Have you noticed that the new Republican House in Texas is having a family fight over who will be the Speaker of the House when the Legislature convenes in January. Current Speaker Joe Straus says he has over 100 pledges for the upcoming vote. There are 99 Republicans so there are Democrats in those pledges. As we get closer to January there are other Republicans who also want his job so there is an active race going on. The most conservative of the Republicans don't want Straus to continue in this position. They claim he is too LIBERAL. Those in opposition to Straus want only the Republicans to elect the Speaker. It has been reported that one Republican representative has told Straus supporters that they will be targeted in the next primary season for supporting him. Turns out this and other concerns about the speaker race were taken to the Ethics Committee. Do you now who chairs the Ethics Committee??? Our own Cherokee County former Democrat who moved to the dark side last year--Rep. Chuck Hopson. He is chair because Speaker Straus gave his that position last session while he was still a Democrat. Perhaps that is one of the reasons Republicans are not happy with Speaker Straus -- he appointed too many Democrats to significant committees.
Another interesting point is that the Vice Chair of the Ethics committee is the person who threatened another Rep with a primary fight if he supported Straus. Seems nothing signicant beyond this came from the committee's meeting, but Rep. Hopson's name keeps coming up in the speaker's race discussions. He issued an email warning to Representatives to be careful of how they participated in the speaker's race as they should beware of possible bribery charges and other acts of misconduct. Some took this as a warning to not listen to their constiutents and have said that Hopson and others want only the insiders to elect the next speaker. The Quorum Report web site has a couple of videos being used in the speaker's race. Check it out if you are interested. These videos are under the Daily Buzz tab and are dated November 30. You'll have to scroll down to find them.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wondering About All Those Pre-filed Bills????
If you've been hearing about the 500 or so pre-filed bill in the Texas Legislature that begins in January, you might wonder just what they are all about. You can check and see if bills that are of special interest to you have been filed. Go to the Texas Legislature Online and type in a key word that reflects the topic you are interested in, such as immigration, education, taxes, banking, and etc. If Bills in that category have been filed then a list will appear. Be sure to choose 82 (R) 2011 in the box beside Legislature. If you wish to see bills from past legislative sessions, then choose that legislative session, such as 81 (R) and so on. The numbers such as 81(1) or 79 (3) reflect the session number and the special session. R refers to the regular session. The coming session of the Texas Legislature in Austin will be number 82.
While you are looking online be sure to become familiar with both the House and Senate sites so you'll be ready when the session starts to tune in to committee hearings and broadcasts of the sessions live. You can also check on hearings and sessions after the fact as they are all recorded and archived. During 2010 committees have been meeting and discussing the Interim Charges so you might find that of interest.
While you are looking online be sure to become familiar with both the House and Senate sites so you'll be ready when the session starts to tune in to committee hearings and broadcasts of the sessions live. You can also check on hearings and sessions after the fact as they are all recorded and archived. During 2010 committees have been meeting and discussing the Interim Charges so you might find that of interest.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
State Board of Education Continues Assault on School Children of Texas
If education is one of your key issues, you will want to read this email from the Texas Freedom Network about the current decisions of the State Board of Education (SBOE). This particular article lays out what the Board recently decided but also gives a list of suggested actions citizens might take to combat the Board.
Help Ensure that Texas Students Get an Education Based on Sound Science
The religious right is preparing for the second stage in its reckless campaign to push junk science into Texas public school classrooms. The State Board of Education voted today to adopt new instructional materials for science classes this coming spring. Those materials will be based on new science curriculum standards the board adopted last year – standards that promote creationist arguments against evolutionary science in our children’s classrooms.
Find out below how you can stop efforts to undermine science in Texas schools and ensure that students get a sound education that prepares them to succeed in college and a 21st-century economy!
