Growing Democracy in Precinct 463

Mission Possible

2010-09-04T10:18:00.002-05:00

President visits UT!

2010-08-10T22:24:00.003-05:00

Check out this video of the President's visit to our great city!

One of our wonderful Precinct 463 neighbors took pictures of the President's motorcade. Okay, quick disclaimer, the neighbor is my sweet honey. More of his photos can be found on Flickr ...look for Colorado Steve.

Post-convention news

2010-06-29T06:35:00.000-05:00

The Brief: Top Texas News for Jun 28, 2010

by David Muto, The Texas Tribune
June 28, 2010

THE BIG CONVERSATION:

Texas Democrats made a stand this weekend — with tongues planted firmly in cheek.

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Whiteset the state Democratic convention ablaze on Friday night, capping off a rare week of political fortune for the party, which saw the White campaign digging in its heels on political messaging at the same time that Republicans nationwide were pushing back against ApologyGate and a poll showed White and Gov. Rick Perry in a virtual tie.

But at an otherwise fairly low-drama event — in contrast to the Republican convention two weeks ago at which internal strife over the party chairmanship dominated the conversation — Democrats compensated by amping up the shenanigans while taking direct aim at Perry: The double-wide trailer that the AFL-CIO offered to Perry made an appearance, as did "Perry's kill coyote beef" (hopefully not actually coyote) and copious amounts of snark, seen in a number of videos bashing the governor (and at one point comparing him to a certain TV villain also, incidentally, associated with cheerleading). Here's a taste:

And, yes, the chicken suit made an appearance, too. (Revisit all the action on the Tribune's liveblog, where reporters Brandi Grissom, Reeve Hamilton and Ben Philpott saw it all — including multiple chicken sightings, in fact — firsthand.)

But the party did take time to address more serious issues, including the "Texas two-step" primary/caucus voting system, which it voted to retain, and the party chairmanship, which expectedly went to incumbent Boyd Richie.

Though, as with any convention, the takeaway is the party's tweaking of the political narrative. And as The Dallas Morning News' Wayne Slaternotes, the story now goes something like this:

For the GOP: Washington is the problem, Bill White is Washington, Bill White is the problem.
For Democrats: Austin is the problem. Rick Perry is Austin. Rick Perry is the problem.

Not bad odds for Democrats, then, it would seem. But in a post-convention daze and with the political winds perhaps only briefly at their backs, do they have what it takes to win?

CULLED:

Former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., a rancher with a storied political and personal history, died Sunday at 87.

Bill White wasn't the only rock star at the Democratic convention this weekend.

"Imagine what it will be like to actually have a governor who understands public policy." — Newly re-elected Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie

MUST READ:

Dallas County is point man for Democrats — The Dallas Morning News

Texas Democrats seeing a generational shift — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

FBI Investigating Possible DSHS Hacker — The Texas Tribune

More public money used to attract big events to Texas — Austin American-Statesman

Small-business tax break expiring — San Antonio Express-News

Hearings into border deaths sought — El Paso Times

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://trib.it/bv5eba.

More about the State Democratic Convention

2010-06-15T20:33:00.002-05:00

For all of you who were unable to attend this past Sunday's meeting, here's a brief convention overview from www.txdemocrats.org (via a TCDP email):

Thursday, June 24th:

o At 7:00pm, there is a Kickoff Reception at the Texas State Aquarium, which is very near the Convention Center. This event is an opportunity for Delegates, Alternates, elected officials, and guests to relax, socialize and enjoy our host city before we start the business of the Convention on Friday. This event does not require your attendance but it’s always fun, and this year includes a Silent Auction and a Dolphin Show.

Friday, June 25th: This is the first “main” day of Convention activity.

o The credentials booths will open at 8:00am in Exhibit Hall B. To pick up your credential, you will need an ID such as a driver’s license or any other form of ID prescribed by the Secretary of State.

o From 9:00am-5:00pm on Friday and Saturday, vendors will display their merchandise in Exhibit Hall A (next to the credentials registration). Vendors sell a wide variety of items including jewelry, clothing, political memorabilia, while some booths are informational like those for candidates or organizations.

o From 9:00am-3:00pm, Issue Caucuses and meetings will be taking place at the American Bank Center. These caucuses are an opportunity for like-minded Delegates* to meet and discuss issues they may want to pursue.

o From 3:00-5:00pm, the Senate District caucuses will take place at the American Bank Center, the Omni Bayfront, and the Omni Marina hotels. These meetings are required by the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party. At this meeting, you and your fellow Delegates will nominate your representatives to the permanent committees of the Convention: Credentials, Rules, Resolutions, Nominations, and Platform, as well as choosing your SDEC members.

SD-14 will caucus in the Bayview Ballroom A on the 2^nd Floor of the American Bank Center.

SD-25 will caucus in the Corpus Christi Ballroom B on the 3^rd floor of the Omni Bayfront.

o At 6:00pm, the Convention is called to order. For the next few hours, all Delegates will participate in some of the required duties of our Party. These activities include: opening ceremonies, electing the Permanent Chair for the Convention and a few other items specified in the Rules of the TDP. We will also hear from our gubernatorial candidate, Bill White. When you go into the Arena, look for your Senate District number signs to find your seating.

o After the Convention breaks for the evening, you should make plans to head to the main Convention hotel, the Omni Bayfront, and attend some free receptions to be held by different groups and individuals.

Saturday, June 26th:

o At 8:30am, the Lady Bird Johnson Breakfast will be held at the American Bank Center. This event will feature Andrea White, wife of Mayor Bill White. This event is always fun and it’s another way to help support the TDP as we aim to host a successful Convention.

o At 9:30am, there will be trainings hosted by the TDP and other organizations in an effort to help educate Delegates on a range of topics including: grassroots organizing, social media, and the VAN (Voter Action Network) to name a few.

o At 11:00am, the Convention will be called back to order. During this session you and your fellow Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from all of our excellent statewide candidates. Elections will also be held for TDP officers for 2010-2012. In addition there are resolutions to be read and voted on as well as Rules changes and more. We anticipate Convention will be over around 5:00pm.

Information about Housing in Corpus Christi may be found Here.

Map of Corpus Christi and Map of the Convention Center

You may contact the TDP Convention Staff at 478-9800 with any questions.

CEC Meeting at 6 PM, May 26th

2010-05-23T17:39:00.001-05:00

Want to know what's going on with Travis County Democratic Party precinct chairs? Attend this Wednesday's CEC meeting at 6 PM!

Travis County Democratic Party

County Executive Committee Meeting

May 26, 2010 6:00PM

AFL/CIO 1106 Lavaca St

And don't forget about this summer's State Convention! Visit the Texas Democratic Party online for all the dets, including lodging accomodations (the convention is in Corpus Christi) and information on how you can volunteer.

New website for TCDP!

2010-05-05T12:31:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you visited the Travis County Democratic Party website? Well partner, that's too long! : ) Click on www.traviscountydemocrats.org to view the newly redesigned site!

The new site makes it easier to interact with TCDP activists and find out what about local Democratic Party events and actions!

What else is new? Well...

"On the Record with Diane Holloway" it's a TCDP blog and if you're like to read via RSS, it's easy to subscribe too!
Click on the "People" tab to find Democratic Elected Officials, Democratic candidates and precinct chairs. And you can contact them with a click of a button.
If you're not already signed-up, the new website makes it fast and easy to become a Sustaining Member or Finance Council Member.

