Katherine Haenschen Posts

It's time to move beyond grandstanding and look at the facts of the ACA and what it will cost us if we continue to have the nation's highest rate of uninsured residents.

First off, it should be emphasized that the governor's pronouncement was not the final word on this matter - any possible expansion of Medicaid must first come through the Legislature. Thankfully, the governor backtracked on his original stance and said he would work with the Legislature.

Retiring Representative Scott Hochberg is one of the state's foremost experts on public school finance. He recently penned the following op-ed about the high cost of high-stakes testing.

A Sensible Approach to Decrease the Hours Our Public Schools Spend on Testing

By Scott Hochberg

Our public schools are spending too much time on testing. It's not just the yearly state-mandated STAAR tests, but all the benchmark testing and practice testing that districts have added to prepare students for those tests.

In Austin, simply questioning the value of all of this testing gets you labeled as "anti- accountability." So let me be clear.  I recognize and support the value of standardized testing in making sure all schools are teaching the curriculum and assuring that every student receives the benefit of that teaching. But I don't agree that everything we are currently doing in the name of accountability has enough value to justify the class time and dollars spent. There must be a sensible middle ground between over-testing and no accountability.

I believe we can reduce testing for most students while actually improving educational accountability. That's why I filed House Bill 233 in the last legislative session. My bill would let elementary and middle school students "test out" of taking subsequent STARR tests in a particular subject by doing well on the test in third or fifth grade. This would greatly reduce testing for most students, which in turn would reduce the amount of valuable class time spent on benchmarking and other test-preparation exercises.

Here's how my plan would work. All students would be tested in reading and math in third grade, just like they are now.  Those students who pass with a comfortable margin in either subject would get to skip the test in that subject in fourth grade. Those who do not pass the test in third grade, or who barely pass, would be tested in that subject again in fourth grade to make sure that the school is doing its job in bringing those kids up to grade level. In fifth grade, we'd again test all students in all testing subjects, but then in sixth, and again in seventh, only test those who do not pass or barely pass in the previous year.

This makes sense, because from years of testing and collecting data, we know that a student who scores well on the third-grade reading test, for example, will pass the fourth-grade reading test more than 95% of the time. So before we even give the fourth-grade test, we can predict very reliably that a large group of the students will pass, and we know which students they are just by looking at their previous year's scores.

Since that's the case, why spend so much valuable class time "preparing" those students for a test on which we already know they will do well? Similar comparisons hold true for all other subjects and grades, and are consistent regardless of the school or teacher.

My plan would have a lot less testing, but it would actually bring greater accountability. In the system today, many low-scoring students stay under the radar as long as there are enough higher-performing students to keep their schools' ratings up. These low-scoring students are the ones most likely to tune out school, become discipline problems and ultimately drop out. Under my plan, school ratings for the fourth, sixth and seventh grades would be based on the gains in scores of only those students who scored low in the previous year. There would be no place for any low-performing student to be hidden in the numbers.

Supporters of more and more testing argue that we must test all students in each grade to measure the performance of each teacher. My bill leaves that question to local choice, allowing districts to opt in additional high performing students if they choose, with the state continuing to pay for the tests. But, since almost all high-performing students pass TAKS, and presumably will pass STARR, easily each year, the test really doesn't really tell us much about an individual teacher's value for those kids. Besides, isn't the true value of a fourth grade teacher how well her students perform in fifth grade, not how well she prepares them for a one-day test taken weeks before the end of fourth grade?

Texas has fundamentally followed the same testing process in k-8 for 20 years, despite changing the name of the test from TAAS to TAKS to STARR. It's time we used what all that testing has taught us, relieve our classrooms of the constant preparation for tests, and focus our testing on those students who need extra help and evaluation.

A proposal like HB 233 will take us a long way in that direction.

State Representative Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) serves as vice-chair of the House Committee on Public Education. He is retiring from the Legislature in January after representing his district in southwest Houston for the past twenty years.

The Obama campaign released a new ad today to air in battleground states titled "Firms." It features the voice of an out-of-touch mendacious millionaire warbling a patriotic tune, while headlines detailing decidedly un-American acts flash on the screen.

Take a look:

The ad details Mitt Romney's history of outsourcing jobs to Mexico and China during his time at Bain, and his outsourcing of jobs to India as governor of Massachusetts. The ad also reminds folks that Romney won't come clean about the mysterious offshore tax havens in which he apparently stores his riches.

Why does this matter?

Romney's rationale for his candidacy is wrapped up in his experience at Bain, which he seems to think makes him an expert on "fixing" the economy and "creating" jobs. Romney thinks we need a businessman in the White House, but his own business (and governing) history is one of killing jobs in America and sending them overseas. That's not what we need to keep this economy moving in the right direction. Romney's policies won't help us recover from the economic wreckage of the Bush administration -- they're just more of the same.  

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

A good friend of Burnt Orange Report and local progressive, Mike Blizzard, has been hard at work for the past few years on a documentary about Dock Ellis, the MLB pitcher best known for claiming to have thrown a no-hitter while high on LSD. Less well known is that he spent the last 25 years of his life as a drug counselor in Southern California. As the Kickstarter page for the film, Dock Ellis "was an outspoken leader of a new wave of civil rights in sports, when black athletes were no longer content to accept second-class treatment or keep their mouths shut about indignities." Very cool.

One of the outtakes from the massive amount of footage of friends and colleagues of Dock's is a great clip of his friend Al Rambo, one of his closest friends, taking about the opportunity Dock got to vote for Barack Obama in 2008 shortly before he passed away. Check out the clip:

Bliz and friends have been running a Kickstarter to finish the film. In kind of crappy news, a friend of Bliz's -- a die-hard Republican -- saw the clip and withdrew his $300 contribution to the Kickstarter. If you'd like to help make it back up, please consider making a contribution.

Update 8:10 pm: Bliz informs me via email that the Republican friend changed his mind and doubled his donation. No reason y'all can't give as well, but at least this story has a happy ending.

Check out all of our BOR videos of the day on the VOTD tag.

Last night, BOR staff writer Ben Sherman was on KEYE, our local CBS affiliate in Austin, talking about his recent posts excoriating the Texas Aggie Conservatives for their digital flier depicting President Obama in a manner that many folks find racially insensitive and ignorant.

