Free Republic

With a name like Dixie Flags, you might think the San Antonio-based business would be the last place on earth that would banish Confederate flags — you would be wrong. After 57 years in a business started by his parents, Pete Van de Putte said that Dixie Flag will no longer make or sell the Confederate battle flag. In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News this week, Van de Putte says that in conversations with manufacturers and suppliers, they have all decided to stop making or shipping the controversial flag. “My official opinion is now that it is an offensive item and we...

A year after leading a filibuster against a bill that many Democratic Party voters considered "draconian" efforts to spare the life of unborn infants who were 20 weeks into development, Wendy Davis and other abortion advocates will stage a one year anniversary to celebrate. For those who support the right to perform infanticide against fellow members of our human community for the sake convenience the Austin event, which will be streamed live to other supporters of convenience-based life terminations, is meant to serve as both an anniversary and rallying cry in the efforts to promote Davis to the Texas Governors...

PPP's newest Texas poll finds Republicans leading by double digits in all of the state's major races for 2014. In the Governor's race Greg Abbott's at 51% to 37% for Wendy Davis. ------snip----- There's been some thought that Democratic prospects might be better in the race for Lieutenant Governor but Leticia Van de Putte actually trails by slightly more than Davis, regardless of who her Republican opponent ends up being. Dan Patrick leads her by 16 points at 51/35. ------snip----- Although it hasn't really been on anyone's radar screen the likely US Senate match up between John Cornyn and David...

Sam Stein asks Texas Democrats -- who fled a redistricting proposal almost a decade ago -- what they'd advise their Wisconsin counterparts: As a group of Wisconsin Democrats camp outside their state in hopes of stalling an anti-public union bill, veterans of such high-stake showdowns see numerous challenges ahead. The media coverage will be suffocating; the urge to cut a deal will be compelling; the lack of sex will be, well, unsettling. Seriously. "If you are going to be out more than two weeks call your spouse for conjugal visits," explained Texas Democrat Leticia Van de Putte, who, back in...

In a highly partisan Spanish language response to President Bush's State of the Union last night, San Antonio State Senator Leticia Van de Putte blasted 'the anger of the far right' in a scathing criticism of opposition by many citizens which led to the defeat of the immigration reform bill which included amnesty for illegal aliens. "Senate Democrats fought to reach a compromise bipartisan immigration reform bill and brought it up for a vote three times, but were blocked by the anger of the far right," Van de Putte said in her eight minute Spanish language rebuttal. Interestingly, the English...

A San Antonio Democrat on Monday chided President Bush before an international Spanish-speaking audience for vetoing children's health insurance and ignoring the needs of America's Hispanic citizens. But state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte insisted beforehand that her message would be positive. She was selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to deliver the Democratic Party's nationally broadcast Spanish-language response immediately after Bush's State of the Union address Monday night. "I am not taking a shot at the president," Van de Putte said from Washington early Monday, where she taped her remarks for broadcast later...

Van de Putte picked to give Democrats' Spanish response to Bush speech AUSTIN – Sen. Leticia Van de Putte has never been one to shy away from a fight, whether leading fellow Democrats on a 45-day walkout to New Mexico in 2003 or standing alone last year in support of a controversial plan to vaccinate young girls against a sexually transmitted virus. Her skills as a lawmaker in a Texas Legislature dominated by the opposing party propelled her to the presidency of the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures – the first Texan and first Hispanic in that post. And...

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is the Democratic Party's choice to chair the 2008 Democratic National Convention, officials announced Monday. Officials say the chairwoman and co-chairs are to preside over convention proceedings to "ensure order, decorum and efficiency." New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was chairman of the 2004 convention. In Pelosi, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean has picked the first woman to become speaker of the House, a post she has used to try to remove U.S. troops from the war in Iraq. But the San Franciscan is also frequently cited by Republicans as out of the mainstream....

State Rep. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, can't be faulted for her concern over childhood obesity. More than a third of Texas schoolchildren are overweight or obese. But Van de Putte's approach to obesity is highly questionable, and no doubt doomed to failure. Van de Putte has introduced a bill in the Legislature that would require school districts to measure the mass body index of schoolchildren and include that information on school report cards that kids take home to parents. If a child is overweight, the news will hardly be a surprise to parents. They have the best evidence...

AUSTIN — A Texas lawmaker filed a bill Tuesday that would require school districts to measure the body mass index of students and include the information in regular report cards. More Coverage Read the text of SB 205 "We should be just as concerned with students' physical health and performance as we are with their academic performance," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio. When the measurement, which calculates body fat based on height and weight, indicates a student is overweight, the school would provide parents with information about links between increased body fat and health problems, Van de...

AUSTIN — The Republican opponent of State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte has accused the San Antonio Democrat of misusing around $100,000 in state postage and printing funds by sending two office newsletters to voters this year. Jim Valdez complained today to the Travis County district attorney's office, saying one newsletter was sent less than 60 days before the March Democratic primary in violation of Senate procedures. The other, he said, includes illegal electioneering by listing a "town hall" meeting for District 26 residents after early voting begins next month. Van de Putte said she was "just a senator doing...

EATING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF HER MOUTH. The SAL Political Snitch. Another lie? Controversial SA state senator Leticia Van de Putte has been given a pass by the local media on many occassions when her conduct was outrageous. (See previous stories) The furor has died down after an obvious lie in which she smeared republican senators over a "racial slur" that never actually happened. She got caught. She laid low. The story died down. When she and the infamous 11 democrats fled to Albuquerque to avoid a special session, she painted a picture that portrayed her as a modern...

Laredoan writing about Latina politicians By Tricia Cortez Times staff writer St. Mary’s University professor Sonia Garcia, a Laredo native, is leading a groundbreaking project to write the first book that will document the lives and contributions of the first Mexican-American female political office holders in Texas. After toying with the idea for five years, Garcia and four other Latina Ph.D’s in political science have teamed up to write “Politicas: Latina Trailblazers in the Texas Political Arena.” These five professors are the only Latinas with doctorate degrees in political science in Texas. Their book will be published by University of...

A 'RACIST' STATE SENATOR CHALLENGED Van De Putte's Senate Seat Targeted By Republican Jim Valdez Announces Candidacy; Comes Out Swinging At Embattled Leticia (Editor's Note: Republican Click here for background stories. Below is the text of his statement.) * * * Today I am announcing my intent to file for elective office for the 2004 Republican primary as a candidate for State Senator, Dist 26. The basis in my seeking this office, currently held by Leticia Van de Putte, is to ensure strong effective representation for the district and most importantly restore integrity to the seat she now holds. The...