THIRD VERSE, SAME OLD SONG | Special Legislative Session No. 3 Begins Next Week | Texans persist in their opposition to Republican legislative initiatives during special sessions. | |
Governor Greg Abbott has announced a third special legislative session to begin Monday to tackle redistricting, restrictions on transgender student-athletes, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats and independents face yet another 30-day session running interference as Republican legislators pin their 2022 election hopes on steamrolling initiatives that please their right-wing base, despite recent polling showing that the majority of Texans of all stripes oppose such initiatives. Among Abbott’s five agenda items for the session is a fourth attempt to attack trans children's rights. GOP Lawmakers failed twice to deliver on the issue requiring transgender student-athletes to play on teams based on the gender assigned to them at or near birth.
On redistricting, Democratic state senators Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio and Sarah Eckhardt of Austin have already filed a federal lawsuit arguing state lawmakers cannot legally redraw the legislative maps in a Special Legislative session. They are asking a federal district court in Austin to take over the work to reflect the state’s growth in the last decade. They are joined in their lawsuit by the Tejano Democrats, a political organization.
How the Republican-led Texas Legislature will spend billions of Covid relief funds delivered into their hands by a Democratic administration and Congress on the federal level is another hot-button issue. State Democrats have put forth reasonable, equitable, effective ways the funds can help hard-hit Texans, schools, and small businesses. (See a local proposal offered in the article below.)
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The task before Democratic legislators – yet again – will be to fight extremist laws. In the regular and two previous special sessions, Republicans forced through a virtual ban on abortion rights; an election law targeting Texans of color that will suppress voting in the state's biggest counties, including Collin; permit-less firearm carry; billions of dollars to fund useless border fencing, and arresting undocumented migrants for misdemeanor trespass. Most of these unconstitutional red-meat deliverables by the GOP are being challenged in state and federal courts.
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Opinion
LOCAL INPUT IS KEY TO BEST USE OF FEDERAL COVID FUNDS
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Scott Coleman
Educator and candidate for Collin County Commissioner 2
Alex Cornwallis
IT Expert and candidate for Prosper ISD Board
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We are all proud of President Biden’s success in the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act. This legislation has provided Collin County Commissioners with a $200 million federal grant to fund operational and infrastructure projects which immediately address impacts of the pandemic.
To protect our kids, families and economy from the impacts of the pandemic, we call for intergovernmental collaboration on projects using these federal funds. With $200 million of funding, the county is in a unique position to execute projects effectively and to accelerate their completion.
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Given the importance, we propose that fully one third of the grant be allocated to working with school districts. This would provide $65 million to be used for COVID mitigation in 2021-23. We call for collaboration between the county commissioners and school districts in Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Wylie, and across the county.
This idea is popular with Collin County residents. In a recent Townhall, a panel of county commissioner candidates and school board activists presented the proposal and residents enthusiastically supported it. Please listen to Alex Cornwallis discussing this proposal. Citizens are not helpless. We must proactively organize our Call to Action.
| PROPOSAL TO MAXIMIZE BENEFIT TO COLLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS | |
Democrats have prepared a federal grant proposal to immediately benefit all Collin County residents. Amounts are subject to scope and cost details being developed by the inter-governmental agencies. | |
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1. $20 million for vaccination related programs: Intensive public relations campaign in 2021-22; Targeted to achieve 90% vaccination rate by end of Fiscal Year 2022.
2. $65 million in inter-governmental projects with Independent School Districts: Joint investment programs with Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Wylie, Plano and other independent school districts; projects to be scoped immediately and construction completed by the end of Fiscal Year 2023; include retrofitting cafeterias, libraries, labs, ventilation systems, classrooms and other facilities.
3. $60 million for Capital Investments in improving Health Services for all residents: Projects targeted to relieve the burden on
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ICU beds at hospital centers across the county, structured in part as Private-Public Partnerships between Collin County and qualified private sector companies; upgrades to mental health services and standards of care at county managed facilities, open to all residents.
4. $35 million for small businesses and Nonprofit Organizations: Partnerships with community organizations conducting programs fighting the impacts of COVID among children, the elderly and underserved communities; relief to small business employers hurt by the pandemic; the target is for the county unemployment rate to recover to pre COVID levels across all sectors.
5. $20 Million to be allocated during the next Fiscal Year.
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We need you now more than ever! | |
Are you angry about the Texas legislature outlawing abortion services? Sick of the government trying to control a person’s body but refuse to control a deadly pandemic? Restricting voting for people of color and those with disabilities?
Be part of the solution by becoming a sponsor for our largest fundraiser of the year. The CCDP uses ARD funds to help recruit Democratic candidates for city, county and ISD offices and to organize opposition to draconian legislation coming out of Austin. The Ann Richards Dinner and Masquerade Ball on October 16 will also be a night to remember with live music, dinner, dancing, and exciting performances. It is a win-win for every Collin County Democrat!
| Check out our latest promotional video! | |
Visit our Ann Richards Dinner web page for details on the food, fun, and sponsorship opportunities! Sponsors will enjoy special perks not available to other attendees. Sponsor package availability is limited, so don't wait!
For the safety of everyone attending, only individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should attend this in-person event. Face masks will be required for all venue staff and guests.
When: Saturday, October 16, 7-11 p.m.
Where: Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center, 7121 Bishop Rd, Plano
Cost: Individual tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorships are also available.
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Thank you democracytoolbox
for your support!
Together we can help get Democrats elected up and down the ballot. To learn more about democracytoolbox go to their Facebook page:
democracytoolbox
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TURNING COLLIN BLUE IN '22 | |
The REGISTER COLLIN campaign moves to Murphy and Richardson on September 18 and 19 to canvass for new voters!
