DOCSLIB.ORG

Complained Filed by Texas League of United Latin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Complained Filed by Texas League of United Latin Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 1 of 20 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS AUSTIN DIVISION TEXAS LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS, RALPH EDELBACH, and BARBARA MASON; Plaintiffs, v. Civil Action Case No. _________________1:20-cv-1006 GREG ABBOTT, in his official capacity as Governor of Texas, RUTH HUGHS, in her official capacity as Texas Secretary of State, DANA DEBEAUVOIR, in his official capacity as Travis County Clerk, CHRIS HOLLINS, in his official capacity as Harris County Clerk; JOHN W. OLDHAM, in his official capacity as Fort Bend County Elections Administrator; LISA RENEE WISE, in her official capacity as El Paso County Elections Administrator; Defendants. COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 1. On June 29, 2020, Defendant Governor Greg Abbott argued in federal court that “precipitous changes to the [election] rules can cause ‘confusion’ and even undermine public confidence in the outcome of the election itself.” 2. Three months later, with voting underway in Texas, Governor Abbott made exactly the type of “precipitous change” that he had cautioned against. On October 1, 2020, Governor Abbott issued an order forcing county election officials to offer their absentee voters no more than one physical drop-off location at which to return their ballot. In the State’s largest counties, 1 Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 2 of 20 including Harris and Travis counties, the October 1 order meant that the number of drop off location would respectively be reduced from 11 and 4 locations. 3. For Texas’ absentee voters—including those who had already requested or received their absentee ballot with the expectation that they would be able to use one of many drop-off locations offered by their county—the effect of the October 1 order is to unreasonably burden their ability to vote. They will have to travel further distances, face longer waits, and risk exposure to COVID-19, in order to use the single ballot return location in their county. And, if they are unwilling or unable to face these new burdens, they will have to rely on a hobbled postal mail system—that has expressed a lack of confidence in its own ability to timely deliver the mail—and hope that their ballot will be delivered in time to be counted. Inevitably, for some absentee voters, their hope will be misplaced, and their ballot will not be counted. 4. In the midst of an election that is already underway, forcing such new burdens on voters who relied on a different set of election rules to make their voting plan, is unreasonable, unfair, and unconstitutional. And, as Governor Abbott recently argued, it engenders voter confusion and undermines the public’s confidence in the election itself. 5. This Court must therefore immediately enjoin Governor Abbott’s October 1 order, and restore the status quo to Texas’s already-occurring election. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 6. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343. 7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants, who are elected or appointed officials for the State of Texas or Texas Counties, and are residents of the State of Texas. 8. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). 2 Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 3 of 20 9. This Court has authority to issue declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202. PARTIES 10. Plaintiff League of United Latin American Citizens (“LULAC”) is the oldest and largest national Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC is a non-profit membership organization with a presence in most of the fifty states, including Texas. It was founded with the mission of protecting the civil rights of Latinos, including voting rights. LULAC participates in civic engagement activity, such as voter registration, voter education, and voter turnout efforts, throughout the United States. 11. LULAC has been recognized and accepted as an organizational plaintiff protecting Latino rights in federal courts across the country, including the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. 12. Plaintiff Texas LULAC is the Texas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Plaintiff Texas LULAC was founded in Texas in 1929. Texas LULAC has over 20,000 members across the state of Texas. Texas LULAC’s members include registered voters who are eligible to and plan to vote absentee in the current general election. 13. Texas LULAC regularly engages in voter registration, voter education, and other activities and programs designed to increase voter turnout among its members and their communities. These efforts are key to LULAC’s mission of increasing civic participation of its members. Texas LULAC commits time, personnel, and resources to these efforts throughout Texas. 14. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, many eligible Texas LULAC members intend to vote absentee rather than vote in person and risk exposure to COVID-19. And because of 3 Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 4 of 20 widespread reports of mail delays in mail processed by the United States Postal Service, many Texas LULAC members have planned to drop off their ballots at one of the drop-off locations provided by, or planned to be provided by, Texas elections officials, to ensure their ballots are timely received an counted. 