Here’s a reminder to testify in front of the Redistricting Committee and/or learn more about redistricting. The last hearing is February 27, but don’t wait until the last minute to get your voice heard by our state government! Written testimony is also an option if you can’t make one of the scheduled hearings.
Find sign up times for each hearing here.
Form to submit written testimony is here.
Check out the League of Women Voters Redistricting Testimony Guide
During session, only emergency priorities designated by the Governor can be voted on within the first 60 days of session. Those priorities, announced last Monday, had no mention of COVID-19 relief, the recession, racial justice reform, or access to healthcare, making me wonder, “What world is he living in?”
Make a list of what you think the priorities should be.
Call or write your representative, senator, and Governor Abbot’s office to tell them your priorities.
Share your priorities with your friends and your Rapid Response 5.
February 1, 2021 at 7 PM CST
Get a sense for how our Governor views the state of our state, and where he sees our priorities for the year ahead. Take notes and make sure you call your Rep and Senator the next day to let them know how their constituents feel about the Governor’s statements.
Find a station broadcasting the speech here.
Back before the pandemic, a full slate of redistricting hearings were scheduled across the state. The vast majority were cancelled, of course. However, just a few days ago the Senate Redistricting Committee released new dates. They started Monday, January 25 and run through February 27. Check their proposed schedule of hearings to find a hearing you’re able to attend. To provide spoken testimony, you must register 24 hours in advance of the hearing. All spoken testimony will be done via two-way video conference, and your audio and video must work to participate.
Livestream of the Committee Hearings will be available here.
Find registration links by opening the Hearing file on the day you plan to attend, found in the Committee Hearing posting. You’ll find a bit.ly link under “Witness Registration Instructions” that will take you to a zoom meeting registration page.
Submit written input to the Committee here.
The League of Women Voters Redistricting Testimony Guide
The League of Women Voters Redistricting Tool Box
One of the most important activities we can participate in to make our state government work for us is to make sure our representatives hear from us on a regular basis.
We’re developing an Indivisible TX Lege one-pager and hope to meet with every State Representative and State Senator’s office to make it clear what legislation we want them to support and oppose this session. We can only make these contacts with help from all of you!
Find info and helpful hints here.
Please fill out a brief google form to let us know where in Texas you live and how you’re able to help out with this effort.
Don’t remember who represents you? Check here.
Normally, state aid to school districts is tied to student attendance. Because of the pandemic, the Texas Education Agency maintained funding based on last year’s student attendance–but only for the fall semester of 2020. We need to push to keep our schools funded, especially as they’re struggling to address challenges like inadequate access to online education, remote learning, and teacher overtime. Teachers, parents, and our students cannot afford to wait on adequate funding from the state, or their ability to teach and learn in the time of COVID will be hindered even more.
Hi, I’m a constituent of {Governor Abbot / Commissioner Morath}. Along with many advocacy groups, I urge you to ensure that school districts’ funding is not cut due to lower student attendance caused by the COVID pandemic. The TEA should make it a priority to extend the attendance-based “hold harmless” through this school year. School districts rely on this level state aid to provide students an adequate education, especially those facing online access and other COVID-related problems.
{If you’re a parent, teacher, or student, share your experiences here.}
{If you’re an employer who relies on our public education system to produce a qualified workforce, tell your story here.}
We Texans need to do the right thing for our children and the future of our state. Thank you. My zip code is _____.
As of today, masks will be required at the Capitol, but all hearings are still planned to happen in person. During a pandemic. That means that Texas’ most vulnerable, whose lives can be most hurt or helped by legislation, will likely be left out of public testimony for fear of risking their health. It’s 2021, and Austin is one of the major tech hubs of the country. We can and should do better.
Houston Chronicle: Public comment will be in-person at Texas Legislature, despite COVID (Note: Requires subscription.)
Call your State Rep and State Senator and urge them to allow public, remote testimony during this legislative session. (Find your representative here.)
