Kelly – Democratic Party of Kendall County, Texas

Progressive Views: Where’s Jed Bartlet When We Need Him?

There were 154 episodes of the award-winning series called The West Wing. The Jed Bartlet character was a Nobel Prize-winning economist who at times could be a bit full of himself. Bartlet also listened to all sides of an argument when making decisions and often admitted he was not infallible. He loved his wife and daughters, giving them great respect. I look forward to the day we get back to the norms and values that make our system work. Moderates must stand up to extremists no matter their party. Let’s all work to end the hostility that threatens our democracy.

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October 13, 2025

Action / Issues / Medicare/Medicaid / National

Progressive Views: Higher ACA Premiums and Medicare Cuts Are Coming

Unless Republicans extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), premiums for ACA enrollees will “spike 75%.” The tax cuts for billionaires included in the Big Ugly Bill will create such a budget shortfall that it will trigger over $536 BILLION in Medicare cuts over a decade. Those in rural areas will be deeply affected by these and Medicaid cuts.

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September 28, 2025

Issues / National / Project 2025

Progressive Views: Woke is Wonderful

The attacks on “Woke” are disgraceful. Radical right-wing Project 2025 politicians continue to attack a word that best translates into love of one’s fellow human beings. The dysfunction threatening our democracy requires immediate action to address partisan extremes. Let’s come together to bring back the norms and values that make our system work.

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September 18, 2025

Issues / National

Progressive Views: “I Am Ringing an Alarm”

Last week, the President stated that his “most likely next targets” for sending troops into cities to “fight crime” were Chicago and New York. In response, on Monday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker gave a blistering speech at a press conference in Chicago condemning the action. Here is the full speech.

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September 3, 2025

Action / Immigration / Issues / National / State

Progressive Views: Fixing Immigration and Border Security for the Long Term

Immigration and border security enforcement have gone haywire. The current government is building concentration camps and sending innocent people, along with criminals, to these camps and to countries that they don’t hail from, all without due process. The only solution that a vast majority of the American public want is complete control of the border, deportation of undocumented criminals, a vibrant and consistent immigration program to keep our economy growing, and most of all a pathway to stay and work here for the vast majority of undocumented folks with long term ties and no criminal record.

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August 17, 2025

Gerrymandering / Issues / State

Progressive Views: TxLege’s Redistricting Fiasco

After months of speculation, the President finally told Texas Congressional Republicans earlier in July that he aims to gain five seats from the mid-census redistricting in Texas. Instead of using this Special Session to provide flood relief and disaster mitigation, Gov. Abbott is exploiting the tragedy to serve the President’s unpopular and damaging agenda. Texas needs a non-partisan districting commission to keep both parties from playing the gerrymandering game.

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August 3, 2025

Disinformation / Economy / Issues / National

Progressive Views: Lies, Lies and More Lies

Donald Trump has consistently and egregiously lied since the beginning of his political career to the point where there is a dangerous and reprehensible disregard for truth and the U.S. Constitution and democracy itself. This disregard is undermining the economy and leaves the U.S. with a deficit of more than $36 trillion.

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July 23, 2025

Issues / State / Water

Progressive Views: Water Bills at This Year’s TxLege

A recent Greater Edwards Aquifer seminar summarized which water-related bills passed and did not pass during the Texas Legislature's last session.

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July 6, 2025

Action / Hate / Issues / National

Progressive Views: Antisemitism Must End

We have recently seen two horrendous attacks on innocent Jewish people. The attacks expressed continued hatred of the Jews by many Americans. This coupled with a 360% surge in anti-Jewish hate in the U.S. according to the ADL, and a rise in political violence in the U.S. as evidenced by the assassination of Melissa Hortman, means we must condemn antisemitism and all forms of hatred and bigotry.

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June 22, 2025

Action / Climate Change / Issues / National

Progressive Views: Hurricane Season with a Side of Funding Cuts

In this hurricane season, NOAA has predicted 13-19 named storms with 6-10 as hurricanes and 3-5 of those as major. Musk's DOGE has begun the decimation of NOAA by firing probationary employees and impounding (illegally) Congressional appropriated funds. Many wonder if the U.S. will be able to handle this storm season or if lives will be needlessly lost by the administration's decisions and incompetence. Texas will not fare well with these decisions so contact your reps and senators.

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June 16, 2025