June 12 - Weekly Roundup

alamObama: Bank on Health

Saturday, June 27, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, San Antonio Town Center parking lot, SAAPAC Headquarters, 7122 San Pedro. We're all pushing for health care reform...long overdue in this country. While we work on influencing the form of the legislation, there is a lot we can do right now to further the cause of health. Come make a "deposit" in both the food bank and the blood bank. The San Antonio Food Bank and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will have vehicles parked at the SAAPAC headquarters. We'll have hunger facts and details on most needed items for the SA Food Bank at our website. If you would like to donate blood, please contact us at alamobama09@aol.com to get scheduled. We need at least 20 donors to make the mobile unit visit possible so please step up as soon as possible. We also need volunteers to work the event. Sign up at www.barackobama.com to participate and if you’re interested in donating blood or volunteering for the food drive, please give us contact information. And while you’re there, don’t forget to pledge your support for the President’s efforts toward healthcare reform and record your health story. Our site, www.alamobama08.com will have hunger facts and most needed items by the food bank.

Housekeeping Notes

We’re working on something big for our July, August and September meetings. Stay tuned for more. In the meantime, we’ve got an office presence. We’re at the SAAPAC office every Tuesday and Thursday, 1 PM to 5PM , 7122 San Pedro, Ste 114 . Big thanks to Catherine and Georgia for sprucing up the place and keeping it neat. Thanks to Tina and Toni. More volunteers means more hours. We’ll be doing some calling to push our Banking on Health event, bring your cell and come join us. Be sure to keep checking www.alamobama08.com for details.

White House

In tomorrow’s weekly address, President Obama says progress on clean energy and healthcare reform will lay a new foundation. Don’t miss the Weekly Address at www.whitehouse.gov

This week the President: talked directly to the American people about the need for real health reform in Wisconsin -- no excuses, no endless delay; announced that 10 banks will repay their Troubled Asset Relief funds, and commits to new legislation codifying the Pay-As-You-Go principle; announced his plan to save or create 600,000 jobs this summer through an accelerated "Roadmap to Recovery"; spoke in Cairo on America's relationship with Muslim communities around the world, watch the video or read his remarks in a dozen languages. Also check out a town hall and a health care model in Green Bay; the President and Secretary Salazar offer condolences for the Holocaust Museum shootings; and get a look at the Pittsbutgh Steelers day of service with the President, 50 wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center and more.

Review the list of signed legislation: Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, signed Friday, May 22, 2009; Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, signed Friday, May 22, 2009; Helping Families Save Their Homes Act signed Wednesday, May 20, 2009; Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, signed Wednesday, May 20, 2009; Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed Wednesday, April 21, 2009; Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, signed Monday, March 30, 2009; Small Business Act Temporary Extension signed Thursday, March 19, 2009; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed Tuesday, February 17, 2009; DTV Delay Act, signed Wednesday, February 11, 2009; Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, signed Wednesday, February 4, 2009; and Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed Thursday, January 29, 2009. All this and much more at www.whitehouse.com

National

Affordable Health Choices Act Released

Chairman Edward Kennedy and Democratic members and staff of HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Senate committee have been working on healthcare reform legislation for the last year. Bi-partisan talks continue to flesh out the plan but there are already provisions for choice, cost reduction, prevention, health system modernization and long term care and services. Read Time’s take here thepage.time.com/release-on-proposed-affordable-health-choices-act/.

The Insurance Networking News was quick to cite opponents to the plan www.insurancenetworking.com/news/health_insurance_reform_public_plan_Edward_Kennedy-12497-1.html. You can read and evaluate the plan for yourself at help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf. Other proposed legislation include HR 676 (single payer) and SB 703.

H.R. 2454

The American Clean Energy and Security Act to create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy continues to move through the legislative process. The Library of Congress has information of the bill, it’s content, and all legislative action to date at thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:7:./temp/~bdOBDE:@@@X|/bss/111search.html.

Local

Special Legislative Session

Governor Perry gives a nod to a special session, but doesn’t say when or how many issues. Main issues are state transportation, insurance regulators and three other stat agencies. But more could be on the table, like voter ID at the Governor’s discretion. Read more at www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Perry_special_legislative_session_inevitable.html

MoveOn on Strengthen Clean Energy Act

Move On is planning a couple events in support of the Clean Energy Act. The first is a phone bank Tuesday, at SAAPAC from 1 PM to 8PM. They’re also gathering at the Federal Building downtown at 727 Durango on Wednesday at 4:30. For details, contact angiedrake@hotmail.com. Read the letter from MoveOn at the end of this email.