And last but not least, the TCDP calendar is the most up to date and complete listing of all Democratic events in Central Texas, be sure to check it regularly!

Gulf Coast Oil Spill - how to help

2010-04-30T16:41:00.001-05:00

It's everywhere you turn ...on the radio, on TV, in the papers, and in conversations at the water cooler. The devastating oil spill occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36947751/ to see a timeline of the events.

You know the tragedy, but what can you do to help?

Greater New Orleans Foundation - donate to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund.
Visit the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana online.
Volunteer with the National Audubon Society by filling out their online volunteer form.

View this National Wildlife Federation video and go to their website to find out how you can help wildlife impacted by the BP oil spill.

Save a founding father from being erased from history!

2010-03-17T18:44:00.002-05:00

Last week the Texas State Board of Education, led by Governor Rick Perry’s appointee for chair, Gail Lowe, voted to remove Thomas Jefferson from social studies textbook standards.

Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and a world-renowned scholar who advocated democratic, limited government. He was deleted from a list of historical figures who inspired political change because Governor Rick Perry provided no leadership or voice for mainstream Texans against people who decided to substitute their political agenda for the judgment of professional historians.

Please join me to send an e-mail to Governor Rick Perry today, telling him it’s time to stop playing political games with our kids future.

http://action.billwhitefortexas.com/SBOE

Thanks.

Asleep at the Wheel?

2010-03-13T14:32:00.004-06:00

The Travis County Democratic Convention, March 20th at the Palmer Events Center on Auditorium Shores, will have music to go with all the political business --including, nine-time Grammy Award-winning "Asleep at the Wheel."After the convention, feel free to stay in the area and see more live music at the free SXSW concert on Auditorium Shores.

The County Convention is open to the public and lots of Travis County Democrats will come and be inspired by the music, the exciting speakers and the promise of victory in November. The program will include a rousing Clean Energy Rally, with special appearances by State Senator Kirk Watson and Mayor Lee Leffingwell, as well as our Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Travis County Delegation of State Representatives Elliott Naishtat, Dawnna Dukes, Eddie Rodriguez, Mark Strama, Donna Howard and Valinda Bolton, as well as other invited special guests. We’ll also have a special photo booth so you can commemorate your time with friends and elected officials at the convention.

Registration for the County Convention is from 8am to 9am on March 20.

P.S. – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Convention! CALL the Travis County Democratic Party Office: 477-7500

2010 Precinct 463 Convention on 3/2/10

2010-03-03T06:47:00.005-06:00

In 2008, precincts across the state were flooded with concerned citizens who wanted to ensure their voices were heard loud and clear. It didn't hurt that 1) it was a presidential primary and 2) the "Texas Two-Step" was publicized wide and far. This year it was a Gubernatorial primary but there was far less public outreach done so that voters knew to participate in the precinct convention.

After the polls closed last night, five voters from Precinct 463 participated in the 2010 Precinct 463 Convention.

But all is not lost!

Our precinct passed five resolutions that will be forwarded to the county party! I'll scan and post those resolutions on our precinct website by tonight. We also chose 3 delegates who will represent out precinct at the County Convention on March 20, 2010 at the Palmer Events Center.

View Larger Map

Didn't get to attend your precinct's convention?

Still interested in representing your precinct at the County Convention later this month, and possibly at the State Convention later this year?

Well, come on by (see map above) on March 20th at 10 AM! There will be live music, food, and lots of fellow Travis County voters who want to be a part of shaping our community and state! :)

For details call the Travis County Democratic Party at 512/477-7500. As more information becomes available, I'll provide updates! For those of you chosen to be delegates for our precinct, I'll contact you directly.

P.S. We actually have 50 (yes, 50) more delegate positions open for our precinct. Soooo, come by on the 20th and help us rep our precinct! :)

And if you follow this blog but belong to another precinct, contact your precinct's chair or the Travis County Democratic Party to find out how many delegate or alternate delegate positions your precinct has vacant.

Early Voting: Tuesday, February 16th!

2010-02-15T19:05:00.004-06:00

Early voting starts tomorrow -2/16/2010! Here are just some of the early polling locations you can go to. Polling times: Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from Noon to 6 PM.

* HEB South Congress - 2400 S. Congress - temp building
* Randalls on Ben White & Manchaca - 2025 W. Ben White
* Dan Ruiz Public Library - 1600 Grove Blvd.
* Fiesta Mart Stassney - 5510 S. IH-35
* Randalls South Mopac & William Cannon - 6600 South Mopac
* Randalls Brodie & Slaughter - 9911 Brodie Lane

After you vote on Tuesday, join fellow Democrats for an Early Vote Kickoff Rally at Scholz Garten. This event is sponsored by the Travis County Democratic Party, AFL-CIO and Texans for Obama.

Featured speakers will be Rep. Mark Strama and Rep. Eddie Rodriguez. These two central Texas leaders have been fighting on behalf of middle class families, and we're lucky to have them representing us at the Capitol.

Early Vote Kickoff Rally

Tuesday, February 16

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Scholz Garten

1607 San Jacinto Blvd

Austin, TX 78701

Click here to RSVP

Vote Rebecca for District 5!

2010-02-08T18:06:00.005-06:00

Closing out this blog is a statement from Dr. Bell-Metereau herself.

Want to know more about State Board of Education District 5 -like which counties it encompasses, how many ISDs are included, or more reasons to ensure the reign of idiologues on the SBOE ends with voting for Rebecca? Visit www.voterebecca.com/about-district-5

=============================
Rebecca: The One Democrat Who Can Win In November

Award-Winning Educator, Active Community Leader, Dedicated Wife and Mother
Dr. Bell-Metereau has won praise and honors time and time again for her outstanding work in the classroom at Texas State University, where she is Professor of English and Film. She is the only career educator in the primary contest, and her highly distinguished record of educational leadership, along with her public standing in the district, has no match in this race. In short, hers is the only campaign with the serious credentials and seriously broad support that will be necessary to defeat the far-right Republican machine.

Rebecca taught English and American studies in the Peace Corps and served as an interpreter for U.S. Air Force relief flights in Chad. She was a Fulbright scholar and teacher in Senegal. In San Marcos, she served as Planning and Zoning Commissioner, sat on the Solid Waste and Blue Ribbon Bond Commissions, represented her Neighborhood Council, and was her Homeowners Association President.

Committed to Academic Excellence

Presidential Award for Excellence in Service
Faculty Senate Distinguished Teaching Award
Special Asst. to the President of Texas St. U for 1^st-year retention and high school transition
Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence

=================

Statement from Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau for State Board of Education
Texas ranks number one in high-school dropouts, and our State Board of Education isn’t helping. Instead of being leaders in improving public education, they’re busy tearing it down.

Incumbent extremist Ken Mercer’s record includes dumbed-down textbooks, disrespect for teachers, a public endowment placed in the care of cronies, and a curriculum intruding on private matters of belief. Enough is enough!

As a mother of two graduates of Texas public schools and a long-time educator at Texas State University, I want to take our public schools back. Texas students need to learn the most advanced science, technology, literature, and social studies.

The more we learn about what is happening on the Board, the more we see the urgent need for change.

I would appreciate your vote, your donations and your help asking others to vote for me in the Democratic primary, March 2^n,d and the General Election on November 2^nd.

-Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau

On the radar: Texas' March Primary

2010-01-17T17:42:00.004-06:00

The March primary is a little over a month away! If you know someone who wants to vote but hasn't registered, February 1, 2010 is the last day to take care of business.

