Houston Democrats

I really should have mentioned that Mayor Bill White was also on the program and spoke about the efforts made in securing the promise, announced yesterday, of a billion dollars in federal funding for Houston's mass transit. Further, he indicated that ground would be broken on three new rail lines within the next 24 months.

Predictably, that was enough for Kevin and Anne's heads to explode.

I'd say just getting Tom DeLay and Sheila Jackson-Lee in the same room, to say nothing of getting them on the same page, is worth some kudos.

And many thanks to Randall Morton and his Progressive Forum for sponsoring this evening.

It was a fabulous speech! I loved the way he digressed according to what resonated with us. For example, when we cheered his blunt assessment of the press, he gave us the rant on the way people who get their news from conservative sources have the most incorrect conclusions about current events.

I also really enjoyed his explanation of how the blue states, which are seen by the conservatives as being so *immoral* in comparison to the *Christian* conservative red states, are actually MORE moral when it comes to divorce rates, teen pregnancies, crime rates, etc.

I liked that he didn't pull punches with Bill White either. When Bill White said that we won't be filing unnecessary lawsuits; that we would give companies "time to change," RFK Jr responded that we shouldn't give them time to keep poisoning us and our children!

That was an excellent example of the difference between an activist and a politician. The activist knows what needs to be done and DOES IT.

I also really enjoyed his explanation of how the blue states, which are seen by the conservatives as being so *immoral* in comparison to the *Christian* conservative red states, are actually MORE moral when it comes to divorce rates, teen pregnancies, crime rates, etc.

True dat.

Which state has the lowest incidence of divorce? Massachusetts. Which has the highest? Texas.

Which has the lowest rate of teen pregnancy? Massachusetts again.

Which one the highest? Texas, again.

I guess Rick Perry and Rod Parsley haven't been praying hard enough...

I liked that he didn't pull punches with Bill White either. When Bill White said that we won't be filing unnecessary lawsuits; that we would give companies "time to change," RFK Jr responded that we shouldn't give them time to keep poisoning us and our children!

That was an excellent example of the difference between an activist and a politician. The activist knows what needs to be done and DOES IT.

Lisa, I'm not sure where you are coming from with this. Being in the audience last night, I never heard any indication of "not pulling punches." In fact, I recall Mr. Kennedy saying "you've got Bill White" in an extremely positive example of what some elected leaders are taking on polluters.

You did hear a good explaination of the Mayor's view of providing tangible results rather than signing resolutions. As an asmathic that lives downtown, I appreciate him dealing head on with those in the industry that refuse to change their practices.

What you have is a Mayor interested in results. That makes me "breath easier."

Here is a copy of the e-mail Ron and I received from DeLay's lackey, John Abney Culberson:

Contact: Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Essalih
Phone: 202.225.2571
Date: 06/13/05

Update on Metro's New Rail Plan

Dear District Seven Neighbor:

Today's announcement that Metro's rail plan is being revised shows that Houston Mayor Bill White is a good steward of our tax dollars and that he has applied common sense and honesty to repair the problems with Metro's rail plan in the same way that he repaired the problems he inherited with the city's pension plan.

I am very pleased with Mayor White's focus on giving taxpayers the best value for their dollars and on providing all of us with honest, accurate and transparent information on revenue projections, design and construction costs, ridership numbers and a realistic assessment of the fierce competition Metro faces from other transit systems around the country in a time of record budget deficits.

My good name is my most valuable possession, so I am especially grateful to Mayor White, Metro Chairman David Wolff and Metro President Frank Wilson for publicly acknowledging that I provided voters with accurate federal formula revenue estimates for Metro prior to the November 4, 2003, rail election, and that the revenue estimates provided by Metro at that time were inflated.

Majority Leader Tom DeLay and I have agreed to work with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Members of the Houston Congressional Delegation to help ensure that Houston receives its fair share of our nation's scarce transit dollars. Leader Delay and I have asked for a provision in the new highway reauthorization bill which would give Metro the ability to use the local tax dollars it spent on the voter and FTA approved Main Street line as part of the local share for future lines. If Metro is able to persuade the Federal Transit Administration to approve this new transit plan, Metro will be eligible for up to $1 billion in federal funds over the next decade, and I will work overtime to ensure that Metro receives this funding.

Leader DeLay and I have also agreed to help Metro by leading a Houston Congressional Delegation letter to the Federal Transit Administration asking that Metro receive reimbursement for local tax dollars spent by Metro on transit projects that are later approved by the FTA. We will help guide Metro through the FTA approval process, and we have already submitted requests to my Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee to fund the preliminary engineering costs of two of Metro's rail lines and to expand bus service.

It is very important to reiterate that Metro is in charge of its own destiny. We can help ensure that Metro competes with other cities on a level playing field, but in the end, it is entirely up to Metro to prove to the FTA that this new transit plan meets federal guidelines that require sufficient ridership to justify the costs of design, construction and operation of these transit lines. Without FTA approval, Congress is powerless to fund this new transit plan.

Reducing traffic congestion is one of my highest priorities, and I am very pleased with the leadership that Mayor White has shown in redesigning Metro's rail plan to be more realistic and more likely to win approval from the FTA.

Thank you for entrusting me to represent you in the United States Congress.

Sincerely,

John Culberson

Anything connected to a Rethug is suspect, in my opinion. I didn't entrust John Culberson to represent me in the U.S. Congress. If Bill White is sidling up to John Culberson and Tom DeLay then I have a problem with Bill White. This whole thing stinks if you ask me.

If it looks and smells like crap it's generally crap, and this so called Metro light rail plan sure looks like a big steaming pile to me. Rethugs don't do a damn thing unless it benefits them financially, politically or both. I'd be willing to bet this light rail plan MUST somehow benefit the most affluent in Houston before it will be put into play. Screw a bunch of poor people! Let 'em walk!!

Red Dog, *I don't know where you're coming from*? Well, when Bill White gives a wishy washy politician style answer, and RFK Jr. directly contradicts him in his next statement, I call that pulling no punches. Sure, he complimented him on other things. It wasn't a debate. It was a Q&A, and the mayor does have a lot of positives to be commended for. I happen to think that answer wasn't one of his shining moments. Personally, I think he could do better in a few areas, such as not supporting Tom Delay, for one.

Here's the link RFK Jr. mentioned last night about the Virtual March to Stop Global Warming:

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/

According to http://houston.kpft.org/site/PageServer?pagename=thursday,
Robert Kennedy Jr's speech will be broadcast at 8pm tomorrow (Thursday 06/16) on KPFT.

Read Rick Casey's articles in the Houston Chronicle (in the following order) for examples in our own backyard of the courts letting a deliberately negligent business owner off with a slap on the wrist: BP's fines? Let's look for clues (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/casey/3221031) and Asbestos boss likely to breathe free (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/casey/3226011).

Well, it turns out that Mayor White's big announcement Monday night has turned a little sour.
The Chronicle reports many are unhappy with the rail plan. Instead of light rail, Metro has decided to to begin with a guided busway system in his southeast Houston neighborhood and three others. Metro says these will be upgraded to light rail when ridership increases. I guess cozying up to DeLay can produce unexpected results.

If it's connected to DeLay, Culberson, Hutchison or any other Repuke then Houston, we've got a problem.

Remember what I posted above: If it looks and smells like crap it's generally crap.

Frankly, I think Delay fights light rail because people WANT light rail, and he takes pleasure in seeing people thwarted. Shutting things down or forcing shitty compromises is a way of imposing his will on the people, like a spoiled brat who stomps on an ant hill just to piss off the ants.