15. In light of the Governor’s precipitous announcement that counties may only operate a single absentee ballot drop-off location, Texas LULAC will be forced to divert resources away from its ongoing efforts to mobilize its members and their communities to vote and towards educating voters about the impact of the Governor’s order eliminating ballot drop-off locations and prohibiting counties from providing more than one location where voters can drop off their absentee ballots. 16. The League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX) is a nonprofit membership organization focused on nonpartisan, grassroots civic engagement. LWVTX’s mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. LWVTX encourages its members and all Texans to be informed and active participants in government, including by registering and voting in local, statewide, and national elections. LWVTX has approximately 3,000 members in Texas, many of whom are eligible to vote absentee and plan to do so in the upcoming election, including by returning their absentee ballots to a drop box. 17. In light of the Governor’s order limiting the number of absentee ballot drop-off locations to one per county, many Texas LULAC and LWVTX members will lack reasonable access to a drop-location and thus will be unable to timely cast their absentee ballots, absent federal court intervention. In-person voting is simply not an option for many absentee-eligible Texas LULAC and LWVTX members. Elderly, sick, and disabled members—the only categories of persons eligible to vote absentee by dropping off their ballot in person—simply cannot risk deadly 4 Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 5 of 20 exposure to COVID-19. As such, absentee ballots are the only option for many eligible Texas LULAC and LWVTX members to exercise the franchise without jeopardizing their own health or the health of their families. Furthermore, given the well-reported delays in mail processed by the United States Postal Service, many Texas LULAC and LWVTX members will be denied the right to vote unless they travel long distances and wait in crowded lines (something they cannot do without risking their health) to drop off their ballots. 18. Ralph Edelbach is an 82-year old Texas voter who lives in Cypress, Texas. Mr. Edelbach plans to vote by mail in this November’s election. Because of his concerns around whether the Postal Service will be able to timely and safely transmit his absentee ballot for counting, Mr. Edelbach planned to drop his ballot off at one of the eleven Harris County ballot return locations. Prior to Governor Abbott’s October 1 order, the nearest drop-off location to Mr. Edelbach’s home was about 16 miles away. That location has been forced to close by the Governor’s order, and now, the nearest drop-off location to Mr. Edelbach will be about 36 miles away. As a result, if he wants to drop his ballot off in person—which is his preference—Mr. Edelbach will have to drive nearly an hour-and-a-half roundtrip in order to do so. Other voters in Harris County in similar circumstances have already dropped off their ballots at previously authorized return locations. 19. Barbara Mason is a 71-year-old Texas voter who lives in Austin, Texas. She is an annual absentee voter and plans to vote by mail in this November’s election. Before Governor Abbott’s October 1 order, Ms. Mason planned to use one of the four Travis County drop-off locations to return her absentee ballot because she is concerned that she will not have enough time to receive, consider, vote, and timely return her ballot by mail. Indeed, Ms. Mason is especially worried that given its recent mail delivery problems, the Postal Service will not be able to timely 5 Case 1:20-cv-01006-RP Document 1 Filed 10/01/20 Page 6 of 20 and safely deliver her absentee ballot for counting. However, since the number of drop off locations in Travis County has been reduced to one, Ms.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Report of the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas
    EYE OF THE STORM Report of the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas John Sharp, Commissioner BOARD OF REGENTS Charles W. Schwartz, Chairman Elaine Mendoza, Vice Chairman Phil Adams Robert Albritton Anthony G. Buzbee Morris E. Foster Tim Leach William “Bill” Mahomes Cliff Thomas Ervin Bryant, Student Regent John Sharp, Chancellor NOVEMBER 2018 FOREWORD On September 1 of last year, as Hurricane Harvey began to break up, I traveled from College Station to Austin at the request of Governor Greg Abbott. The Governor asked me to become Commissioner of something he called the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas. The Governor was direct about what he wanted from me and the new commission: “I want you to advocate for our communities, and make sure things get done without delay,” he said. I agreed to undertake this important assignment and set to work immediately. On September 7, the Governor issued a proclamation formally creating the commission, and soon after, the Governor and I began traveling throughout the affected areas seeing for ourselves the incredible destruction the storm inflicted Before the difficulties our communities faced on a swath of Texas larger than New Jersey. because of Harvey fade from memory, it is critical that Since then, my staff and I have worked alongside we examine what happened and how our preparation other state agencies, federal agencies and local for and response to future disasters can be improved. communities across the counties affected by Hurricane In this report, we try to create as clear a picture of Harvey to carry out the difficult process of recovery and Hurricane Harvey as possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Texas Executive Order GA-05
    GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT December 13, 2018 FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE The Honorable Rolando B. Pablos Secretary of State State Capitol Room 1E.8 Secretary of State Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Secretary: Pursuant to his powers as Governor of the State of Texas, Greg Abbott has issued the following: Executive Order No. GA-05 relating to Emergency Management of Natural and Human-Caused Events, Emergencies, and Disasters. The original executive order is attached to this letter of transmittal. submitted, to the Governor GSD/gsd Attachment POST OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VoICE) DIAL 7-1-1 foR RELAY SERVICES 3xrcufhn rbir BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS Executive Department Austin, Texas December 13, 2018 EXECUTIVE ORDER GAO5 Relating to Emergency Management ofNatttral and Httman-caused Events, Emergencies, and Disasters. WHEREAS, natural and human-caused events, emergencies, and disasters constitute a continuing threat to the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, Texas needs a coordinated and integrated approach to protect its citizens, and the infrastructure on which they rely, in the event of a natural or human-caused event, emergency, or disaster; and WHEREAS, this coordinated effort must properly mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from any event, emergency, or disaster that may occur in this state; and WHEREAS, the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, Texas Government Code, Chapter 41$ (the “Act”), was enacted to: (1) reduce the vulnerability of people and communities of this state to damage, injury,
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Directory TEXAS
    250 Congressional Directory TEXAS TEXAS (Population 2010, 25,145,561) SENATORS JOHN CORNYN, Republican, of Austin, TX; born in Houston, TX, February 2, 1952; edu- cation: graduated, Trinity University, and St. Mary’s School of Law, San Antonio, TX; Master of Laws, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; professional: attorney; Bexar County Dis- trict Court Judge; Presiding Judge, Fourth Administrative Judicial Region; Texas Supreme Court, 1990–97; Texas Attorney General, 1999–2002; community service: Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Council; World Affairs Council of San Antonio; Lutheran General Hospital Board; chair, National Republican Senatorial Committee 2009–13; committees: Finance; Judici- ary; elected to the U.S. Senate on November 5, 2002, for the term beginning January 3, 2003; appointed to the Senate on December 2, 2002, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Phil Gramm; reelected to each succeeding Senate term. Office Listings http://cornyn.senate.gov https://www.facebook.com/sen.johncornyn 517 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 ....................................................... (202) 224–2934 Republican Whip Office, S–208 Capitol Building, Washington, DC 20510 ........................... (202) 224–2708 Chief of Staff.—Beth Jafari. FAX: 224–5220 Legislative Director.—Jerr Rosenbaum. 5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 980, Houston, TX 77007 ............................................................. (713) 572–3337 Providence Tower, 5001 Spring Valley Road, #1125E, Dallas, TX 75244 ............................
    [Show full text]
  • In the Supreme Court of the United States
    No. 20-305 In the Supreme Court of the United States PLANNED PARENTHOOD CENTER FOR CHOICE, ET AL., PETITIONERS v. GREG ABBOTT, GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, ET AL. ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF KEN PAXTON KYLE D. HAWKINS Attorney General of Texas Solicitor General Counsel of Record BRENT WEBSTER First Assistant Attorney BETH KLUSMANN General NATALIE D. THOMPSON Assistant Solicitors General OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL P.O. Box 12548 (MC 059) Austin, Texas 78711-2548 [email protected] (512) 936-1700 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table of authorities ........................................................... I Supplemental brief ........................................................... 1 Conclusion ......................................................................... 4 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page(s) Cases: In re Abbott, 954 F.3d 772 (5th Cir. 2020) ...................................... 1 In re Abbott, 956 F.3d 696 (5th Cir. 2020) ...................................... 1 Am. Cruise Ferries, Inc. v. Vazquez Garced, No. 20-1633 (DRD), 2020 WL 7786939 (D.P.R. Dec. 17, 2020) ................................................ 3 Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan, No. CV CCB-20-1130, 2020 WL 6777590 (D. Md. Nov. 18, 2020) ............................................... 3 Atwood v. Days, No. CV-20-00623-PHX-JAT-JZB, 2021 WL 100860 (D. Ariz. Jan. 12, 2021) .................................. 2 Big Tyme Invs., LLC v. Edwards, No. 20-30526, 2021 WL 118628, (5th Cir. Jan. 13, 2021) ........................................... 1, 2 Blandino v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., No. 82034-COA, 2021 WL 83336 (Nev. App. Jan. 7, 2021)............................................. 3 (I) II Cases—Continued: Page(s) Daves v. Dallas County, No. 18-11368, 2020 WL 7693744 (5th Cir. Dec. 28, 2020) .............................................. 3 El Bey v.