Click here to view the clip online at KEYE's website www.weareaustin.com.

A few things to comment on here. First off, we're not a University of Texas blog; while we were started by UT students, we're the largest progressive political blog in Texas and one of the leading state-level blogs nationally. While many of our past and present staff are past or present Longhorns, we're not a blog about UT. Just to clear that up.

What I've found most interesting in the debate over Ben's original post about the ad is the number of people -- including white liberals -- who want to excuse this by claiming that "boy" isn't a racially charged term, or suggest that because there are many other worse instances of racism in our society, this one should be allowed to pass. Um, no.

Would any of you reading this refer to an African-American adult male as "boy?" I'm guessing most of you are shaking your head "No." Why not? Is it because you're familiar with the history of the use of that term and its continued pejorative, belittling usage since? Would you, as a representative of an organization, approve the creation of promotional materials that could easily be interpreted to depict the first African-American president as a "boy"? To drill down a bit deeper, the context here is one of young caucasian males (The Texas Aggie Conservatives) using words ("NEEDS a time out") and imagery (body proportions, clothing, posture) code or depict an older, African-American male as a "boy."

What's also become clear in this debate is that plenty of folks are unaware of (or willfully ignorant towards) the history of the word "boy" in this context.

Here I will borrow from an insightful piece by Jeff Mays on a recent court case around the use of the word "boy" in racial contexts:

For decades, the term "boy" coming from a white person's mouth was a way to verbally degrade a grown man. It was a constant reminder that blacks did not have equal standing under the law. It was a reinforcement that there was a legal caste system in place in this country and that black men were at the bottom of that system.

Even if you had gone to college, earned degrees, supported a family, raised up children - achievements and responsibilities that are characteristic of responsible adults - you could still be called a "boy." In fact, it's degrading to call any man a boy.

The key here is context, as Ben stated during the KEYE piece. The Texas Aggie Conservatives are an extreme right-wing group with a history of intolerance -- just look at their petition to end funding for GLBT center because it promotes "only one side of a political, religious, and sexual worldview," i.e. acceptance and tolerance of GLBT individuals, clearly values abhorrent to the Texas Aggie Conservatives.

The Austinist had an interesting take, asking if the ad was racist or stupid. More than stupid, it's ignorant. At best, TAC wasn't aware of the racial connotation of depicting an adult African-American male as a boy, let alone said depiction emanating from a bunch of white, college-aged males in East Texas. But I'm disinclined to give TAC any benefit of the doubt, given that the group has a history of extreme intolerance and has embarrassed many of their fellow Aggies. (Also, the Austinist vast majority of Internet commenters clearly need a course in critical race theory but that's an issue for another day.)

Kudos to Ben for writing the original post that sparked this story. If nothing else I'm glad it's stirring up a conversation and enabling people unaware of the history of the term "boy" and how TAC's image strikes many as offensive, ignorant, and yes, racist.  

Big news for State Representative Pete Gallego in his run-off for CD-23 today: San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has endorsed Gallego as the strongest Democrat in the race, both as a public servant and candidate.

What makes this such a big deal? San Antonio is considered strong Ciro Rodriguez turf, Gallego's opponent in the run-off. Rodriguez received 56% of the vote in the county in the May 29th primary election. Rodriguez previously represented the 23rd, losing to Republican incumbent Quico "I Hate Cops and Firefighters" Canseco in 2010.

The 23rd is considered one of the best pick-up opportunities for Democrats across the nation this cycle, and it's critical that our party nominate the candidate best capable of winning in November -- and in November 2014 as well. Gallego's fundraising prowess will enable him to fight back against Canseco, a veritable vacuum for conservative special interest money.  

Mayor Castro released the following statement today, emphasis mine:

"It is with great pride that I endorse my friend Pete Gallego in this race for Congress."

"From the servicemen and women at our military installations to our blue collar working families, and from our Fortune 500 companies to our universities, the future of San Antonio is the future of America. We need a congressional delegation that can work together to grow our economy and recruit major employers, to support our military, and to never give up in the fight against radical politicians who want to make it harder for every Texas child to get a quality education and affordable healthcare. That is why we need Pete Gallego in Congress. He is the best candidate in this race to take on Quico Canseco in November, and a proven leader whose steady hand we can count on to serve our community in Congress for years to come."

If elected, Gallego will be an exemplary member of Congress, based on his history of tremendous leadership and public service in the Texas Legislature. It's great to see Mayor Castro, another tremendous leader with a bright future ahead of him in Texas, stand up for Gallego. Whether this moves any voters in the Bexar County portion of the district remains to be seen, but for the sake of a Democratic majority in Congress next January, I sure hope it does.

Want to help Pete? Donate directly to him through ActBlue right now.

The full release from the Gallego campaign is below the jump.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro Endorses Pete Gallego for Congress

San Antonio, TX // In a major development in the race to take on Congressman Quico Canseco in the 2012 general election, today San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro announced his endorsement of State Representative Pete Gallego for Texas's 23rd Congressional District. Mayor Castro released the following statement:

   "It is with great pride that I endorse my friend Pete Gallego in this race for Congress."

   "From the servicemen and women at our military installations to our blue collar working families, and from our Fortune 500 companies to our universities, the future of San Antonio is the future of America. We need a congressional delegation that can work together to grow our economy and recruit major employers, to support our military, and to never give up in the fight against radical politicians who want to make it harder for every Texas child to get a quality education and affordable healthcare. That is why we need Pete Gallego in Congress. He is the best candidate in this race to take on Quico Canseco in November, and a proven leader whose steady hand we can count on to serve our community in Congress for years to come."

Representative Gallego added the following comments:

   "This endorsement is major development for our campaign."

   "Make no mistake: Julian Castro and Joaquin Castro are two of the hardest working, most well-respected political leaders in our state - even our country. This endorsement reflects the positive momentum I feel every day as I cross this district - from San Antonio to Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Alpine, and El Paso. Democrats in southwest Texas are ready for a leader who can win in November and who will fight every day to protect the American dream for all our families."

