April 2, 2008

This morning the City of Austin, Keep Austin Beautiful and local retailers will announce a voluntary program to reduce plastic bag use by 50% from present day levels by June 2009.

This voluntary effort will include Keep Austin Beautiful’s “Austin’s Got a Brand New Bag” public education campaign to promote reusable bags in addition to individual efforts by many large Austin retailers.

The City of Austin and Solid Waste Services will also participate in the program and help distribute thousands of free reusable bags.

A voluntary program is a good step in the right direction. The Bag the Bags Coalition supports efforts to reduce the wasteful use of plastic shopping bags. We hope that this voluntary program will be successful. And if it is, our next task will be to figure out how to get rid of the remaining 50%.

Over the next 15 months, Bag the Bags will lend its full support to the voluntary reduction effort. But we will continue to highlight the pressing need for a responsible ban on disposable plastic bags.

In July 2009, the City Council will evaluate the success of the voluntary program. It is our hope that at that time, the city will recognize the value of a ban on plastic shopping bags.

More work remains to be done, but we can be proud of how far we have come.

Contact Info:
Rick Cofer
Bag The Bags Coalition
Rick@RickCofer.com
Cell: 512-771-6266

Bag the Bags Coalition Partners

Austin Eco Network
Austin Green Art
Capital Area Asian American Democrats
Capital Area Progressive Democrats
Central Austin Democrats
Clean Water Action
Design~Build~Live
Ecology Action
Latinos for Texas
LBJ Sustainability Work Group
Save Barton Creek Association
Sierra Club - Austin Regional Group
Texas Campaign for the Environment
Texas Community Project
Texas Environmental Democrats
Texas Solar Energy Society
University Democrats

Elected Official Endorsements

Hon. Bob Binder
Hon. Valinda Bolton
Hon. Maria Canchola
Hon. Dana DeBeauvoir
Hon. Sarah Eckhardt
Hon. Bruce Elfant
Hon. David Escamilla
Hon. Jackie Goodman
Hon. Glen Maxey
Hon. Richard McCain
Hon. Elliott Naishtat
Hon. Eddie Rodriguez
Hon. Craig Smith
Hon. Bruce Todd

www.BagTheBags.com

I am endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States because I believe that today - perhaps more than ever - we need a proven leader in the White House. On issues such as the economy, the war in Iraq, and health care, Senator Clinton is that leader.

George W. Bush has erased the record budget surplus that we handed to him and the Republicans. Irresponsible spending and tax breaks for those who least need it are devastating our economy. Senator Clinton will set our economy back on track by creating jobs and instituting fair tax policies.

I have always been opposed to the war in Iraq. In fact, I was one of only three members of the Texas Legislature to vote against HCR 75 - a resolution that formally stated the Texas Legislature’s support for the invasion of Iraq. With that said, I don’t agree with Senator Clinton’s vote to authorize the use of military force on Iraq. But time has revealed the depth of the misinformation that was propagated by the Bush administration. Senator Clinton has admitted that had she had the information we have today, she would have voted differently. I believe her. And I believe that, because we were all misled, she is even more determined to end this war quickly and responsibly.

Health care is an issue of utmost importance in my district, especially among lower and middle income families. Senator Clinton is the only candidate with an inclusive health care plan that will insure all Americans. A Hillary Clinton administration will restore many of the Bush funding cuts to health insurance and other vital health and human services programs. She has a record of standing up for families and children. I know we can count on her to be there for us because she was instrumental in passing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I’m confident she will continue to build upon that record as president.

This is a great time to be a Democrat. We couldn’t ask for better candidates than Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. Either candidate would be a good president. I am optimistic that, regardless of our party’s nominee, Democrats will win in November and the country will win on Inauguration Day. And, while I have no doubt that both Senators Obama and Clinton will initiate changes that our country needs, I believe that Senator Clinton is best equipped to make choices that will effect that change quickly and successfully.

St. Vincent de Paul Parrish in Austin and Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in Austin will sponsor a community health fair on Feb 17 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 1206 E. 9th St. This event is open to the public and all screenings and tests are free. There will be representatives from Seton Asthma/Cardiopulmonary Outreach, Seton Diabetes Management, The Brain & Spine Center of Seton, Children’s Health Insurance Program, The Liver Foundation of Central Texas, Howerton Eye Clinic and the National Association for Mental Illness. There will be door prizes, free massages and breakfast.

For more information, contact Karen Perry at kperry@seton.org or (512) 773-4535.

Friends and interested parties-
I would like to invite all of you to take part in a new survey being conducted
by the Charter Revision Committee. The survey is a simple, 10-question survey
designed to collect some basic demographic information and a sense of how you
view geographic representation for City Council. It should take less than five
minutes to complete.

