Tejano Insider

YD's Given the Cold Shoulder by Eddie Saenz

2008-03-01T11:23:00.001-08:00

Dist. 40 Poll Shows Rep. Pena With Comfortable Lead

2008-02-29T05:44:00.000-08:00

A recent poll conducted by horse racing lobby interests in the race between incumbent Rep. Aaron Pena and challenger Eddie Saenz shows Rep. Pena with a more than comfortable lead as election day approaches. Rep. Pena has represented the house district centered in Edinburg for the past five years. Although widely thought to have had one his best legislative sessions Pena is challenged by perennial candidate Eddie Saenz who was overwhelmingly rejected in a previous challenge in 2004. Following the release of the compelling poll numbers in support of Pena the group followed up with a sizable donation. A number of groups once thought opposed to the incumbent have followed with their support. Recent news stories have exposed a less than flattering history Saenz had while serving on an economic development board. He is reported to have had in excess of one million dollars awarded to his company while he served on the board.

Dist. 40: AFL-CIO Endorses Rep. Peña

2008-01-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Rep. Aaron Peña received the endorsement of the state AFL-CIO as well as the Rio Grande Valley Labor Council. These endorsements by organized labor are a boost to the Peña campaign and provide a deep contrast on the image created by his opponent. Peña is a board certified labor attorney and spent twenty years protecting the rights of working men and women. His familiarity with the issues that affect labor make him a natural choice for their endorsement.

Rep. Peña Labor Endorsement

2008-01-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

Rep. Aaron Pena received word yesterday of his endorsement by the Texas State Employees Union. The news came after he addressed an audience composed of members of the Union at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The endorsement from this organized labor group directly contradicts the accusations made by Pena's opponent regarding his efforts in Austin during the last legislative session. Despite efforts by the Eddie Saenz camp to distort Pena's record, those who have worked with Pena seem to be ignoring the smears. Whereas Saenz has sought endorsements from local political insiders, Pena seems to be garnering the favor of his community.

Dist. 40 Candidate Eddie Saenz DWI Court Date

2008-01-24T05:31:00.000-08:00

District 40 candidate for state representative Eddie Saenz has a date with the judge on January 31st to try to do what he promised and failed to do for citizens of that district - explain the questionable circumstances surrounding his DWI in Mission Texas.

Let's see if he comes clean this time or if he continues the cover up to keep the public away from how he and his political buddies got him the special treatment that allowed him to go home without arrest even after failed sobriety tests and refused to take the breathalyzer.

Dist. 40: State Party Chairman Endorses Rep. Aaron Peña

2008-01-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

Edinburg – Former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting has once again endorsed State Representative Aaron Peña to be re-elected in the March 2008 Democratic Primary. The Democratic Party leader, who served as the Texas Democratic Party chairman from 2003 to 2006, first issued an endorsement in 2004 when Peña was first challenged by Eddie Saenz. Representative Peña went on to a landslide victory, beating back his challenger with nearly 65% of the vote.

“I have known Aaron and his family for over 30 years and it is a pleasure to endorse him,” said Soechting. “Aaron is a good Democrat and I encourage every Democrat to come out and vote for him.”

Although it is uncommon for state party chairmen to endorse in the Democratic Primary, Soechting made the extraordinary gesture in their first race. Peña welcomed the support of another good Democrat.

“I thank Charles for his friendship and support,” said Representative Peña. “Good Democrats like Charles have spent years laboring in advancing the cause of working Texans. I am proud to have spent many years working with good people like Chairman Soechting. These are years of experience money cannot buy.”

Representative Peña first started his career in Democratic Party politics at the age of 9 when he worked as a volunteer for the 1968 Democratic Party nominee for President Hubert Humphrey. In college he served as president of the Hidalgo County Young Democrats. Peña later went on to the state capitol where he worked for two Democratic state representatives. The state Texas Democratic Party thereafter put him to work in Austin. This continued until he was hired to work with Democratic United States Senator Bob Krueger. The National Democratic Party called on Peña to help draft the National Platform at the Los Angeles Democratic National Convention. Peña also served as the State Chairman of the Texas New Democrats and the State Tejano Democrats. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston he served as a national delegate.

Rep. Pena is currently serving his fifth year in the Texas Legislature.

Capitol Annex: Where is Eddie Saenz?

2008-01-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Capitol Annex asks a question many of us have been asking - Where is Eddie Saenz? On top of the several days he went missing from the proper procedures in the legal processing of his DWI, to his strange absence from the annual gathering of Democrats in Hidalgo County, to the real location of his residence, people are asking questions. People may want to know what's up but the reclusive candidate for Texas House, District 40 has remained silent. Although he claimed to be taking care of a sick relative, Capitol Annex caught him enjoying a basketball game with his buds. I'm sure this wasn't Kelly Fero's idea. So far his wife has done all the talking while Eddie has gone missing. This year it's the strangest campaign in Texas.

District 40: Eddie Saenz Files for State Rep Under a Cloud as to His Residence

2007-12-31T17:30:00.000-08:00

Waiting until the last days for filing, Eddie Saenz formally filed to challenge State Representative Aaron Pena. Saenz was previously overwhelmingly defeated by Pena in the 2004 Democratic Primary, with Pena winning 64% to Saenz's 35% of the vote. In 2004, Saenz's campaign was under a cloud after the City of Edinburg sued the engineer for work he was alleged at the time not to have performed.

Saenz filed today while still under a cloud from his arrest in September in the City of Mission, alleging that he was driving while intoxicated. Five days after, he turned himself in to Mission Police. Although Saenz performed poorly in a field sobriety test, smelled of alcohol, and had noticeably slurred speech, he entered a "not guilty" plea. He is expected back in court on January 31st before Judge Jay Palacios.

The candidate for state office may see his troubles increase as his sworn affidavit claiming residence in District 40 is being contested by a number of commentors on the Internet. Saenz claims to live at 718 Summit Circle even though many in the city of Edinburg believe that he lives in House District 41 where Veronica Gonzales now serves as a State Representative. Stay tuned as this story develops.

Dist.40: Eddie Saenz Charged In Court for DWI

2007-12-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

Eddie Saenz, District 40 candidate for State Representative was ordered to appear in court today to be charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

Eddie Saenz was a no-show at the Hidalgo County Courthouse and failed to personally appear to confront the charges against him. An attorney hired by Saenz entered a "not guilty" plea for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

The Saenz arrest came three weeks after he filed to run against three term incumbent Rep. Aaron Pena and has been widely covered on local television.

Internet chatter has centered on the unusual procedures followed for the engineer. The news reports, "Saenz, 47, turned himself in to Mission police Sept. 28, five days after he refused a Breathalyzer test during a traffic stop."

Rio Grande Guardian: Fighting Corruption In The Valley

2007-11-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Another elected official in the Valley made news headlines today with his arrest. The Guardian has a good article about two historically warring political factions from the region that have stopped fighting each other and taken up the difficult task of eliminating corruption from their largely poor community.

St. Rep. Candidate Eddie Saenz Caught Inflating Numbers on YouTube Video

2007-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

The old saying for some people that you give them enough rope and they will hang themselves is apparently true for Dist. 40 Candidate for State Rep. Eddie Saenz. Saenz is the infamous candidate running against incumbent Aaron Pena. Saenz was featured in news reports for a charge of DWI shortly after announcing his candidacy.

The center of the newest controversy was Saenz' false press statements that also appeared on his website that he had over 400 people at his kick-off. Even Harvey Kronberg was fooled by Saenz press statements claiming 400 people in attendance. On the respected Quorum Report Kronberg carried the claim made by Saenz:

"Nearly 400 friends and supporters packed into Trenton Point in Edinburg Thursday evening to help Eddie Saenz officially kick off his campaign for the Texas House of Representatives, District 40."

Locals and attendees knew right away that the claim was false but it remained a he said she said situation until it was discovered that a Saenz staffer had published a video of the event:

"I saw the same thing on Joe Garza's website. He must have screwed up because he didn't know that Eddie was going to lie to the whole state. Shit I saw that the Quorum Report fell for his lie. The video on www.edinburgstar.net was pulled down real fast. There were less than 100 people there."

The video quickly made it apparent to all that candidate Eddie Saenz was lying to the public and the press. Although the video was inexplicably pulled, it quickly appeared on YouTube for all to see.

Valley bloggers are having a field day at Saenz' expense as a result of being caught in an outright deception. Comments on Earn My Vote, a South Texas Blogger have been scathing in their attack on Saenz' deception.

"I just saw the video folks and now we have proof that E-News and Eddie Saenz people are full of shit. There was no 400 people there. Maybe 100 but not 400. Nothing but lies, lies, lies."

The Political Ring, run by the Ring Master, also has been following the debacle. Those commenting have also been incensed by the recurring lies put out by the Saenz media machine:

"Man oh man, Eddie Saenz was caught with his pants down on this one!

He says its four hundred people. Others say it was less than 100. The truth was available on VIDEO on one of Eddie's henchmen's websites. For about 2 hours, video was available with pans of the audience clearly showing less than 100 people.

Come on Eddie we are getting tired of your lies and cover-ups. Put the video back up so that we all can see."

At this date Saenz has not issued an apology or retraction for the deceptive statements. People continue to ask how he hid the "Missing 300" who can't be found on the video.

Dist. 40 Candidate Eddie Saenz Charged With DWI

2007-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Via Capitol Annex, one of the more interesting races for state representative took an interesting turn when candidate Eddie Saenz was charged by the Mission police department for Driving While Intoxicated.

Television footage showing the candidate before the court may spell trouble for the Edinburg businessman. Saenz through his lawyer has said that he would fight the charges and that there was not a cover-up as critics have alleged. Saenz recently announced his intention to run for a second time against incumbent representative Aaron Pena.

Snow White Baila El Tao Tao

2007-09-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Voting Early And Often In Austin

2007-09-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Capitol Annex Calls for Peña's Re-election

2007-09-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Chairman of the Texas Progressive Alliance, Vince Leibowitz, comes out in a recent Capitol Annex post calling for the re-election of State Representative Aaron Peña. The former Texas Chairman of the Tejano Democrats is expecting opposition from a perennial candidate in the coming March primary. Many of us here are pleased with the years Peña has spent in the trenches of the Democratic Party and wish him well.

Capitol Inside: Texas House Power Rankings

2007-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Capitol Inside, a political magazine covering the state capitol in Austin, has published it's "Power Rankings" for the 80th Legislative Session of the Texas Legislature. Seven Latinos appear in the recent power rankings: (26) Ryan Guillen, (34) Kino Flores, (37) Aaron Peña, (48) Robert Puente, (50) Norma Chavez, (51) Pete Gallego, and (75) Rick Noreiga. Here are the Texas House rankings in full:

TEXAS HOUSE
1 Tom Craddick R-Midland

House Speaker; Legislative Budget Board Co-Chair; Legislative Council Co-Chair; Legislative Audit Committee Co-Chair; Legislative Reference Library Board Co-Chair, Preservation Board Co-Chair; Legislative Education Board; Bond Review Board; House Research Organization Steering Committee; Major Contributor; Controls Key Political Action Committee

2 Warren Chisum R-Pampa

Appropriations Chair; Energy Resources; Legislative Budget Board, Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage; Study Commission on Transportation Financing; State Budget Sponsor 2007; HB 2 conference 2006; HB 4 conference 2006; HB 3 conference 2005; School Finance Sponsor 2006; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; Select Committe on Property Tax Relief, School Finance Sponsor in Special Session 2006; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee Chair; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

3 Phil King R-Weatherford

Regulated Industries Chair; Civil Practices; Redistricting; Interim Committee to Study the Power of Eminent Domain; Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee Co-Chair; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer member; Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee Co-Chair; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee Vice-Chair; TXU Sale Review/Limits Bill Sponsor; Major Contributor III; Stars Over Texas Major Contributor; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

4 Jim Keffer R-Eastland

Ways and Means Chair; Pensions & Investments; HB 3 conference co-chair 2005; Legislative Budget Board; Legislative Audit Committee; Business Tax Author in Special Session 2006; Select Committee on Property Tax Relief; Key Player on Every Issue in 2007; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

5 Jim Dunnam D-Waco

Economic Development; Corrections; House Democratic Caucus Chair; Controls Key Political Action Committee; Major Contributor; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; Key Amendments in State Budget Floor Fight

6 Will Hartnett R-Dallas

Judiciary chair; Regulated Industries; Select Committee on Election Contests Master of Discovery; Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; Texas Judicial Council Committee on Juvenile Justice; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; Floor Fight Leader for Winner in Speaker's Race; Major Contributor II

7 Sylvester Turner D-Houston

Speaker Pro Tem; Regulated Industries Budget & Oversight chair, Calendars; Appropriations Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chair; Legislative Budget Board; Legislative Audit Committee; Legislative Reference Library Board; State Budget Conference 2005; Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee Vice-Chair; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; Texas Judicial Council Committee on Court Security; Key CHIP Player; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

8 Dan Branch R-Dallas

House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Chair; Public Education Budget and Oversight chair; Calendars; Appropriations Education Subcommittee Vice-Chair; HB 2 conference 2005; School Finance Co-Sponsor 2006; Business Tax Co-Sponsor 2006; Record Votes Sponsor 2007; George W. Bush Dallas County Co-Chair; NCSL Education Committee; Major Contributor II; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

9 David Swinford R-Dumas

State Affairs Chair; Regulated Industries; HB 4 Conference 2006 Co-Chair; HB 3 Conference 2005; HB 4 Sponsor 2006; Agriculture Policy Board; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee chair; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

10 Beverly Woolley R-Houston

Calendars chair; Civil Practices; Insurance; HB 2 conference 2006; Interim Committee to Study the Power of Eminent Domain co-chair; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Major Contributor; Key Fundraiser for Speaker; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

11 Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham

Economic Development Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chair; Sunset Advisory Commission; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; HB 2 Conference 2006; State Budget Conference 2005; Tourism Caucus Vice-Chair; Rural Caucus Vice-Chair; Toll Road Moratorium & Select Committee Sponsor; Clean Coal Technology Foundation Board; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

12 Dianne White Delisi R-Temple

Public Health chair; Public Education; HB 2 conference 2005; Women in Government State Director; Southern Regional Education Board; NCSL State Health Policy Leadership Forum; NCSL Health Committee; Texas Federation of Republican Women State House Liaison; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

13 Rob Eissler R-The Woodlands

Public Education Chair; Human Services; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; School Finance Co-sponsor 2006; HB 2 conference 2005; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee Chair; NCSL Education Committee; Key Player in State Budget Debate; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

14 Carl Isett R-Lubbock

Licensing & Administrative Procedures Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Appropriations General Government Subcommittee Chair; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; House Research Organization Steering Committee; Sportsman's Caucus Officer; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee; Local Government Revenue Caps Sponsor; U.S. Naval Reserve Commander Active War Duty; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

15 Geanie Morrison R-Victoria

Higher Education Chair; Economic Development; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; House Research Organization Steering Committee; NCSL Education Committee vice-chair; NCSL Redistricting & Elections Committee; Major Contributor III; Stars Over Texas Major Contributor II; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

16 Sid Miller R-Stephenville

Agriculture & Livestock Chair; Civil Practices; House Republican Caucus Secretary; Agriculture Policy Board; State Energy Council; House Veterans and Military Affairs Coalition Executive Committee; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; NCSL High-Level Radioactive Waste Working Group; Speaker's Power Breakfast Group; Key Fundraiser for Caucus; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

17 Mike Krusee R-Round Rock

Transportation Chair; Judicary; Study Commission on Transportation Financing Co-Chair; House Research Organization Steering Committee; Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Board; NCSL Transportation Committee; Governor's Top House Ally; Major Contributor II; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

18 Frank Corte R-San Antonio

Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations Chair; Energy Resources; Redistricting; Interim Committee to Study the Power of Eminent Domain; Republican Caucus Chair; NCSL Redistricting & Elections Committee; Speaker's Power Breakfast Group; United States Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Active War Duty; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

19 John Otto R-Dayton

Ways and Means Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Redistricting; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; HB 3 conference 2005; Business Tax Co-Sponsor in Special Session 2006; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Top House Technical Tax Expert; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

20 Robert Talton R-Pasadena

Civil Practices; Criminal Jurisprudence; Protective Services Conference 2005; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Major Contributor

21 Vicki Truitt R-Keller

Pensions & Investments Chair; Public Health; Sunset Advisory Commission Vice-Chair; Prevention of Developmental Disabilities Executive Committee; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

22 Jerry Madden R-Plano

Corrections Chair; Civil Practices; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission Co-Chair; Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; TYC Reform Plan Sponsor; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

23 Fred Hill R-Richardson

Local Government Ways and Means Chair; Transportation; Legislative Budget Board; Joint Study Commission on Availability of Pre-Owned Heavy Duty Commercial Motor Vehicles; NCSL Transportation Committee; Major Contributor III ; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

24 Dennis Bonnen R-Angleton

Environmental Regulation Chair; Ways and Means; HPV Vaccine Mandate Repeal Sponsor; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee; Council of State Governments Environmental Policy Task Force; Energy Council Executive Committee; MVP in 2006 Special Election; Major Contributor III; Stars Over Texas Major Contributor II; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

25 Dan Gattis R-Georgetown

Natural Resources Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations Subcommittee Vice-Chair for Health & Human Services and Special Issues; State Budget Conference 2005; Key Player on Budget, HHS, Sex Offenders; Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council; NCSL Health Committee; Texas Conservative Coalition´s Families First Task Force Chair; Stars Over Texas PAC Treasurer; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

26 Ryan Guillen D-Rio Grande City

Appropriations Vice-Chair; Calendars; Natural Resources; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

