Leadership without Fear

Ted Kennedy was Willing to put His Life at Risk for the People

Late last night, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy passed away.

Americans lost a friend and a champion, our country lost a leader. Senator Kennedy dedicated his life to public service and worked for the people without complaint. He created changes in America that went beyond policy and heightened our social consciousness. Senator Kennedy moved America forward and moved Americans forward. His greatest legacy, beyond his commitment to public service, was his advancement of health policy in America. He single-handedly lead America's commitment to improving the government's role in the health of Americans. The Senator believed health care reform would create a more just society and often referred to it as the cause of his life. He will be missed for two reasons: his heart and his intellect, both of which he gave wholly to America.

TSU Approves Balanced Budget

Texas Southern University has approved a $238 million balanced budget that includes increases for scholarship and athletics. I'm honored to inform you that much of the additional money for TSU's athletic program will be generated from a bill I authored and passed during the last legislative session: HB 4501. In total, TSU's athletic department will receive $7.7 million, bringing the university's athletic program more in line with the other schools in its Athletic Conference. I also authored and passed legislation, HB 2954, that is expected to generate $700 thousand per year for TSU's student center. Additionally, I'm proud to inform you that I helped secure $9.7 million for TSU to cover damages and loss of revenues caused by Hurricane Ike that were not covered by FEMA or insurance.

Below, I've included an article from Saturday's Houston Chronicle with more details on TSU's budget. As always, I will continue to keep you up to date on TSU and the progress of our efforts, as I continue to work on the long-term success, independence and prosperity of Texas Southern University.


TSU approves $238 million budget
Spending increases for scholarships and athletics

By JEANNIE KEVER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Aug. 21, 2009, 6:39PM

Texas Southern University's governing board approved a $238 million budget for the coming year Friday but also reserved the right to make changes later.

The budget, which provides more money for scholarships, financial aid and athletics, is the second balanced budget for the administration headed by President John Rudley, who was hired in early 2008.

But unlike the current budget, which was balanced with the help of $6.1 million from reserves, the 2010 budget is based upon money the university will have in-hand.

Almost. It does include $680,000 from reserves, but Jim McShan, vice president for administration and finance, said the new budget allows TSU to begin living within its means.

That meant no raises for faculty or staff; most program budgets were cut by 5 percent to allow spending on a handful of new programs, including $782,450 to create an honors college.

The biggest jump is for capital projects — that portion of the budget rose to $35 million, most of it from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to repair damage caused by Hurricane Ike.

The budget also includes $31.9 million for scholarships and grants, reflecting both increased fundraising by TSU and additional money pledged for financial aid by the Obama administration.

The athletic department will get $7.7 million, bringing the Tigers in line with other schools in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Much of the additional money will go for travel, scholarships and equipment for female sports.

The additional money came from an athletic fee approved by students last year and by the Legislature this spring.

Regents approved the budget with the caveat that they may amend it at their October meeting. Richard Salwen, a lawyer from Austin who is vice chairman of the board, said the board will devote more time up front to the budget in coming years.

Public universities must submit budgets for the 2010 fiscal year to the state by Aug. 31.

Historic Moment Says, "You too are America"

Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court yesterday was an historic moment for all Americans, and particularly for women and people of color. I wanted to share an op-ed published in today's Austin American Statesman that was written by Rebecca Acuña, who works in my office, on what this historic moment meant to her as a young Latina who grew up in South Texas.




COMMENTARY

Acuna: Sonia Sotomayor's presence on the Supreme Court will remind young people of what they can achieve

Rebecca Acuna, LOCAL CONTRIBUTOR
Friday, August 07, 2009

Watching our nation's first African American president nominate the first Latina to the Supreme Court was surreal. Immediately after Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, I texted my mother, "Mom, a Latina just got nominated to the Supreme Court!" She quickly responded, "I know, how exciting!"

As I reflected on the historic nature of that nomination, I thought about the ways that I could relate to Sotomayor's life. Like her father, my mother did not speak English when she first came to the United States. My own journey to college was a long and difficult one. As an immigrant from a low-income household I spent many nights frustrated that, despite my good grades, a higher education would be unattainable. After much perseverance, and with the support and love of our family, my sister and I were the first to attend college and graduate from the University of Texas.

And while my story was not uncommon in South Texas, where I grew up, it was a story not very visible in the public sphere, and much less on the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor grew up poor in a Bronx housing project and was raised by a single mother after the death of her father. Her dedication took her to Ivy League schools and subsequently led to a rewarding legal career. However, Sotomayor's story is no less American than Sen. John Cornyn's or that of the other justices. It represents the background of the people I grew up with, and that of millions across the nation.

Estimates predict that, by 2025, one in four U.S. students will be Latino. Sotomayor's ascendance from a housing project to the United States Supreme Court will enthuse young Latinos across the country and remind them that they too have a shot at the American dream. Her presence will bolster the aspirations and shift the expectations of what's achievable for young women and Latinos from working class households.

There is no doubt that Sotomayor has excellent academic and legal credentials that make her qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. With her quintessentially American story, she will be a great role model to Americans from all backgrounds.

Obama's nomination of Sotomayor renewed and strengthened the promise that, in America, all things are possible.It has shown how much we've grown as a country since 2005, when anti-immigrant legislation was prevalent and resulted in hostility toward Latinos.

The president's nomination of Sotomayor says to me, "You too are America."

Acuna is a policy analyst and communications director in Austin for state Rep. Garnet F. Coleman. She grew up in McAllen and Laredo.