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May 31, 2005

San Jacinto Democratic Brigade Memorial Event

ecbc.jpg

More pictures can be viewed at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tgederberg/album?.dir=/1c6f&.src=ph&.tok=phbR4EDBtgcOyDq8

Here is a short report of an event that I had the privelege to be a part of.

The volunteers of the San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade read the names of the soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq and planted a flage for each one. After 5 1/2 hours the last flag was planted, the last name read and white roses donated by a passerby was placed at the last flag.

Taps was played.

And we were dismissed.

The volunteers removed the flags (due to insurance reasons) and then returned at 5:00am to replant the flags for the day. The event was held in Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. The flags were visible from the high rise towers surrounding the park.

The Brigade did an absolutely fantastic job.

Posted by John Cobarruvias at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Let's send Tom DeLay a sympathy card

We are all aware that he's been so unmercifully tormented by demons -- within and without -- that perhaps it's a nice idea, on this calendar-says-it's-Tuesday-but-it-feels-like-a-Monday-to-me to acknowledge the stress we sometimes place on our Dear Leaders to, you know, do the right thing.

Julia at Sisyphus Shrugged (with a hat tip to Kuff) has it all ready for you to sign and print.

Go.

Posted by Guest Blogger PDiddie at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 30, 2005

Texas AG Refuses to Sue TRMPAC

I guess this isn't too much of a surprise considering how Attorney General Gregg Abbott has ties to groups that have been accused of illegally spending corporate money. Abbott's campagin advisor, John Colyandro, just happens to be the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority.

Via Clean Up Texas Politics:

Austin American Statesman: State Won't Sue TRMPAC for Damages

Attorney general opts not to pursue civil case, which would allow state to collect triple damages if it won

By Laylan Copelin

Three Texas House Democrats tried Friday to prod the state's top lawyer into pursuing damages against Texans for a Republican Majority, the political action committee that a judge has ruled violated campaign finance laws.

Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican with his own ties to groups accused of illegally spending corporate money, said no.

Citing state District Judge Joe Hart's decision Thursday against the political committee, Reps. Jim Dunnam of Waco, Pete Gallego of Alpine and Garnet Coleman of Houston asked Abbott to collect almost $3.9 million in damages for taxpayers.

Abbott said the Democrats are misreading Hart's decision, which found that the committee's treasurer, former Dallas Rep. Bill Ceverha, failed to disclose almost $1.3 million in corporate donations and expenditures during the 2002 legislative campaign. The judge ordered Ceverha to pay almost $200,000 in damages to the five defeated Democrats who sued him.

"The state of Texas is not party to the civil lawsuit," Abbott said in a written response, "nor has there been any litigation or award of money owed to the state."

State law generally forbids corporate money from being spent on campaigns except to pay the overhead of a political action committee. The election law allows private attorneys to sue to collect double damages for injured candidates, and allows the attorney general to sue to collect triple damages for taxpayers.

The judge cited the attorney general option in his calculation of damages.

That prompted the question of why Abbott has declined to sue any of the Republican or advocacy groups accused of illegally spending corporate money in the 2002 elections.

"We will have no further comment," said Abbott's communications director, Angela Hale, on Friday.

In 2002, two parties now caught in the legal cross hairs assisted Abbott's campaign for attorney general.

John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, was an adviser to Abbott's campaign. A Travis County grand jury indicted Colyandro on charges of money laundering and accepting illegal corporate donations. Defeated Democrats also have sued him. Colyandro's part in the lawsuit was suspended until he deals with the criminal charges.

The Law Enforcement Alliance of America, a Virginia-based group, also spent corporate money to run TV ads against Abbott's opponent, former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. At the time, Abbott said his campaign did not coordinate its efforts with the alliance, though Colyandro said he recruited the group to help in Texas legislative races.

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is investigating the law enforcement group, and Austin attorney Buck Wood has sued it on behalf of Watson.

In his statement Friday, Abbott promised to continue to "rigorously review the facts and law" and take appropriate action in the case.

There's a practical reason the attorney general might not go after Texans for a Republican Majority: It's broke.

The group's lawyer, Terry Scarborough of Austin, said, "TRMPAC doesn't have any money, and no one would give it money now."

I think this article pretty much speaks for itself. However, I'm not so sure about the last that states no one would give money to TRMPAC. People, including politicians, are still giving money to DeLay despite the mounting allegations against him. The Harris County Republican Party has proclaimed its allegiance to DeLay as well, so why would "moral" Republicans avoid giving money to TRMPAC if given the opportunity?

Posted by at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Sine Die

Well, it's finally over (at least for now). There is some talk about a possible special session at some point to address education.

From the Houston Chronicle:

May 29, 2005, 10:49PM

SCORECARD

A look at some bills that made it, and some that didn't, in the regular session of the 79th Legislature, which ends today.

Passed, signed

• Asbestos lawsuits: Limits the number of lawsuits for asbestos- and silica-related illnesses, allowing only those who have serious illnesses to sue companies.
• FOI education: Requires all elected and appointed public officials to undergo open government training.
• Military spouse unemployment: Provides unemployment insurance for soldiers' spouses who voluntarily give up their jobs because of a military transfer.
• Hunting protection: Allows property owners to continue hunting on their land or leasing it out to hunters even if the land is annexed by a municipality that bans the discharge of firearms.

Passed, awaiting Gov. Perry

• Abortion: Requires a parent to provide written consent for unmarried girls under 18 to get an abortion. The same bill also restricts doctors from performing abortions on women who have carried a child for more than 26 weeks unless having the baby would jeopardize the woman's life or the baby has serious brain damage.
• Inmate AIDS: Requires that Texas prison inmates be tested for the AIDS virus before they are released.
• Probation: Attempts to ease crowding at Texas prisons by reducing probation terms for felons from 10 years to five. After a probationer has served the five years, a judge would annually review the case to determine whether to terminate the sentence.
• Teacher paperwork: Requires the Texas education commissioner to reduce written reports and paperwork required of school districts, principals and teachers.

Failed

• Private school vouchers: Would have provided taxpayer money for some students living in urban school districts to attend private school.
• Video gambling: Would have legalized and taxed video slot machines.
• Gay foster parents: Would have restricted gays from becoming foster parents.
• Lewd cheerleading: Would have banned "overtly sexually suggestive" routines by cheerleaders at school-sponsored events.
• Medical marijuana: Would have created a defense to prosecution for patients who are being treated by a licensed physician and who use marijuana to relieve effects of a legitimate medical condition.
• Body mass index: Would have required school districts to measure the body mass index of students and include the information in regular report cards.
• Cell phones while driving: Would have banned adult motorists from using a cell phone while driving unless it is used with a hands-free device.
• Underage drinking: Would have made it illegal to serve alcohol to 21-year-olds before 7 a.m. on their birthday in an effort to prevent early-morning birthday binge drinking.
• Keg registration: Would have required that beer kegs be labeled with a registration number and mandated that keg purchasers fill out a form with their name, address and phone number and sign an agreement not to allow minors to drink its contents.
• Death penalty moratorium: Would have abolished the death penalty in Texas.
• Cable franchise: Would have made it easier for phone companies to get into the cable business without complying with current state rules and fees.
• Red light cameras: Would have banned cities from using cameras to issue civil citations for red-light runners.

