Posted @ Saturday, January 30, 2010

Check out our neighborhood public school in Southtown. We are proud to be sending Bella here and to be a part of a community effort to make Bonham a national model for urban education.

Posted @ Thursday, January 28, 2010

If you have time on the morning of February 12, stop by this briefing on the well-being of children in San Antonio and Texas. CPPP and UTSA will present the latest figures on everything from education to health care.

Posted @ Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I want to inform you of an exciting new scholarship program that is available to high school seniors entering a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at a public or private civilian college in the State of Texas in the Fall of 2010. Applications must be submitted to my office by February 26, 2010...

Posted @ Monday, January 25, 2010

Just left a San Antonio ISD school board event where student's from Brisco Elementary gave the board thanks for their tireless service and a few recommendations including: a healthier lunch menu, rich after school extracurricular activities, and better teacher compensation. Excellent suggestions. What would you have suggested?

Posted @ Friday, January 22, 2010

On Monday my daughter Bella started reading. It took place during our bedtime reading. The kids and I were snuggled together under the warm covers. They had each selected their stories when Bella announced she was going to read her book by herself...

Posted @ Friday, January 22, 2010

Let's connect on Facebook if we haven't yet.  You can also sign up for my occassional email newsletter here to get updates about what's new at the Legislature, in San Antonio, and on my blog....

Posted @ Thursday, January 21, 2010

Speaker Straus has appointed me to the Select Committees on School Finance and Fiscal Stability.  I would like to learn from you about what education strategies or programs are working in your community. Let's start now. Let me know what is working in your community.

Posted @ Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Department of State Health Services in collaboration with Texas A&M is holding forums around the state to collect public input on the use of Title V maternal and child health funding. The San Antonio sessions will be January 26 at the Mexican American Unity Council at 3:00 and 4:30.

Posted @ Friday, January 15, 2010

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs help families file their taxes and claim the refunds they deserve.  In the coming days what the VITA programs really need is volunteers.  Here's more information from our local United Way in San Antonio, but there are also programs in other communities around the state...

Posted @ Thursday, January 14, 2010

Yesterday I attended our Ways and Means Committee hearing in Houston, where much of the discussion focused on our budget deficit. This challenge will continue to consume our energy over the next 18 months, and how we resolve it will impact every other policy area in the state.  In fact, the most important issue facing the Legislature right now is our state's structural deficit, which amounts to approximately 12% of our state budget (not including federal funds)...

Posted @ Thursday, January 14, 2010

On the same day that North East ISD in San Antonio announced that it may have to close the highly-successful North East School of the Arts because of a funding shortage, Governor Perry announced that Texas will not pursue $700 million of federal education funds.

Posted @ Wednesday, January 13, 2010

One way to donate to the relief effort is by texting "Haiti" to 90999. A $10 donation will go to Red Cross humanitarian efforts in Haiti. It will simply be added to your phone bill.  Are there other organizations or relief efforts that you recommend?

Posted @ Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The State Senate received its marching orders today. As we discussed when the Speaker released House interim charges, they will guide the Senate's efforts to study policy issues through this year and prepare for the 2011 legislative session.  Which ones caught your eye?

Posted @ Friday, January 08, 2010

Healthy Futures Alliance is a recently formed non-profit organization that is bringing together diverse groups in San Antonio to use proven strategies for reducing unplanned pregnancy. Check out their latest newsletter to learn about....

Posted @ Thursday, January 07, 2010

By the end of the new decade, now only three days young, the demographics of the new Texas will look a lot like San Antonio: A significant and powerful number of Texans will be Latino.  In some ways, 2010 is an annunciation year for the new generation of Latino leaders in San Antonio — they hear the call but are waiting for the right moment. Many, including state Rep. Mike Villarreal, the Castro twins — particularly state Rep. Joaquin Castro — were lobbied to run but decided to sit tight....