27 Larry Taylor R-Friendswood

Insurance Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations, Calendars; Republican Caucus Policy Chair; Joint Select Committee to Study the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool Deficit Co-Chair; Windstorm Coverage Joint Select Committee; HB 4 Conference 2006; Workers Comp Conference 2005; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; National Conference of Insurance Legislators Executive Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

28 Corbin Van Arsdale R-Houston

State Affairs Budget & Oversight Chair; Calendars; Appropriations Criminal Justice Subcommittee Vice-Chair; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute Board; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

29 Ruth McClendon D-San Antonio

Rules & Resolutions Chair; Appropriations; Pensions & Investments Budget & Oversight Chair; Sunset Advisory Commission; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Women in State Government Director; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

30 Helen Giddings D-Dallas

Business & Industry Chair; House Administration Vice-Chair; Higher Education; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; Workers Comp Conference 2005; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

31 Harold Dutton D-Houston

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Chair; Public Education; General Investigating and Ethics; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; House Research Organization Steering Committee; National Black Caucus of State Legislators Education Policy Committee; NCSL Education Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

32 John Smithee R-Amarillo

Insurance Chair; Regulated Industries; Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage and Budgetary Impact Co-Chair; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

33 Burt Solomons R-Carrollton

Financial Institutions Chair; Business & Industry; Workers Comp sponsor, Joint Select Committee to Study the Medical Peer Review Process Co-Chair; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

34 Kino Flores D-Mission

Licensing and Administrative Procedures Chair; Ways and Means; Redistricting; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; NCSL Executive Committee Task Force on Protecting Democracy; Major Contributor II; Key Gambling Player; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

35 Garnet Coleman D-Houston

Public Health; County Affairs; Legislative Study Group Chair; NCSL Health Committee; National Mental Health Association Board; S.M.A.R.T. Kids Founder; House Democratic Caucus Leader; Key Amendments in State Budget Floor Fight; Key CHIP Player; Key Organizer for Campaigns; Moving Texas Forward Publisher; Major Contributor

36 Bill Callegari R-Houston

Government Reform Chair; Land & Resource Management; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; House Research Organization Steering Committee Vice-Chair; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee; Republican Caucus Executive Committee; Major Contributor III; Key Fundraiser for Caucus; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

37 Aaron Peña D-Edinburg

Criminal Jurisprudence Chair; Ways and Means; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

38 Leo Berman R-Tyler

Elections Chair; Government Reform; NCSL Executive Committee; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Senior Property Tax Relief Chief Sponsor; Speaker's Power Breakfast Group; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

39 Patrick Rose D-Austin

Human Services Chair; Higher Education; Joint Select Committee to Study the Medical Peer Review Process; HB 2 Conference 2006; HB 4 Conference 2006; Workers Comp Conference 2005; NCSL Human Services & Welfare Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

40 Larry Phillips R-Sherman

General Investigating & Ethics Chair; Transportation Vice-Chair; Culture, Recreation, & Tourism; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; NCSL Transportation Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

41 Tony Goolsby R-Dallas

House Administration chair; Judiciary; Licensing & Administrative Procedures; State Preservation Board; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

42 Joe Driver R-Garland

Law Enforcement Chair; Environmental Regulation; Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage and Budgetary Impact; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

43 Byron Cook R-Corsicana

Civil Practices Chair; State Affairs; Sunset Advisory Commission; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Speaker's Power Breakfast Group; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

44 Kevin Bailey D-Houston

Urban Affairs Chair; Business & Industry; General Investigating & Ethics; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

45 Betty Brown R-Terrell

Redistricting Vice-Chair; Agriculture & Livestock Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Local & Consent Calendars; Legislative Reference Library Board; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute Board; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

46 Joe Deshotel D-Beaumont

Economic Development Chair; Transportation; Redistricting; Sportsman's Caucus Board; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

47 Dawnna Dukes D-Austin

Appropriations Special Issues Subcommittee Chair; Calendars; Culture, Recreation and Tourism Budget & Oversight Chair; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

48 Robert Puente D-San Antonio

Natural Resources Chair; Local Government Ways and Means; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer; Texas Water Advisory Council; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee; House Research Organization Steering Committee; HB 3 Bays and Estuaries Flow Sponsor; Major Contributor III; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

49 John Davis R-Houston

Human Services Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations Health & Human Services Subcommittee Chair; Protective Services Conference 2005; Key CHIP Player; NCSL Human Services & Welfare Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

50 Norma Chavez D-El Paso

Calendars Vice-Chair; Financial Insitutions Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center Co-Chair; Cesar Chavez Foundation Founding Member; Bi-National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Task Force Chair; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

51 Pete Gallego D-Alpine

Agriculture & Livestock; Natural Resources; Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair; Sportsmans Caucus Board; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; House Democratic Caucus Leader; Legislative Study Group Board; Controls Key Political Action Committee

52 Joe Crabb R-Atascocita

House Redistricting Chair; Regulated Industries; Energy Resources; Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee; Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee; NCSL Redistricting & Elections Committee; Major Contributor III; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

53 Linda Harper-Brown R-Irving

Transportation Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; House Administration; Republican Caucus Treasurer; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; NCSL Transportation Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

54 Charlie Howard R-Sugar Land

Local & Consent Calendars Chair; Local Government Ways & Means; Elections; Fort Bend Economic Development Council Founding Director; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

55 Rick Hardcastle R-Vernon

Energy Resources Chair; Border & International Affairs; Texas Legislative Educational Forum on Stem Cell Research Co-Chair; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

56 Harvey Hilderbran R-Kerrville

Culture, Recreation and Tourism Chair; Natural Resources; Sportsman's Caucus Board; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer Co-Chair; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; State Parks Funding Chief Sponsor; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

57 Scott Hochberg D-Houston

House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Vice-Chair; Corrections Vice-Chair; Public Education; NCSL Education Committee; Legislative Study Group Board; American Jewish Committee Board; Anti-Defamation League Board; Citizens' Environmental Coalition Trustee; Major Contributor III; Namesake of Key Legislation (Hochberg Amendment 2005)

58 Debbie Riddle R-Tomball

Criminal Jurisprudence Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; House Administration; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; Sex Offender Bill Sponsor; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

59 Allan Ritter D-Nederland

Ways & Means Vice-Chair; Land & Resource Management; Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage and Budgetary Impact; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Controls Key Political Action Committee; Major Contributor III; Top Bob Perry Democrat

60 Charles "Doc" Anderson R-Waco

Agriculture & Livestock Vice-Chair; House Administration; Financial Institutions; Agriculture Policy Board; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Rural Caucus Vice-Chair; Coal Plant Moratorium Sponsor; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

61 Charlie Geren R-Fort Worth

Licensing & Administrative Procedures Vice Chair; Land & Resource Management; HB 3 Conference 2005; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Major Contributor II; Texas Christian University Board of Trustees

62 Dwayne Bohac R-Houston

Elections Vice Chair; Local & Consent Calendars Vice Chair; Business & Industry;
Redistricting; Prevention of Developmental Disabilities Executive Committee; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; NCSL Redistricting & Elections Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

63 Anna Mowery R-Fort Worth

Land & Resource Management Chair; Public Education; Speaker's Power Breakfast Group; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

64 Wayne Smith R-Baytown

County Affairs Chair; Government Reform; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

65 Tracy King D-Batesville

Border & International Affairs Chair; Environmental Regulation; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

66 Fred Brown R-College Station

Higher Education Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations Regulatory Subcommittee Chair; Local & Consent Calendars; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

67 Dan Flynn R-Van

Financial Institutions Vice-Chair; State Affairs; Sunset Advisory Commission; Texas Tech University Advisory Council; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

68 Ken Paxton R-McKinney

State Affairs Vice-Chair; General Investigating & Ethics; Ways & Means; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

69 Jim Jackson R-Carrollton

Public Health Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Redistricting; NCSL Health Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

70 Pat Haggerty R-El Paso

Corrections; Transportation; Key TYC Player; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee; NCSL Transportation Committee; Key Fundraiser for Caucus

71 Craig Eiland D-Galveston

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Vice-Chair; Insurance; National Conference of Insurance Legislators Immediate Past President; NCOIL State/Federal Relations Committee; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee

72 Gary Elkins R-Houston

Business & Industry Vice-Chair; Calendars; Local Government Ways and Means; Veto Challenge Bill Sponsor; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee

73 Mark Homer D-Paris

Judiciary Vice-Chair; Culture, Recreation, & Tourism; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; Texas Conservative Coalition Board; Sportsman's Caucus Board; Rural Caucus Vice-Chair; Texas Rural Education Honorary Member; Major Contributor III

74 Myra Crownover R-Denton

Energy Resources Budget & Oversight Chair; Appropriations; Calendars; Rural Caucus Treasurer; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race

75 Bryan Hughes R-Mineola

Human Services; Judiciary; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; NCSL Human Services & Welfare Committee; Rural Caucus Vice-Chair

75 Rick Noriega D-Houston

Appropriations; Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations Budget & Oversight Chair; Buffalo Bayou Partnership Board; Houston Holocaust Museum Board; Texas Army National Guard Major Active War Duty; Key Amendments in State Budget Floor Fight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEXAS HOUSE POWER SCORING INDEX

ASSIGNMENTS

15 - Appropriations chair; Legislative Budget Board Co-Chair

12 - Legislative Council Co-Chair; Legislative Audit Committee Co-Chair

11 - Calendars and Ways and Means Chairs

10 - Higher Education, Regulated Industries, Public Education, Public Health, Local Government Ways and Means, State Affairs, Transportation and Sunset Advisory Commission Chairs; Appropriations vice-chair; Speaker Pro Tem; Legislative Reference Library Board Co-Chair, Preservation Board Co-Chair

9 - All other committee chairs; Legislative Budget Board member; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Chair

7 - Appropriations subcommittee chairs; Calendars and Ways and Means vice-chairs; Sunset Advisory Commission Vice-Chair; Co-Chairs for 2005 Conference Committees on the state budget, HB 2 (schools) and HB 3 (taxes); Odds-On Favorite for Budget Conference Committee in 2007 (Points will be subtracted if not named to conference); Floor Fight Leader for Winner in Speaker's Race; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission Co-Chair;

6 - Legislative Council; Legislative Audit Committee; Higher Education, Regulated Industries, Public Education, Public Health, State Affairs and Transportation Vice-Chairs; Appropriations member; Ways and Means Budget & Oversight chair; Sunset Advisory Commission member; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Vice-Chair

5 - All other vice-chairs; Higher Education, Regulated Industries, Public Education, Public Health, State Affairs and Transportation Budget & Oversight Chairs; Calenders and Ways and Means Member; State Preservation Board; Conference Committees Workers Comp & Protective Services Member; Pension Review Board; State Preservation Board; Select Committee on Property Tax Relief; Select Committee on Election Contests Master of Discovery

4 - Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race; Budget & Oversight chair; Appropriations Subcommittee Vice-Chair; Regulated Industries, Public Education, Public Health, State Affairs and Transportation Member; House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance Member; Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission; Members on 2005 Conference Committees on the State Budget, HB 2 (schools) and HB 3 (taxes);

3 - All other standing committees member; Interim committee co-chairs; Legislative Reference Library Board; Conference Committee Chairs for Workers Comp & Protective Services chairs; HB 2 & HB 4 conference committees 2006 Co-Chairs; Legislative Study Group Chair; Rural Caucus Chair;

2 - Rural Caucus Vice-Chair; Sportsman's Caucus Officer; House Research Organization Steering Committee Chair & Vice-Chair; Texas Legislative Educational Forum on Stem Cell Research Co-Chair; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer Co-Chair; Women's Health Caucus Vice-Chair; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race

1 - Interim committee members; HB 2 & HB 4 conference Committees 2006 Member; Conference Committee Members s for Workers Comp & Protective Services in 2005; Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer Member; Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee Member; Telecommunications Competitiveness Legislative Oversight Committee member; Sportsman's Caucus Board; Tourism Caucus Officer; House Research Organization Steering Committee; Legislative Study Group Board

POLITICAL

9 - House Democratic and Republican Caucus Chairs

6 - Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair

7 - Major Contributor ($50,000 or more in 2004-2006); Controls Key Political Action Committee; Key Fundraiser for Speaker; Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race

5 - Stars Over Texas PAC Treasurer

4 - Major Contributor II ($30,000-49,999 in 2004-2006); Stars Over Texas Major Contributor ($20,000 or more in 2004-2006)

3 - Caucus Vice-Chairs; Republican Caucus Policy Chair

2 - Other Caucus Officers; Caucus Leaders (Non-Officers); Republican Caucus Executive Committee; Mexican American Legislative Caucus Officer; Key Organizer for Campaigns; Major Contributor III ($20,000-$29,999 in 2004-2006); Stars Over Texas Major Contributor II ($10,000-20000 or more in 2004-2006); Speaker's Power Breakfast Group: Governor's Top House Ally; Key Fundraiser for Other Republicans; Key Democrat for Winner in Speaker's Race
1 - Lead Role in 2006 Special Election; Voted for Winner in Speaker's Race (Test vote on Geren amendment - Doesn't include Top Lieutenant for Winner in Speaker's Race)

Minus 5 - Ran for Speaker and Lost

LEGISLATION

5 - Business Tax Author in Special Session 2006; School Finance Author in Special Session in 2006; Key Player on Every Issue in 2007

3 - HPV Vaccine Mandate Repeal Chief Sponsor; TYC Reform Bill Chief Sponsor; TXU Sale Review/Limits Bill Sponsor; Spending Cap Sponsor; Toll Road Moratorium & Select Committee Sponsor; Trans-Texas Corridor Sponsor; Key Budget Player

2 - Business Tax Co-sponsor in Special Session in 2006; School Finance Co-sponsor in Special Session in 2006; Key TYC-Sexual Offenders Bill Player (who's not on Joint Committee); Sponsors HB 2, HB 4 and HB 5 in 2006; Coal Plant Moratorium Sponsor; Record Votes Sponsor 2007; Sexual Offender Bill Chief Sponsor; Senior Property Tax Relief Chief Sponsor; Local Government Revenue Caps Sponsor; Sales Price Disclosure Sponsor; HB 3 Bays and Estuaries Flow Sponsor; State Parks Funding Chief Sponsor; Veto Challenge Bill Sponsor; Top House Tax Technical Expert

1 - Key Gambling Player; Key CHIP Player; Key TXU/Coal Plants Player; Key HHS Player;

OUTSIDE POSITIONS

5 - National Conference of State Legislatures President

4 - NCSL Executive Committee

3 - NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee chair; National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; Agriculture Policy Board; Texas Federation of Republican Women Liaison; Texans for Lawsuit Reform Leader's Nephew

2 - Texas Conservative Coalition Board; Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council; Southern Legislative Conference President & Vice-President; Southern Regional Education Board; Texas Legislative Tourism Caucus Chair; NCSL Agriculture Environment and Energy Committee chair; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee vice-chair; NCSL Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee vice-chair; NCSL Education Committee vice-chair; National Conference of Insurance Legislators Immediate Past President; National Conference of Insurance Legislators Executive Committee; Bi-National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Task Force Chair; Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Board; The Empowerment Project Founder and Chairman; Top Key Player in Special Election in 2006; Texans for Lawsuit Reform Leader's Nephew; Namesake of Key Legislation (Hochberg Amendment 2005, Brimer Bill 1997); Top Bob Perry Democrat; Military Officer on Active War Duty in Past Three Years

1 - Cultural Resources Caucus Founder; Texas Water Advisory Council; Steering Committee of Coastal Texas 2020; American Legislative Exchange Council Task Force; Education Commission on the States; Innocence Project Board Chair; Council of State Governments Executive Committee; National Commission on Energy Policy; University of Texas Law School Foundation; Southern Legislative Conference Committee; Women in Government State Director; State Energy Council; Center for Policy Alternatives; Texas Legislative Educational Forum on Stem Cell Research co-chair; NCSL Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee member; NCSL State Health Policy Leadership Forum; NCSL Legislative Effectiveness Committee member; NCSL Labor and Economic Development Committee; NCSL Budget & Tax Committee; NCSL Health Committee; NCSL Human Services & Welfare Committee; NCSL Law & Criminal Justice Committee; NCSL Redistricting & Elections Committee; NCSL Transportation Committee; NCSL High-Level Radioactive Waste Working Group; Former National and State Association of Realtors Board; Latinas on the Rise Foundation Founder; Center for Policy Alternatives Board; George W. Bush Major County Chair; House Veterans and Military Affairs Coalition Executive Committee; Clean Coal Technology Foundation Board; Environment and Energy Committee; Council of State Governments Environmental Policy Task Force; Energy Council Executive Committee; Texas Conservative Coalition Families First Task Force Chair; National Conference of State Legislatures Executive Committee Task Force on Protecting Democracy; National Black Caucus of State Legislators Education Policy Committee; National Mental Health Association Board; S.M.A.R.T. Kids Founder; Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center Co-Chair; Cesar Chavez Foundation Founding Member; International Ambassador; Texas Tech University Advisory Council; Fort Bend Economic Development Council Founding Director; Young Conservatives of Texas Advisory Board; Texas Judicial Council Committee; Hope Street Project Founding Board Member; American Jewish Committee Board; Anti-Defamation League Board; Citizens' Environmental Coalition Trustee; Texas Rural Education Honorary Member; Moving Texas Forward Publisher; College Board of Trustees; Bi-National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Task Force Member; Prevention of Developmental Disabilities Executive Committee; Rural Caucus Officer; NCOIL State/Federal Relations Committee;

SPECIAL

1-10: Special Adjustments as Necessary

Texas Monthly's Paul Burka on Tejano Politics

2006-12-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

Minority Report
Argue all you want about the level of Hispanic turnout in the 2006 elections, but one thing is certain: Demographic inevitability alone won’t save the Democrats.