    [Show full text]
  • Texas Office of Lt. Governor Data Sheet As of August 25, 2016
    Texas Office of Lt. Governor Data Sheet As of August 25, 2016 History of Office The Office of the Lt. Governor of Texas was created by the State Constitution of 1845 and the office holder is President of the Texas Senate.1 Origins of the Office The Office of the Lt. Governor of Texas was established with statehood and the Constitution of 1845. Qualifications for Office The Council of State Governments (CSG) publishes the Book of the States (BOS) 2015. In chapter 4, Table 4.13 lists the Qualifications and Terms of Office for lieutenant governors: The Book of the States 2015 (CSG) at www.csg.org. Method of Election The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) maintains a list of the methods of electing gubernatorial successors at: http://www.nlga.us/lt-governors/office-of-lieutenant- governor/methods-of-election/. Duties and Powers A lieutenant governor may derive responsibilities one of four ways: from the Constitution, from the Legislature through statute, from the governor (thru gubernatorial appointment or executive order), thru personal initiative in office, and/or a combination of these. The principal and shared constitutional responsibility of every gubernatorial successor is to be the first official in the line of succession to the governor’s office. Succession to Office of Governor In 1853, Governor Peter Hansborough Bell resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Lt. Governor James W. Henderson finished the unexpired term.2 In 1861, Governor Sam Houston was removed from office and Lt. Governor Edward Clark finished the unexpired term. In 1865, Governor Pendleton Murrah left office and Lt.
    [Show full text]
  • Executive Order No. GA-37 Relating to the Transportation of Migrants During the COVID-19 Disaster
    GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT italy 28. 2021 FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE ‘CLOCK 2021 Mr. Joe A. Esparza Deputy Secretary of State State Capitol Room 1E.8 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Deputy Secretary Esparza: Pursuant to his powers as Governor of the State of Texas. Greg Abbott has issued the following: Executive Order No. GA-37 relating to the transportation of migrants during the COVID-19 disaster The original executive order is attached to this letter of transmittal. Respectfully submitted. to the Governor Attachment POST OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VoicE) DIAL 7-1-1 FOR RELAY SEgVICES !xrtuthtr ®rbn BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS Executive Department Austin, Texas July 28, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER GA37 Relating to the transportation of migrants during the COVID-19 disaster. WHEREAS. I, Greg Abbott. Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March 13. 2020. certifying under Section 4 18.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in the State of Texas: and WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today. 1 have renewed the COVID-19 disaster declaration for all Texas counties; and WHEREAS, I issued a disaster proclamation on May 31, 2021, certifying under Section 418.014 that the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border poses an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster for certain counties and agencies in the State of Texas, including the potential for the spread of COVID-l9; and WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have amended and renewed the border disaster declaration; and WHEREAS, in a so-called “Title 42 order.” President Trump took action to protect Americans from COVID-l9 by rapidly expelling migrants who could carry the disease across the border: and WHEREAS, the Biden Administration has kept in place the Title 42 order, and for good reason: and WHEREAS, despite the emergence of the highLy contagious delta variant of COVID- 19.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Cause No. the Anti-Defamation League Austin, Southwest, and Texoma Regions
    CAUSE NO. ______________ THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE § AUSTIN, SOUTHWEST, AND § IN THE DISTRICT COURT TEXOMA REGIONS; COMMON § CAUSE TEXAS; and ROBERT § KNETSCH; § TRAVIS COUNTY TEXAS Plaintiffs, § § v. § ___ JUDICIAL DISTRICT § GREG ABBOTT, in his official § capacity as the Governor of Texas, § Defendant. § PLAINTIFFS’ VERIFIED ORIGINAL PETITION AND APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, TEMPORARY INJUNCTION, AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION Plaintiffs, the Anti-Defamation League Austin, Southwest, and Texoma Regions (“ADL”); Common Cause Texas; and Robert Knetsch (collectively, “Plaintiffs”),1 by and through their counsel of record, file this Verified Original Petition and Application for Temporary Restraining Order, Temporary Injunction, and Permanent Injunction against Defendant Greg Abbott, in his official capacity as Governor of Texas.2 1. For several months, Texas voters and election officials have prepared to cast and receive ballots based on rules laid out in the Texas Election Code and Governor Abbott’s July 27 Proclamation regarding early and absentee voting. Now, at the eleventh hour, Governor Abbott issued a new Proclamation that, if allowed to stand, dramatically changes the applicable rules, 1 “Plaintiffs” include the supporters, constituents, and/or members of ADL and Common Cause Texas. 