Anti-Graffiti Task Force

The City of San Antonio Anti-Graffiti Task Force Education Subcommittee and the Housing and Neighborhood Services Department presents international graffiti expert Victoria Wilson-Merritt

"Graffiti is Everyone’s Problem: A New Approach to Graffiti Education" (graffiti history)

Friday, June 26, 2009, Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N Hackberry.

Free Registration 8:30-9:00am. Program 9 am - 3:15pm.

SAAPAC Fundraiser

Groups are meeting and talking at San Antonio Progressive Area Coalition, 7122 San Pedro. AlamObama is just one of many groups taking advantage of this space. But SAAPAC needs funds to operate. So let’s join them in their fundraiser Tuesday, June 30, 2009 , 5:30 - 10 pm at Big Kahuna Restaurant, 741 W. Ashby Place (across from SA Little Theater). Go to www.saapac.org to get details on the fundraiser, make a donation to SAAPAC if you can’t attend, and find an activity that may interest you on their events calendar.

MoveOn Letter

Ensure more clean energy jobs for America:

Ensure more clean energy jobs for America: Wind and solar power create more than double the jobs that oil and coal do--high-paying jobs that can't be outsourced. But the current bill would not actually require any more clean energy than is already in the works. We need to restore strong standards for cheap, clean, renewable energy, creating hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs.

Don’t undermine Obama’s authority to crack down on dirty energy:

President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency are taking steps toward new rules to clean up coal plants and oil refineries. But Big Oil and Coal lobbyists slipped in a loophole that would block Obama's efforts. This would open the door to more than 100 new dirty coal plants, crowding out the clean energy growth we need to create jobs and boost our economy.

To express your views locally and to get the attention of our local media, please attend our Strengthen the Clean Energy Act Rally in front of the Federal Building on Wednesday, June 17 starting at 4pm. Here is the link to sign up: pol.moveon.org/event/lettermeeting/93935

We need maximum sign ups so that when we contact the press, we can let them know how many people we are expecting. If you plan on coming, PLEASE RSVP! It makes a difference!

More info? Contact:

Angie Drake

San Antonio MoveOn Council Coordinator

angiedrake@hotmail.com

June 5 - Weekly Roundup

Congrats to our own Juan Sepulveda!

"Beginning June 8, I’ll start my new position as the Director of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans at the Education Department. The focus of the Initiative is higher education (community college/4-year college/graduate and professional schools). The mission is to partner with higher education institutions to help them recruit, educate, support, retain, and graduate higher numbers of Latino students. A few more updates—my wife, Teresa Nino, has also joined the Administration. As some of you know, Teresa was a political appointee during the Clinton Administration at HHS. She’s returning to HHS as the Director of External Affairs for the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). And finally, our daughter, Victoria, just recently found out that she was admitted to Harvard. She starts in Cambridge in the fall. And our son, Michael, a sophomore at DePaul, will be interning with Congressman Charlie Gonzalez’s DC office this summer. We’re extremely proud of both of them! Our family has been very blessed.” Your alamObama family salutes you! Here’s the official notice

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/05/05192009d.html .

Juan, does this mean we won’t see your TV show anymore?

Monthly Meeting

Our next meeting will be June 11, 6:30 PM at the SAAPAC office, 7122 San Pedro. We’ll discuss voter registration activities, the push for healthcare reform and an alamObama event called Banking On HealthCare scheduled for June 27^th.

Healthcare Push

The Health Care Reform Kick Off event is Saturday, June 6. There are several events scheduled within the next week in the San Antonio area. Saturday includes: a moderated discussion hosted by Mexican American and Hispanic Physician Association (MAHPA) which will feature University Hospital’s CEO among others; A Song of Hope which will bring together different groups, artist, soloist, and musicians coming together to bring awareness of the cause; Saving Money to Prevent Chronic Diseases, a discussion on how to use existing government resources to begin a disease prevention program; there’s still room at the Johnson House where single payer advocates will join the discussion; friends and neighbors up north will meet at Lily’s Phillipine Bakery & Restaurant, and New Braunfels Citizens for Community Development will look at health care reform. Stone Oak Therapy Clinic is seeking creative input on changing the way healthcare currently operates on Wednesday, and Amir Zakaria wants to rally support for healthcare reform June 16^th. Go to www.barackobama.com to sign up for an event. (See more health care reform resources at end of post)