THE DAY OF RECKONING IS COMING. It could occur as soon as 2010, more likely by 2014, or perhaps as late as 2022, but nothing can prevent the moment when demographics takes over and the sleeping giant of Texas politics—the Hispanic vote—awakes at last and restores the Democratic party to its rightful hegemony.

Or at least that’s the dream. The stuff the dream is made of can be found in the projections of Texas’s population by state demographer Steve Murdock, at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Assuming that net immigration continues at the pace established in the last decade of the twentieth century, Hispanics will constitute 59.2 percent of the state’s population in 2040, Anglos but 23.9 percent. Long before then, Texas will be a Democratic stronghold again.

Or will it? Both the numbers and the anecdotal evidence suggest that Republicans are doing increasingly well with Hispanic voters here—so well, in fact, that the Democratic dream may be turning into a nightmare. This ought not to come as a surprise. The Hispanic population has become economically diverse. Even in South Texas, which lags behind the rest of the state economically, an upper middle class is emerging. But more than economics is involved. South Texas Democratic politics remains mired in the ways of the past—clan warfare, boss rule, and petty (and not-so-petty) corruption—and the Republican party has been the beneficiary.

The division of the Hispanic vote between the two major parties is one of the most crucial—and most disputed—statistics in Texas electoral politics. The William C. Velasquez Institute, in San Antonio, has long been regarded as the most authoritative source for how Hispanics are voting. But its exit polling of the recent gubernatorial race, based on 440 respondents in 32 selected precincts across the state, is simply not credible: Chris Bell, 39.5 percent; Carole Keeton Strayhorn, 28.6 percent; Kinky Friedman, 14.3 percent; and Rick Perry, 13.9 percent. Perry campaigned vigorously in South Texas. He had the support of eleven mayors (presumably Democratic, although the office is nonpartisan). Democratic sheriffs appeared in his TV ads on border security. A Dallas Morning News poll a few days before the election showed him getting 37 percent of the Hispanic vote. His actual performance in the big South Texas counties suggests that he did considerably better than the 13.9 percent in the Velasquez Institute’s exit poll. Perry got more votes in Cameron County than Bell did (the margin was only a few dozen votes, but he carried the county). He got approximately four thousand more votes than Bell in Nueces County. He lost Hidalgo County to Bell but still received 33.5 percent of the vote to Bell’s 42.67 percent. El Paso was even closer: Bell, 36.2 percent; Perry, 33.04 percent. Even in Webb County, Tony Sanchez’s home base, where Bell beat Perry by a two-to-one margin, Perry had 25 percent of the vote.

Granted, this is not a scientific analysis: There is no way to know how many Hispanics were represented in Perry’s total votes in these counties. But we do know from 2004 population estimates that Hispanics outnumber Anglos by approximately seven to one in Cameron County and by nine to one in Hidalgo County. To be competitive, Perry had to get a lot of Hispanic votes—a lot more than 13.9 percent.

The Velasquez Institute was not alone in doing exit polling in Texas. CNN and the Associated Press, among other national organizations, collaborated on far-more-extensive exit polling—2,090 respondents statewide. Their findings were considerably different from the Velasquez Institute’s: Bell, 41 percent; Perry, 31 percent; Strayhorn, 18 percent; and Friedman, 9 percent. What might account for the considerable variation? In 2004, when the Velasquez Institute gave George W. Bush a lower percentage of the Hispanic vote than most other polling organizations, critics suggested that the culprit might have been an unduly heavy reliance on inner-city precincts, which could have missed the move of upwardly mobile Hispanics to more-affluent areas, where, the theory goes, they are more likely to vote Republican.

Two questions emerge as crucial in the battle for the Hispanic vote in Texas: How do Hispanics vote, and why don’t they vote in greater numbers? Nationally, the increase in Hispanic voting is startling. The pollster John Zogby wrote recently that Hispanics constituted “5 percent of 95 million voters in 1996, 6 percent of 105 million voters in 2000, and 8.5 percent of 122 million voters in 2004.” Projecting to 2008, Zogby says, “With a highly competitive election and a heavy voter registration drive, we could be looking at an electorate that includes a Hispanic component amounting to 10 percent of 130 million voters.”

Imagine what might have happened in Texas had Hispanic participation grown by 65 percent over the past three election cycles. But it hasn’t. Mike Baselice, a well-regarded Republican pollster, says that the portion of the voting electorate that is Hispanic increases by roughly half of a percentage point every two years: for example, from 16.5 percent of the electorate in 2002 to 17 percent in 2004. At that rate, it will take sixteen years for the Hispanic vote to become a quarter of the electorate. And this was a lost year: Compared with the 2002 gubernatorial election, when Tony Sanchez headed the Democratic ticket, turnout in South Texas was dismal. Maverick County had a 15 percent turnout of registered voters, the lowest in the state, down from 26.5 percent in 2002. In Hidalgo County, the turnout dropped by a third; at 17 percent, it too was one of the lowest in the state. In Webb, the turnout was only 18 percent.

The low participation rate, particularly in traditional barrios, has been the subject of considerable discussion on the Internet. “What’s up with the decreasing Hispanic voter turnout [in Nueces County]?” asked a writer for the South Texas Chisme blog. “Blockwalkers were falling all over each other in the west-side precincts. Many of the low performing neighborhoods had 4 or 5 visits to each door.” But Republicans won three high-profile races in Nueces: county judge, sheriff, and court of appeals judge. Some of the explanations offered are obvious (the absence of a big name at the top of the Democratic ticket, strong Republican candidates at the local level), and others are familiar concerns (the perception in South Texas that the Democratic party took the border for granted when it was in power and still does, the grinding effect of poverty, which leads people to believe that voting benefits only the politicians, not the voters).

History and culture play a role as well. I learned a great deal about the history of Hispanic political involvement from the late Ruben Munguia, who, in addition to being Henry Cisneros’s uncle and political tutor, was one of a group of small-business owners who, in the years after World War II, first gave San Antonio’s West Side a voice in the affairs of the city. Munguia’s father was a printer in Mexico who came to San Antonio in the twenties when the successful Mexican Revolution turned left. “In Mexico,” Munguia once told me, “the government never did anything for you, it only did things to you.” That culture was transplanted to Texas, where the patrón system evolved, in which local political bosses exchanged favors (such as paying for funerals or arranging for a job) for votes. Straight-ticket Democratic votes. This was palanca (lever) politics: Vote Democrat and shut your eyes to what was going on. It was enforced by politiqueras, political workers (mostly female) who were, and still are, paid to get out the vote. Politics often took the form of a battle of clans in which power was an end in itself. Take over a county, a city, or a school board and you gained control of patronage: The “outs” got fired and the “ins” got hired. And so it went, decade after decade.

Democratic state representative Aaron Peña, of Edinburg, took on the subject of low Hispanic turnout in his blog, A Capitol Blog. “I am frequently asked why incumbent Court of Appeals judge Fred Hinojosa lost his race to [Republican] Rose Vela out of Corpus Christi,” he wrote. Peña mentioned the respect accorded the Vela name in South Texas and the growing number of Hispanics in the middle and upper middle classes. But he condemned “the sad legacy of South Texas boss or strongman politics which relied heavily on patrón-managed turnout rather than the advocacy of ideas.”

I called Peña to ask his opinion of the Velasquez Institute’s finding that Perry received only 13.9 percent of the Hispanic vote statewide. “That can’t be right,” he said. “Republicans are gaining ground. There has been a dramatic change in my lifetime of an educated middle and upper middle class, a tremendous growth in wealth. The banks are Hispanic friendly. There’s more capital available. This area is not hostile to Republicans. City leaders responded to Perry. Most Hispanics are socially conservative when it comes to gay marriage, respect for the military, and, if you’re older, abortion.” But Peña also assigns part of the blame for Hinojosa’s loss to “the historic neglect of the region by the state and national Democratic party.” There were no Democratic signs up, he said, but Perry and comptroller candidate Susan Combs went to Hidalgo County and put up signs. Even the politiqueras are no longer reliably Democratic; they’ll sell their services to the highest bidder.

Democrats are going to have to clean up their act or they are going to lose more and more races in South Texas. The older people who have lived under the patrón system all their lives are dying out. Younger, upwardly mobile Hispanics will not put up with it. The old ways will not go peacefully, but they will go. If Democrats ever hope to dominate this state again, they are going to have to recruit and elect clean candidates like Juan Garcia, a former Navy pilot and graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, who defeated an incumbent Republican in a legislative race in Corpus Christi. They are going to have to base their appeals to voters on issues, not party loyalty. Otherwise, Republicans will have every bit as much claim to the Hispanic vote as Democrats do.

Peña ended his blog post with “Only time will tell.” He might well have added: “And time is running out.”

The story appears in Texas Monthly's January issue.

US Supreme Court to Hear Affirmative Action Cases

2006-12-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Several hundred demonstrators, many of them college or high school students, gathered on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court early this morning to proclaim support for using skin color as a factor in admissions in order to maintain racially diverse public schools.

The court is hearing arguments today in two high-stakes school desegregation cases-- the first test on the issue Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. since they were appointed to the court last term. Both justices in the past have been skeptical about the use of racial classifications.

The Washington Post has more.

Bush Lies Again - "Stay the Course"

2006-10-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

This guy never stops. It is embarrassing that both George Bush and Tom Delay are from Texas. Hell I didn't vote for them! Oh well, there are a number of yahoos out there that like being lied to.

The U.S. Senate Race In Texas

2006-10-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

The DMN asks the Texas Democrats in Congress how they feel about the state's Republican senior senator and whether voters should let her keep her job. Interesting responses! Thanks to NoKay Blog for the link.

2006-10-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Daily Show: What Exactly Is President Bush's Job?

2006-10-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Daily Show: Mark Foley Saga

Political Clout of Latinos Growing

2006-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Lydia Camarillo sees the United States turning increasingly brown from her perch as a national political organizer and simply proclaims: "It's a good time for Latinos."

"Because we are a growing community in terms of population and in numbers of an electorate that's growing and participating, those who govern us have to take us into account, whether they like it or not," Camarillo said in a phone interview from San Antonio.

Camarillo, 48, an El Paso native twice recognized as one of the most influential Hispanic women in the United States, has plenty to cheer about as the nation observes its annual celebration of Hispanic heritage through Oct. 15.

Camarillo is optimistic that by 2008, 12 million Hispanics will be registered to vote and at least 10 million will vote.

She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants from Juárez and one of the most visible Hispanic women in the United States as vice president of the nonpartisan Southwest Voter Registration Education Project in San Antonio.

Last spring, millions of Hispanics, young and old, marched in cities across the United States, protesting what many of them perceived as proposed bad legislation that called for extreme measures against undocumented immigrants.

"The marches were the kickoff to the next stage of our political participation," Camarillo said. "No other electorate in America is growing at the same pace."

Just a year ago, the U.S. Census put the estimated Hispanic population of the United States at 42.7 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority.

Camarillo and others worry that escalating immigrant bashing is having a negative impact on all Hispanics, who may now risk losing gains made the past 20 years in key issues, such as civil rights, education and voting rights.

Some politicians, political pundits and even national news outlets have equated the issue of illegal immigration with national security and have advocated sealing or fencing the southern border.

And the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, enticed many anti-immigrant voices to express racist attitudes toward immigrants and people of Hispanic origin.

"In America, we are under attack, and we have to take a stand against that as a united community from all walks of life," Camarillo said.

"Anytime there is a conservative Congress, we are in jeopardy of losing the gains we have made as a country and as a community, whether it is electoral or education reform and clearly on immigration and civil rights."

Clarissa Martinez monitors civil rights, immigration and other issues affecting Latinos as state policy director for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

"Every time there is a negative immigration debate like the one we're living through right now, it has negative effects on the whole Latino community in terms of discrimination, antagonism or division within communities where we live," Martinez said. "There's still a belief that if you're a Latino, you're an immigrant and for some people, that also means not an American."

Martinez laments that intolerance toward immigrants and Hispanics has intensified since Sept. 11.

"It's unfortunate because Latinos -- those who have been here for generations as well as those who have been here more recently -- really value this country," Martinez said. "We demonstrate that by the numbers of Latinos who are willing to put their lives on the line to defend this country."

Martinez, a Mexican immigrant, predicts a brighter future for Hispanics in the United States, as new citizens participate in the electoral process.
She expects that the political impact will not be fully felt until after 2008 as more young people and new citizens start voting.

"We're moving a little slow, but continuous progress is being made," Martinez said. "I'm hopeful because our community is in constant evolution, in renewal and growth."

Antonio R. Flores suggests that Hispanics at least have not regressed in educational attainment during the past 20 years. He is president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in San Antonio, an organization helping Hispanics succeed in college.

"The bad news is that everybody else -- African-Americans, Anglos, Asian-Americans -- has advanced in obtaining higher education degrees or in graduating from high school and left our community behind," he said. Flores blames cutbacks in state and federal funds for programs, such as financial aid for college.

"We are facing a number of challenges along the lines of inadequate funding for schools and colleges that are heavily attended by Latinos and no real light in sight coming," Flores said.

Camarillo grew up poor in the Sherman public housing projects near Jefferson High School. She attributes her own success to her parents, Salvador and Maria Camarillo, who worked hard for a family of eight children; her uncles Jose, Luis and Oscar Camarillo; and many others who encouraged her as she pursued college.

At 19, Camarillo wrote an angry and now widely studied poem, "Mi Reflejo," which celebrated women and forecast her own future in a couple of lines: "I am the reflection of the oppressed. / I am half the struggle."

"The state of life for me was poverty, but I had my family, love and a sense of hope," Camarillo said. "I understood then that one of my missions in life was to help our communities help themselves."

Story from El Paso Times

"Voices In Our Blood" - Commencement Address 2006

2006-08-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

While most politicians in this country are pandering to the fears of the majority on the immigration issue, we are proud to see that our former chairman said it like it is in a recent commencement address at the University of Texas, Pan American. The student body of the university is largely Mexican-American. At a summer graduation ceremony scheduled because of the growing number of graduates at the University, Rep. Aaron Pena is quoted as saying:

More than that - the promising statistic that should awaken a nation - is that nearly 70% of you are the first generation in your family to attain a college degree. As some in this country take a misdirected and regrettable course of fear of everything that is foreign, of everything that is different, here in this room lies the reality and promise of our shared future.

It is the stuff of dreams coupled with the power of an education!"
Our thanks to Dos Centavos for pointing out the transcript of the address. Someone please tell the Rep. to put it on You Tube if he can. Does the university have the video? These kinds of speeches from our Latino leaders should not go unnoticed.

Thanks anyway to the good representative for stating the positive aspects of our community. Congratulations to the many graduates.
We do "stand on the shoulders of giants" and this community is moving forward.

The Power of the Latino Vote

2006-03-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

The 2006 Democratic Primary is over and there are a few trends that show the increasing clout that the Latino voter has in Texas.

Hidalgo and El Paso counties again led the state in turnout. Close to the top of the ticket, Maria Alvarado and Ernesto De Leon garnered 61.6 of the vote while Ben Grant received 38.4 percent. Alvardo the top vote getter faces Grant, a former state reprsentative and judge, in the runoff for Lt. Governor.

Looks like in any statewide race a Latino/Latina can pick anybody off. Imagine the possibilities if we actually ran a real campaign with a little bit of cash.

Navarrette: In New New Orleans It's a Black vs. Brown Thing

2006-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

In college, my African-American friends and I used to call it “the black-brown thing.” It's the uneasy tension – and occasional conflict – between the nation's largest minority and the group that formerly held the title.

In the 1990s, the phenomenon was most prevalent in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami – large urban centers where significant numbers of African-Americans and Latinos lived side by side.

Today, ground zero is New Orleans, where a lot of African-Americans are no longer sure they want to live and where a lot more Latinos have gone to find work.

Click here for the rest of Ruben Navarrette's column.

Hispanics Earning Degrees in Record Numbers

2006-01-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

Jan. 27, 2006, 1:21AM
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - More Hispanics earned degrees and certificates at Texas colleges and universities last year than ever before, but they are still less likely to graduate than their white classmates.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reported Thursday that the number of Hispanics completing undergraduate degree and certificate programs has grown 47 percent since 2000.

Yet officials and education experts want to see more Hispanics earn bachelor's degrees because they represent the state's fastest-growing ethnic group.

"It's good to see the increase," said David Gardner, the coordinating board's assistant commissioner for academic excellence and research, "but it should be higher. The base was low to begin with."

In part, officials attributed the growing number of degrees — 31,091 in fall 2005 compared with 21,087 in fall 2000 — to more Hispanics at colleges and universities across the state. The majority of those students start their post-secondary education at a community college.

Over the past five years, the percentage of Hispanics receiving associate degrees and certificates awarded by two-year colleges has grown twice as fast as the percentage of those earning bachelor's degrees at four-year institutions.

Education and income
The largest jump in bachelor's degrees was made by black students, with a 33 percent increase — one point higher than their Hispanic classmates.

Statewide, white students still continue to graduate in greater numbers. About 60 percent earn a bachelor's degree within six years of starting college, while Hispanics had a graduation rate of 40 percent and blacks roughly 35 percent.

"The increased number of associate degrees (for Hispanics) is great, but the more education the better," said Donald Foss, provost at the University of Houston. "The important thing is to get a bachelor's degree."

The level of education is the best predictor of income, said Steve Murdock, the state's demographer and a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

According to the most recent data, 35 percent of white Texans had a college degree, while less than 9 percent of Latinos had one.

"It's a clear need that our non-Anglo students be competitive," Murdock said.

Opening up options
In another trend, women have accounted for two-thirds of the increase in bachelor's degrees at the state's public universities over the past five years. Black and Hispanic men are the least likely to graduate, according to the coordinating board's data.

Skipping college wasn't an option for Eric Gonzales, a graduate of MacArthur High School, where his father is the baseball coach.

"It was pretty much demanded," said Gonzales, who expects to graduate from UH this spring with an economics degree.

