The TX Legislative Session Begins January 12, 2021.
And We Are Ready
The Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) Advisory Council will be meeting in January and then more frequently in February 2021 to discuss legislative issues and actions that need to be taken. TXUUJM represents 30 UU congregations and over 1500 people. Top issues for TXUUJM - 1. Racial Justice 2. Environmental Justice 3. Healthcare Access 4. Economic Justice 5. Voting Rights Any other issues that go against UU Values will be watched carefully and acted upon, if necessary. Two issues included in last year’s list, LGBTQ Rights and Reproductive Rights, were not voted on the list this year but are issues that are very important to watch. For the first time in our history TXUUJM employed their 501(c)4 to recommend candidates to its members! Recommendations were made for state offices in Texas that considered swing races by political observers and allies. We vetted the candidates on the issues below nominated by 19 of our TXUUJM member congregation.
Criminal Justice Reform - Defunding the police, alternatives to incarceration, re-entry support
Economic Justice - Living wage, affordable housing, reducing poverty
Environmental Justice - Climate change, fracking, water resources
Gun Control - Open carry, background checks, assault weapon bans
Healthcare Access - Medicaid expansion, public health, reproductive health
Immigration - Local cooperation with ICE, detention center abuses
LGBTQ+ Rights - Workplace discrimination, laws targeting transgender people
Public Education Reform - State funding, standards/curriculum, special education
Racial Justice - White supremacy culture, school/residential segregation, police violence
Reproductive Justice - Access to abortion/birth control, sex ed in schools
Voting Rights - Redistricting, voter identification, online voter registration, early/mail-in voting
CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED & THEIR DISTRICTS
Janet Dudding 14 Sarah DeMerchant 26 Elizabeth Markowitz 28 Travis Bolt 29 Eric Holguin 32 Erin Zwiener 45 Vikki Goodwin 47 James Talarico 52 Keke Williams 54 Angela Brewer 64 Michelle Beckley 65 Sharon Hirsch 66 Lorenzo Sanchez 67 Jeff Whitfield 92 Lydia Bean 93 Alisa Simmons 94 Joe Drago 96 Elizabeth Beck 97 Ana Maria Ramos 102 Thresa Meza 105 Joanna Cattanach 108 Brandy Chambers 112 Rhetta Bowers 113 John Turner 114 Julie Johnson 115 Celina Montoya 121 Natali Hurtado 126 Kayla Alix 129 Gina Calanni 132 Sandra Moore 133 Ann Johnson 134 Jon Rosenthal 135 John Bucy 136 Akilah Bacy 138
What You Can Do Now!
It's as simple as getting to know your representatives and their staff so when you call on them, they will know who you are.
We WILL Bend Texas and America Toward Justice Together!
Anyone interested in becoming involved in the TX Legislative session with TXUUJM should contact Pam Johnson prljohnson@yahoo.com.