Texas VOTER - April 2015 - League of Women Voters of Texas

SPRING 2015 EDITION
Texas Voter
League of Women Voters of Texas • www.lwvtexas.org
VOL. 50, NO. 1
President’s Podium
Elaine Wiant, LWV-TX President, Dallas
When the Texas Legislature is in session, the League
is there – and we’re there in force this session.
Throughout this VOTER, you will read about many
of our activities at the Capitol. The issue chairs are
fervently tracking bills and writing testimony. The Capitol
Corps is delivering testimony nearly every day. We could
not do all that we are doing without the exceptional work
of Laura Blackburn, Advocacy Vice President; Grace
Chimene, Legislative Director; Cinde Weatherby,
Capitol Corps Coordinator; and Scherel Carver,
Legislative Newsletter editor.
Our excellent Legislative Newsletter (LNL) arrives in your
inbox every other Friday. The email includes links to all
of the previous newsletters. They are also available on our
website. You have already received several Action Alerts.
Be sure to contact your legislators. It matters! With your
phone calls and emails we can make a difference.
After our very successful Lobby Days, I taped an interview
on the Time Warner Cable news show, TX Capital Tonight. It
aired on Thursday, February 26, but you can watch it here.
On April 8, I participated in a panel on “Communication and
Activism” at UT San Antonio as a part of their CommWeek
by the Communications Department. I was joined by
Graciela Sanchez from the Esperanza Peace and Justice
Center and My Le from the San Antonio Immigrant Youth
Movement. We had a great time discussing issues and how
we can work together to get things done. We all agreed that
the best means of communications is face-to-face – so your
in person visits to legislators are crucial to the League’s
success.
Can’t forget a shout out to Susan Morrison who chaired
the very successful Making Democracy Work© dinner -see page two for details.
I’m looking forward to speaking at several local League
annual meetings in May and seeing many more of you
at the regional training events planned for this summer.
Keep up all of your good work! Working together we can
Make Democracy Work. LWVTX
INSIDE
FIND OUT WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO...
this
edition
Making Democracy Work©:
Remembering Senator
Ray Farabee • Page 2
Lobby Days 2015 • Page 3
Expand Medicaid to Close the
Coverage Gap • Page 4-5
...IN “AROUND THE STATE” ON PAGE 6!
Social Media Links • Page 5
Around the State • Page 6
LWV-TX News Bites • Page 7
Thank You to
Our Donors • Page 8
Making Democracy Work©:
Remembering Senator
Ray Farabee
Susan Morrison, Chair, MDW Dinner Committee, Austin Area
Our Making Democracy Work© tribute to Senator Ray
Farabee sold out this year as admirers came from far
and wide to share their respect and stories about this
fine Texan who passed away in November of 2014. Ray
Farabee was one of our most outstanding public servants. His
life spanned decades of service: in the Texas Senate for 13
years, as General Counsel to his alma mater The University of
Texas System for 12 years, and as advisory counsel to several
non-profit boards. He helped bring public television to Wichita
Falls and helped desegregate the YMCA there. He championed
higher education, mental health care reforms and child support
legislation while in the Senate, and was known as a master of
public finance—finding funding where it had been denied in the
past for important social services. Texas Monthly said, “Farabee
gave politics a good name.”
Sons David and Steve Farabee hosted the evening of storytelling
as Susan Morrison, Stewart Vanderwilt, the Honorable Scott
McCown, and former Senator Max Sherman shared memories
of their experiences working with Senator Farabee. The crowd
laughed together, and shared a few tears, as precious tales
were revealed. More about Senator Farabee’s life is contained
in his memoir, Ray Farabee: Making It Through the Night &
Beyond available on Amazon. If you shop on smile.amazon.com,
Amazon will donate 0.5 % of the purchase price to your favorite
charitable organization, and of course you will want to choose
the LWV-TEF!
Despite the bad weather that kept a few folks home, the
Making Democracy Work© dinner, An Evening of Storytelling:
Remembering Senator Ray Farabee was an unqualified success.
I’d like to thank the many wonderful sponsors (listed on page
eight) particularly Steven & Karen Farabee and David and Terri
Farabee.
