Tom DeLay's Town Hall Meeting in Rosenberg

[Lisa0825]

Hi, ya'll! I had posted in the Activism/Events forum about Tom DeLay coming to Sugarland. I didn't attend the protest, because I was doing some work for the Morrison campaign, but my friend John did, and he gives his roundup of the events:

(PLEASE DISTRIBUTE, POST ETC AS YOU SEE FIT.)

Tom deLay had a town hall meeting in Rosenberg Texas, for area teachers to discuss social security and the impacts to teachers retirement. There is a bill (house bill 567?) that has bipartisian support that the teachers are supporting, but deLay has blocked the vote on the bill. They have the votes to pass the bill and had them for over a year.

There were 400 at the meeting, the vast majority were vocal against DeLay. There were about 50-60 protestors outside as deLay entered the parking lot.

DeLay claimed that the National Education Association, the Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas Federation of Teachers were scaring teachers with incorrect information on the bill. He claimed they were not telling the truth. There was groans within the room when he said this.

He also said that teachers were getting more than they deserve in retirement benefits.

He also claimed that Congress "saved" medicare from being insolvent.

His staff refused to let Ch 11 or Ch 26 enter the hall even though it was a public town hall meeting. All in all a HORRIBLE event for DeLay. He got HAMMERED!

Please review the pictures and comments.



There were 300 chairs filled and 100 standing. The vast majority were
very vocal against deLay even at one time someone asked deLay "When will you retire?" which brought out a loud laugh.



There were 50 demonstrators waiting to greet deLay. Even the La
Rouche folks were there. About 15 of them.



There were many interesting signs.



These protestors were organized with signs made up and material ready
to pass out. They were very knowlegable of the bill and challenged deLay (when deLay finally shut up, and allowed for questions) on many points that he could not answer.

John R. Cobarruvias
Vice President
Bay Area New Democrats
Houston, TX
281-486-5203


John

[cryofan]

1. Good job! I myself live a couple of miles from Delay's Office

that scumbag needs to go

[NoPasaran]

2. Sounds great!

Keep hammering on that bastard. I can never forgive that evil sonuvabitch for disenfranchising me.

[Lisa0825]

3. Thanks, ya'll! You should both check out his opponent, Richard Morrison!

Link in my sig line. It's going to be an expensive campaign, with DeLay's connections. Morrison can use all the support he can get!!!

[NoPasaran]

8. Contributed already

Will send more bucks as the campaign continues.

[Lisa0825]

9. Excellent! Right as I was typing this, I got my bonus at work!

So, now I get to send some $$ his way too!:-)

[derby378]

4. "More than they deserve?"

I'm from Texas, and I've learned that all of our teachers in high school and below have had their retirement benefits slashed. Only college professors managed to get away unscathed.

Perhaps DeLay thinks those who educate our youth are in need of yet another cut...?

[Lisa0825]

5. I heard a quote from DeLay on the radio one time....

he said something like "that ($3000) raise we gave them was the biggest mistake we ever made."

[pop goes the weasel]

6. and adjuncts are getting nothing

Part-time college professors get nothing paid into any sort of retirement fund, not even Social Security. I have a feeling DeLay would like to expand that injustice into a general rule regarding teachers.

[Lisa0825]

7. I bet you're right! His voice sounds so full of contempt when he talks

about education. It's really disgusting. I guess he agrees with Rod Paige, that teachers are terrorists (re: meeting of Republican Governors speech).