White House

The President: spoke in Cairo to a standing ovation, read his remarks or watch a video on Muslim Americans proudly serving in the federal government; writes to Congress spelling out what he wants in health care reform, and the CEA issues a pivotal report entitled “The Economic Case for Health Care Reform; discusses the breadth and depth of experience held by his nominee for the Supreme Court. Plus see some of the best and brightest innovation from around government, and contribute your own ideas. This and more at www.whitehouse.gov.

Local

There’s a lot of finger pointing in the State Legislature as the slow pace pointed to a possible special session. Before they adjourned in the House, GOP caucus chairman Larry Taylor said hundreds of bills were in jeopardy and Democrats were controlling the pace while House Democratic leader Jim Dunham told reporters Republicans repeatedly blocked bills Dems tried to bring forward. Meanwhile Governor Perry said watching Monday’s legislative session was like watching an episode of “Lost” as the Senate adjourned without passing legislation to extend TxDOT, Texas Department of Insurance and three other agencies after the House had already scattered http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/index.html.

SAAPAC Fundraiser

Groups are meeting and talking at San Antonio Progressive Area Coalition, 7122 San Pedro. AlamObama is just one of many groups taking advantage of this space. But SAAPAC needs funds to operate. So let’s join them in their fundraiser Tuesday, June 30, 2009 , 5:30 - 10 pm at Big Kahuna Restaurant, 741 W. Ashby Place (across from SA Little Theater). Go towww.saapac.org to get details on the fundraiser, make a donation to SAAPAC if you can’t attend, and find an activity that may interest you on their events calendar.

Health Care Reform Info and Resources

The White House Council of Economic Advisors released a report this week entitled “The Economic Case for Health Care Reform”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-Economic-Case-for-Health-Care-Reform/

Hospitals Will Fight Legislation Requiring Charity Care Standards

http://www.foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml;jsessionid=4HOZLYFQYEMYDLAQBQ4CGXD5AAAACI2F?id=253700037

Information on the Uninsured in Texas from our friends at Organizing for North Texas

• One in four Texans (5.6 million of us) are uninsured. That’s the highest rate in all 50 states. The

national average is 16%. In all, 46 million Americans are uninsured.

• 79% of the uninsured work or have a working family member.

• 70% of Texas businesses employ fewer than 50 people. Only 37% of those small businesses offer

health insurance benefits to their employees, and only 35% of their employees are able to take

advantage of those benefits.

• Approximately 76-82% of the uninsured are U.S. citizens. 70% are Anglo.

WHY ARE SO MANY TEXANS UNINSURED?

• The average cost of health insurance premiums (currently $9,100 annually for a family) is

almost half of the federal poverty limit.

• Texas has extremely restrictive qualifications for Medicaid, and most lower-income adults do

not qualify. (The Texas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers children in families

making less than 200% of the poverty level, but does not provide coverage for adults.)

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF SO MANY UNINSURED FAMILIES?

• 2,500 uninsured Texans die prematurely each year.

• 1 million uninsured Texans do not receive adequate care for their chronic illnesses.

• 3 million uninsured Texans are less likely to seek and receive critical preventative care and

screening services that minimize more costly medical care later.

• The responsibility of providing healthcare to the uninsured or underinsured increases the cost of

healthcare and health insurance to who do have health insurance, through higher taxes and

higher healthcare costs.

WHAT IS THE COST OF INACTION ON HEALTHCARE REFORM?

• Your premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs will continue to go up.

• More and more people will be priced out of private healthcare plans, increasing the burden on

local communities, states and the federal government. In response, taxes will rise and other

important government services will be cut back.

• Everything you buy will continue to cost more and more, as businesses are forced to raise prices

to pay for their employees’ benefits and for their rising tax burden.