In addition, special thanks to Brenda Koegler and her family for
their assistance in preparation for the event and to the LWVTexas staff: Aileen McMurrer, executive administrator, Beth
Cortez-Neavel, development associate, and Jo Anna Reyes, LWVTX intern from St. Edwards University for their extraordinary
efforts that helped make this event a success. LWVTX
LWVTX
2
Texas Voter
SUSANMORRISON
Susan made us laugh,
and cry, as she shared
her personal experiences
and those of Jim Dodds,
former General Counsel
to the State Affairs
Committee, regarding
Senator Farabee’s
victory in passing the
garnishment of wages for
child support in Texas.
FARABEEFAMILY
Several generations of Farabee’s enjoyed An Evening of Storytelling:
Remembering Senator Ray Farabee .
SENATORMAXSHERMAN
A friend since their college
days as student leaders,
Senator Max Sherman
stole the show with stories
of his life-long friend. His
tribute to Helen Farabee
melted everyone’s heart.
ELAINEWIANT
President of the League
of Women Voters, Elaine
Wiant welcomed League
members from across the
state of Texas and many
friends of the late Senator
Ray Farabee to the
Making Democracy Work©
Dinner. She thanked all
guests for their support
of the League of Women
Voters Education Fund.
Lobby Days 2015
Laura Blackburn, LWV-TX Advocacy VP, Houston Area
I hope you have read all about the wonderful time
we had during Lobby Days! For me the highlights
were the speakers, every single one of which
was outstanding, and the time to meet with our
members to prepare for lobbying.
LOBBY DAYS 2015
Speakers
Chad Dunn, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the
Texas Voter ID litigation, gave us a step by step overview
of how they were preparing for the 5th Circuit Court of
Appeals, which may happen this month. When asked if
we could have his power point, he said he couldn’t do that,
which we understood! Elaine pointed out that the LWVUS
had filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of the LWVWisconsin and LWV-Texas requesting that the two cases
be heard at the same time.
State Representative Alma Allen of Houston regaled
attendees with her advocacy suggestions and insights into
the legislative process.
Dr. Andrew Sansom, Director of the Meadows Center
for Water and the Environment at Texas State University,
presented a status report on water issues in the state
-- without notes and to the point. He focused on the
difference in regulation between surface water and ground
We continue our focus on bills
“surrounding
our priority issues—and
there are many! With our top-notch
Issue Chairs and our equally top-notch
30+ Capitol Corps members, we have
presented more testimony and visited
more offices than we have ever done
by this time in recent memory.
”
water. His suggestion was to encourage our children to be
water attorneys, for there would be many lawsuits in the
future.
Peggy Hill, LWV-Texas board member, education activist,
and environmental supporter, gallantly filled in for David
Phillips, delivering his paper on Fracking and Water Use.
David was unable to join us as he was in stuck in Colorado
due to the snow storm! There is no question that the use
of water in fracking must be addressed.
Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network thoroughly
discussed the status of legislative efforts related to
women’s health and reproductive issues. She also
Members listen attentively as an informative lineup of Lobby Days 2015
speakers addressed LWV-TX priority issues.
previewed the organization’s new campaign to be known
as “Trust – Respect – Access” which launched right after
Lobby Days on February 26. Additional information on
the campaign can be found by clicking this link. More
information is available online at www.tfn.org.
I’m happy to say that we had many, many compliments on
our speakers.
The Second Day of Lobby Days focused on the 2-3 top issues
in each of our four priorities: education, voting rights,
women’s health and water. After a quick review, we turned
to Representative Donna Howard’s Senior Policy Analyst,
Brooke Bennett. Brooke offered Lobby Day participants
best practices for legislative visits before they left to visit
their own legislators. And visit they did—over 125 of them!
Elaine Wiant and I kept running into them as we visited
a number of legislators. It was a testament to all of us that
we have such good representation in the Texas Capitol.
Thanks to State Reps. Todd Hunter and Abel Herrero
from Corpus Christi for providing breakfast that morning.
