Author: Laura Bray – Democratic Party of Kendall County, Texas

Progressive Views: Successes and Warnings for Endangered Species

The whooping crane and bald eagle are two examples of birds that have survived due to extensive conservation efforts, but the Trump administration is doing nothing to support conservation efforts, instead FWS withdrew the final Land Protection Plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in the panhandle, the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas and the FWS lost nearly 20% of its staff. These attacks mean extinction for wildlife and habitats.

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December 23, 2025

Conservation / Issues / State / Volunteer

Progressive Views: New Texas State Parks Coming Soon

In an election in the fall of 2023, voters approved the $1 billion “Centennial Parks Conservation Fund,” named in honor of the 100th anniversary of Texas State Parks in 2023. According to an article in the Texas Tribune, “The fund allows the parks department to expand access to natural spaces across the state, while preserving native ecosystems and cultural landmarks.” Three of these planned park expansions are Enchanted Rock State Park which is adding more than 5,000 acres, the new Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area near Pipe Creek, and the new Post Oak Ridge State Park in Lampasas and Burnet counties.

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November 25, 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

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

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

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 / 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

Economy / Issues / National

Progressive Views: Tariffs Aren’t “Terrific”

Trump's tariffs constitute an enormous tax on Americans and will result in higher prices, reduced choice, and likely loss of jobs in America. harm every American consumer, but particularly the hourly and middle-class worker, with higher prices. The tariffs harm the average American worker planning for retirement and those already retired, by destroying the value of the very investments relied on by those workers.

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April 27, 2025

Issues / National / National Parks / Organize / Participate

Progressive Views: Save the National Park Service

The National Park Service has the most favorable rating of any government agency, has bipartisan support, reported their highest visitation in history, and puts billions of dollars back into the economy. Nevertheless, the new administration has conducted massive firings and threatened to close visitor centers. Contact your reps to oppose these cuts.

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March 23, 2025

Action / Issues / State / State / Vote

Progressive Views: Contact Legislators on Two Terrible Bills

The Texas Legislature is about a month into its every-other-year session, and they are considering quite a few awful bills, including school vouchers, but also an elimination to countywide voting and the SAVE act which requires all Americans to provide a birth certificate, passport, or one of a few other citizenship documents every time they register or re-register to vote.

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February 23, 2025