Before we get started….Events you won’t want to miss!

DEMOCRATIC NEIGHBORS DINNER - (Not lunch this time) Carpool out to the countryside and don’t miss our gathering on Thursday, May 15th, 5:00pm at the lovely Blissful Folly Farm, 6002 FM 2981, La Grange (Rohan's Meadery). Check out their food menu online at: https://www.blissfulfollyfarm.com/eat For further information, please email us at: fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com or call 979-484-7925

Just in….this Friday, sing your heart out at the Capital Rotunda!

 

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRACY RALLY has been rescheduled due to Sunday being Mother’s Day, but will resume on Sunday, May 18th, 3-4pm. SW Corner of the La Grange Square. Bring a friend and if you don’t have a sign, use one of ours.

 

MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD-UR the RESISTANCE!

National Issues:

Don’t forget that you can continue to make your voices heard! Check out the following link 5 Calls.org website and learn about why making calls works! Scroll down to the bottom of the first page of the website and click on “See All 52 Issues” which gives you a handy list sorted by specific issue.

89th Texas Legislature Issues:

From the Travis County Dems TXLege Rapid Response Team, here are some other bad bills being heard in committee.

• Repeal the Dream Act (HB 232) - Would repeal the Dream Act, signed by Rick Perry in 2021. Denies in-state college tuition for Dreamers, even if they lived and went to high school in Texas.

• Vaccination Opt-Out (HB 1586) - Weakens school vaccination tracking by changing certain “shall” requirements to “may,” making it easier to opt out.

• Library Book Ban (SB 2101) - Penalizes libraries for even possessing materials deemed “sexually explicit” for minors under 18 (with broad definitions), while exempting religious materials.

• Ten Commandments in School (SB 10) - Forces every classroom to post large display of the Ten Commandments. So much for separation of church and state.

• Weapons in Foster Homes (HB 1403) - Limits child welfare agencies’ ability to assess safety of foster homes by restricting disclosure of weapon information.

• Another DEI Ban (HB 4552) - Prohibits state agencies, the legislature, and courts from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, falsely framing DEI as “discriminatory.”

• No to Smart Growth for Cities (HB 4348) - Blocks cities from redesigning roadways to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. Ties compliance to affordable housing funding

Call your representatives:

Texas Senate - District 18
Senator Lois Kolkhorst (512) 463-0118 / (979) 251-7888
https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=18
Capital Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711
Brenham District Address: 2000 S. Market St. #208, Brenham, TX 77833

TX House of Representative – District 85
Rep. Stan Kitzman (512) 463-0604 / (979) 865-4560
https://house.texas.gov/members/4280
Capital Address: P.O. Box 2910, Room E2.606, Austin, Tx 78768
District Address: One East Main, Suite 202, Bellville, TX 77418

HOPEFULL HAPPENINGS
Contributed by Laura Logan

As I am sure you are aware, the assault on democracy continues and can feel devastating. The news isn’t all bad though. Resistance is rising and tangible wins are happening here in Texas and across the nation. Here’s a spotlight on the positive.

Let’s start with local school board elections held across the State of Texas. The results were inspiring. For context, in recent years there has been a concerted nationwide effort by the right to place ultra conservative MAGA types on school boards in order to promote a MAGA agenda (banning books, erasing uncomfortable history, etc..) The May 3rd elections are evidence that trend is shifting as communities all around Texas have sent many of these right-wingers packing. Even though MAGA loving groups were vocal and generous in support of their preferred candidates, lots of those candidates still lost. Only 5 of the 25 candidates promoted by the Christian Nationalist True Texas Project managed to win and all 7 candidates endorsed by the Tarrant County Republican Party lost their races. Moms for Liberty supported candidates lost as well. The list of ISDs where ultra conservatives lost their races includes Arlington, Clear Creek, Fort Bend, Grapevine-Colleyville, Humble, Katy, Keller, Liberty Hill and Mansfield. That’s a lot of kids and communities affected for the good!