The Next Ten Weeks
As I write this, there are ten weeks left of the 84th Regular
Legislative Session. The House is going through its
marathon session offering amendments to the General
Appropriations Bill. It almost always lasts into the
night. We have been active in the budget process and will
continue to be so. Senator Jane Nelson has said the
Senate will not pass their Appropriations Bill until they
receive the House Bill. You can access our comments to
all House members concerning the House budget on the
LWV-TX website Action Alerts & Testimony page.
We continue our focus on bills surrounding our priority
issues—and there are many! With our top-notch Issue
Chairs and our equally top-notch 30+ Capitol Corps
members, we have presented more testimony and visited
more offices than we have ever done by this time in
recent memory. We are already asking you to contact
legislators in support or opposition to our bills if they are
in committees we need to persuade or are before either
the Senate or House. We are already sending out Action
Alerts and will continue when we think “you can make the
difference.” Watch for them! We are going to make this
the most successful legislative session ever! LWVTX
LWVTX
Texas Voter 3
Expand
Medicaid
to Close the
Coverage Gap
Grace Chimene, LWV-TX Legislative Director, Austin Area
I was chatting with a few of my mid 20’s aged
friends the other day. I admire them. They are
working so hard and so full of hope for the future.
Unfortunately many of them work two part-time
jobs, are just starting out, or are working for
themselves. They don’t qualify for insurance subsidies
under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because they fall into
the “Coverage Gap”.
other family makes below and only qualifies for expanded
Medicaid, which Texas refuses to accept. The poorer family
gets no help with insurance so continues to go without.
For example, according to The Center for Public Policy
Priorities (CPPP) a family with two parents and two
kids with income of $23,500 per year, doesn’t qualify
for subsidies and would have to pay $440 per month for
insurance. Yet their neighbors, with two kids make $24,500
per year, qualify for a subsidy and pay $50 per month for
insurance. Two working families. One that makes above the
138% the poverty level and qualifies for subsidies and the
Please let your friends, family and legislators know that the
money is there. Please let the available Federal Medicaid
money flow to Texas.
This just isn’t right!
The Coverage Gap was created in Texas when legislators
did not take federal money from the ACA to expand
Medicaid. Experts and Texas Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC) estimate 1.4 - 1.9 million uninsured
Texans in the Coverage Gap were supposed to be covered
U.S. citizen adults in Texas would be eligible for the
through the ACA, which increased the eligibility for
Medicaid expansion in 2014.3
Medicaid insurance for adults up to 138% of the poverty
level. The June 2012 Supreme Court ruling made the If you are interested in sharing how your county can benefit
expansion of Medicaid optional for states. Texas is one of from the closing the coverage gap, go to the Health and
the 22 states that did not accept the expansion of Medicaid Wealth County Checkup, from the Center for Public Policy
and is still not providing access for insurance to all Texans. Priorities. It is an interactive tool and will help your local
legislators understand the benefits of closing the Coverage
These young people aren’t the only Texans in the Coverage
Gap. It gives county by county information about the
Gap. Only 51% of Texans under age 65 have employmentmoney available from the Federal Government if Texas
1
based health insurance coverage. Another 17% are covered
accepts Medicaid Expansion.
by Medicaid, but other Texans often find they don’t qualify
for insurance subsides through the Affordable Care Act. One in four Texans don’t have insurance. Do these folks
24% of people in the coverage gap are poor parents whose know that the Texas legislature is keeping them from
income places them above Medicaid eligibility levels.2
obtaining affordable health insurance? Probably not.
