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Dear Friend,
Last Friday, Texas Secretary of State David Whitley
issued Election Advisory No. 2019-02 to county registrars suggesting that many of their voter rolls include significant numbers of non-citizens, some of whom may have voted in one or more elections.
Attorney General Ken Paxton and others quickly pounced on the news of the "massive voter fraud" allegedly uncovered by Secretary Whitley, who was
appointed to the post by Governor Greg Abbott in December 2018. In short order,
Senator Pat Fallon and
Representative Mike Lang filed legislation codifying the process by which the so-called "purge list" provided to county registrars was produced.
The allegations made by Secretary Whitley follow on the heels of 1) nearly a decade of legal challenges between civil rights groups including the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) against the State of Texas over discriminatory voter ID laws and redistricting
maps; and, of 2) an election year that saw a significant increase in Latino turnout.
The Office of the Secretary of State has reportedly been working with the Department of Public Safety since March of last year to cross-check county voter rolls against data collected by DPS regarding contact the agency has had with non-citizens over the course
of the past 22 years.
The results: "Approximately 95,000 individuals identified by Department of Public Safety as non-U.S. citizens [that] have a matching voter registration record in Texas, [with] approximately 58,000 of whom [that] have voted
in one or more Texas elections."
I am deeply concerned that the response to these findings, which the
Office of the Secretary of State itself has found to be flawed, could result in voter intimidation and disenfranchising U.S. citizens.
The advisory authorizes county registrars to send a
Notice of Examination to registered voters in their jurisdiction and initiate investigations into voters' citizenship status. If a Notice of Examination or other statement is returned to the registrar that confirms a voter's
non-citizenship, or no correspondence is returned, then county registrars are encouraged to cancel the voter's registration. The letter also commits the Secretary of State and
county registrars to periodic "list maintenance activities" that may make these voter purges a more frequent occurrence.
This move is egregious because it casts a shadow on tens of thousands of voters who are, in all likelihood, U.S. citizens who have done nothing wrong. In fact, naturalized citizens wait a long time and work very hard to earn the right to vote, yet apparently
no effort was taken to remove U.S. citizens from the list who have naturalized since their interaction with DPS as a non-citizen although it could’ve occurred years or decades ago.
Secretary Whitley should never have sent out
Election Advisory No. 2019-02. The list his office put together was premature, at best, and it is clearly not an indication of massive voter fraud. The premature distribution of letters seeking to verify voters’ citizenship
based on fatally flawed data is tantamount to voter intimidation, and I believe that the Secretary of State for one of the largest states in the country can and must do better.
“Sending the list to the attorney general’s office gives the appearance that they are ready to prosecute 58,000 people,” former Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, a Republican and Abbott appointee like Secretary Whitley,
remarked to Texas Monthly. Cascos believes that the Secretary of State should rescind the advisory. “What they probably should have done is waited until they verified the information.”
In response to these developments, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus has
formed a Policy Committee that I will lead as Policy Chair
of the Caucus. We have submitted document requests to the Secretary of State, Department of Public Safety and others, and we will investigate the data returned to us in response for insight into the process and motivation behind the voter purge.
We have also
demanded that the Secretary of State rescind the advisory, produce a report of how many U.S. citizens were included on the list in error and halt the voter purge process initiated by the advisory's distribution.
Policy Committee membership:
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Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, Chair (HD-51)
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Rep. Gina Hinojosa (HD-49)
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Rep. Celia Israel (HD-50)
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Rep. Ina Minjarez (HD-124)
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Rep. Victoria Neave (HD-107)
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Rep. Lina Ortega (HD-77)
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Rep. Leo Pacheco (HD-118)
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Rep. Ramon Romero (HD-90)
Follow the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and myself on social media
@MALCTx and
@EddieforTexas, respectively, for the latest updates on this evolving situation.
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HB
1122
Memorial For A Fallen Hero:
DPS Trooper Carlos Ray Warren
DPS Trooper Carlos Ray Warren
Photo credit:
@SentryAustin
on Twitter
We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to the first responders who keep our communities safe. Law enforcement is a dangerous
and unpredictable occupation, and our officers in uniform risk their lives to uphold the law and protect our rights.
Sometimes, the unimaginable happens and an officer’s life is cut short in the line of duty. Texas DPS Trooper Carlos Ray Warren died tragically on March 5, 1991 while interrupting an abduction at a rural highway rest area on State Highway 71 in Travis County.
In honor and recognition of his sacrifice, Trooper Warren’s 6B2 Texas DPS Colleagues, his family and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office have arranged for the portion of SH 71 in Travis County that runs east from SH 130 to the municipal limits of Bastrop in
Bastrop County to be renamed the Trooper Carlos Ray Warren Memorial Highway.