From staff and wire reports

More about the end of the legislative session from Off the Kuff and The Red State

Posted by at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Texas Teachers and Students Left Behind

Today was Sine Die, and no agreement was reached on school finance. Lawmakers spent Sunday arguing who was to blame, and there was discussion of a special session.

The failure to reach a consensus on school finance will cost Texas schools $3,000,000,000 over the next two years.

From the Austin-American Statesman:

The failure to reach a consensus on school finance will cost schools about $3 billion over two years and left lawmakers without a solution to a problem that affects voters' tax bills and children's education.

Senate and House negotiators strongly disagreed about new taxes to replace billions of dollars in reduced property taxes. Discussions over the past two weeks yielded little movement by House members, who wanted to raise more with consumer taxes, or by senators, who wanted a broader business tax.

Gov. Rick Perry and legislative negotiators tried late Saturday to salvage the other piece of school finance legislation, House Bill 2, a $3 billion proposal that would have raised teacher salaries and reworked the formulas that determine a school's state funding. Lawmakers struggled to forge an agreement on that measure during the last week as well but always talked optimistically about reaching a deal.

Read the complete article, "School finance plans rest in pieces," in the Austin-American Statesman.

The issue of school finance appears headed for the Texas Supreme Court unless Governor Perry calls a special session. The Court is schedule to hear an appeal of a 2004 ruling that the current finance system in unconstitutional, largely because of underfunding. Robert Black, Perry's spokesman, said that he believes lawmakers are close to an agreement on the education proposal and that they will be able to overcome their differences on taxes. He added that once the lawmakers reach an agreement, Perry will call them into special session.

The following is a press release from the Texas Federation of Teachers:

TFT LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE (800-764-1177)--MONDAY, MAY 30, 2005 (copyright 2005 Texas Federation of Teachers)

Letting Down the Schoolchildren and Teachers of Texas

Texas Federation of Teachers President John Cole issued the following statement as the 79th regular session of the Texas legislature neared final adjournment today:

The governor and legislature have let down the schoolchildren and teachers of Texas. We urgently need a renewed state commitment to bolster high standards of achievement with sufficient resources to help our students succeed. Instead the governor and legislature this session gave top priority to a tax shuffle that would have raised taxes on the vast majority of Texans while leaving our schools badly underfunded. The real problem began on day one of the session, when it became apparent that the tax shuffle was the main focus, with education as an afterthought.

Teachers are not naive, but they do take promises seriously--both when they are made and when they are broken. They want to believe the best about top state leaders and lawmakers. But this session's broken promises and new benefit cuts have severely eroded the credibility of any claims by the governor and legislature to be looking out for the best interests of Texas schoolchildren and teachers.

The Senate passed a plan that at least would have done more than the House version to assure funding equity, raise teacher pay, and restore benefits and programs cut in 2003. But both the House and Senate held fast to a predetermined ceiling on new educational spending, an artificially low ceiling that guaranteed school funding would remain inadequate. A state district court said last fall that meeting the standard of mere adequacy under the state constitution would require an infusion of $4 billion a year in new funding for our schools, yet the legislature never considered providing more than a third of that amount.

Both chambers wasted months conjuring up ill-judged schemes to privatize the operation of public schools, carve out exceptions to state quality standards, and tinker with merit-pay schemes, which are at best beside the point until teachers receive base pay and benefits that will help recruit them and keep them in our classrooms.

Rather than improve teachers' lot, lawmakers this session broke their promise to restore health-care dollars taken away from every public-school educator in the state in 2003. Lawmakers also failed to live up to the promise of raising teacher pay to the national average. In fact, the legislature this session managed to make matters worse for teachers, cutting more than a billion dollars out of future pension benefits for nearly 500,000 current education employees. The legislature also at the last minute reneged on a promise made earlier this session to start restoring the state's contributions to the teacher pension fund. Because the legislature has shortchanged the pension fund for more than ten years and will continue to do so, retired teachers have no hope of an overdue cost-of-living increase--even as the legislature hikes their premiums again for health-care coverage.

Before Texas teachers will believe any future promises emanating from the capitol, they first want to see state leaders keep some of the old ones for a change.

It sure is reassuring to know that we will have 66 new "Welcome signs" announcing how "proud" we are to be the home state of George W. Bush, but cannot come up with a solution to the underfunding of public education in Texas.

So, Kay Bailey Hutchison, will you officially be announcing your candidacy for Governor of Texas? I believe you were waiting to see the outcome of the education bill. Now you have it and it's "failed big time."

Posted by at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Republicans Support War, Not Soldiers

I'm sure if you asked anyone what today is, they would reply that it is Memorial Day.

I'm sure if you asked anyone if they support our soldiers overseas, they would reply that of course they do (maybe not the war, but certainly the soldiers).

However, some of the strongest proponents for the Iraq war and supposedly our soldiers, are now turning their backs on those soldiers.

So what happens when an elephant forgets, who is important? A rampant stampede of the basic needs of the people.

Murvin A. of the Communications and Message Group had this to say about the GOP's decision on how to honor our veterans:

There is a special circle of hell reserved for those who mouth the words of patriotism and then won't support those who must pay the price of their slogans. There is no more vile kind of political posturing and hypocrisy. Yesterday the Republicans in the House of Representatives, with some few exceptions, voted to kill two measures to provide greater assistance to veterans and specifically to those returning less than whole from Iraq and Afghanistan. One would have qualified National Guard and Reserve personnel for TRICARE, the main military health plan, to the extent that active duty troops are covered. The other would have increased spending for the care of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have money for tax cuts, for Homeland security measures that don't work, for airliner missile defense that doesn't really defend, but we don't have money for the men and women on the front lines of the "war on terror". For shame! If any further evidence of the moral bankruptcy of the House leadership is needed, this cynical and greedy action completes the case and the verdict on the charge of hypocrisy in the first degree is guilty, guilty, guilty!

I think Murvin got it right. Unfortunately, our government won't hesitate to put our men and women in harms way, but even worse, it ignores their most basic needs. Many of these honorable soldiers have been placed in harms way, many against their wishes. Huge numbers have taken hits from bullets, shrapnel, etc., and now our government is denying them the care they need to make a recovery, and to return to their everyday lives.

I seem to remember the "Good Old" Party attacking John Kerry, a Vietnam Veteran, for not voting to provide body armor for our troops overseas. His vote was definitely a protest vote for the administration's lack of information about from where funding for the war was coming. Yet, now Republicans have the gaul to not provide the thousands and thousands of troops returning home from receiving adequate health care for their service to our nation. Talk about some thanks.

Here's how Texas honors its soldiers and war heroes:

THE YELLOW RIBBONS WE SEE ON THE BACK OF CARS ASK THAT WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

And we do. But it seems the US House of Representatives thinks differently. In today’s Houston Chronicle, May 29, 05 you will be surprised to find that the following bills were defeated in the House last week.

