February 2005
CONTENTS
MALC
Press Conference on HB 2
Public school finance is the most pressing topic
this legislative session. On February 16th, MALC held
a press conference to discuss the shortcomings of
HB 2—the public school funding legislation filed
by Rep. Kent Grusendorf (R–Arlington), Chair
of the House Committee on Public Education.
The event included comments by MALC members Aaron
Peña (Edinburg), Pat Haggerty (El Paso), Melissa
Noriega (Houston), and Caucus Chair Pete Gallego (Alpine).
Members discussed how HB 2 perpetuates school funding
inequality. The bill creates two accounts for funding
public schools—one account pays for the 90%
of Texas school children attending what are known
as “property-poor” school districts, and
the other larger account pays for the remaining 10%
of Texas school children. These 10% attend “property-rich”
school districts.
Over 90% of the 4.3 million students in Texas—almost
3.9 million students—attending public school
will receive less per student than the remaining 10%
of the student population. HB 2 does not close the
wealth gap among Texas school children, as it claims.
Caucus members asked the House leadership to match
the standards set by an adequacy study commissioned
by the state.
The House Education Committee voted HB2 out of committee
on Wednesday, March 2nd. The bill is expected on the
floor Tuesday, March 8th.
In September 2004, State District Judge John Dietz
found the Texas public school funding system unconstitutional.
According to Judge Dietz, the Texas system is unconstitutional
because the current system fails to provide an “adequate
suitable education” and has become an unconstitutional
state property tax.
Click
here to access Judge Dietz’s and other court
findings
For additional resources, background information,
and a copy of the MALC press release, go to
www.malc.org. You may also access a series of
graphics containing details about H.B. 2 and other
education facts at the following links:
http://www.malc.org/pdfs/TeacherFunding021605.pdf
http://www.malc.org/pdfs/equity_malc_f.pdf
http://www.malc.org/pdfs/MALC_total%20cuts.pdf
http://www.malc.org/pdfs/MALC_HB%202%20No%20New.pdf
If you have any questions about HB 2, contact MALC
Legislative Director and Attorney Adrianna Bernal
at (512) 236-8410.
Driver’s Licenses for Foreign Nationals
Rep. Roberto Alonzo (D-Dallas) has filed three bills
this session addressing driver’s licenses for
foreign nationals. HB 95, 96, and 136 each would allow
foreign nationals to obtain a Texas driver’s
license.
HB 95 requires the Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS) to print a statement on the back of the license
limiting a foreign national’s use of the license
to operating a motor vehicle. It would exclude use
for establishing employment, registering to vote,
or qualifying for public benefits.
HB 96 requires DPS to print the license holder’s
country of citizenship using a uniform symbol or code
on the face of the license where DPS typically lists
restrictions or endorsements.
HB 136 does not require wording to be printed on
the license identifying the license holder as a foreign
national.
Congress voted on similar legislation this month.
On a 261-161 vote, the U.S. House voted on a legislative
package (HR 418, HR 71, HR 75) that could prevent
the passage of bills at the state level allowing foreign
nationals to obtain driver’s licenses.
To
access the bills, click here.
To
access Rep. Alonzo’s bills, click here.
MALC
Members Host Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership
Program Class of 2005-6
Thirteen Caucus members are currently hosting fellows
and interns from the Mexican American Legislative
Leadership Foundation’s Moreno/Rangel Legislative
Leadership Program. The program provides Latino undergraduate
and graduate students the opportunity to work in a
legislative setting during session.
The program emphasizes interviews with state leaders
and elected officials; the 2003-04 class met with
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza, Governor Rick
Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Speaker
of the House Tom Craddick, among others.
The members of this year’s class are:
Aaron Barrera of Houston - University of Texas
at Austin
Claudia Briseño of Brownsville - St. Edwards’s
University
Adell Cruz of Austin - St. Edward’s University
Nicole Drozd of San Antonio - University of Texas
at San Antonio
Oriana Fernandez of Eagle Pass - University of
Houston
Luis Galvan of Odessa – University of Texas
of the Permian Basin
Eliseo Garza of Edinburg - University of Texas
- Pan American
Mia Garza of Hebbronville - University of Texas
at Austin
Orlando Gutierrez of San Antonio - St. Mary’s
University
Luis Martinez of Dallas - Southern Methodist University
Zulema Mendoza of Dallas - Southern Methodist
University
Lizette Montiel of Laredo - University of Texas
at Austin
Corinna Noriega of San Benito - Bond University,
Australia
To learn more about the program and how to apply,
go
to the Foundation’s website.