What Has Happened So Far
Last year the Texas Freedom Network and other supporters of sound science education succeeded in removing from the new science standards a requirement that students learn phony “weaknesses” of evolutionary theory. But the state board’s far-right faction rejected appeals from distinguished scientists, including Nobel laureates, not to water down instruction on science in other ways. In fact, the board passed new standards based on creationist arguments against evolution: one challenging the core scientific concept of natural selection and another questioning overwhelming evidence in the fossil record that supports evolutionary science.
What’s Up Next
The state board has asked publishers to submit instructional materials that cover the new science standards, and 18 publishers have agreed to do so this spring. The Texas Education Agency is now accepting applications from teachers, scholars and other citizens to review those materials. The state board will then consider those reviews when it decides which materials to adopt in March (for high school classes) and July (for classes in Grades 5-8).
What Can You Do?
It’s critical that supporters of sound science take action to prevent far-right pressure groups and extremists on the state board from hijacking the adoption of these new instructional materials for Texas classrooms.
Volunteer to serve on a panel that will review instructional materials submitted by publishers in the spring. Review panels typically meet over the course of one or two days in Austin. The Texas Education Agency will cover the travel and lodging costs of review panelists. Click here to access the State Review Panel Nomination Form.
Sign on to the Texas Freedom Network’s Just Educate campaign to reform the State Board of Education and keep the personal agendas of state board politicians out of classrooms.
Stay informed by subscribing to TFN News Clips and by reading our blog, TFN Insider.
Donate to the Texas Freedom Network and help us stop the far right’s well-funded assaults on the education of Texas schoolchildren.
Creationists Are Preparing for a New Assault
on Science Education in Texas
Help Ensure that Texas Students Get an Education Based on Sound Science
The religious right is preparing for the second stage in its reckless campaign to push junk science into Texas public school classrooms. The State Board of Education voted today to adopt new instructional materials for science classes this coming spring. Those materials will be based on new science curriculum standards the board adopted last year – standards that promote creationist arguments against evolutionary science in our children’s classrooms.
Find out below how you can stop efforts to undermine science in Texas schools and ensure that students get a sound education that prepares them to succeed in college and a 21st-century economy!
What Has Happened So Far
Last year the Texas Freedom Network and other supporters of sound science education succeeded in removing from the new science standards a requirement that students learn phony “weaknesses” of evolutionary theory. But the state board’s far-right faction rejected appeals from distinguished scientists, including Nobel laureates, not to water down instruction on science in other ways. In fact, the board passed new standards based on creationist arguments against evolution: one challenging the core scientific concept of natural selection and another questioning overwhelming evidence in the fossil record that supports evolutionary science.
What’s Up Next
The state board has asked publishers to submit instructional materials that cover the new science standards, and 18 publishers have agreed to do so this spring. The Texas Education Agency is now accepting applications from teachers, scholars and other citizens to review those materials. The state board will then consider those reviews when it decides which materials to adopt in March (for high school classes) and July (for classes in Grades 5-8).
What Can You Do?
It’s critical that supporters of sound science take action to prevent far-right pressure groups and extremists on the state board from hijacking the adoption of these new instructional materials for Texas classrooms.
Volunteer to serve on a panel that will review instructional materials submitted by publishers in the spring. Review panels typically meet over the course of one or two days in Austin. The Texas Education Agency will cover the travel and lodging costs of review panelists. Click here to access the State Review Panel Nomination Form.
Sign on to the Texas Freedom Network’s Just Educate campaign to reform the State Board of Education and keep the personal agendas of state board politicians out of classrooms.
Stay informed by subscribing to TFN News Clips and by reading our blog, TFN Insider.
Donate to the Texas Freedom Network and help us stop the far right’s well-funded assaults on the education of Texas schoolchildren.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Looking Ahead to the 2011 Legislative Session
Looking ahead to January and the 2011 legislative session of the Texas Legislature is somewhat of a grim view. Like other sessions before, this one begins with a large budget deficit. Budget deficits usually mean even less money for healthcare for children, less money for poor families. And it often means increasing regressive taxes (sales tax) and many other punitive measures for those without means and a voice to be heard. The budget will likely drive the session in many ways.