**************************************

1) GUARD, RESERVE HEALTH INSURANCE WAS DEFEATED 211 – 218, a motion to qualify National Guard and Reserve personnel for TRICARE, the main military health plan, to the extent that active duty troops are covered. The motion was offered to HR 1815 (the 2006 Defense Budget bill which authorized $49 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan). Present law includes Guard and Reserve personnel in TRICARE for 90 days before and 180 days after mobilization. Full coverage would cost at least $5.8 billion over 5 years. At $50 billion annually, TRICARE accounts for 1/10 of the defense. Backers noted that the Guard and Reserves are supplying 40% of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics said that to include them fully in TRICARE would prompt private employers to cancel medical coverage. A Yes Vote backed the measure.

All Texas Republicans with the exception of Representative Paul voted NO. All Democrats voted YES.

******************************************

VETERANS MEDICAL CARE WAS REFUSED 214-213: to increase spending by $54 million for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including $8 million for treating combat trauma; $9 million for prosthetic research; and $6 million for telemedicine to remotely serve National Guard and Reserve veterans. The vote occurred during debate on a bill (HR 2528; later passed that appropriated $85.2 billion for military construction, veterans care, and other programs in fiscal 2006.) The additional funds were to have been taken from the budget for closing military bases. A YES vote was to add $53 billion for the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

All Texas Republicans with the exception of Representatives Hall and Paul voted NO. All Democrats with the exception of Ortiz voted YES. Johnson was Absent.

Excerpted from The Houston Chronicle "How Texans Voted"

Yes, this is how Texas Republicans thank our soldiers.

Maybe the Lege still has enough funds available to build a Hypocrisy Memorial to the Republican Party.

Here's how the Republican controlled Congress honors our soldiers (from the San Diego Times):

By Andrew Taylor ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:58 p.m. May 26, 2005

WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders on Thursday barely beat back a bid by Democrats to cut $169 million for a contested round of military base closures.

The move came as the House overwhelmingly passed an $85.2 billion measure that would provide money for the Veterans Affairs Department and construction projects on military bases. The money is for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

It took a 214-213 vote to defeat an amendment that would have shifted some of the base-closing money to pay for benefits for the families of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and for veterans' health care accounts.

GOP leaders had to prevail upon several members to change their votes and reject the amendment sponsored by Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who by tradition rarely votes, provided the winning margin. Some 19 Republicans broke with their leadership to support the Democrats.

The underlying bill would increase spending on veterans' health care by 2 percent, to $28.2 billion, over current levels.

Democrats and advocacy groups complained that new money for health care was not enough to keep pace with inflation and the increasing numbers of veterans entering the system.

"This is way below what's needed just to maintain current services," said David Autry, spokesman for Disabled American Veterans. "It's grossly inadequate."

But Republicans said the increase for actual VA medical services is almost 9 percent more than current levels. They said cuts in VA operating budgets would free up additional funds for medical care.

Republicans turned back, by a 223-194 margin, an attempt by Wisconsin Rep. David Obey, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, to add $2.6 billion for veterans health care. He would have paid for it by increasing taxes on the wealthy.

Obey complained that while Congress gives a virtual blank check for military costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, it comes up short when caring for soldiers upon their return.

Despite Democratic objections, only Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., opposed the bill, which passed 425-1.

The measure also would provide $1.6 billion for the Pentagon's new round of military base closures and realignments. That is $300 million less than requested.

The House by voice vote approved an amendment by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, to block the Pentagon from closing military bases until it releases the information used for its recommendations.

Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., said the amendment would have no practical effect because it restates current law.

The bill also would fund $5.8 billion in improvements in military bases, which are popular with lawmakers. Generally speaking, the bill follows the recommendations of the Pentagon for base improvements.

But it also would set aside money lawmakers wanted for more than 80 homestate projects that President Bush did not include in his budget.

Among them is a $4.3 million "chapel center" at Goodfellow Air Force Base in the district of freshman Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., won $1 million for designing a replacement fitness center at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

In all, the bill provides $496 million more than Bush requested for military construction.

On the Net:

Information on the bill, H.R. 2565, can be found at thomas.loc.gov/

Thanks Murvin, for bringing this to our attention. We need to make sure that our troops -- past, present, and future -- are truly honored and respected for their service to our nation. It's very apparent that many Republicans have forsaken them.

Contact your representative and tell them you expect them to truly expect those in the service of our nation.

Posted by at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack

May 29, 2005

More Evidence Bush Lied Us Into War

The Times Online is reporting today that

THE RAF and US aircraft doubled the rate at which they were dropping bombs on Iraq in 2002 in an attempt to provoke Saddam Hussein into giving the allies an excuse for war...

Posted by Lyn Wall at 07:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Voter ID Bill Thwarted

Chalk one up for the good guys. The Voter ID amendment was removed on a technicality Friday night. Democrats were prepared to filibuster the bill, but it proved unnecessary when Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, exercised a Senate rule that prevents a bill from carrying unrelated subjects.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tell Governor Perry to Veto Cut to Teacher Retirement Benefits

Use this Texas Federation of Teachers action tool to urge Gov. Rick Perry to veto SB 1691, which will cut more than $1.5 billion in future retirement benefits for some 500,000 public school employees.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 07:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

What Books Made You a Progressive?

Unlike our nation's current president, we progressives love to read. In fact, for many of us, reading was our pathway to a progressive outlook on life. Below the fold you will find a list of books that have influenced the political worldviews of many people. These are titles that we want to introduce to our children, share with our friends, and ensure their placement in school and public libraries.

After all, what child sits on a nurturant parent's lap listening to Dr. Seuss's Butter Battle Book (folly of war), The Sneetches (inanity of discrimination), and The Lorax (consequences of environmental destruction), and then grows up to espouse the "dark side" of these issues? What reader becomes a hard-hearted Republican after immersing himself in the story of Atticus Finch, a courageous lawyer fighting against racial injustice in his small, Depression-era town? Please take a look at the list. Did we miss any of your favorite formative books? Add a comment to share the reading experiences that set YOU on the right (but not right-wing) road.

Books That Inspire a Progressive Outlook

What Titles Would YOU Add?