You can say…
“Hi, I’m a constituent of {Representative/Senator} {_____}. I’m calling to urge the {Representative/Senator} to push for virtual, public testimony from Texans during this legislative session to mitigate risks of COVID-19 which pose an undue burden on Texas’ most at-risk populations. Virtual hearings and testimony will reduce the risk and slow the spread in our state, without limiting access to citizen participation. I support a spirit of open and transparent government, and we need to ensure that can happen in 2021. {Tell any personal stories you have here.} Thank you. My zip code is _____.”
Find the explanation statement, as well as representative’s contact information here.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ALL THE NAMES ABOVE
(page opens in new tab or window)
And then follow up with any or all of these actions:
Call Senator Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton and ask them to resign. Contact info here.
Tweet and/or create a Facebook post tagging Senator Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton asking for their resignation. #Resign #ResignTedCruz #ResignKenPaxton. Contact info here.
In your post or tweet, share the URL for the statement and the petition.
Fill out contact form or email Senator Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton asking for their resignation. Contact info here.
Call members of the U.S. Congress who represent Texas and voted to object and overturn the 2020 election and ask for their resignation. Contact info here. Confirm if they are your representative here.
Follow up with a Tweet and/or Facebook post tagging members of the U.S. Congress who represent Texas and voted to object and overturn the 2020 election and ask for their resignation. #Resign Contact info here.
In your post or tweet, share the URL for the statement and the petition.
Fill out contact form or email members of the U.S. Congress who represent Texas and voted to object and overturn the 2020 election and ask for their resignation. Contact info here.
If your Texas representative in the US Congress is not one we are asking to resign (confirm your representative here), ask them to publicly call for the resignations of Senator Ted Cruz, Attorney General Ken Paxton and the 16 Members of Congress from Texas that helped invite an insurrection and voted to overturn the 2020 election results. Contact info here.
Also ask them to support the invocation of the 25th Amendment or the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.
Contact your Texas representative and senator (confirm who represents you here; contact info here.), and ask them to publicly support Representative Chris Turner’s call for the Texas Legislature to investigate Attorney General Ken Paxton: https://twitter.com/ChrisGTurner/status/1347256453879521281
The Texas State Attorney General participated in the events in DC on Wednesday, January 6. And he tweeted about it. It’s unlikely that he stormed the capitol, but we do know that he sewed distrust in our democratic systems and encouraged others to refuse to uphold the election results.
On top of that, he has been indicted on securities fraud charges and has avoided his day in court for over 5 years. More recently, the FBI opened an investigation on him on allegations of bribery and abuse of power.
Ken Paxton is a crook and every day he stays in office emboldens him to abuse his power more. It’s time for Ken to go. Our two options: Ken resigns, or the Legislature impeaches him. Let’s push for both.
Indivisible Houston’s link to Paxton’s Tweets
Texas Tribune: Analysis: Impeachment is a political option in Washington. In Texas, not so much.
Call AG Ken Paxton at 512-463-2100, Governor Abbott, Lt Gov Patrick, and your State Rep and Senator to call for Ken Paxton’s Resignation.
“Hi, I live in the great state of Texas and have been shocked and disgusted at the actions and rhetoric coming out of our Attorney General. His flagrant disregard for the sanctity of our electoral process is damaging the very democracy that makes this country incredible. His abuse of power and illegal activity even before this past election make him unfit to hold office or represent the fine people of our state. I encourage [him to resign or you to impeach him]. Our government cannot tolerate those who misuse the power entrusted to them by the people. Thank you. My zip code is _____.”
Join us for our 2021 Kick-off party on Saturday, January 9, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM CST. Y’all are invited for some FUN and information as we gear up for the 87th Legislative Session. Bring a friend, bring a snack, and get ready to get pumped up!
https://www.facebook.com/events/126864035816907/
We’ll see you there!
Check it frequently to see who’s doing what when.
https://indivisibletxlege.org/sample-page/calendar/