LWVTX
4
Texas Voter
If you need more information, on Medicaid Expansion and
the Coverage Gap, please let me know. LWVTX
Grace Chimene
[email protected]
(512) 940 - 9948
Close the Coverage Gap,
continued on page 5
Close the Coverage Gap,
continued from page 4
Resources for this advocacy paper:
1. The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts, http://kff.org/other/
state-indicator/nonelderly-0-64/?state=TX
2. “The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid
– An Update” Nov 12, 2014, http://kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/the-coverage-gapuninsured-poor-adults-in-states-that-do-not-expand-medicaid-an-update/
3. “What’s Next for Texas and the Affordable Care Act.” February 26, 2014, http://
txchildren.org/Images/Interior/conference/aca-stacey pogue.pdf
4. “The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid
– An Update” Nov 12, 2014, http://kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/the-coverage-gapuninsured-poor-adults-in-states-that-do-not-expand-medicaid-an-update/
5. “Letter to The Honorable Charles Schwertner Chair, Senate Health and Human
Services Committee Re: Increasing Access to Healthcare Coverage” August 13, 2014,
http://texaswellandhealthy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Joint-County-JudgeLetter-on-Health-Coverage-Expansion.pdf
FYI:
LWV-TX
in Social
Media
Grace Chimene,
LWV-TX Legislative Director, Austin Area
LWV members who want to follow
LWV-TX activities at the capitol:
If you use Twitter, follow
@LWVTexas
If you use Facebook, like
League of Women Voters of
Texas
On Facebook, glance down to the
left side of the Facebook page
under “Posts to Page.” Look for
posts by Grace Chimene. I will
post articles about current events
or issues that may be of interest
to LWV members.
If you have any questions please
contact Grace Chimene at
[email protected]. LWVTX
Image from CPPP
LWVTX
Texas Voter 5
LOCAL LEAGUES
Around The State
Judy Hollinger, Houston Area
Amarillo LWV
members are front
and center in their community. Their second
forum on Human Trafficking received
publicity from all 3 local TV stations as well
as the Amarillo and Canyon daily newspapers.
League member Sue Howard represents the
League on the Potter County Voting Centers
Committee which is laying the groundwork for Election
Day Voting centers so that Potter County voters
will have a choice of voting places on Election Day
instead of being required to appear in person at their
precinct location. Additional activities for the 20142015 year include registering new citizens to vote at the
Naturalization Ceremonies and sponsoring candidate
forums for the city/school elections in May.
Denton
members shook the snow and sleet from
their collective feet by holding two public forums this
winter. Topics were Local Election Administration
and Resources and Services Available for K-12 At Risk
Students. In March to celebrate Women’s History
the LWV and Denton library system offered a public
screening of Paving the Way, a documentary about
Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential
nominee of a major political party. Denton continues its
collaboration with other Metroplex leagues to register
new citizens to vote at the frequent Naturalization
Ceremonies held in Irving.
El Paso
began 2015 with a burst of energy.
Members are renewing their DVR certifications and
registering voters in time for the local May elections.
Their February general meeting featured a group of
community college students presenting skits on low
voter turnout and proposals to correct the problem.
LWV-EP continues its partnership with the local PBS
station in presenting televised candidate forums and
with the USCIS in registering new citizens to vote. The
League’s annual Bravo luncheon serves to recognize
community leaders and to raise visibility and financial
support for the LWV-EP. We were so pleased to have
two El Paso league members make the long commute
to Austin to participate in the 2015 LWV-TX Legislative
Days.
Lubbock LWV got off to an early start with their
area legislators by co -sponsoring a legislative breakfast
in early February. One state senator and three state
representatives spoke to the 100 attendees about issues
which will be before the 84th Texas State Legislature.
LWVTX
6
Texas Voter
Lubbock’s public forums and Hot Topics discussions
continue to draw participants on such timely topics
as Death Penalty, Immigration of Unaccompanied
Children, and Women’s Health. Fall 2014 voter service
activities included voter registration offered at several
community events -Back To School Fiesta and College
and Career Fair at Texas Tech, Lubbock ISD College
Fair and Lubbock Pride Day. The Lubbock LWV
prepared and distributed its own Voters Guide for the
November election as well as handling the printing and
shipping of LWV-TX Voters Guides. Lubbock reports
“We have a great working relationship with the county
elections office.” Bravo Lubbock!
Midland kicked off its League year with a Making
Democracy Work© luncheon in September, and public
forums in October and November on School Finance and
Payday Lending. Spring forums are on Environmental
Concerns and Early Childhood Education. Longtime
LWV-Midland member Karen Nicholson serves on the
LWVUS Board of Directors! Karen is a past president
of LWV-TX.
