Citizens Legislative Town Hall

State Senator José RodríguezApril 18, 2012

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

We Will Discuss• The role of government & civic participation

• How to develop an agenda

• Participation in the democratic process

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Who Does Government Serve?

• Ideally, government serves everyone

• In reality, government serves those who participate:

Voters Individual activists/ Community leaders Organizations Interest Groups Businesses

Functions of State Government

1. Fund the Operation of Public Schools & Universities

2. Provide Health & Human Services

3. Establish & Maintain a System of

State Highways

4. Provide Public Safety

5. Operate a Judicial System

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

State Services You May Use

• Driver’s Licenses & Identification Cards• Texas GRANTS• Certifications for Professional Careers• Medicaid/CHIP Benefits• Child Support• Lone Star/SNAP Benefits• Child Protective Services

Cost of State Government

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Health & Human Services 31.9%

Public Education (PK-12) 29.3%

Business & Economic Development 13.6%

Higher Education 12.7%

Public Safety & Prisons 6.6%

All Other 5.0%

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Choice: Find Revenue, Cut Services or BOTH!

During the 2011 Legislative Session, we had a $27 billion budget shortfall. Next year, we will have at least a $10 billion shortfall. In order to fill the hole, we need to find money, cut costs, or both.

Finding revenue means considering options, such as: • Legalizing gambling; • Raising the gas tax; and/or • Fixing the broken property tax system

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Those in Control Chose to Cut Services

• $27 Billion in Cuts Were Made To Key Services, Deeply Affecting:

Teachers College Students Health Care

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Passing the Buck to Local Governments

“…lawmakers essentially shifted state responsibilities to the local level”James N. Valenti, President & CEO

University Medical Center8/12/2011

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Budget Cuts Bad for Texas Business

• Local Tax Increases Likely Required to Meet Unfunded Mandates

• Good Jobs Will Be Lost – Fewer Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers,

and Teachers

• Reduced Investment in our Future– Cuts Funding to Public School Classrooms– Raises Cost to Attend Community Colleges

and Universities

• Neglects Investment in Roads and Other Essential State Infrastructure

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

More Revenue Needed

• “In our view, the state’s budget imbalance is likely to reappear or persist beyond the upcoming biennium unless other sources of revenue or additional budgetary flexibility are identified to fill this growing funding gap.”

-February, 2011

Budget Cuts Bad for Texas Business

Education is the Key

“Texas needs to ensure that all Texans have the skills and education to be competitive in the increasingly international economy and that the future of Texas will be increasingly determined by minority populations, particularly Hispanics, and that how well they do (in educational, economic, and other terms) is how well Texas will do.” – Steve Murdock, Former Texas State Demographer

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Education is the Key

“Texas needs an additional 4.1 million associate andbachelor’s degrees to be globally competitive by the year 2030.”

“Narrowing disparity between whites & minorities must be the priority.”

– Woody Hunt, Chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council

Citizen’s Legislative Town Hall

What Can Be Done?

As a community, we need to get more involved by participating in the democratic process, including the legislative process!

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Exercise Your Right to Vote!• Register to vote: http://www.votexas.org/

• Vote in every election, not just for President Elections are held every year on the 2nd Tuesday in November and each May Party primaries are generally held the 2nd Tuesday in March of even- numbered years; in 2012 the primaries will be held on May 29, 2012.

Register Others to Vote!

• Become a deputy voter registrar: Contact the El Paso Elections Office (915) 546-2154 to find out how.

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Exercise Your Right to ExpressionUse Your Voice!

Contact your representatives at the state and local level about issues important to you and your family

Find Out Who Represents You: www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us Contact Your Elected Officials: www.usa.gov/Contact.shtml State of Texas Online: www.texas.gov Texas Legislature: www.legis.state.tx.us Texas Constitution and Statutes: www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us El Paso County: www.epcounty.com City of El Paso: www.elpasotexas.gov Volunteer: www.getinvolved.gov

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Exercise Your Right to Participate

Today, you can help us develop Senator Rodriguez’s legislative agenda. After this presentation, we will discuss the issues important to you and what you think needs to change at the state level.

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

What is a Legislative Agenda?• Legislative agendas are ideas for laws that need to

change.

• Many of the agendas are developed by:• Members of the Legislature• City of El Paso • El Paso County• Organizations

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

EXAMPLE: Legislative Agendas in Action

• Border Network for Human Rights/RITA Fighting against Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Together, We Can Develop

Ideas for New Laws

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Texas Legislature Online

www.capitol.state.tx.us

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Texas Legislature OnlineIf you do not have access to the internet for legislative research, you may go to:

1) A public library2) State Senator José Rodríguez’s district office

100 N. Ochoa Street, El Paso, Texas 79901Phone: 915.351.3500Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm; Monday - Friday

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Connecting to State

Government

Citizens Legislative Town Hall

Offices of Senator José Rodríguez

915.351.3500 El Paso 512.463.0129 Austin

800.544.1990 Toll Free

jose.rodriguez@senate.state.tx.us If you would like a copy of this presentation, please visit our office at

100 N. Ochoa St. or email Emily Amps at emily.amps@senate.state.tx.us.