A member of the predominantly Hispanic fraternity Alpha Psi Lambda, Gonzales said he isn't surprised to hear the number of Texas Latinos earning college degrees is climbing.

"Not surprised. Just glad," he said. "I know once I get my degree I'll have career options. I won't be limited and forced to take something I don't want."

To increase the number of graduates at a time of limited resources, Raymund Paredes, the state's higher education commissioner, said universities must be encouraged to offer more classes on weeknights and weekends and in the summer.

He also said the state should consider requiring students to take more classes online and offering more opportunities for work-study programs.

matthew.tresaugue@chron.com

Statewide Tejano Democrats Screening and Endorsement Convention

2006-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

FYI:

Just wanted to let eveyone know that the State Wide Tejano Democrats are having their Screening and Endorsement Convention in Houston on February 10th and 11th. More details will be comming . . . so mark your calendar. It will be a great oportunity to see all the Democratic nominees for Governor and other statewide and local candidates.

Reports of Mexican Military on US Soil Greatly Exaggerated

2006-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

This immigration issue is getting real hot, read this story by the AP.

Reports of Mexican soldiers frequently crossing onto U.S. soil are overblown, and many of the incidents are just mistakes, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

Chertoff's remarks followed a newspaper report that Mexican military units had crossed into the United States 216 times since 1996. The report by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin of Ontario on Sunday was based on a Homeland Security Department report.

Chertoff estimated there were only about 20 crossings a year, and said "a significant number of those are innocent things" in which police or military from Mexico step across the border because they're not aware of exactly where the line is.

To read on click here.

Menendez Sworn in as US Senator

2006-01-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

Once a House heavyweight, New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez on Wednesday became the U.S. senator with the least seniority and couldn't have been more happy about it.

He found it funny when he was stopped by security personnel when he tried to enter areas of the Capitol marked "for senators only," and he said he was still trying to find his way around the Senate side of the building after spending 13 years in the House.

Menendez, sworn in Wednesday, hopes his newness wears off soon, and he rattled off a list of things he hopes to accomplish before he has to face New Jersey voters this year for the right to hold the seat for the next six years.

Here is the rest of the story from ABC News.

Guerra: Both Parties Watching Redistricting Case

2006-01-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

When Rolando Ríos finally showed up at the downtown diner Wednesday morning, José Garza, George Korbel and Luís Vera were waiting to warn him, good-naturedly, not to be late on March 1st.

In the decades the four attorneys have been fighting for minority voting rights, Vera laughs, they have shared plaintiffs' tables with Republicans and Democrats. And both parties betrayed them.

Now, they are preparing to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court's affirmation of Texas' mid-decade congressional re-redistricting plan. Nationally, legal scholars are watching LULAC vs. Perry closely.

Challenges to congressional maps have not been uncommon. But until now, the complaints were about maps redrawn to equalize congressional district populations after new U.S. Census figures were released. This case is different.

Click here for the rest of Carlos Guerra's commentary.

USA Today Editorial on Cisneros Probe

2006-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Washington investigations, especially those by independent counsels, can roll on for years, eating taxpayer dollars long after their original purpose has been achieved.
So it is with the investigation of former Housing secretary Henry Cisneros, now in its 11th year.

Cisneros, accused of paying hush money to an ex-mistress and misleading officials about it, pleaded guilty in 1999 to lying to the FBI and was fined $10,000. His former paramour and others pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and making false statements. President Clinton, on his last day in office, pardoned Cisneros and the woman.

The independent counsel law has expired. Clinton and Cisneros are on to new careers. But the investigation, which has cost $22 million since David Barrett was appointed independent counsel in 1995, isn't officially over. The reason isn't known. Barrett says only that the investigation was extended to explore accusations that attempts had been made to obstruct the investigation and related misconduct. Several news organizations, citing anonymous sources, have reported that those accusations involve the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department. Barrett's report was completed by August 2004, but it has been sealed by a special federal court that oversees independent counsels. Lawyers for people named in it have filed more than 140 motions to keep their clients from being identified publicly.

Here is the rest of the editorial.

Hispanic Leaders to Protest US-Mexico Wall

2006-01-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

Nine leaders from local Hispanic organizations joined hands as they announced peace marches in Laredo and Washington, D.C., to protest the proposed wall between Mexico and the United States Tuesday night at a midtown taqueria.

Representatives of the South Texas Amigos de Mexico, the Coastal Bend Immigration Council, the American GI Forum, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Contra-Minutemen Coalition condemned the "wall of shame" and said it would do little to stop immigration.

"We're building a wall instead of tearing walls down," said Nancy Vera, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens #4444. "There has to be a way that we can help Mexico, help the people who are already here and live in harmony."

Click here for the rest of the story by Mari Saugier at the Corpus Christi Calller.

A Rumor too Good to Let Be

2005-12-23T13:06:00.000-08:00

It has come to the attention of the Tejano Insider that Democratic Texas State Senator Ken Armbrister will become Governor Rick Perry's Chief of Staff upon retirement. Just a rumor, thought I would pass it on.

Congressman Bob Menendez Set To Be Third Hispanic U.S. Senator

2005-12-08T17:18:00.000-08:00

Bob Menendez is the man! Looks like he may be next in line in New Jersey to be United States Senator. This would make him the third Hispanic in the Senate.
The story.

Now what about Texas?

Bush's Fantasyland Near An End

2005-11-22T17:36:00.000-08:00

Border Legislator Asks AG for Opinion Regarding Preventing Minors From Border Crossings

2005-11-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

The newly formed bi-national task force asks the AG's office for an opinion regarding preventing minors from border crossings. Here is the story.

Marching Valley Vets Threatened With Arrest

2005-11-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

Reported by Kimberly Wyatt
Channel 4 Television News

"This is a protest of an ungrateful nation" said one Valley veteran.

Dozens of veterans from the Rio Grande Valley are taking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.

Lacking on the state of Texas step by step gripping the American Flag protesting the lack of military medical facilities in the Valley for the 46,000 veterans who live in South Texas.

But their mission could land them in jail.

"They're classifying us as second class citizens as if were invisible, we'll we're not, we're here," said Jay Solis.

Lydia Caballero served in the military as a nurse. Caballero is now the public relations specialist for America's Last Patrol in the Valley and she lobbies for veterans and Latino issues.

"We want to make sure veterans are going to be taken care of," she told Action 4 News on Wednesday night.

After trekking 160 miles their protest may meet a harsh roadblock.

"They are threatening to arrest all of us if we enter the city of San Antonio," said Commander Juan Vasquez.

Vasquez says the Bexar County sheriffs department called the group and told them they could not enter Bexar County or the city of San Antonio without a permit. If they do they risk being arrested.

"They said it was illegal and now they changed their story and said they need a $250,000 bond to walk," said Caballeros.

Caballeros said his organization already had a bond and should not be required to purchase another.

Action 4 News tried reaching the San Antonio police department and the Bexar County sheriffs department for comment, but no one was available for comment.

Caballeros says he will meet with San Antonio's mayor on Thursday morning. The American Civil Liberties Union has also been called on to investigate the permit problem.

The Vietnam veterans were in Pleasanton Wednesday night. They held a vote on whether to walk or get arrested.

State Representative Aaron Pena, who's been with the group since they left Edinburg on Saturday said the men and women voted to continue their walk.

"We've gone to far and we've lost to much in this day and in the last 35 years. We are not going to take it anymore," said Caballeros.

The meeting with the San Antonio mayor is scheduled for 8:30am Thursday morning.

"There are approximately 15 veterans that are at Valley Manor nursing home down in the Valley. They are World War II Vets that no one goes to visit. We are dedicating this march to them.."

To follow the march online you can go to State Representative Aaron Pena's blog at www.acapitolblog.blogspot.com.

Valley Veterans' March to the Alamo Dramatizes Need for Local VA Hospital

2005-11-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

By David Diaz

On Friday - Veterans Day - South Texas military leaders and their supporters are scheduled to descend upon the Alamo as part of a grueling march from Edinburg to San Antonio to spark federal action for what they say is a badly-needed Veterans Administration Hospital in deep South Texas.
The lack of a major VA Hospital in a region with more than one million people not only affects the Rio Grande Valley but any other counties that are 150 miles or more from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio.
The sprawling San Antonio hospital complex, which has almost 600 patient beds for services ranging from acute medical care to open heart surgery and bone marrow transplantation, is more than 220 miles away from Edinburg, the first major city that leads into the four-county Rio Grande Valley.
But that distance represents roadblocks almost impossible to overcome for many of the estimated 45,000 Valley veterans and their families because they cannot afford to, or are not healthy enough, to make the round-trip between San Antonio and the border region.
Leaders with the U.S. Veterans Administration, the federal agency that administers the military medical hospitals throughout the nation, have maintained that the population of veterans in deep South Texas is not large enough to make a VA Hospital cost-effective.
But area residents are not taking no for an answer, and instead began a dramatic march from Edinburg on Saturday, November 5, as part of renewed strategies to increase political pressure in Washington, D.C.
The effort, which began with about 100 marchers, is designed to challenge national leaders to build a VA Hospital for thousands of men and women who have served their nation in the armed forces, but who find the military's guarantee of lifetime comprehensive medical care a broken promise.
At least one public official, Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, has lent more than his moral support to the renewed political movement.
He has taken valuable time away from his law firm and his family in order to walk the entire route to the Alamo with the Valley veterans and their supporters.
“I saw no good reason for me not to participate in such a critical issue,” said Peña, a second-term House District 40 lawmaker. “If I can lend support to the walk, it was the right gesture, especially in comparison to the sacrifices made by our soldiers.”
Peña is documenting the march by the veterans and their supporters on his Internet web site, located at http://aaronpena.org/
The trek, which picks up supporters in the cities along the route to San Antonio, was organized by numerous veterans organizations, including America's Last Patrol, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Participants include ex-prisoners of war, Iraq war disabled veterans, KIA Families of the Valley (killed in action) and even retired generals.
The argument that there's no extra federal funds available for a Valley VA Hospital carries no weight with another local legislator, Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen.
"This march serves as a means to draw the attention of the U.S. Congress to our veterans of the Rio Grande Valley,” said Gonzáles, whose House District 41 includes southwest Edinburg. “A VA hospital is critical to fill the needs of our area and we must ensure that our federal legislators keep our veterans as a high priority.”
She noted that the recently-approved federal budget included $286.45 billion for transportation projects nationwide, including hundreds of millions of dollars for controversial bridge projects in Alaska.
Spearheaded by Congressman Don Young, R-Alaska, who is the powerful chairman of the U.S. House Transportation Committee, his home state managed to land $223 million to build a bridge higher than the Brooklyn Bridge and almost as long as the Golden Gate in order to connect Ketchikan, Alaska (population 8,900) to the city airport on Gravina Island (population 50).
“Before we spend millions of dollars to build a bridge in Alaska that goes nowhere, let's spend that type of money on something we really need - to serve the very people who have served our country,” Gonzáles remarked.
Young defends the transportation bill as helping Alaska and the nation.
“This is a jobs bill that will put America back to work and begin the process of repairing and building this nation's great infrastructure,” Young said in recent statements. “Alaska is positioned to receive over $596 million in funds. These funds will help to curb our ever growing congestion problems and meet the need of some of our infrastructure challenges.”
Other supporters for a Valley VA Hospital say local veterans who depend on their veterans benefits to receive even the most basic care have to wait as long as a year and more to see physicians at the two VA outpatient clinics in McAllen and Harlingen.
“The veterans down here have gone long enough with only basic medical treatment,” said Lydia Caballero, member of America's Last Patrol and a coordinator of the march. “The wait between doctor's visits is disgusting. I think it is laughable to assume that anyone will know they will be getting sick a year and a half ahead of time.”
Previous political setbacks haven't conquered the determination of the Valley veterans or their allies, though.
“It is very heartwarming to see all the support, not only from the citizens along the way, but from police and DPS state troopers who have escorted us almost the entire way,” said Peña. “Anytime we enter a city, they have chosen to escort us.”
During their march, the group slept at veterans halls along the way, he added.
Marc Cisneros, former president of Texas A&M - Kingsville who retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant General in August 1996, was one of the many persons who greeted the traveling delegation.
He walked with the group when they arrived at his hometown of Premont, Peña said.
According to the U.S. Census, in 2000 there were almost 1.8 million veterans living in Texas, with about 25,000 residing in Hidalgo County, about 20,000 in Cameron County, and about 32,000 in Corpus Christi.
Juan Maldonado, chairman of the Hidalgo County Democratic Party, was equally frank in his assessment of the federal government's wait-and-see approach.
“It is not only disturbing but shows the lack of respect that our veterans from the Rio Grande Valley who served bravely and proudly have been ignored like this,” Maldonado charged.
However, the Valley is not without some recent improvements for military veterans.
Earlier this year, the state opened the $12.9 million Alfredo González Veterans Home in McAllen, which is named after an Edinburg war hero and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Plans are underway for the development of a $8.7 million Veterans Cemetery to be located in Mission.
The big prize, understandably, remains securing a military hospital, a dream that for many seems doomed to the distant future.
But area veterans last spring picked up symbolic support from the Texas Legislature and Gov. Rick Perry, who approved a resolution calling on President Bush and Congress to build the next VA Hospital in the Weslaco, which is centrally-located.
That measure, carried by Rep. Armando “Mando” Martínez, D-Weslaco, and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, notes that “our veterans who live in South Texas have served their country bravely and risked their lives to preserve our country's freedom and democracy, and their sacrifices in our behalf are deserving of a veterans hospital to meet their health care needs.”

Legislative Media reports on the major legislative events that affect South Texans.

Marching Valley Veterans plan to Pay Tribute to Pvt. Felix Longoria in Three Rivers

2005-11-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

EDINBURG - Rio Grande Valley veterans marching to San Antonio to highlight the need for a VA hospital in their region may take a detour in Three Rivers to honor fallen World War II hero Felix Longoria.

Pvt. Longoria died while on a volunteer mission in the Philippines during the last days of World War II. His hometown funeral home in Three Rivers controversially refused to bury him, which led to the formation of the American GI Forum. Recent efforts by the League of United Latin American Citizens and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-McAllen, to get the Three Rivers Post Office named after Longoria have so far failed.

Felix Rodriguez, spokesman for the Valley’s America’s Last Patrol group and member of the Delta-area Veterans of Foreign Wars, discussed the possibility of the marching veterans making a slight detour in Three Rivers to pay homage to Longoria at the post office with state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, while marching Saturday.

“We haven’t decided yet, but we might stop and honor Felix Longoria in Three Rivers,” said Cmdr. José Maria Vasquez, leader of America's Last Patrol in the Valley, and organizer of the march.

“Felix Rodriguez is keen for us to do it but, unfortunately, he has had to drop out of the march because his sister is ill. We are still thinking about it.”

Rodriguez did not mention Longoria by name when commenting publicly outside Hidalgo County Courthouse Saturday, just prior to the start of the march. However, Rodriguez did complain about Hispanic veterans being discriminated against. He said the media ignored the views of minority servicemen and women during the 2004 presidential election, when Democratic candidate Jon Kerry’s war record was a campaign issue.

“We are the elephant in the living room,” Rodriguez said. “We are not going to be ignored anymore. We are not second-class citizens and neither are our families. We are not invisible.”

Various groups, including America’s Last Patrol, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Non-Commissioned Officers Club, have united for the march. The groups call themselves the United Veterans of the Rio Grande Valley.

The 20-plus veterans who set off on the march expect to get support from veterans from other parts of Texas during their six-day trek to San Antonio. They plan a rally at The Alamo next Friday, Veterans Day.

The veterans are demanding a VA hospital for the region’s 46,000 veterans. They say the number of veterans in the Valley swells to above 100,000 in the winter when Winter Texans arrive.

Before setting off on the march, local politicians and celebrities pledged their support.

“It’s a shame and a disgrace for the families and the veterans that have served this country and, in so many cases, paid the ultimate price, and still be lacking what was promised,” said Tejano music legend Little Joe Hernandez.

Hernandez said that while he did not serve, his family had given 300 years of military service. Hernandez has promised that his band, Little Joe y La Familia will perform live for the veterans when they reach San Antonio.

Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia said the march was historic. Garcia put the number of Valley veterans at 120,000 and said that with the veteran population aging, the need for specialty care was even more acute.

“There are more combat veterans living in our area than anywhere else in the country,” Garcia said. “Our area, our community, has always been there, has always responded to every call our country has made since Texas became a state. We need to make sure that the federal government recognizes the fact that this is area, south of San Antonio, is extremely patriotic.”

Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy said the end of the struggle would not be when the veterans arrive in San Antonio, but when a VA hospital was built in the Valley.

“We should be here and march with them to show the U.S. Congress that our soldiers deserve a VA hospital with their own specialty doctors here in the Valley,” Handy said. “Our veterans desperately need this medical treatment now.”

State Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, D-Weslaco, read out the Texas House resolution he passed earlier this year in support of veterans’ hospital being built in Weslaco. The resolution has been sent to the President and every member of Texas’ congressional delegation. “We are here to support you,” Martinez said.

State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, acknowledged that congressional spending was tight questioned the priorities being set in Washington, D.C. “Before we spend millions of dollars to build a bridge in Alaska that goes nowhere, let’s spend that type of money on something that we really need – to treat people who have given their lives to their country, who have never said now to us,” Gonzales said.

Peña, who hopes to march the entire 225 miles with the veterans, described the event as a pilgrimage. “When called upon, you were there,” Peña told the veterans. “Now it’s time for our country to be there for you.”

Representatives of U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, and state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, read statements in support of the veterans, the march and the need for a veterans’ hospital in the Valley.

