TXDOT CANCELS PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PROPOSALS TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION ON LOOP 360
On May 9, 2012 TxDOT issued a press release announcing its decision to halt the community dialogue about the "innovative intersection improvements" proposed along Loop 360. In response to the decision, Rep. Howard issued the following statement voicing concerns about abandoning the planning process for Loop 360 altogether.
"I am frustrated by the Texas Department of Transportation's decision to cancel the current planning effort along the State Loop 360 corridor," Howard wrote. "I fear this decision will result in a Do Nothing scenario along Loop 360 over the next 10-20 years. After the strong opposition to unfamiliar "innovative intersection improvements" voiced at the public meetings that TxDOT finally held, it feels as though TxDOT has decided to take the easy route by shelving the issue altogether. TxDOT has classified portions of SL 360 as the 71st and 72nd most congested roadway segments in the state. I believe state staff, appointed transportation officials and elected representatives must work closely with taxpayers to identify and prioritize which Central Texas transportation infrastructure needs deserve the limited funding available and how best to address them."
MAY 9, 2012 | KXAN
MAY 9, 2012 | AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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APRIL 10, 2012 | CAMPAIGN UPDATE
WELCOME TO THE NEW HD 48
As a result of redistricting, Donna’s district is going to change significantly. She retains about 39.7% of the population from her old district which means that slightly more than 60% of the population is new, requiring a full-scale campaign effort to introduce Donna Howard to these voters.
Instead of stretching west, the district now heads south encompassing a much larger part of the City of Austin along with Rollingwood, Westlake Hills, and Sunset Valley. The majority of the new district falls in Austin ISD and Eanes ISD with small portions of Leander and Round Rock ISD as well. (MORE..) ___________________________________________________________
MARCH 24, 2012 | YNN
For the second year in a row, a statewide group dedicated to saving public schools took their calls for action to the State Capitol Building.
Hundreds of teachers, students and administrators marched Saturday demanding that lawmakers make school funding a priority.
"Republican, Democrat, independent, it doesn't matter,” Democratic Representative Donna Howard said. “We're here because we care about quality public education."
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MARCH 5, 2012 | AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign may be over, but his politically motivated war on women continues.
On Feb. 23, Texas' Health and Human Services commissioner adopted a rule in direct violation of a federal Medicaid requirement, effectively ending the Women's Health Program in Texas.
This step by the agency is a targeted effort to block Planned Parenthood's nonprofit health centers from participating in a vital and cost-saving program that provides not just birth control but also life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings, HIV tests and basic health exams to uninsured, low-income Texas women.
Nearly 45 percent of the women who receive health screenings through this program do so at a Planned Parenthood health center.
With this political and unnecessary move, Texas will strip 130,000 of our state's most vulnerable women of their access to basic health care, ending the program not just for Planned Parenthood but for all providers in Texas.
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