One year has almost come and gone since residents of Camp County overwhelmingly said 'NO' to a bond election to build a new high school. I have been traveling a bit lately and have been working to catch up on the local news by reading past additions of the local rag, and behold I have read a story where the words 'bond election' appears to be back on the table for possible consideration by the local PISD school board.
Don't know about you, but the words 'bond election' make my ____________ (you fill-in the blank). Before I would give any consideration to a bond election I would first have to see the uneducated and nut cases Twi-light Super and Asst. Twi-light Super packed up and removed from employment within the PISD system. At the very least Twi-light Super has to go, and Asst. Twi-light Super cannot be promoted to the top job.
It is very unusual to make endorsements; however, there is one fella who is currently on the school board and he at least holds the establishment accountable. He will at least ask the question - WHY? He probably needs to defeat his opponent for that reason alone. His opponent is a good fella, but he does not have the moxie that is required at this point.
As to the other race on the ballot the Dr. has served long enough. She has slept through a many a meetings so her usefulness is no more. You have two other candidates so make your choice. They are both young and this would be a good thing for this ole tired PISD board.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Taxpayers helping taxpayers
Per AFP the taxpayers need your help getting two very important property tax bills through the legislature this session.
SB 700 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and HB 1575 by Rep. Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) seem to be stymied in committee, and your elected leaders need to be reminded just how important these bill are to making local government accountable to the taxpayers.
Overview
Both bills provide a trigger for automatic rollback elections when the property tax revenue increases more than 8 percent over the previous year. This means that your local elected officials would have to go to the voters (you) if they want to increase taxes (and revenue more than 8 percent).
SB 700 has passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and is waiting to be scheduled for a vote by the whole senate. HB 1575 remains in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Call Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Rene Oliveira and ask that HB 1575 be given a vote.
Senate
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst – (512) 463-0001 or e-mail by clicking here
Find you State Senator by clicking here.
House
House Speaker Joe Straus - (512) 463-0686, (210) 828-4411. Email by clicking here.
Ways and Means Committee - (512) 463-0822
Chair: Rep. Rene Oliveira - (512) 463-0640, (956) 542-1828, rene.oliveira@house.state.tx.us.
Vice Chair: Rep. John Otto - (512) 463-0570, (936) 258-8135, john.otto@house.state.tx.us.
Other Members: Rep. Dwayne Bohac - (512) 463-0727, (713) 460-2800, dwayne.bohac@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Will Hartnett - (512) 463-0576, (214) 891-1776, will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Harvey Hilderbran - (512) 463-0536, (830) 257-2333, harvey.hilderbran@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Charlie Howard - (512) 463-0710, (281) 565-9500, charlie.howard@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Phil King - (512) 463-0738, (817) 596-4796, phil.king@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Ken Paxton - (512) 463-0356, (972) 562-4543, ken.paxton@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Aaron Pena - (512) 463-0426, (956) 383-7444, aaron.pena@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Larry Taylor - (512) 463-0729, (281) 338-0924, larry.taylor@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Mike Villarreal - (512) 463-0532, (210) 734-8937, mike.villarreal@house.state.tx.us.
SB 700 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and HB 1575 by Rep. Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) seem to be stymied in committee, and your elected leaders need to be reminded just how important these bill are to making local government accountable to the taxpayers.
Overview
Both bills provide a trigger for automatic rollback elections when the property tax revenue increases more than 8 percent over the previous year. This means that your local elected officials would have to go to the voters (you) if they want to increase taxes (and revenue more than 8 percent).
SB 700 has passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and is waiting to be scheduled for a vote by the whole senate. HB 1575 remains in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Call Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Rene Oliveira and ask that HB 1575 be given a vote.
Senate
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst – (512) 463-0001 or e-mail by clicking here
Find you State Senator by clicking here.
House
House Speaker Joe Straus - (512) 463-0686, (210) 828-4411. Email by clicking here.