Author Title of Influential Book/s
Atwood, Margaret The Handmaid's Tale
Baldwin, James The Fire Next Time
Bradbury, Ray Farenheit 451
Brown, Dee Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Camus, Albert The Stranger; The Fall
Carson, Rachel Silent Spring
Diamond, Jared Guns, Germs, and Steel
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor Crime and Punishment; The Idiot
Douglass, Frederick Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Dr. Seuss Sneetches; Lorax; Butter Battle Book
Ellison, Ralph Invisible Man
Freidel, Frank Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezvous With Destiny
Golding, William Lord of the Flies
Gunther, John J. Death Be Not Proud
Hayakawa, S. I. Language in Thought and Action
Heller, Joseph Catch 22
Hoffer, Edward True Believer
Hugo, Victor Les Miserables
Kennedy, John Profiles in Courage
King, Martin Luther, Jr. A Testament of Hope (essential writings)
King, Stephen Hearts in Atlantis; Dead Zone
Lakoff, George Don't Think of an Elephant
Lee, Harper To Kill a Mockingbird
Madison, James, et al The Constitutuion of the U.S. and the Bill of Rights
Malcolm X The Autobiography of Malcolm X
McCullough, David Truman
Miller, Arthur The Crucible
Miller, Nathan FDR
Morgan, Ted FDR
Oates, Stephen Let the Trumpet Sound: Life of MLK, Jr.
Orwell, George Animal Farm; 1984
Paine, Thomas Common Sense; Rights of Man; The Crisis
Remarque, Erich Maria All Quiet on the Western Front
Schlesinger, Arthur, Jr. Robert Kennedy and His Times
Steinbeck, John The Grapes of Wrath
Thoreau, Henry David Walden; Civil Disobedience
Tolkein, J.R.R. Lord of the Rings
Twain, Mark Huckleberry Finn
Vann, John Paul A Bright, Shining Lie
Wallis, Jim God's Politics
Ward, Geoffrey C. A First Class Temperament (FDR)
White, T.H. The Once and Future King
Whitman, Walt Leaves of Grass
Woodward, Bob, and Bernstein, Carl All the President's Men
Zinn, Howard A People's History of the United States

Posted by at 01:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack

May 28, 2005

Honor Our Fallen Troops on Memorial Day

Try to stop by Sam Houston Park Monday and Tuesday.San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade will place 1800 American flags in Sam Houston park to honor military personnel we've lost in Afghanistan and Iraq. 150 Texas flags will be placed for our fallen heroes from Texas. The flags will also be displayed on Tuesday.

Let Their Sacrifices Be Counted!

A MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE 2005
FOR U.S. SERVICEMEN KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

This Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, the public is invited to acknowledge the sacrifices of our fellow citizens who served in the military and died in Iraq and Afghanistan by reading their names and placing over 1800 American flags in Sam Houston Park, downtown Houston, between noon and 5 p.m. Some 150 Texas flags will also mark those lost from Texas. On Tuesday, May 31st, the flags will be displayed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

This event is coordinated by the San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade and co-sponsored by other local Democratic clubs.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 27, 2005

URGENT: Sign John Conyers Letter - He needs 100.000 signatures

John Conyers, one of the few Congressman brave enough to call this Administration on his lies, needs 100,000 signatures on a letter to begin an inquiry into the Downing Street Memo. This inquiry is the first step towards articles of impeachment should they be warranted if it is proven that the President illegally lied to Congress about reasons for going to war against Iraq: http://www.johnconyers.campaignoffice.com/index.asp?Type=SUPERFORMS&SEC={0F1B03E0-080B-4100-B143-36A5985EF1E3}

Posted by Lyn Wall at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A public relations disaster for the Builders Commission

The Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), appropriately pronounced "tricky" held a public seminar in Houston on Thursday evening to discuss the new home warranty standards that take effect June 1, 2005.

In short, it was a Public Relations disaster for the TRCC.

The lone Commissioner in attendance, Mr. Porter left the meeting before the question and answer session began. He never returned. Some believed it was because Channel 13 set up a camera at the back of the room and was looking for comments.

A professor from Texas A&M Department of Building Construction (the same group that built a 80ft tall 100 ton stack of logs without a foundation that fell and killed 12 students) along with a representative of the TRCC gave a very "rosy" presentation of the TRCC that, to the untrained eye, described the TRCC as a consumer protection dream.

Unfortunately once the tough questions were asked by consumers the professor became short and at times rude enough for a number of people to confront her about it after the meeting. Many questions were left unanswered and many of those who attempted to ask questions were cutoff and quit in frustration.

All of this would have all been recorded by CH 13, but the A&M professor told them they could not film inside of the public hearing even though it was being held with tax dollars by a public Commission.
After the event was completed, the TRCC representative and the Texas A&M Professor refused to be interviewed on camera. And the lone Commission never returned, leaving only the homeowners who took their time to attend the meeting to talk with the media.

All in all, it was an embarrassing disaster for the Commission and their representatives. It was a very poor showing and was insulting to many of the homeowners.
--
John R. Cobarruvias

Posted by John Cobarruvias at 05:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

WHDC Member Ben Ongoco Featured in Houston Chronicle

From the Houston Chronicle:

Growing up in the Philippines, Ben Ongoco rarely missed the celebrations surrounding Santacruzan, a religious festival that literally means "Holy Cross."

The west Houston resident has fond memories of the traditions that went with the festival.

A two-foot high cross was passed from house to house. Pretty, young girls sang and threw flower petals. They ate noodle soup, chicken and rice soup and rice in coconut cream, he said.

The nine-day festival held in May culminated with a Mass and procession that took place on the last Sunday of the month.


more...

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Pro-Death Bush Administration

There are so many Bushisms to pick from that prove the Adminstration really promotes a culture of Death. Here's one about war:

I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace. George W. Bush

William Saleton of Salon points out that The Administration's statements on the potentially life saving Stem Cell issue directly contradict their statements on the death penalty.


This Administration is Pro-Death and we need to call them on it.

STEM CELLS
DEATH PENALTY

"Yet the ethics of medicine are not infinitely adaptable. There is at least one bright line: We do not end some lives for the medical benefit of others."

—George W. Bush, New York Times, Aug. 12, 2001

"During the course of the campaign in 1994 I was asked, 'Do you support the death penalty?' I said I did, if administered fairly and justly. Because I believe it saves lives."

—Bush, Oct. 17, 2000

"Dr. Zerhouni shares my view that human life is precious, and should not be exploited or destroyed for the benefits of others."

—Bush, March 22, 2002

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer: "The president believes that we need to welcome and create a culture that respects life in this country."

Q: "How can he be in favor of showing how much we disapprove of killing, by killing?"

Fleischer: "You're referring to the death penalty?"

Q: "I'm referring to the death penalty."

Fleischer: "Because the president's opinion is the death penalty ultimately saves lives."

—May 7, 2001

"Research cloning would contradict the most fundamental principle of medical ethics, that no human life should be exploited or extinguished for the benefit of another."

—Bush, April 10, 2002

"The president supports the death penalty for those people who commit violent, heinous crimes, because he believes that it saves lives."

—Fleischer, June 20, 2002

"In this session, the U.N. will consider a resolution sponsored by Costa Rica calling for a comprehensive ban on human cloning. I support that resolution and urge all governments to affirm a basic ethical principle: No human life should ever be produced or destroyed for the benefit of another."

—Bush, Sept. 21, 2004

"The president does believe that the death penalty does serve as a deterrent to crime. He believes that for violent and heinous crimes, that the death penalty ultimately saves lives."

—Fleischer, Jan. 13, 2003

"To build a culture of life, we must also ensure that scientific advances always serve human dignity, not take advantage of some lives for the benefit of others."

—Bush, Feb. 2, 2005

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan: "Well, I can tell you why the president supports the death penalty. He's made that clear before. That the president believes it's a deterrent that helps save lives, and that's why he supports the death penalty."

Q: "But isn't that inconsistent with what he's doing today?"

McClellan: "The reason he supports the death penalty is because it helps—he believes that it helps save lives, and he's stated that view clearly and consistently over a number of years."

