Citizens Legislative Town Hall

1. Citizens Legislative Town Hall • State SenatorJoséRodríguez April 18, 2012

2. Citizens Legislative Town Hall We Will Discuss • The role of government & civic participation • How to develop an agenda • Participation in the democratic process

3. 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

4. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Functions of State Government • Fund the Operation of Public Schools & Universities • Provide Health & Human Services • Establish & Maintain a System of State Highways • Provide Public Safety 5. Operate a Judicial System

5. 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

6. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Cost of State Government

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 Center 8/12/2011

10. 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

11. Citizens Legislative Town Hall More Revenue Needed • “In ourview, thestate’sbudgetimbalanceislikelytoreappearorpersistbeyondtheupcomingbienniumunlessothersources of revenueoradditionalbudgetaryflexibilityare identifiedtofillthisgrowingfunding gap.” -February, 2011

12. 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

13. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Education is the Key “Texas needs an additional 4.1 million associate and bachelor’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

14. 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!

15. 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.

16. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Exercise Your Right to Expression Use 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Citizens Legislative Town Hall EXAMPLE: Legislative Agendas in Action • Border Network for Human Rights/RITA • Fighting against Anti-Immigrant Legislation

20. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Together, We Can Develop Ideas for New Laws

21. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Texas Legislature Online www.capitol.state.tx.us

22. Citizens Legislative Town Hall

23. Citizens Legislative Town Hall Texas Legislature Online If you do not have access to the internet for legislative research, you may go to: • A public library • State Senator JoséRodríguez’sdistrict office 100 N. Ochoa Street, El Paso, Texas 79901 Phone: 915.351.3500 Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm; Monday - Friday

24. Citizens Legislative Town Hall • Connecting to State Government

25. 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.