Tuesday March 2, 2010 -- Joint Primary Election

Voter Registration Deadline: Mon., Feb. 1, 2010
Early In-person Voting Begins: Tues., Feb. 16, 2010
Early In-person Voting Ends: Fri., Feb. 26, 2010
Contact Travis County Elections for vote by mail information at 238 VOTE

Click on Precinct Events to the left or view the election calendar on the Texas Democratic Party site for a list of voter & election dates you won't want to forget. Of course, another great resource is our county's election website.

So you haven't heard much about the candidates other than mud slinging between Perry and Hutchinson, or maybe you're not sure why the other offices are up for election matter much. Normally, I could refer you to the Texas League of Women Voters for a nifty voter's guide, but I haven't seen one for the 2010 primaries on their website yet. Nevertheless, you can see a list of all the offices up for election by visiting the Secretary of State. You can also see a sample ballot on the Travis County Clerk website.

Besides the more publicized races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and State Representative offices, we've got to decide which candidates are the best fits for a number of justice positions (e.g. Texas Supreme court, Court of Appeals, District Court, and County Court). A critical 2010 race that hasn't received as much air time is that of the State Board of Education. Next time I'll blog on why the race (I should probably say, races because there are several district SBOE positions open) for SBOE matters and what we can do to take our education system out of the hands of fundamentalists and into the hands of education-first leaders!

Have more questions than answers?
Just click on the link that matches the election/voter topic your interested in.

What do napkins & blue lines have to say about health care?

2009-12-22T19:20:00.002-06:00

Ck out this SlideShare Presentation

Healthcare Napkins All

View more documents from Dan Roam.

UPDATED: January 13, 2010.

Seriously, Ampersand's blog on how much more the US spends on health care than anyplace else is a must (MUST) read. The following graphic is from National Geographic, but is referenced in the blog. One comment caught my eye, Anne wrote, "I wonder, though, whether the problem is that the US is really two nations; the wealthy, who spend a lot (*) on health care and live a long time, and the poor, who don't spend much and die young."

~Holiday par-tays~

2009-12-13T21:31:00.007-06:00

Ah, the holidays. So after Veteran's Day last month, I took a month off from blogging, and wow, has a lot happened since then! Rather than take a look back, let's look ahead to the last few weeks of December 2009!

Holiday Par-tays
How many holiday parties have you been to so far? Well, here's a few more for you to add to your calendar!

What: Amy Clark Meachum Fundraiser & Children Book Drive
When: Monday, December 14th from 5 to 6 PM
Where: The Austin Club, 110 East 9th Street, 3rd Floor
Why: Amy Clark Meachum has been a long time supporter of children's literacy programs like Reach Out and Read, and Reading is Fundamental, and is a current board member of Booksprings. Amy is running for 353rd Civil District Court, and this event will be a great time to get to know more about her, donate to her campaign and/or donate to the book drive.

What: H.O.P.E. for the Holidays - Grassroots (casual dress) Gala
When: Tuesday, December 15th from 6 to 8 PM
Where: Jovita's at 1617 South 1st Street
Why: Share some hope for the holidays and join Texans for Obama, Organizing for America, and Travis County Democratic Party for this fun and festive event! Find out more about the event by visiting www.AustinHopeForTheHolidays.com. Pick a gift from the list and bring your wrapped donation in-tow on Tuesday.

Last minute holiday gift shopping solution!
It's par for the course for me to do my Christmas shopping two weekends before Christmas. So, I'm right on schedule, because I checked most of the items off my fam & friend gift list today. I picked up toys from Terra Toys and a few gift certificates from local joints. All I need is to figure out what I'm going to wrap or put these gifts in.

If you're running behind and not sure where to find cool, local gifts for your loved ones, then you've got to run over to Lincoln Village and check out this year's Blue Genie Art Bazaar!

Wishing you all a healthy, safe, and joyous holiday season!

Remembering veterans and those still serving

2009-11-10T19:46:00.003-06:00

Many of you, like me, have family or friends who are veterans or current servicemen/women. Tomorrow across the state and country, we will remember those who have given their lives in service of their country and honor those who continue to serve.

This mid-week blog comes to you with a brief history about Veterans Day and ideas on how to celebrate.

History
World War I - On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, a temporary cessation of fighting between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. Officially, the war ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but "November 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars.'" According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "the original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m."

Parade
Travis County and the City of Austin's Veterans Day Parade will begin at 9 AM tomorrow (11/11/09), culminating with a memorial service at the State Capitol. Visit the City of Austin website for more info.

Flicks
My dad served in the Korean War, and he has told me countless stories of his time in the military. Growing up, I remember watching riveting war movies with him --not just on Veterans Day but just whenever. I have no idea what his favorite war movie is, but IMDB put together a list of the Top Rated! I'm kind of surprised how many movies on that list I've 1) actually watched and 2) really like!

Freebie food
Veterans and active duty military eat free tomorrow...at Applebee's. I tried to find local freebies, but the net wasn't as helpful. If you know of any freebies or special discounts, post 'em here!

So much can happen in a week

2009-11-08T15:28:00.004-06:00

From local tragedies to national legislative action so much has happened this week. A brief recap follows.

11/3: Election Results
Just under 4% of registered voters in our precinct cast their ballot in the November election. That's just under the county-wide voter turn out of 5%, but Precinct 307 (just west of Zilker) had a 17% voter turn-out! Wow, way to go PC 307!

Proposition 1 received 48% votes for, and 51% against. All other props passed by a large margin. Click election results for more info.

11/5: Tragedy at Fort Hood
Everyone by now has heard of Thursday's shooting that took 13 lives and wounded 30 at Fort Hood. Many have shown their support of the survivors and their families --donating blood and money. News8 reports on local memorial events scheduled for today and information on where to send donations.

Local memorial events
-- Sunday at 5 PM, at Killeen Civic and Conference Center
-- Monday, A local grassroots organization is asking everyone to drive with their headlights on to honor those directly or indirectly affected.• The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of Association of the United States Army has set up a Community Response to 11/5 Fund for anyone wishing to make monetary donations to help support the families of the victims involved in Thursday's shooting at Fort Hood.

Donation Information
--Monetary donations can be sent to the Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of Association of the United States Army. Send checks to the attention of "Community Response to 11/5, P.O. Box 10700, Killeen, Texas 76547.
-- Barton Creek Square mall goers can pick up $1 wooden rose at Kay's Hallmark. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the families of the victims of Ft. Hood.
-- Donations can also be sent to the Killeen Red Cross at 208 West Ave. A., Killeen, TX 76541.
-- Donations are tax deductible, click on News8 reports for more details.

11/7: Passage of House Health Care Bill
With a vote of 220 yeas and 215 nays, the United States House of Representatives passed the House version of the health care overhaul bill. The bill requires employers to offer health insurance and provide a public health insurance option to compete with for-profit insurance companies. It will reduce the percentage of uninsured Americans from 17% (today) down to 4% by 2019. Most of the a cost of the $1 trillion bill would go to help low- and moderate-income people purchase insurance (subsidies.) Now let's see what the US Senate ultimately churns out!

What will next week hold for us?

