Daily Dispatch 9/4/24: Bexar County Defies Paxton's Threats Over Voter Outreach, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Officials in Bexar County have voted to move forward with plans to mail voter registration forms to unregistered voters in spite of threats of a lawsuit by Ken Paxton: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/bexar-county-hire-voter-firm-19740080.php The Texas Department of State Health Services has followed a similar policy at Texas DPS in denying trans Texans from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/03/texas-transgender-birth-certificates/ The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers has unveiled its Educator's Bill Of Rights, which they intend to bring before the Texas Legislature next year: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/texas-teachers-union-pushing-stronger-public-school-protections/287-6eb18a34-5697-499d-97b2-e50ce6ddfa69 ...While public school districts struggle with teachers lacking proper certification: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/texas-uncertified-teachers-staff-shortages/ Ted Cruz would really like for you to forget the key role he has played in undermining reproductive freedom and abortion rights in Texas: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/03/ted-cruz-texas-senate-election-abortion-record Arizona Senator Mark Kelly will take part in a fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday September 13 in Fort Worth: https://secure.kamalaharris.com/a/paiorhjgqjnzkdjsgn Deposed State Rep. Shawn Thierry shows her true colors in an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham, who herself has little time for the outgoing turncoat: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361472377112 TribFest starts tomorrow in Austin, and Progress Texas will set up our official HQ during the FREE Open Congress event on Saturday September 7 at Hideout Coffee at 7th and Congress! We'll be live all day recording for the podcast, hanging out with progressive activists including YOU, and moving our stylish merch. Come see us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://festival.texastribune.org/event/651560b0-5404-4ea0-b75e-8725c648826d/websitePage:64071bfd-7c25-49f7-a1ca-90f3fa6ff376⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠ Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.