2 Notice of this Petition and Application was provided to the Texas Attorney General in advance of filing pursuant to Local Rule 10.4. 1 namely where ballots-by-mail can be dropped off. This bait-and-switch exceeds the Governor’s authority and violates the Texas Constitution – in addition to being inconsistent with principles of efficient election administration and fundamental fairness to all Texas voters. 2. Defendant Governor Greg Abbott’s October 1, 2020 Proclamation (“the Proclamation”) impermissibly intrudes on local election officials’ authority to manage elections and imposes an unconstitutional burden on voters’ right to vote.
    [Show full text]
  • HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, § § in the DISTRICT COURT Plaintiff § § V
    8/12/2021 1:58 PM Velva L. Price District Clerk Travis County CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-21-_________003896 D-1-GN-21-003896 Daniel Smith HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, § § IN THE DISTRICT COURT Plaintiff § § v. § § TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS GREG ABBOTT, in his Official Capacity § as Governor of Texas, and KEN § PAXTON, in his Official Capacity as § Texas Attorney General § Defendants § 345th_____ JUDICIAL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION, APPLICATION FOR A TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION, AND APPLICATION FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT: This is a case about harmful overreach by the Governor of Texas during a global pandemic. At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Gregg Abbott issued a disaster declaration triggering his authority under the Texas Disaster Act, which places on him a duty to meet “the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters,” and authorizes him to issue certain executive orders to meet that duty. Tex. Gov’t Code § 418.011. Early on in the crisis, Governor Abbott and County Judges and Mayors across the state issued emergency orders to contain the spread of the virus, including limiting building occupancy, mandating masks, and mandating testing at certain facilities. In the months following the initial stages of the pandemic, as the country became increasingly polarized about governmental mandates during the pandemic, the Governor changed course. He began misusing his Disaster Act authority to issue executive orders designed not to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but instead to tie local officials’ hands. He prohibited local officials from enacting protective measures.
    [Show full text]
  • Cause No. DC-21-10101 J.J. Koch, Plaintiff, V. Clay Jenkins, in His
    Page - 1 Cause No. DC-21-10101 J.J. Koch, Plaintiff, v. In the District Court of Clay Jenkins, in his Official Capacity Counter-Plaintiff and Defendant, Dallas County, Texas v. 116th Judicial District Greg Abbott, in his Official Capacity as Governor of the State of Texas, Counter-Defendant. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’s First Supplemental Counterclaim, Request for Declaratory Judgment, and Request for Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction It is hard to envision a legal dispute, the resolution of which will directly impact and potentially save more lives, than the one before this Court. For the last 18 months, civilization has struggled to manage a historic worldwide pandemic caused by a highly transmissible and novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes a deadly viral infection called COVID-19. The four-pronged mitigation strategy to try to stop the community transmission of the virus is well-known: 1. Stay home, stay safe. 2. If you go out in public, try to maintain physical distance away from other people. 3. If you are indoors or cannot maintain physical distance, wear a face covering. 4. Most importantly, be vaccinated. These mitigation strategies enjoy near universal support among public health and infectious disease County Judge Clay Jenkins’s First Supplemental Counter-claim Page - 1 Page - 2 specialists and among countries around the world as the best way we can combat the virus; if we don’t use these public health measures, COVID-19 will continue to rage through the populace, exposing citizens to illness and stretching medical resources beyond their limits.