No tricks, just treats! 11 reasons to vote on Nov. 3

2009-11-01T17:52:00.005-06:00

I was derelict in my blog duties last week, because I had my sights set on Halloween fun! If you happened to stop by yesterday, you'll know I had a smorgasbord of treats: everything from the popular juice box (the choice selection of the night) to stickers, eyeball bubble and parachute toys and the 2nd popular choice of the night Goldfish! I also had Laffy Taffy candies on hand, because it's just not Halloween unless there's some candy!

It was so much fun seeing neighbor kids, teens, and parents dressed in terrifically scary or adorably cuddly (the babies, not the parents) costumes. My honey and I saw a baby lion, lots of princesses and pirates, a marine, classic Marvel Comic Book heroes, and other spooky characters! One of the highlights of the night was a lil' girl, maybe 2'5", who ran across the street lightening fast and enthusiastically shouting, "TRICK OR TREAT! TRICK OR TREAT! TRICK OR TREAT!" She was on a mission!

And though we didn't snap any photos w/the neighbor kids, we did get this photo of me holding down the treat stand.

11 Reasons to Vote on November 3rd
As for Tuesday's election, the 11 reasons to vote are...you guessed it, the 11 amendments to our Constitution. Voting on Tuesday is one way we can shape our State's fundamental principles.

The last Growing Democracy blog briefed you on the ballot, but for more information, visit the Southwest Austin Community Impact article: Constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.

November 3rd Polling Location

View Larger Map

I hope everyone had a sweet-filled and safe Halloween weekend.

So easy a caveman can...,well you know

2009-10-18T20:05:00.023-05:00

When I woke up this morning (at 2, 3, 4, 5, and finally 6 AM) I was feeling achy, tired, and queasy. In the delirium of the early AM hours, I thought "do I have the flying pig disease?" But as the sun began to shine through the blinds, I was determined to recover fast so I could check out the "How Will You Vote" event facilitated by David Kobierowski, TCDP Precinct 262 Chair and all-around dedicated Dem.

Thankfully, some fresh air, time with my dogs, a couple of over-the-counter meds, and lots of liquids had me feelin' back to 85%.

Constitutional Amendments Decoded

Today's Public Affairs Forum of Austin and League of Women Voters Forum was held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (off of 47th and Burnet). It started at 11:30 and promptly ended at 12:30 --including 20 minutes of Q&A.

Senator Watson did a fantastic job of translating the propositions and fielding voters' questions. Rather than reinvent the wheel (and, because I'm still feeling under the weather), the following is an edited version of the descriptions from the last week's Watson Wire.

Proposition 1 would permit the Texas Legislature to let cities/counties acquire buffer areas next to military installations. *There're legal nuances to the way cities/counties can acquire such areas.
Proposition 2 makes it clear that Texans' homes can be appraised ONLY as a home. Right now a home could be valued as what it *could* be, say, if it could be turned into an office space -think gentrification.

Proposition 3 strengthens state oversight of a property appraisal board’s practices and procedures. Would reduce wide swinging variation.
Proposition 4 would use money we already have to help existing universities (e.g. University of Houston, Texas Tech, UT-Arlington, UT-El Paso, and others) become "tier-one" public research universities. UT and A&M are tier-one.
Want more info about this prop? The Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) explains why the passage of Prop 4 is important for Texas -click brief.
And Proposition 5 allows adjoining appraisal districts or similar entities to consolidate their review board functions so they can be more efficient.

Proposition 6 would let the Veterans’ Land Board issue additional $ to help Texas veterans acquire land or get a mortgage loan.

Proposition 7 would clarify that members of the Texas State Guard (or similar groups) could hold civil offices such as justice of the peace or county commissioner.

Proposition 8 would clarify that the state can contribute money, property or other resources for a veteran’s hospital.
Most immediately, this would allow the state to help build a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, as required by a law that took effect earlier this year.

Proposition 9 would strengthen the state’s open beaches law by putting it in the constitution and clarifying that the public has the unrestricted right to use, and get to and from, public beaches.

Proposition 10 would lengthen the term of emergency services district board members from two to four years.
Finally, Proposition 11 builds on a current law limiting the ability of the state, or any other jurisdiction, to condemn and acquire property for economic development purposes through the use of eminent domain.

If you're left scratching your head as to which way to vote on these propositions, there's an easy to digest Voter's Guide (PDF) prepared by the League of Women Voters. As for me, after today's event I'm confident that voting yes on these props is the right way to go.

Like to be extra prepared? Get a sneak peak of the ballot.

Soo...now what?
As the title of this blog implies, voting early is oh-so-easy!

From Blogger Pictures

Find a polling place by accessing this interactive search feature on the Secretary of State's website. Travis County has a list of all the early polling locations.

Do you have unanswered questions about voting? Visit Travis County's voter and November 3rd election Q&A page.

Hope you can make it out to an early polling place!

After Halloween, there's voting!

2009-10-11T21:29:00.008-05:00

Some of you may know that I graduated in August from UT's Master of Science in Social Work program. I can't tell you what a relief it is to not have to squeeze life in between work, school, and internship responsibilities. My time is mine again, and it has been wonderful!! The thing is, though, that I enjoy procrastinating with my time...sometimes. :0)

Why do I bring this up? Well, Halloween and the November 3rd election are around the corner and I still haven't bought any candy, have no clue how I'm going to dec-out the garage for neighbors, and haven't posted anything about the Constitutional amendments that'll be on the ballot. (Okay, so, the last one may not be as fun as getting the garage "halloween-y" but it's probably more important.)

November 3rd Ballot?
Now if you're asking yourself, "November 3rd ballot, huh?" Then we're both lucky! Because the Secretary of State website has a sample ballot and a downloadable PDF of the amendments. Plus, I recently learned that our very own Senator Kirk Watson will be leading a "How Will You Vote" meeting on Sunday, October 18th from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. I'll be tweeting from there and snapping a few pix for the blog. Hope to see ya' out there!

I still have it on my list to devote a blog to the what's on the ballot. But tonight, as I get ready to fly out to Harlingen at 6:50 AM tomorrow for work, I am pooped and ready to hit the hay.

State Board of Education
Another topic for a future blog is Texas' education system. Specifically, the knuckle-headed approach that has been taken by the Rs on the State Board of Education. I'll be posting soon about what the board has been doing and which board candidates to keep an eye on.

Health Care Reform Made Simply? Kinda' Sorta' Maybe Not Entirely
And, what would a post from yours truly be without something about health care?

The Kaiser Family foundation has new Side-by-Side Comparison tools, including a breakdown of the health care reform proposals before Congress.

The Commonwealth Fund has created an interactive US map you can use to view state-specific rankings and results of their 2009 health system State-by-State Scorecard. Texas moved up from 48th place in 2008 to 46th. Check out their website for details on what goes into the scoring matrix.

'K, nighty-night.

We are Dems! September CEC meeting recap

2009-10-01T20:00:00.003-05:00

September's County Executive Committee meeting for Travis County Democrats was anything but dispassionate! We had a handful of candidates attend, most stated their name and the seat they are running for, but two candidates stood out for me.

He's experienced, sharp, and deeply committed to bringing back nonpartisan justice, real equity based on law rather than bias, to the 3rd Court of Appeals. Click on the photo to the left to learn more about Mr. Kuhn and it'll become clear why he is the best person for the job!

Another Dem you may know from his very active democratic presence in Austin and Travis County, is John Lipscombe. He's running for County Court at Law #3. If you haven't met Mr. Lipscombe, now is the time to get to know more about this life-long democrat and his dedication to the criminal justice system.