Mayor Julian Castro is currently serving his second term as Mayor of the nation's seventh largest city. Castro's record as Mayor includes a focus on attracting well-paying jobs in 21st century industries, positioning San Antonio to be a leader in the New Energy Economy and raising educational attainment across the spectrum.

Pete Gallego has represented his hometown of Alpine and his West Texas neighbors in the Texas House since he was elected in 1990 at only 28 years old. Gallego is running for Congress to bring his proven record of common-sense problem solving and of fighting for working families to Washington, D.C.

We reported yesterday that Rick Perry has made clear his refusal to accept the Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act, in a gutless and inhumane effort to remain politically relevant and deny low-income Texans access to affordable, quality health insurance.

A recent article from the Dallas Morning News makes clear that Perry's decision will just pass the buck down to property tax payers, since our emergency rooms and healthcare districts will continue to shoulder the cost of folks who don't have health insurance. Perry could have helped put between 1.5 and 1.8 million Texans on the Medicaid rolls. His stubborn refusal to care for the working poor of his state is shameful, and it's also bad economics for the county commissioners who now have to foot the bill for their ER care instead.

From the DMN:

If the Texas Legislature chooses not to expand its Medicaid rolls in 2014 to cover an additional 1.5 million people, counties and public hospitals would continue to shoulder the burden of paying for the uninsured, who often seek expensive care in emergency rooms.

Unlike many states, Texas does not directly subsidize the cost of caring for the uninsured. Instead, taxpayers in Dallas County and elsewhere help pick up that tab through property taxes that support safety-net hospitals such as Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Just because Perry won't give low-income Texans health insurance doesn't mean they won't get sick or need medical care. The problem is, his decision forces many of these folks to continue to rely on the emergency room, and pass the cost on to the healthcare districts in their areas, who in turn may need to raise property taxes to keep up with our growing low-income, uninsured population.

Some experts have even suggested that the Medicaid expansion could result in lower county tax rates for healthcare districts due to the increased revenue these hospitals would receive from Medicaid patients -- i.e. Medicaid would be paying for their care, not the county tax payers via property taxes to the healthcare districts.

While conservatives are patting Rick Perry on the back for sticking it to the feds and the poors, remember this -- really, he's sticking it to property taxpayers, who are going to end up footing the bill for medical care for those whom Rick Perry willfully forces to remain uninsured.  

Governor Rick Perry, in a desperate attempt to remain relevant to the Republican party base and screw over his constituents at any cost, put out a statement today that he will a) not expand Medicaid coverage and b) refuses to establish a state-based insurance exchange. Perry joins a slew of constituent-loathing Red State governors with Presidential aspirations who are refusing to follow the state-level aspects of President Obama's health insurance reform that would actually insure people.

Just a quick reminder that today is the deadline to enter our contest to win breakfast with Pete Gallego, the strongest candidate to take back CD-23 this November and help elect a Democratic majority to Congress.

Click here to donate to Pete Gallego and be entered to win a seat at the breakfast table with this great Democrat!

Every dollar you give equals another chance to win -- and we're picking three winners. Enter now, and make sure Pete has the resources he needs to win his runoff and oust Republican Congressman Quico Canseco this November.

No amount is too small, so please donate what you can to Pete.

The savory taste of breakfast with this great public servant will be topped only by the sweetness of victory in November. Thanks for your support of Pete Gallego, and everything you do to help elect Democrats in Texas!

Worth sharing: DailyKos user dreaminonempty aggregated the Texas results of a national PPP survey on Obama vs Romney, and found that Texas respondents were tied:

Over the period of April 12 - July 1, 662 respondents to the Daily Kos/SEIU/PPP State of the Nation poll were reached at a Texas phone number.  Among these respondents, Obama and Romney were tied 47-47.  (Please note that this is an aggregation of interviews from the weekly poll, not a stand-alone poll.)

The two stand-alone polls from the same time period also show a relatively tight margin among registered voters.  Texas is a Tossup at least by New York Times standards, based on this result and the two other polls with Romney +7 and Romney +8, for an average of Romney +5.

The post goes on to state that while this is a poll of registered, not likely voters, and that we saw similar trends in 2008, our state isn't too likely to go Blue this cycle, but we've got strong potential.

Granted, Texas is an expensive state to campaign in given our sheer size, population, and number of costly media markets. But we've got great potential. One of the most pressing needs for Democrats here in Texas is to register and turn out our substantial Latino and African-American populations. Newly elected TDP Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa has shown a strong commitment to base mobilization, and these poll numbers should just reinforce the need to turn Texas into a competitive battleground, and eventually flip the state into the Blue column.

After all, when Texas goes Democratic again, it will be nearly impossible for the Republican party to elect a President ever again. That alone is a good reason to fight this fight, as far as I'm concerned.

What do you think? Will the Obama-Romney margin in Texas be narrower than 10 points?

Happy 4th of July, y'all! As we celebrate our nation's birthday, Van Jones has a few words for all of us about reclaiming patriotism through our progressive values.

Take a look:

Thanks to our friends at Upworthy for sending out this timely reminder of progressive patriotism. Remember folks, just because someone wears a tri-cornered hat and preaches about liberty, that doesn't necessarily mean they truly embody American values.

Read an unofficial transcript of the video below the jump.

"Let me tell you something, though. This is a serious thing that's going on. This drumbeat where when they say 'socialist,' what they really mean is 'anti-American.' They're not really talking about an economic strategy. In fact, the only socialism in America now is socialism for the rich! They privatize all their gains and then they socialize all their pains. They're not serious in terms of an economic theory. What they mean is 'this guy is anti-American.' This is what we've got to fight back on.

Who are these people to claim an exclusive mandate and ownership of patriotism? I can find very little evidence that these extreme backlashes love the country at all. They say they love America. When I say 'I love America,' I mean I love the people who live here. And the people who live here are every color, every class, every sexuality, every gender, every faith -- 'I love America,' meaning 'I love Americans.'

We have to challenging these people. Who is fighting harder for liberty and justice for all than the progressives? We are the ones fighting for that. Who is fighting, not just singing 'America the Beautiful,' who is defending America's beauty from the oil spillers, from the clear cutters, from the mountaintop removers? That's progressives.