    [Show full text]
  • July 8, 2021 the Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas PO Box
    July 8, 2021 The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas PO Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711 Governor Abbott: I am writing to congratulate you on the issues you added to the call for the legislative special session that began today. As you know, I firmly believe that, election integrity, voting reform and the other issues are critical to the future of our state and our democracy and must be acted upon quickly. However, I am also writing to highlight several key issues missing from the call, that I strongly urge you to add to as they were overlooked during the past legislative session. First, would be to specify including the limitation of property tax increases into our Texas Constitution to ensure that property taxes could not raise more than three percent annually and that no future legislature could change this without a vote of the people. Second is the issue of a gender mutilation ban for minors. As you know, House Bill 1399 by Rep. Krause finally made it on the House Calendar but died there at the end of session. This bill, and this issue, is a bellwether for families across our state and our nation. If Texas cannot pass a bill that prevents the gender mutilation or reassignment of children, then that will send a signal across the country that traditional family values have no defender. Texas is the last bastion for common-sense, family value protections and I encourage you to lead on this issue. Failure to add this to the call for this special session is a failure to stand up for Texas families.
    [Show full text]
  • Women in State Government: Stalled Progress by Susan J
    DEMOGRAPHICS Women in State Government: Stalled Progress By Susan J. Carroll The movement of women into state-level offices has slowed in recent years after several decades of gains. Efforts to actively recruit women for elected and appointed positions will be critical in determining what the future holds for women in state government. In the history of the United States, women are Connecticut, Kansas, Texas and Washington each relative newcomers among state elected and have had two women governors. appointed officials. Women first entered state- The first female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross of level offices in the 1920s following passage and Wyoming, was selected in a special election to suc - ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. ceed her deceased husband in 1925. Fifteen days Constitution, which granted women suffrage. Sig - later, a second woman, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, nificant growth in the numbers of women in office, was inaugurated as governor of Texas, having however, occurred only after the contemporary been elected as a surrogate for her husband, a women’s movement emerged during the late 1960s former governor who had been impeached and and early 1970s. Since the mid-1970s, as data col - consequently was barred constitutionally from lected by the Center for American Women and running again. Ferguson’s campaign slogan was, Politics show, 1 women have greatly increased their “Two governors for the price of one.” 3 The third numbers among elected and appointed officials in woman to serve as a governor, Lurleen Wallace of state government. Nevertheless, progress has Alabama, campaigned on the slogan, “Let George slowed in recent years and nationwide statistics do it,” and was similarly elected to replace a show little or no growth in the numbers of women husband who was prohibited by term limits from serving in state-level offices since the turn of the seeking an additional term in office.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of Sam Houston
    A SHORT HISTORY OF SAM HOUSTON Virginian by birth, a Tennessean in his youth, Sam Houston was a Texan by choice the last 30 years of his life. Born March 2, 1793, to Major and Mrs. Samuel Houston, Sam was one of nine children. Young Sam endured formal education less than a year, staying closeted instead in his father's library reading the classics. After Major Houston's death in 1807, the family moved to a farm in Maryville, Tennessee, but Sam was not content behind the plow. He drifted off with the Cherokees for three years and was adopted as a member of their tribe. When he returned, the self-made scholar had memorized Homer's Iliad. Houston taught school briefly, then joined Andrew Jackson's Tennessee Regulars and was gravely wounded in 1848 Battle of Horseshoe Bend. After leaving the military he read eighteen months of law in six and by 1828 was a practicing attorney. In rapid succession he was elected state attorney general, congressman, and then governor of Tennessee. In 1829, Houston married an aristocratic daughter of that state, Eliza Allen, but the union lasted only 3 months. Despondently, the Governor resigned, rejoined his Cherokee friends, and drank to the point of alcoholism. In the summer of 1830, Sam married Tiana Rogers in a Cherokee Indian ceremony. A couple of years later, Sam and Tiana "divided the blanket" and were divorced Cherokee style. Also in 1832, Sam met with President Andrew Jackson, the mentor of his youth, who sent him to Texas as his personal envoy to the Indians.
    [Show full text]