Hello,

If you have not reserved your seat for the Founder’s Circle Event featuring Arianna Huffington on January 19 you still have time. Tickets to the brunch and the keynote address are still available. Tickets start at $50. The ticket price can be pledged until June 30.

Please see event information below. As you know 2008 is a crucial election year. We need your support to help pro-family planning/pro-choice candidates move into office and on to protecting women and families in Texas.

Thank you for your support of the GAC and Winning for Women!
Please make checks payable to:
Winning for Women
Attn: De Calloway
104 Babcock Rd., San Antonio, TX, 78201
Phone: 210-736-2244 Fax: 210-736-001

Or Pledge your Payment w/ticket information

Outstanding pledges will be notified on May 1, 2008.

All pledge payments are due by June 30, 2008.
The mission of the Government Affairs Council at Planned Parenthood (GAC) is to educate and activate voters to elect candidates who will support family planning and reproductive choice. Winning for Women is the political action committee of the GAC. Its goal is to elect legislators that are committed to fully funding family planning, ensuring access to abortion care, and safeguarding comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education.

The Government Affairs Council at Planned Parenthood and Winning for Women, made significant contributions that in turn made a critical impact on several important races in the 2006 mid-term election. The efforts moved GAC & Winning for Women toward its goal of creating a 100% pro-choice delegation from Bexar County to the State Legislature. The GAC and Winning for Women also supported a number of candidates across Texas who will support family planning and a woman’s right to choose.

The Government Affairs Council (GAC) protecting responsible choices through political action
The GAC is an independent non-profit, non-partisan organization supported by private, non-tax deductible memberships.
The GAC cannot accept contributions from corporations or unions.
The GAC is not authorized by any candidate, committee or political party.

Winning for Women is a Political Action Committee of the Government Affairs Council of the Planned Parenthood Trust of San Antonio and South Central Texas. Contributions are not tax-deductible, and we cannot accept contributions from corporations or unions. If more than $10, your contribution will be reported to the Texas Ethics Commission. Your contribution may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates.

FYI

There will be an
executive commitee meeting
Sunday, January 20, 4pm
call 210-573-2713 or email chriscg5@netscape.net for more info.

Legislative Update

By Clifton Walker

On November 6th, a mere 9% of registered Texas voters voted to change the Texas constitution sixteen times, and to authorize the issuance of $9.75 billion in general obligation bonds. In fact, in spite of a well-promoted proposition that would fund cancer research to the tune of $3 billion, statewide turnout was only half that from two years ago, when the constitutional ban on gay marriage was the most hyped item on the ballot. Total votes to ban gay marriage: 1,723,782 (76.25% of total turnout). Total votes for cancer research: 668,543 (62.73% of total turnout). Riddle me this: does this mean that Texans fear gay marriage more than they do cancer?

Also almost unnoticed was a proposition authorizing the extension of $500 million to finance student loans. Our state will now issue $5 billion in bonds to pay for highway improvements which could very well go towards the new third rail of Texas politics - toll roads. Next legislative session, our state lawmakers will now have to cast record votes upon final passage of a bill. Disabled veterans will now see a drop in their property tax bill, depending on the degree they are rated disabled by the Veterans Administration.

We passed a record number of bonds – nearly ten billion dollars in IOUs that our generation will be responsible for fulfilling. Why so much? One local Democratic state representative called these bonds “the new fees” – the technique used by lawmakers last session to sneak by what are essentially tax increases. With so many Republicans pledged to never creating a new tax or raising an existing one, lawmakers are pushed to find creative, if not deceptive, ways to fund government. Makes you wonder what they’ll do to avoid meddling with taxes next session, however fair and sensible the tax adjustment. Bake sales at your local Medicaid office? Perhaps, ‘Supersize’ opportunities for a little extra justice when you pay your court fees? How about toll booths at the gates of state universities?