San Marcos
members used an issues forum as
a platform to create questions for three candidates
forums and the local November Voters Guide. The
annual Wine Tasting Fund Raiser in January was
a success with many league members, community
leaders and elected officials in attendance and resulted
in the recruitment of two new members for the League.
Two San Marcos members attended the February
Legislative Days in Austin. The Board has voted to join
the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce and will have
its ribbon cutting ceremony in April. Planning for the
upcoming May elections has begun. A Meet and Greet
for the Wimberley Mayor and Council candidates, a
candidates forum for San Marcos School Board and
a Voters Guide are all in the offing. Annual Meeting
is scheduled for May 7 and will feature a program on
Oveta Culp Hobby.
Wichita Falls
offers the most interesting
luncheon meetings in town! Beginning in September,
LWV-WF meeting topics have emphasized the
local work on such issues as hunger, abused and
neglected children, economic development, crisis
intervention, and community centers. The LWV-WF
provided both printed and on line Voters Guides for the
November 2014 election. Two members continue to
attend and observe all City Council and Commissioners
Court meetings. LWVTX
LWV-TX
Legislative
Newsletter
Aileen Jacinta McMurrer,
Executive Administrator
Nineteen issue chairs tracking
hundreds of pieces of legislation
and reporting out on the good,
the bad, and the ugly – that’s the
League of Women Voters of Texas
Legislative Newsletter (LNL). It
comes out every other Friday with
the latest happenings on a wide array
of issues of importance to League
members. The LNL highlights the
84th Texas legislature priority issues
voted on by the membership - water,
voting rights, women’s health, and
education. Each issue contains “Call
Alerts!” for members to call or email
their representatives or members of
committees addressing key issues
prior to a critical vote. As well as
being emailed to LWV-TX members,
the Legislative Newsletter is posted
on the LWV-TX website. You can read
the LWV-TX Legislative Newsletters
by clicking here. If you would like to
receive the Legislative Newsletter
each week for the remainder of the
84th Texas Legislative Session,
please email me at ajmcmurrer@
lwvtexas.org. LWVTX
LWV-TX NEWS BITES
LWV-TX Hosts Online
Voter Registration
Briefing For
Legislative Staff
Cinde Weatherby, Capitol Corps Coordinator, Austin Area
LWV-TX hosted an Online Voter Registration (OVR) briefing February 28th in
the Capitol for Legislative staffers. Sen. Carlos Uresti’s staff facilitated room
arrangements and equipment.
Sam Derheimer of The Pew Charitable Trust presented a fact-based overview
and summarized the experience in the 20 states where it is in place. He also
noted the addition of four more states where it has been legislatively approved
for implementation, mentioning improvements and additional features being
offered. For example, systems are now incorporating mobile access for the
registration process.
Derheimer, the organization’s voter registration manager in Washington, D.C.,
also presented research findings on OVR impacts which all point to it being
more secure, much more cost efficient, and more accurate. He described Pew
research that tracks voting and registration statistics in states introducing
electronic registration systems. These statistics show OVR to be political party
neutral. Additionally, he said, there is no evidence of voter impersonation.
While difficult to predict Legislative action on specific bills, one of the several
bills introduced that would authorize OVR, HB 76 by State Rep. Celia Israel, has
four joint authors and 31 Coauthors as of March 13. Staffer feedback indicates
the briefing contributed to the positive movement on the bill. More than 30
staff members attended the event. LWVTX
LWV-TX
The LWV-TX Action News!
Seeking
Board
Nominations
Aileen Jacinta McMurrer, Executive Administrator
Brenda Koegler, Nominating Committee Chair
Are you ready to take your League
work to the state level? Or do you
know someone who you can see on
the LWV of Texas board? Please be
thinking of people you think would be
good additions to the LWV-TX board
for 2016-2018. Nomination forms will
go in late spring and the nominating
committee will need your input.