Upon arrival in Falfurrias, Vasquez said the first day of the march had gone well. He said the veterans hoped to march 40 miles per day. The group will go back to the point they left off Saturday evening, and complete the journey to Falfurrias Sunday. They also plan to stay in Alice, Three Rivers, and Pleasanton before arriving in San Antonio next Friday.

“We have got cramp in muscles we did not know we still had,” joked Vasquez, a Vietnam veteran.

Vasquez said the veterans hoped to be joined on the march Sunday by retired Lt. Gen. Marc A. Cisneros, who helped negotiate the capture and surrender of Panamanian General Manuel Noriega, and state Rep. Juan Escobar, D-Kingsville, a decorated Vietnam veteran.

This story appeared in the Rio Grande Guardian.

QR Confirms Texas Democratic Party Chair Not Seeking Re-election

2005-11-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

What this blog has been telling you for days, that The Tx. Democratic Party Chair is not seeking re-election, has been confirmed by the Quorum Report. We told you so!

How unfortunate that some insiders tried to send so many down a rabbit trail by simply calling it a "nasty" rumor. It seems that the head start given to certain "preferred" candidates could not be kept up with our constant reports of the insiders campaigning for the job.

Now that "all" members are on notice maybe a Tejano can have a shot this late in the game. Thanks to our blog posts a number of Latino activists will be gathering in Austin soon to map out a strategy. Perhaps the question could be asked why the "big boys" continue to hide inside information from members of the Hispanic community. We had to hear it from loud mouth insiders.

Despite the party's shortcomings it is still our party and we will continue to work out the insensitive and clique-ish nature of the group that still dominates the party. Now, if they insist on dictating instead of listening or allow equal participation, we have to demand that they win something!

Back To The Little Games in The Texas Democratic Party

2005-11-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

As we told you previously, the State Party Chairman for the Democratic Party is rumored to be stepping down. As was there usual MO they are trying to dispel this truth as a "nasty" rumor.

In fact three (non-Hispanics/non-African-Americans) persons have been diligently campaigning for the job. For those in the Tejano community you are supposed to fall for the "nasty" rumor diversion because consultants who parasite off the current group fear they would lose their jobs if a Latino/a Chair was chosen.

Open your eyes Tejanos, it the same charade as last time. If we are ever going to live up to our name then our next Chair should be chosen in a "democratic" fashion by the delegates of the state convention.

Tejanos in South Texas Shafted by Republicans in Pharmacy School Funding

2005-11-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Outrage! Outrage! Outrage! How is it that people like Bonilla and others in the Republican ranks continue to woo Hispanic voters to the Republican party with promises of sensitity when we read stories like this.

It is time to boot these rascals out.

Unfortunately, the history of South Texas under Democratic rule was not any better. How does one argue with voices that claim that Texas is simply a racist society.

Please note for the future, by 2030, Latinos will be a numerical majority, should we treat people in minority status as we have been treated. The moral answer is no. Even from white racists the answer is no, yet they continue to place their boots on our necks and treat our children with indifference.

May God save the state of Texas from itself.

Trick or Treat! Texas Democratic Party Chair Stepping Down?

2005-10-31T15:00:00.000-08:00

Rumors rapidly circulating through some corners are that Charles Soechting, the Chair of the Texas Democratic Party will be stepping down soon as party chair.

This is significant because the same sort of rumors circulated for months before former Chair, Molly Beth Malcom stepped down from her seat. Although many denied it and Molly Beth swore she would see it to the end, she as rumored left the office before an election could be held at a state convention.

Why is this highly un-democratic mode of tranferance of power, if the rumors are true, the preferred method of replacing a State Chairman? Many in the Tejano community have seen the insiders game as a way to keep a Hispanic Chair from taking the helm. If the same people who have lost a number of elections continue to have their way look for an East Texas non-Latino, non-African American to emerge as the front runner should our current Chair step down.

This commentator is tired of the repeated hollow promises and calls for the next Chair to be more representative of the diversity that is Texas.

Tejanos Must Note the Passing of a Latino Giant: Edward R. Roybal

2005-10-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

By George Ramos

Edward R. Roybal, a pioneer in Latino politics in Los Angeles and a godfather and mentor to scores of lawmakers, died Monday of pneumonia, according to the district office of his daughter, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles). He was 89.

Roybal, who championed the rights of the
underprivileged and the aged during 30 years in
Congress, began his political career in 1949 on the
Los Angeles City Council as the first person of
Mexican descent to sit on the council since 1881; it
would take another 23 years before another Mexican
American took a seat on the City Council.

"The congressman was a true barrier breaker and a
political legend, particularly in the Mexican American
community," Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria
Molina, who considered Roybal a mentor, said in a
statement today. "Throughout his tenure, he remained
committed to Latinos, the elderly, the poor, and the
physically challenged."

"A champion for civil rights and social justice like
him does not come around every day," Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement. "He wanted
nothing less than what all Americans strive for - a
good job, safe neighborhoods, quality schools and a
place to call home."

In 1993, Roybal told a Times interviewer that at his
first City Council meeting, he was introduced as "our
new Mexican councilman who also speaks Mexican."

"I discarded my prepared speech," Roybal said. "My
mission was immediately obvious. I'm not Mexican. I am
a Mexican American. And I don't speak a word of
Mexican. I speak Spanish."

It became his role, he said, to educate his fellow
public officials about Latinos and pay special
attention to what he felt were the long-neglected
needs of his largely Latino constituencies.

One way he did this was to harshly criticize the Los
Angeles Police Department for its treatment of
minorities, and he had own his story to underscore his
contention.

On his first date with his future wife, Lucille, in
the early 1940s, a white officer came up behind the
teenage couple - they were sharing chili beans and
crackers at a stand at 4th and Soto streets in Boyle
Heights - and went through Roybal's pockets. The
officer then dumped the couple's dinner on the
sidewalk, the former congressman told a Times
reporter.

"That kind of stuff was happening all the time,"
Roybal said.

Roybal also was an outspoken opponent of the city land
swap that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers prime real
estate for a new ballpark in Chavez Ravine, which was
largely populated by Mexican Americans, in exchange
for Wrigley Field, a minor league baseball stadium at
42nd Place and Avalon Boulevard.

Roybal-Allard later recalled that her father received
many angry calls at home from supporters of the deal.

"One man said my father was un-American because he was
against baseball and the Dodgers," said Roybal-Allard,
now a Democratic member of Congress representing East
Los Angeles. "I was a young girl at the time and I
tried to convince the man that my dad was right. I
wasn't able to."

Roybal, the first Latino politician from the Eastside
to gain wide recognition, was considered an
up-and-coming Democrat. Although he lost a bid in 1954
to become California's lieutenant governor, four years
later he came close to defeating Ernest Debs for a
seat on the five-member Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors. Roybal initially held a 390-vote lead on
election night and, when a 12,000-vote error was
discovered, there were four recounts. Roybal
eventually lost to Debs amid suspicions that the
election was taken from him simply because he was
Mexican American.

In 1962, he successfully ran for Congress in the 25th
District, which stretched from Hollywood through the
downtown area to East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights.
In Congress, he championed the rights of illegal
immigrants, including opposing the landmark 1986
amnesty law, which led to the legalization of more
than a 1.5 million Latinos. He instead favored a more
generous plan that would have legalized more Latinos.

He also was instrumental in getting Congress to
approve funds to provide medical, welfare and
educational services to eligible immigrants.

Harry Pachon, who was Roybal's chief of staff in
Washington D.C. from 1977 to 1981, said his former
boss didn't worry about the consequences of his votes.

"He voted his conscience, even when people made fun of
him," Pachon said.

Never a headline grabber, Roybal used his position as
a member of the powerful House Appropriations
Committee in the 1960s and `70s to secure
congressional funding for key programs. In 1967, he
introduced and won approval for the first federal
bilingual education law, which established English
classes for migrant children and others. The law began
to change the practice in California and elsewhere of
funneling non-English speakers into remedial classes.

Roybal worked tirelessly on behalf of seniors in the
1980s as chairman of the House Select Committee on
Aging. In 1980, he persuaded Congress to restore $15
million it had cut from senior citizens' programs in
order to continue low-cost health services. He also
argued that the younger minority-dominated work force,
including Latinos, needed to be supported by Congress
- especially if it was expected to pay for the public
benefits and programs for an increasingly aging
population.

"If we don't invest in the Hispanic population today,
we will pay the consequences tomorrow," Roybal said in
an 1987 interview.

His devotion to seniors was recognized after he
retired from Congress when the Edward R. Roybal
Institute for Applied Gerontology was established at
Cal State Los Angeles. The program is designed to
educate physicians, nurses and community members about
how best to deliver health services to the aged.

He also supported AIDS research. In 1983, when the
Reagan administration said $17.6 million was enough to
finance the war on AIDS, Roybal helped obtain another
$8 million for the next year. Two years later, Roybal
proposed an increase of funding to $176 million, which
was eventually approved by Congress.

This did not sit well with some of his Eastside
constituents.

"We would get calls from people who would say, 'What
are you doing? There are no gays in East L.A.' But he
didn't care. It was a health issue to him," recalled
Henry Lozano, another of Roybal's former chiefs of
staff. "He was ahead of the curve when it comes to
fighting AIDS."

"He was a quiet groundbreaker," agreed Pachon, who is
now president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, a
think tank at Claremont Graduate University. "Many of
his accomplishments go unrecognized because he did
things in a quiet way."

Knowing from his experience that it wasn't easy for a
Latino to win election in Southern California - his
own departure to Congress in 1962 created a void in
representation on the City Council that wouldn't be
filled for more than two decades, when then-Democratic
Assemblyman Richard Alatorre was elected to Roybal's
old seat in 1985 - Roybal extended a helping hand and
advice to many Latino politicians. Aspiring
officeholders sought an endorsement from "the Old
Man," knowing that a nod from Roybal could be a
decisive factor, especially with Latinos.

Among those who got a helping hand from Roybal in
launching their political careers were Molina, now
chairwoman of the county Board of Supervisors;
Alatorre; state Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres,
and Roybal's daughter.

He "paved the way for the next generation, just like
we're paving the way for the generation after us,"
Roybal-Allard, who represents parts of her father's
old district, told The Times in 1999. "But he was
really the pioneer."

In the 1970s, Roybal founded the National Assn. of
Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, a nationwide
research and civic action group for Latino lawmakers
across the U.S. NALEO now has more than 6,000 members.
He also co-founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus,
serving as its first chairman.

Roybal has more buildings named after him than almost
any other Los Angeles politician, including a
comprehensive health center in East L.A. and a federal
building and courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Most
recently, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention named its main campus in Atlanta after
Roybal.

Roybal was born Feb. 10, 1916, in Albuquerque, N.M.,
one of 10 children of Baudilio Sr., a carpenter, and
Eloisa Roybal. When he was a child, the family moved
to Boyle Heights, where he attended public schools and
graduated from Roosevelt High School.

During the Depression, Roybal was one of thousands of
young men who joined the New Deal's Civilian
Conservation Corps. He studied accounting at UCLA and
Southwestern University, then joined an accounting
firm, which sent him to a food-processing plant in
Vernon to help with the company's books. He later
became a public health educator with the California
Tuberculosis Assn. and, after serving in the Army
during World War II as an accountant for an infantry
unit, became one of the directors of health education
for the L.A. County Tuberculosis and Health Assn.

His work in the field prompted many friends on the
Eastside to urge Roybal to run for a seat on the L.A.
City Council, which he did in 1947, but he was
defeated. Two years later, he won the seat by
campaigning for more streetlights, better housing and
increased restraints on police.

Roybal attributed his victory to following the
principles of Chicago activist Saul Alinsky, who
preached that coalitions between similarly affected
groups should be forged for the common good. The
coalition Roybal forged was between Mexican Americans
and Jews, who both sought greater equity and an end to
racism.

It made sense for Roybal to reach out to Jews because
they were an integral part of life in Boyle Heights in
the years before and immediately after World War II.
He followed up this election strategy by helping to
establish, with Eastside activist Anthony P. Rios, the
Community Service Organization, which was a
partnership between Jews and Latinos on the Eastside
that conducted voter registration and get-out-the-vote
programs on Roybal's behalf.

As a congressman, Roybal frequently clashed with the
Immigration and Naturalization Service over what he
said was its uneven enforcement of the country's
immigration laws. He once gave a sharp tongue-lashing
to the normally glib Harold Ezell, then the INS'
regional commissioner for the West. Ezell said nothing
during Roybal's tirade, according to Lozano.

On another occasion, enraged over INS tactics in the
1980s, Roybal fumed: "Next to the IRS, the INS is the
most discourteous arm of the federal government."

In 1978, Roybal was reprimanded by his colleagues in
the House of Representatives after he admitted he had
lied about a $1,000 gift he received from South Korean
lobbyist Tongsun Park. The incident made no difference
to his constituents, who returned him to Congress that
year with 70% of the vote. Senior citizens were
particularly forgiving, especially after Roybal
explained that the $1,000 contribution - which he
claimed at the time came from an unknown donor - had
been used to buy tables for the elderly at a 1974
Roybal fundraiser.

The congressman kept his hands in local politics,
advising and endorsing a number of Latinos who sought
elective office. When Molina, then a newcomer, sought
to succeed her boss, Torres, in the state Assembly in
1982, Roybal ignored the wishes of Alatorre, an
Eastside powerhouse in his own right, who supported
his own candidate for the seat. Molina won and
afterward counted on the Old Man as a key ally.

In 1991, Molina, with Roybal's endorsement, won
election to the county Board of Supervisors. With
unmistakable joy, Roybal attended Molina's swearing-in
ceremony as she became the first Mexican American to
sit on that body. Friends said later that Roybal
relished the moment of Molina's swearing-in because of
his own controversial loss to Debs.

Roybal retired from the House in early 1992. Xavier
Becerra, with Roybal's endorsement, won election in
the newly constituted 30th District, which included
half of Roybal's old 25th District.

Roybal missed a chance to serve in Congress alongside
his daughter, who was elected to the House in November
1992.

After he left Congress, Roybal continued his
involvement with issues affecting the elderly and with
politics, endorsing several local candidates. Among
those who won elections with his endorsement was Nick
Pacheco, who in 1999 was elected to Alatorre's seat on
the L.A. City Council.

Besides Roybal-Allard, Roybal is survived by his wife,
Lucille Beserra-Roybal; daughter Lillian Roybal-Rose;
son Edward Jr.; and several grandchildren.

Possibility of Additional Early Democratic Primaries Grows

2005-10-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

As noted here first the early presidential primaries are about to be enlarged with states of greater diversity if a DNC committee has it way. Look here for the story.

Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia's Opponent Set to Announce Run

2005-10-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

JD Salinas is ready to announce that he is challenging incumbent Ramon Garcia for Hidalgo County's top post. The Hidalgo County Courthouse was abuzz today with rumors that Salinas would be announcing his candidacy tommorrow in McAllen near the FBI building. The county judge's race is expected to receive much of the attention in the March Democratic Primary. A Republican is not expected in November.

Minority Firms Getting Few Katrina Pacts

2005-10-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Minority-owned businesses say they're paying the price for the decision by Congress and the Bush administration to waive certain rules for Hurricane Katrina recovery contracts.

About 1.5 percent of the $1.6 billion awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency has gone to minority businesses, less than a third of the 5 percent normally required.

The AP story here.

Corpus Christi Caller: Call a Halt to Pursuit of Cisneros

2005-10-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

This exercise in prosecutorial overkill should have run its course long since; by now, it has become a study in senseless persecution.

October 4, 2005

In August 1994, Kenneth W. Starr began his work as the independent counsel investigating suspicions that would become the Whitewater investigation, which then morphed into a probe into the death of Vincent W. Foster Jr., which then begat the firings in the White House travel office, and then into the Lewinsky scandal and impeachment.

Just one year after Starr began his work, another independent counsel, David M. Barrett, was appointed to look into another allegation: that Henry Cisneros, the former San Antonio mayor who was appointed housing secretary, had lied to the FBI in the vetting process. A year ago, Starr closed his office. The Cisneros investigation continues on, now 10 years running. Why?

Cisneros, now in private business, has long since paid his debt. Six years ago Cisneros pleaded guilty and paid a $10,000 fine. Though he was pardoned by Clinton, Cisneros paid a heavy political price. Once the darling of Texas and even the national Democratic Party, his fortunes plummeted after he admitted he had lied about how much money he had paid an ex-mistress.

So what is Barrett's office still investigating? In some quarters, the belief persists that there are more shenanigans still to uncover and more conspiracies to reveal. But there is a simpler explanation. The continuation of the Cisneros probe is nothing less than a travesty and an abuse of prosecutorial power. And this charade of justice is being done at the expense of the taxpayers who are shelling out $2 million a year for Barrett's office, according to the latest report from the Government Accountability Office.

Last year both Democrats and Republicans expressed outrage when they found out that Barrett's office was still in business and tried to kill it. But the measure was snuffed out by House Republicans, who believe that if someone stole a loaf of bread, then justice should be meted out, no matter how many millions it takes.

Barrett is the last independent counsel still grinding on. Each day that office continues takes it further from justice and closer to persecution of its target.

Democrats Likely to Consider Other Early Presidential Primaries/Caucuses

2005-10-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

USA Today tells the story of a potential plan raised in Texas by Rep. Aaron Pena to have an early presidential caucus in this or another state with greater diversity than the present two states.

National Democrats seem ready to yield to the possibility to at least two states. No news from the Texas Democratic Party as to any efforts made on the recommendation made by our former chairman.

Statesman: Delay Indicted

2005-09-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

A Travis County grand jury today indicted U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on one count of criminal conspiracy, jeopardizing the Sugar Land Republican's leadership role as the second most powerful Texan in Washington, D.C.

