The Minority Report

Looks like the same folks are back at it trying to suppress the vote.  The House passed a Voter ID Bill on yesterday after hours of much debate.  This legislation would require voters to present 2 forms of identification to cast a ballot in the absence of a voter registration card.  In addition, it would require voters that did have a voter registration card to present identification to cast a ballot.  The proponents of this bill believe that it will fight off voter fraud.  However, this bill is nothing more than a modern attempt to surpress this vote.  This is nothing more than a strategic effort that has taken place nation wide by conservatives.  The bill was put forth 2 years ago in the state of Georgia and other states around the country. The bill also passed the House of Reps in Texas two years ago, but was defeated in the Senate after a threatened  filibuster by State Sen. Rodney Ellis.  Communities of Color and the elderly will be the highest demographic by this piece of legislation.  Althought the methods have changed, the game remains the same.  Someone once told me that if it wasn’t important to vote that people would not have tried so hard to keep it away from us.   This speaks to the issues of the day, where see the same old problem of attempted voter surpression.

The top ten rule is still under fire in the Texas Legislature.  I warned you about this a month ago.  Have you made your phone calls, emails, or letters yet?  Check out the article in today’s chronicle.  This is becoming a serious issue for communities of color.  Check out the link below.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4663691.html 

State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Harris) has filed a bill to give a $500 incentive to  mothers that give their children up for adoption as opposed to choosing to undergo an abortion.    Now I have never been the smartest man in the world, however I don’t think that borderline baby selling is a healthy alternative to abortion.  It amazes me how the right wing constantly puts forth moral solutions for society’s “ills” which carries less moral character than the problem they seek to solve.  Im just saying…..

On Monday, the Texas House of Reps Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on eight bills regarding reform of the top ten percent law which guarantees admission to Texas Universities for all Texas high school seniors which graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class.  In 2005 an attempt to hijack this law through legislation was thwarted through efforts of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus  led at that time by Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston)  along with other Democratic House Members.  Rumor has it that this effort has gained momentum during this legislative session as critics negate the need for the law since the  US Supreme Court has ruled that race can be used as a factor in admissions.  The immediate reality is that the law benefits rural pre-dominantly Caucasion high schools as equally as it benefits urban pre-dominantly African American high schools.  Once again progress in this state which has benefited the African American community is at risk of being rolled back.  Write or call your legislator and let them know that we support top ten percent.  If your legislator is in favor of this law, then write or call Rep. Geanie Morrison, Chair of the House Committee of Higher Education, and let her as well as members of the committee know that we won’t allow progress to be rolled back in this state for communities of color.

Tomorrow the Public Health Committee of the Texas House of Representatives will listen to testimony on HB 1098 filed by Rep. Dennis Bonnen and a host of others. The bill comes as a response and rebuke of Governor Perry’s recent executive order requiring young women to receive the $360 dollar vaccination before entering the sixth grade. Obviously, the prevention of a cancer causing virus is a benefit to young women from all communities and can save many lives. Where does our community stand on this issue? Who will pay for these vaccinations? What type of effect will such a law have on communities of color? Tomorrow is an oppurtunity to have your voice be heard however if you can’t make it to Austin feel free to sound off here.