Ways and Means Committee - (512) 463-0822
Chair: Rep. Rene Oliveira - (512) 463-0640, (956) 542-1828, rene.oliveira@house.state.tx.us.
Vice Chair: Rep. John Otto - (512) 463-0570, (936) 258-8135, john.otto@house.state.tx.us.
Other Members: Rep. Dwayne Bohac - (512) 463-0727, (713) 460-2800, dwayne.bohac@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Will Hartnett - (512) 463-0576, (214) 891-1776, will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Harvey Hilderbran - (512) 463-0536, (830) 257-2333, harvey.hilderbran@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Charlie Howard - (512) 463-0710, (281) 565-9500, charlie.howard@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Phil King - (512) 463-0738, (817) 596-4796, phil.king@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Ken Paxton - (512) 463-0356, (972) 562-4543, ken.paxton@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Aaron Pena - (512) 463-0426, (956) 383-7444, aaron.pena@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Larry Taylor - (512) 463-0729, (281) 338-0924, larry.taylor@house.state.tx.us.
Rep. Mike Villarreal - (512) 463-0532, (210) 734-8937, mike.villarreal@house.state.tx.us.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
HB 256 by Rep. Leo Berman
State Representative Leo Berman needs your help with making sure his bill (HB 256) is passed and signed into law.
HB 256 will prohibit the State of Texas from issuing a birth certificate to the children of illegal aliens born in the state. The state will issue a record of birth; however, illegal aliens will have to contact their own consulate and apply for a birth certificate from the country in which they are citizens.
If this bill passes it will immediately be challenged with several lawsuits. Most of these cases will end up before the Supreme Court in the form of contesting the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment reads "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Representative Berman is seeking a Federal Judge that will rule that the 14th Amendment only applies to children born in the US, when at least one parent is a US citizen. This bill has the ability to reduce public funding that goes toward illegal immigrants who receive free pre-natal care, free hospital care, and birthing services in a medical facility. The days of automatic US citizenship for being born on American soil for the new borns of illegal immigrants will be over. No more free benefits for sneaking across the border!
Link to the bill and its history:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB256
HB 256 will prohibit the State of Texas from issuing a birth certificate to the children of illegal aliens born in the state. The state will issue a record of birth; however, illegal aliens will have to contact their own consulate and apply for a birth certificate from the country in which they are citizens.
If this bill passes it will immediately be challenged with several lawsuits. Most of these cases will end up before the Supreme Court in the form of contesting the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment reads "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Representative Berman is seeking a Federal Judge that will rule that the 14th Amendment only applies to children born in the US, when at least one parent is a US citizen. This bill has the ability to reduce public funding that goes toward illegal immigrants who receive free pre-natal care, free hospital care, and birthing services in a medical facility. The days of automatic US citizenship for being born on American soil for the new borns of illegal immigrants will be over. No more free benefits for sneaking across the border!
Link to the bill and its history:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB256
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Birds that want take flight
From the folks at Empower Texans comes:
State Rep. Tommy Merrit inserted into the budget an amendment that requires the Department of Public Safety to buy a $4.3 million helicopter to be based in his hometown of Longview. However, there is a problem with this request. The bird will be flightless for no money was included in the budget for pilots or maintenance. Sounds like some of that advanced planning..........................
A flightless bird that is an earth-bound porker. Only a state representative could create the pork. This is currently contained in the new state budget that has been sent to conference committee. Let's hope that someone puts this flightless bird out of its misery, and saves the taxpayers from the cost of frying the bacon.
State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) earmarked $6 million for a pool and recreation center for YOU to build in Presidio County (population of 7,575). "That's $800 per resident; that pool better have an awesome slide." It also better come with free usage passes for all Texas residents. The pool must be the size of the Baltic Sea.
And most thought that the folks occupying the seats in Washington, D.C. grew all the pork!