The charge, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years incarceration, stems from his role with his political committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, a now-defunct organization that already had been indicted on charges of illegally using corporate money during the 2002 legislative elections.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Half of Europe's Citizens Know 2 Languages

2005-09-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Listen up Tejanos, it seems we (those of us who speak at least two languages) are the ones that are on par with the rest of the world and that other "Americans" are the ones that are lacking.

Click here for story.

Poor Having Trouble Fleeing Rita

2005-09-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

By DEBORAH HASTINGS / Associated Press
9/23/05

Wilma Skinner would like to scream at the officials of this city. If only they would pick up their phones.

"I done called for a shelter, I done called for help. There ain't none. No one answers," she said, standing in blistering heat outside a check-cashing store that had just run out of its main commodity. "Everyone just says, 'Get out, get out.' I've got no way of getting out. And now I've got no money."

With Hurricane Rita breathing down Houston's neck, those with cars were stuck in gridlock trying to get out. Those like Skinner — poor, and with a broken-down car — were simply stuck, and fuming at being abandoned, they say.

"All the banks are closed and I just got off work," said Thomas Visor, holding his sweaty paycheck as he, too, tried to get inside the store, where more than 100 people, all of them black or Hispanic, fretted in line. "This is crazy. How are you supposed to evacuate a hurricane if you don't have money? Answer me that?"

Some of those who did have money, and did try to get out, didn't get very far.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Tejanos Be Wary of Rita!

2005-09-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Rita is now a category 5 hurricane and is headed our way. Tejanos along the coast, take heed. Be prepared and do not underestimate Mother Nature.

CNN and the National Weather Service tracks the storm.

AP: Border Democratic Congressmen Join Republicans in Declaring Immigration Emergency

2005-09-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

09/21/2005

By SUZANNE GAMBOA / Associated Press

As the approach of Hurricane Rita sent Texas into emergency mode, several of the state's members in Congress declared an emergency for the border region because of illegal immigration.

Nineteen Republicans and four Democrats notified President Bush in a letter they were declaring a state of emergency for the Texas-Mexico border because "illegal aliens, many of which are 'other than Mexicans' (OTMs), are crossing our border by the hundreds on a daily basis."

The letter was written by Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, and sent late Tuesday. It was released publicly Wednesday morning as Texas coastal residents began fleeing to escape the expected wrath of Rita, which had intensified into a Category 4 storm and threatened the Texas coast.

"U.S. Rep. Bonilla just feels it's something that has been in the works for a long time, and we are consistently trying to work on the situation down there. We obviously are not trying to take away attention from Hurricane Rita," Bonilla spokeswoman Taryn Fritz Walpole said.

The declaration is "a symbolic state of emergency," Fritz Walpole said. Such a declaration could only be made by the governor or president. A declaration would mean more money for Texas for immigration purposes, she said.

The governors of New Mexico and Arizona have declared emergencies in those states because of illegal immigration, in part to make state money available to pay overtime for law enforcement officials and other needs. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has not.

Two Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation did not sign the letter: Reps. Ron Paul of Surfside and Joe Barton of Ennis. The state has 21 Republicans and 11 Democrats in the U.S. House.

Democrats who signed the letter were Reps. Silvestre Reyes of El Paso; Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi; Henry Cuellar of San Antonio; and Ruben Hinojosa of Mercedes.

John Sharp Will Not Be Our Next Governor

2005-09-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Burnt Orange Report has posted that John Sharp is apparently set to announce that he is not running for governor in the Democratic primary in 2006.

Another Candidate Announces Bid to Succeed Rep. Raymond

2005-09-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Steve Taylor's Rio Grande Guardian is reporting that former Webb County Judge Mercurio "Big Merc" Martinez is going to announce his intention to run for the seat that Richard Raymond is vacating. Other candidates vying to replace Raymond are Sergio Moya, Javier Martinez and Rudy Ochoa, Taylor reports.

Minutemen Officially Unwelcome in Cameron County

2005-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

By Lynn Brezosky
Associated Press

Cameron County officials passed a resolution Tuesday opposing citizen border patrols, citing respect for immigrants, confidence in federal law enforcement and a shared history with Mexico.

The resolution against "the presence of Minutemen or other vigilante groups" passed unanimously during a meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners Court in Brownsville.

"The safe and legal passage of immigrants and foreign visitors to Cameron County is important to the civic life of our county," the resolution reads. "The future growth of Cameron County depends on the continued good will of our brothers in Mexico."

Click here for the rest of the story.

San Antonio Political Giant Pat Maloney Has Passed Away

2005-09-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

by Carmina Danini
Express-News Staff Writer

Pat Maloney Sr., a firebrand plaintiffs' lawyer known as the king of torts, whose clients included nuns, madams and Vietnamese fishermen in a landmark murder case, died late Saturday at age 81.

"I will die with the greatest of reluctance and the strongest of resistance, but I'd love to stay here because I'm having fun and I would love to try more lawsuits," Maloney said in a videotaped memoir made several years ago. "Having said that, I'm still trying very hard to die well."

Click here for the rest of the story.

What Katrina Tells Us About Mr. Bush's Philosophy of Government

2005-09-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Years from now, historians will likely see the Bush administration’s initially callous and indifferent response to hurricane Katrina as a parable for the type of conservatism this president and his party currently represent.

Bush conservatism is built on a fundamental cultural narrative that has reemerged since the Reagan Eighties – that success is a sign of virtue, and anything less, particularly poverty, can be explained only through a character flaw.

From the Roosevelt years through the Seventies, we defined the American Dream as a good job, a piece of the rock, and the ability to take care of one’s family. Those who lived paycheck to paycheck earned our respect, because hard work and determination were deemed virtuous. These were the people who built America.

We even understood poverty as a condition brought about by circumstance, often historical circumstance far beyond the control of the poor, and we granted those who struggled to overcome it a semblance of nobility. Sure, there were some who chose to fail, and they never gained our sympathy, but most aspired for something better and as a society we acknowledged it.

Today, however, the conservative movement has redefined success and worth in America. Because some of us succeed, conservatives say, there must be something flawed in those who don’t. The American Dream has been redefined as striking it rich, and falling short just isn’t good enough.

It’s a worldview coded into the Bush and Reagan tax cuts, which showered money on the super wealthy under the assumption that these are the real people who know how to build America. Those with money, in other words, contribute more to our nation’s health than those who merely work. They have wisdom and virtue.

And because those who aren’t successful must be responsible for their lack of success, it’s no business of government to be there for them. Thus the president seeks to privatize Social Security and cut other benefits – he calls it an “ownership society,” but in real life that translates to an “on your own society.” If you don’t properly prepare for your future, you have only yourself to blame – this is America, after all, where anyone can succeed.

In the America defined by Bush conservatism, there is no social contract that recognizes our common humanity and the link between success and the society that makes it possible – a social contract that understands hard knocks not as a character flaw but simply as part of life.

Indeed it’s no surprise that the president would prefer to transfer society’s obligations to the faith-based community, because these are institutions built on the notion of forgiving those who are weak and those who sin. If those who fail do so because of a character flaw, then we should send them to those best equipped to redeem them. The government, according to Bush conservatism, should have no part of it.

It’s sad yet fascinating how conservative pundits seized on the small number of looters during Katrina’s aftermath, turning it into the main storyline of the hurricane, as if it provided confirmation for a worldview that asks “What’s wrong with these people” and “Why didn’t they save themselves” and “Why didn’t they evacuate?”

Unstated but understood among these conservatives is the view that Katrina’s victims, many of them at least, are responsible for their misery. Others got out, so why didn’t they? Doesn’t it reveal the same character flaw that makes them poor?

Thus it’s not government’s duty to help them, and thus the initial impassiveness and unresponsiveness of this conservative administration. Only when politics intervened did the president realize the perils of his indifference.

Perhaps the president has an excuse. After all, his own life story follows this conservative narrative. He was a drinker, an irresponsible husband, and he turned his own life around through faith and redemption. If he could overcome his character flaw, why not everyone else?

What he forgets is that he had a safety net of wealth to protect him. Most of us don’t. And what he assumes is that the poor and near poor suffer from character flaws. Most of them don’t, and in fact most of them work hard for what they have.

Whether Katrina will serve as a cultural turning point is yet to be seen. But the hurricane that hit America is only partly due to nature. It’s also a storm created by a conservative ideology that, consciously or not, leads to contempt and indifference toward those not seen as society’s winners.

By Leonard Steinhorn who teaches politics and media at American University, and is the author of the forthcoming book, The Greater Generation: In Defense of the Baby Boom Legacy, to be published by St. Martin's Press in January 2006.

Mexican Army Welcome in Texas

2005-09-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

Mexico, Latin America and much of the world has long since been at the receiving end of U.S. humanitarian relief efforts. While the humanitarian aid was needed and humbly received and the generosity of the United States government and its people in times of crisis is always extraordinary, the acceptance implies a fundamental failure of the affected government to its citizens. Why does Mexico, Peru or the “other world” allow its people to live along mountains and in valleys that have been devastated by mudslides before? Have they not learned? Do they not care? When earthquakes ravage India or Iran even the untrained eye can see that lax or non-existent building regulations and shoddy construction supplies do more damage than the quake itself. Americans are quick to open their checkbooks and lend their skills and resources to help. That compassion cannot be overstated but it is not self less. We do feel pride that we have the capacity to give. We do feel scorn that these people are allowed to live in squalor and undoubtedly contribute to their condition and in our generosity we shame those governments that should have done more, that should have seen it coming, that should have not let it happen in the first place.

Now we open our hearts, our wallets and give time and energy to help our own. Now the Mexican government has sent a 47-truck convoy along with 183 soldiers and relief supplies north across the Rio Grande. Now the United States government humbly accepts the humanitarian aid from its poor neighbor. Mexico is proud to help the United States and Tejanos are proud to see the convoy make its way up I-35. While the symbolism of the Mexican Military convoy weighs heavier than the aid and relief they are supplying the fact is that we do need their help. All levels of the government failed our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. It is enticing to lay the full blame on Bush, FEMA and other aspects of the federal government but they alone should not shoulder the burden of such a catastrophic failure of common sense and basic human decency. But it is shameful and morally reprehensible that the White House is once again on the offensive deflecting blame. They did fail and they should accept responsibility but it is very unlike Bush, when confronted with sitautions like this one, to show any inkling of honor and compassion and anything that resembles what a normal human being should feel and do.

Hubris felled many a Greek and history has an uncanny ability of repeating itself especially to those ignorant or unwilling to heed its lessons.

The San Antonio Express-News has a great story on the Mexican humanitarian military convoy that arrived in San Antonio yesterday.

Raymond's Former Aide Running for Rep's Seat

2005-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sergio Mora of Laredo is running for state representative. Mora is seeking to replace his former boss US Congressional candidate Richard Raymond. HD 42 encompassed most of Laredo and southwestern parts of Webb County. Mora is the first candidate to announce for Raymond's seat.

Lucio III Seeks to Join Father in Texas Legislature

2005-09-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Eddie Lucio, III is set to announce his candidacy for State Representative, District 38 on Friday. Lucio is seeking the seat of retiring Jim Solis. Harlingen attorney David Gonzales has already announced his intention of running for the seat in the March 2006 Democratic Primary. Steve Talyor's Rio Grande Guardian broke the story.

Austin American-Statesman Reports TAB Indictments

2005-09-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

A Travis County grand jury last month indicted the Texas Association of Business and sealed the two felony charges as it continued to investigate allegations that TAB illegally spent corporate money during the 2002 legislative campaign, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The sources did not want to be named because of the confidentiality of the grand jury action.

That grand jury, which has been meeting off and on for weeks, returns today to resume deliberations.

Austin lawyer Roy Minton, who represents the association, said Wednesday night that he was unaware of any indictments, but he accompanied TAB President Bill Hammond on Wednesday for a rare face-to-face meeting with prosecutors outside the grand jury's presence to try to head off criminal charges against the organization or its officers.

Click here for rest of Laylan Copelin's story.

Richard Raymond is Running for Congress

2005-09-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

By T.A. BADGER / Associated Press
9/7/05

State Rep. Richard Raymond said Wednesday he will challenge first-term congressman Henry Cuellar, a fellow Laredoan, in the Democratic primary election in U.S. House District 28.

Raymond's presence is expected to create a crowded primary field in March, as former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of San Antonio — defeated by Cuellar last year in a race marked by bitter accusations of vote fraud — has said he also plans to run for his old seat.

Raymond, who months ago started hinting about taking on Cuellar, labeled the incumbent a closet Republican. He cited, among other things, Cuellar's support of President Bush in 2000 and his tenure as secretary of state under GOP Gov. Rick Perry in 2001.

Read the rest of the story.

Katrina Response Hurt Bush; Likely to Hurt Republicans

2005-09-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Things have been going so badly for Bush, be it gas prices or an incompetent response to the Katrina disaster, that most analysists are thinking fallout for Republicans. This Reuters story explores the possibilities.

Valley Labor Participates in Six Mile March: Farmworkers and Rep. Aaron Pena Highlight Event

2005-09-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Many turned out in the Rio Grande Valley for a six mile pilgrimage from McAllen to the San Juan Basilica in recognition of Labor Day. Former Tejano Democrats Chairman and State Representative Aaron Pena was one who marched the distance at the event. Pro-labor speeches followed by a variety of labor groups. The Valley Farm Workers also participated in the march as many of the marchers carried their recognizable red flag. Rep. Pena who was joined by many members of the clergy took the opportunity to remember the religious implications of the march which ended at a church: "2,000 years ago Jesus preached "revolutionary ideas" that people should love one another. Today those ideas translate into respecting each other, providing fair wages and dignity to all employees."

Father John Lasseigne who also marched added, "This was a march to call for just treatment of workers throughout the Valley," said the pastor of St. John the Baptist. "I think it's a great thing to do on Labor Day to recognize workers who are frequently exploited. I think at the very least we need to be aware of how our choices as consumers affect workers. Even if we make small changes we can make a difference."

Henry Cisneros Comments on the Condition of the Democratic Party

2005-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Former SA mayor Henry Cisneros made comments to Associated Press regarding his observations of the Democratic Party. Here is the story.

The Dallas Morning News also has the story here.

A Can't-Do Government

2005-09-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

By Paul Krugman
NY Times

Before 9/11 the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed the three most likely catastrophic disasters facing America: a terrorist attack on New York, a major earthquake in San Francisco and a hurricane strike on New Orleans. "The New Orleans hurricane scenario," The Houston Chronicle wrote in December 2001, "may be the deadliest of all." It described a potential catastrophe very much like the one now happening.

So why were New Orleans and the nation so unprepared? After 9/11, hard questions were deferred in the name of national unity, then buried under a thick coat of whitewash. This time, we need accountability.

Click here for more

Could the Devastation in the Gulf Coast Been Prevented?

2005-09-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

By Sidney Blumenthal
Former Clinton Adviser

In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.

Biblical in its uncontrolled rage and scope, Hurricane Katrina has left millions of Americans to scavenge for food and shelter and hundreds to thousands reportedly dead. With its main levee broken, the evacuated city of New Orleans has become part of the Gulf of Mexico. But the damage wrought by the hurricane may not entirely be the result of an act of nature.

A year ago the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed to study how New Orleans could be protected from a catastrophic hurricane, but the Bush administration ordered that the research not be undertaken.

Click here for the rest of the story.

The Tejano Insider

2005-08-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

Republicans Make Effort to Woo Black Voters

2005-08-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

By Brian DeBose
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Blacks in both major political parties have felt "marginalized" for decades, but Republicans hope a new strategy will help them reach out to black voters and politicians.

Raymond Telles First Hispanic Mayor Turns 90 - Tejanos Thank You For Your Service

2005-08-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Telles will celebrate his 90th birthday Sept. 5 with family on the West Coast. He still looks like a well-dressed diplomat with an American flag pin on his lapel.

Telles is, in the eyes of his admirers, the symbol of dignity, El Paso's outstanding elder statesman, the Mexican-American leader who gave his gente a voice in politics.

Telles is best known as the first Mexican-American mayor of a major city in the Southwest, long before Henry Cisneros in San Antonio and Federico Peña in Denver.

He challenged the political circles dominated by Anglos in El Paso in the 1940s and 1950s and disproved the notion that Mexican-Americans could not be elected to public office or effectively run a city.

Telles was one of the highest- ranking Mexican-Americans in the federal government in the 1960s. He became a close friend of John F. Kennedy and part of the president's inner circle of advisers.

He once escorted Kennedy to El Paso and had been scheduled to travel to Dallas with Kennedy, who had decided to appoint him ambassador to Mexico.

Mario T. Garcia describes Telles' election as the first Mexican-American mayor of El Paso in 1957 as a groundbreaking event in the history of El Paso and in the history of Mexican-American and Latino politics in the United States.

The rest of the story by the El Paso Times is here.

GOP Now Calling Itself 'The Party of Ideas.' Problem Is, Most of Them Are Bad Ideas

2005-08-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

By Joe Rothstein

Many restaurants try to attract customers by posting the words, "home cooking" in their windows.

My very wise, late mother-in-law used to warn us that, "home cooking" is not necessarily a positive recommendation for where to eat. "Depends on whose home it is," she used to say.

Lately, Republicans have been trying to attract customers by referring to themselves as the "party of ideas." But as with home cooking, "ideas" is a neutral word until you look carefully into the pot to see what's cooking.

Just to run through a few ideas the Republicans have advanced this year, and other years since they became dominant:

---The idea that Social Security should no longer be a government program, but that it should morph over time into a managed relationship between you and whoever is privately managing your retirement accounts.

---The idea that we should shrink the size of government and outsource as many of its functions as possible to the private sector.

---The idea that the state governments should not get in the way of the federal government on many important issues.

---The idea that even though nearly half the voters voted for Democratic candidates in 2004, big decisions should be made inside the Republican caucus without negotiating a bi-partisan consensus.