Who is actually honoring the Statue of Liberty when the statue says "give me your tired, give me your poor, give me your huddled masses." You can't be an anti-immigrant bigot and a patriot at the same time. The Statue of Liberty won't let you.

Who are these people to claim that they are patriots and that we are not? I can find very little evidence that they actually believe any of the values of America. They shrink our values down to this one shriveled notion of a negative version of liberty and they deny every other value. Well I believe in liberty and justice for all -- that's what I'm teaching my children -- and that means you have to both have individual liberty and rights, but you also have to have justice and concern about community. Both. American values are simple, but they're not simplistic. And they cannot be monopolized by one side. We've got to not only make our case, but make our case in patriotic terms."

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

Bill Maher evaluates the various options for Romney's VP choice. Bonus points for the outsourcing joke, since Romney is an outsourcing pioneer.

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

ICYMI, here's President Barack Obama's statement on the SCOTUS decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act yesterday:

Check out all of our BOR videos of the day on the VOTD tag.  

Yesterday, in a pathetic show of partisan hackery and possibly blatant racism, Republicans in the US House of Representatives took a vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for doing nothing wrong whatsoever, other than being a Democrat, and possibly an African American, appointed to serve this country by our first African American President. The whole thing was basically a ridiculous and unprecedented political attack spurred on by California Republican Darrell Issa. This is the first time in American history that Congress has imposed this sanction on a sitting member of a president's cabinet.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released a statement on the contempt vote (reprinted in full below the jump) that was highly critical of the process and politics involved. She wrote, in part:

"The House Leadership's actions are destructive election-year politics pure and simple. It is Republicans following through on their threats to use their authority to try to damage this Administration, enforcing civil rights, voting rights and defending our justice system and the rule of law."

In a show of solidarity, members of the Congressional Black Caucus led a walk-out during the vote, which was joined by over 100 Democrats. Here's Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi joining some of the CBC members in their march:

Democrats held a press conference to call out Republicans on their obstructionism. It's a sad day for America when the Republican majority in Congress is more concerned with using procedural tactics to score cheap political points than they are with passing legislation or creating jobs to put Americans back to work.

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus was quoted in the New York Times about his support of the walkout:

"We stand united. We understand that Congress has the right to conduct oversight - this is not about the right of Congress to perform oversight. This is about the responsibility and duty of Congress to do it in a way that is fair and just."

Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who voted against the contempt resolution before joining the walkout, released the following statement:

"Republicans concede that Attorney General Eric Holder did not lie, did not cover-up, and did not participate in the misguided gun operation. In this circumstance, to hold the nation's top law enforcement officer guilty of criminal misconduct is reprehensible."

This is a naked attempt by Congressional leadership to score cheap political points in an election year. The only thing "Fast and Furious" about this vote was the speed with which Issa rushed it through Congress. Too bad Republicans can't be as effective at passing legislation that creates jobs and helps our economy. These people shouldn't be in charge of a bake sale, let alone Congress.  

Press Statement from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Washington, DC  -  Congresswoman Sheila  Jackson Lee,  a  Senior  Member  of  the  House  Judiciary Committee, has  just  hand  delivered  a  letter  signed  by  65  of  her  Democratic  colleagues  asking Speaker  Boehner  to  reconsider  his  decision  to  bring  to  the  Floor  the  Contempt  Citation  against Attorney General Eric Holder. The Congresswoman released the following statement:

"I  have  been  a  Member  of  the  House  Judiciary  Committee  for  quite  some  time  now  and  never  in my years of service have I seen an action as short sighted and partisan as this when it comes to the Attorney General of the United States or any other Cabinet Member of the President of the United States. I have witness hearings on Impeachment of a President, Waco and other procedures but this possible contempt vote is nothing but a partisan political investigation.

"I along with 65 of my colleagues have asked Speaker Boehner to halt this contempt vote. Instead, the  House  of  Representatives  should  be  working  to  create  jobs  and  strengthen  our  middle  class. Congress  must  have  the  ability  to  conduct  meaningful,  responsible  oversight  -  but  tomorrows expected contempt vote fails to meet the standard of what is meaningful or responsible.

"Here  are  some  of  the  facts:  The  Department  of  Justice  has  produced  nearly  8,000  pages  of documents  and  provided  22  DOJ  officials  to  testify  and  do  interviews.  The  Attorney  General  has testified 9 times and continues to offer to provide information - even information beyond the scope of the subpoena - to House Republicans to resolve the issue.

"This  sixteen-month  investigation  found  no  evidence  whatsoever  that  the  Attorney  General  knew about  'gun-walking.'  Fast  and  Furious  was  a  bottom-up  strategy.  There  is  no  evidence  of  White House walking'  started  in  2006  under  the  Bush  Administration.  There  is  evidence  that  former  Bush Attorney  General  Mukasey  --  not  Attorney  General  Holder  --  was  briefed  on  botched  operations. When  Attorney  General  Holder  learned  about  Fast  and  Furious  he  immediately  called  for  an inspector general investigation and issued a directive that 'gun-walking' was an unacceptable tactic.

"The  House  Leadership's  actions  are  destructive  election-year  politics  pure  and  simple.  It  is Republicans  following  through  on  their  threats  to  use  their  authority  to  try  to  damage  this Administration, enforcing civil rights, voting rights and defending our justice system and the rule of law.

"This  kind  of  divisive  politics  hurts  Americans  who  want  their  leaders  focused  on  fixing  real problems  they  face  every  day  and  hurts  law  enforcement  agents  who  are  putting  their  lives  at risk  in  ongoing  investigations  that  could  be  compromised  by  the  Committee's  political  fishing expedition.

"Last  week,  the  Oversight  Committee  voted  along  strictly  partisan  lines  to  adopt  the  Republican contempt  citation,  and  every  amendment  passed  or  failed  on  party-line  votes.  It's  time  for Republicans  to  focus  on  our  nation's  top  priorities:  creating  jobs,  growing  our  economy,  and strengthening our middle class."

The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act yesterday in a 5-4 vote. It was a surprise win for Democrats and liberals. Meanwhile, Fox News was stunned as they tried to figure out what to do with all of the confetti they bought to celebrate the bill's defeat. Rimshot!

