08.28.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:42 am by M Beauregard
Montrose Area Democrats
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 (4th Tuesday of the Month)
Featuring:
Covering the Political Beat
There is no shortage of political news in Houston, from crowded City Council elections to raucous State Legislature sessions. What’s it like to report on the news of politics, without the politics of news? Our speaker for this month, Kristen Mack, will answer that burning question and more! As the political reporter for the Houston Chronicle, she has a first-hand view of the inner-workings of city and state government. We will hear about her job, the highs and lows of being a political reporter in Houston, and what "big issues" she expects to make headlines over the next few months.
Kristen Mack is the political writer for the Houston Chronicle. After earning a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Mack completed a two year fellowship with Hearst Newspapers, spending six months at four different papers throughout the country - in Michigan, New York, Texas and Washington, DC. Kristen has worked for the Houston Chronicle for six years, previously as its City Hall reporter.
Monthly Meeting:
Stag’s Head Pub (the private Oak Room)
2128 Portsmouth (in the Shepherd Square shopping center)
Houston, TX 77098
Map: http://www.stagsheadpub.com/location/index.htm
For pub info: 713-533-1199
Agenda:
6:30 - 7:00 pm
Arrival, reception, order food and drinks, chat
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Core meeting time: issues, speakers, motions, news, projects & initiatives:
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08.25.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:17 am by M Beauregard
Environmental Symposium August 25
We have an opportunity to shape and impact the direction of our world with our everyday choices and actions. YOU have the power to make a difference. Millions of people aren’t waiting for leadership to halt the destruction of our planet. Be part of the solution. You are invited to attend the “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream” symposium, a profound inquiry into bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on Earth.
Sponsors:
Texas Bioneers, Environment Associates, Thoreau UU Congregation, Pachamama Alliance, and Blackwood Educational Land Institute.
Saturday, August 25, from 9:30 - 3:30
Location: Thoreau UU Congregation, 3945 Greenbriar in Stafford (map at www.tuuc.org).
Fee: $30 registration fee which includes materials, food, and beverages. You can register online at www.awakeningthedreamer.org
or by contacting Ingrid Martine at coachmartine@gmail.com or 254-932-6745. Flyers about the symposium can be viewed through the www.tuuc.org website
Mark your calendar and spread the invitation please.
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08.24.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:50 am by M Beauregard
You Are Invited to a
Birthday Fundraiser for
State Rep. Ana E. Hernandez
Democrat - District 143
Friday, August 24th, 2007 - 7pm-11pm
Cadillac Bar
1802 Shepherd at I-10
Houston, Texas
Donation levels are $25, $50 and $100.
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08.23.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:45 am by M Beauregard
"Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi" FREE
A documentary film screening provides a firsthand account of her memorable
encounters with prominent leaders of the religious right. Alexandra Pelosi embarks on a fast-paced cross-country journey, offering snapshots of a cross-section of evangelical America. Pelosi presents her up-close and personal encounters with some influential members of the evangelical community, from Joel Osteen, the most-watched TV minister in America, to Ted Haggard, who recently stepped down as president of the 30-million strong National Association of Evangelicals following allegations that he had sex with a male prostitute and bought illegal drugs.
Followed by a conversation with producer Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of speaker Pelosi.
film screening:
Thursday, August 23 | 7:00 PM (free admission)
Christ Church Cathedral
(1117 Texas Ave)
make a reservation: http://www.tfn.org/faithandfreedom/houston/rsvp/
The Texas Freedom Network advances a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the radical right.
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08.22.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:38 am by M Beauregard
http://impeachperry.indytexans.org/ 
Aug. 17, 2007, 11:25PM
Campaign to impeach Gov. Perry launched online
Activist cites state toll road, veto of college funds as reasons for seeking ouster
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN — A political activist dedicated to independent candidates and third-party tickets has launched a new Internet site dedicated to impeaching Gov. Rick Perry.
Linda Curtis, founder of Independent Texans, launched the site to call on the Legislature to draft articles of impeachment against Perry in 2009.
Curtis noted that Texas does not have the right of recall, so petitioning the Legislature to impeach the governor is the only answer when citizens are unhappy.
When asked about the new Impeach Perry Web site, Perry spokesman Robert Black responded by saying: "Free speech is a wonderful thing."
Curtis said the two main reasons for seeking Perry’s impeachment is his continuing push for the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road from Laredo to Oklahoma despite citizen opposition and his veto of $154 million in funds for junior colleges.
Other reasons listed by Curtis include the passage of the new state franchise tax that taxes some business partnerships for the first time; his mandate that sixth-grade girls be vaccinated against HPV (a mandate overturned by the Legislature); and the creation of the Residential Construction Commission, which she sees as protection for builders who do shoddy construction.
The full list can be found at impeachperry.indytexans.org/.
Curtis noted the last Texas governor to be impeached was James "Pa" Ferguson in 1917 after he vetoed the budget for the University of Texas.