May 18 - Weekly Roundup

May Monthly Meeting

CPS courtship of Representative Gonzalez dominated Thursday’s meeting (see more under National) but a few other things happened as well. We heard from Will Wooten, the organizer, Repower America has assigned to San Antonio . The organization born from a speech given by Al Gore in July has a goal to repower America with 100% clean electricity in ten years http://www.repoweramerica.org/plan/. One message from attendees was they need to know more about the energy debate. Repower America will have details at the SAAPAC office, Thursday, May 21, 7122 San Pedro, at 6:30 . You can contact Will at willwooten@climateprotect.org.

We also heard the latest from Melanie Aranda, the new head of Texas Young Democrats http://www.texasyds.org. Melanie, an alamObama member and former Obama staffer (who held down a field office in New Mexico), told us about the many activities the group is planning after telling us about her attendance at the White House Cinco de Mayo celebration. She’s provided some great pics we’ll put on the website.

We then broke into our working groups. Education and Training is working on bringing you more opportunities to learn about health care initiatives; Voter Registration is working on a registrar training event; Legislative is working on better ways to keep you up to date on the goings on at local and federal levels; Community Service is moving closer to supporting the San Antonio Food Bank through both a monthly food drive and an alamObama sorting team; and anyone interested in helping man the office is invited to attend orientation at the SAAPAC office Thursday At 4:30. And thanks to Toni, we’ll have a new editor of the Weekly Roundup very soon (next week?)! Rapid Response is going to work on OFA’s request for spare rooms for summer interns coming to San Antonio and possible office space. Next meeting is June 11 at 6:30 , at the SAAPAC office, 7122 San Pedro.

White House

This week, President Obama: discusses breakthroughs on two issues where stakeholders from all sides, who once opposed each other, are coming together for real reform; emphasizes his commitment to signing the Credit Card Bill of Rights into law by Memorial Day; set a target of July 31st for passage of Health Care Reform; and hosts a remarkable health reform meeting, both for the $2 trillion in national savings that was discussed, and for the stakeholders in attendance. Also see the President’s address to Notre Dame, read about the working lunch with Israel’s President Netanyahu, and Vice President Biden’s salute to Tim Russert at the Wake Forest commencement. This and more at www.whitehouse.gov .

Organizing For America

Don’t forget to post your health care story at www.barackobama.com. If you’ve got a spare room for a summer intern or know of possible office space, please contact us at alamobama09@aol.com. Also, we all indicated we want OFA presence here, making a donation at OFA gives them more resources to expend on the effort. A quick reminder of the Health Care Push: let’s do some coalition building; seek out other groups already working the healthcare issue and network. Look for a policy expert conference call for house parties and other meetings soon. June will be the action month. Early June will focus on action meetings. Folks with healthcare stories will be important. Mid-June summer organizers will arrive (13th and 14th). We will need those spare bedrooms they spoke of at the Listening Tour. The last week in June, 27th and 28th there will be a Healthcare Project.

National

San Antonio Congressman Charlie Gonzalez has been thrust in the national spotlight as a possible Energy and Commerce Committee’s swing vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. For a dollars and cents view, here’s a report from Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aM_y8zqk2eo4. Stay tuned.

Local

Energy is news in the state legislature as well as a state senator and an environmental agency battle over smelter documents; looks like voter ID legislation is headed for the house floor; and Saturday Seguin’s Rep. Ed Kuempel awoke from a medically induced coma and responded to commands. Read about these stories and more on the state legistature here. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/16/0516legebriefs.html

Discuss the Issues

Groups are meeting and talking at SAAPAC, 7122 San Pedro Sunday May 24th. The Discussion Group will be talking about Immigration at 4:30 . This group watches PBS shows and then discusses the problems. At 6:30 , San Community Organizers meet to discuss Energy, Education and Health Care. View more at the SAAPAC calendar

http://saapac.org/WebCalendar/month.php

May 17 - Energy Blast

A spirited discussion about our own Representative Charlie Gonzalez and his role in the developing energy debate dominated Thursday’s alamObama meeting. Many were concerned about news reports and felt the Congressman needed to hear from his constituents, San Antonians, Texans and anyone concerned about the President’s energy policy. Voting by the Energy and Commerce Committee could begin as early as Thursday for legislation going forward to Congress. We’re sending out this blast to let everyone know citizens are gathering at Congressman Gonzalez’s office tomorrow (Monday) at noon. If you’re fired up/ready to go on this issue, and would like to add your voice and presence, get details and sign up here

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=93826&id=16151-6766601-Hir7Tdx&t=2

Background

This week, Rep. Charles Gonzalez will help decide the fate of President Obama's clean energy jobs plan. Rep. Gonzalez sits on a powerful committee that's about to vote on a huge clean energy jobs bill. The latest draft of the bill came out on Friday—and unfortunately it looks like Big Oil and Coal may have succeeded in weakening key elements of President Obama's plan.