On Monday, January 28, I filed HB
1122 in support of their campaign because legislation at the state level is required for renaming state highways.
HB 1122
is just the latest step in a process led by people who knew and loved Trooper Warren, supported along the way by elected officials including Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, the Travis County Commissioners Court - especially Commissioner Margaret Gomez
- and myself.
“It does my heart good to see HB
1122. Carlos was an exceptional Trooper and a friend to many, including myself. I cannot think of a more appropriate way for Texas to pay tribute
to his service and let his family know he’s not forgotten,” said Sheriff Hernandez.
Thank you to Sheriff Hernandez, Commissioner Gomez and the many others who have supported the effort to memorialize this fallen hero and his sacrifice in service of the citizens of the State of Texas. I am honored to have filed
HB
1122 in the Texas House of Representatives and look forward to advancing this tribute to Trooper Warren’s life and legacy one step closer to
becoming a reality.
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HB
1207,
HB 1208 &
HB 1209
A Legislative Package To Save Lives
On Wednesday, January 30, I filed a package of three bills that seek to promote responsible gun ownership, prevent gun violence and protect survivors of
family violence because I believe that good public policy can save lives.
These three bills are the result of working with stakeholders over the past several months, from the law enforcement community to advocates for survivors of family violence, on crafting solutions to unresolved issues related to public safety where there is
clearly middle ground.
HB 1207
would help law enforcement track stolen weapons and investigate crimes while taking steps to crack down on ‘straw purchases’ that funnel legally purchased
weapons to prohibited individuals. The bill requires that gun owners report the loss or theft of any firearm they own to law enforcement within 5 days of their discovery of the missing gun or face a Class C Misdemeanor and the loss of their eligibility for
a License to Carry for five years. Reporting one’s lost or stolen firearms is responsible gun ownership, and responsible gun ownership saves lives.
HB 1208
and
HB 1209
address the nexus between family violence and guns.
HB 1208 would promote responsible gun ownership and compliance with existing law by those who are no longer allowed to have them. Under current law, persons subject to
a magistrate's order for emergency protection or protective order as a result of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. However, many jurisdictions have no process
in place to accept surrendered firearms nor a designated secure storage area in which to hold them.
HB 1208 requires that county commissioners courts designate safe storage areas, making it easier for individuals to comply with the law and removing weapons from volatile
situations that can lead to tragedy.
Finally,
HB 1209 would help survivors of family violence escape threatening situations. Survivors are currently allowed to terminate their leases by presenting certain documentation
to their landlord, but the list of acceptable documents is restrictive.
HB 1209 expands the list of documentation that survivors of family violence can use to terminate their leases to include orders of emergency protection, magistrates’
orders and proof from health care service providers, mental health service providers and authorized advocates for survivors.
Quotes from stakeholders:
“Texas Gun Sense would like to thank Rep. Eddie Rodriguez for filing common sense bills that will make Texans safer. Governor Abbott recommended mandatory
reporting of lost or stolen guns in his May
30, 2018 school safety report after the Santa Fe school shooting. Rep Rodriguez’s bill addresses this important issue. We agree with Governor
Abbott and Rep. Rodriguez that reporting lost or stolen guns makes sense for Texans,” said Ed Scruggs,
Texas
Gun Sense Board Vice Chair.
“Many family violence survivors often risk further abuse or face homelessness because they are unable to terminate their leases in pursuit of a safer home.
HB 1209 simply expands options for survivors to terminate their leases after a dangerous assault without penalty. The Texas Council on Family Violence supports economic
options that ensure safety of survivors and not burden them with financial difficulty when starting a violence-free life for themselves and their families,” said Linda Phan with the
Texas Council on Family Violence.
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HB
1252
Confronting 'Food Deserts' Head-On
On Thursday, January 31, I filed food access legislation that would establish a 'Texas Grocery Access Investment Fund
program' to raise public and private funds for financing projects that seek to increase food access in low- to moderate-income communities located in undeserved areas.
HB 1252
is about creating opportunities for food access projects to get off the ground when they might not be viable without additional funding from outside conventional
channels.
In both urban and rural areas across Texas, people have grown increasingly reliant on retail food stores to feed their families. Many communities, however, do not have a grocery store, are not considered by grocery chains to be potentially profitable markets
and lack other food access points. In these places, or food deserts, the food ecosystem often revolves around the local corner store and its stock of highly processed foods. The lack of access to choice contributes to negative health outcomes including poor
nutrition and obesity.
The Grocery Access Investment Fund program would be flexible enough to fund a variety of projects, including mobile markets and farm stands, as grocery stores are not appropriate for some communities. It would also promote the creation of local wealth, hiring
of local residents and consumption of healthy food grown and made by local producers.
