"A leader does not hold our children's education hostage and certainly would never even allow a discussion about school not opening on time because he cannot fix what is broken," Strayhorn told around 500 supporters at an election rally on North Congress Avenue.

"Now is the time to replace this do nothin' drugstore cowboy with one tough grandma," Strayhorn said. "Rick Perry has promised any challenger in his own words, and I quote, 'A bloody brutal campaign.' If that is the campaign he promises to wage, bring it on."

Earlier, Perry had announced he was vetoing $35.3 billion in the Texas Education Agency budget for 2006-07 and calling lawmakers back for a 30-day special session to "get education funding right." The special session starts Tuesday at noon.
 

Campaign Information:  http://www.Rickperry.org

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Governor Perry Says Legislators Must Come Back And Get School Funding Right!

AUSTIN  Gov. Rick Perry today vetoed $35.3 billion in the Texas Education Agency budget and called lawmakers back for a special session to get education funding right.

Text of Governor Rick Perry's Remarks At June 18th Press Conference

(NOTE: Gov. Perry frequently deviates from prepared text.)

Good morning. In my state of the state speech in January, I made education reform the centerpiece issue of the recently concluded legislative session.

We have no greater public priority than to ensure our children can succeed because of a quality education.

That is the reason we increased education spending by more than 25 percent in the three sessions prior to this year.

Yet for all the successes of this past session, job number one was left undone when the session ended without the passage of school finance reform.

We didnt provide schoolchildren the education reforms they deserve. We didnt provide teachers the salary increases they deserve. And we didnt provide property taxpayers the tax relief they deserve.

On top of that, textbooks are sitting in warehouses instead of classrooms, education technology plans were not passed and $2 billion will go unused instead of going to the classroom unless legislators take future action.

I think our children, their parents and our teachers deserve better.

And rather than giving tacit approval to unfinished business, today I am vetoing all $33.6 billion appropriated in the Texas Education Agency budget and compelling legislators to come back to Austin to get education funding right.

I have taken this action neither lightly nor flippantly, only after serious thought and deliberation and only with our states best interests at heart.

I believe it is the best way to ensure that schools are fully funded when our children return this fall.

And I believe it will ultimately deliver more, not less, for our children: more money for their teachers, more money directed to their classrooms and more results in their schools.

And all this can happen in the next month because I am calling legislators into special session starting Tuesday, June 21st.

Members of the Texas Legislature have been home for 20 days, 20 days of hearing from upset constituents, angry school leaders and disappointed supporters.

Todays action gives them another opportunity to succeed, an opportunity I know so many of them want.

I recognize this is a bold step, and frankly one I wrestled with.

Ultimately, I determined this action was necessary to ensure we fully fund our schools, provide needed reforms in the classroom and pass real and sustainable property tax relief.

Wiping the school finance slate clean and starting over again is the best way to proceed.

I want to reassure Texans that there is plenty of time to finish the important work before us so that our schools not only open on time, but with better funding, better teacher pay and critical reforms that will ensure more money goes directly into the classroom.

As a product of public education and the father of two recent public school graduates, I want nothing but the best for our public schools and that includes doing whatever it takes to make sure they are fully funded.

If we do this right, we will put at least $2 billion more into public schools than what they were scheduled to receive in the state budget.

Teachers will receive a real pay raise. Schools, students and parents will benefit from greater financial accountability. And more resources will be focused on the goal of academic excellence for every child.

I will also continue to work closely with legislative leaders, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick on a tax reform plan that will provide real property tax relief for the people of Texas.

We have had several good discussions in recent days, and I know we can come to an agreement quickly if we continue to work toward a compromise.

To help facilitate a compromise, today I have used my line-item veto authority to cut $1.7 billion in proposed spending in other areas of the budget.

Some of that money will provide additional savings that can be used for education priorities or to finance a property tax cut.

Included among my line-item vetoes is the striking of a $440 million appropriation that would turn over state savings in a Medicare drug program to the federal government.

Today the federal government doesnt require this, and Im not going to fork over money we have saved in Texas to be spent by Washington.

We will provide you a full list of spending items I have line-item vetoed.