—March 20, 2005

"The President is committed to medical research that does not violate the dignity of human life or exploit one human life for the benefit of another."

—White House fact sheet, State of the Union, Feb. 2, 2005

"I happen to believe that the death penalty, when properly applied, saves lives of others. And so I'm comfortable with my beliefs that there's no contradiction between the two."

—Bush, April 14, 2005

"The use of federal money, taxpayers' money to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is—I'm against that. And therefore, if the bill does that, I will veto it."

—Bush, May 20, 2005

  

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

ACLU Releases More FOIA Documents

Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released more Freedom of Information Act Documents (FOIA) it was able to obtain from the Department of Defense.

The Department of Defense (DOD) e-mails show that it had/has a plot to blame the FBI for incidences of torture during Guantánamo interrogations.

The following is an example of one unredacted e-mail:

DETAINEES-2799B

Electronic Communication (from CTD to Arthur Cummings) concerning alleged impersonation of FBI Agents at GTMO

11/25/03

Same document as DETAINEES-2799 with the following unredacted: "Document information concerning impersonation by DOD interrogators at Guantanamo representing themselves to be officials of the FBI and U.S. State Department." (Emphasis added)

And another e-mail:

DETAINEES-2797B

E-mail (from CTD employee to Frankie Battle) noting that sender is forwarding this EC up the chain of command, concerning alleged impersonation of FBI Agents at GTMO

12/05/03

Same document as Detainee-2797 with the following unredacted: "Of concern, DOD interrogators impersonating Supervisory Special Agents of the FBI told a detainee that the FBI..." and "These tactics have produced no intelligence of a threat neutralization nature to date and CITF believes that techniques have destroyed any chance of prosecuting this detainee." and "If this detainee is ever released or his story made public in any way, DOD interrogators will not be held accountable because these torture techniques were done (by) the "FBI" interrogators. The FBI will (be) left holding the bag before the public." (Emphasis added)

Here's an e-mail suggesting making an arrest:

DETAINEES-3831B

Emails, from REDACTED to REDACTED, Re Impersonating FBI.

01/20/04

Same document as DETAINEES-3831 with the following unredacted: "about finally making an arrest down there."

And another suggesting officers are taking kickbacks:

DETAINEES-1685B

Email string btwn Valerie Caproni and Michael Mason re: Referrals

05/12/04

Same document as DETAINEES-1685 with "of military officers taking kickbacks" unredacted.

The ACLU released the FOIA documents in conjunction with a legal action it filed in New York in which the ACLU argues the DOD and the CIA are withholding photographs and documents regarding prisoner torture. Other FOIA documents released are available on the ACLU's website.

The following is the ACLU's press release about the new FOIA documents:

Defense Department Personnel Impersonated State Department Officials in Guantánamo Interrogations, FBI Documents Show

May 26, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@aclu.org

Defense Department And CIA Are Unlawfully Withholding Photographs and Documents Concerning Torture Of Prisoners, ACLU Argues in Court Today

NEW YORK -- Documents released by the FBI state that Defense Department personnel impersonated State Department officials in interrogations at Guantánamo Bay, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

"Defense Department interrogators, possibly on instructions from high-level officials, went to great lengths to avoid being held accountable for the use of unlawful interrogation methods," said Jameel Jaffer, a staff attorney with the ACLU. "Apparently Defense Department personnel were willing to use torture but they wanted others to be held responsible for it."

In December 2004, the FBI released documents stating that Defense Department interrogators impersonated FBI agents in order to avoid being held responsible for the use of "torture techniques." The new documents provide the first indication that Defense Department interrogators impersonated State Department officials as well.

Continue reading the ACLU press release.

Posted by at 01:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Harris County Republican Party Approves Resolution Praising DeLay

I went behind enemy lines to take a look at what the Harris County Republican Party (HCRP) has been up to. If you have some Republican friends who aren't too happy with what DeLay has been doing, or are concerned about corruption and domination of one party rule, it might be good to point them to the following resolution honoring DeLay.

RESOLUTION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN TOM DELAY, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 22

Download this Resolution as Word document

On this the 9th day of May, 2005, the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee has convened in a regular meeting and adopted the following resolution formally recognizing and honoring the strong conservative leadership and effectiveness of Congressman Tom DeLay:

A RESOLUTION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN TOM DELAY.

WHEREAS Congressman Tom DeLay from Congressional District 22 has been a strong and effective leader in the United States Congress, and

WHEREAS Congressman Tom DeLay has been a tireless worker who has shown strength and courage in supporting conservative causes, and

WHEREAS Congressman Tom DeLay has played a key part for many years in implementing responsible government policy, and

WHEREAS Congressman Tom DeLay has played an important role in addressing critical local issues in Congressional District 22 and the State of Texas, and

WHEREAS Congressman Tom DeLay continues to lead the efforts in Congress for strong Homeland Security, a sound economy, jobs creation, family rights, an effective energy policy, strong national defense and a position of leadership, honor and integrity in the world for the United States, and

WHEREAS President George W. Bush has publicly acknowledged Congressman DeLay's importance as a Congressional leader to help the President pass critical legislation,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee that we affirm our support for Congressman Tom DeLay in his role as a Congressional leader, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call on all Republican leaders to stand by and work with Congressman DeLay in his leadership role in Congress, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we consider it an honor to have a representative with the courage, leadership skills and integrity of Congressman Tom DeLay to represent us in Washington.

INTRODUCED on this, the 9th Day of May 2005.

Adopted by the HCRP Executive Committee on May 9, 2005

Integrity?!?!?! Did I really just see that word in the same sentence with Congressman Tom DeLay in the above resolution?

Definition of integrity:

Steadfast adherence to a strict ethical code. Syn. honesty

Apparently, May 9th was "opposite day."

The following is the HCRP's press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday May 10, 2005

Contact: Lonnie McBee - 713-838-7900

REPUBLICAN PARTY STANDS WITH TOM DELAY
Harris County Republican Party supports Majority Leader

HOUSTON - The Harris County Republican Party, in a solid display of unity, voted unanimously to support House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The action took place during the 2nd Quarter Executive Committee Meeting of the Harris County Republican Party.

"While our support of Congressman DeLay was never in question, Monday night's action sent a clear message to anyone who might consider challenging Tom," remarked Chairman Jared Woodfill. "They better be ready for battle. Tom has told us he will fight to defend his district and we will be there to back him up," Chairman Woodfill added.

The resolution to support Congressman Delay came after members of the Executive Committee heard from Congressmen Michael McCaul and Ted Poe.

"Congressman Delay works hard to advance common sense conservative ideals, and that makes him a target of Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi. We want Tom to know that while the Democrats are attacking him in Washington, back home we are supporting him 100%," Chairman Woodfill concluded.

Well, the HCRP may be standing behind DeLay 100%, but DeLay's district certainly isn't standing behind him 100%. However, I have no problem with the HCRP standing in lockstep with DeLay. Doing so only serves to make the HCRP complicit in DeLay's doings. Support DeLay as long as you want. He is perhaps the best thing that has happened to the Democratic Party in the way of generating interest and energy in the upcomming elections.