Finally, the date that most bills passed last session took effect was September 1. If you aren’t a member of the lobby or a special interest group that cares about bills dealing with particular issues, you probably don’t hear much about new laws (over 1400 this year). For your edification and reading enjoyment, here are a just few of the laws that govern your life, and some that almost did.

These passed:

Dog owners are now considered criminally negligent if they fail to secure a dog that causes serious bodily injury to someone off the owner’s property. (HB 1355 by Gattis-R)
No more roadside snake hunting. (HB 12 by Hildebrand-R)
Shoot first, ask questions later – you can shoot to kill with a “presumption of reasonableness” at your home, your workplace, and in your car (SB 378 by Wentworth-R)

Some failed proposals:

Interest rate caps for payday lenders lending to servicemembers and their families (HB 2048 by Farias-D)
The creation of a Texas Innocence Commission to correct wrongful convictions (SB 263 by Ellis-D)
Repeal of the nearly 50 year ban on the sale of horsemeat (HB 2476 by Miller-R)
Voter registration and election day obstacles, like the presentation of multiple identification. Of course, while meant to prevent illegal immigrants from voting (a phenomenon that no one can prove really exists), it would effectively disenfranchise plenty of minorities, the elderly, the disabled and the poor. What a coincidence. Special thanks to Senator Mario Gallegos (D-H) for risking his life to stay near the Senate where Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst threatened to revive this stinker at any given moment.

This is why we need more Democrats in the Legislature.

Legislative Update

By Clifton Walker


Student Loans
$85 Billion. That’s the size of the U.S. student loan industry. Hidden within that figure is a whopping $21 billion that the federal government pays in direct subsidies not to students, whom we ultimately wish to help, but to lenders. That changed last month with the passage and ratification of the College Cost Reduction Act. Upon passage, money will be diverted largely in order to incrementally increasing the maximum Pell Grant from the present $4,310 to $5400 in 2012. Conversely, subsidized Stafford loan rates will drop incrementally from the present 6.8% to 3.4% in 2011. A new loan repayment schedule that limits monthly payments to 15% of monthly income will be available to cash-strapped recent graduates. Finally, the bill reallocates money to grant programs offering incentives (TEACH grants) of up to $16,000 to would-be teachers, encouraging them to take up high-demand subjects (math, special education, etc.) in areas where teachers are short.

Children’s Health Coverage
Citing the Cold War spectre of the sneaking infiltration of Socialism (gasp!), President Bush has threatened to veto the considerably bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Programs Bill (SCHIP). After the House settled upon a compromise version with the Senate, the bill was so popular in the Senate that they reached a vetoproof majority of 68 votes in approving the measure. Still, after the hundreds of billions of dollars spent in war of choice – now widely viewed as a “quagmire” – and large unprecedented tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in a time of war, President Bush has decided to play “budget hawk” to demonstrate his fiscal responsibility by vetoing health coverage for kids. So much for compassionate conservatism. If 14 House Republicans reconsider and flip their votes, the President’s veto will be overridden.

Iraq
The Iraq Occupation Since the surge began, Americans have been advised to wait until General David Petraeus’s September report before making final judgments about how best to proceed. The reaction has been clear; according to several polls conducted immediately after General Petraeus’s testimony, support for continuing the occupation has declined. Nevertheless, last week, when the Senate reconsidered an amendment offered by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) which would have required that troops spend as least as much time at home training (“dwell time”) as abroad, the vote count (56) remained unchanged from the amendment’s debut in July. Many who oppose the occupation are feeling the frustration inherent in the dynamic of the Senate, where the support of a simple majority does not ensure a bill’s passage. At 56 votes, the Democratic caucus, all of whom voted for the measure except Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-DE), is still short of the 60 votes needed to override a filibuster, and well short of the 67 votes needed to override a presidential veto. Senator Webb’s amendment, attracting 6 Republican votes, represents the closest thing to a compromise, so, sadly, it is very unlikely that Congress will force the President’s hand to change course any time soon.