Education funding is serious business. And reforming our schools is my highest priority. We have to get it right.

I could have taken the path of least resistance and simply signed off on this budget, but I think our children deserve better.

I cannot let $2 billion go unused when it can go directly to the classroom. And Im not going to approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology and education reforms.

I want to make no mistake about my message today: while I respect the deliberative process and will continue to welcome and engage in negotiations, this issue has been studied and debated long enough: Now it is time to act.

Both houses know where the other stands, now it is time to stand with property taxpayers trying to make ends meet and schoolchildren trying to reach their highest potential.

We must get this right for the children of Texas. Todays veto is intended to make sure we do.
 

Thanks to  Roger Hall for the terrific logo
 

South Texas Republicans encourages conservatives to get involved in all Texas municipalities, including San Antonio. Did you know that there is only one self-described Republican in the San Antonio City Council? It is 10 Democrats versus 1 Republican in San Antonio. Turn off Fox News and get involved today!!!

At-Large Boards

Applications for these At-Large Boards must be submitted to the City Clerks Office by Friday, July 8, 2005:

7         Board of Adjustment  1 slot; category: Alternate Member

7         Convention and Visitors Commission  15 slots total; Categories:  Hotel/Motel Association (3); Market Square Representative (1); Paseo Del Rio Association (1); Airlines Representative (1); S.A. Restaurant Association (1); Theme Parks (2); Arts & Cultural Community/Cultural Alliance of S.A. (2); S.A. Sports Foundation (1); General Community (3)

7         Planning Commission  5 slots total; No categories.

7         South Fort Sam Houston Development Advisory Board  6 slots    total;  Categories: Clergy (2); Business Representatives (2); Government Hill Alliance (1); San Antonio Development Agency (1)

7          Air Transportation Advisory Commission  7 slots total; Categories: Aviation Industry (3); Business Representative (1); Community Representative (2); Military Representative  non voting member (1)

7          San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Advisory Board of Health: 2 slots total; Categories: At-Large (1); AIDS Service Provider (1)

Applications are also being accepted for positions on the following district boards (there is no deadline to submit applications):

7BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:  Districts 3, 4

7KEEP SAN ANTONIO BEAUTIFUL: Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, & Mayoral

7ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD:  Districts 2, 4, 5, 6 & 9

7CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

7GREATER SAN ANTONIO CRIME PREVENTION COMMISSION:  Any District (members appointed by the Mayor)

7ETHICS REVIEW BOARD:  District 3

7LINEAR CREEWAY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD:  District 4

7DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  District 7

7HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES:  Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7ELECTRICAL EXAMINING AND SUPERVISING BOARD:  Districts 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9

7SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS FUND: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7ARTS AND CULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  Districts 2, 4, & 9

7BOARD OF APPEALS:  Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 & Mayoral 

7MECHANICAL BOARD OF APPEALS:  Districts 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 & Mayoral

7HOME IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY BOARD:  Districts 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 & Mayoral

7HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION:  Districts 7, 9, 10

7SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES:  Districts 4 & 10

7SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION ON LITERACY:  Districts 1, 4, 6, & 9

7JOINT CITY/COUNTY COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS:  Districts 4 & 9

7PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD:  Districts 2, 4, 5, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7PLUMBING APPEALS AND ADVISORY BOARD:  Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE:  Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 & 10

7MAYORS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN:  Districts 1, 3

7TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD:  Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & Mayoral

7CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS EDUCATION FACILITIES CORPORATION:  Districts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7TAX PHASE-IN ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  Districts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7CITY COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS:  Districts 1, 5, & 8

7AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE:  Districts 2, 3, 4, 7, 9

7SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION:  Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 & Mayoral

7ZONING COMMISSION:  Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 & Mayoral

Completed applications for both At-Large and District Boards and Commissions can be mailed to the City Clerks Office at the following address:

                                    City of San Antonio

                                    Office of the City Clerk

                                    ATTN: Boards and Commissions

                                    P.O. Box 839966

                                    San Antonio, Texas  78283-3966

Applications can also be faxed to 207-6938. For more information on these and other City boards, call 207-7257.
 

