Today we have the ability to defend democracy and deter voter disenfranchisement. Texas Republican Senators are attempting to pass Senate Bill 362, which will require voters to present two forms of identification at the polls. Although the Republicans are touting the Bill as an effective way to combat voter fraud, it does little to address what fraud does exist and instead ensures voting difficulties for millions of Texans.
In essence, this bill will effectively pose a barrier to underprivileged constituents and young voters (that means you and me).
As many as 2 million Texans could be disenfranchised:
Women, students, seniors that don't have a driver's license, recently married or divorced women, anyone with a name on the ID that does not match the voter registration exactly, and many others.
Please, take a few minutes out of your day to shoot an email to the Republican Senators listed below and let your voice be heard in opposition to Senate bill 362. Also, please forward this email to everyone you know!!!
We are the future leaders of Texas. Together we can guarantee our voices will continue to be heard and our votes will continue to count.
Regards,
E.B. Allen
Houston Stonewall Young Democrats - Treasurer
(cut and paste)
Dear Senator:
I am writing today to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 362 for the following reasons:
Voter Impersonation Fraud Doesn't Exist - despite spending millions of dollars to investigate and stop voter fraud, the Attorney General of Texas has never prosecuted a single case of a voter impersonating another voter at the polls.
Voter ID measures propose an extra hurdle for many Texans that is reminiscent of the poll tax. The working poor and senior citizens are less likely to have a photo ID - or the time or ability to get one. In 2006, a study by the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice found that 18% of citizens 65 and over, 25% of African American citizens, and 15% of voters earning under $35,000/year don't have government-issued photo identification.
Voter ID does not address most common election fraud or other more common election related problems. Thousands of eligible Texans are denied the right to register to vote and many eligible voters are turned away from the polls every election. We need to spend time ensuring that every eligible Texan has the right to vote, not wasting time and resources on addressing something that does not exist.
We have much bigger priorities in the State- healthcare, tuition deregulation, and economy. All of these issues deserve time and resources of the Senate. These issues impact every Texan every day.
This legislation will cost the State and Counties to implement. Loss of revenue from issuing free DL (no ID is free, the State has to pay for it and the potential voter will have to spend time and money obtaining the documents needed to obtain a Drivers License)
others.
As many as 2 million Texans could be disenfranchised:
Women, students, seniors that don't have a driver's license, recently married or divorced women, anyone with a name on the ID that does not match the voter registration exactly, and many others.
Thank You for ensuring that my voice will continue to be heard and my vote will continue to count.
Sincerely,
(Your Name Here)
(Your Address Here)
---------------------
List of Senators:
Kevin Eltife, Bob Deuell, Robert Nichols, Tommy Williams,Steve Ogden, Dan Patrick, Florence Shapiro, Chris Harris, Mike Jackson, Jane Nelson, John Carona, Joan Huffman, Glenn Hegar, Kip Averitt, Troy Fraser, Jeff Wentworth, Robert Duncan, Craig Estes, Kel Seliger
(cut and paste)
kevin.eltife@senate.state.tx.us; bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us; steve.ogden@senate.state.tx.us; tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us; robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us; dan.patrick@senate.state.tx.us; florence.shapiro@senate.state.tx.us; Chris.Harris@senate.state.tx.us; mike.jackson@senate.state.tx.us; jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us; john.carona@senate.state.tx.us; joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us; glenn.hegar@senate.state.tx.us; kip.averitt@senate.state.tx.us; Troy.Fraser@senate.state.tx.us; jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx.us; robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us; craig.estes@senate.state.tx.us; kel.seliger@senate.state.tx.us
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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Tea Party
"Indeed, the rightward tilt of the state's GOP electorate permitted another Tea Party insurgent to mount a respectable run without serving as a spoiler to Perry's similarly themed campaign. Debra Medina, a darling of the far right, recently made headlines for questioning the government's involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but came in with about the same 16 percent showing that polls registered prior to her gaffe. -http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100304/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1213
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
Capitol Building -Austin
State Capitol Complex:
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
Texas Employment Law
"Texas employment law does NOT prohibit workplace discrimination and/or termination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status." -Equality Texas
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
Check out my website:
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
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