President Obama’s energy plan calls for charting a new energy future; investing in clean, renewable energy and fighting climate change. Read more here:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/newenergy/index.php.

Our own Representative Charlie Gonzalez represents a possible swing vote on the key Energy and Commerce Committee currently considering the Waxman/ Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act .

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1560

Reports say Gonzalez won't support the legislation until some changes are made to protect the utility industry — particularly CPS Energy and its investments in nuclear power. We think it’s because he’s hearing more from them than from regular citizens.. Reports say CPS has the legislator’s ear and it’s clear he needs to hear from more constituents.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Energy_issue_puts_heat_on_Gonzalez.html .

He’s already heard from Move On and VoteVets urging him to support the measure. Even religious leaders have urged support

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/05/texas-religious-leaders-lean-o.html .

May 11 - Weekly Roundup

Castro Wins Handily!

Congratulations to Mayor Julian Castro! Several alamObamers worked this campaign including Fred Tawil and Yvonne Armstrong. Good work all! Our own Ruben Cuero decisively won his school board seat as well. Many of our folks were involved in local campaigns and we congratulate you all in work well done. Here are the results from Bexar County elections: http://www.bexar.org/el45A.HTM .

Next Monthly Meeting

We’ll meet Thursday, May 14th, at 6:30 PM at 7122 San Pedro. This week’s meeting will focus on two things: (1) the latest from OFA: a report on the Listening Tour and what’s next and, (2) a working session for our councils: Rapid Response, Legislative, Education and Training, Voter Registration, Support, Information Management, Candidates and Campaigns, and Community Service. Make sure you check our website www.alamobama08.com for the President’s weekly

address, latest from the White House, legislation, events and more.

Organizing For America

In a statewide call last week we heard from Jeremy Bird, Deputy Director of OFA. He said we will start seeing many staff arriving in coming months because Texas is important to OFA, the President, and the nation. He said we did amazing work in the primary and general election. They are making a serious commitment to Texas; no other state will get more resources. He informed us the Listening Tour was launched because it’s important we drive the organization &

the effort. He said we’ll drive the work we do and will have a huge impact on OFA. This is our opportunity to realize change. He concluded by saying, Texas matters and that's why we have Luke Hayes. But Luke is here as an organizer, a resource...not a dictator. Jeremy turned it back to Luke who then gave us a rundown of what he heard on the Listening Tour:

1) Two way Communication is key

2) We need a road map to success

3) We would like a forum to exchange ideas and best practices

4) Forms of communication other than e-mail for supporters who do not have access (phone trees, etc).

5) Spanish language talking points and other literature

6) Charity projects are great tool for both doing the work and reaching out

Luke then briefed us on the upcoming Health Care Push. We don't know when the vote will come on health care but we are gearing up to prepare for it. May will focus on education and awareness. There will be policy expert conference calls to be used in house parties and other gatherings. The OFA website is being revamped and they are collecting health care stories. Please send yours and/ or urgeothers to send theirs. Luke added we need to do some coalition

building; seek out other groups already working the healthcare issue and network. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. June will be the action month. Early June will focus on action meetings. Folks with healthcare stories will be important. Mid-June summer organizers will arrive (13th and 14th). We will need those spare bedrooms they spoke of at the Listening Tour.

The last week in June, 27th and 28th there will be a Healthcare Project. Another statewide call is expected Wednesday and we will have details at the meeting. Keep up with OFA online at http://www.barackobama.com/.

The Organizing DNC; The Future Of Obama's Campaign - Marc Ambinder

Organizing for America in "Every County, Every Precinct, Every Block, Every Neighborhood"

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/05/0505obamaland.html

National

White House

The President: calls on Congress to pass a vital credit card reform bill to keep companies from ripping off working Americans; offers new ways for individuals to turn their own economic lives around while continuing to work to turn the national economy around; discusses his budget reductions released today as a change in the way Washington does business, OMB Director Orszag gives details on the blog, and brings President Karzai of Afghanistan and President

Zardari of Pakistan together for a common purpose. Check out the Latino Town Hall, follow the 2010 budget, the ARRA and more at www.whitehouse.gov.