The following is the Houston Chronicle article on the HCRP's DeLay resolution:

County GOP votes in support of DeLay Party's backing serves as warning to any would-be challengers, its chairman says

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, the object of ethics criticism that has raised the hopes of Democratic opponents and some discontent among fellow Republicans, has received unqualified support from the Harris County GOP.

The county party's Executive Committee, which comprises the Republican precinct chairs, unanimously approved a resolution in support of DeLay at its quarterly meeting Monday night. About half of the more than 400 committee members attended, a party spokesman said.

"While our support of Congressman DeLay was never in question, Monday night's action sent a clear message to anyone who might consider challenging Tom," county GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill said in a news release Tuesday. "They better be ready for battle. Tom has told us he will fight to defend his district and we will be there to back him up."

Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, of Beaumont, who lost his seat in a congressional redistricting engineered by DeLay, has announced that he'll seek the Democratic nomination against the majority leader. Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan also is considering seeking the nomination.

Michael Fjetland, a Missouri City lawyer whom DeLay has defeated twice in GOP primaries and again last year when he ran as an independent, has said he is exploring making a third primary run against DeLay.

The 22nd District, which includes parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris counties, is solidly Republican and has elected DeLay 11 times.

The congressman was admonished last year by the House Ethics Committee, and a Travis County grand jury is probing a political organization with ties to DeLay. He also has come under scrutiny involving overseas travel. DeLay has denied any wrongdoing.

Yes, that resolution sure sent a clear message. It makes it plain to me that the local Republican Party condones corruption and dishonesty. Talk about some moral values. I'm glad, I don't share those moral values.

On another note, I wonder what the HCRP has to say about the TRMPAC ruling. According to the HCRP's use of 'integrity,' I guess that would probably count as integrity too.

Posted by at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

May 26, 2005

Senfronia Thompson is a Democrat to Watch

In an effort to not lose sight of the good things that Democrats can do, here is the speech that State Representative Senfronia Thompson of District 141 in Houston gave before the Texas House on HJR 6, the Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment.

All too often the public focuses only on the bad that comes from the Legislature. The Lege certainly makes it easy to do. However, it results in a kind of perverse incentive because legislators receive more attention when they do something wrong than when they do something right. Plus, the ones that really are fighting for us, don't get the credit they deserve.

Here's what Molly Ivins had to say about Senfronia Thompson's speech that she devoted her entire column to today:

AUSTIN -- Here in the National Laboratory for Bad Government, it's Duck and Cover time -- the Legislature is in session. The Can't-Shake-Your-Booty bill passed the House, saving us all from the scourge of sexy cheerleaders. But nothing else is getting done. The state is being run by people who do not know how to govern. Keep in mind that based on past form, whatever lunacy is going on in Texas will eventually sweep the country.

Rarely are the words of one state legislator worth national attention, but when Senfronia Thompson, a black representative from Houston, stalks to the back mike with a certain "get-out-of-my-way" look in her eye, it's, Katie, bar the door. Here is Thompson speaking against the Legislature's recent folly of putting a superfluous anti-gay marriage measure into the state constitution:

Praise should be given where praise is due. In this case, Senfronia Thompson delivered a first rate speech on the perils of HJR 6.

I have been a member of this august body for three decades, and today is one of the all-time low points. We are going in the wrong direction, in the direction of hate and fear and discrimination.

Members, we all know what this is about; this is the politics of divisiveness at its worst, a wedge issue that is meant to divide.

Members, this issue is a distraction from the real things we need to be working on. At the end of this session, this Legislature, this Leadership will not be able to deliver the people of Texas, fundamental and fair answers to the pressing issues of our day.

Let's look at what this amendment does not do: It does not give one Texas citizen meaningful tax relief. It does not reform or fully fund our education system. It does not restore one child to CHIP who was cut from health insurance last session. It does not put one dime into raising Texas' Third World access to health care. It does not do one thing to care for or protect one elderly person or one child in this state. In fact, it does not even do anything to protect one marriage.

Members, this bill is about hate and fear and discrimination. I know something about hate and fear and discrimination. When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about "protecting the institution of marriage" as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum's color, you'd often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. That's what the white folks did back then to "protect marriage." Fifty years ago, white folks thought inter-racial marriages were a "threat to the institution of marriage."

Members, I'm a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, "gay people can't marry." I have never read the verse where it says, "though shalt discriminate against those not like me." I have never read the verse where it says, "let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination." Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness-not hate and discrimination.

I have served in this body a lot of years-and I have seen a lot of promises broken. I should be up here demanding my 40 acres and a mule because that's another promise you broke. You used a wealthy white minister cloaked in the cloth to ease the stench of that form of discrimination. So, now that blacks and women can vote, and now
that blacks and women have equal rights-you turn your hatred to homosexuals- and you still use your misguided reading of the Bible to justify your hatred.

You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag. Brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what? Persons of the same sex cannot get married in this State now. Texas does not now recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, religious unions, domestic partnerships, contractual arrangements or Christian blessings entered into in this State -- or anywhere else on this planet Earth.

If you want to make your hateful political statements then that is one thing -- the Chisum amendment does real harm. It repeals the contracts that many single people have paid thousands of dollars to purchase to obtain medical powers of attorney, powers of attorney, hospital visitation, joint ownership and support agreements.

You have lost your way -- this is obscene. Today, you are playing to the lowest common denominator -- you are putting aside the real issues of substance that we need to address so that you can instead play on the public's fears and prejudices to deceive and manipulate voters into thinking that we have done something important.

I realize that gay rights are not the same as civil rights, but I can guarantee you we are going in the wrong direction. I can not hide my skin color. In fact, in most of the South, people as pink as Rep. Wayne Smith were still Black by law if they had a great grandparent who was African. I was unable to attend an integrated and equally funded school until I got my Master of Laws degree. There were separate and unequal facilities for nearly everything.

I got second-hand textbooks even worse than the kind you're trying to pass off on every public school student next year. I had to ride to school on the back of the bus. I had to quench my thirst from filthy coloreds-only drinking fountains. I had to enter restaurants from the kitchen door. I was banned from entering most public accommodations, even from serving on a jury. I had to live with the fear that getting too uppity could get you killed -- or worse. I know what third-class citizenship feels like.

In my first term, one of my colleagues walked up and down this aisle muttering about how Nigras should be back in the field picking cotton instead of picking out committees.

So, I have to wonder about Rep. Chisum's 3/5 of a person amendment. Some of you folks hid behind your Bible then,too, to justify your cultural prejudices, your denial of liberty, and your gunpoint robbery of human dignity.

We have worked hard at putting our prejudices against homosexuals in law. We have denied them basic job protections. We have denied them and their children freedom from bullying and harassment at school. We have tried to criminalize their very existence. But, we have also absolved them of all family duties and responsibilities: to care for and support their spouses and children, to count their family's assets in determining public assistance, to obtain health insurance for dependents, to make end-of-life or necessary medical decisions for their life partners -- sometimes even to visit in the hospital, even to defend our own country. And then, we can stand on our two hind legs and proclaim, "See, I told you homosexual families are unstable."

