Governor Rick Perry, Lt Gov. David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus recently ordered state agencies to make a 5 percent cut in their budgets, as the state is staring at a potentially huge budget gap when the Legislature returns next session. For the Department of Public Safety, that will mean almost $15 million in cuts, with more than $10 million of that chunk coming out of border security operations. Luckily, Recovery Act funds allocated to prevent such cuts in law enforcement operations will save jobs and keep supporting the work of local sheriffs working along the border.

Meanwhile, the budget gap is looming large on the minds of state and local government officials, and some groups are calling on the federal government to continue the Recovery Act aid that is keeping many states afloat. The Center for Public Policy Priorities, a think tank based in Austin, has sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to provide more of the Medicaid and education funding that closed 98 percent of Texas' budget gap last session. That gap could be as much as $17 billion when the Legislature returns in January of 2011.

Food Banks Release New Data Showing 45% Increase in Need; 1.2 Million Children Fed

Texas Impact's newest video is up on YouTube! The 8-minute video is a primer on food policy and health with Blue Cross Blue Shield VP and Chief Medical Officer Eduardo Sanchez. Sanchez, who served as Texas Commissioner of Health from 2000 to 2005, is a nationally recognized expert on food, health, and obesity. This video is the first of 3 excerpted from a presentation Sanchez made at the Texas United Methodist Women's Legislative Event on January 24.

Download the Powerpoint

The education, homeless assistance, and career development sectors all got a significant boost from Recovery Act funds in the last quarter of 2009, according to reports released on Recovery.gov. More than 28,000 jobs were created or saved between October and the end of the year due to contracts and grants stemming from the Recovery Act, with a majority of those jobs created by grants for education entities, including Head Start and Early Head Start programs and special education. The reports cover only grants, contracts, and loans during the last quarter of 2009, so they do not include economic activity created by the tax breaks, entitlements, and unemployment insurance contained in the Recovery Act.

Keep reading for more on the jobs, the data, and the programs.

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors, First Lady Michelle Obama addressed the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the childhood obesity problem. Indicating that she will be stepping up her efforts to address childhood obesity, the First Lady announced she will be launching a major initiative next month. With input from government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,  the Department of Education, as well as outside organizations and industry, Mrs. Obama said the initiative will involve the federal government working with local officials and leaders in the business and non-profit sectors to provide more nutritious food in schools, allow more opportunities for kids to be physically active, and give more communities access to affordable, healthful food. To view the speech, click here.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson made a commitment to reach out to communities historically under-represented in EPA decision-making. In that vein, she is requesting public input on a draft plan for assessing the potential impacts of its hazardous waste recycling rule on low-income, minority and tribal populations. To encourage safe recycling and to help conserve natural resources, EPA's Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule (published October 2008) modified the regulations for hazardous materials that are recycled.

Texas Impact is hosting a community forum on January 26 to provide the public an opportunity to engage with senior Austin Police Department officials about the upcoming Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC).

The forum will be held on Tuesday, January 26^th, 2010, 7:00-8:30pm at St. John’s United Methodist Church. St. John’s United Methodist Church is located at 2140 Allandale Road.

Texas Impact will co-host an event with the Methodist Federation for Social Action, Austin Chapter on February 11. Join us to explore ways our congregations can help increase support for summer feeding programs and address other community food security issues. Speakers from the Texas Department of Agriculture, local Summer Food Service Program sponsors and the Sustainable Food Center will be on hand to answer your questions and identify ways to support a healthy food system. "Texas Faith and Food: How Congregations Can Help Get Healthy Food to Those Who Need it the Most", will be held at Saint John's Methodist at 2140 Allandale Road, Austin. Learn about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), recent activities to reduce hunger and obesity, and community food security.