MALC
Welcomes Rep. Tracy King
MALC welcomes Rep. Tracy King back to the caucus.
Rep. King served in the Texas House of Representatives
previously and was a member of MALC. He returns to
represent Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, La Salle,
Frio, and Medina counties.
Rep. King sits on the Appropriations and Environmental
Regulation committees and serves as Chairman of Budget
& Oversight for Environmental Regulation.
MALC Member Profiles
Roberto Alonzo
Elected in November 2002 to represent a district
that includes the City of Cockrell Hill, the North
Oak Cliff area of Dallas, and part of the City of
Grand Prairie, Roberto Alonzo is serving his fourth
term in the Texas House.
Representative Alonzo currently serves on the House
Corrections and Judicial Affairs Committees. He previously
sat on the Transportation and Urban Affairs Committees.
He Chairs the MALC Higher Education Task Force and
serves on the Board of Directors of the Legislative
Study Group (LSG).
Previous legislative accomplishments include creating
the North Texas Initiative, a project in conjunction
with universities and colleges of North Texas to assure
a greater number of Hispanic students have access
to higher educational and better career opportunities.
He also authored and passed a House Resolution creating
the Center for Mexican-American studies at UT-Arlington
and a law creating the Texas Partnership & Scholarship
Program. Representative Alonzo also co-authored a
bill to make stalking a criminal offense and require
increased security devices at rental dwellings and
apartments.
Representative Alonzo is a graduate of the University
of Texas at Austin and received his law degree from
the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern
University. The UT-Austin student body elected Representative
Alonzo student body president—the first Mexican-American
student to serve in that post. For the last 17 years
he has been a practicing attorney in Dallas.
Representative Alonzo is an active leader in a number
of civic and community organizations. He served two
years on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Area
Rapid Transit Authority (DART). He also served as
Chairman of the Mexican American Democrats of Texas
from 1991 - 1997. Representative Alonzo’s other
activities include service as President of the Oak
Cliff Little League and a member of the Oak Cliff
Coalition for the Arts, Knights of Columbus Oak Cliff
Council 3593, Wynnewod North Neighborhood Association,
Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Harry Stone Montessori
PTA, and assistant team leader of his son’s
Weebelos Boy Scouts.
State Representative Alonzo was born in Crystal
City, TX, on Christmas Day, 1956. He and his wife
Sylvana have three children: Roberto Jr., Maria Xiomara,
and Jose Maria Emeterio.
Veronica Gonzales
Veronica Gonzales begins her tenure as a state representative
during this 79th legislative session. She represents
District 41, a district contained entirely in Hidalgo
County, including portions of McAllen, Edinburg, and
Mission. Representative Gonzales sits on the Government
Reform, Judiciary, and Rules & Resolutions Committees.
She was recently elected by her colleagues as Secretary
of the State Democratic Caucus. In her short time
in office, Ms. Gonzales has authored and joint-authored
23 bills and has co-authored 8 bills.
Representative Gonzales was raised in San Marcos,
Texas, and graduated from Southwest Texas State University
in 1986 with dual degrees in English and Spanish.
After college, she enrolled in The University of Texas
School of Law, earning her J.D. in 1991.
Following law school, Representative Gonzales moved
to McAllen and began practicing law at Jarvis and
Kittleman, P.C., where she later became a firm partner.
In 1998, she joined four of her partners and formed
Kittleman, Thomas, Ramirez and Gonzales, PLLC, where
she currently practices.
During her professional career, Representative Gonzales
has served as president of both the Hidalgo County
Bar Association and the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers
Association. She is also a member of the Hidalgo County
Women's Bar Association, the Mexican-American Bar
Association and the College of the State Bar of Texas.
Member Birthdays
There are no MALC birthdays in February! This section
will feature March birthdays in the next issue.
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