And nearly every one of you on this Floor has a homosexual in their extended families. Some of you have shunned and isolated these family members. Some of you, even some of the joint coauthors, have embraced them within your own family for the essence of Christianity is love. Yet,you are now poised to constitutionalize discrimination against a particular class of people.

I thought we would be debating real issues:education, health care for kids, teacher's health insurance, health care for the elderly, protecting survivors of sexual assault, protecting the pensions of seniors in nursing homes. I thought we would be debating economic development, property tax relief, protecting seniors pensions and stem cell research, to save lives of Texans who are waiting for a more abundant life. Instead we are wasting this body's time with this political stunt that is nothing more than constitutionalizing discrimination.

The prejudices exhibited by members of this body disgust me. Last week, Republicans used a political wedge issue to pull kids-sweet little vulnerable kids -- out of the homes of loving parents and put them back in a state orphanage just because those parents are gay. That's disgusting. Today, we are telling homosexuals that just like people of my ilk, when I was a small child; they too are second class citizens. I have listened to all the arguments. I have listened to all of the crap. Mr. Chisum, is a person who I consider my good friend and revere. But, I want you to know that this amendment is blowing smoke to fuel the hell-fire flames of bigotry. You are trying to protect your constituents from danger. This amendment is a CYB amendment for you to go home and talk about.

Why not contact Senfronia Thompson and let her know that she did her best to uphold our Democratic values, and to keep up the good work.

Capitol Office
Room CAP 3S.06
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768

(512) 463-0720
(512) 463-6306 Fax

District Office
10527 Homestead Road
Houston, TX 77016
(713) 633-3390

Or e-mail Representative Thompson

Posted by at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Texas Democratic Party Chair Statement on TRMPAC Verdict

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Mike Lavigne
512-478-3998
May 26, 2005

STATEMENT BY CHARLES SOECHTING

"Judge Hart's landmark decision that TRMPAC failed to report $532,000 in corporate contributions makes two things very clear: there was an illegal conspiracy in 2002 to break Texas law, and Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick were at the center of that conspiracy.

"Everything since then -- the takeover of state government by extremist politicians paid for by corporate interests, the unprecedented mid-decade redistricting to give the GOP seats it couldn't win at the ballot box, the failure of Texas Republicans to address the state's most pressing public policy challenges -- flows from the illegal conspiracy directed by Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick.

"Bankrupt public schools? Eligible children stripped of their health insurance? Soaring college tuition rates? No ethics reform? The highest homeowners' insurance rates in the nation? Blame it on the illegal conspiracy directed by Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick."

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Tribute to Our Dear Leader

Just in case you were in any doubt about what state George W. Bush claims he comes from, there won't be any doubt now.

Our illustrious Lege has decided that what our state needs most above all other priorities, such as funding our public schools (insert any other priorities you can think of here, here, here...etc.), is to have 66 road signs that say: "Welcome to Texas, Proud to be the home of President George W. Bush." (Actually the Bush family is from Connecticut.)

HB 137 would make it mandatory for a "Welcome to Texas" sign to include:

• A depiction of the state flag;
• The phrase "Drive Friendly – The Texas Way"; and
• The phrase "Welcome to Texas – Proud to be the Home of President George W. Bush."

The signs currently depict the flag and the phrase "Drive Friendly – The Texas Way." Although, people may "Drive Friendly" somewhere, I'm just not sure that it's the "Texas Way." Therefore, the only thing this bill accomplishes is branding George W. Bush's name on all the signs.

You ask what about our other presidents. Don't they deserve mention? Texas has contributed three presidents, whether one agrees with what they did or not. Texas' other presidents are Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), and George H. W. Bush (1989-1993).

HB 137 originally planned to include the other presidents, but apparently the added lettering was just too expensive. Cosnequently, the Texas Senate committee stripped the previous three presidents' names from the bill. Instead the new signs will only mention George W. Bush (since he's the only one that really matters anyway and most likely to be the real reason behind creating the signs).

I would like to know how George H. W. Bush feels being left unmentioned. Of course, I'm not singling #41 out, but he just happens to be the only one of the previous three still alive. Sure he may not have been a great president, or one that I agree with, but at least he could make a reasonable case for going to war in Iraq without all the trumped up evidence the current administration has used. Having been the CIA Director, he did at least have some shred of cognitive ability.

So where is the money coming from to place these signs? The fiscal note to HB 137 from the Legislative Budget Board states:

Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

I am a little uneasy about the "assumed" part. Whenever it comes to budgets and assuming things, it can't be good. Ominously, the Legislative Budget Board does not make any mention about how much these new signs will cost. It simply states, "No significant fiscal implication to the State [and local government] is anticipated." Sounds like TxDOT has a blank check, and it won't matter if the bill runs over a little, so long as it succeeds with getting George W. Bush emblazoned on 66 signs.

The House had added an amendment that would have amended the signs in 2009 to read: "Welcome to Texas – Proud to be the Home of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush." But really, what of any importance did those other presidents do?

That's right Eisenhower, your interstate highway plan meant nothing.

That's right Johnson, your Voting Rights Act of 1965 meant nothing (The one Bush didn't know had to be renewed, by his own admission).

That's right #41, the first Gulf War to liberate Kuwait meant nothing.

That's right, nothing compared to the Wonderful W. Although what does the Texas Legislature know about equality and respect? Ah right, they legislate so they don't have to believe in that kind of stuff. That would just be too much work.

HB 137 passed the Senate without any debate or any "no" votes Monday. It will now return to the House with the change. State Senator Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) says she believes the House will accept the bill without any honor for the other presidents.

In the very apt words of Martha C., who tipped us off to this piece of news:

This is absurd.

Oh and by the way, did I mention this came before debating school funding? That's right apparently the Lege is running into a deadline this week on coming up with a solution to fund our public schools on which the betterment of thousands of Texas children depend, but they have not trouble finding time to grovel at W's feet by erecting 66 tributes to him at every entrance to the state. Then again, this is the Texas Legislature, so I guess we have to forgive them for misplacing their cents and senses.

So whenever you are returning from a road trip, don't forget to stop and pray in front of one of these 66 temples to W, our dear immortal leader. You'll need to start praying a lot harder since public education comes after road signs, and since the power of prayer will make much more difference than the dedicated work teachers put in relentlessly. Thank your lucky stars to be living in the Great State of Texas. (You know, I’m joking, but I bet people actually will do that.)

If you read between the lines, you might just be able to make out what the new signs actually say:

Welcome to Bushland: The state that worships the one "true" president, and the land where one is respected if one is of the "right" social standing and class.

Everything is bigger in Texas, and the Lege proves its ability to pass totally unnecessary legislation is no exception to the rule.

Posted by at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

TRMPAC Guilty on All Counts

State District Judge Joe Hart has ruled that Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC), a committee formed by Tom DeLay, violated Texas election code. TRMPAC is guilty of not reporting hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions and expenses.