'Food deserts’ deprive millions of Texans of access to healthy food, including my own constituents who live in historically underserved communities in East and Southeast Travis County. They exist in both urban and rural areas and affect people regardless of
their political affiliations. HB
1252 is my attempt to confront the problem of ‘food deserts’ head-on through an innovative public-private partnership.
As chair of the Texas House Farm to Table Caucus, the first bipartisan legislative caucus of its kind in the nation, I look forward to pushing this and other legislation that would promote the production and consumption of local foods while addressing issues
related to food access and food insecurity in the 86th Legislative Session.
Shelby Massey with the American Heart Association:
“Increasing access to healthy, affordable food is crucial for promoting positive health outcomes in low- and moderate-income communities, particularly in
underserved areas. HB
1252 takes a market-oriented approach to increasing food access that works for Texas. The American Heart Association is grateful to Rep. Rodriguez
for his work on this issue and we are proud to support
HB 1252.”
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Town Halls on Saturday, Feb. 2
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Please join me this weekend as I participate in two town hall events discussing the bills that I'm working on and
how developments in the legislature could affect local communities.
I'll start the morning at Del Valle High School for DVFest, where Del Valle families will join local elected officials and school district partners to learn about what's happening in the community and resources available in the area.
Later in the afternoon, I will be participating in a joint town hall event with my fellow members of the Central Texas delegation to the Texas House. We will speak about each our agendas for the 86th Legislative Session and discuss the big issues facing Central
Texas and the state as a whole. We will also be answering questions from members of the audience, so come prepared!
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DV Fest
As I mentioned above, I will be participating in two town hall events this Saturday, February 2. I'm especially excited to participate in DV Fest from 10 - 11 AM at Del Valle High School.
DV Fest is a district showcase and community fair featuring a variety of sessions and resources for families who live in Del Valle ISD. I will be in the Del Valle HS's auditorium from 10 - 11 AM talking with folks about my work on their behalf in the Texas
House, how big issues like public school finance/property tax reform could affect Del Valle and answering questions in a casual, informal setting.
It is an honor to represent Del Valle families in the Texas House of Representatives and I'm looking forward to this town hall-style event.
Date: Saturday,
February 2, 2019
Time: 10 - 11 AM
Location: Del Valle HS Auditorium
Address: 5201 Ross Rd, Del Valle, TX 78617
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Central Texas Legislative Town Hall - North
Democrats flipped 12 Texas House seats in the November 2018 elections, including 5 in Central Texas. I have enjoyed welcoming these new members into the fold and I look forward to working with them on issues that affect all of our constituents.
For the first time, we are holding a
Central Texas delegation legislative town hall with members who represent Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties at ACC Northridge this Saturday, February 2.
After visiting with constituents at DV Fest in Del Valle, I will be participating in the
Central Texas Legislative Town Hall - North with:
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Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (Travis)
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Rep. Donna Howard (Travis)
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Rep. Celia Israel (Travis)
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Rep. Gina Hinojosa (Travis)
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Rep. James Talarico (Williamson)
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Rep. John Bucy (Williamson)
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Rep. Sheryl Cole (Travis)
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Rep. Vikki Goodwin (Travis)
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Rep. Erin Zwiener (Hays)
After introducing ourselves and discussing our legislative priorities, there will be a Q&A session so that you can
ask your local elected officials questions about the issues that you care about the most.
Date: Saturday,
February 2, 2019
Time: 1:15 - 3:15 PM
Location: ACC Northside
Address: 11928 Stonehollow Dr, Austin, TX 78758
Please contact Rachel Bhalla at 512-463-0670 for additional information.
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Warrant Amnesty Program
Outstanding warrants can easily throw a wrench in a person's life if they're not handled properly. Fortunately, the
City of Austin occasionally exercises periods of 'warrant amnesty' during which people with warrants can take care of their unpaid citations without being arrested and having to pay warrant fees.
The
2019
Austin Municipal Court Warrant Amnesty lasts from today, February 1 through Thursday, February 28.
If you have an active case in the Austin Municipal Court or Downtown Community Court, then this program may apply to you. The court will have a walk-in docket at the two courts.
If you can’t pay the fine on the day you go to court, you can set up a payment plan, request community service or seek a waiver, according to the city. Please see below for details.
Dates: Friday, February 1 -
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Walk-In Docket Schedules:
Downtown Municipal Court (700 E. 7th St.)
Monday - Friday:
8:30 - 11 AM & 1:30 - 3:45 PM
Thursdays: 6 - 8:30 PM
Community Court (719 E. 6th St.)
