Congress recently passed legislation that will extend the current set of unemployment benefits. I firmly believe this extension was desperately needed to help the families of tens of millions of American workers who have been unable to find employment during the current recession. Unfortunately Republicans in Congress blocked the unemployment bill for several months, which caused the benefits to lapse for millions of Americans and their families. Without these last resort benefits, which are less than $400 a week in Texas, many American families would be unable to put food on the table, pay their monthly bills and actively contribute to our economic recovery. The simple matter of the fact is that if people do not spend money then our economy cannot begin to recover. We need as many people as possible buying products from businesses and participating in the marketplace so that our economy can begin to grow again. The unemployment benefits protect American families and serve as a stimulant to our economic recovery. 

It should come as no surprise that Pete Sessions voted against extending these benefits. In doing so, Sessions is essentially refusing to provide economic support for Texas workers during this trying period. While he ignores the working families of Texas, Sessions is more than happy to accept large contributions from the big banks and special interests that were responsible for the recession we find ourselves in. In fact, Sessions has received more of his campaign money from the financial sector than from any other industry (To see a chart click HERE). It's no wonder that Sessions voted for the original bailout package that sent billions of dollars to the big Wall Street banks.

North Texas needs a Congressman who will protect our workers and their families, and an individual who will take the lead in supporting the efforts to grow our economy. We don't need a Congressman like Pete Sessions who takes big money from the big Wall Street banks and caters to their every need. 

-Grier  

Come join Grier this Saturday July 17th from 1pm - 3pm for the Party in the Park BBQ. This will be a great opportunity to come out and chat with Grier about the issues that matter to you and your family. Additionally, there will be great food and games to keep you entertained all afternoon long. 

See you on Saturday!

Event Details 

Party in the Park BBQ

Willie B. Johnson Recreation Center

12225 Willowdell

Dallas, Texas 75243 

1 PM - 3 PM 

Come join our team as we walk block walk with the Dallas County Democratic Party on Saturday July 10. 

Details

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

Place: Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church

8350 Forest Lane 

Dallas, Texas 75243

Our team will be out with the DCDP volunteers going door to door to spread the word about our campaign and meet with voters. We're looking to have a good Team Raggio showing so I encourage everyone who can make it to come out.

Call our Field Director, Rickey Broadway, at (214) 683 - 6095 if you would like more information.

Thanks team!!  

Friends,

The 2nd Quarter of FEC fundraising ends tonight, June 30th, at 11:59 PM. It is critical to my campaign that we finish this quarter off with a bang. As many of you know by now, we are running the strongest campaign the district has seen in several years. Our fundraising efforts, voter outreach and online operations are all going much stronger than anyone expected. The hard work of the past year has enabled our campaign to transform from a simple group of supporters to an army of citizens that are ready to make change for themselves in Washington. And while every good army needs good soldiers, it also needs good supplies as well! That is why I am asking you to make a contribution on this final day of FEC fundraising.

In order for our movement to continue, and for us to be victorious on November 2nd, we are going to need to sustain our momentum in these final four months. Any contribution you can make, no matter how small or how large, makes a tremendous difference. The more resources the campaign has the more dynamic it can become and the more people we will be able to reach. Each and every penny we raise goes toward our fight to get rid of the Washington politician Pete Sessions and bring accountability and leadership back to Congress.

I thank you all for your enthusiastic support and am looking forward to these final few months until Election Day!

Grier 

The end of the FEC's second quarter filing is on June 30th, and we want to make these final few days count!! All of the contributions I have received up to this point, both large and small, have made a tremendous difference in the type of campaign we've been able to run. I think it's more than fair to say that we are running the most competitive campaign this district has seen in several years.

I've been visiting with voters throughout the district and the recurring message I hear from virtually everyone is that they are fed up with the political games being played by Pete Sessions. Republicans and Democrats, young and old, everyone is just downright angry that Sessions continues to ignore our needs in favor of those of the special interests and Washington establishment. 

Our nation doesn't need politicians playing Washington political games with our future; we need leadership and accountability. 

With the FEC deadline right around the corner I need your individual support to send a resounding message that the voters of the 32nd District are tired of career politicians like Pete Sessions. Your support is critical to helping me bring responsible leadership to Washington. I pledge that if I elected I will change Washington, but I won't let Washington change me, or the values I stand for.