Once the SCOTUS ruled, Texas Democrats sent out a wide range of statements praising the impact of the ruling on the 24.6% of Texans who are currently uninsured.

State Senator Leticia Van De Putte provided us with some helpful figures about what the ACA is already doing here in Texas:

300,371 young adults gained health care coverage through their parents' plan
4,029 individuals with preexisting conditions now have health care
55,280 seniors saved an average of $1,384 on prescription drugs
3,836,000 received preventive care with no co-pays

No wonder Republicans are calling for its repeal -- the Affordable Care Act just helps too darn many working people!

Below the jump, read public statements from the following great Democrats and progressive organizations:

State Rep. Rafael Anchia
State Rep. Carol Alvarado
Center for Public Policy Priorities
State Rep. Garnet Coleman
State Rep. Joe Deshotel
Congressman Lloyd Doggett
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes
State Senator Rodney Ellis
State Rep. and MALC Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
TDP Chair Gilberto Hinojosa
TDP Spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña
Congressman Silvestre Reyes
State Senator Carlos Uresti
State Senator Leticia Van De Putte
State Rep. Marc Veasey

Click "There's More" and see what they had to say about this historic ruling.  
All emphasis mine. Boo-yah.

State Rep. Carol Alvarado:

"Today is a great day for health care in Texas.  The Supreme Court's ruling on health care reform reflects the continued need to ensure that every one regardless of age, gender, or financial status is provided access to health care.
 
In a state like Texas, which has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has already made huge differences in helping individuals and families receive life-saving health care services.  Hundreds of thousands of young adults have already gained health care coverage and seniors are already seeing savings on their prescription medications.  Texans can only continue to benefit from additional provisions of the law that focus on improving access, quality, and preventative care services. 
 
Being the number one uninsured state in the nation is unacceptable.  The ACA has provided a guide to help Texas move in the right direction.  This is not the time for the state to look for ways to prohibit or delay many of the great benefits this law will provide to millions of Texans.  We as legislators need to be proactive and ensure that this constitutional law is adhered to because Texans are counting on us."

::

State Rep. Rafael Anchia:

"While many will view today's decision through a political prism, and try to predict winners and losers in our electoral polls, said Rep. Anchia, "I see the big winners today as the American people. In a state where one out of every four residents does not have health insurance, the Supreme Court ruling today will provide health security for millions of Texans."

"I hope that Congress and the Texas legislature can now put aside the animosity that has kept them from focusing on what is best for the American people, which is getting the economy back on track and putting people back to work."

::

Center for Public Policy Priorities:

"Today's Supreme Court decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is great news for Texas families. With more than 6 million Texans uninsured and billions of dollars in federal funding on the table for our state, Texas has the most to gain from today's pivotal decision."

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State Rep. Garnet Coleman:

"Today's decision upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a victory for the American people and particularly for Texans. We currently have the highest uninsured rate in the country; about a quarter of all Texans lack health insurance. Thanks to President Obama's leadership in finally passing comprehensive health reform, our state's situation is about to improve dramatically. In just a few years, the Affordable Care Act will bring our record high uninsured rate down to single digits, no one will be denied care due to a pre-existing condition, and lifetime limits will be a thing of the past.

The law is already working. In Texas, 357,000 young adults gained insurance coverage as a result of the health care law, 22,1395 people with Medicare received a $250 rebate to help pay for their prescription drugs, and 2,208,969 people with Medicare received free preventive services such as cancer screenings and annual wellness visits.

All Texans, regardless of party, income, or health status, should be thrilled by the Supreme Court's ruling today. After two decades of working to help Texans get access to better healthcare and just recently having served on President Obama's Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform, I cannot tell you how fulfilling this is for me personally. Most importantly, I am pleased that we can all finally put this behind us and move forward together to work for a better Texas. The Affordable Care Act is now unquestionably the law of the land."

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State Rep. Joe Deshotel:

"Today our conservative-leaning Supreme Court made the right decision in upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Healthcare Act - reiterating that healthcare is a right for every American and not just a privilege for the well-to-do. Texas will be the nation's greatest beneficiary. Currently we have the highest percentage of uninsured persons and our legislature continues to cut funding for public health services. Because of today's outcome our healthcare system will now embrace preventative measures that will save countless lives and dollars in the future. I applaud this landmark decision and look forward to working with our state leaders to ensure that the right of healthcare access becomes a reality for all Texans."

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Congressman Lloyd Doggett:

"This is a significant victory for every family and small business denied insurance or overcharged or mistreated by an insurer.  And it is a victory for seniors who gain better Medicare coverage.  Now we must continue our struggle to overcome the naysayers and obstructionists to assure each family has access to a family doctor."

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State Rep. Dawnna Dukes:

"The Supreme Court has done the right thing in ensuring that all Texans have access to the health care coverage they need and deserve. This is a victory for all Americans. Unfortunately, in Texas, we experience the highest percentage of residents without health insurance coverage at 24.6%. The Affordable Care Act will prevent children from being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, lower drug costs for seniors and allow students and young adults to stay on their parents' plan."

"Now that the Affordable Care Act has been deemed Constitutional, it's time for Governor Rick Perry to put in motion plans to make certain that Texas is in full compliance with the law. There is no reason to further delay fulfilling all the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including establishing a health insurance exchange and expanding the Medicaid program to give over six million Texans without insurance healthcare coverage at affordable prices."

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State Senator Rodney Ellis:

"I am extremely thankful that the U.S. Supreme Court did the right thing and upheld the Affordable Care Act.  While not perfect, this law was passed overwhelmingly by both chambers of Congress after months of deliberation and was supported by virtually every major health organization in the nation.  It is the greatest step toward universal access to affordable health care since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid, and it will help millions of uninsured Americans receive the care they need and deserve.

