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February 2023 Action News!
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Do you know that quiet that happens before a big storm? That is kind of what it feels like in the League right now. There is still some fallout after the election that we are monitoring, especially in Harris County, which also impacts some of the bills being filed in the legislature. While the 88th legislative session started on January 10th and the Senate has named its committees, the House still needs to designate its committees before much of the work begins. However, our Advocacy team is already busy tracking bills, training some new processes, prepping for our Lobby Days, and thinking about testimony and Action Alerts.
Our biggest fundraiser event of the year, the Making Democracy Work© Dinner, is on February 27th, 2023. This year’s theme is Women Power Texas, with Rochelle Garza, the newly named President of the Texas Civil Right Project, as our keynote speaker. We will also recognize Texas Gun Sense, Texas Impact, and The Texas Tribune. We respect and collaborate with all of these nonpartisan organizations. We truly hope you will honor and support us and them by attending this important fundraising event for LWV Texas. You can find out more information and purchase tickets or sponsorship here.
February is Black History Month. February 12th is the 114th anniversary of the establishment of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and February 14th is the birthday of Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and suffragist. While his exact birthdate is unknown, he chose to celebrate his birthday on Valentine's Day, because his mother called him her “Little Valentine.”
And lest we forget, February 14th also marks the League’s 103rd birthday! You can text to donate in honor of our 103rd birthday by texting LWV103 to 44321. Be on the lookout for our communications and social media posting actions you can take to help us celebrate!
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| Your Texas League in Action |
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Women Power Texas ~ A Making Democracy Work Dinner
You're cordially invited to attend "Women Power Texas ~ A Making Democracy Work Dinner," our annual fundraising dinner, on Monday, February 27th, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the UT Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, located at 2110 San Jacinto Boulevard in Austin, Texas. Our keynote speaker is Rochelle Garza, and our honorees are Texas Gun Sense, Texas Impact, and The Texas Tribune.
Honorees:
- Texas Gun Sense, Nicole Golden, Executive Director- As a leader in gun policy advocacy, we appreciate Texas Gun Sense’s efforts in creating a coalition on behalf of Texans to raise awareness of and advocate for common-sense gun policy.
- Texas Impact, Bee Moorehead, Executive Director- We honor Texas Impact for their work on Voting Rights, Women’s Health, and Medicare expansion. We appreciate their outreach not only to people of faith but to all Texans including our policymakers.
- Texas Tribune, Rebekah Allen, Politics Editor, and Carla Astudillo, Elections and Political Data Visuals- The League appreciates the Texas Tribune’s commitment to provide nonpartisan news, information, and events to promote an informed civic engagement in our democracy.
Sponsorship packages are available. For more information about the event, click here.
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88th Legislative Session Advocacy Update
The 88th legislative session is underway. Committee appointments have been made in the Senate but not the House. The Senate Finance Committee is meeting, and with a large surplus, the budget looks to be a major topic of discussion during this session.
The League of Women Voters of Texas has four priority issues:
Each of these priorities is underfunded in Texas, so the League and its partners will be watching budget hearings closely. In addition, we will keep an eye out for any bills that further impinge on the rights of voters and election workers, bills that further restrict abortion access, and bills that reduce public school funding through vouchers and other means. As usual, it will be a busy session.
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LWV Texas Lobby Days
LWV Texas Lobby Days is coming up February 27th & 28th in Austin, Texas. This members only event offers local League members an opportunity to let their elected officials know what our League priorities are for the current session. We have an exciting line-up of speakers planned on the afternoon of the 27th!
If you are a member of LWV Texas or one of our local Leagues, you can register for Lobby Days here. Or if you are one of our many supporters receiving this newsletter, this is a great time and a great reason to become a member here.
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Love the League! LWV's 103rd Birthday
Happy 103rd birthday, LWV!!! You can show us some love on Valentine’s Day and honor the League’s 103rd birthday by:
- Making a donation to LWV Texas by texting LWV103 to44321anytime between now and Feb. 14th
- Sharing our social media posts on Feb. 14th to spread the news about our birthday
- Watching the "People Powered League" marquee event live-streamed on the LWVUS Facebook page at 11:00 a.m. ET on Feb. 14th
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Texas Tribune Survey
Let's help The Texas Tribune identify what matters to you during the 2023 legislative session! They would like to know more about what you’re seeing in your community to help guide their reporting during the 88th legislative session. Complete their survey here.
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LWV Comal County
Photo credit: League of Women Voters of the Comal Area Facebook page. LWV Comal County members participated in the New Braunfels MLK Day March, distributed nonpartisan election information, offered voter registration, connected with community partners, and spoke with lots of voters! Read more here.
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LWV Corpus Christi
Photo credit: Corpus Christi League of Women Voters Facebook page. Lots of League members (including Sylvia Campos, pictured) were spotted participating in the 37th Annual MLK Jr. Day Commemorative March 2023 organized by the Corpus Christi Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Read more here.
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LWV Collin County
Photo credit: League of Women Voters of Collin County Facebook page. LWV Collin County was busy last week registering lots of new voters. They had volunteers at five Collin College Rock the Vote events and at a full day of naturalization ceremonies. Read more here.
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LWV San Antonio Area
Photo credit: League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area Facebook page. Members of the League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area joined the annual 2023 MLK March on January 16, 2023. Read more here.
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| Your Texas League in the News |
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"Great Conversations" Conversation Leaders for 2023
The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life |February 2023
Joyce LeBombard, LWVTX President, was named a Conversation Leader at the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life's "Great Conversations" on Feb. 7th, an annual convening of elected officials and staff, community and student leaders, university faculty and administrators, and members of the press. At the event, a commitment to civic involvement is celebrated with a panel conversation among distinguished speakers, led by prominent statewide and community leaders.
Learn more about the event here. View the full list of Conversation Leaders here.
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Winter Ice Storm
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the winter ice storm last week all across Texas. Last week’s ice storm highlights, once again, how vital our advocacy is.
As a matter of principle, the League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires adequate funding and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government. Mitigating the impact of ever more frequent extreme weather events requires just such funding and coordination.
With a budget surplus available, we are working with our partners to ensure that the current surplus is used wisely to promote the health and welfare of all Texans. In fact, despite the inclement weather, the Senate finance committee began meeting last week. House committees have yet to be determined, but the budget process has begun.
In this 88th legislative session, we hope you join us in advocating for the needs and rights of all Texans.
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League of Women Voters of Texas
1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin Texas, 78701
(512) 472-1100
lwvtexas@lwvtexas.org
lwvtexas.org
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