Whether you can give $20 or $2000, every penny you contribute puts us one step closer to victory on November 2nd. This race is going to be neck and neck till the very end, and we need to make sure we have the resources that will propel us through the finish line on Election Day.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported my campaign and I genuinely look forward to fighting for you and your family.

-Grier 

We would like to encourage everyone to follow our campaign on Facebook and Twitter. We'll be using both sites frequently to keep you updated about the campaign and any breaking news. People who already have accounts on those sites can simply add Grier as friend on Facebook and become a follower on Twitter.

We encourage those of you missing out on all of the fun create an account on both sites. We have links to both Facebook and Twitter on the right side of our web page that will take you to the sign up page. The sign up process only takes a few short seconds and all you need is a valid email address. It's simple and easy to sign up for each, and we promise you'll get addicted quickly!! 

In yesterday's posting I stated that it was a travesty that Pete Sessions has refused to condemn the callous remarks made by Joe Barton. Today we finally heard from Sessions, and I must admit that his comments have left me feeling even more disappointed and ashamed than I was yesterday. Not only did Sessions say that he didn't believe that Barton should be punished, he actually went so far as to claim that the Democrats' incompetence was what led to the oil tragedy.

For one, while there were definitely many failures that caused the tragic event, I don't think now is the appropriate time to offer any type of apologies to the company that was responsible for the whole incident. Two, by playing the blame game Sessions is yet again showing his true colors as the typical Washington politician. Instead of supporting relief efforts and the inquiry into the tragedy, he has decided that it is more appropriate to point fingers at the other party so he can score personal political points. That is not leadership, but the same old politics Americans have grown tired of.

Unfortunately it does not appear as though the leaking well will be capped any time soon, which means this is an event that our nation will be dealing with for a long time to come. We need representatives who are dedicated to finding solutions and coming together to assist in the cleanup efforts. And we need them working to help clean the spill and support the millions of people who's lives have been destroyed because of the tragedy. Instead, Pete Sessions had decided to play political games so that he can advance his own personal agenda to gain influence and power in Washington.

That type of selfish behavior makes me wonder what Sessions would have to say to the widows and fatherless children of the men who were killed and citizens of the coast who had their lives destroyed.

Grier 

Like most Americans I have been both outraged and saddened by oil disaster in the Gulf. I know most of the mainstream media refers to the incident as I spill, but I firmly believe that it is a disaster in the truest sense of the word. Describing the incident as a spill does not give justice to the 11 men who lost their lives or to the millions of Gulf residents who have had their way of life destroyed, perhaps forever. 

It was for these reasons that I was outraged last week when Joe Barton decided that he, as a representative of the United States government, should apologize to the company that caused this disaster. His apology was an abomination and an outright slap in the face to the families of the killed workers and to the residents of the Gulf Coast. Members from both parties, including House Republican leaders Jim Boehner and Eric Cantor, were quick to condemn his remarks and demand that he apologize for his repulsive apology. But guess which North Texas congressman did not demand an apology, and in fact said absolutely nothing....

PETE SESSIONS 

Sadly, Sessions' silence did not come as much of a surprise. Taking a stand against a personal friend and close political ally would have required independent thinking and courage, traits that we all know Sessions rarely displays. As a career politician Sessions' loyalties are to the special interests that promote his own personal political agenda, but one would still hope that he wouldn't play Washington games in a matter a serious as the oil disaster.

-Grier  

"Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours." 

     --Wallace Bruce

This weekend we honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.  Please join me in taking time Monday to honor these heroes who died to protect our freedom.  

My father spent 6 months on Iwo Jima during World War II and while he came back, many did not.  He never talked about his friends who lost their lives, but I know he thought of them often.  But it is not just the veterens of World War II that we honor, nor is it the many from my generation that did not come back from Vietnam but all the great Americans who lost their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom that makes America great.  Especially, the over 5,000 Americans and 484 Texans who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.  

I have the utmost respect for these men and women who have given themselves so that our country can stay safe.  Join me in taking time to honor them and their families for their sacrifices.