"People may disagree on the law, but one fact is indisputable - many people have and will benefit from the Affordable Care Act.  While a large number of the provisions will do not take effect until 2014, many of the most popular are already in effect, and Texans are benefitting.  Today, millions of women get preventive services like mammograms and pap smears without a co-pay. Health plans must now spend 80 to 85 percent of every premium dollar on health care, insurers can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, young adults can be covered under their parents plan until 26 years, and tax credits are available to small businesses to help cover premium costs.  More than 120 of Texas' largest employers have received over $445 million in federal support to make early retiree health coverage more affordable.  In addition, 2.2 million Texas seniors in Medicare received preventive services or check-ups with no co-pay, and Texans saved $135 million on prescription drugs as a result of closing the Medicare prescription drug 'donut hole.'  The greatest gains will come in 2014 when approximately 2 million more uninsured Texans will gain coverage through Medicaid and CHIP.  

"Critics of the Affordable Care Act constantly say 'Texas knows how to take care of Texans better than Washington.'  Reality says otherwise.  Texas leads the nation in percentage uninsured, has one of the highest poverty and food insecurity rates, and has vast shortages of doctors, dentists, and nurses.  In fact, Texas ranks at or near the bottom in nearly every important health care statistic you can name, and just chose to cut $10  billion more from our health care budget, including under-funding Medicaid by about $4 billion, plus deeper cuts to already-minimal services.

"Having access to quality, affordable health insurance is a fundamental human right and not a privilege.  The Supreme Court has spoken and the Affordable Care Act is now officially the law of the land.  It is long past time to remove narrow politics from the health care debate and focus on truly improving health of women, children, and all Americans.  We can and must do better."

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State Rep. and MALC Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer:

"As of today, Texas Latinos are 3 for 3 in Supreme Court rulings this year. In redistricting, immigration, and now healthcare, the Supreme Court has held Governor Perry's and Attorney General Abbott's war with the federal government at bay.
 
Early this year, the Supreme Court rejected Attorney General Abbott's efforts to utilize the Texas Legislature's discriminatory redistricting maps, which lacked pre-clearance, as interim redistricting maps for 2012. This week, the Supreme Court affirmed that ill-advised and discriminatory state action on immigration policy is unconstitutional. Finally, today, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. In each of these cases the Governor and the Attorney General have been on the losing side. Texas' costly ideological war with the federal government is crippling our future.
 
Beyond the partisan politics, it is clear the Affordable Care Act victory is a Latino victory. Across the country, 5.4 million Latinos who would otherwise be uninsured will gain coverage by 2016. Further, 736,000 Latino young adults, between the ages of 19 and 25 who would have been uninsured, can now have coverage under their parent's employer-sponsored or individually purchased health plan. Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Perry and the Republican Legislature cut $5 billion dollars from public health and are making us the uninsured capital of the nation.
 
Today's decision makes everyone's life and health more secure. We are one of the wealthiest states on Earth and no one should face financial ruin due to an illness or accident."

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Nancy Keenan, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America:

"The Affordable Care Act marks the greatest advancement for women's health in a generation. This law will bring 30 million Americans into a health-care system that includes affordable family-planning services, better access to contraception, and maternity care. The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the law is a tremendous victory for American women."

"Gov. Romney and his anti-choice allies have fought tooth and nail to make it harder for women to get the health care they need," Keenan said. "Attacking the health-care law in court was only one front in these politicians' War on Women. Gov. Romney wants to allow insurance companies to continue to charge women more money for health-care services than men. He also supports allowing insurers and corporations to deny women birth-control coverage. The Supreme Court's decision is further evidence that these politicians are deeply out of touch with Americans' values and priorities."

"We stand with the millions of American women and families who will finally get access to quality, affordable health care thanks to this law. We need to keep President Obama in office to make sure that all of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act are implemented, not rolled back by anti-choice politicians."

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Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

"This ruling is a victory for millions of people - including LGBT people and our families - who don't have access to adequate, affordable health care. Health care reform is about revamping a severely broken system to help everyone get a fair shake when it comes to keeping themselves and their families healthy and out of harm's way. It is about making sure everyone has access to affordable health care when faced with injury and illness. It is based on the premise that no one get hung out to dry - to literally die in some cases - because they were denied affordable health care in one of the richest countries in the world.

"This ruling is fair and humane, but it also reminds us of the work that remains to be done. People of color and economically impoverished people are disproportionately affected by health inequities. We have also long known that LGBT people - particularly LGBT people of color - suffer from higher rates of health disparities, and we continue to press for reform that addresses the stark realities that many of us face every day. This advocacy includes urging the Department of Health and Human Services to use its authority to make inroads in areas such as data collection and research on LGBT health disparities. We celebrate today, but also pledge to keep pressing forward."

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Congressman Silvestre Reyes:

"I am proud to see that the Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate in this historic Act.  The long overdue and dramatic changes within the Affordable Care Act are fundamental to the improvement of the health care system.  The Supreme Court affirmed our progress and protected that right, securing a future of health and economic security for the middle class and for every American.  This historic legislation came at a crucial time for our city with over 230,000 people uninsured in 2009. When the new law is fully implemented, in just a few years, El Pasoans who now lack health insurance will receive coverage - many for the first time.

"Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies cover recommended preventive services, including mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, and pre-natal and new baby care, without charging deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance. So far 90,000 El Pasoans have benefited from this change, including 26,000 children and 33,000 women. This legislation has also provided new tax credits to approximately 360 small businesses in El Paso to help maintain or expand health care coverage to their employees.  The Affordable Care Act was a major victory for Texas and the El Paso community, and I will continue to work hard to ensure that the health of border residents is a top priority in Congress."

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Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa:

"Today's decision on The Affordable Health Care Act by the Supreme Court is a vindication of President Barack Obama and a slam in the faces of Republicans who offer no alternative to this country's broken health care system. A choice between bankruptcy or death is no choice at all.

Health care that's affordable to only the rich and the healthy is a dark and shameful blotch on the greatest country on earth. Mitt Romney offers no solution. Texas Governor Rick Perry certainly doesn't, and Texas Senator John Cornyn used the desperately needed health care of Americans to score political points. Cornyn's use of today's Supreme Court's decision to call for his own reelection and the defeat of President Obama is pandering at its worst and exactly why Americans are tired of the Republican lockstep obsessive hatred of President Obama and Democrats.