Texas Supreme Court Justice Phil Johnson Will Be Our Fall Meet the Judges Speaker. This Event Will Be Co-sponsored By Alamo City Republican Women And South Texas Republicans.

We are pleased to announce that Texas Supreme Court Justice Phil Johnson has accepted a personal invitation from Joe Solis, SREC 26, to join South Texas Republicans and Alamo City Republican Women for a special Presentation and Petition Signing Party in Bexar County.

Event details will be presented in upcoming newsletters.

This function will be FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC.

In the past four years, South Texas Republicans and Alamo City Republican Women been honored to host the following Texas Supreme Court Justices at our events:

Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, Justice Dale Wainright, Justice Scott Brister, Justice Paul Green and Justice David Medina.

Candidate for Comptroller Susan Combs Seeks Volunteers For 2006 Campaign

____ Yes, Susan, please sign me up to support your campaign for Texas Comptroller for the Primary and general elections. Use my name publicly and please keep me posted on campaign events!!! 

Please return to Chris Keffer, Friends of Susan Combs Committee, Via fax 512/328-2194 or mail to P.O. Box 160956, Austin, TX 78716. Questions?  Please contact Chris at 512/327-3345 or Chris@susancombs.com
 

Campaign Opportunities:  County Team Member, Hosting an Event in my Community, Fundraising, Helping to Build Coalition Efforts, etc.

For more information on Susan Combs, please log on to her website at www.susancombs.com
 

Proudly Presents:

Date: Thursday, June 30th, 2005
Networking Reception and Dinner (on your own):  6:15pm-7:00pm
Program:  7:00pm  8:15pm

Location: Gradys Bar-B-Q, 4109 Fredericksburg Road, (210-732-3636)
One mile South of Crossroads Mall

Platinum: $50- 3 Guest Passes/ 2 books

Gold: $40- 2 Guest Passes/ 1 book

Silver: $30- 1 Guest Pass/ 1 book

Platinum: Ted Kenyon, Steve Salyer, Darrel Brown Candidate for SD 19; Dan Montgomery (Place 5 on State Board Of Education); Robert Sanchez, Candidate U.S. Congress District 20

Gold: Jim McGrody, Reinette Alecozay

Silver: Cynthia Massey

Matt Lewis is President of the Campaign Leadership Company, based in Alexandria, Virginia. Matt served as Political Director for GOPAC, a training organization chaired by former Congressman J.C. Watts. Matt also served as Director of Grassroots for The Leadership Institute. In 2002, Campaigns & Elections Magazine selected Matt as a Rising Star of Politics.

Teaching Elephants to Talk ought to be mandatory reading for any Republican who wants to run for local or state office. It teaches lessons that some politicians spend a career before discovering. -Tom DeLay,
House Majority Leader

NEW: 30 PAID SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE

Judge Rene Diaz and Quico Canseco have generously provided resources for 30 paid scholarships. These spots are available for Teenage Republicans, College Republicans, Senior Citizens on fixed incomes, active military and other grassroots activists.

PLEASE contact Schuylar Crist ASAP to reserve your scholarship opportunity.

Your Check is your R.S.V.P.

Mailing address:  Joe Solis/South Texas Republicans, P.A.C., 10004 Wurzbach, Suite 269, San Antonio, Texas 78230.  Please make checks payable to South Texas Republicans, P.A.C. (Provide your occupation on your check.)

Rough Riders Logo Courtesy of Robert Sanchez cd20conservative.org.
 

Proudly Presents!

July 21st- Chris Patterson, Texas Public Policy Foundation;

Topic: "Your Campaign: Learning about the Big Issues-
Education, Taxes, Regulation, Government."

August 18th- Dolly Gonzalez, Professional Fundraiser, based in Austin; 

Topic: Political Fundraising

Location: Grady's Bar-B-Q; 4109 Fredericksburg Road

Time:  7:00pm  8:30pm

Cost: ONLY $5
 

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Grey Moss Inn; 19010 Scenic Loop; Helotes

Cost: $25.00 per person

Requesting your presence at our upcoming summer event...

