(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party released the fourth in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts.” According to an analysis by the Legislative Budget Board, the budget proposed by the Texas State House would kill 335,000 jobs by the end of next year.

“It’s pretty simple and it’s shameful: GOP politicians care more about winning a Republican Primary to save their jobs than protecting the jobs of the people they’re supposed to represent,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray.

“By pushing this budget, Texas Republicans are showing how out-of-line their priorities are with everyday Texans,” continued Gray. “By failing to stand up for our jobs, they’ve betrayed 335,000 Texas families who could lose their jobs because of the Republican budget.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party announced the third in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts”; the evisceration of public school funding. The initial budget proposal would have killed 100,000 education jobs and the budget deal reached last week still underfunds schools by at least $4 billion. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers continue trying to cover their budget cuts by increasing already crowded class sizes and cutting the salaries of underpaid teachers.

“The misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature have already caused the loss of 12,353 teaching jobs in Texas, but they won’t stop there,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “It’s truly pathetic that the Governor and GOP lawmakers place such a high priority on pandering to Tea Party zealots that they’re willing to cut billions from our classrooms, undermining the educational foundation for our children’s and our state’s economic future.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party announced the third in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts”; the evisceration of public school funding. The initial budget proposal would have killed 100,000 education jobs and the budget deal reached last week still underfunds schools by at least $4 billion. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers continue trying to cover their budget cuts by increasing already crowded class sizes and cutting the salaries of underpaid teachers.

“The misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature have already caused the loss of 12,353 teaching jobs in Texas, but they won’t stop there,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “It’s truly pathetic that the Governor and GOP lawmakers place such a high priority on pandering to Tea Party zealots that they’re willing to cut billions from our classrooms, undermining the educational foundation for our children’s and our state’s economic future.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party continued with the second in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts.” Today’s featured cut is “family planning services”. The series is part of an effort to draw attention to the misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature and how they broke their promises and betrayed the people of Texas by passing a budget that makes short-sighted and damaging cuts that threaten our economy and our future.

“Rick Perry and legislative Republicans have decided it’s their role to get in between Texas women and their physicians,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “Under the guise of a pro-family agenda, they took cost-effective family planning care away from 284,000 Texas women and their families, threatening our health and costing our state long-term.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party featured the second in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts”; shortsighted cuts to family planning services. The severe cuts to women’s health programs are driven by a Republican political agenda that betrays Texans’ trust and threatens our health and our economic future. Reports indicate House-Senate conferees will recommend a budget that will deny women prenatal care, contraceptive services, and screenings for diseases like cervical cancer – cuts that will cost the state $100 million Medicaid dollars, according to a Legislative Budget Board report.

“Rick Perry and legislative Republicans have decided to let their unhealthy political agenda get between Texas women and their physicians,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “The proposed budget will deny 284,000 Texas women and their families cost-effective family planning and health care services, threatening our health and costing us additional tax dollars in the long-term.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party released the first in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts.” The series is part of an effort to draw attention to the misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature and how they broke their promises and betrayed the people of Texas by passing a budget that makes short-sighted and damaging cuts that threaten our economy and our future.

“By eliminating the ability of incoming college students to receive TEXAS Grants, Rick Perry and legislative Republicans betrayed all Texans by slamming the door in the face of motivated young Texans who will be the leaders of our future workforce,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “It’s hypocritical for the Governor to tout a rotten budget deal as an economic success while supporting cuts that threaten our ability to prepare our children to compete and succeed in the global economy.”

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(Austin, TX) – Today, the Texas Democratic Party released the first in a series of “Seven Deadly Budget Cuts.” The series is part of an effort to draw attention to the misplaced priorities of the Republican legislature and how they broke their promises and betrayed the people of Texas by passing a budget that makes short-sighted and damaging cuts that threaten our economy and our future.

“By eliminating the ability of incoming college students to receive TEXAS Grants, Rick Perry and legislative Republicans betrayed all Texans by slamming the door in the face of motivated young Texans who will be the leaders of our future workforce,” said Texas Democratic Party Spokeswoman Kirsten Gray. “It’s hypocritical for the Governor to tout a rotten budget deal as an economic success while supporting cuts that threaten our ability to prepare our children to compete and succeed in the global economy.”

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TDP Chairman Boyd Richie released the following statement regarding the budget agreement just announced by Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Straus:

“The fact is, thousands of teachers will still be laid off, schools will still close and jobs will still be lost. Republicans did not save the day – they were playing political games with this budget process from the beginning.

“Democrats tried to make this budget better at every stage of the process and were run over at every attempt. Democrats tried to close corporate and oil and gas tax loopholes and tried to use the Rainy Day Fund. Republicans chose to refuse those efforts and instead endanger our economy, our schools and our future.

“This budget is still far worse than it needs to be because this Republican-dominated legislature made cruel choices based on completely misplaced priorities.

“Democrats rolled up their sleeves and tried to improve this budget, but make no mistake – this is a Republican state budget and we will make them defend every budget vote they took this session.”