---The idea that energy independence for the U.S. can best be achieved by giving huge tax breaks to big oil companies.

This is a short and very arbitrary list. But I think it's fairly representative of where the "idea" party is taking us.

The recently-enacted energy bill gives billions to the most profitable industry in America as "incentives" to search for and develop more oil and gas resources. This was the result of the Republican idea that $65 a barrel oil simply wasn't enough incentive on its own.

The energy bill also makes it difficult for states and localities to stop high-powered transmission lines from going where states and localities might not want them. Ditto with highly volatile liquid natural gas facilities. Earlier in the year the Bush administration fought and won a battle in court to override the wishes of state voters who wanted to legalize the use of medical marijuana. The Republicans' new idea seems to be to trash states' rights when they stand in the way of tighter control from the White House.

On Social Security "reform," the idea on which President has spent so much time and political capital, don't count the issue out just because of widespread public opposition. As we know by now, once the President convinces himself that he's right, he doesn't abandon a campaign. Fundamentally changing Social Security is one of the Republicans' biggest ideas, and it's coming back for a re-run early next year.

The American Society of Civil Engineers recently graded America's infrastructure---highways, bridges, water and sewer systems, schools, etc.---and gave the whole public works sector a D. The engineers' estimate is that we need $1.6 trillion invested in the country's crumbling infrastructure over the next 5 years just to bring it up to a safe and acceptable standard.

Meanwhile, the Republican idea is to continue to cut taxes so that the country won't be able to afford to pay for its most basic requirements. You have to go back 25 years (when Carter was President) to find corporate tax receipts as a percentage of GDP as low as they are today.

I watched a news clip of President Bush signing the new highways bill. He told his partisan audience that the bill was fiscally responsible because the gas tax wasn't increased to pay for the roads. No, it wasn't. The nearly $300 billion tab will be paid with money the federal government borrows, which makes it the most expensive way to build and repair our roads. President Bush's idea of fiscal responsibility is to add more debt to the national burden.

The idea of transferring government jobs to the private sector is in full flower. No better example of it is the no-bid, sweetheart contract the Defense Department gave Halliburton to peel potatoes, provide gas for vehicles, handle our troops' laundry, and provide other services once performed by government workers. So far these contracts amount to $12 billion and rising fast. And all along the way Halliburton has been nailed for cheating our troops on the firing line.

The President and the Republicans are full of ideas. We've watched as those ideas have been unwrapped over the past few years and tossed into the stew that we call the Republican agenda.

The aroma is not inviting. The taste we've had already is hard to swallow.

As my late mother-in-law said, it depends whose home is doing the cooking.

Joe Rothstein, editor of USPoliticstoday.com, is a former daily newspaper editor and long-time national political strategist based in Washington, D.C.

Carlos Guerra: Latest base closures will bring more pain to Coastal Bend

2005-08-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Carlos Guerra, one of the best observers of Tejanos and their political circumstances, comments on the effect the Ingleside closing will have on South Texas, but most particularly Corpus Christi. Read his commentary here.

USA Today: Mexicans Feel Strong Pull To USA

2005-08-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY

More than 40% of Mexican adults say they would move to the USA if they could, and one in five say they would do so illegally if necessary, according to surveys released Tuesday by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Surveys of 1,200 Mexican adults in February and 1,200 in May, conducted in their homes, show that Mexicans' rising education levels have not weakened the desire to live and work in this country.

More than a third of Mexican college graduates say they would come to the USA if they could, and more than one in eight would do so even if they had to enter the country illegally, according to the surveys, the first of their kind.

"Contrary to what people might expect, the inclination to migrate isn't contained among Mexicans who are poor or poorly educated or with limited economic prospects," says Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center, a non-partisan research group in Washington. "They're distributed across the whole breadth of Mexican society."

Mexicans' willingness to come is driven by a desire to improve their economic status and join friends and family already in the USA, Suro says.

Despite improvements in the Mexican economy, "people with college degrees believe they have greater economic opportunities by migration to the U.S. — even illegally — than they would staying at home," Suro says. Mexicans are coming from richer, urban areas as well as poor, rural regions, he says.

The survey comes at a time when President Bush and Democratic and Republican leaders are calling for changes in U.S. immigration policy. The biggest issue: what to do about the estimated 11 million or more people here illegally.

"The president supports comprehensive immigration reform that addresses border security, enforcement and the economic demand for willing workers," White House spokeswoman Erin Healy says.

Some members of Congress, such as Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., say immigrants here illegally should go back to their native countries to apply to enter the USA legally. Others, such as Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., say that isn't practical.

"People are simply not going to sign up ... to be deported with no guarantee of coming back again," says Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research at the National Council of La Raza, an advocacy group for Hispanics.

More than half of Mexicans say they would be inclined to come if the United States established a temporary worker program.

Pew's June survey of Latinos in the USA found that 68% say illegal immigrants help the economy by providing low-cost labor rather than drive wages down.

But the survey shows a difference between the attitudes of Hispanics born here and those of Latino immigrants. For example, 60% of U.S.-born Hispanics support laws that require people to show proof of citizenship or legal residency before they can get driver's licenses. Only 29% of foreign-born Latinos feel that way.

More immigrants come here from Mexico (population 106 million) than any other country. An estimated 10 million Mexicans now live here, more than half illegally, Suro says.

"Millions of people are going to keep coming every decade unless we restrict it," says Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington group that favors strict enforcement of immigration laws. "That's the bottom line."

AP: U.S. Hispanics Divided on Immigrant Issues

2005-08-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
Tue Aug 16, 9:28 AM ET

A majority of Hispanics born in the United States don't think illegal Hispanic immigrants should be given drivers' licenses, according to a new poll.

Most foreign-born Hispanics disagree, according to the polling for the Pew Hispanic Center.

Six in 10 Hispanics born in this country approve of measures to prohibit illegal immigrants from getting drivers' licenses, while two-thirds born in another country disapprove of such measures.

The difference between foreign-born Hispanics and native-born Hispanics on the driver's license issue highlights the disparity between the two groups on several issues.

Foreign-born Hispanics take a more positive view than native-born Hispanics on whether immigrants strengthen the United States. Almost nine in 10 foreign-born Hispanics say immigrants strengthen the country, while two-thirds of Hispanics born in the United States feel that way, according to the poll.

"Among Latinos in the United States, there's a majority that views immigrants favorably, but there is a significant minority concerned about unauthorized immigration into the country and its impact," said Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center.

Two-thirds of Hispanics in the U.S. said undocumented migrants help the economy by providing low-cost labor. Again, foreign-born Hispanics were more upbeat about the impact of undocumented migrants than those born in this country.

Most Hispanics feel the number of immigrants coming in the country should stay the same or be reduced, with only a third saying the numbers should increase, according to the poll done for Pew and another done for Time Magazine.

Three-fourths in a Time poll of 503 Hispanic adults said people in the United States illegally are taking jobs that U.S. citizens don't want. The Time poll was taken from July 28 to Aug. 3.

The Pew study also looked at how Mexicans feel about trying to get into the United States.

Almost half of Mexicans, 46 percent, surveyed in May said they would go to the U.S. if they could. About two in five said they would be inclined to go live and work in the U.S. without authorization.

"The desire to migrate is not a phenomenon of the poor and poorly educated," Suro said. "The inclination to migrate is powerful in the middle class in Mexico, even those with college educations say they would go to the United States if they could."

The survey of Hispanics in the United States was conducted for the Pew Hispanic Center from June 14-27 by ICR and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. In Mexico, Pew surveyed 1,200 adults in May and the margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

State Rep. Martinez Fischer and TDP Chair Soechting in War of Words

2005-08-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

Steve Taylor's Rio Grande Guardian reports that State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer and Texas Democratic Party State Chair Charles Soecting are feuding over the Party's efforts to reach out to Hispanics in Texas.

Martinez Fischer has leveled accusations against Soechting that the State Party is not doing enough to court Latino voters and has left Latino leaders out of developing and employing the Party's outreach strategy.

Soechting has responded to the representative's widely circulated letter by insisting that Martinez Fischer is misinformed about the Party's efforts.

For the full story visit www.riograndeguardian.com.

Soechting says He's Intrigued by the Idea of Texas Democrats Staging Presidential Caucus

2005-08-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Rio Grande Guardian
by Steve Taylor

AUSTIN - State Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting says he is intrigued by the possibility of Texas playing as a big a role as Iowa and New Hampshire when it comes to picking the president of the United States.

Soechting said he wanted to learn more about plans to stage presidential election caucus in late January or early February 2008. The idea has been floated by two leading Hispanics in the party, state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, national spokesman for the Mexican American Democrats, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, a former chair of the Tejano Democrats.

"I'm all for anything that makes Texas more relevant in the presidential elections," Soechting told the Guardian Friday. "I'd certainly like to see the Texas primary moved up to a point where we lead the nation."

Following complaints from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and others that Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary voters were not representative of Democratic voters generally, and minority voters in particular, the Democratic National Committee set up the 40-member Commission on Presidential Timing and Scheduling.

The commission is due to give recommendations to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean in December.

Two members of the commission, U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Ca., and Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa, assistant political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have said they would get behind the Texas caucus plan if the state party were united.

Under the plan being floated by Alonzo and Peña, first revealed by the Guardian Thursday, the State Democratic Party would sandwich a presidential caucus in between the Iowa presidential caucus in late January 2008 and the New Hampshire presidential primary in early February 2008.

Moving the primary from its traditional slot in March would require legislation, something Republican leaders may be loath to do. No taxpayer dollars would be used in administering the caucus, however, which would be run solely by the state party. Texas' primary election would continue to be run by the Secretary of State's office in March. While the cost to the Democratic Party would rise appreciably, so would national attention.

Alonzo and Peña believe that holding a caucus at the beginning of the presidential election campaign would force candidates to address issues important to Hispanic voters. Soechting said he agreed.

"Iowa and New Hampshire do not provide a terribly good indication of who's going to be elected president," Soechting said. "Texas is far more representative of the nation as a whole."

Soechting said he was convinced that under the leadership of Dean, the DNC would pay much more attention to the needs of Texas Democrats. Dean has promised to fund a four full-time organizers in the state, three of which will be Hispanic.

Soechting said he planned to meet with Alonzo next week to learn more about the caucus plan. He said he wanted to do the same with Peña.

"I have great admiration for Aaron and Roberto. I'm looking forward to sitting down and learning a whole lot more about their plan," Soechting said.

May God Bless The Families of Our Soldiers

2005-08-12T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hispanic Leaders want Texas Voters to Pick their Democratic Presidential Nominee in a January Caucus

2005-08-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Rio Grande Guardian
by Steve Taylor

AUSTIN - On the day Texas officially became the nation's fourth majority-minority state, Hispanic Democratic leaders announced plans to get presidential candidates to pay more attention to their state.

State Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, national spokesman for the Mexican American Democrats, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, a former chair of the Tejano Democrats, say they are considering moves to have a presidential election caucus in January 2008.

The caucus, run and paid for by the Texas Democratic Party, would be sandwiched between the Iowa presidential caucus and the New Hampshire presidential primary.

"I think this is an opportunity that we need to seize," Alonzo said. "It is true that we in Texas are not talked about or dealt with by the presidential candidates or the national media. Having a presidential election caucus in January would put us on the front burner."

Following complaints from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and others that Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary voters were not representative of Democratic voters generally, and minority voters in particular, the Democratic National Committee set up the 40-member Commission on Presidential Timing and Scheduling.

The commission is due to give recommendations to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean in December.

Peña met with two members of the commission - U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Ca., and Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa, assistant political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - at a DNC-sponsored Hispanic Leadership Summit in San Antonio over the weekend.

"My interests are to advance the interests of Texas, it's not so much a Democratic or Republican issue," Peña said. "I want more attention coming to Texas in the presidential process. As it now stands, by the time of the Texas primary, things have already been decided. We want our presidential and vice-presidential candidates to show more interest in Texas and where it is going."

Under the caucus plan, the Texas Democratic Party would conduct a presidential election caucus in each county of the state in January. No taxpayer dollars would be used. The Texas primary election would continue to be run by the Secretary of State's office in March. While the cost to the Democratic Party would rise appreciably, so would national attention.

Solis said that if the Texas Democratic Party and its affiliated organizations like Tejano Democrats and Mexican American Democrats got behind the caucus plan, she would support it. Solis said she was encouraged by the enthusiasm of Hispanic Democrats she met at the San Antonio summit. She said the DNC should do all it could to help bring Texas into play for the Democrats nationally.

"It does sound rather enticing to have Texas involved," Solis said. "We clearly do not have enough diversity, whether it be the African American, Hispanic or Asian American populations, in New Hampshire or Iowa."

Solis said holding a caucus in January in Texas would force presidential candidates to "start talking about issues that resonate with minorities."

Solis said that too often presidential candidates treat Texas and California like ATM machines. "They don't go out into the barrios or the community and rally the troops," Solis said. "We need a visibility and investment in minority communities that is ongoing all the way through to the November election."

Figueroa pointed to the extra excitement and voter turnout shown when the New Mexico Democratic Party held its presidential election caucus in February 2004. In previous presidential years, the state held its primary in June. All the presidential candidates visited New Mexico before the caucus election, and the University of New Mexico held the only Latino presidential debate of the election.

"The idea of having a Texas Democratic Party presidential caucus in January is not as crazy as it seems," Figueroa said. "All the tides are moving in that direction. This is a golden opportunity to get Texas on the radar map of presidential politics."

Figueroa said he could not see the commission recommending a lessening of the impact of the Iowa caucus or the New Hampshire primary because both states are in play in a presidential general election. Figueroa said there was a lot to be said for the retail-style politics that the two states generate. However, he said there appeared to be consensus among commission members for one other state to have its election moved up to January.

Figueroa said it was easy to see why Republicans were making inroads into the traditionally Democratic Hispanic vote. Figueroa said a large percentage of the Hispanic vote is in the big five states - California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois. Of these, only Florida gets any attention in the primary or general election.

"It's pretty obvious to me what is going on. We're not talking to the Hispanic community," Figueroa said. He said another advantage of having an early caucus in Texas was that the state comprised rural and urban communities. "Our candidates would be battle-tested," he said.

Figueroa said that for a Texas January caucus to be considered by the commission, a proposal by the State Democratic Party would have to be submitted in time for the commission's next meeting in October.

Statesman: U.S. Lawmaker Calls for Government-Supported Volunteer Group

2005-08-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

By Chuck Lindell
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Frustrated by a government that seems unable to stanch the flow of illegal immigrants, a Houston Republican has introduced legislation creating a civilian volunteer militia to patrol the nation's borders, armed with arrest power, guns and the approval to use "any force necessary."

Commanded by Gov. Rick Perry and other border-state governors, the Border Protection Corps would add another line of defense against terrorists, smugglers and gangs eager to prey upon the United States, U.S. Rep. John Culberson said.

Critics accused Culberson of fueling anti-immigrant attitudes with an impractical and potentially dangerous idea, but the three-term congressman said national security trumps all other concerns.

"My constituents and I are just flat fed up, and we need action immediately to prevent terrorists and other criminals from crossing over to the United States," Culberson said.

Filed shortly before Congress began its August recess and endorsed by three Austin-area GOP colleagues, Culberson's legislation reflects a change in the immigration debate, one that focuses on domestic security instead of the economic and social repercussions of a large, undocumented work force.

The Border Protection Corps Act also highlights disagreements among Republicans, who have filed almost 20 often-competing immigration bills this year in an uncommon lack of cohesion for a party that holds the White House and majorities in both houses of Congress.

Still, the focus on national security allows cultural conservatives and law-and-order Republicans to drive the debate, strengthening the hand of those seeking a tougher response to illegal immigration, said James Hollifield, director of the John Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University.

"That has changed significantly, if not radically, since the end of Cold War. In the 1960s to the 1980s, if you wanted to reform immigration policy, you needed a coalition of civil rights Democrats and Wall Street Republicans," Hollifield said. "Now the whole immigration debate is tangled up with a national security debate."

Critics dismiss national security concerns as a smokescreen hiding racist or anti-immigrant attitudes, and civil rights groups and several Democrats have labeled Culberson's militia idea as unworkable.

"The border is way too dangerous to leave it to amateurs," said U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, former chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in the McAllen and El Paso sectors.

"The atmosphere it would create, the potential for violating people's civil rights, the fact that these individuals . . . may not understand the culture, the areas, the overall challenge that they're facing — I don't think it's anything you want to even entertain at this point," he said.

Reyes advocates hiring more Border Patrol agents, who are trained in the complexities of immigration law and required to speak Spanish, stipulations not included in the militia bill.

But Culberson said desperate times require desperate measures, such as creating a volunteer patrol inspired by the controversial Minuteman Project, which is seeking to expand into Texas after sending volunteers into the Arizona desert to deter illegal border crossings.

"If they haven't already entered the country, terrorists will enter the country and hurt us far worse than they did on September 11, with simultaneous attacks on U.S. cities," Culberson said. "And they will mock us as they announce to the world that they simply walked over our southern border, and we allowed them to do it."

The U.S. Constitution, under Section 8 of Article 1, authorizes Congress to call up a militia "to execute the laws of the Union" and authorize money to arm and train its members.

Culberson said the program would tap $6.8 billion in unspent Department of Homeland Security first-responder grants. However, agency spokesman Steven Llanes, said, that money has been allocated to the states. "It's not sitting here in Washington, D.C.," he said.

Members of a border militia would be sanctioned and financed by the federal government and allowed to arrest and detain suspected illegal aliens in states bordering Mexico and Canada, Culberson said.

Volunteers would have to be U.S. citizens and have no criminal record or history of mental illness. The rest — training, equipment, compensation for travel and lodging — would be left to each governor's office.