There was also an energetic discourse that, when it comes down to the core issue, was about how precinct chairs can be inclusive of, learn from but not be distracted by those with whom disagreements arise. The take away for me was to know that I am among people who get fired up and give their all, not just to the party, but to their communities. Sometimes that passion fuels fiery tempers. And, though, disagreements may arise, it is our unwavering commitment to progressive democracy and social justice that seals our bond.

I think this mini-flyer, available at the meeting courtesy of Texas Democratic Party, captures why I'm proud to say, "We are Dems!"

Quicky: YEAH, my precinct chair stationary is in!

2009-09-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

Back in action!

2009-09-23T22:15:00.004-05:00

Returning from hiatus
You may wonder, "Hmm, I haven't seen any Precinct 463 blogs in a while. Where has my favorite precinct blogger gone to?" (...or not.) Well, I spent 2 weeks in beautiful Italy visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice/Murano with stops at Pisa, Vernazza and Lido. I could spend the rest of this blog going on about how amazing the experience was, but... I'll refrain.

Instead, here's a lil slide show of food my honey and I enjoyed on our travels.

It was great to be away for that long! But then I spent all last week recovering from jet lag -oi! Now, I'm back and ready to get democracy growing in precinct 463!

Shot in the Dark
Me, red state with dreams of turning blue.
You, curious and willing...
to turn Texas blue by volunteering a minimal amount of time to the democratic party.

We need folks interested in filling vacant precinct chair positions or signing-up as co-chairs.
As a first step, contact me or click on the Travis County Democratic Party link to the left. Second, come out to next week's (9/30) Travis County Democratic Party's meeting. It's relaxed and takes only an hour out of your evening.

What: Travis County Democratic Party Meeting
When: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6 PM
Where: AFL-CIO 1106 Lavaca Street

View Larger Map

Achoo!
As you know securing health care reform isn't in the bag, but there are concrete steps we can all take to insure our voices are heard loud and clear!

First, the fun stuff... The video below has gone viral, but if you haven't seen it, check it out and pass it on to others. It's a nice break from all the seriousness and a cheeky way to get the message across.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Second, write a short letter or make a quick call to your US rep. Even if we know that Cornyn is opposed to reforming the broken health care system, it is critical that he hear from as many of us as possible --let him know that Texans want health insurance reform, and we want it NOW. Let him know that a public option should be included.

Senator John Cornyn
Phone: 202-224-2934

About the Public Option, excerpt from MoveOn.org email:

Some people say they don't like me because I'm too expensive, but that's just a flat-out lie. Keeping me around will actually save money—I'd cost 10% less than the typical private plan.
I'm the best way to keep insurance companies honest. Like my friend Senator Jay Rockefeller has said, "Without the steady, positive influence of a public plan option in the marketplace, we will never truly solve the health care crisis in this country. Private health insurance has a long history of cutting people off or charging too much for too little."
Over 60 House progressives have publicly pledged to only vote for a bill that has me in it.

Sources:
Letter to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Congressional Budget Office, July 14, 2009
"Rockefeller Unveils Public Plan Option," Office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, June 10, 2009
"60 Members of Congress Say 'No Public Plan, No Conference,'" Firedoglake, August 17, 2009

Offline

2009-08-29T22:52:00.003-05:00

I'll be offline through mid-September.

But there are many groups involved in pushing health insurance reform forward. So....

If you haven't already, sign-up for updates from CPPP's Texas Voice for Health Reform, connect with the Austin chapter of Organizing for America, or check out what the Grey Panthers or Health Care for America, Now! are up to.

Web Beat: Short Sharp Science and NYT op-ed blog

2009-08-18T22:48:00.004-05:00

This week's entry are re-posts from blogs I found interesting. Follow the links to view the original posts.

------------------
After clicking on the link below and reading the New Scientist's blog, scroll down to check out the comments.

Socialised medicine and death panels: business as usual - Short Sharp Science - New Scientist
Shared via AddThis

--------------
August 18, 2009, 11:45 pm
From State to State, Many Choices to Few
By Anne Underwood

The debate over whether the government should offer a public insurance plan is all about competition. How competitive is the private insurance market right now? It depends on where you live.

As a general rule, the larger, more densely populated states have the most choice — and even the biggest insurer controls only a minority share of the market. According to statistics from the American Medical Association, the leading insurance provider in California covers 24 percent of the population, while in New York the figure is 26 percent and in Florida, 30 percent.

But there are nine states where a single insurer covers 70 percent or more of the people. In Hawaii, one insurer covers 78 percent. In Alabama, it is 83 percent. And in at least 17 other states one insurer covers at least half the population.

Some members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is taking a lead on health care legislation, come from states where the insurance market is highly concentrated. The chairman, Max Baucus, is from Montana, where 75 percent of people are covered by one major insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. For Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, the figure is 71 percent, by Wellmark. For Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, it is 78 percent, by WellPoint.

“For many Americans, the idea that they have a choice of health plans is about as mythical as unicorns,” said Jacob S. Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale.

But Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the industry trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans, argues that competition abounds. “In the top 40 metropolitan areas, there are eight or more health plans in every one of them,” he said.

I need a time-turner! And yes, that's an HP reference. ; )

2009-08-12T21:35:00.010-05:00

ORIGINALLY POSTED: August 12, 2009
There are two great events happening Thursday evening, and if I could be in two places at once, then tomorrow (8/13) would be the day I'd use my time travelin' skills!

Haven't voiced your concerns yet or want to hear your neighbors' thoughts on health care reform? Go to the Texas Medical Association's (TMA's) town hall meet-up at 6:30 PM.

It was rumored that Senators Cornyn and/or Hutchinson would be in attendance, but neither US Senator for Texas will be at the meeting. Nevertheless, arrive early, grab some free refreshments, and get ready to participate in the health care reform talks! Click on the photo to visit TMA's website for more information about their regional town halls.

Want to learn money management lessons from the experts? Want to pass those skills on to teens, adults or seniors?
Get info on how to become a certified FLCCT educator at tomorrow night's Financial Literacy Coalition Central Texas Volunteer Orientation! Arrive by 5:30 PM at the Travis County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Click on the photo to read FLCCT's blog.

Hmm....be in the thick of another health care reform meeting or pick up the basics on FLCCT volunteer ops. ...I'll let ya' know which one I go with. : )
-------------------------------------
POSTED: August 14, 2009

As you might have seen, if you follow me on Twitter, I was at last night's TMA town hall. By the time the town hall began, the meeting room was PACKED! We (my dude and I) arrived early though and found seats quickly.

The facilitator emphasized that the town hall was not going to be a debate (read: brawl) and the focus was on hearing everyone out (read: no hissing/booing). It appeared to work too, because no one was booed. Although, some people were cheered-on louder than others! --It was the folks in favor of reforming health insurance who were most loudly supported with energetic claps and whoops from the audience.

Those opposed to making changes to the health care system emphasized the right to not be "forced" to have health care coverage, the problem with third-party interference, the fear that people will not want to be doctor's if there are too many barriers (i.e., low Medicare reimbursement rates, malpractice litigation, red tape), and personal experiences with the "world-class health care" that they have right now. That last one, ignores that so many of us do not have access to that "world-class health care." Oh, and there was this one lady who said, "I want to keep my insurance...if someone doesn't have insurance, they need to decide what to do about that." -Wow, how self-centered can a person be?!

