Transcript: April 4, 2008
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Lelia A.
El Paso
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I've been working in family planning for almost 20 years. Changes in the last legislature have greatly limited and sometimes ended family planning services in El Paso. We used to serve 2,000 and now we serve 800 individuals. Women are now going across the border for birth control. Women with STDs and their partners are not getting treated. Women may be exposing themselves to cancer risks by self-medicating. Soon, we will see the consequences of these decisions on many fronts. |
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Senator Eliot Shapleigh
El Paso, Texas
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In 2003 and 2005 there was a debate in the legislature. Abortion is at the middle of this issue. For any program that had any association with abortion, even education as an option, their funding was cut and shifted. Those who had experience in pre-natal, breast exams and STD education have been punished for idological reasons. Programs should be about maximizing outcomes with women's health, not ideological extremes. More Texans need to let their view be heard--especially at election time.. |
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Ritesh
utep
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I recently moved back from Chicago to start work here in El paso in the software industry. To do this, I had to take almost a 50% pay cut. I am no savior, I moved here because my girlfriend is doing graduate work at UTEP.
I used to be an international student at UTEP (from India) and myself and many international students I have spoken to like El Paso a lot. In fact most of them consider it their second home away from their countries. I cannot tell you the innumerble times I myself have mentioned "I am from El Paso, TX" when asked where I am from, even though I spent only a few years here. It captivated our hearts.
It is quite sad, in this case, that the problem is that it is hard to find jobs here where they would sponsor you the working visa (H1B). What are you doing and what is going to be done in the near future to improve this situation - for retaining our graduates (and international graduates - many of whom come here for their master's degrees and could potentially have a significant impact in the region's economic and intellectual standing)?
PS: I used to work with Wesley Leonard at CERM and have heard you talk there. I am glad you are still here. :-) Gracias senor! Namaste! Ritesh |
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Senator Eliot Shapleigh
El Paso, Texas
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I am so glad that you came back! During the 90"s, El Paso exported more young talent than almost any large American city. Thus, attracting, and keeping talent must be a core strategy for economic development here. Over the last few years, we have worked hard to re--brand El Paso as the "Five M's"--miliary, medicince, movement, manufacturing and Mexico. In a global world, these clusters are our most valuable job creation engines. With Future Combat Systems launched at Ft. Bliss and the Medical Center of the Americas now coming literally out of the ground, El Paso is the best place to be! I recommend that you visit Congressman Reyes' office on the H-1 Visa issue since that is a federal agency. All the best to you--and welcome back home! |
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Marcy Azcarate
SISD
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Senator, why isn't there any student loan repayment assistance for teachers who borrowed their first education loans before Oct. 1998? I graduated in 1998 and have been teaching for 9 years but I don't qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness Programs. Doesn't longevity and commitment to teaching count for anything? Right now the only assistance I qualify for is the Teach For Texas Loan Repayment Assistance - and that's only $5,000 IF you are selected. Any new legislation in the near future to help us teaching veterans out a little? |
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Senator Eliot Shapleigh
El Paso, Texas
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Great teachers are the key to a great education. We need to finance more teachers in the classroom. If that means re-working programs today to pay teachers like you, we need to re-work the program. For many, loan rates are too high now. We will work to lower the interest rate. One key is TEXAS Grants -- to help pay for students and teachers. We've tried to increase the funding for this program in the past. We will continue to fight for this important program. |
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Barbara Camp Law
El Paso
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What kind of work do you do in your office? |
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Senator Eliot Shapleigh
El Paso, Texas
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We are working in this office in any given time on 80 to 90 projects. During the 2006 flood, we helped organize cleanups in neighborhoods. Another project is "Eagles Rock." El Paso has the greatest outdoor environment. We have a mountain. We have a river. At Canutillo, we are working on an outdoor program to get students out, excercising and building life experiences they can take with them forever. So, we work on bills, riders, appropriations--and we work to stop bad bills. |
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