The Ruling via Quorum Report:

1. The "express advocacy" defense did not apply to TRMPAC because its stated goal was supporting or opposing candidates.

2. TRMPAC's defense questioning the intent of the questionable dollars for campaigns did not hold water because the presumption had to be that contributions were "intended not to be used in connection with a campaign." That is not an acceptable assumption. Therefore, money received by TRMPAC did constitute political contributions subject to the Texas Election Code.

3. Judge Hart did not accept TRMPAC's argument that it used corporate dollars for administrative expenses which is permissible. He writes, " I find that all of the expenditures by TRMPAC were made "in conncection with a campaign for an elective office" and fit within the statutory definition of campaign expenditure."

The Judge awarded the plaintiffs $196,660

Many of these elements parallel the criminal case pursued by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. However, civil litigation requires only a preponderance of the evidence to find for the plaintiffs. Criminal standards require "beyond a shadow of a doubt."

As a result of the ruling, TRMPAC Treasurer Bill Ceverha is required to pay $196,000 that will be divided among the five Democratic candidates who lost in the 2002 Texas races.

Of course, Ceverha argues that he did no wrongdoing. His lawyers attempted to make the case that TRMPAC had operated legally even though there was "confusion" over state campaign funding laws.

The Houston Chronicle reports:

TRMPAC defense lawyer Terry Scarborough said the lawsuit was more about Democrats' anger over losing than about the actions of DeLay or of Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. The plaintiffs had sought to tie both men to the activities of the committee, run by DeLay associates.

Newsflash: DeLay has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Hmm, that seems to be a frequent response. He may not be accused of anything yet, but there certainly is a lot of opportunity for it. The ruling against TRMPAC won't help his case any, and only serves as a further example of the rampant corruption within the Republican Party. Three top DeLay fund-raisers and eight corporations have already been indicted in the criminal case. Ceverha still has not been charged for any wrongdoing.

The losing Democratic candidates filed against TRMPAC, alleging the organization violated the state law designed to keep corporate contributions out of elections.

The Democrats alleged that some $600,000 in corporate money was illegally used to influence Texas House races in 2002, the year Republicans won control of the House for the first time in 130 years. Those victories propelled Craddick, the longest-serving House member, to the speaker's post.

Craddick and DeLay were successful in ramming their redistricting bill through the legislature that resulted in the GOP gaining a majority of the seats in the Texas Legislature. The money was alleged to have been used on expenses, including political research, polling, mailing, fund-raising, and conferences, which are all illegal uses of corporate money in Texas. Corporate contributions are supposed to be spent only on administrative purposes. This just goes to show why HB 1348 was so important to make it absolutely clear what activities for which corporate money can and can’t be used.

Fortunately, Hart didn't buy the defense's arguments. Of course TRMPAC is most likely to appeal this ruling, but at least we can mark it down as another victory for Democrats. It will certainly provide more fodder for the 2006 elections. DeLay and TRMPAC appear to be making the best case for why everyone should be concerned about one party rule, and what happens when corporate interests get so closely intertwined in the political system.

Here's to 2006.

Update:

Here's the article in the Washington Post about the TRMPAC ruling.

Off the Kuff and the Stakeholder have more on the issue as well.

Posted by at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

May 25, 2005

Public School Fight Won't End Either, Guv!

A Chronicle article in which Rick Perry announces that the "fight for vouchers" will be back in 2007 is quite disturbing. Republicans truly do want to destroy public education. So, let us Democrats make our own announcement: The Democratic fight for public education will continue as long as Republicans want to tear it down!

Instead of protecting teachers, improving public school programs, and improving college preparedness levels of our schoolkids, Republican Perry has chosen to demand his own brand of "accountability" from public schools (more testing!), while pushing legislation to funnel taxpayer money into private schools that are neither accountable, nor proven to be adequate.

Still, Perry has the gall to state "I suspect as long as there are children who are in need of getting some relief in failing schools that it will always be out there and be promoted by a number of Texans,"

As long as we have Rick Perry as governor, he and the Republicans will always think little of the vast majority of Texas schoolkids, while placing at the top of his list wealthy private school owners, like James Leinenger. And why not? Public school children can hardly afford to send Perry on trips to the Bahamas; Leininger can!

As long as Republicans continue to exclude public schools from their priorities the vast majority of Texans will fight for public education--not just "a number of Texans," as the Guv says about support for his vouchers.

Kudos to the Coalition for Public Schools and Carolyn Boyle for fighting for Texas kids!

Posted by Stace Medellin at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Support Voter Rights and Prescription Drug Importation

Thanks to Dos Centavos for the tip on these two action alerts.

ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT VOTER RIGHTS

Requiring voters to present identification: HB 1706 approved by House. Referred to Senate Committee on State Affairs.

Call the members of the Senate Committee on State Affairs and tell them to stop this bill. It is targeted toward growing ethnic populations in Texas, especially Latinos.

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Chair Robert Duncan (R-District 28)
(512) 463-0128
Toll Free (800) 322-9538

Vice-Chair Tommy Williams (R-District 4)
(512) 463-0104
E-mail form: http://www.williams.senate.state.tx.us/

Ken Armbrister (D-District 18)
(512) 463-0118

Rodney Ellis (D-District 13)
(512) 463-0113
E-mail form: http://www.ellis.senate.state.tx.us/

Tommy Fraser (R-Republican 24)
(512) 463-0124
E-mail form: http://www.fraser.senate.state.tx.us/

Chris Harris (R-Republican 9)
(512) 463-0109
E-mail form: http://www.harris.senate.state.tx.us/

Mike Jackson (R-District 11)
(512) 463-0111
E-mail form: http://www.jackson.senate.state.tx.us/

Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-District 27)
(512) 463-0127
E-mail form: http://www.lucio.senate.state.tx.us/

Frank Madla (D-District 19)
(512) 463-0119
E-mail form: http://www.madla.senate.state.tx.us/

ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION

FROM THE STATESMAN:
House OKs online import list

Texas would join at least eight other states ignoring a federal ban on importing prescription drugs under legislation tentatively passed in the House on Sunday.

"This would provide the safety and the cost savings" for Texas consumers, said Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, who sponsored a measure that would allow the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to create a Web site listing approved Canadian prescription drug distributors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration opposes importing drugs, arguing officials here cannot guarantee the products' safety.

Many Americans already buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies because they are less expensive. Hochberg said his measure would help ensure Texans buy safe drugs. The amendment was attached to a proposal that reauthorizes the pharmacy board and passed 114-17.

The plan now goes to the Senate.

Article from the Chron on same issue.

Click here to find your State Senate representative, and tell them you support Representative Scott Hochberg's bill.

Posted by at 03:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Right Wing Challenger in District 143

Off the Kuff and Dos Centavos are reporting the likely entry of Reggie Gonzalez in the race to fill State Senator Moreno's East Houston seat.

Dos Centavos notes:

Reggie Gonzalez is the chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Harris County. His resume is at:

http://www.rnha-harris.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=15

He was among Hispanic Republicans that honored Debbie Riddle!
http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/release.php?id=366

Here's what Debbie Riddle has to say:

She is terrified that, with the state demographer indicating that Texas will have a Latino majority in 2040