The anonymous survey is available through Jan. 23, 2008, on the home page of the
Charter Revision Committee Web site www.cityofaustin.org/charter, as well as the
home page of the City of Austin Web site. The survey is
offered in both English and Spanish.
Please take a few minutes out of your busy day and let us know what you think
about geographic representation for the Austin City Council. This is an
issue that affects each and every one of us, and we can only make our best, most
informed decision if we hear from you.
Also, please consider forwarding this link to everyone in your contacts list who
you feel might be interested in participating. The more input we have for the
committee the better.
If you have received this message in error. Please accept my apologies.
Have a safe and Happy Holiday season. Feliz Navidad y un Prospero Ano Nuevo!
Thanks,

Council Member Mike Martinez
301 W. 2nd Street
Austin, Texas 78767
(512) 974-2264
more office info here

Well, it’s that time again. Session is over, and I am proud to say that we were able to restore much needed funding for important programs such as CHIP and Texas Grants, and we were also able to provide additional funds to preserve our state parks. But, I know we can do better. With your help, I will continue fighting for you. This will be the fourth year that I have celebrated my birthday with friends and supporters, and I would be honored if you would join me.

When: July 19th, 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: 1604 E. 11th at the home of D’Ann Johnson and Alan Pogue (aka “The Old School)
Tickets: $15 at the door
Sponsorships available for $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1000. Click here to contribute or mail your check to:

Eddie Rodriguez Campaign
P.O. Box 2436
Austin, TX 78768

I’m repeatedly being asked to endorse one of the major candidates for President. I believe that there are several Democratic candidates with strengths that would make them great Presidents. That is why I would like to hear from my friends, to see who you think I should support and why.

Today I offered an amendment to exempt all toll roads in Texas from eminent domain. It is unfair for the government to seize private property to build toll roads on. While my amendment was voted down, I believe it sent a message that many of us refuse to go down without a fight when bad legislation is forced upon Texas property owners. My amendment would have ensured that the constitutional property rights of hardworking Texas families and small business owners is not seized for the benefit of lucrative private toll road ventures.

I am pleased to report that legislation which I have filed, House Bill 3514 passed the House on Wednesday and is headed to the Senate. HB 3514 would require the Department of Public Safety to share information, including date of birth, to ensure that many Texas homeowners who are not currently receiving tax exemptions on their homes receive the exemption they deserve.

Last session, I introduced legislation, which passed as an amendment, granting homeowners 65 and over an additional automatic exemption. While the exemption is automatic, it can only be granted if the home owner’s date of birth is on file with the county appraiser. Since the old application forms did not have a space for “date of birth,” many senior Texans are not getting tax credit they deserve. Homeowners often fail to request their homestead exemption, which costs them a lot of money each year. Even fewer know to request the elderly or disability exemption. HB 3514 will help many homeowners receive their exemptions without having to fill out unnecessary paperwork.

Another piece of legislation, SB 987/HB 2274, by Senator Eddie Lucio, myself and Representative Rafael Anchia addresses Texas’ foreclosure crisis by ensuring that borrowers understand the terms of their loan beforehand, if they are getting into a very risky or complex loan. SB 987 has passed the Senate and is currently pending in the House Committee on Financial Institutions. Texas currently has the 6th highest foreclosure rate in the U.S., and this bill will move Texas in the right direction.

Also, SB 826/HB 457 by Senator Royce West and myself will require county chief appraisers to notify homeowners who are not receiving their exemption that they may be eligible, and send them an application for exemption for a homestead exemption.

These are just a few of the housing bills that I have been working on this session. Each bill represents an important, but small component of affordable housing, but as a package I believe these bills will make great strides in making housing more affordable for many Texans and ensure that they are receiving the maximum tax relief.

AUSTIN–State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) joined leaders from the AARP, the League of Women Voters, and other advocacy groups Tuesday in opposition to an assault on Texans’ voting rights. Representative Rodriguez voted against House Bill 626, which would substantially decrease voter participation in Texas by requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.

“Let’s be clear about this: there is no voter impersonation problem or voter fraud epidemic in this state,” said Rep. Rodriguez. “This is part of a partisan disenfranchisement effort to keep seniors, minorities, and the poor from voting. I voted against House Bill 626 to protect the voting rights of every Texan.”

Passed in the House mostly along a party-line vote, HB 626 would suppress voter registration by requiring every person who registers to provide “proof of citizenship” by requiring voters to provide their place of birth if U.S.-born or the date and location of naturalization if they were born elsewhere.

“Instead of encouraging voter participation, HB 626 makes registering more difficult for eligible people, especially students, minorities and the elderly.”

A study commissioned by the Federal Election Assistance Commission, conducted by researchers from Rutgers and Ohio State Universities also found that, in 2004, states with Voter ID laws have experienced a drop in turnout (3%), especially among African American (5.7%) and Hispanic (10%) voters.

Rodriguez noted “it is a heartbreaking day in this state when our elected officials have approved legislation that will discourage thousands of citizens from the ability to exercise their constitutional right and purge their right from voicing their opinions.”