Texas Legislation

Voter ID

The House Committee on Elections passed a Voter ID measure yesterday. House Elections Committee Chair Todd Smith doesn’t think it will pass the House…he says he doesn’t think the votes are there. is expected to vote on a Voter ID measure ID today paving the way for a house vote on Senate Bill 362. Read about this and the fizzle of the Texas

Grant rehaul measure and others at
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/index.html.

TxDot: Change is in the Wind

Looks like embattled TxDot is about to see some changes through an elected commissioner

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/09/0509texdot.html

Community

MoveOn.org is holding Council training Sunday, May 17th at 1:30 PM at the SAAPAC office, 7122 San Pedro. They invite activists to join them. At this training, they'll lay out MoveOn's strategy for the coming months, ways to get involved, and they'll develop your skills for effective local organizing. Your Council Coordinator Angie Drake, your Regional Coordinator Stephanie Hamm, and your Field Organizer Matthew Simmons will be facilitating this training. Sign

up here: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=93740

Trees

Posted by Van Van Breedam:

Amongst all of the efforts to limit Greenhouse gas emissions going into the atmosphere, we should not lose sight of a simple way to help reduce at least the Carbon Dioxide portion, and that is to plant trees. We need to petition City and State governments to allow trees to be planted in every avaiable spot in Bexar county, and we also need to organize efforts to obtain trees to be planted. Several years ago, a local church was sponsoring a program to have 10 people adopt 10 trees; i.e. they would plant, water, and in general nurture them. I would think the Sierra Club would be in favor of something like this. 

May 4 - Weekly Roundup

Next Monthly Meeting Postponed

Our monthly meeting will be postponed a week.  We’ll meet Thursday, May 14th, at 6:30 PM at 7122 San Pedro.  Make sure you check our website www.alamobama08.com  for the President’s weekly address, latest from the White House, legislation, events and more.

Volunteers

Thanks to all who signed up through our survey.  You’ll be getting a phone call in the next few days to discuss your participation as alamObama moves forward.  We will also use a significant portion the May14th meeting as a working session for our councils.

National Events

White House

The President discusses the government’s response to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus, from school closings to activating online social networks. He urges Americans to be calm but cautious; at a town hall, the President looks back at his term so far. Read his remarks, look at the slideshow, and come back for his press conference streamed here at 8:00;

Energy

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez says, “ Affecting the change we need requires an understanding of the underlying facts and embracing the challenges. We cannot, despite the wishful thinking of many, simply stop using oil, gas, or coal.”  

Things are heating up with regards to the President's Energy Plan as The American Clean Energy and Security Act works its way through the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives.  Early Obama and alamObama supporter Representative Charlie Gonzalez is featured in a new ad by MoveOn and a rally is planned outside his office tomorrow here in San Antonio.  Here is an opportunity for federal and local politics to merge right here in 

our backyard.  For more information, check out the link below:  http://www.alamobama08.com/legislative-watch.html.  

Read Congressman Gonzalez’s position in his own words at the end of this roundup.

Health Care

The health care fight is upon us!  If you support the idea of a public option for all (like Medicare for all Americans), you may already know that Howard Dean has returned to his old community organizing group, Democracy for America, to lead the fight for this.  TONIGHT starting at 8 pm there will be an online briefing.  Emergency Online Briefing with Dr. Dean, Monday, May 4, 9pm Eastern, hosted on MoveOn.org’s website at www.moveon.org/drdean . 

 OFA is gathering its forces around the issue and we can expect to hear from them this week as well.  Keep checking my.barackobama.com, watch your email for details and be ready to act.  