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Citations for All Facts Presented in This Video:

“The Texas GOP Chose to Decimate Our Educational System”
$9.8 Billion Cut From Public Schools - Texas Tribune

41% Cut from State Grants for Higher Education - KXTS

State Grants for Pre-K Programs Eliminated - Texas Tribune

“Instead of Choosing to Close Tax Loopholes”

Texas budget passes without Demos – El Paso Times

“The Texas GOP Chose to Put Texans Out of Work”

GOP Budget Will Cost Texas 335,000 Jobs – Business Week

12,372 Public Education Jobs Lost Since January 2011:

12,353 Fewer Public School Jobs In Texas (And Counting) – Burnt Orange Report

“Instead of Choosing to Close Oil and Gas Industry Tax Loopholes Worth Billions”

Lawmakers choose tax break for gas producers over schools – San Antonio Express News

“The Texas GOP Chose to Slash Medicaid”

Texas Nursing Homes Concerned Over Medicaid Cuts – Houston Chronicle

Yacht Tax Break:
Republicans propose tax breaks for yacht owners – Minnesota Independent

The following is a list of the bills which the State Democratic Executive Committee voted to take official positions upon at their April 9, 2011 meeting.

SUPPORT

IMMIGRATION (HUMAN TRAFFICKING)

Senate Bill 24 Van de Putte

Relating to the prosecution, punishment, and certain criminal and civil consequences of offenses involving or related to the trafficking of persons and to certain protections for victims of those offenses.

ELECTIONS

House Bill 2752 Martinez Fischer

Relating to the removal of a political party’s county chair.

BULLYING / ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Senate Bill 242 Davis

Relating to bullying, including cyberbullying, in public schools.

House Bill 2343 Coleman

Relating to the creation of Asher’s Law, the public health threat presented by youth suicide and to the prevention of associated discrimination, harassment, bullying, and cyberbullying.

House Bill 665 Villarreal

Relating to the prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

House Bill 604 Farrar

Relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct.

ENVIRONMENTAL

House Bill 3328 Keffer | Crownover | Burnam | Parker | Strama

Relating to the disclosure of the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids used in hydraulic fracturing treatments.

OPPOSE

HEALTHCARE REFORM REPEAL

House Joint Resolution 69 Kolkhorst

Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution providing that the power to regulate health and education is reserved to the states.

House Joint Resolution 50 Creighton | Sheffield | Taylor, Larry | Callegari

Applying to Congress to call a convention to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to permit the repeal of federal law by two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states.

BUDGET

House Bill 1

This is the House version of the state budget

GUNS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

House Bill 750 Driver | Miller, Sid

Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on certain premises of or locations associated with schools or institutions of higher education.

Senate Bill 354 Wentworth | Birdwell | Carona | Deuell | Eltife | Estes | Fraser | Harris | Hegar | Jackson | Nelson | Patrick | Seliger | Williams

Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of institutions of higher education.

ENVIRONMENTAL

House Bill 3037 Chisum

Relating to contested case hearings for environmental permits.

ELECTIONS

House Bill 295 Berman | Simpson | King, Phil | Legler

Relating to certification for placement on the ballot of candidates for president or vice-president of the United States.

House Bill 2050 Pena

Relating to the use of recording devices and mobile telephones by poll watchers.

House Bill 2055 Pena

Relating to allowing for countywide polling places as an alternative election system.

House Bill 2058 Pena

Relating to the offense of unacknowledged assistance to a voter in completing an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

House Bill 2060 Pena

Relating to the confidentiality of certain information regarding state election inspectors.

House Bill 1761 Harper-Brown

Relating to instructions included on balloting materials for a ballot to be voted by mail.

House Bill 2612 Aliseda

Relating to notification to the attorney general regarding allegations of criminal conduct in connection with an election.

House Bill 2587 Pena

Relating to limiting the amount of assistance a person may provide a voter; providing a criminal penalty

House Bill 2588 Pena

Relating to observation of voter assistance by a poll watcher.

House Bill 304 Pena

Relating to limiting the amount of assistance a person may provide a voter; providing a civil penalty.

House Bill 3056 Pena

Relating to the forfeiture of contraband used in the commission of certain offenses.

House Bill 3627 Aliseda

Relating to the use of audio and visual recording devices in a polling place.

House Bill 3628 Aliseda

Relating to the offense of unacknowledged assistance to a voter in completing an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

IMMIGRATION

House Joint Resolution 38 Berman

Proposing a constitutional amendment to establish English as the official language of Texas and require that official acts of government be performed in English.

House Bill 301 Berman

Relating to the establishment of English as the official language of Texas and the requirement that official acts of government be performed in English.

House Bill 17 Riddle | Fletcher | Callegari | Smithee

Relating to the creation of the offense of criminal trespass by an illegal alien and to certain procedures for arresting illegal aliens for committing that criminal offense.

House Bill 1202 Riddle

Relating to the creation of the offense of employing or contracting with an unauthorized alien.

TORT REFORM

House Bill 274 Creighton

Relating to attorney’s fees, early dismissal, expedited trials, and the reform of certain remedies and procedures in civil actions.

Senate Bill 13 Huffman

Relating to the reform of certain remedies and procedures in civil actions.

Senate Bill 21 Williams

Relating to the establishment of a voluntary compensation plan as an alternative to litigation.

LABOR

HB 2720 Pitts

Relating to unpaid furloughs for state employees.

House Bill 2986 Parker

Relating to political expenditures made my labor organizations; providing civil and criminal penalties.