Monday - Friday:
8 AM - 5 PM
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Coffee with a Cop
Join the Austin Police Department in Central East Austin next Thursday, February 7 to have your questions about crime and safety in the community addressed.
This is the perfect opportunity to meet the officers who work in your neighborhood!
Date: Thursday, February 7, 2019
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 AM
Location: E. Riverside H-E-B Plus!
Address: 2508 E. Riverside Dr.
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Refreshments will be provided, including coffee, juice and donuts,
so come out and meet your local law enforcement officers.
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PUPPY BOWL III: Benefiting Austin Pets Alive!
Join in the fun for the
3rd
Annual Yard Bar Puppy Bowl LIVE! to kick off Super Bowl weekend!
There will be puppies playing football. That's really all you need to know, BUT,
we do have more details.
Join us for four quarters of matchups, plus two overtime quarters, and featuring a halftime show of APA! adoptable puppies taking to the gridiron in an epic display of uninhibited cuteness benefiting Austin
Pets Alive!
The Puppy Bowl is FREE to watch and you can enter your own pup to play for a $25 donation to Austin Pets Alive!
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Yard Bar
Address: 6700 Burnet Rd.
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Austin Humane Society 12th Annual Puppy Bowl
The
Austin Humane Society's 12th Annual Puppy Bowl will be on Saturday, February 2nd from 12 - 3 PM.
This year’s tailgate will be jam-packed with delicious food, drinks, kid’s activities,
and other vendors. Plus, our puppy players will again be on hand to make their prediction for Sunday’s big game as well as battle it out on the gridiron in the most adorable competition of the year – the MVP races!
If you’re looking to add a puppy to your team, we’ll have dozens of puppies available for adoption and, only during Puppy Bowl, adoption fees will be discounted to $175! Each adoption comes with current vaccinations,
spay/neuter, microchip, and more!
New in 2019, we’ve added a tasty tailgating competition where local restaurants will go head-to-head to whip up a tailgating treat! You, our tailgaters, can taste away and vote to crown the 2019 Top Tailgating
Bite.
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Time: 12 PM - 3 PM
Location: Austin Humane Society
Address: 124 W. Anderson Lane
Tickets: General admission tickets are
FREE but attendees are asked to register. VIP ("Very Important Puppy") tickets are
$20 and there are also still sponsorship opportunities
available.
Additional information and tickets are available
here.
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Call for Volunteers: Univision Promesa y Esperanza Radiothon
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Univision Austin are excited to host the
Amor 107.7 Univision Promesa y Esperanza Radiothon on Thursday, February 7th and Friday, February 8th.
Amor 107.7 will be broadcasting live from 6 AM until 7 PM each day, raising money for much needed research to find cures for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
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"We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to work in shifts over the course of
the two day event. Radiothon volunteers primarily participate by answering telephones to take donor pledges. Bilingual volunteers are required."
For more information or to sign up,
visit here.
Dates:
Thursday, February 7 & Friday, February 8, 2019
Time: 6 AM - 7 PM each day
Location: Univision Austin
Address: 2233 W. North Loop Boulevard
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Supplies Drive for Organizations Helping Detained Immigrant Children
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) is helping to collect supplies needed for organizations involved in providing direct care services to children and families being held in detention.
Thus far, they have set up Amazon wish lists for two great organizations that desperately need basic supplies. Please consider giving what you can.
Annunciation House
(Amazon Wish List)
1003 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center (Amazon
Wish List)
1500 E Yandell Dr, El Paso, TX 79902
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Follow me on social media
@EddieforTexas for updates straight from the Texas Legislature. If you have questions, comments, or need help, please email me at Ed...@EddieforTexas.com or
call my office at (512) 463-0674.
Sincerely,
State Representative Eddie Rodriguez
Texas House District 51
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State Representative
EDDIE RODRIGUEZ
HOUSE DISTRICT 51
(512) 463-0674
Texas Capitol, 4S.5
P.O. Box 2910
Austin TX 78768-2910
POLICY CHAIRMAN
Mexican American Legislative Caucus
CHAIRMAN
Texas Farm-to-Table Caucus
COMMITTEES
Calendars
State Affairs
Ways & Means
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TEAM
Summer Luciano
Chief of Staff
Alison Ross
Legislative Director
Alejandro Pena
Communications Director
Robert Jacques
Legislative Aide
Luis Camarena
Legislative Aide
Monica Rios
Legislative Aide
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Pol. Adv. Paid by Eddie Rodriguez Campaign
Copyright © 2017 *Eddie Rodriguez Campaign*, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email either because you opted in on my website or signed up in person.
Our mailing address is:
Eddie Rodriguez Campaign
P.O. Box 2436
Austin, TX 78768
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