Ciro Event

You are cordially invited to join

Congressman Steny Hoyer
House Majority Leader
5th District of Maryland

for a
Fundraising Reception

Honoring

Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez
23rd District of Texas

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Aldaco’s Restaurant
Sunset Station
100 Hoefgen

$1,500 Sponsor $1,000 Patron $500 Host $100 Friend
Please make checks payable to:
Ciro D. Rodriguez for Congress
P. O. Box 14528
San Antonio, Texas 78214

For more information or to RSVP please call Gina Castaneda at (210) 928-2476

Paid for by the Ciro D. Rodriguez for Congress, Luis Vera Treasurer, P.O. Box 14528 San Antonio, Texas 78214 FEC CMTE C00326066

Presidential Debates

Round I ... Fight!!!... (insert Street Fighter II announcer voice)
ON CNN TV:
The presidential debates LIVE from New Hampshire!
Democrats: Sunday, June 3, 7 p.m. ET
Republicans: Tuesday, June 5, 7 p.m. ET (Can you say inquisition?)
SPECIAL COVERAGE begins at 5 p.m. ET
moderated by Wolf Blitzer

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez Birthday Party

Art and Culture

Art and Culture
One of our duties is to keep you informed of all the things that may be of interest to you in San Antonio. Things that range from professional networking groups to the arts. So, to fulfill our constitutional duty to promote the arts I give you:

Shakespeare in the Park (Botanical Garden)
May 31 - June 2
[gates open:6:30pm; Performance:8pm]
The Taming of the Shrew
(FREE admission, cash donation accepted)

Premier Performance & After Glow
Wednseday, May 30,2007
6:30pm: gate Open, Libations & Temptations
8:00pm: Seated Performance & AfterGlow Cast Mingling
$25 - by reservation only - 210-227-2751 and keep scrolling!!!!!!!!!!

Mention this ad when ordering by phone or print it out and bring a copy when you visit the San Antonio Symphony Box Office or Majestic Theatre Box Office and you will receive One Free Ticket for Every Paid Ticket.
Please Call 210-554-1010 for more information
Offer Expires: June 2, 2007

Its Beethovens 9th Symphony

The Bush Administration and a light Bulb

I got this email and thought it was funny....

How many members of the Bush administration does it take to change a light bulb?
1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed;
2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed;
3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb;
4. One to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of light bulbs;
5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Haliburton for the new light bulb;
6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner: Light Bulb Change Accomplished;
7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally in the dark;
8. One to viciously smear #7;
9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along;
10. And finally one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country.
- Juan Cardenas

Kosovo to honor Bill Clinton with statue

Kosovo to honor Bill Clinton with statue

By Fatos Bytyci Wed May 23, 9:03 AM ET
PODUJEVO, Serbia (Reuters) -
Kosovo Albanians plan to honor their "savior" Bill Clinton by erecting a statue of the former United States president in the capital of Serbia's breakaway province.
The three-meter (10-foot) tall monument is still under construction in a studio in Podujevo north of Pristina.
"He is our savior. He saved us from extermination," sculptor Izeir Mustafa told Reuters. "I was thrilled by the work because I know what he did for us."
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999 after 78 days of NATO bombing ousted Serb troops who had killed some 10,000 ethnic Albanians in an 18-month counter-insurgency war against Albanian separatist guerrillas.
Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. They expect to get their own state in the coming months with U.S. and European Union support, despite the opposition of Serbia and its main ally, Russia.
Clinton, as leader of the NATO alliance, is seen as the man who decided to bomb Serbia to force the late strongman Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw his forces from Kosovo, effectively handing victory to the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Pristina already has a road named after him, graced by a 12-metre (25 foot) tall mural of the former president. Pristina municipal authorities say they expect to erect the statue somewhere along Clinton Boulevard later this summer.
Mustafa has several more days to work before he bronzes the sculpture of Clinton, after which he will turn his attention to another soon-to-be former Western leader. . "I definitely will do a statue of (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair," he said. "He saved us as well."