earned through years of service in our military. The teabaggers' hatred of taxpayer-funded social services extends even to those who have fought and risked death to protect our nation.
Chris Boyle, the teabagger in question, serves as Vice President and Secretary of "The Fayette County Taxpayers' Coalition," and apparently just wants to protest Congressman Lloyd Doggett. Seeing as Doggett is participating in the dedication of the VA clinic, what the heck? Looks like a great opportunity to rail against Doggett and the evil socialist agenda of giving benefits to our fellow Americans, especially those who served in the military.
Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka called Boyle and suggested that perhaps, just maybe, the opening of a VA clinic might not be the most appropriate venue for this. From the Statesman:
Janecka, saying he made the call after a VA representative expressed concern about the protest, stressed that he didn't tell Boyle to can the protest. He said Doggett's office did not contact him about the protest.
The judge said: "There is no way in hell I would ever tell anybody they can't go protest anything. I just told her it would not be good for the veterans."
Boyle, a retiree, said of the judge's call: "He told me he wanted me to stop this 'tea party.' He said this is going to make the veterans feel like you're against the clinic.
[Boyle responded] "I said bull... no it's not, they know better than that."
Actually, you know, I think someone calling for secession at best and treason at worst really might in fact offend people who were willing to fight and die for America. That means all of America, including Texas. Oh, and what funds the military and the VA? That's right! Tax dollars.
But no surprise. Perhaps Boyle read about the VA in Wikipedia and decided that they must be stopped!
It is a socialized government-run health-care system, and the American government's second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense. With a total 2009 budget of about $87.6 billion, VA employs nearly 280,000 people at hundreds of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, clinics, and benefits offices. (Emphasis mine.)
Uh oh, sounds like socialist Obamacare! It must be stopped! Someone make a sign with a hammer and sickle, quick!
The Statesman story continues:
Regardless, Boyle said, she plans to be there to urge Congress to heed the Constitution, uphold free speech and to stop meddling in people's lives.
Yes, Congress. Stop meddling in the lives of those veterans and giving them medical care. Especially stop here in Texas, where one third of vets are otherwise uninsured, and many more live in rural areas where they can't access a VA clinic at all. This new facility in Fayette will actually help America keep its promise to our veterans. As such, it must be protested at all costs!
As for Judge Janecka, he regrets even opening up this big old bag of crazy:
"It's so sad that it's getting to this point," he said. "People sometimes are just looking for a fight. I wanted this to be a day for the veterans of Fayette County."
It can be hard to focus on what's best for all of America when a crazy few try to hijack the conversation with all of this "teabagging" ridiculousness. America needs health insurance reform. America needs more VA clinics. America needs access to health care for all.
And just think -- with a strong public option, Chris Boyle herself would be able to seek psychiatric help. Ironically, maybe while she's there she should thank Congressman Doggett for standing up for Americans like her, who clearly need all the help they can get.
The GOP is supporting, and promoting, the extreme elements of their Party which encompass secession motivated Teabaggers, and conspiracy theorist radicals known as Birthers, to actively organize and disrupt congressional town hall meetings designed for feedback from constituents on Health Insurance Reform. Congressman Lloyd Doggett was the latest target of these extremists as he and his constituents were shouted down at the end of an hour-long weekend town hall in South Austin.
The extremists could be heard shouting "just say no," which has become the platform of the Republican Party since President Obama has taken office. Instead of offering anything constructive to the conversation on Health Insurance Reform, or any other pressing issue of the day, the Republican Party is being led by Rush Limbaugh and his legion of extremists who simply believe in gotcha, destructive politics versus real constructive reform. "No," is far more important to the Limbaugh-led GOP than real reform for the American people.
Congressman Doggett had this to say after being cornered by Teabaggers and Birthers this past Saturday:
This mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties, did not come just to be heard, but to deny others the right to be heard. And this appears to be part of a coordinated, nationwide effort. What could be more appropriate for the "party of no" than having its stalwarts drowning out the voices of their neighbors by screaming "just say no!" Their fanatical insistence on repealing Social Security and Medicare is not just about halting health care reform but rolling back 75 years of progress. I am more committed than ever to win approval of legislation to offer more individual choice to access affordable health care. An effective public plan is essential to achieve that goal.
