December 2004
MALC’s New Year newsletter comes
to you in a different format as our website
and network receive an upgrade and MALC prepares for
a prosperous new year. January’s Newsletter
will arrive in your inbox with a new look and offer
the same quality updates you’ve grown accustomed
to receiving from MALC.
At this time of year, families and friends come
together for the holidays to enjoy great company,
good food, and reflect on both the past year and the
coming months. Here at MALC, we are proud to reflect
in this issue on a fantastic year; together, we accomplished
goals and prepared MALC to continue expanding its
scope of service.
While we enjoy the blessings of spending time with
our loved ones, MALC urges you to keep our friend
and caucus member Rick Noriega in your thoughts and
prayers while he serves his country in Afghanistan.
Our most heartfelt seasons’ greetings go out
to Representative Noriega and to his family in Houston.
Un fuerte abrazo!
MALC looks back on 2004 as a year of initiative.
Here are this year’s highlights:
MALC
Task Force on Tax/Revenue Options
In June, the MALC Task Force on Tax/Revenue Options
met with business leaders statewide to stimulate dialogue
about how to equitably and fairly fund Texas public
schools. Representative Mike Villarreal chaired the
task force and Representative Robert Alonzo served
as vice-chair. Task Force membership included: Rep.
Juan Escobar, Rep. Pat Haggerty, Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon,
Rep. Joe Moreno, Rep. Rick Noriega, Rep. Elvira Reyna,
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, and Rep. Jim Solis.
The Task Force engaged employers and heard the business
community’s thoughts on how state government
can dedicate more state revenue to public schools
while minimizing the tax burden on consumers and businesses.
Members of the Task Force on Tax/Revenue Option—in
conjunction with the entire MALC membership—will
formulate this experience into a set of core values
in preparation for the coming session.
Speakers’ Bureau
After several months of preparation and coordination,
MALC also finalized its Speakers’ Bureau. MALC
members make themselves available via the Bureau to
speak to the public on multiple topics, in an effort
to continue educating the rapidly expanding Latino
population in Texas. Readers are encouraged to contact
MALC to secure speakers for events.
Mexico City Trip
MALC members traveled to Mexico City in August.
Members met key leaders of the Mexican Congress and
Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez. Discussions
about our countries’ shared advantages and challenges
allowed MALC members to achieve new perspectives on
border issues that only increase in relevance as the
U.S. and Mexico economies continue to blur traditional
borders. U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza hosted a reception
for members in his residence. Members also took in
the breathtaking sights of our neighbor’s ancient
federal capitol.
“Es
Tu Capitolio” Television Show
MALC continued to play an active role in Univision’s
“Es Tu Capitolio” television show, with
guest appearances by several caucus members. The show
is produced by Univision in conjunction with the Mexican
American Legislative Leadership Foundation (www.malcfoundation.org),
and airs Saturday mornings on Univision channels across
the state. The show is an educational outreach effort
that brings government topics of interest into the
homes of the growing Hispanic community.
MALLF
Internship Program
MALC also continued to play an active role with
the Mexican American Legislative Leadership Foundation’s
experiential learning program, the Moreno/Rangel Legislative
Leadership Program. The MRLLP Class of 2005 includes
13 students that will be placed in caucus members’
offices for the legislative session. MALC is proud
to assist the Foundation in opening the doors of opportunity
to a new batch of young Texans who, through the Moreno/Rangel
Legislative Leadership Program, can experience first-hand
the Texas legislative process.
MALC/NALEO
Texas Legislative Issues Conference
In 2005, MALC and the National Association of Latino
Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) will co-host
the first-ever issues conference organized specifically
for Latino policy makers from all over Texas. The
MALC/NALEO Issues Conference, scheduled for January
28-29, 2005, will offer breakout policy sessions covering
a broad spectrum of issues impacting the Texas Latino
community. At the conclusion of the breakout sessions
on January 29, all attendees will participate in a
plenary session on Texas public school finance, arguably
the most pressing issue facing the 79th Texas Legislature.
A Texas first, MALC embraces the chance to take the
first step toward accomplishing the conference’s
mission—creating a new consensus for a new majority.
All Latino elected and appointed officials are extended
an invitation to attend. For registration and additional
information, contact Arturo Lopez at 512-236-8410
or 512-659-1294.
MALC is busy working hard to provide
added services to its members and their districts.
Thank you for being a part of our community and keeping
up with our growth. We look forward to your continued
participation in our projects through your readership.
Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.
Feliz y próspero año nuevo para todos!
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