"We intend to take this campaign out across the state, to all political camps, and to neuter this administration," Curtis said.
"Whether or not that leads to Perry’s impeachment will be up to the Legislature. Let’s see if history does indeed repeat itself."
Just Ten Good Reasons To Impeach Mr. Veto
In fact, Perry Vetoed 49 bills passed in the 2007 legislative session, after the legislature went home, so he could not be overridden. Mr. Veto would probably argue that he restrained himself from the record he set in 2001, when he vetoed 82 bills, more than any governor in any single legislative session in Texas history since reconstruction. According to Paul Burka of the Texas Monthly, 17 of this year’s Perry vetoes were simply to get back at legislators who crossed him on his precious mega-special interest driven Trans-Texas Corridor and HPV vaccine mandate.
- In 2003, Perry and Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock) snookered their legislative colleagues by pushing through legislation for the Trans-Texas Corridor and freeway-to-tollway conversions, that few understood. The Governor, Krusee, Texas Transportation Commissioner, Ric Williamson, and a few others continue to force what the public simply will not accept. And a revolving door in Austin goes round and round. Our favorite example is Dan Shelley, a high powered lobbyist for CINTRA (the Spanish toll road consortium), who wound up working in the Governor’s office writing transportation legislation.
- Vetoing the first Corridor/Toll moratorium bill (HB 1892), then deforming the second moratorium bill (SB 792) taking from ordinary Texans a clear, unadulterated shot at a 30 month moratorium on the Governor’s universally hated plan to build the massive Trans-Texas Corridor and his freeway-to-tollway privatization boondoggles. (Don’t worry, folks — this fight is far from over, as Texans are gearing up to give the Governor the political hell-on-earth he so deserves to put a stop to this.)
- Vetoing eminent domain reform designed to protect private property rights and to stop the taking of over 1 million acres of prime farm and ranchland — for the Trans-Texas Corridor — the largest land seizure in United States history.
- Calling three special sessions on mid-census redistricting, disenfranchising not only Democratic voters, but the state’s growing numbers of independent voters whose voting power is diminished when “swing” districts are eliminated. The redistricting violated the Voting Rights Act, campaign finance laws and necessitated huge expenditures of taxpayer dollars in endless lawsuits and legal maneuvers. (In the end, what did we get — the downfall of DeLay, the revolt against Speaker Craddick — still underway, and the people’s movement for Perry’s impeachment! But scoundrels never learn.)
- Perry’s small business franchise tax, which has increased taxes for many small businesses by a ten-fold average! (This is no joke, folks — straight from the National Federation of Independent Businesses.)
- Vetoing no less than 2 bills and one appropriations rider to help the beleaguered Community College System, including $150 million health insurance for the community college employees, while admonishing the colleges to “follow state law”. Why doesn’t the Governor do the same thing by curbing his veto fetish?
- Unbelievably vetoing a bill banning diesel-fueled school buses idling to curb bus emissions exposing children to fine particles that can trigger asthma attacks. This bill had widespread support, no voiced opposition (including the Governor’s office) and was drawn upon an initiative by the President!
- Selling out consumer protection for homeowners by stacking the Texas Residential Construction Commission with appointees from the construction industry. For example, Perry took $690,000 from homebuilder Bob Perry (Perry Homes — no relation) and appointed Perry Homes attorney, John Krush to the Commission. Former Comptroller Carole Strayhorn thought it was such a joke that she called for the abolition of the commission and welcomed a legal challenge by the Attorney General.
- Mandating Texas girls be vaccinated against the HPV virus, before entering the 6th grade (to which the legislature gave the full Nelson, pinning Perry to the mat, undoing this Merck Pharmaceuticals special interest driven deed!) It turned out that Perry had received campaign money from Merck, as did much of the legislature, and his former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, is a lobbyist for Merck.
- A series of vetoes put the Perry poison pen to bipartisan criminal justice reform that would slow the pace of incarceration and provide for alternative funding mechanisms. Meanwhile prison guards remain some of the worst paid workers in the state and, as a result, the state prisons are dangerously under guarded. (In fact, we hear the Governor thinks prison guards should be paid minimum wage for the privilege of putting their lives on the line every day.)
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08.17.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:26 am by M Beauregard
Heights Dems will be supporting the Harris Co. Young Dems in this event on Friday Aug 17 in lieu of our Sat. August 11 meeting.
There are currently NO Democratic judges in the Harris Co. courthouse, but we intend to change this FAST!! There are 3 classifications of judges: civil, criminal, and family court. Democratic judges are especially important and sensitive to family courts because of their positions on women/family issues, child custody, and minority issues.
Candidates running in Fall municipal elections, as well as judicial candidates in the March ‘08 Party Primaries, will be attending to meet you and hear your concerns. There are over 40 judicial candidates and numerous council candidates, so the meeting could be lengthy.