Now is not too early to begin looking at what the budget deficit will mean for us this year especially when you factor in the Texas House is now 99 Republicans and 51 Democrats. The Dallas Morning News recently published an article on the budget which you might find interesting and helpful as we try to understand where we are headed in 2011.
Another issue that seems to be of great concern to our legislators is immigration. More than 20 of pre-filed bills deal with immigration. Some are classifed as similar to the Arizona bill and other are concerned with law enforcement, benefits, and employer enforcement. A listing of these bills is found in this article from The Burnt Orange Report. A Part II is promised so you can keep your eye out for that.
Other links that might help you keep up with what is coming to Texas next year:
The Texas Tribune
Texas Impact (this is a group that lobbies for issues of concern to mainline churches)
Texas Freedom Network
TFN Insider
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Leave you comments and let us know what you are thinking.
Now is not too early to begin looking at what the budget deficit will mean for us this year especially when you factor in the Texas House is now 99 Republicans and 51 Democrats. The Dallas Morning News recently published an article on the budget which you might find interesting and helpful as we try to understand where we are headed in 2011.
Another issue that seems to be of great concern to our legislators is immigration. More than 20 of pre-filed bills deal with immigration. Some are classifed as similar to the Arizona bill and other are concerned with law enforcement, benefits, and employer enforcement. A listing of these bills is found in this article from The Burnt Orange Report. A Part II is promised so you can keep your eye out for that.
Other links that might help you keep up with what is coming to Texas next year:
The Texas Tribune
Texas Impact (this is a group that lobbies for issues of concern to mainline churches)
Texas Freedom Network
TFN Insider
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Leave you comments and let us know what you are thinking.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Club Helps HOPE Backpack Program for School Children
As we approach Thanksgiving, the Democrats of Cherokee County want to share with those in our county who are in need. The Club voted to sponsor a Backpack for a public school student through the HOPE Backpack program. Students on this program take home a backpack of meals for the weekend each Friday. The students are selected for this program by school counselors in their school.
Cherokee Democrats are ready to help their community in all ways possible.
Cherokee Democrats are ready to help their community in all ways possible.
Election Results In Cherokee County
Mid-Term elections were not exactly what Democrats had hoped for. On the county level we have some success: Patsy Lassiter and Leverne Lusk did not have opponents and will be serving another term. Vera Foreman, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, narrowly won re-election as did Precinct 4's Commission, Byron Underwood. We celebrate these rays of sunshine in a political climate that looks gloomy in many ways.
Thersa Phifer, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, sadly was not re-elected. This is a very disappointing result for all Cherokee Democrats. Perhaps a result of our failure to get out the vote in the southern part of the county. Others Democrats who were not successful were Marlene Jowell, candidate for County Judge, Dr. Richard Hackney, candidate for State Representative of District 11 and Preston Meador, candidate for Justice of the Peace precinct 3.
But Democrats in Cherokee County are not letting these defeats keep up down. We are continuing to spread the word that Cherokee County Democrats are here still growing and going.
Join us each month as we continue to meet and share ideas and strategies.
We meet on the fourth Thursdays and do move the meeting spot around the county. Check with us on where the meetings will be.
Thersa Phifer, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, sadly was not re-elected. This is a very disappointing result for all Cherokee Democrats. Perhaps a result of our failure to get out the vote in the southern part of the county. Others Democrats who were not successful were Marlene Jowell, candidate for County Judge, Dr. Richard Hackney, candidate for State Representative of District 11 and Preston Meador, candidate for Justice of the Peace precinct 3.
But Democrats in Cherokee County are not letting these defeats keep up down. We are continuing to spread the word that Cherokee County Democrats are here still growing and going.
Join us each month as we continue to meet and share ideas and strategies.
We meet on the fourth Thursdays and do move the meeting spot around the county. Check with us on where the meetings will be.
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