Rick Perry called the court's decision "a punch to the stomach." Rick Perry should know about stomach punches after subjecting Texans to unneeded cuts to education, women's health, firefighters, and infrastructure support. Add that to his embarrassing Presidential campaign and many Texans felt stomach punched. Perry also used this opportunity to scream bloody murder about states' rights once again. I imagine he'll threaten to secede by tomorrow.



Texas Democrats believe that health care for Americans with pre-existing conditions, our children until age 25, and affordable health insurance for all is a victory for Texans."

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Texas Democratic Party spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña:

"Today's Supreme Court decision is a victory for Texans. The health care law is the only lifeline for many Texans and Americans who had nowhere to turn when they got sick. Women can celebrate that their gender is no longer considered a pre-existing condition. Texans can have the peace of mind that they won't be shoved off their policies when they need it most.
 
Republicans like Rick Perry railed against the health care law but never offered a plan that would help save lives. Instead Texas Republicans put government between a woman and her doctor and ended preventive care for thousands of Texas women.
 
It's time for Republicans to drop their frivolous lawsuits and"Today's Supreme Court decision is a victory for Texans. The health care law is the only lifeline for many Texans and Americans who had nowhere to turn when they got sick. Women can celebrate that their gender is no longer considered a pre-existing condition. Texans can have the peace of mind that they won't be shoved off their policies when they need it most.
 
Republicans like Rick Perry railed against the health care law but never offered a plan that would help save lives. Instead Texas Republicans put government between a woman and her doctor and ended preventive care for thousands of Texas women.
 
It's time for Republicans to drop their frivolous lawsuits and and move forward to implement the law in a way that will benefit most Texans."

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State Senator Carlos Uresti:

"The Supreme Court ruling is great news for working Americans who have struggled to provide health care for their families. By laying the constitutionality question to rest, the high court has cleared the way for this historic law to be fully implemented. It is a great day for the rule of law and the future of health care in America."

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State Senator Leticia Van De Putte:

"I'm extremely pleased that the Affordable Care Act, which has already benefited so many Texans, will continue to bring care to people who otherwise would not have health insurance," said Sen. Van de Putte. "Today, 32 million have the promise of healthcare, including 9 million Latinos and 6 million Texans.

"As a pharmacist, I swear an oath that reads, I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of human suffering my primary concerns. I am so proud that President Obama and the federal government will do so as well."

"As a health care professional, I'm glad that the government will finally address the fact that one in every four Texans is uninsured, the highest rate in the nation," Van de Putte said. "Now people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own won't have to fear losing their health insurance. Hardworking Americans will not be forced into bankruptcy due to medical catastrophe. And every American family will have the reality of a family doctor at an affordable cost.

"As a legislator, I'm know that more people will have access to preventative health care, and that taxpayers will be paying for fewer expensive emergency room visits.
"President Obama's health care law is a prescription for our future. Now Texas needs to fill that prescription."

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State Rep Marc Veasey:

"Today's decision is a victory for all Americans and I'm excited about the prospect of joining the fight in Congress to continue this work. America is now closer than ever to the day when no one need worry about the catastrophic consequences that can result from getting sick without insurance. However, there is much work to be done and, if elected, I will be proud to join our President in completing that work."

FoxNews struggling to find something in Obama health-care win it can criticize as a loss. #hilarious

— Wayne Slater (@WayneSlater) June 28, 2012

I'm as amazed that Chief Justice John Roberts voted in the majority to uphold the mandate as I am that Twitter didn't crash.

Once the decision was out, Twitter was awash in commentary, as many notable Texans weighed in on the decision. Below the jump, check out some of the top tweets from everyone from Greg Abbott to Leticia Van De Putte, and Jason Stanford to Ted Cruz.

Did you see other quality tweets? Post 'em in the comments!

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

We all knew he couldn't count to three. Now, it's clear that Rick Perry doesn't even know what year it is. In a recent TV appearance talking about Mitt Romney's campaign, Perry said people are "ready to have a change in Washington DC in 2015." Tuesday morning, Joe Scarborough aired the clip and literally laughed until he cried over Perry's gaffe.

Here it is:

Meanwhile, has it dawned on anybody else that Rick Perry often talks about 2016 -- and his own potential presidential campaign -- as if Mitt Romney will not be running for re-election?

Check out all of our BOR videos of the day on the VOTD tag.  

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

As field efforts start gearing up around the state and country to re-elect Democrats, here's a reminder about the one factor that can really impact high-turnout, high-profile elections: yard signs.  

Check out all of our BOR videos of the day on the VOTD tag.  

Yesterday's SCOTUS ruling on Arizona's draconian immigration law SB1070 prompted no shortage of press releases from Democrats here in Texas. The bill is a stark reminder of Republicans' hostility towards Latinos, and the way in which many members of the GOP view immigrants as second-class human beings, regardless of their immigration status.

In case you missed it, BOR's Legal Corresponded Edward Garris has a run-down of the SCOTUS decision, which found 3 of 4 parts of SB1070 unconstitutional. In related news, the court of sane public opinion found the entire bill cracker-jack crazy. But I digress.

Below the jump, read statements on the SCOTUS AZ decision from State Representative Garnet Coleman, Congressman Silvestre Reyes, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the Texas Democratic Party, State Representative Carol Alvarado, and State Representative and MALC Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer.  

State Representative Garnet Coleman, HD-144:

"I am very pleased with this decision; we got nearly everything we wanted. The Court ruled that almost all of the harsh provisions of Arizona's new immigration scheme are trumped by federal law. Some of these provisions include

o requiring undocumented individuals to register with the federal government,
o making it a state crime for undocumented individuals to seek or hold jobs, and
o allowing for warrantless arrests of some individuals suspected of being deportable.

This ruling is a defeat for those who are trying to use "states' rights" rhetoric to enact their agenda. It has long been established by the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution that federal law is supreme and may not be countered or circumvented by state law in areas that are meant to be governed exclusively by federal law. This ruling makes it clear that immigration is one of those areas that is under the purview of the federal government, not the states.

The Supreme Court is tentatively allowing one provision to stand: the requirement that Arizona police officers must inquire into the immigration status of an individual during a lawful stop or arrest if that officer reasonably believes the individual might be undocumented. This provision is obviously troublesome, as it invites unnecessary racial profiling that will affect American citizens as well as both legal and undocumented aliens. It will institutionalize the idea of natural born suspects. The Court is also troubled by this provision, but for now they will wait to see how Arizona applies it. The Court's instructions, however, leave no doubt that this too will be struck unless it is applied very, very narrowly.