Judicial candidates are required to obtain signatures of voters on petitions to prove they are worthy of placement on the ballot. Some candidates are contested, so there will be competition on the Democratic ballot for the first time in years!!
Much of this meeting will be devoted to signing these petitions.
Signing for any of these candidates precludes a voter from:
1) from voting in the Republican primary in March ‘08,
2) from signing the petition of a competitor in the same judicial race.
Lists of all candidates will be available at the event.
CASH BAR and limited freebie food.
TIME: 6:00pm
DATE: August 17, 2007
LOCATION: Home Plate Bar & Grill
1800 Texas Ave., Suite 100
77003 713-222-1993
www.homeplategrill.com
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08.16.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:41 am by M Beauregard
Host committee for planning the event: Thursday, August 16 – 7:00 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral, Jeffers Conference Room
1117 Texas Ave. (garage parking at San Jacinto & Texas)
"Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi" FREE
A documentary film screening provides a firsthand account of her memorable
encounters with prominent leaders of the religious right. Alexandra Pelosi embarks on a fast-paced cross-country journey, offering snapshots of a cross-section of evangelical America. Pelosi presents her up-close and personal encounters with some influential members of the evangelical community, from Joel Osteen, the most-watched TV minister in America, to Ted Haggard, who recently stepped down as president of the 30-million strong National Association of Evangelicals following allegations that he had sex with a male prostitute and bought illegal drugs.
Followed by a conversation with producer Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of speaker Pelosi.
film screening:
Thursday, August 23 | 7:00 PM (free admission)
Christ Church Cathedral
(1117 Texas Ave)
make a reservation: http://www.tfn.org/faithandfreedom/houston/rsvp/
The Texas Freedom Network advances a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the radical right.
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08.14.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 8:49 am by M Beauregard
HCDP Brown Bag Luncheon Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14, 12:00 Noon
Congressmember Al Green and Labor Leaders Dale Wortham and Richard Shaw
Last Tuesday night the Democratic presidential candidates participated in a wonderful debate hosted by the AFL-CIO Council of America. As a follow up, the Harris County Democratic Party is honored to welcome Congressmember Al Green and labor leaders Dale Wortham and Richard C. Shaw, president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the Harris County AFL-CIO Council, as the featured speakers at this Tuesday’s Brown Bag Luncheon. The Harris County labor leaders and Congressmember Al Green will discuss issues of real importance to working men and women. The HCDP Brown Bag Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, August 14th, at 12:00 pm at HCDP headquarters, 1445 North Loop West, Suite 110 (appropriately enough, just east of the IBEW hall, 610 @ Ella Blvd.).
Bring your lunch and HCDP provides the drinks!
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08.11.07
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:37 am by M Beauregard
Note 3rd change of Venue:
Saturday, August 11, 10am, doors open 9:30
return to original location, CWA Hall,
1730 Jefferson @ Chenevert
near St Joseph’s Hospital
RSVP required for each admittance
free parking in adjacent lots, individual RSVP mandatory.
GulfCoastforHillary@gmail.com
This is a Volunteer recruitment event, so expect to become involved!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Protest Clinton’s Stand to leave Troops in Iraq - Now at CWA Hall
Veterans For Peace Chapter 12, the local chapter of Military Families Speak Out, CodePink, and the Houston Peace & Justice Center will join with other local activists to protest Hillary Clinton’s tepid stand on bringing the troops out of Iraq at her Rally when she visits Houston on 11 August and holds a rally at the IBEW Local 716 Hall at 1475 North Loop West (along frontage road on south side of I-610 North and just east of intersection with Ella Blvd; http://www.ghdc.org/2007/08/11/meet-hillary-clinton-free/).
Meet on the sidewalk along the frontage road by 9:30am with your signs telling Hillary and the other Democratic candidates that we want all of the troops out of Iraq….NOW!
Jim Rine
President, Veterans for Peace - Chapter 12
281 414 1386
But obviously a campaign takes money,
so consider attending the reception and lunch following this Rally,
which is a fundraiser for $1000. at a private residence.
Details on the Harris Co. Democratic Party site.
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Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:32 am by M Beauregard
Let’s go meet Hillary Clinton instead of a regular meeting!!
CWA Hall 10am on Aug. 11
Heights Dems will be supporting the Young Dems in this event
on Friday Aug 17 in lieu of a Sat. August 11 meeting:
The College Democrats at the University of Houston invite you to a
Candidate Reception for all Houston/Harris County Democrat clubs to
partake in on August 17th at the Home Plate Bar & Grill. Candidates
running in Fall elections, as well as Party primaries, will be
attending to meet you and hear your concerns. The event is co-hosted
with the Harris County Young Democrats .
DATE: 08/17
LOCATION: Home Plate Bar & Grill
1800 Texas Ave., Suite 100
77003 713-222-1993 www.homeplategrill.com
TIME: 6:00pm / Democrats arrive
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