Posted @ Thursday, March 31, 2011

A number of individuals who participated in our community organizing meeting on the state budget last Saturday requested a copy of this powerpoint. We need everyone to talk about the crisis that our state faces with their friends and neighbors.

Click here to view the presentation.

Posted @ Thursday, March 31, 2011

State Reps. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, react to the passage of HB4 and HB275, and preview of the upcoming battle over HB1, the House's bare-bones general appropriations plan for the next biennium.

Posted @ Tuesday, March 29, 2011

In this week's video, I will go over the economic impact of our budget. A report, issued by the Legislative Budget Board, estimates that the state budget will eliminate 335,000 jobs in 2013.

Posted @ Monday, March 28, 2011

“The first step is being informed on where we are today,” Villarreal said.

Posted @ Friday, March 25, 2011

"The voters did not elect us to eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs," said Rep. Mike Villarreal, a Democrat who requested the report.

Posted @ Thursday, March 24, 2011

State Rep. Mike Villarreal, the San Antonio Democrat who initiated a change to the House rules that led to the analysis, said it shows problems with the proposed budget and that it would help lawmakers "understand the consequences."

Posted @ Thursday, March 24, 2011

Austin - The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) predicts that the state budget approved yesterday by the House Appropriations Committee would result in 272,000 fewer jobs in Texas in 2012 and 335,000 fewer in 2013.

Posted @ Thursday, March 24, 2011

A bill recently introduced by Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, would go a long way toward remedying the problem. The proposed legislation would require a two-thirds vote by the SBOE to reject the recommendations of the teachers and experts on textbooks and curriculum.

Posted @ Wednesday, March 23, 2011

 Austin - Today Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee unanimously voted against HB 1, the Republican budget proposal for 2012-2013.  HB 1 passed the Committee on a vote of 18-7 and will be considered by the full House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

Posted @ Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Here is a copy of Article III of the committee substitute for HB 1 that the House Appropriations Committee passed this morning by a party line vote, Republicans voting "yes" to these drastic budget cuts and Democrats voting "no".

Posted @ Wednesday, March 23, 2011

I've received a $1,000 scholarship for a school in my district as part of a drawing by the Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative. In order to determine which school will receive the funds my office is holding an essay contest. 

Posted @ Wednesday, March 23, 2011

With SXSW in town, Mike couldn't help but make an artsy Mike's Mic. This week he shows you the top 10 budget myths and the truth behind the lies.

Posted @ Monday, March 21, 2011

 Today, I joined others in the Bexar County delegation in asking Dan Ramos to resign as Chairman of the Bexar County Democratic Party.  His bigoted remarks in recent weeks are offensive and do not reflect the values of the Democratic Party.  Click here to read the letter.

Posted @ Sunday, March 20, 2011

 Watch the full Session '11 program, plus Chisum and Villarreal's entire, un-aired segment on the video clip below.

Session 11: Reps. Chisum and Villarreal: kxan.com

Posted @ Thursday, March 17, 2011

 "This bill says the State Board of Education cannot get involved in the details of writing textbooks. They can only receive the recommendations from the experts that they’re allowed to pick. We do set some standards on who the experts should be.  Once they receive their recommendations, they pretty much have to vote up or down on adopting them,” said Rep. Villarreal.