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I join the many who have called on Dan Ramos to resign and if he does not, then not to run again, and if he does run, I call on Bexar County Democrats to defeat him. Soundly!

In the meantime, we should pray for Dan Ramos. He seems to be a tortured, unhappy and sad individual.

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Austin – Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, (R-San Antonio) today named Representative Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo) as Chairman of the crucial Human Services Committee that will take the lead role in protecting children, as well as the Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

Rep. Raymond’s appointment comes as vital state initiatives are facing a projected deficit of over $26 billion. Part of Chairman Raymond’s task will be to defend Health security for hard-working families and to maintain a Child Protective Services Agency that will truly protect our most vulnerable children.

“I consider this assignment as vital to Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley and all of Texas.  How we move forward on Medicaid and CHIP is vital to the health care of thousands of Texans and to our economy,” said Chairman Raymond.

“Health security is part of our state’s economic system. It is a statewide commitment to health for Texans and a commitment to doing what is right. To care about our fellow Texans is to care about their health,” said Chairman Raymond, who has extensive experience as a former 8 year member of the Appropriations Committee.

The Human Services Committee is also responsible for physical and mental health – aging, alcohol and drug abuse, care of the blind and deaf. Also protective, regulatory, and rehabilitation services, including Child Protective Services.

“If we don’t have a strong Child Protective Services Agency, children’s lives will be lost due to abuse,” Rep. Raymond said. “We should not let one child die, and we must reduce child abuse — period.  This is an important assignment, and I intend to devote all the strength God has given me in order to meet the challenges before us.”

Rep. Raymond was also appointed to the Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, which has oversight over all Judicial Courts, the Office of the Attorney General and all civil court procedures and matters.

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“Two weeks ago I met with staff members of the Legislative Council and directed them to draft the appropriate bill establishing once and for all what all hardworking Texans already know – that a fee is a tax – period,” said Rep. Raymond.  “I will introduce this legislation so that we can take it up and, I believe, pass it, during the upcoming legislative session.”

Rep. Raymond, who is Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said that for too long elected officials in Texas, Washington and governments throughout the country have passed taxes by calling them fees, surcharges, assessment and even penalties.

“It is time we make it harder for politicians to hide the truth from the people, and the truth is, if you raise fees, you raise taxes.  We need to make sure all taxes are out in the open, so Texans know when their taxes are being raised,” Rep. Raymond said.

Raymond fears that a looming deficit of roughly $25 billion will tempt some lawmakers to try and make up that deficit by raising fees and surcharges without calling them taxes. That would include items like driver’s licenses, hunting and fishing licenses and even obtaining a copy of a birth certificate.

“Working families and small businesses are the first who get hit when these hidden taxes are created or increased, and right now, they are the ones who can least afford for government to take more money from their already thin wallets,” said Rep. Raymond.

Rep. Raymond said he would ask every member of the House and Senate to support his legislation, which will require approval by 2/3 of the Legislature in order to put the proposed amendment up for popular vote next November.

“Texans not only want the truth when it comes to honesty in taxation, they are demanding it.  I know they will approve it overwhelmingly,” predicted Rep. Raymond.

AUSTIN, May 26 – Holding up framed poll tax receipts he said his father had to pay for to cast a vote, state Rep. Richard Peña Raymond on Tuesday told House members he would continue to fight the controversial voter ID bill for the fifth consecutive day.

The Laredo Democrat delivered a personal privilege address to House members and delivered an emotional account of traveling to Memphis, Tenn. as a child to see the hotel room where Martin Luther King Jr. spent his final night. Dr. King, said Raymond, was his ultimate inspiration.

I would never ask anyone, not one of you, to betray the people you believe you represent. Don’t ask me to betray mine.”

“How appropriate, it seems to me, that the day that I felt I had to get up and clarify what I am doing and what I will continue to do was the day that a Hispanic woman – because of Dr. King’s work – that a Hispanic woman was named to the Supreme Court today,” said Raymond.

On Tuesday President Barack Obama announced his nomination to the country’s highest court of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who is of Puerto

Rican descent and the first Latina nominated.

“He (King) stood up for us, not just blacks, not just African Americans not just Hispanics, no, but for poor whites and for everybody,” said Raymond, pausing to regain his composure after fighting back tears.

“That’s what he did and because of that today an African American named Barack Obama appointed a Latina named Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court, because he (King) stood up. Not because it was for Democrats and not because it was for Republicans, but because it was for Americans and so we would have a right, all of us, to enjoy the greatness of this country.”

Raymond’s remarks came at the beginning of the day that could witness the death of the voter ID bill through a delay-tactic called clubbing, where members debate minor bills in an effort to stall bills. Tuesday midnight is the deadline for the bill to be considered for final passage and it sits behind dozens of several minor bills Democrats are intent on talking to near-death.

Republicans have decried the measure as a stalling tactic that also threatens several other pieces of legislation, filed by Democrats and Republicans, and on Monday night tensions could be seen bubbling very close to the surface. Small groups of Democrats huddled in various places on the House floor to discuss strategy, only to have a colleague or two storm off after learning Democrats seemed intent on the practice.

Raymond reiterated he would not relent, however, as what he calls the “voter suppression” bill is something he would fight until the session’s end, if necessary.

“I can’t ask you to feel what I feel but its important to me because I have always tried to respect every member of this chamber that I have served with,” he said. ”I have tried to respect the differences I have and I want you to respect my differences. I would never ask anyone, not one of you, to betray the people you believe you represent. Don’t ask me to betray mine. Don’t ask me to betray my beliefs because I would never do that to you.”

Raymond said he hoped his colleagues would join him at the back microphone, where Democrats have taken turns for five days asking questions on bills to stall the voter ID measure. But, he said, he would stand there alone if he needed to.

After the fourth bill came to the floor, Raymond stood alone at the podium and continued to stall.