Texas Democratic Party: Moving Texas Forward

As part of the National DREAM Act day of action, the Texas Democratic Party’s Promesa Project today held press conferences and phone banks in Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Houston, Brownsville and El Paso in support of the DREAM Act and in support of the referendum in favor of the DREAM Act on the Democratic Primary ballot.
“We’re proud to have a referendum in favor of the DREAM Act on our primary ballot and we’re confident that our voters will overwhelmingly support it,” said TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuna. “Our Promesa Project fellows are calling voters and urging them to come out in support of this important referendum. Democrats know that young students who have grown up here and want to serve this nation in the military or go to college are an asset to our state and our country.”
“The kids who would benefit from the DREAM Act epitomize our values as Americans,” said Representative Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). “They’ve worked hard and played by the rules their entire lives. Hundreds of undocumented young students in the district I represent are enrolled in ROTC programs because they are determined to one day serve in the armed forces and give back to this country.”
“It’s a shame that every Republican member of congress from Texas and both Republican U.S. Senators voted against the DREAM Act,” added Julieta Garibay, a DREAM Act beneficiary who holds a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. “I was raised in Texas and hold a Master’s Degree from the University of Texas. Yet I cannot give back to my community as a nurse if Republicans continue to block the DREAM Act.”
“The DREAM Act is a compassionate, common-sense proposal – a limited but important part of the Texas solution to the immigration issue that we need,” said Senator Kirk Watson.
The DREAM Act would help an estimated 2.1 million young people in the country earn a path to legalization through a higher education or military service. An estimated 258,000 – or 12 percent – of total DREAM Act beneficiaries live in Texas. A referendum in support of the DREAM Act is on the Democratic Primary ballot.

The referendum reads as follows:
Any graduate of a Texas high school, who has lived in the state for at least three years and lived here continuously for the last year, should be eligible for in-state tuition at state supported colleges and universities and given the opportunity to earn legal status through a higher education or military service.

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On Monday, the polls will open for early voting for the May 29th Democratic Primary Election. We’ll be selecting the Democratic nominees who will lead the charge towards taking back our state in 2012.

Here’s how you can make your voice heard:

Confirm that you’re registered to vote.  You can verify your registration on the Secretary of State’s website.

Find your early voting location by contacting your county elections office.  Early voting for the Primary Election runs from Monday, May 14th through Friday, May 25th.

Request to have a ballot mailed to you.  Your application for a mail ballot must be received no later than Tuesday, May 22nd.

Use the same documents that you’ve used in the past to vote. No photo ID is required! The photo voter id legislation is not in effect for this election. All you need is:

• Your voter registration card;
• A driver’s license or personal identification card issued to you by Texas or another state (even if the license or card has expired);
• A form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity;
• A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes your identity;
• Your United States citizenship papers;
• Your United States passport;
• Official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity; or
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

Want to know who’s on the ballot? A list of the Democratic candidates is available on our website.

Want to know more about voting in Texas? Visit VoteTexas.gov.

Want to help elect Democrats in your county? Have questions about local races? Contact your Democratic County Chair.

Research Suggests Cultural Iconography Powerful Communication Tool for Latinos

A 2011 UCLA study entitled “Latino Youth as Information Leaders” touched on the potential of cultural iconography in communicating a political message. The study read in part, “Viral messaging triggered by Dora the Explorer imagery offers an example of how Colorado youth became aware of an Arizona law. Symbols that resonate in youth culture are ripe for political application in social media.” The TDP incorporated that finding into its Latino outreach program by producing Lotería style cards that contain information on issues that are important to Texans. The three initial cards focus on public education, the Republican war on women and the DREAM Act. The  back of the cards contain brief facts on each issue and a QR code that will take individuals to the “give your Promesa” page of the Promesa Project, where individuals can give their promise that they will talk to their friends and families about voting Democratic.

You can see a PDF document of the images and information on the back of the Lotería cards here.

“Lotería cards are iconic and universally familiar to Latinos,” said Anthony Gutierrez, advisor to the TDP. “Our Lotería cards have the virtue of being both familiar to Latinos but at the same time completely different than any piece of political literature they’ve seen. We believe these cards will greatly increase our effectiveness in driving home important political messages.”

“Republicans decimated public schools, are engaging on an all-out assault on women’s health, and categorically oppose the DREAM Act,” said TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña. “All of these issues disproportionately hurt Hispanics. If Latinos want public education and health care to be a priority for our state they must elect more Democrats. If Latinos think it’s long past time that they DREAM Act pass, they need to send more Democrats to Congress.”