What Congressman Doggett is referring to when he mentions a "coordinated, nationwide effort" is the fact that lobbyist run think-tanks such as Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity, both of whom were responsible for taking over much of the underwhelming Tea Bag parties held earlier this year, are behind organized efforts to disrupt town halls of mostly Democratic House Representatives. A leaked memo by a Freedom Works supported Teabagger website details how their extremist members should disrupt town halls.
Thankfully the aggressive and extreme actions of this small minority of GOP fanatics are having the opposite effect on members of congress like Representative Lloyd Doggett. He is now more motivated then ever to pass Health Insurance Reform on behalf of the vast majority of Americans who need it. Little does this small population of fanatics know, but Health Insurance Reform will benefit them too by making health care truly affordable.
We have a real opportunity to fix our broken health care system. Let's get the job done!
This Saturday afternoon, you're invited to a local health care rally featuring: Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Senator Kirk Watson, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Council Member Sheryl Cole, Former State Rep. Ann Kitchen, TCDP Chair Andy Brown and others.
Our goal is to make Saturday's rally one of the biggest in the country. Spread the word!
Some fantastic news to report on thanks to the hard working efforts of national blogger Mike Stark and Firedoglake who have been canvassing Washington, DC for progressive members of congress that will stand up for a public health care option and demand that it must be part of Obama's health care reform.
After a 4 minute walk with Doggett in DC, he became the 12th member to pledge to do just that.
Cong. Doggett: "We need the strongest possible public plan here in the House to send over and we need to send it soon and in our desire to get some health care reform, we need to not settle for [just] any health care reform. Too often, Progressives begin by demanding a third of a loaf and we end up with only a heel."
And the money quote at the end.
Mike Stark: "If you get the point where you can draw the indelible line, and we ask you again, let us know. We've got 11 Congressmen so far, and women, that have drawn that indelible line- they've taken that stand and we're trying to get as many people as we can, because like you said, it takes the American people and the American people get more enthused when they see our leaders taking the stronger...."
Cong. Doggett: "Well make it an even dozen."
Thank you Congressman Doggett!
For Democratsin Austin, there are a couple events you can help with this week. Sign up below.
Over the past three years, our country has experienced a paradigm shift. All across the nation, diverse voices are beginning to rise to the climate challenge, and they are all calling for action. At this moment our generation has the opportunity to offer a bold new vision of our energy future.
On March 28-30 2009, at Huston-Tillotson University, one of the oldest Historically Black Universities in the state, will host the second-ever ReEnergize Texas Summit. Young people from across the state of Texas will converge in Austin for the largest youth climate conference ever held in Texas.
In the first two days of the summit hundreds of young people will be engaged by speakers, workshops, and panels addressing the many aspects of climate change. They will meet in regional groups to network for future actions, and they will hear political leaders discuss their positions on climate change. On Monday, March 30th, these young people will march from Huston-Tillotson in East Austin across Interstate 35, a long-recognized racial barrier in the city of Austin, and will walk to the Capitol Building where they will lobby the State Legislature for climate change legislation.
Keynote speakers include:
Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Representative of the 25th District of Texas and author of major US climate legislation
Dr. Robert Bullard, author of "Dumping in Dixie" and the "father" of the environmental justice movement
Mark Kapner, Vice President for Renewable Energy at Austin Energy
Pam Ragon, President of Texas Republicans for Environmental Protection
The summit is a primarily youth-focused event, but people from all walks of life are welcome -- especially to the March and Lobby Day on Monday! For more information on ReEnergize Texas, the conference agenda, and to register, visit www.reenergizetexas.org
Bright and early yesterday morning, US Representative Lloyd Doggett, State Senator Rodney Ellis, State Representative Mark Strama, and environmental and civil rights advocate Van Jones stood together to tout the Alliance for a Clean Texas' Texas Energy Future: Clean Jobs, Green Power Conference.
Rodney Ellis opened up the press conference, stating that this year's legislative session looks to be a very green session. He also mentioned, as he has before, that the legislature is at a crucial moment in terms of climate change action. If the legislature doesn't act this year, the federal government will likely pass and begin implementing comprehensive global warming legislation before the state legislature will have a chance to meet again. If Texas is not prepared for this kind of drastic policy change, we may not have a chance to address these issues again until 2011.
Senator Ellis then gave the mic over to the group he termed the "Dapper Three" (swoon!).
Today the Paulson/Bush bailout bill failed by 13 votes. The final vote was 228 to 205 against. About 60% of Democrats and about 33% of Republicans voted for the measure.
It has been a surprising day in Washington and Wall Street.