Those in favor of reforming the current health care system pointed out: the need for lower, reasonably priced health insurance premiums and prescription drugs; the importance of including people with pre-existing conditions rather than excluding them like so many insurance plans do; and their strong agreement that every American should have access to affordable health care. One women said it is immoral to deny affordable health care.

Based on claps and whoops, it is my guess the overwhelming majority of those in attendance support health insurance reform and agree that affordable access to health care is needed.

The video is a little sticky at some points (freezes up) but feel free to watch it here or at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1979332

Hittin' the Streets in the Summer Heat

2009-08-05T23:08:00.009-05:00

All the health insurance reform talk and sweltering days shifted my plans last month. But August and the coming months hold lots of promise!

For starters, I'm going to begin reaching out to neighbors offline -door knocking, phone calling, and the like. One of my hopes is to hold periodic precinct gatherings. I'm wondering what the first event should be. Hmmm.

Ideas that are percolating....

Travis County Sheriff's Office, Crime Prevention Seminar Series
Communities gain practical tools to combat crime through education and prevention. Seminars are free and interactive.
Topics covered include:-personal safety awareness -burglary prevention -crimes against children -identity theft -gang awareness -domestic violence awareness

National Night Out
National Night Out is Oct. 6, 2009. Neighborhoods must register by August 28! Questions regarding National Night Out can be directed to the City of Austin at (512) 974-4900 or www.cityofaustin.org/police (click Crime Prevention.)

Animal shelter presentations
The City of Austin is building a new animal services center. The facility will feature some exciting design and architectural elements to promote the health and happiness of the animals in our care. Neighborhood associations interested in learning more about the new animal services center, can schedule a free presentation from the Health Department.

If you've got ideas, send them to me via email! : )

~many thanks~

Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Rally

2009-07-26T16:37:00.013-05:00

U.S. Census reports that 5.5 million Texans (that's 1 in 4) are uninsured. Yesterday there were well over 560 Texans rallying in support of health care reform! So, it was kind of like 1 supporter representing 10,000 uninsured Texan!

We gathered outside the AFL-CIO building on 11th and Lavaca at 1 PM, heard Congressman Doggett, Texas Senator Kirk Watson, and others speak about health care reform. I saw folks from the Capital City Young Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Texas State Employees Union, and many others standing side by side. We held signs outside the AFL-CIO and asked folks to "HONK for HEALTH CARE REFORM." -I wish I would've gotten a picture of that sign, but I was busy sweating and chanting my support! (teehee)

I did capture a short video clip of our march from the AFL-CIO down to Woolridge Park.

Also out there were debaters in opposition of Congress reforming the broken health care system. Here's one video clip from KVUE. Some of the people on the opposing side found themselves compelled to cross the street and attempt to bait people into arguments by using insults, others shouted from across the street, "Did you read the bill!" Totally valid question, and that's why I did research on the state of uninsured Texans as well as on the bill that's before the U.S. House.

So here a few facts about the uninsured, followed by reasons why to support the House Bill, and I end this week's blog with two things you can do to get behind health care reform.

Health Insurance Coverage Facts
Click on hyperlink to view source.
* Fastest growing group of uninsured make $75,000 or more!
- may be due to high premium costs
- "The number of uninsured grows because private insurance is not affordable or available."
* 3 in 4 low-wage workers at small private businesses did not receive health ins. coverage through their employer (2002)
* "Over the long term, rising health care costs contribute to higher insurance premiums and make fewer individuals and companies able to afford insurance." See image below, click on image to go to source.
* According to one study, nearly a third (30%) of U.S. health care expenses are misspent on inefficient or ineffective care.

Why Support House Health Reform Bill
based on information from the Center on Public Policy Priorities
* The bill provides protection against high out-of-pocket costs
* It would give strong affordability protections and extra help for small businesses
* Steps would be made to improve health care and reduce wasteful spending
* House Bill 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act includes a child-specific benefit package so that children who get health coverage through the new Health Insurance Exchanges will have the benefits they need.

*Bonus* The Congressional Budget Office indicates that the bill would be cost-neutral over the 10-year budget window, and would -in fact- create a $6 billion surplus!

Action Items
* On 7/28 call Democratic Members of Texas Delegation at 1-877-264-4226, a Health Care for America Now (HCAN) event.
* Call U.S. House members at the Capitol Hill switchboard toll-free at 1-866-277-7617; or 1-202-224-3121 if toll-free lines are busy -voice your support for the bill, ask the House to send a strong bill to the Senate.

Have a great week!

Health Care Reform Rally

2009-07-22T20:47:00.007-05:00

Rally for health care reform on Saturday! Come out and support health care reform that reduces costs and ensures quality care.

Details
Hosted by Mayor Lee Leffingwell
Co-sponsored by City Council Members Sheryl Cole and Bill Spelman
Featuring Hon. Lloyd Doggett, U.S. Congressman; Hon. Kirk Watson, State Senator; and Hon. Ann Kitchen, former State Representative.

Date: 7/25, Saturday
Time: 1 to 3 PM
Location: 1106 Lavaca St., Ste. 200
View MapQuest Map

More info at: Organizing for Austin - Central Texas

Send questions to: AustinOFA@gmail.com

Free campaign training camp!

2009-07-18T08:45:00.003-05:00

Ever wanted to work on a political campaign but didn't know where to start? Interested in honing your messaging or campaign fundraising strategies? Then consider signing up for one of the day and a half long campaign camps hosted by the Texas Democratic Party!

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of campaigns from experienced political professionals. Participants will apply newly acquired knowledge through live practice and receive individualized feedback on the techniques demonstrated during interactive segments. The camp also provides an opportunity for attendees to connect with other political novices, enthusiasts, and professionals.

RSVP by visiting TDP-Mini_Camp and selecting the camp that fits your schedule!

August 1-2: Austin
August 15-16: McAllen
September 19-20: El Paso

Additional dates in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth will be scheduled for September and October and posted on the Texas Democratic Party Grassroots Training website once those dates are confirmed.

Space is limited for this FREE training camp. Reserve your spot today by registering at http://www.txdemocrats.org/grassroots/mini_camps.

If you can't make it to one of the camps, but you want to donate or volunteer with the Texas Democratic Party click on the appropriate button below.

Call, email, text, post for health care reform

2009-07-07T11:25:00.007-05:00

UPDATE excerpt from TVfHR newsletter:

What Has Already Been Gained from Health Reform

Despite the cautions that we must address in these new draft bills, in his weekly health reform update, Michael Miller of Community Catalyst encourages advocates to keep in perspective the gains that are already being made. He reminds us that,

“The bills that are being discussed represent an enormous step forward from the status quo. There is virtually across-the-board consensus on key reforms including:
Expanding Medicaid to at least the federal poverty level (FPL)
Eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions and experience rating
Improving the value of health insurance by eliminating annual or lifetime caps on benefits
Providing sliding-scale subsides for low- and moderate-income households
Reorienting the health care system to strengthen primary care, improve care coordination, and increase clinical effectiveness”

---------------------
Post is from www.texasvoiceforhealthreform.org
Written by Kymberlie Quong-Charles
July 7, 2009

This week several national groups, including SEIU, AARP, Consumer’s Union, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Families USA, are urging people across the country to call Congress and tell them to pass health care reform this year.

Texas Voice for Health Reform encourages you to take the following simple actions.

