The New America...

President Barack Obama, the change artist: Had enough yet?

 

Americans have become Ameri-can’ts, as broken promises fall all around us

It is hard to imagine that most Americans thought this was “the great change President.”  Obama promised all of us a new nation we could be proud of.  Remember the promise of saving “Main Street” from being exploited?  Recall the promise of helping middle class Americans?   Well, where is this changed America?

During the first 6 months of his first term President Obama had already broken and/or forgotten most of his promises to the American people, who had the audacity to believe him.  If you want to know where to find Obama, it’s easy — just follow the trail of his broken promises.

No out of state Concealed Weapons Licenses?

Senate Bill 481 is a ridiculous bill.  It was written to eliminate out of state concealed gun licenses for Texans.

 

If certain Texas legislators don't like out of state CWL's then change how Texans get their licenses here.  It can take up to 6 months to get a Concealed Weapon License in TX, while it takes a maximum of 2 months to get it from VA.  It is also cheaper to get it in VA.

 

It is just like other goods and services, a.k.a., free enterprise.  Now TX government wants to regulate how we can get a CWL?  No way!  Become more competitive in the market and stop whining.  As long as a gun carrier has been approved to carry there should be no problem.

 

Even online, you only get a CWL if you pass the written test and check out okay after your fingerprints are reviewed by several law enforcement agencies including the FBI's database.

 

Focus on other more urgent business!  The bill was left pending in Committee.  Doubtful it will be approved.

 

 

Peter Stern

 

 

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SB 481  reprinted from http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB481

 

 

83R1715 JSC-D

By:  Hinojosa                                     S.B. No. 481

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the recognition and validity of a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1.  Section 411.173, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a person's license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state may not be recognized and is not valid in this state if the person has established a domicile in this state.  For purposes of this subsection, "domicile" has the meaning assigned by Section 522.003, Transportation Code.

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

 

Special Driver's Licenses for illegals?

In response to providing undocumented immigrants with special driver’s licenses...

 

 

The Texas Legislature is proposing special licenses for undocumented immigrants.  Other states are considering the same.

 

Only in this nation do we cater to undocumented people and their children.  If I were illegally in Mexico I would be imprisoned and fined....  Forget about driving without a license there.  Forget about getting a job there without the necessary documents.  In fact, that would be the case in most other countries.

 

Only here in the US do we take being "politically correct" to the level of extremism.  Illegal is ILLEGAL.  How do you propose to get around that?

 

 

Toll Roads Not Healthy for Living Things

Stop Toll Road Frenzy

 

 

 

I have written many times about toll roads and why we should not build and use them.

• As they do with public education tax dollars, Gov. Perry and legislators divert tax dollars slated for roadways to other interests.  We need to use road tax revenues for roadways before we ever contemplate other options including toll roads and bond issues.
• We need more transparency re: TxDOT, RMA’s and private road conglomerates and the contracts developed.  Most of us don’t see where our tax dollars go.
• The fuel/gas taxes have not increased for decades re: cost of living and inflation rates.  They have been frozen by Gov. Perry and legislators and they refuse to permit an increase in those taxes citing the GOP does not want to levy new or increased taxation.  However, they have no problem diverting state responsibility for education and road costs onto local governments, who in turn increase property taxes or tax rates and/or approve bond programs that increase property taxes.  Meanwhile, the state uses education and road tax revenue for other interests.  This should be illegal.
• Regarding toll roads, private road conglomerates immediately take 80 percent off the top of toll revenues for their revenue and the cost of their expenses.  The company usually has a contract with the state for any time period of 50 to 70 years.  Generally, tolls will be forever as the state sees tolls as additional EASY revenue.
• Toll roads usually initiate long term debt for Texas taxpayers, especially when bond packages are included and/or if TxDOT or the CTRMA takes out a long term loan to include in the initial toll road costs.
• Toll roads often are put on already paid for with our taxes roadways, e.g., the proposed toll lanes for MoPac.  There should be no toll roads permitted on already existing tax paid roads.  The state gets past this legally by saying the proposed toll lanes will be adjacent to the existing roadways, but we know that it is an end around ploy to build them.
• Toll roads create other issues, including, more noise and air pollution, devaluing adjacent residential neighborhoods and homes, etc.
• Tolls are not considered new taxes, but they really are when you consider that businesses using the toll roads will pass along the toll costs onto their wholesale and retail consumers.  We all will pay toll taxes even if we do not use the toll roads ourselves.
• Toll roads are built for those wealthy enough to afford to use them.  It is a classist ploy to increase revenues by building private roadways for the wealthier.  The poorer population can not use them.
• RMA’s or private conglomerates will manipulate the actual costs of the tolls at ANY time and will not need prior-approval for doing so.  The costs will change during peak hours and/or increases in the tolls may occur for any and for no reason at all.
• Regulation of toll roads force people to use them without often knowing they are going onto a toll road.  If they don’t have a toll pass their license plate will be photographed and they will be charged via mail for the toll cost, a service fee and possibly a penalty.  This is a manipulation and invasion of our privacy and civil rights.

I am against government regulation into our daily lives.  Toll roads are a flagrant violation of our rights and privacy.  Despite what the state and private companies tell us, tolls are new taxes and force further regulations and other costs and issues onto residents and/or taxpayers.  I am totally against toll roads unless they are the last resort.  Here in Texas tolls are now the first resort.