In anticipation of possible Democratic challenge,
Rep. Peña defends working with GOP leadership
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
Legislativemedia@aol.com
With a former Democratic Party rival considering a second challenge in next spring's primary, Rep. Aaron Peñã, D-Edinburg, is emphasizing how his willingness to work with the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has paid off handsomely for his legislative district and the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Peña, who will be seeking a fourth two-year term that would begin in January 2009, is expected to face a familiar foe next spring: Edinburg civil engineer Eddie Sáenz.
All 150 state representative slots are up for reelection every two years.
The two men battled in the March 2004 Democratic Party primary; they could both be on the ballot again in the March 2008 party primary for the right to represent House District 40, which includes most of Edinburg.
Peña's current term ends in early January 2009. Neither man has formally announced.Peña, an attorney, has said he is running for reelection, while Sáenz has been working behind the scenes, preparing for a possible second campaign effort later this year.
Key programs funded
Addressing a packed house recently at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Peña released a list of 18 major pieces of legislation carried by, or supported by, himself and the Valley legislative delegation that will address major economic, health care, public safety, and border security needs for deep South Texas.
"When you get to see the list, and we can provide it to you, you will see that our communities fared better, I dare say, than any other part of the state of Texas," he said. "It is because of the representatives and senators who really worked really hard."
He also noted that the state budget included significant increases in funding for almost 50 programs that benefit deep South Texas.
"I can go project after project," Peña said. "We can talk about the drug treatment center that we all have been wanting in the Valley, we can talk about funding increases for our universities – 13 percent, 20 percent increases in funding –we can talk about the $40 million Fine Arts Center we are going to have. We can talk about the new parks we are going to have in the Valley, the park in McAllen, the park in Edinburg, the park in Weslaco, the park in Brownsville, the park out in the west side of Hidalgo County."
Legislative initiatives which will have a direct impact in Hidalgo County include the $3 million substance abuse facility to be located in Edinburg, a $45 million Department of Public Safety headquarters to be built in the McAllen area, a $13.2 million increase in the budget for the University of Texas-Pan American, and a share of $5 million for the University of Texas Regional Academic Health Center in Edinburg.
Peña's remarks were part of a series of brief presentations by area lawmakers that highlighted a legislative luncheon hosted by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 19, at the chamber's headquarters in the City of Palms.
Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview; Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, and Rep. Armando "Mando" Martínez, D-Weslaco, also participated in the event.
"In some other part of the state, some other lonely legislator is reporting to his chamber of commerce, saying, 'Maybe next time.' Well, that's not true for us," Peña said. "South Texas – your delegation – delivered. I say that with confidence. You have heard that from your senators, from Chairman (Kino) Flores. We even had newspaper reports where some Republicans were complaining that the Valley had too much influence."
Flores is chairman of the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures, while Peña is chairman of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.
Under the House rules, the Speaker of the House appoints the chairs of the House standing committees.
"Craddick Democrats"
Peña and Flores are among about a dozen so-called "Craddick Democrats" who supported Tom Craddick, the first Republican Speaker of the House in more than 100 years, to remain in arguably the most powerful legislative position in Texas.
Late last year, in early January, and during the tumultuous final days in late May of the regular session – when some Republicans and a Democratic majority repeatedly but unsuccessfully attempted to unseat Craddick – the two veteran Valley lawmakers stood solidly with Craddick.
For his loyalty, Peña, along with Flores, Guillen, and Lucio, III, were rewarded with House committee chairmanships and plum spots on the state budget-writing House Appropriations Committee.
Those positions of power translated into big bucks for legislative priorities important to their South Texas constituents, Peña said.
"That happened because we are one of the few delegations that was willing to work across the aisle, in a bipartisan basis, in an attempt to make this state a better place," said Peña, who also represents the Delta Area communities of Edcouch, Elsa, San Carlos, and La Villa.
La Joya, Sullivan City, and smaller communities in northern Hidalgo County are also part of this legislative district.
He noted that his access to Craddick also translated into access for other elected leaders in South Texas.
When (McAllen) Mayor (Richard) Cortéz went to see the Speaker of the House, other people had to make appointments and wait," said Peña. "The reason we succeed is because we try for the community and the proof is in the people in this room. Whether we are Republicans or we are Democrats, we work for the betterment of our community."
The bottom line, Peña proclaimed, "is we did a great job, and I don't mean the legislative delegation, I mean our communities did a good job. Time after time, when an issue came up, you were there. When we called on you, you were there, and we very much appreciated your support."
"Yellow-Dog Democratic Country"
For his part, Flores, who along with Peña has been criticized for crossing party lines and casting key votes for the Republican speaker, was more forceful in promoting, and protecting, Craddick as House speaker.
Flores, whose House District 36 includes Mission, south McAllen, and Pharr, publicly endorsed Craddick in the Republican lawmaker's first bid for the top spot in the House.
"I want to go back a little bit, four years ago, when we brought Tom Craddick down here, and I was being criticized for stepping out and helping a Republican," Flores reminded the audience. "'How dare you? What are you doing? This is Yellow-Dog Democratic Country.'
According to U.S. political history, in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, yellow dog Democrats were voters in the U.S. Southern states who consistently voted for Democratic candidates because of lingering resentment against Republicans from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. The term arose from the notion that a Southerner would vote for a yellow dog before voting for a Republican.
Flores echoed Peña's contentions that the Valley needed to work with Republicans – who control the state Senate, House, and all state offices, including the governor – as well as Democrats for the good of the region.
"I told you all this was the guy (Craddick) we needed to get behind, and the result is here today, all the things our senators have been able to talk about, that we have been able to accomplish in the House," Flores said. "We have Aaron Peña chairing a major committee, we have Ryan Guillen as the vice chair of Appropriations Committee, Armando sitting on the Business and Industry Committee, Veronica sitting on Public Health."
Flores said the Valley was now on the inside of the political pecking order in the House of Representatives, and no longer on the outside trying to get in.
"We have the door wide open" Flores said. "It makes it easy for us to accomplish the things that we are working on. Before, it would be like the kid being the seventh man on the team, saying, 'Hey, Coach, hey, Coach, hey Coach, let me play, let me play!' Now, we can get beyond all of that and step up and say, 'This is what we need for our area.'"
Now, Flores said, "you look at it from a broad spectrum, you look at health, education, highway transportation, we were able to impact for the first time.
"South Texas has become a force, not only economically, but our population has become educated, it is responsible, it is loyal, and people are addressing us," Flores continued. "They are taking note of what we are doing here in South Texas."
As for Veronica Gonzales. She didn't say a word about big bad Craddick. She kept her mouth shut. Seems that she has made a deal with Aaron and Kino. Keep quiet about Craddick till the primaries.
Note to Aaron Pena! This is not going to go away. You can run but you can't hide. From what I understand Craddick wants you to come out an defend him. Lol Aaron Pena Republican of Dist. 40. or should I say Dist. 41? Ahh, stay tune!