Reception honoring Joci Straus recipient of

Presented by The Republican Business Women of Bexar County & The South Texas Republicans

More information to come....Meanwhile....

Volunteers &Silent Auction items (greatly) needed!!!

We need your support to make this event a success!

We're waiting by the telephone & by the computer ready to sign you up:

Sandy Galvan                210.710.8586              sgal@satx.rr.com

Dee Momone                 210.691.3129              deemomone@satx.rr.com

Dee Brame                    210.493.5512              deeb@satx.rr.com

Laura Bush Service and Education Award Logo Courtesy of Robert Sanchez cd20conservative.org.
 

This is a service provided by South Texas Republicans, P.A.C.
 

South Texas Republicans strongly encourages you to support Scene in SA magazine.  The magazine is available at all H.E.B stores and Borders Books.  We thank Mrs. Massey for giving us permission to provide this fascinating article to our readers.  Subscribe today!!

Democrats Don't Win Elections in Texas

In Case You Missed It- Dean on Defense: The "White Christian" party.
National Review by Peter Kirsanow, June 10, 2005

During a discussion with minority leaders and journalists on Monday, Howard Dean declared that Republicans are "a pretty monolithic party. They all believe the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party." He further stated that "the Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people" and Democrats are "more welcoming to different folks, because that's the type of people we are." Dean continued to defend his remarks as recently as Thursday. ...

In terms of sheer historical hostility toward minorities, the Republican party fares a bit better than the competition. For example, it wasn't the GOP that opposed the Emancipation Proclamation. Nor was it the GOP that opposed the Thirteenth Amendment prohibiting slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing equal protection, or the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteeing voting rights. (In fact, Republicans voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act in greater percentages than did Democrats.)...

Moreover, it wasn't the Republican party that opposed Teddy Roosevelt's anti-lynching legislation or that filibustered or otherwise opposed more than a dozen other anti-lynching provisions during the 20th century.

Republicans didn't institutionalize Jim Crow, implement school segregation, or establish poll taxes and literacy tests to keep non-whites from voting. Bull Connor, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, and Orval Faubus weren't Republicans.

It wasn't a Republican who ordered the internment of Japanese-American citizens (or Italians or Germans) during World War II. Nor were Republicans behind the Chinese exclusion acts or licensing requirements that discriminated against non-white businesses and tradesmen.

While Dean maintains that Democrats are more welcoming to non-whites, several major media organizations have noted that the aggressive GOP outreach to minorities is far more vigorous than that of the Democrats. USA Today recently noted that whereas Dean has been spending the bulk of his time preaching to the converted, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman has maintained an exhausting schedule appearing before predominantly black, Hispanic, and Asian audiences. ...

The GOP may have been missing in action in minority communities in the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties but Howard Dean must not have paid much attention to what's been going on recently. Republicans still have lots of work to do, but now they're playing offense while Dean's on defense.

To Read the Full Article Click Here.

Take action today by calling talk radio and writing letters to the editor describing Dean's hypocrisy.

To find out more about the Republican Party of Texas and what they are doing, check and bookmark their website: Republican Party of Texas

2004 Republican Party of Texas Platform:

http://texasgop.org/library/platform.php
 

The following clubs will be holding important events and South Texas Republicans encourages participation by local activists:
 

Northwest Republicans

Date: June 28th at 6:30pm

Location: Sea Island Restaurant at 11715 Bandera Rd at Bandera Point (Rt. 1604 and Rt. 16)

Speaker: Texas State Representative Frank Corte, District 122

Cost: Free

Contact: Karen Stewart: Phone: (210) 488-3108 or email: gospursgo10@hotmail.com

Fundraiser For 224th District Court Judge Rene Diaz

When: Wednesday, July 6th

Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm

Where: Fairmont Hotel, located at 401 S. Alamo Street

Contact: Melynda Gulley via phone @ 210-828-9162 or via e-mail: melynda_gulley@sbcglobal.net

Do you have event information?
You can reach Schuylar either by phone at (210) 663-6093 or via e-mail: skyskyrider@hotmail.com

Click here to view the calendar for details on these and other events