1. Make three calls:

* On July 7th and 8th please CALL 1-866-210-3678 to tell your members of Congress: “We need National Health Reform that delivers affordable, accessible, quality coverage to ALL Texans this year.”
* This service will only connect you to one member of Congress at a time. In order to reach all of your members, please make this call three times, making sure to speak with the office of your member in the House of Representatives and Senators Cornyn and Hutchison. To find who represents you visit this link and type in your zip code next to “Find Your Officials.”

2. COPY, PASTE and SEND this message to all of your lists and contacts

3. POST this alert on your Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter accounts

4. TEXT the following to everyone in your phone’s address book:
“Call 1-866-210-3678 to tell your members of Congress “WE NEED NATIONAL
HEALTH REFORM THAT DELIVERS AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE,
QUALITY COVERAGE TO ALL TEXANS THIS YEAR!”

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION

* In Texas, our insurance premiums have risen ten times faster than our incomes in the last decade

* The average group family premium in Texas is about $13,000 a year, which is out of reach for low-income working families.

* But millions of Texans can’t even buy insurance at the average rate: under Texas’ weak regulations, employers today with fewer than 50 workers are paying up to $22,000 a year to cover just one employee!

* Our 2009 Texas legislature has failed to pass bills to significantly improve coverage for our 1.5 million uninsured children

* Ethnic and racial health disparities in Texas are severe, with Hispanics comprising nearly 60% of our uninsured population, though they make up just 38% of all Texans.

Texas Voice for Health Reform Principles
Texas Health Fact Sheet
CPPP’s Texas Health Care Primer

Celebrating the Fourth!

2009-07-03T20:05:00.004-05:00

How are you celebrating this fourth? If you haven't signed up for BBQ hosting or potlucking and you're still debating what to check out, there's plenty of fun and *free* activities happening around Central Texas tomorrow for you to enjoy!

You can find more on About.com or Statesman.com.

H-E-B Austin Symphony July Fourth Concert and Fireworks— 8:30 p.m. Symphony performs; fireworks display at 9:30. Auditorium Shores. www.austinsymphony.org. We'll be checking this out from a sweet view downtown.
East Communities YMCA July Fourth Family Fun Festival — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swimming and other activities, food and contests. 5315 Ed Bluestein Road. 933-9622, www.austinymca.org/events.php.
San Marcos Summerfest— 5 to 11 p.m. Kids' parade and costume contest. Live music begins at 6:15 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. San Marcos Plaza Park, 401 E. Hopkins St. www.summerfestsanmarcos.com.

Speaking of ideas...
In preparation for the fourth, I surfed around .gov sites and the History Channel to read up on 'fun facts' about Independence Day. Here are just a few that I found on Census.gov.

* U.S. population
July 1776 - an estimated 2.5 million
July 2009 - 304 million
How far we've come...Check out these early maps of the US!
* Firsts
7/4/1776 Continental Congress (13 colonies) approved the Declaration of Independence
7/8/1776 first reading of Declaration of Independence
9/17/1787 U.S Constitution was signed
4/6/1789 first day Congress conducted business under the Constitution

It just so happens that my birthday is 7/10...so it was neat to read that the Declaration was first read to Washington's army on 7/9 (close enough to 'my day.')
* On the grill
More than a 1 in 4 chance your hot dog came from Iowa
Beef on the grill is likely from TX -whether you're in AZ or NY

My ideal 4th of July menu? Hmm, that's easy! Real barbecued brisket, grilled chicken basted with homestyle sweet-and-spicy BBQ sauce, grilled corn with Tex-Mex fixins (butter, cayenne, mayo), classic Deviled Eggs, my Momma's potato salad, and for dessert...chilled watermelon cut in slices for easy chompin' and whipped cream topped strawberry shortcake. Bevies: homemade sweet tea and lemonade, beer optional.
Ah, ya' gotta love summertime celebrations!
* Fireworks*
$217 million worth of fireworks were imported to the US
$14.9 million were exported
*2007 figures

I don't know what it is about fireworks, but I never get tired of seeing those flashy bright lights and thrillin' loud bangs!

* U.S. Flag
$4.7 million in US flags were imported ($4.3 from China)
$2.4 million were exported -Mexico purchased $1.2 million (top purchaser)

The mini-flags are easy to store but also easy to loose! I need to find mine for tomorrow. Chances are...I'll find them on the 5th. Pooh!

Click on Declaration of Independence for more history about the declaration and colonists.

Archives.gov is another great source for U.S. Charters of Freedom.

Happy fourth of July!

On the Radar: Extreme Texas Heat and National Health Reform

2009-06-27T20:48:00.011-05:00

Extreme Texas Heat
We've seen record heat here in Central Texas and it's barely one week into Summer 2009! It is no surprise to read that the National Weather Service forecast for Travis County this week includes temps at or near 100. The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services offered these important safety tips:

Staying safe in the extreme heat

* hydrate early with clear, cool liquids
* avoid strenuous activity during the hottest time of the day
* avoid alcohol and caffeine use
* wear a wide-brimmed hat and lightweight clothing
* pay particular attention the very young and the elderly
* call 911 if you suspect a heat-related emergency

Texas summers can be unbearable, but most of us are able to find reprieve from the extreme heat. However, for Austinites who are homeless, finding relief from the scorching summer temperatures and staying hydrated is a matter of life or death. The City of Austin has teamed up with Mobile Loaves and Fishes to deliver bottles of water to Austin's working poor and homeless. You can help "keep Austin cool" by visiting www.mlfnow.org/water.

National Health Reform
You may have watched ABC's Prescription for America on Wednesday (6/24/09) where President Obama discussed the need for health care reform. Click on Whitehouse Blog to read a recap of what questions were asked and answered, if you happened to not catch it on TV. Excerpt:

The average family has seen their premiums double in the last nine years. Costs for families are going up three times faster than wages... Out-of-pocket expenses have gone up 62 percent. Businesses increasingly are having to cut back on health care or ...employers even if they don't want to are having to pass on costs to others. -President Obama

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 43 million people under 65 are uninsured. According to a 2008 report from www.AmericasHealthRankings.org, Texas ranks in the bottom five states on overall health scores. The low rank is due, in part, to Texas's limited access to primary care and the high rate of uninsured individuals (1 in 4).

The people behind the numbers, the lives that have been effected by the current health care system are more important than all the stats. Do you have a health care story you want to share? Texas Voice for Health Reform (TVfHR) is collecting stories for its state-wide health care story bank. Contributed stories will be used for educational and informational purposes (e.g. legislative testimony, TV, radio, or print media). Click on Texas Voice for Health Reform for more information on how you can contribute!

You can also join in the conversation locally at tomorrow night's "Health Care for All Texas," hosted by the Travis County Democratic Party (TCDP.)

Date: Monday, June 29, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm
Location: Central Market North Lamar Community Room
Info: TCDP will be discussing what we can do to push forward the passing of HR 676
Single Payer Health Insurance.

Want more information about health insurance coverage in Texas?
Health Insurance Resource Center
U.S. News and World Report, Texas Health Plan Search

ghkfnr4c5e

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

2009-06-21T15:20:00.004-05:00

Regardless of where one may stand -behind, to the side or in opposition- with respect to President Obama, his article in Parade is definitely worth the read and has truth in it. I was particularly moved by the article. The following excerpt resonated deeply with me:

And it’s not enough to just be physically present. Too often, especially during tough economic times like these, we are emotionally absent: distracted, consumed by what’s happening in our own lives, worried about keeping our jobs and paying our bills, unsure if we’ll be able to give our kids the same opportunities we had.

