Message from the Chair:

Jan Soifer, TCDP Chair

Celebrate July 4th with voters and vets!

July 3rd, 2012

Fellow Democrats,

Happy Fourth of July! We’re Democrats, we’re Texans and we’re tough, so we’re not going to let a little heat get in the way of celebrating our country’s birthday. We have lots of opportunities to wish our country a happy birthday this week, so I hope you’ll join us for one or all of them. On the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act, this is a great week to be an American!

Please join us this week as we register voters and honor our Iraq veterans. What could be more patriotic? (RSVP online to all of these events!)

July 4^th Voter Registration at the Austin Symphony & Fireworks, 7:00 – 10:30 p.m.

July 7th Voter Registration at the Welcome Home Iraq Veterans Parade
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

July 7^th Voter Registration at the Iraq Veterans Resource Fair
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Last week the Supreme Court refused to turn back the clock and reignite the healthcare crisis that so many officials campaigned for so long to end. This landmark decision, upholding the constitutionality of President Obama’s legislation, will benefit people in Travis County, in Texas and across the country who don’t currently have access to reliable, affordable health care.

I’m proud of the Supreme Court for making that decision, and I’m happy we have Congressman Doggett and other Democrats in Congress, who have fought so hard for comprehensive healthcare reform. Now more than ever, states, regions and local governments need to confront this new healthcare landscape and find solutions that will accomplish the goal of keeping people healthy.

In Travis County, that solution must include a plan by Central Health (the county healthcare district) to leverage local resources and receive additional federal money through what is called the 1115 Medicaid Waiver. This provision is a critical resource that the Supreme Court upheld in its ruling and it could help millions of Texans in every income bracket, and I hope the State of Texas will take advantage of it before the September 1^st deadline for applying for funding.

Many in Travis County support an additional way to help promote indigent care in Travis County by building a medical school to help expand our base of providers. Adding more doctors and medical specialists will help fill our community’s significant physician gap, strengthen the many innovative healthcare programs that are being developed here and serve tens of thousands of Central Texans who will seek treatment as a result of the ACA decision. We must be creative as we move forward and stay one step ahead of the inevitable roadblocks by Governor Perry and other Texas Republicans to increased coverage for indigent healthcare in Texas.

Have a safe and happy 4^th — and I hope to see you at some of the events.

Sincerely,