Sign up below for Saturday and Sunday. If you're new, we'll train you, and you'll be paired with an experienced canvasser. Come on out and help us flip Collin County #Blue2022! If you'd rather phone bank, sign up below.
Learn about the REGISTER COLLIN campaign.
Want to know when we'll be registering voters where you are? Check out the schedule on collindemocrats.org!
Help keep #RegisterCollin teams marching! Click the Blue Donate button below and send a donation to support the team's work.
#Blue2022 #RegisterCollin
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PRECINCT CHAIR(S) OF THE MONTH | |
TEACHERS have been selected as our PRECINCT CHAIRS to honor for the month of August. | |
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Fredrick Nickens in Melissa #216
M J Martin in Anna #72
Judith Reiter in Richardson #78
Scott Coleman in Wylie #56
Helen Chang in Plano # 86
Donald Salisbury in McKinney #2
Jennifer Mott in McKinney #12
Sree Yedevalli in Plano #34
Mary DePeri in Plano #47
Rose Ann Mott in McKinney #1
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If your name was accidently left off the above list, it is only because of my inability to be consistently accurate. (My school teachers passed me anyway.) Teachers mentored me, inspired me, challenged me and created opportunities to learn how to challenge myself. I am eternally grateful for these wonderful people whose world I invaded as a student with ADHD -- backtalking, speaking out, questioning, challenging. These teachers found ways to turn my behavior into a positive force for learning and change. I am sure this group of precinct chairs use those same methods to inspire the electorate in their precincts.
Not ONLY do teachers have to endure the whiplash situations perpetrated by our horrendous governor and republican state legislators, but because of Covid they must maintain their own safety, the safety of their students and their own families with little support from our current republican "leaders."
Whether working in public, charter or home schools, K-12 or college campuses, as tutors or in classrooms, in person or virtual, retired or still working, teachers face daily threats and challenges. The experience has, undoubtedly, taken a toll on them. Yet, they resist and persist as PRECINCT CHAIRS for our Collin County Democratic Party. My personal gratitude abounds.
Vickie Parker
Chair, Precinct Chair Operations Committee
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Covid Update: Collin County has 117,706 confirmed Covid cases. This is 4,482 more cases than I reported last week and 94 of our Collin residents have died. That’s 25 people who’ve died since my last column. Not good. Given this bad news, you’d think the Collin County commissioners might want people paying attention to negative local trends and taking more precautions. But that would presuppose they care about anything more than their own political fortunes.!
| In 2020, the commissioners voted against using any data other than hospitalizations on their dashboard. They claimed to be concerned about the state’s backlog of cases but what they really wanted was to falsely lower the numbers in Collin County. They wanted to look good; this hasn’t changed. Our dashboard still only provides information on hospitalizations. (Read More) | |
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School Boards: This seems to be where most of the action is these days. Instead of using his position to actually benefit Texans (you know, like he’s supposed to), Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Richardson ISD, following through on his threat to punish school districts that mandate masks and take back local control. Richardson ISD had good reasons for requiring masks. They were forced to close an elementary school due to a Covid spike and a 6th-grade child was admitted into the intensive care unit. Because they care about their students and staff, the Richardson School Board members voted to protect the community rather than inflate Governor Greg Abbott’s ego.
Other school districts also need to prioritize public health over politics. Many already have and more will follow as Covid cases rise. Coppell ISD became the most recent district to implement a mask mandate although they have an opt-out policy for ignorant and selfish parents. The opt-out policies are cringeworthy but they don’t seem to be as bad as originally feared since only a small percentage of parents are using them. (Read More)
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Plano Area Democrats Virtual Meeting This Friday | Join Plano Area Democrats for our September Virtual Happy Hour! | |
This month we're joined by Austin NPR journalist Mose Buchele to discuss his podcast The Disconnect, which delves into the February blackout, the Texas grid, and how this all happened. Don't miss this one!
Prior to the meeting, be sure to listen to The Disconnect podcast, and come with questions!
When: Friday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom. Register to get the Zoom link via email.
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McKinney Area Democrats Friday Social | |
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Please join the McKinney Area Democrats for a social get-together. We encourage masks* (when not eating or drinking) and social distancing. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and a cash bar is available. Please RSVP so we'll order enough food.
When: Friday, September 17, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Wingbucket, 3510 W. University Dr., McKinney, TX
*only vaccinated individuals should attend.
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If you would like to help support the campaign of Iro Omere, Democratic candidate for Collin County Commissioner, this is your chance! She is having a fundraiser this Saturday, September 18, 5-7 p.m. at Common Desk in Plano, 5830 Granite Pkwy STE 100, Plano, TX. | |
North Texas Pride 'Come As You Are' Festival | |
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This is the 11th annual festival, bringing the community together to celebrate pride in diversity.
There will be sponsor/vendor booths, food/beverages, give-a-ways, donations to a partnering non-profit & adult and kid activities, bands, DJ, dancing & a ton of entertainment for all ages. Come join us for a family-oriented day of fun and get to know others like yourself.
Be sure to visit the Collin County Democratic Party Booth for Voter Registration and Information.
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When: Saturday, September 25, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: Saigling House (ArtCentre of Plano), 902 E. 16th St, Plano
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The CCDP physical office is closed until further notice for safety. Our office staff are, however, working for you from home and available by telephone at 972-578-1483 or contact us on the web at collindemocrats.org.
Check our Online Events!
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Collin County Democratic Party (CCDP) | 972-578-1483 | www.collindemocrats.org © 2021
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