"I'm absolutely confident that you would see tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of Americans step up and help on a part-time or full-time basis," Culberson said. "There are 237,000-plus concealed carry permit holders in Texas. I can only imagine how many thousands of retired or part-time law enforcement and military personnel would be ready, willing and able to help."

Though critics dismiss Culberson's numbers as unrealistic, 47 Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors, including U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul of Austin, John Carter of Round Rock and Lamar Smith of San Antonio, whose district includes most of downtown Austin.

"There is a growing concern in America over how porous the borders are," Smith said. "Clearly, there is a need for this. Clearly, the government is unable or unwilling to devote the personnel and resources necessary to secure the borders."

Perry, who thinks that border security is a federal, not a state, responsibility, issued a lukewarm statement on Culberson's bill (HR 3622).

"I welcome federal efforts to protect our borders from illegal immigration and threats from terrorists," Perry said. "Regardless of the mechanism, the federal government must provide a stronger presence along the border."

Perry's lack of enthusiasm won't help the bill's future, already made difficult by the GOP's lack of consensus on immigration. Still, Culberson said he has received "a very strong, positive response, and I am going to use every legislative and political power at my disposal to pass this into law."

Will Harrell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, called Culberson's approach irrespons- ible.

"These are elected officials who wish to foment anti-immigrant sentiment to further their own electoral goals. This is not good public policy. This is strictly political fodder," he said.

"I wish the people would wake up one morning and go to the grocery store and imagine 60 percent of the produce gone. If our borders were actually shut, which never has happened and never will happen, the reality is, our economy and our way of life would come to a halt," Harrell said.

Culberson denied harboring any motivation other than securing the nation's borders.

"The FBI director testified, under oath, that individuals from countries with al Qaeda connections are assuming false Hispanic identities and entering the United States by hiding among the flood of illegal aliens coming across our border," Culberson said.

"The situation along the border is nearly out of control, and we have a long and honorable tradition in Texas of citizens stepping up to fill the breach," he said.

AP: Texas Now Minority Majority State

2005-08-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

By Alicia A. Caldwell
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thursday, August 11, 2005

EL PASO -- With a growing Hispanic population, Texas has joined three other states and the District of Columbia as a majority-minority state, according to population estimates to be released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Hispanics are now the largest minority group in California, New Mexico and Texas. In Hawaii, Asian Americans are the largest minority, and in the nation's capital, African Americans are.

According to population estimates based on the 2000 census, about 50.2 percent of Texans are minorities. In the 2000 census, minorities accounted for about 47 percent of the nation's second-most populous state.

Five other states -- Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia, New York and Arizona -- aren't far behind, with about 40 percent minorities. African Americans and Hispanics are the largest minority groups in those states.

While a state demographer said the new estimates should be no surprise, public policy analysts said these states, and the country as a whole, need to raise the level of minority education and professional achievement. Otherwise, these areas risk becoming poorer and less competitive in the world market.

With the nation's under-18 minority population already nearing that of Anglos of the same age group, the nation should be more than half minorities by 2050, said Steve Murdock, a demographer at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Recent data showed that 42 percent of U.S. residents under 18 are minorities, compared with 58 percent for Anglos.

Lawmakers need to start with immigration reform, said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

"Immigration is good for the United States. . . . It's important for us to keep our doors open, but we need to keep an eye on the people coming in," Frey said. "While initially it will be a state problem, eventually it will be a national issue, and education is the best way to deal with it."

Frey said bringing minorities' education and salary levels in line with those of Anglos should be a top priority, and it's an effort that needs federal support.

This demographic shift, which Frey and other experts attribute to Hispanic immigration, could also lead to more bilingual education. The demand already exists and is not being addressed, said Tatcho Mindiola, director of the University of Houston's Center for Mexican American Studies.

Mindiola said the country should also expect to see a political shift, which probably would include more Hispanics running for public office at all levels of government.

Complications from the cultural shift aren't likely to be exclusive to states that have majority-minority populations, Frey said.

Nevada, for instance, has seen a massive influx of minorities in the past 15 years, reducing the percentage of Anglos since the 1990s from nearly 80 percent to about 60 percent.

Officials in states like Nevada will quickly have to figure out "how immigrant populations and an aging white population can be served at the same time," Frey said.

Dean Suggests That 2008 Presidential Primary May Be Tinkered With -- Texas Connection?

2005-08-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a little teaser of things to come here in Texas. Other insiders are telling us that one of our former state Tejano Democrats Chairmen is working with a former state chairman of the Mexican American Democrats along with individuals connected to the DNC to explore the possibility of moving the Presidential caucus for Texas Democrats.

Hispanic Summit a Huge Success

2005-08-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Times: "Friends, Foes Made Over Trade Deal"

2005-08-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times covers the story of the congressional CAFTA 15 which a number of politicos were talking about at the Hispanic Summit. Word from labor leaders at the Summit and from this Times story is that the Texas 3 need to start looking over their shoulders because organized labor is gunning for them.

Here is the story in full:

FRIENDS, FOES MADE OVER TRADE DEAL

By Warren Vieth, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — No sooner had Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) cast his vote in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement than anti-CAFTA activists started plotting their revenge.

Labor unions began calling members in Cuellar's southwest Texas district and planning a protest outside his San Antonio office. Opponents of the pact finalized plans to launch a door-to-door, bilingual canvassing effort sometime around Labor Day. "Our intent is to expose the myths he expounds that trade is good for Latinos in his district," said Debbie Russell, who is directing the campaign for the Texas Fair Trade Coalition.

Although President Bush signed CAFTA into law Tuesday, ending a long battle for ratification, recriminations might only be beginning for some lawmakers who voted for the trade pact.

Cuellar is one of about two dozen House members targeted by trade critics, labor unions and political activists for helping Bush secure his razor-thin CAFTA victory. The targeted lawmakers include Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting for the agreement and Republicans who supported it despite heavy opposition from labor, textile or sugar interests in their districts.

Among them is Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), who was distressed to learn he was the first House member singled out on a website that promised to document how pro-CAFTA votes like his had hurt constituents. "I didn't betray anyone," Meeks protested in a phone interview.

Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) — who changed his vote from no to yes after intense last-minute lobbying — has issued a flurry of announcements to counter efforts by opponents to stir up trouble in his district.

Cuellar's vote for CAFTA, along with his support for other legislation backed by Bush, has made him the United Steelworkers of America's top target for 2006.

"It's a disgrace for him to vote that way, as many poor, working-class people as live in that district," Chuck Rocha, the union's national political director, said as he was heading to San Antonio to organize anti-Cuellar activities.

Cuellar was making the rounds of communities in his district to discuss the trade pact and other issues. He said he would weather the storm.

"If those groups want to call attention to my CAFTA vote, I say go ahead," Cuellar said. "What they're going to find out is the more people know about my vote, the more votes I'm going to get."

The Senate approved CAFTA by a comfortable margin in late June, but the trade deal barely survived a showdown in the House on July 28. With the result in doubt, Republican leaders held the vote open for more than an hour instead of the usual allotted 15 minutes. Several members withheld their yes votes until the last minute, and three switched sides after initially voting no.

In the end, the trade pact passed 217 to 215.

CAFTA opponents and political activists said last week that they still were discussing the extent of reprisals. But their initial targets included many of the "CAFTA 15" — Democrats who voted for the trade pact — and as many as a dozen Republicans who had been expected to vote against it but switched sides.

"It's going to be very painful for the members who committed to voting against CAFTA but switched," said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, an advocacy group that opposed CAFTA. "I think we're going to see equalopportunity, bipartisan accountability and retribution."

Opponents said they planned to publicize the defections, withhold future campaign contributions and work to defeat vulnerable incumbents in next year's elections. On Capitol Hill, there was talk among lawmakers of retribution against members who abandoned their parties, including the possible loss of key committee assignments.

The president's allies rushed to the defense of House members who might have endangered their careers by backing CAFTA. The National Assn. of Manufacturers said it was encouraging its members to help the "CAFTA 15" Democrats as well as Republicans whose yes votes were unpopular in their districts.

One of Bush's top legislative priorities for 2005, CAFTA will lower trade barriers between the United States and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Its effect on the U.S. economy is expected to be modest. But the trade accord became a focal point of public and congressional dissatisfaction about the effects of globalization on jobs and living standards of Americans.

"Voters equate CAFTA with NAFTA, and that is a trade policy that cost many of these districts tens of thousands of jobs," said Sarah Feinberg, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

After the House vote, committee activists contacted media outlets in the districts of more than 20 potentially vulnerable Republican lawmakers, Feinberg said.

Mike Mathis, government affairs director for the Teamsters Union, said leaders of several big unions were still discussing what to do about House members who had been backed by labor but voted for the trade pact. "I know that in the short term, there certainly won't be any money going out from the Teamsters to the people who voted wrong on this," Mathis said.

Cuellar became a focal point of wrath after the pact's ratification partly because he was the first House Democrat to break with his party and declare support for the trade agreement.

A former Texas secretary of State, he had previously angered some Democrats by voting for bills backed by Bush to revamp bankruptcy law and limit class-action lawsuits. "We have somebody there who we're not even sure is a real Democrat," said Rocha of the steelworkers union. "We've got to get rid of this guy while he's still a freshman, while we can."

Russell, the Texas Fair Trade Coalition organizer, said she planned to hire bilingual canvassers to go door-to-door in Cuellar's district, in San Antonio and Laredo.

Cuellar said his opponents were mischaracterizing CAFTA's potential impact on his district, which includes the Port of Laredo on the Rio Grande. "It creates jobs in my district, and I'm going to support any legislation that does that," he said.

The Internet site targeting CAFTA supporters was launched last week by Wallach's group, Global Trade Watch, which began posting critiques of lawmakers who voted for the agreement after either promising or suggesting strongly that they would oppose it.

The first two members to make the list were Meeks and Hayes.

Meeks said he had voted for the pact because he was convinced it would not only create jobs in his district, which includes Kennedy International Airport, but also would help lift the citizens of Central America out of poverty.

Hayes, the North Carolina Republican, initially voted against CAFTA when the roll was called, but he switched sides. He said he did so after receiving calls on the House floor from textile makers who favored ratification and securing promises from administration officials to help his district.

In recent days, his office has issued a series of announcements portraying Hayes as a leader in efforts to crack down on alleged trading abuses and currency manipulation by China, and suggesting he was promised a role in formulating future trade policy in return for his vote.

After administration officials announced plans last week to seek a broad agreement with China on textile imports, Hayes thanked them for honoring their pledge "with such quick follow-up."

Hispanic Party Chair to Ask DNC to Monitor State Democratic Party

2005-08-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Democrat who has organized national party Chair Howard Dean's Rally in the Valley Friday wants the DNC to closely monitor the financially-strapped State Democratic Party. Juan Maldonado, chair of Hidalgo County Democratic Party, said he would use Dean's visit to press for changes in the way the State Democratic Party is run, particularly with regard to Hispanic outreach.

Maldonado said it was "unfathomable" how a party that claims to be inclusive towards Hispanics would not have one Hispanic employed at the state party office nor have a recognizable Hispanic outreach program.

"Those guys running the state party level do not know what they are doing," Maldonado said. "The state party is in great financial difficulty and I am going to ask that the Democratic National Committee keep an eye on them. We need an overhaul."

At its executive committee meeting last month, the state party agreed to offload high-paid consultants rather than lay off full-time staff. State Democratic Party Treasurer Miguel Wise told the Guardian at the time that if the party was to survive, the next several months had to be geared towards all out fundraising.

Dean will speak at 10 am at a Democratic rally in the Jeffers Theater on the University of Texas-Pan American campus. He will then travel to San Antonio for a Hispanic Leadership Summit taking place Aug. 5-7 at the Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Maldonado said he viewed the San Antonio event as a "good first step" for Hispanic activists in the party to network and strategize for the 2006 statewide elections. "We are going to get a lot more organized as the year goes on," Maldonado said. "We need to find good quality Hispanic candidates for the statewide elections in 2006."

Maldonado also welcomed Dean's presence in the Valley. "Howard Dean's visit is of critical importance as we all work to get Democrats elected to public office to stand up for the issues people care about most: quality and affordable healthcare, educational opportunities, a secure retirement, and job opportunities," Maldonado said.

Moses Mercado, deputy executive director for intergovernmental affairs for the DNC, has spent the past two days in the Valley coordinating Dean's trip and listening to party activists. Mercado, who grew up in Donna, said the visit showed Dean's commitment to a 50-state strategy. "The 13-state strategy is no longer in play," Mercado said.

Mercado pointed to a congressional election in Ohio this week where the Democratic candidate came within 4,000 votes of winning a district that voted 64 percent for Bush in 2004. "From now on, we are going to show up everywhere," Mercado said. "And, if ever we are going to win again in Texas, we have to show up in places like the Valley and El Paso, which are heavily Democratic."

Mercado said he was aware of grassroots dissatisfaction with the state Democratic leadership. He acknowledged that state party infrastructure across the country was "not in as good a shape as we want it to be." He said every member of the party had to shoulder responsibility.

"We have a very vibrant party in Hidalgo County and a great leader in Juan Maldonado, but we are not so lucky in other parts of the state," Mercado said. "We know we must do better. You can teach people to organize but you cannot teach people to win."

Mercado said he sensed renewed interest in the Democratic message in Red State America, pointing to a rally in Mississippi recently that drew 900 party supporters.

Mercado said outreach to minority voters would be improved through the DNC's hiring of at least four full-time organizers. He said that South Texas and El Paso would be key areas for assistance.

"We are going to work the State Party Chair Charles Soechting to ensure diversity in the hires," Mercado said.

Jose Angel Gutierrez, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, has studied the Texas Democratic Party and its Hispanic outreach efforts for many years.

In the old days, Gutierrez said, Democratic leaders simply funded and reinforced the 'patron' system, whereby money was doled out to political bosses. "The trouble with that is that the patrons would only take care of those that were on their list. New voters or those belonging to other groups were never looked after," he said.

Today, the problem was even worse, Gutierrez said, because next to no money was coming into the Texas Democratic Party. "This state is written off as Bush Country, but there are still members of Congress to elect," Gutierrez said. "If you look at the returns you will see Texas is not all Bush Country. The party needs to spend money in expanding the non-Bush Country, such as the border and the inner cities."

Gutierrez said that too often, the Democratic Party looked no different than the Republican Party. "When they are in a bind, they try to out-Republican the Republicans. It will never work," he said.

Gutierrez said an example of the state party not promoting good quality Hispanic candidates could be seen in 2002, when Linda Yañez ran for Texas Supreme Court. "The party leadership failed to get behind a competitive and excellent candidate," Gutierrez said. "They just ignored her."

Gutierrez said another example of poor leadership was an arbitrary decision at the 2004 state party convention to "shut out many black and brown" delegates. "The composition of the delegation clearly did not reflect who votes in the Democratic primary," Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said Dean's concentration on Hispanic Texas was a "step in the right direction." He said the rally in Edinburg, along with the San Antonio summit, would likely be Dean's first introduction to a 100 percent Mexican American event.

"I do not know if Dean can change the culture of the Texas Democratic Party overnight," Gutierrez said. "We have been White-lead for ever and minority voters are accustomed to voting for White candidates. Unfortunately, the reverse is not true."

Gutierrez said minority voters would participate when they see a good reason to. "Having candidates that look like you and speak to you is a good motivating factor," he said.
A call for comment from the State Democratic Party Office was not returned at press time.

This article by Steve Taylor appeared in the Guardian internet magazine.

AP: Hispanics To Gather in Texas Today for Summit with Democratic Party

2005-08-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

The AP reports that today starts the beginning of the 2005 Hispanic Leadership Conference with the presence of DNC Chairman Howard Dean in the Rio Grande Valley.

This DNC Chairman's first visit the Valley.

Howard Dean to be present at the 2005 Hispanic Leadership Summit

2005-08-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

The Third Annual 2005 Hispanic Leadership Summit will be held in San Antonio, Texas from August 5th -7th at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk.

There will be a reception for the 2005 DNC Hispanic Leadership Summit & DNC Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean at Plaza Juarez located behind La Villita Assembly Hall (S. Presa Street at La Villita Walkway) on Friday, August 5th, 2005 from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

The reception is hosted by AFSCME, LEAD PAC & Congressman Charlie Gonzalez.

Howard Dean To Visit South Texas at UTPA

2005-08-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Howard Dean, the DNC Chairman, will be visiting the Valley on Friday, August 5th at the University of Texas Pan American. Howard Dean will be speaking to a group of students and individuals of the community about the Democratic Party at the Jeffers Theatre located in the College of Arts and Humanities.

The public is invited to attend this gathering on August 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the University of Texas Pan American.

Winning Back the Hispanic Vote

2005-08-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

James Carville has a strategy to win back the Hispanic vote that the Democratic Party seems to be loosing. We have so diligently tried to alert the Texas Democratic Party of this fact for years to no avail. Now that an outsider is making the point maybe someone will listen.

We picked up the story and the report at Taegan Goddards Political Wire site.

Maybe this new attention to a problem we noticed years ago will have value and benefit. National Chair Howard Dean surely understands what so many in this state chose to ignore, in that he will be in the Valley tomorrow at UT-Pan Am and San Antonio the remainder of the weekend to address the problem. Both are being billed as a Hispanic summit.

Everyone is encouraged to participate.

Birth of A Tejano Insider

2005-08-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Today we start a new blog allowing the free flow of political discourse on this newest of mediums. This blog is the official blog of the State Tejano Democrats.

Many thanks to our former state chairman, Rep. Aaron Pena for his repeated suggestion that we involve ourselves in the public debate on issues of concern to our state of Texas. Our thanks for his patience in helping us to understand what a blog is and how it can serve our community through public discourse.

Our newly elected state chairman, Phillip Ruiz will continue the tradition of tackling the tough issues that confront Tejanos. We of course invite the input of all those already established in this medium or any others with ideas that are useful in our purpose.