Our children can tell. They know when we’re not fully there. And that disengagement sends a clear message—whether we mean it or not—about where among our priorities they fall.

------

On this Father’s Day, I am recommitting myself to that work, to those duties that all parents share: to build a foundation for our children’s dreams, to give them the love and support they need to fulfill them, and to stick with them the whole way through, no matter what doubts we may feel or difficulties we may face. That is my prayer for all of us on this Father’s Day, and that is my hope for this nation in the months and years ahead.

For the full article, click on We Need Fathers To Step Up by President Barack Obama,
published: 06/21/2009 in Parade.

Mark your calendar: Events happening on 6/16 and 6/18!

2009-06-14T18:26:00.008-05:00

Texans for Obama (TFO) Event on Tuesday, June 16th!

If you're on Facebook and connected with other TFO members, you may have already seen information about Tuesday's "Meet John Sharp, Candidate for U.S. Senate."

Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Scholz Garten
1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX

John Sharp is the former Comptroller of Texas, and he's running for the U.S. Senate being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison. Learn more about his campaign at: www.johnsharp.com

I plan to post some photos, and possibly Tweet, from the event! Hope you can make it out!
The above image is from www.johnsharp.com.

===============

Also happening this week, is...United Way Capital Area's VIVIR UNIDOS event on Thursday!

Again, I'll be there and will try to Tweet updates from the event. I'm really looking forward to hearing how we can all Live United/Vivir Unidos!
========

Date: 6/18/09
Sorry I wasn't able to post Tweets from Tuesday's or Today's event. Tuesday I had a flat -big screw in my tire and I couldn't make it to the 6 PM meeting. Today my iPhone died -no photos, no tweets. :(

TCDP Committee Meeting May 27, 2009

2009-06-06T20:00:00.005-05:00

If you haven't been out to a Travis County Democratic Party (TCDP) Committee meeting, please consider coming out to the next meeting on July 29th at 6! It was pretty entertaining to hear the back-and-forth regarding resolutions and recommendations. Plus, you'll get to meet other Austinites invested in making local politics work for us. =) The minutes from last month's meeting were just sent out earlier this week, and here are some of the things that were discussed.

Appointment of precinct chairs

Precinct 126 - Andrew Bucknall
Precinct 373 - Dave Rawlins
Precinct 448 - Glen Shield
Precinct 463 - Noelita Lugo

Resolution re: Lady Bird Lake & the Waterfront Overlay District

The resolution that passed (Yes: 30/No: 17) says that TCDP supports the Austin City Council's adoption of Waterfront Overlay Taskforce (WOTF) recommendations including re-establish Waterfront Planning Advisory Board and sub-district maximum height limits for structures built along Lady Bird Lake. For more information about the WOTF and why this is an important issue for all of us who love Lady Bird Lake, fka Town Lake, check out these resources:

Austinist's April 2009 article re: Waterfront Overlay District
Austin Chronicle's article re: Lady Bird Lake, what developers want, and the public good
City of Austin's Waterfront Overlay Taskforce
SaveTownLake.org's comments on Waterfront Overlay

Travis County leads in all category of voters compared to statewide averages!

Jeff Smith of Opinion Analysts Inc., talked about voter trends and turnout in the 2008 General Election -I shared a snapshot, via Twitter, of the chart he distributed. A link to the chart is unavailable, but I'll upload a picture of the table and update the blog.

TCDP web/tech upgrades - a demonstration of what capabilities the new website will have will be shown at the next meeting.

In an effort to have more transparency, TCDP's Finance Chair distributed the 2009 Operating Budget to all attendees. Any significant changes to the budget will be voted on prior to changes in expenditure. 2009 income goal: $191K. Make a donation. It was recommended that the Rules & Procedures Task Force develop specific policies regarding fundraising and expenditures of TCDP funds. This would help provide transparency and increased accountability.

Training

Deputy Voter Registrar training - first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 6:30 PM at 5501 Airport Road. Training is also available during the workweek.

Precinct Chair training - Training was conducted with precinct chairs after the meeting. The training covered Chapters 1 - 3 of the newly revamped training manual. The remaining chapters will be covered in August and September. If you want to learn about community organizing and resources available to Get Out the Vote, please contact me.

TCDP's Legislative Issues Committee Chair, David Kobierowski wants to know what issues are important to you. Is it voter rights, education, zoning, military/veteran issues, health care, economy, affordable housing, or other issues? Let's discuss via comments, email, Twitter, or in-person (email me first, please.)

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July, 29th at the AFL/CIO located at 1106 Lavaca Street.

The above summary was taken from minutes provided by TCDP.

Web Beat: Summer Reading, Energy Audit and more

2009-06-01T20:05:00.012-05:00

Since I'm big on labeling (tagging) things, I'm adding a new category to my blogs: Web Beat. Anytime I share a hodge-podge of info gleaned from the web, it'll be lumped together under "Web Beat." So here we go....

Summer Reading Program

Check out the link above for information regarding Austin's 2009 Summer Reading Program, One Green World. On June 6th from 10 AM to Noon, GreenFest kicks off this summer's reading program at the Pleasant Hill Branch!

City of Austin Budget Town Hall Meetings

Become involved in developing your city's budget priorities. First step, attend a meeting.

Meetings will run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Wednesday, June 10 - Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Dr.
Monday, June 15 - Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane
Tuesday, June 16 - Toney Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones Road

Is your house older than 10 yrs? Then you'll want to read the Austinist's post "Energy Audit Requirements Start Today." Excerpt:

Audits are expected to cost $200 to $300 for a typical single-family home of 1,800 square feet...Auditors set their own prices, which depend on the size of the home. ...There is no requirement to make improvements [-you] just have to give the results to the person buying the house.

DNC coming to Austin -found this on Burnt Orange Report through Twitter post.

According to Marketing Charts, Foxnews.com/politics came in second (by a long shot) to The Huffington Post! Follow the link above to view the results.

And speaking of rankings... Austin ranks as a top 10 city by Kiplinger. Click on Community Impact to read the full article.

Around town: Pachanga

2009-05-31T19:18:00.005-05:00

The Second Annual Latino Music Festival, also known as Pachanga, was an absolute blast! There were 3 stages with 20 bands staggered for maximum listening pleasure. Pachanga-goers enjoyed traditional latin rhythm songs, soulful sounds of Cordero, pop-rock by The Chris Perez Band, and ol' school mariachi with a twist -an all-female group!
In addition to the sounds were the beautiful sights of Fiesta Gardens -one of the gems of East Austin for sure.

Hello neighbors

2009-05-28T22:58:00.004-05:00

Hi there South Austin!

At yesterday's Travis County Democratic Party's County Executive Committee meeting, I was appointed as Precinct 463's Precinct Chair. The agenda was pretty packed -the meeting ran from 6 to about 8:30 -yowsers! But it was really interesting and I even ran into acquaintances who I hadn't known were precinct chairs too. After the meeting the first of a two-part precinct chair training was offered. I tweeted from the meeting, but wasn't able to tweet the training.

There's so much work to be done before the 2010 elections, but I'm confident that our neighborhood has the optimal climate for growing democracy and getting out the vote! In the coming weeks I'll be blogging about my efforts as precinct chair and post information on how you can become a block captain or participate/support the democratic party in Precinct 463 in other ways.

You can find me on Twitter and Facebook, and as soon as a Precinct 463 Twitter account is up I'll be sure to share that with you.

In solidarity,

Noelita