Felthauser Gains Major Endorsements

Press Release from Karen Felthauser (D-Round Rock) Campaign, TX-HD-52.

ROUND ROCK, TX—(06/29/06).  Karen Felthauser (D-Round Rock) has been stacking up major endorsements from the education and labor communities, for her campaign to unseat the Republican incumbent in Texas House District 52.

“I am honored and humbled to announce that I have received the endorsements of the Texas State Teachers Association, the Texas Federation of Teachers, Education Round Rock and many members of the Williamson County education community.” said Felthauser.  “I believe that I have earned their confidence because they have observed my commitment to education first hand, working with me in PTAs, school board elections and other education settings for many years.”
“I am also proud to announce that I have received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO’s Austin Central Labor Council.  I feel it is important to serve the needs of American workers.  In this day and age there are fewer and fewer politicians who are looking out for our working families and I feel this should be a priority for all of our representatives”
In the TSTA endorsement letter, Richard Kouri, Director of Public Affairs, states “TSTA is committed to excellence in our public schools.”  Karen, too, is committed to excellent public schools and she is confident that the support of TSTA and TFT can be a determining factor in her race to unseat her opponent. The support of these two organizations has been a key factor in the recent victories of many pro-education candidates.
Judith Miller, Secretary of Education Round Rock,   praised her colleague, “Karen is conversant in educational issues and, as a Board, we are convinced that her rational objectivity would be a welcome addition to the Texas Legislature.”

In addition to the organizational endorsements, numerous Williamson County teachers, administration and support staff, parents and board members, past and present, have thrown their support behind Felthauser’s candidacy.  These endorsers include Round Rock ISD School Board Members Raymond Hartfield and Diane Cox and past Round Rock ISD School Board members Jackie Burkey and Brig Mireles.
Upon his endorsement of Karen, Raymond Hartfield, then president of the Round Rock ISD School Board said, “In this day and time when it seems we struggle to provide adequate resources to maintain a positive learning environment in our schools,
Karen will make a significant difference!”

“We are facing a real public education crisis, and education must be the Legislature’s Priority One,” said Felthauser. There will be severe repercussions for the State’s economy down the road if we don’t fix the problem.”   “We’ve got to do what’s necessary to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers. Recent polling shows that nearly 50% of Texas teachers are considering leaving the field.
Felthauser pledges to work to provide long-term funding for education, as opposed to the stop gap measures passed off by the latest special session on education. “Being an election year, legislators simply used the surplus for short term funding of teacher raises.” She pointed out. “That’s just window dressing. The tax swap will create a ballooning deficit that may see teacher raises evaporate once the 2007 Legislature convenes. Perry’s budget office is already calling for state agencies to prepare for across the board cuts, and the legislature may follow suite as it did in 2003 when faced with similar deficits.”
Felthauser is equally adamant about providing adequate healthcare to Texas Children. “Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured kids in the nation,” said Felthauser.  “Since the 2003 session, over 200,000 children have been cut from the Children’s Health Insurance Plan.  It is appalling that Texas legislators feel it is acceptable to sacrifice the health and well being of our children.  If elected, I would work to lower local property taxes and to increase the State’s portion of education funding with a more progressive tax structure.  That’s an investment in Texas’ future.”
For more information on Karen Felthauser’s candidacy for Texas House District 52, go to www.karenfelthauser.com .