Education

Democratic lawmakers today reintroduced legislation that will help make America’s public school facilities more safe, healthy, energy-efficient and technologically advanced, while creating thousands of new jobs in construction and green industries. The House Education and Labor committee will consider and vote on the bill next Wednesday, May 6.  Here’s more:

edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2009/04/lawmakers-reintroduce-legislat.shtml

Organizing for America

Go to my.barackobama.com and check out the changes in the OFA website.  See changes affecting our state in the first 100 days, see how different issues have helped to build a foundation for lasting change, and read the personal  stories of those affected.  my.barackobama.com/page/content/foundationforchange

Texas Legislation

Legislation to reshape Texas’ school accountability system

Texas schools would be graded with new standards – highlighting an emphasis on college readiness in high schools – while student testing would lose much of its punch in lower grades under school improvement bills the Legislature  passed Wednesday.   Read details here 

www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/042909dntexlegeschools.3181797.html

Senate Says Yes to Passenger Rail Study

Texas should create a long-term plan for developing a statewide passenger rail system, the state Senate decided today in the first such step in years. 

www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/04/30/senate_yes_to_passenger_rail_s.html

Community

Rain to Drain Field Trip

San Antonio Water System ensures that you always have a safe, reliable supply of water at the turn of the tap.  If you're interested in learning more about where your drinking water comes from and where it goes when you're done with it, consider joining SAWS and EAA Education Teams for our Rain to Drain Community Field Trip.  Saturday May 30, 8:45 AM – 5:00PM

CONTACT: Greg Wukasch at gwukasch@saws.org or fax: 233-5043

VIA Public Hearings

VIA Metropolitan Transit will hold a series of public hearings to receive comments from citizens regarding design and placement of stations and terminals for VIA’s proposed bus rapid transit line:  

• Monday, May 4, 2009 - 6:00 P.M., Norris Conference Center, Crossroads Mall, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd., Suite A100,  SATX 78201
• Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - 6:00 P.M., Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health, Jones Hall,
• 8310 Ewing Halsell Dr. (Wurzbach), SATX 78229
• Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - 6:00 P.M., Bob Ross Senior Center, 4207 Babcock, SATX 78229
• Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 6:00 P.M., VIA Metro Center, 1021 San Pedro, SATX 78212
• Saturday, May 9, 2009 – 8:30 A.M., VIA Metro Center, 1021 San Pedro, SATX 78212

GreenCamp San Antonio

GreenCamp San Antonio is a community education event on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at The Historic Pearl Brewery from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm p.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m.

The event is free to all attendees, including lunch and snacks, and is fully sponsored. The event follows the unconference model. Unconferences are events at which the attendees determine the agenda on the day of the event.  

GreenCamp San Antonio was created to provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded people who are passionate about San Antonio, living Green, and creating a fun, sustainable and thought-provoking Green community. Attendees will be able to become part of a grassroots leadership team that feels empowered and has the knowledge to implement positive environmental change within your own social network. It is an opportunity to have an impact on the environmental policy in your own city.  There’s only one attendee requirement: Everyone must participate in some way. You can present information, give a demo, lead a discussion or just ask tough questions.  The event is free so we are asking local business to sponsor the event to defray the costs of food, chair rental and giveaways. We are also open to in-kind donations for giveaways and door prizes. If you know anyone who might want to sponsor, please feel free to pass on this information and a link to our sponsor page. greencampsa.com/?page_id=18 or contact daniella@greencampsa.com.  For more information and registration go to www.greencampsa.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez’s Letter on Clean Energy

"Our future success depends on creating a new energy paradigm. That's a major statement, but there is no longer any doubt that we need to change how we power our economy, reducing our emissions and our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot afford not to.

"Affecting the change we need requires an understanding of the underlying facts and embracing the challenges. We cannot, despite the wishful thinking of many, simply stop using oil, gas, or coal. These fossil fuels are integral to our present system and will remain so for many years, and we have no choice but to use the natural resources we have. Neither can we pump away our problems, however. We must embrace renewable, clean energy like wind and solar power and begin to replace fossil fuels with these energy sources. That's why I will continue to support funding these alternatives and the modernization of our nation's electric grid. This will create new jobs and revitalize American manufacturing, while saving us money.

"The first and most efficient means of reducing emissions and cutting costs, however, is even simpler and faster than renewable fuel: energy efficiency. Reducing the waste when cold escapes through uninsulated windows or hot water from an improperly installed heater might sound boring or even pointless. But improving the efficiency of a single home can save that family hundreds of dollars a year, and doing it for our country would save us billions of dollars and reduce the fuel we buy and the emission we release. That's good for the economy and for the environment, too.

"President Obama understands the importance of new energy policy for our future success. As a member of the House Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, I look forward to working with my colleagues and with the President to bring us all into a better world."

Sincerely,

Charles A. Gonzalez

Member of Congress