Thanks! LWVTX
At the beginning of each month the LWV-Texas sends out the “LWVTexas Action News!” Formerly known as “LWV-TX Information”, this
communication serves to keep local League leadership informed of
statewide administrative activities and remind them of important
upcoming dates and events. Meant for local League officers and board members,
it seems folks were added, but never removed from the list. Up until the April
issue, the Action News! was going out to over 750 Texas league members, but
on any given month only 30% were being opened. We have pared the Action
News! recipient list down to officers and board members of the state and local
Leagues. If you are missing your Action News! or want to be “in the know”,
please email me at [email protected] and I will sign you up. LWVTX
LWVTX
Texas Voter 7
GIVING TO THE LEA GUE
A display at the Making Democracy Work© Dinner
featured book cover art from Ray Farabee’s memoir,
Making it Through the Night & Beyond.
LWV-Texas
Janet Bridges
Margaret Buhn
Deborah Cartwright
Cynthia Evans
Family Fund of the Dallas
Jewish Community
Foundation
Donald Hockaday
Barbara Hotinski
Robert LeBeau
John Loehlin
Julie & Michael Lowenberg
Doris Miller
Barbara Morchower
Eileen & Daniel Nathan
Theresa Poenisch
Alma Ramsay
Mary Ann Severson
Patricia Shine
Linda Snider
Claudia Stravato
Education Fund
Dee Brock
Christie Campbell
Mrs. Parks Campbell
R.B. Carter
Robin Carter-Kennedy
Deborah Cartwright
Randall Chapman
Pat Cheong
Robert & Shirley Cooper
Debra Danburg
Ralph & Elizabeth
Frankowski
Mary Styron Freytag
January 01, 2015 - March 31, 2015
Donations can be made either to
LWV-TX or LWV-Texas Education
Fund (LWV-TEF) by credit card at our
secure website www.lwvtexas.org or
submitted by mail to 1212 Guadalupe
St. #107, Austin, TX 78701.
Jack Gerrick
Joan Harman
Katheryn Hetherly
Phyllis Ingram
Marjorie & John Loehlin
Carol Stewart
Eldon & Roberta Sund
Lynn Thompson
Paul Voertman
M. L. Walshak
Cinde Weatherby
Jacklyn Williams
Honor & Memorials
Pat Cheong in memory of
Barbara Swartz
Joan Harman in honor
of Maxine Barkan’s 90th
Birthday
Kathryn Hetherly in
memory of Lucille Roush
Doris Miller in honor of
Suzanne Rupp
Making Democracy Work©
Dinner Sponsors
Oveta Culp Hobby Sponsors
Steven & Karen Farabee and
David & Terri Farabee
Carrie Chapman Catt Sponsors
Pam Beachley
Blackridge, Rusty Kelley
Daemmrich Photography
Mignon McGarry &
Associates
QuickStar IT, Inc.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS®
OF TEXAS
Thank You to Our Donors
LWV-TEF donations are taxdeductible and support education
efforts such as the Voters Guide.
Donations to LWV-TX are not taxdeductible but make possible our
advocacy and membership services.
LWVTX
Jessie Daniel Ames Sponsors
In Memory of Ray Farabee
Mr. & Mrs. Oran H. Berry III
Catherine Carmody
Dr. Margaret & Mr. Alan Hill
Lieutenant Governor
Bill Hobby
Shanna Igo
Brenda Koegler
Susan Morrison &
John King
Karen Nicholson &
Donna Byerlotzer
Elaine Wiant
League of Women Voters
Austin Area
League of Women Voters of
Dallas & League of Women
Voters of Collin County
League of Women Voters of
Texas Board of Directors
Kate Bergquist
Anne Dunkelberg
Ray Martinez
Judy Parken
Susan Reid
Max Sherman
Laura Smith
Patricia White
Minnie Fisher Cunningham
Sponsors
Center for Public Policy
Priorities
Chan & Partners
Engineering, LLC
The Conversation Group:
Bill & Mary Arnold
Eleanor & Jim Cochran
Frank & Lynn Cooksey
Carol & Tom Hatfield
Carolyn & Joe Osborn
Michael Fjetland, President,
Armor Glass International
Miriam Foshay
Ruthann Geer
Kate Lattimore &
Shannon Norris
Frances & P.M. Schenkkan
Leslie C. Taylor
Linda Young
Donate.
u CLICKHERE
to be redirected to the
online giving page for
the League of Women
Voters of Texas.
LWVTX
Texas Voter 8