GARCIA ON THE GO
Making every day count
 Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Roads, Roads, Roads!
In the recently adjourned third called special session, important transportation funding was approved – pending voter approval.  In November of 2014 voters will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to redirect $1.2 billion from oil and gas production into the mobility fund for much needed transportation projects.  The oil and gas funding typically goes to the State’s Rainy Day Fund.  The voters will get to ultimately decide whether or not to approve this start-up funding next November. The Legislature will re-assess funding needs for our roads and highways in the 2015 session. Thank you to Texas Tribune for the Image!

Texas Mandatory Requirements for Identification at the Polls
The Attorney General is enforcing a strict voter identification law to vote at the polls, despite  a previous court decision finding the law could negatively impact minority voting rights under the Voting Rights Act.  Texas voters will now be required to show a photo ID in order to cast a ballot after a U.S. Supreme Court decision severely hampered the Voting Rights Act and the Texas Attorney General decided to implement the strict requirements.   We are committed to making sure every eligible voter is able to have their vote counted in the Houston City municipal elections and Texas Constitutional Amendment ballot elections.   Early voting starts on October 21, 2013 and Election Day is November 5, 2013.
Acceptable Identification

    Texas Driver’s License or Texas Personal Identification Card
    Military Identification Card
    U.S. Passport
    Texas Concealed handgun License
    Election Identification Certificate available at Department of Public Safety Offices
    United State Citizenship Certificate with a picture

Each of these documents must be unexpired (60 day grace period).

Unacceptable Identification

    Birth certificates
    Student IDs
    Utility bills
    Official correspondence
    Court docum
    Private and state employment IDs
    Tribal Identification cards

Exceptions

    The photo identification requirements do not apply to mail-in-ballots, known as absentee voting.
    A disabled individual may provide documentation at the time of registration that he or she receives social security benefits on the basis of a disability or has a veterans disability rating of at least 50%.
    A voter may execute an affidavit that he or she has a consistent religious objection to being photographed after casting a provisional ballot.
    A voter may execute an affidavit that he or she does not have identification as result of a natural disaster declared by the President or the Governor within 45 days of the ballot being cast.

There are no exceptions for the elderly, Native Americans, students or in the case of stolen identification.
Cure Period

    Any voter who does not have the required ID on Election Day can cast a provisional ballot, but must show an acceptable ID to the registrar within 6 days of the election by presenting the identification or executing the aforementioned affidavit in the presence of the voter registrar for the ballot to count.

If you or someone you know lacks the required identification please contact our office and we will make every effort to assist eligible voters obtain the necessary identification and have their vote counted.  For more information on the Texas mandatory voter ID requirements at the polls please visit  http://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id

Senator Sylvia R. Garcia Supports Equal Pay for Equal Work
Senator Sylvia R. Garcia cancelled her appearance at the Macy's at the Galleria Hidalgo to kick-off the 2013 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday after learning that Macy's, Kroger, and a few smaller retailers sent a letter to Governor Rick Perry asking him to veto the equal pay for equal work legislation, known as the Texas Lilly Ledbetter Act.  As a co-sponsor of the legislation and supporter of  equal rights, Senator Garcia is supporting the call to boycott until these stores  reverse their position and declare their support for equal pay for equal work.  On average, women make just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.  Over a woman’s career, that disparity leads to more than $430,000 in lost wages.  Governor Perry vetoed the legislation on June 14th of this year.

They’re Here!
Team Garcia is thrilled to welcome Paola Ardila, Veronica Forge, Carlos Hernandez, and Samantha Robles as our very first summer interns! Each of these interns has exhibited an interest in pursuing public service in the future and has demonstrated in the past an inclination towards strong civic engagement and leadership.  Senator Garcia is excited to have them on board and looks forward to the great work they will do here in the District and in Austin.

City PayDay Lending Ordinances
Senator Garcia recently joined with Senator Ellis and Senator Whitmire to submit an op-ed to the Houston Chronicle to urge the citizens of Houston to support the Mayor’s efforts to reform the PayDay lending industry in Houston. Houston, and especially Senate District 6, has the highest number of predatory payday lenders in the state, which is a problem for all of our hard working families who become trapped in a cycle of debt. Senator Garcia fought against poor state-wide legislation this past session which was written by the payday lending industry and would have done little to restrict their most negative practices. Instead, Senator Garcia believes that the City of Houston should enact ordinances which give the maximum protections to its citizens similar to most other major cities in Texas, including El Paso, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.

Hurricane Season is Now, Make a Plan
As the heat rises this time of year, the winds begin to pick up in the Atlantic and Gulf and Hurricanes can happen at any moment.  If you wait until the Hurricane is on its way, you’ve waited too long.  If you plan to leave the Houston area when a Hurricane is on its way, decide where you will be going and how you will get there now.  If you plan to stay in place during a hurricane, you should stock up on batteries, flashlights, food, and water for several days, and a two week supply of medications.  Remember to not let your car's fuel tank fall below half full, as once a hurricane is imminent, gas stations have long lines.  You should also let friends and family know how to get in contact with you to make sure you are ok, maybe have a mutual family member or friend in another part of the state or country serve as a person everyone contacts as cell phone towers can be down and service erratic.

August 17 (10am – 1pm)  Senator Sylvia R. Garcia will be hosting an open house for the official opening of her East Harris County district office in the Woodforest Bank Building, located at 13301 East Freeway; Houston, TX. 77015.  At the open house Senator Garcia and the North Channel Chamber of Commerce will distribute over 500 backpacks to needy children for school.Other agencies and non-profits will also be in the building, such as the Children’s Defense Fund, Harris County Constable Precinct 2, La Nueva Casa de Amigos Optometry Clinic, and ABC Dental, to speak to the community about the important services they provide to the people of East Harris County.  All are welcome. Food and drinks will be provided.

August 29 (4pm – 7pm) Senator Garcia is excited to open her third and final district office. The office is located at the Torre Latina Building, 150 W. Parker Rd, Houston, Texas 77076 in the Aldine area and is intended to serve constituents of District 6 who live north of Downtown Houston. The Senator would like to invite all constituents, business owners, and community leaders in the area to meet her staff and share ideas on how we can make the District a better place to live for everyone. Light refreshments will be served.

September 5 (6pm - 8pm) You Are Invited to Senator Sylvia R. Garcia's Birthday Fundraiser at The Rainbow Lodge • 2011 Ella Blvd., at East TC Jester. To RSVP please email Lillie at lillie@sylviaforsenate.com or to donate on-line visit www.SylviaForSenate.com or make your personal or PAC checks payable to the Sylvia Garcia Campaign, PO Box 8530, Houston, TX 77249-8530.

 

Since our last newsletter, the legislature wrapped up the second and third called special sessions and finally adjourned until January 2015. 

The clock ran out on the second 30-day special session on July 30th before a transportation funding solution could be reached, and we were immediately called back an hour later for a third special session by Governor Perry.  I believe funding for our roads and highways is a high priority and am pleased the legislature finally passed the much needed funding for transportation projects. The legislature has adjourned and I am happy to be back home in Senate District 6!  I will be meeting with constituents, discussing what happened at the legislature, and I want to hear from you about how I can better serve you in the months leading up to the next regular legislative session.  I am in the process of scheduling more district office open houses, legislative briefings and town hall meetings in the district.  I invite you to attend an event in your neighborhood area so you can hear first-hand what the legislature did for you this year and share your opinions and concerns with me.

Enjoy the rest of summer and remember to watch for those school zones as you travel as the kids are headed back to school soon.

Putting People First,
Sylvia