Hi All,

Just wanted to send out a “Save the Date” reminder that our BROADS book club will be meeting Feb 16 – (3rd Thursday, every 3 months).

The book club will be at my house again, 2508 Rosehill LN, Plano, TX near Park and Coit… Right Behind Haggard Library.

We’ll be discussing “Here Comes Trouble: Stories From My Life” by Michael Moore

Let’s plan on meeting by 6:45ish so we can start discussing the book by 7:00. Remember – even if you haven’t read the book, please come for the good discussions.

I have 5 bottles of wine left over from last time so no one needs to bring wine and I’ll have tea and water too. Feel free to bring a snack to share if you’d like.

Also, please bring a book suggestion for our next read.

Thanks and I’ll send out another reminder a little closer.

Diane Groves
214-227-3053

Collin Dem News Voter Photo ID FAQ page

Collin Dem News article on A.G. Abbott’s Expedited Complaint for Declaratory Judgment on the voter ID law filed n DC District court

Collin Dem News article on redistricting

All those in favor, say “aye”

. . . to Parliamentary Procedure Training

Equip yourself with a solid understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order
with
TDP Certified Trainer, George Nassar, Registered Parliamentarian

Choose one session:

Monday evening, January 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Collin College Spring Creek Campus, Rm I229 (second floor)

Or
Saturday afternoon, February 4, 11:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Collin College Spring Creek Campus, Rm B224

RSVP to events@tdwcc.org

If you plan to attend (and possibly chair) a precinct convention on Primary election evening, or if you plan to be a delegate to the county, state and national conventions, you will need to know the basic rules of order.  Here’s your chance! RSVP now.

Suggested donation = $5 to cover costs, pay at the door

Click here to download a flyer to print or email.

• Victory in Ohio: the Walker-like attack on collective bargaining was resoundingly defeated.
• Victory in Maine: the voter suppression tactic of eliminating same-day registration failed by a 20 percent margin.
• Victory in Mississippi: voters stood up for women and reproductive justice and said no to the “personhood” amendment.
• Victory in Arizona: voters recalled the official, Pearce, who pioneered the anti-illegal immigration measures that affected the reputation of the state.
• Victory in Texas:
• Proposition 3: Issue Bonds to Finance Education Loans to Students- Passed with 54.5% of the vote.
• Rick Perry’s Republican Party lost in the courts despite using every dirty trick they could think of to keep voters from deciding elections. The courts denied the State’s motion for summary judgment on the Republican-drawn maps for U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate and State House. Perry can’t disenfranchise millions of Texans with these illegal maps.
• Mayor Annise Parker was re-elected in Houston despite anti-gay bashing political campaigning.

Barb Walters, TDWCC President

From our president Barb Walters:
There is typically low turnout in a non-election year, but there are some important constitutional amendments that need your voice. I’ve written about my concerns of Prop 3 not passing (Allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to finance student loans).  I recommend voting YES == as opposed to the Tea Party stance which would do away with all loans on the off-chance a non-citizen would get one.

Below is an email from an educator asking for a “NO” vote on Prop 6 (Clarifying references to the Permanent School Fund) for your consideration.

The Democratic Blog is a good place to get details on the amendments and links to resources like the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group.

On Prop 6 — From an educator in the public sector:

“I am extremely apprehensive that the Texas state legislature is about to take over the Permanent School Fund and put it in general revenue for them to spend at will! I urge everyone who cares about the future of education in Texas to analyze AMENDMENT SIX! Early voting has already started, and the general election will be on Tuesday, November, 8 2011.

The legislature has tried many tactics to take control of this money over the years, and I’m afraid they will succeed this time. This is a non-election year and they count on very few people turning out to vote. There has been almost no discussion on this amendment so please spread the word about AMENDMENT “6”. I encourage you to vote November 8, 2011 and Vote “NO” on Amendment 6. Please share this email to all on your email.
With regards,

Larry J. Taylor – Education Specialist – Field Service
Education Service Center Region XV”

From the Democratic blog about Prop 3 and then Prop 6:

SJR 50 – Would allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to finance student loans.
Proposition3: The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.”

For – Would permit issuance of general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students.

Note: This program would effectively continue an existing low-interest, fixed-rate student loan program (Hinson-Hazlewood, created in 1965 and managed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board), which had a dollar limit periodically renewed and raised. This raises the current limit of $125 million to $350 million; the program has a long record of success and a good repayment record. Free public higher education would be the best alternative, but that’s not currently in the cards. The market might one day blanch at these bonds, but they’ve been working well for nearly 60 years.

