Sep
28
Food Policy Roundtable
The Texas Hunger Initiative is a joint effort from the CLC and the Baylor School of Social Work with the goal of ending hunger in Texas by 2015. The project launched in February and we introduced you to their work and their Director, Jeremy Everett in the May edition of our E-newsletter.
Part of this effort will look to affect the policies or procedures that need to be enhanced on the state and federal level in order to achieve this attainable goal. In order to understand the policies and programs involved, discuss current problems and advocate for solutions, THI the CLC and have launched the Food Policy Roundtable. The CLC Austin staff will provide leadership and serve as facilitators and conveners of this group of nonprofit advocates, direct service providers, representatives from state and federal agencies and others. Our initial project has been to plan and host a one-day conference called, Texas at the Table: Baylor University Hunger Summit on November 19 in Waco. You will receive more information about the Texas Hunger Initiative, the Hunger Summit, and the Food Policy Roundtable and how you can get involved in coming months.
Lottery Commission and Gambling Update
As reported in previous editions of our E-newsletter, the CLC is opposing a proposed rule change at the Texas lottery commission. (See links to news articles for more info.) We are concerned, in part, because these new games will introduce a central determinant system to our state that is an essential element of video lottery terminals. An identical computer system was part of previous legislative attempts to legalize VLTs. The expansion of legalized predatory gambling does not occur in a vacuum. In other states, we have witnessed small advancements resulting in full blown casinos. Many attempts at expansion in Texas have relied upon previous failed efforts. Many small steps to casino gambling are pushed by casino and game manufacturing interests. In an attempt to gather all pertinent information regarding the current lottery proposal we made several open records requests to state agencies. We are particularly interested in similarities to previous attempts to legalize VLTs and would like to know the individuals and entities behind such efforts.
In November the National Stop Predatory Gambling conference (pdf) will take place in San Antonio. The CLC and several of our partner organizations have been helping to organize this event and we encourage your attendance. The conference will be attended by predatory gambling opponents from across the country and will shine a spotlight on our state. Whether you are a passionate opponent of gambling expansion, a legislative staff member or would just like to learn more about the issue, don’t miss this opportunity.
We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.
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