State Rep. Tommy Merrit inserted into the budget an amendment that requires the Department of Public Safety to buy a $4.3 million helicopter to be based in his hometown of Longview. However, there is a problem with this request. The bird will be flightless for no money was included in the budget for pilots or maintenance. Sounds like some of that advanced planning..........................
A flightless bird that is an earth-bound porker. Only a state representative could create the pork. This is currently contained in the new state budget that has been sent to conference committee. Let's hope that someone puts this flightless bird out of its misery, and saves the taxpayers from the cost of frying the bacon.
State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) earmarked $6 million for a pool and recreation center for YOU to build in Presidio County (population of 7,575). "That's $800 per resident; that pool better have an awesome slide." It also better come with free usage passes for all Texas residents. The pool must be the size of the Baltic Sea.
And most thought that the folks occupying the seats in Washington, D.C. grew all the pork!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Blagovich and Twi-light Super of the PISD
The lack of an important ingredient in formulating a good person based upon the advertisements by a school board candidate seems to be the common element between Twi-light Super and the former impeached governor Blago of IL. Wonder if the maker forgot to add the 'integrity'? One may never know.
If I comprehend correctly it appears we may have a school board member who is no longer living in the district. However, this school board member continues to make decisions on our behalf. This has to violate some state law. Who on the current school board has the 'nuts' to confront the situation? Guess they will let this one ride as well. Just like they let Twi-light Super ride when she broke school board policy. To this day they have taken no personnel file action with regards to her disrespect for local school board policy that she is hired to uphold. Wow, is that part of the missing ingredient? Twi-light Super could possibly qualify as an Obama cabinet nomination.
If I comprehend correctly it appears we may have a school board member who is no longer living in the district. However, this school board member continues to make decisions on our behalf. This has to violate some state law. Who on the current school board has the 'nuts' to confront the situation? Guess they will let this one ride as well. Just like they let Twi-light Super ride when she broke school board policy. To this day they have taken no personnel file action with regards to her disrespect for local school board policy that she is hired to uphold. Wow, is that part of the missing ingredient? Twi-light Super could possibly qualify as an Obama cabinet nomination.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Eltife sponsors tax increase bill (SB 1569)
From AFP Texas
This week, 22 Texas Senators voted to expand our unemployment insurance eligibility in Texas. This will result in a short-term gain, but long-term cost. It will result in a tax increase that will impact Texas employers and future job growth. Please call those Senators and ask them to reverse their vote, and vote against this tax increase. The bill is SB 1569 and the next vote is slated for Monday.
Texas has the strongest economy in the nation for one reason — we work to keep taxes low. Texas has the largest job growth in the country, has been named as the best state for doing business, and has more Fortune 500 companies than any other state.
But some Senators are willing to throw our success away and accept one-time federal dollars that will expand our current program. The unemployment insurance portion of the so-called stimulus would pay for less than eight weeks of unemployment insurance payments in Texas. Passage of SB 1569 will result in a permanent tax increase for Texas employers and fewer jobs in Texas.
Our message (AFP) to those Senators who voted for the tax increase: Don't mess with Texas' economy and job growth!
Texans want a paycheck, not an unemployment check. Our current program of Unemployment Insurance still allows those who lose their jobs to get unemployment checks while they look for a new job.
It is imperative that we not increase taxes at this critical time. We agree with what Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) said before the vote on Thursday:
“Texas employers would be stuck paying the bill, through higher state taxes, once the federal money ran out. I just felt like the long-term consequences of expanding that program are not good for Texas employers.”