Now for a look at the national scene. The Trump administration’s disregard for the rule of law is accelerating, exactly as laid out in the authoritarian blueprint Project 2025 https://www.project2025.observer/ Sadly, of its 313 objectives 101 have already been completed and another 64 are in progress.

Fortunately, there are those working diligently in the legal realm flooding the courts with petitions and the courts are responding by pushing back against Trump. While not every decision has gone our way, several key Trump executive orders have been blocked, including:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: A court ruled it can continue operating despite Trump’s attempt to shut it down.

• Diversity Funding Bans: Multiple judges have blocked orders targeting DEI programs in schools and federal contractors.

• Infrastructure and Clean Energy: Courts stopped Trump from halting funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

• Immigration: Judges blocked efforts to strip protections from Venezuelan immigrants and to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

• Refugee resettlement: The court ordered the restoration of funding to the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program after Trump tried to shut it down.

• Foreign aid: SCOTUS upheld a lower court ruling requiring the release of aid funds Trump tried to freeze.

These legal wins matter. As of May 8th, Trump has been blocked in court over 200 times and has a loss rate of 93% according to Democracy Forward. The struggle isn’t over – there are 1352 days to go. But smart, committed people are defending the Constitution every day in court- and they’re winning. If you can, please consider donating to the the ACLU or other organizations that are shouldering the heavy financial burden for this CRUCIAL RESISTANCE to Trump’s assault on our democracy please consider doing so.

POVERTY OF EMPATHY
Contributed by Patty Reid

When United States Senator Cory Booker was asked what he thought was causing our nation’s turmoil, he was quiet for a few minutes, then answered, “Our nation has a poverty of empathy.” I have always felt that empathy was a light within us, that we humans have a guiding light deep in our hearts that illuminates and lifts us to feel the pain that others may be going through. I now ask, “What has dimmed that light? Is it diminished forever?” What makes some of us ignore the suffering of other human beings? It is becoming “normal” to look away. Cruelty or indifference is the norm of the day for many folks. Is it the “right wing” influence that promotes an administration that punishes the less fortunate and tells us that it is a small sacrifice to make for a greater, elusive cause? I wonder how that is possible with their claim of being Christian. Jesus called for folks to welcome and give help to those who are different and those who are suffering. Most folks know the Bible story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37. The story teaches that a good neighbor is one who shows compassion and helps those in need regardless of their background or status. I read in the news that bombs on Gaza have killed or maimed innocent civilians and children. I hear that in the United States of America, someone, legally here, who has used their rightful freedom of speech to condemn this atrocity, has been swept up and carted off to a foreign prison without due process. Where is the outrage among our elected officials? Where is the empathy? Have we become a nation that turns a blind eye to such injustice? Are we a nation filled with a poverty of empathy?

My heart longs for that light before the darkness engulfs us all.

Upcoming June Event - Save the Dates

 

Event Highlights:

• Date: June 13th and 14, 2025 (all day events)

• Location: Bastrop Convention Center, Bastrop, Texas

• Dinner and entertainment included on Friday night

• Lunch Included on Saturday afternoon

• Free Parking

On Friday, we are hosting a fundraiser event with keynote speakers Kendall Scudder (TDP Chairman), and Nancy Thompson (Mothers Against Greg Abbott), Libby Villari as Ann Richards, and Suzanna Coffle, Austin Musician and Activist. James Purvis, author of Democrats 101: A Primer for US, educator, former journalist, and military veteran. A delicious Texas style dinner is included!

On Saturday, we're bringing together experts, elected officials, and community leaders to share insights and strategies for building stronger coalitions. This is your opportunity to contribute to the conversation and help shape the future of our communities.

Together, we'll develop targeted approaches to address the unique challenges facing Rural Texans. Be part of the solution – join us in strengthening Rural Texas through collaboration.

Mark your calendars, more information will follow.