AUSTIN - Fort Worth lawmakers were among about 200 people who rallied Wednesday on the state capitol steps, calling for Texas to spend more money on Medicaid - a move that potentially could bring in $100 billion in new federal funds to the state to cover health care for more residents.
"We know Gov. Perry is completely out of touch with the reality that's facing Texans in the area of health care," state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, told the crowd. "He is out of touch with Texans who have to wait until they are so sick they have to go to the emergency room so they can get health care."
State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, urged the crowd not to be discouraged by the inaction thus far on the issue.
"Where there's a will, there's a way," Burnam said.
Expanding Medicaid to cover more adults is a key part of the federal government's Affordable Health Care Act. But Texas thus far has declined to embrace it.
Texas could get $100 billion in federal funds for a $15 billion investment in state funds, according to one report.
The noon rally was sponsored by Austin Interfaith, which includes leaders and clergy from numerous religions and denominations.
- Gordon Dickson
@gdickson
A pair of organizers for LaRouche PAC said Hurst is fertile ground for their message.
“This is one of the best sites in the area for receptability,” said John Jambor. “It’s blue-collar, and that’s the people who are hurting.”
Jambor, who said he’s been working for the political action committee for 37 years, was hanging out Monday and Tuesday with fellow LaRouche PAC employee Ian Overton at the Tarrant County sub courthouse on Grapevine Highway. Amid posters bearing photos of President Obama with a Hitler mustache and accusing him of crimes from cover-ups to murder, the two implored passersby to join them in a campaign to impeach the president.
There was no petition to sign, but Overton and Jambor offered folks a chance to get regular updates through a form that also allowed them to donate money.
Several people entering or leaving the sub courthouse stopped to talk with the men, who said they were returning to Houston Tuesday evening.
Many of those who stopped were eager to oust Obama. But most weren’t enthusiastic about being associated with LaRouche, the 90-year-old perennial presidential candidate (eight times and counting) who served time in prison for tax code violations and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
A few people were outright enraged by what they saw, said Deputy Constable Peter Donnelly.
“There have been a few upset people we’ve had to calm down,” he said. “A Marine veteran demanded they be arrested and I had to explain that we could not. He was mad about the picture of Obama with the Hitler mustache and thought it was disrespectful of the Commander in Chief. That’s a common complaint among vets.”
But there are at least five Supreme Court decisions saying that such things are protected by the First Amendment, Donnelly said.
“As long as they don’t attach anything to the building and they don’t block access, they’re within their rights,” he said.
In the photo above, John Jambor, left, tells Hurst resident Barbara Murray about Lyndon LaRouche's plan to impeach President Obama.
Story and photo by Terry Evans
The Democratic watch party at the Fort Worth Hilton grew steadily busier and more celebratory as Tarrant County Dems got their man, their man and, finally, their woman on Tuesday night.
Not to make light of other races, but local party members were particularly thrilled with the victory by Marc Veasey that will send him to the U.S. House, the re-election of President Barack Obama and the triumph of state Sen. Wendy Davis in a newly redrawn district after a long, messy campaign.
After Davis had addressed her cheering supporters,
concluding her remarks by telling them that "I will never give up on Texas, and I will never give up on you," she took a few minutes to meet with reporters.
Here's what she had to say:
"It was a very tight race. My congratulations to my opponent, Dr. Shelton, for the race that he ran. He obviously earned the respect of a lot of people in the community. I'm just very pleased that tonight I was given the opportunity to serve Senate District 10 once again.
"I hope the message that is sent is that we're fighting a fight that's worth fighting. That we're fighting one that resonates with people in our community, and it rises above everything else. It rises above partisanship, it rises above special interests, and it says that 'We the People' want to be the voices that are heard at the Texas Capitol and we are going to continue to elect someone who is willing to stand up and take on tough fights on our behalf.
"The things that we have been talking about I think are the things that Texans all over the state are concerned about. They want to make sure that their children have a good education and that they have an opportunity to continue to the economic vibrancy of the state of Texas. They want to make sure that healthcare for women is respected and restored. They want to make sure that their voices count as much as those that are well paid and well heeled in the walls of the Capitol. And I think our win tonight demonstrates that when you're willing to take on tough fights, the people in your community will reward you by restoring their trust and faith in you and returning you to office. And I hope that encourages others who are in office in the Texas Capitol to understand that it's a successful formula -- that taking care of the people who elect you to serve them and being true and honest to the mission that they ask you to serve is one that works.
"I was, of course, concerned when the early vote came in and we were a little bit behind from that and obviously didn't know what Election Day would bring, but I'm proud to say that many people came together today and restored our opportunity to return to Senate District 10."
-Patrick M. Walker