The Lotería cards contain the text below:

La Escuela

EDUCATION = OPPORTUNITY

But Republicans cut $5.4 billion from the public schools on which Texas students rely. Tens of thousands of teachers have been laid off. Schools have closed. The young Latinos who most desperately need access to the opportunity that public education provides are hit the hardest.

El DREAM Act

Republicans are Standing in the Way of Making the DREAM Act a reality.

258,000 young Texans would benefit from it. Zero Texas Republicans support it. Mitt Romney promises he’d veto it.

La Dama

The Republican War on Women started in Texas.

They virtually eliminated the Women’s Health Program that provides access to low-cost preventive care. They mandated invasive sonograms. They voted to let employers cut off women’s access to contraception.

The Promesa Project is based around research which indicated that young Latinos are increasingly the trusted sources of political information in their families and that more young people are now getting their news online. Based on those findings, the projects seeks to use a combination of grassroots and online outreach to engage young Latinos and recruit them to be the Democratic Party’s trusted messengers to their family and friends.

The Texas Democratic Party today filed a motion for expedited appeal in its case against the King Street Patriots (KSP). In 2010 the TDP filed a lawsuit against the KSP because the group was illegally operating as an unregistered political action committee even though it’s registered as a nonprofit corporation. In March 2012, the 261st District Court granted summary judgment to the TDP on all issues on which the Court had jurisdiction.

“Despite what they believe, the King Street Patriots are not above the law,” said TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña. “This right wing group should not be allowed to continue to intimidate voters and operate illegally for another election cycle. The King Street Patriots want to operate as a political entity and continue to work for Republicans while ignoring the laws. The gig is up. It’s time that they disclose their donors and follow the laws that all other political entities have to follow.

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Romney Telegraphs Forthcoming Bilingual Flip-Flops (ie – Chanclas)

 At a press conference this morning, the National Hispanic outreach director for the RNC said that Romney is “still deciding what his position on immigration is.” TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

 “After spending the entire primary season alienating Latinos, Romney is clearly telegraphing yet another flip flop. This transparent ploy to court the very community Republicans have treated like a political piñata for months is demeaning.

 Romney is about to discover that chancla is Spanish for flip-flop and Latinos are smart enough to know one when they see it.

 The Latino community is already familiar with his position on immigration. Romney vowed to veto the DREAM Act and has called Arizona’s draconian law a ‘model for the nation.’

 Mitt Romney would be the most extreme presidential candidate on immigration in recent history. Romney has already done himself irreparable damage with Latino voters and his camp only continues to make that damage worse.”

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A three judge D.C. Court today reprimanded the State of Texas for hiding information on the voter ID law. TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

The Court is getting tired of the State’s games on voter ID. The State of Texas continues to drag its feet and hide information on the effects of their voter suppression legislation. Texas refuses to furnish key data because it will prove beyond a doubt that the voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act. The absolute intent of the Republican voter suppression legislation is to disenfranchise voters, and it will be difficult for the State to prove otherwise. The State of Texas needs to stop playing games on discovery.

Excerpts from the order include:

Rather than engaging in expedited discovery consistent with its stated goal, Texas has taken steps that can only be interpreted as having the aim of delaying Defendants’ ability to receive and analyze data and documents in a timely fashion. Texas has repeatedly ignored or violated directives and orders of this Court that were designed to expedite discovery, and Texas has failed to produce in a timely manner key documents that Defendants need to prepare their defense. Most troubling is Texas’ conduct with respect to producing its key state databases, which are central to Defendants’ claim that S.B. 14 has a disparate and retrogressive impact on racial and/or language minority groups. The record reflects that these databases are voluminous, complex, and essential to the preparation of the opinions of Defendants’ expert witnesses. Yet, according to Texas, the full production of such databases to the United States was only complete on May 4, 2012—35 days after they were initially due.

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Governor Rick Perry today endorsed Democrat turned Republican J.M. Lozano in the Republican Primary despite Lozano’s voting against two of the Governor’s emergency priorities. TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

“It’s surprising that Governor Perry is endorsing a candidate who voted against two of the Governor’s emergency priorities. As a Democrat, J.M. Lozano voted against the Governor’s sanctuary cities legislation and against the Republican voter ID law. Lozano, however, isn’t known for his principles. Lozano is a political opportunist who will throw his beliefs out the window if he thinks it’ll help him stay in office.

Governor Perry’s hypocrisy is also striking. Perry claimed sanctuary cities and voter ID were so critical that they couldn’t go through the normal legislative process. Now they’re so unimportant that Perry’s willing to endorse a legislator who opposed them over a candidate who supported them. In the future it will be worth noting how much relevance the Governor places on his own agenda. The only thing Perry and Lozano seem to share is disdain for deeply held beliefs.”

TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement in response to Paul Ryan keynoting the Republican Party of Texas State Convention:

“Paul Ryan and Rick Perry will be able to compare notes about how to destroy the futures of everyday families. Many spiritual leaders have called the Ryan budget immoral because like the Perry budget, it hurts many of our most vulnerable.

The fact that Texas Republicans are welcoming the architect of a budget that hurts seniors and children speaks volumes about their priorities. Texas Republicans are making it clear that they want to continue down the same path they’ve blazed that decimated public education, and hurt women and seniors.

The Ryan invite is a slap in the face to Texans who are already feeling the effects of a budget that prioritizes corporations and special interests over the needs of families.”

• Paul Ryan’s plan would use deep budget cuts to help pay for $150,000 in tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.
• The Ryan budget would turn Medicare into a voucher program. Over time, traditional Medicare would wither on the vine, risking the guaranteed coverage seniors have earned and paid for.
• The Ryan Budget would reduce total Pell grants by about $200 billion over the next decade; let interest rates for Stafford loans to double; end student loan interest subsidies for those still in school; and make Pell spending discretionary.

The Texas Democratic Party today released a five-minute video introducing their student Fellows participating in their Latino engagement program – the Promesa Project. The Fellows discuss the project, what motivated them to apply and why young people should be involved in politics. Fellows were selected from eight campuses across the state which have both large Latino enrollment and are in areas where an increase in Latino turnout could play a pivotal role. These campuses are UTEP, UT, UTSA, UTB, UTPA, TAMIU, UH, and Del Mar College.

“After almost a year developing this project it’s incredibly exciting to finally have these Fellows on the ground putting the plan into action,” said Anthony Gutierrez, advisor to the TDP. The Promesa Project Fellows are a very talented group of young Latinos that are eager to help turn Texas blue. I have no doubt that among this group are some future leaders of our Party and our state.”

MEET THE PROMESA PROJECT FELLOWS

Student fellows are primarily asking their peers to give their promesa that they will vote Democratic and talk to their family and friends about voting Democratic. They are currently registering voters, recruiting volunteers, organizing campus events, using social media and speaking at local meetings.

“Republicans seem eager to quash the little support they have from Latinos,” said TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña. “There is simply no comparison between our Democratic values and the hostile rhetoric coming from the Republicans Party. On every issue that’s important to Latinos, Democrats are better. We’re excited that our Fellows will be communicating that very message across the state.”

“The Democratic Party is the Party for Latinos. It’s the Party that protects the interests of Latinos and supports the DREAM Act.”- UT Austin Fellow Justin Perez.

“Through the Promesa Project I can tell my community about the Republican war on women.” -UT Brownsville Fellow Cristina Garcia.

“The Promesa Project is the political backlash to the failed Republican policies that negatively impact Hispanic communities.” - Del Mar College Fellow Sam Caceres

“I feel privileged to be a part of the Promesa Project. Latinos are in charge of their political destiny and need to vote.”- UT El Paso Fellow Nacho de Santiago

“Young people will soon represent our country and we need to ensure that our voices heard. The Promesa Project is a really good way for us to make a difference now.” - UH Fellow Maria Virginia Ivañez

“Being the first inaugural class for the Promesa Project is a great start towards making Texas blue. This project is exactly what the State of Texas needs at this moment. – UT San Antonio Fellow Jonathan Turrubiates

“Politics affects young people directly. We’re going to work to get people registered to vote and make a change in our state.” – TAMIU Fellow Arnoldo Alonso

“Young people need to participate politically. I work with a group of students from low-income families. It’s going to be very difficult for me to explain to them that there might not be enough assistance for them to go to college because of budget cuts.” – UT Pan American Fellow Sandi Aguilar

Click here to see a comparison between the platform of the Texas Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Texas.

The Promesa Project is based around research which indicated that young Latinos are increasingly the trusted sources of political information in their families and that more young people are now getting their news online. Based on those findings, the projects seeks to use a combination of grassroots and online outreach to engage young Latinos and recruit them to be the Democratic Party’s trusted messengers to their family and friends.

A federal judge today stopped Texas from implementing the law that would prohibit certain providers from participating in the Women’s Health Program. TDP spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña released the following statement:

“Rick Perry can’t tell women where they can and cannot go to for health care. Perry had already been warned that limiting health care providers for women was illegal and that it would endanger the health of women, he just didn’t care. It’s high time that Rick Perry drop the political charade and end his assault on women’s health. Sadly, Rick Perry seems more concerned with eliminating Planned Parenthood than with the health of Texas women. It’s beyond reprehensible that Texas Republicans would rather end the Women’s Health Program altogether than repeal their illegal policy. Republicans continue to treat women as acceptable collateral damage in their quest to earn points with extremists. ”