Tuesday, October 1, 2019, 11:00 a.m.

Ray and Joan Kroc Center, 201 Holdsworth Drive, Kerrville

Luncheon cost: $15 per person

Reservations for the luncheon are due no later than Thursday, September 26; the only reservation contact is Linda Stegall; phone 830-257-2795 or send an email to lindastegall@hotmail.com.  

The luncheon is a home-style buffet which includes caesar salad, cinnamon coco-rubbed pork tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, garlic bread, lemon cake.

To attend the program only, starting at 11:40, please advise Linda Stegall so that the necessary seating will be available.  The meeting is open to the public.

Program: Maria Regalado, President of Texas Democratic Women  

“TDW-The State Organization,” will be presented by Maria Regalado, President of Texas Democratic Women, who will speak about serving on the state board and the goals of the organization.  Graduating with a BS in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas- Pan American in Edinburgh, Maria is a long-time member and officer of Texas Democratic Women chapters in the Valley and was a candidate in 2014 for the Texas House of Representative D36. Active in Democratic Party politics and get out the vote efforts, she is married with three children.

Texas Civil Rights Project Program Available

Joaquin Gonzalez, speaker from the Texas Civil Right Project at the September meeting, has provided the power point slide show of his presentation. Topics of interest are voting rights and redistricting. If you missed the meeting or attended the meeting and want the information presented, call or email Bunny Bond 830-377-9940 or mmbond@ktc.com.

President’s Message

Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary defines membership as the “status of being a member.” Member is defined as “a distinct part or element of a whole such as a person belonging to some association, society, community or party”. Why is this important? October is the month we ask members to renew their membership and new people to join the Hill County Chapter of Texas Democratic Women.

Why join? After all, we encourage anyone to come to our meetings? The question should be why not join if you believe in the HCTDW Purpose and Mission Statement? There is comfort in knowing you are part of an association that is working for the same values you espouse. There is excitement in knowing our group is growing in the Hill Country. There is hope that your membership will give strength to Democratic women who are willing to “promote the increased political activity and influence of Democratic Women in local, state and national politics and government.” Get your directory and read the Mission Statement. Not a member, ask any board member to share the statement with you. Once you read it you will understand why we are working to build our numbers. I believe you will want to be counted by adding your voice and energy to this important association. We need you and you need to know there are Democrats in the Hill Country.  

October 26 – Save the Date for “Breakfast Around the World”

Save the date for HCTDW fundraiser “Breakfast Around the World” Saturday morning October 26 at Riverside Nature Center where you will find delicious international food choices, fresh air, fun and good conversation. Join us.

Legislative Report

Prospects for actual legislative action in the national and state legislatures are limited. President Trump is using Executive Orders, regulatory policy changes and National Emergency Tariffs to accomplish his objectives. The Trade War with China is taking place without any legislative input. After the departure of John Bolton, the President appears to consider a National Security Advisor unnecessary, and several Cabinet offices are held by “acting” secretaries who are not subject to Senate approval, at least in the short run.

The Department of Homeland Security continues to issues policies that change practices at the southern border without action by Congress, based on new interpretations of existing laws. These policies are challenged with lawsuits asking federal district courts to block them, but the Administration is often helped by the Supreme Court.

For example, last week the Supreme Court overturned a stay on the latest Asylum policy declaration which requires that any person seeking asylum at the southern border of the U.S. must have first applied in the country (Mexico) through which he passed to get to the U.S. The effect of the policy is to deny the asylum claims of most people now waiting in Mexico. Asylum claim applicants have been waiting in Mexico for months due to the metering policy at the border which allowed a limited number of people to advance each day and the Migrant Protection Policy which is forcing people to stay in extremely dangerous conditions in Mexican border cities rather than waiting in the U.S. Many of the humanitarian efforts of church and other nonprofit groups to assist asylum-seekers will be thwarted by keeping these desperate people south of the border.

In Texas, Democratic legislators are asking Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session on gun safety proposals, but the Governor refuses, and has appointed the Domestic Terrorism Task Force and the Texas Safety Commission. The Governor has prepared a Texas Safety Action Report to suggest measures for the Legislature to consider in 2021. Gun legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is waiting to be considered in the Senate, where Sen. Mitch McConnell refuses action until President Trump provides a proposal of gun laws he will agree to sign.

The U.S. House of Representatives is moving forward with oversight and impeachment inquiries in several different committees looking into many aspects of President Trump’s businesses and election-related conduct.

Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution

Two nonpartisan and trusted sources for the pros and cons on the 10 proposed amendments are available online:

1. League of Women Voters of Texas – my.lwv.org

See menu list on the left and select the item – Constitutional Amendment Election.

Scroll down to see the list of the amendments.

2. Texas Legislative Council – tlc.texas.gov/publications

See the middle box for two versions of an analysis of the amendments.

On the right side of the box is the word – Condensed (12 pages).

On the left side of the box is the number – 2019 (47 pages).

The longer analysis provides more details for each amendment plus the names of the legislators who proposed each amendment.

Election on November 5, 2019 

Dates for the November Election Set by the Texas Secretary of State

Monday – October 7, 2019 – Last Day to register to vote in the November election

Friday – October 25, 2019 – Last day to apply for mail-in ballot – Please note: application must be received by the county election department on or before this day.

Tuesday – November 5, 2019 – Election Day and Please note: mail-in ballot must be received by the county election department on or before this day.

Early Voting begins on Monday, October 21 and ends on Friday, November 1. Each county sets the voting hours and locations for its county.