The Supreme Court's ruling on SB 1070 has particular ramifications for Texas, since Republicans here tried last session to implement many of the exact provisions the Court just invalidated in Arizona. People of color, particularly those in the Latino community, can all breathe a little easier now that the Court has put a clear limit on the ability of states to target some populations under the guise of immigration reform."

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Congressman Silvestre Reyes, CD-16:

"Today's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the Arizona law, better known as SB 1070, is a move in the right direction. However, the unanimous decision to uphold the 'Show Me Your Papers' provision that allows a police officer or local law enforcement agency to ask for the legal status of a person being detained or arrested hurts communities across our country. This ruling underscores the need for Congress to take up this federal issue and work on a Comprehensive Immigration Reform package that addresses it.

"I call on my colleagues - both Democrats and Republicans - to do the right thing and address Comprehensive Immigration Reform. It is unfortunate that partisan politics being played by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives does not allow us, those with common sense, to move meaningful and important immigration legislation forward.

"For 26½ years, I served as a Border Patrol agent and then sector chief and worked to uphold immigration laws in this country, and today, I know first-hand the dire need to reform these same laws. I will continue to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform that secures our country, unites families, helps our country's economic prosperity and ends a shadow world for millions of people living here."

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Congressman Lloyd Doggett, CD-25:

"The Court rightly rejected 3/4th of the Arizona law as unconstitutional, while reserving the right to reconsider implementation of the remaining provision.  That remaining "show me your papers" rule is very troubling.  Its implementation should be reevaluated because of racial profiling. Today's decision only underlines the need for prompt, comprehensive immigration reform--write the DREAM Act into law for youth and let those immigrants, who have been longstanding, law abiding, tax paying residents, pay a penalty and get in line to become citizens.

"Even Rick Perry said the Arizona law was not right for Texas.  Thankfully the Court said it was wrong for America."

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Texas Democratic Party spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña:

"Today's Supreme Court decision only further underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. We cannot have a patchwork of state immigrations laws that tie the hands of law-enforcement and drive a wedge between police and the communities they are supposed to protect. Police officers should focus on targeting dangerous criminals and not spend their limited resources inquiring about a person's immigration status.

Unfortunately, Rick Perry and his Republicans colleagues continue to use Latinos as a political piñata to earn points with extremists in their Party. Here in our state, Republicans attempted to enact a myriad of burdensome immigration laws that would have unfairly targeted Latinos. We need a comprehensive solution that focuses on the economic realities of our country, not ill-advised state proposals meant to prop-up Rick Perry for yet another presidential run."

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State Representative Carol Alvarado, HD-145:

"Today's decision by the Supreme Court  affirms my belief that Arizona overstepped its lawmaking authority in enacting an unconstitutional law that was nothing more than an intimidation tactic to insert fear upon specific groups of people.

While I do applaud the court in striking down key provisions of the Arizona law, the decision to uphold the portion that authorizes local law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals they suspect are not in the United States legally could lead to racial profiling and other legal consequences.

Texas should not look to Arizona as a model of how to handle immigration reform.  The legal ramifications coupled with the impending litigation that is certain to occur is a fiscal burden Texas cannot afford. Immigration is a federal issue and states should not propose laws that undermine the federal government's exclusive authority."

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State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, HD-116 and MALC Chairman:

"Today, the United States Supreme Court affirmed what MALC has said all along, ill-advised state action on immigration policy is unconstitutional. MALC applauds the Court for recognizing the role of immigration in the future of our nation and the need for the federal government to have clear authority on immigration matters. Most of Arizona's discriminatory S.B. 1070 is preempted by federal immigration law and state action is no substitute for comprehensive immigration reform."

Enacted in 2010, Arizona's S.B. 1070 sought to intrude into the federal immigration policy by developing its own state immigration penalties and enforcement procedures. A District Court issued a preliminary injunction preventing four of its key provisions from taking effect, Sections 3, 5(C), 6, and 2(B). These sections created state misdemeanors for failure to comply with federal immigrant registration requirements and for undocumented immigrants to seek or engage in work. Further, the law sought to authorize state and local officers to arrest a person without a warrant if they have probable cause that the person is undocumented.

Regarding §2(B), which requires officers conducting a stop, detention, or arrest to verify the person's immigration status with the Federal Government, the Court held that "absent some showing that it has other consequences that are adverse to federal law and its objectives" preemption is not required at this moment. However, the Court made it clear that once implemented, Arizona may face additional preemption and constitutional challenges.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court states that "federal law makes a single sovereign responsible for maintaining a comprehensive and unified system to keep track of aliens within the Nation's borders," that state law cannot conflict with or disrupt the intent of federal immigration policy, and that since "Congress has occupied the field (of immigration policy), even complementary state regulation is impermissible."

This is BOR's Video of the Day, or VOTD, our nightly video clip segment highlighting must-see content. If you like today's video and want more people to see it, share it on Twitter and Facebook!

Today's video comes from Stephanie Cutter, Deputy Campaign Manager for President Obama's re-election campaign. It focuses on Mitt Romney's record of outsourcing jobs during his time at Bain. Watch:

Here's the key part about Romney's record of killing American jobs:

"During Romney's time as a CEO, his firm bought out many companies. Some of those companies he drove into bankruptcy. But there were others where he shut down plants and shipped those American jobs overseas. Some jobs went to China, in the case of Holson Burnes. Other jobs went to Mexico, in the case of Modus Media. And then there's SMTC, a circuit board manufacturer, that closed a plant in Denver, Colorado, and opened a plant in Chihuahua, Mexico.

While Romney sent American jobs overseas and American workers out of work, he and his partners made millions. So there's no surprise why he's so committed to outsourcing."

We need a President committed to keeping and creating jobs here in America, not a pioneer in shipping them overseas for corporate profiteering. If you agree, share this post and this video and help spread the word!

Check out all of our BOR videos of the day on the VOTD tag.