Three Seats to the Majority
Through the efforts of the HDCC, Democrats in the Texas House have seen tremendous gains during the past 6 years. Democrats began 2006 outnumbered 87-63 by Republicans in the State House. The HDCC faced the daunting task of re-electing 13 incumbent Democrats in Republican-leaning or toss up districts. By the end of 2006, all 13 had won re-election, plus Democratic challengers defeated 6 Republican incumbents, narrowing the margin to 81-69. In 2007, Democrats won a critical special election in Fort Worth and for the first time in our Texas history, a Republican state house member switched parties and joined our ranks, growing our number to 71. In 2008, Democrats added three more seats, narrowing the Republican majority to a razor-thin 76-74. As of today, House Democrats are three seats away from a majority.
What does this mean for Texas? The next election is vital for the future of Texas. Should Democrats take a majority, it will not only mean a reversal of power, but it will mean a reversal of the damaging policies put into effect during the past 6 years of Republican leadership in the Texas House.
As you know in 2003, Tom Delay and his cronies led a redistricting effort that meant the loss of over 100 years of seniority at the congressional level and a number of chairmanships, including the chairmanship of the powerful Rules Committee. A Democratic majority in the Texas House could determine the fate of our current Congressional delegation, plus the fate of the 4 seats Texas is expected to gain in 2011.
On the policy front, Texas is ranked at or near the bottom in every social/human service category. In 2003, the Republican leadership set their sights on cutting the budget on the backs of our seniors and kids. As a result, over 300,000 children lost their Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, making Texas dead last in the percentage of insured children . Mental health services and funding were drastically reduced for both children and adults. Seniors in nursing homes had their monthly Medicaid allowances cut from $60 to $15, making it necessary for nursing home workings to dig deep into their own pockets to buy necessities such as shampoo and denture cream for their residents.
Fortunately, due to our gains in 2006 and 2008, we are beginning to see change. During the 2007 legislative session, Democrats led the effort to reverse the cuts made to the CHIP program. And Democrats fought hard to make sure that the needs of children, seniors and those with mental health needs would be served. Now in 2009, Democrats are stronger than ever, fighting to rein in college tuition costs and bring real insurance reform to Texas. With Democrats back in the majority, the needs of every day Texans will again be the top priority.
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