Please call these State Senators and tell them to vote against this tax increase (SB 1569) and for Texas jobs:
Sen. Kip Averitt (R-Waco): (512) 463-0122 or (254) 772-6225
Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas): (512) 463-0116 or (214)738-5751
Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth): (512) 463-0110 or (817) 806-4400
Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville): (512) 463-0102 or (972) 279-1800
Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock): (512) 463-0128 or (806) 762-1122
Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston): (512) 463-0113 or (713) 236-0306
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler): (512) 463-0101 (903) 596-9122
Sen. Craig Estes ( R-Wichita Falls): (512) 463-0130 or (940) 689-0191
Sen. Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston): (512) 463-0106 or (713) 678-8600
Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington): (512) 463-0109 or (817) 461-9109
Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen): (512) 463-0120 or (956) 972-1841
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville): (512) 463-0127 or (956) 548-0227
Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan): (512) 463-0105 or (979) 776-0521
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano): (512) 463-0108 or (972) 403-3404
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso): (512) 463-0129 or (915) 544-1990
Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio): (512) 463-0119 or (210) 932-2568
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio): (512) 463-0126 or (210) 733-6604
Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin): (512) 463-0114
Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio): (512) 463-0125 or (210) 826-7800
Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas): (512) 463-0123 or (214) 467-0123
Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston): (512) 463-0115 or (713) 864-8701
Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo): (512) 463-0121 or (956) 722-2293Or email them at
firstname.lastname@senate.state.tx.us
This week, 22 Texas Senators voted to expand our unemployment insurance eligibility in Texas. This will result in a short-term gain, but long-term cost. It will result in a tax increase that will impact Texas employers and future job growth. Please call those Senators and ask them to reverse their vote, and vote against this tax increase. The bill is SB 1569 and the next vote is slated for Monday.
Texas has the strongest economy in the nation for one reason — we work to keep taxes low. Texas has the largest job growth in the country, has been named as the best state for doing business, and has more Fortune 500 companies than any other state.
But some Senators are willing to throw our success away and accept one-time federal dollars that will expand our current program. The unemployment insurance portion of the so-called stimulus would pay for less than eight weeks of unemployment insurance payments in Texas. Passage of SB 1569 will result in a permanent tax increase for Texas employers and fewer jobs in Texas.
Our message (AFP) to those Senators who voted for the tax increase: Don't mess with Texas' economy and job growth!
Texans want a paycheck, not an unemployment check. Our current program of Unemployment Insurance still allows those who lose their jobs to get unemployment checks while they look for a new job.
It is imperative that we not increase taxes at this critical time. We agree with what Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) said before the vote on Thursday:
“Texas employers would be stuck paying the bill, through higher state taxes, once the federal money ran out. I just felt like the long-term consequences of expanding that program are not good for Texas employers.”
Please call these State Senators and tell them to vote against this tax increase (SB 1569) and for Texas jobs:
Sen. Kip Averitt (R-Waco): (512) 463-0122 or (254) 772-6225
Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas): (512) 463-0116 or (214)738-5751
Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth): (512) 463-0110 or (817) 806-4400
Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville): (512) 463-0102 or (972) 279-1800
Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock): (512) 463-0128 or (806) 762-1122
Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston): (512) 463-0113 or (713) 236-0306
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler): (512) 463-0101 (903) 596-9122
Sen. Craig Estes ( R-Wichita Falls): (512) 463-0130 or (940) 689-0191
Sen. Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston): (512) 463-0106 or (713) 678-8600
Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington): (512) 463-0109 or (817) 461-9109
Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen): (512) 463-0120 or (956) 972-1841
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville): (512) 463-0127 or (956) 548-0227
Sen. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan): (512) 463-0105 or (979) 776-0521
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano): (512) 463-0108 or (972) 403-3404
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso): (512) 463-0129 or (915) 544-1990
Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio): (512) 463-0119 or (210) 932-2568
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio): (512) 463-0126 or (210) 733-6604
Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin): (512) 463-0114
Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio): (512) 463-0125 or (210) 826-7800
Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas): (512) 463-0123 or (214) 467-0123
Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston): (512) 463-0115 or (713) 864-8701
Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo): (512) 463-0121 or (956) 722-2293Or email them at
firstname.lastname@senate.state.tx.us
Friday, April 17, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