Proposition 6: HJR 109 – Would allow more money to be transferred from the Permanent School Fund, a pot of constitutionally guaranteed money generated from the sale of state property that goes to finance Texas public schools to the Available School Fund, which is the pot of money the Legislature is allowed to draw from to spend on Texas schools. It would allow the General Land Office to distribute revenue from the fund, and it would increase the market value of the permanent school fund, allowing schools to get more money.

The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.”

For – Would allow inclusion of permanent school fund real property assets in calculating the fund’s market value (now confined to the value of the fund’s investments), thereby increasing available monies ($300 million annually) for distribution to schools.

Note: The income from sales and leases of property and royalties that must currently be returned first to the fund would under this amendment be available for direct distribution to the permanent school fund, which lends greater flexibility to the fund. (see: House Considers Accounting Maneuver To Slightly Ease School Funding Crisis)

Please vote!

Barb Walters, TDWCC President

Candidate 101 Training

RSVP is Required & Space is Limited!

When: Saturday, November 12th
Time: 9:30am-5:00pm
Where: Comfort Suites – Arlington
Cost: FREE
RSVP: (512) 481-8100, gen@annieslist.com

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
STATE SENATOR WENDY DAVIS

Annie’s List is dedicated to training and recruiting Democratic women to run for office in Texas. The training is free – lunch and training materials provided! Meet our political pros and learn the basics of fundraising, media, targeting, message, and more. Remember, when women run for office, women win!

The Collin College Political Science Club and Clean Elections Texas are partnering in a discussion between academics, lawyers and former office holders.
Saturday, October 22, 2011 – 9 am to noon
Collin College Spring Creek Campus Conference Center
Panel:

• Dennis Simon, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Political Science, Southern Methodist University
• Joel Page, Assistant Federal Public Defender
• Liz Wally, President of Clean Elections Texas
• The Honorable Robert Miklos, former State Rep from District 101
• The Honorable David Kelton, former Judge 44th District Court,  former City Councilman
• Representative of the Collin College Political Science Club

Political Activism with Social Media
Saturday, September 10^th
Plano Centre, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Hillhaven Room,  2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway

Suggested Donation of $5 – pay at the door.

RSVP to events@tdwcc.org

Event sponsors:

Texas Democratic Women of Collin County

Democratic Blog of Collin County

This week you can choose either a live event or a virtual event…or both.

Tues, Aug 2, Sen. Kirk Watson, is hosting an online Interactive Town Hall Meeting “to talk about the recent, dearly departed Texas Legislative Session. We’re going to focus on the 4 Big Things you need to know about what just happened under the dome.”

(On a personal note, I’m very impressed with Sen. Watson and hope he plans on moving up the political ladder – someone to watch.)

Thurs, Aug. 4, Sen Florence Shapiro, will be giving her perspective on this year’s state legislative session. . This even is sponsored by Plano Homeowners Council at Tino’s Too, 2205 Ave K, Plano. It starts at 7:15 p.m. but you can get there earlier to eat.

It should be interesting to compare the perspectives of the 2 senators.

By the way, we have a Democratic candidate running for Shapiro’s seat in 2012 – Jack Ternan.

Sat., Aug. 6, DPCC is hosting their Ann Richards Dinner.  Wisconsin Sen. Epperbach and TX Rep Rafael Anchio will be speakers.  Look for a great perspective on what’s happening in another state with a Republican Governor!

Speaking of the virtual world, we have 2 great women bloggers to follow – they both blog from Austin, write well and are very entertaining.

Mean Rachel is Rachel Farris, a native Austinite and Democratic activist. Her blog covers everything from Texas congressional races, to human interest stories, to places with rockin’ piano bars. She writes for the Huffington Post, too. P.S. She is on the Communications Committee for state TDW.

Eileen Smith blogs In the Pink Texas and has won awards for her political blogging from the Austin Chronicle. Here’s an excerpt from her rant about Gov. Perry waffling on the prayer event in Houston:
“I’m going to be there; I may be ushering, for all I know.” HA HA HA. That’s Perry talking about his supposedly ambiguous role at The Response on August 6th. I can’t tell if he’s playing coy or he’s really that stupid. I mean, that’s what I said at my wedding. Not to discount the role of ushers. They’re in charge of taking the great-aunts to their seats because they didn’t make the groomsmen cut…”

By the way, Eileen will be our keynote speaker at our annual dinner on Sun. Oct. 23 – Save the Date for an entertaining evening!

Next monthly meeting, Mon. Aug. 22, on Women’s Health Issues and theiImpact of recent legislation.

Barb Walters, TDWCC President
president@tdwcc.org
214-477-5183
www.tdwcc.org

Educate Activate Elect