Rick Perry Marches On... to a 3rd Special Session

Rick Perry is demanding a 3rd Special Session.  Each of these cost taxpayers a minimum of $2 million.  It's amazing that we can't find money to finance public education, reduce property taxes or to build roadways, but Perry sure has enough money to piss it away on his not-so Special Sessions.

And it's not the first time Perry wastes our tax dollars on not-so Special Sessions.  Maybe 8 years ago he called for 3 Special Sessions to try to get a controversial redistricting map approved.  It never happened and finally the courts determined a map that has been batted around in the legislature and the courts to this day.

In fact, Perry has wasted more of our tax dollars on not-so Special Sessions than any previous Texas Governor.  We need to point that out to the American people when Perry begins his Presidential run, among all his other idiosyncrasies that could further destroy our nation.

A major issue that many people in Texas don't seem to understand is that those in charge of the GOP here are NOT the majority of the party. They are extremists, not the core of the Party.

While I have been a Republican since the Eisenhower administration, back in the 1950's, I am not in synch with the current GOP in Texas. The Tea Party appears to be in charge here, at least for a short time, but I believe the majority of Republicans are not on the same platform.

Consequently, there is a schism in the GOP of its members and that is a big reason why the Party can't pass bills, bonds, what have you, easily.

I believe that very soon there will be a coup within the Texas GOP. It has to happen because the GOP as it is today is useless. Most of what it tries to do is unconstitutional, so because of this, the Party then tries to add amendments to change the laws to permit its absurd direction.

At best, the Texas GOP is ineffective.  At worst, it is a corrupt and cancerous tumor.

Will the South Rise Again?

Another Civil War anyone?

Most of the "red" states have been or are fighting for a Voter Photo ID Card that will make voters in the respective states show the card in order to vote.

Recently, by a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court determined to strike down part of the Voter Law that enables states to bypass a previous decision against a Voter Photo ID Card.  Previously it was deemed unconstitutional and "racist" to demand that voters must show the card at polls.

As soon as the vote was in, Texas approved the Voter Photo ID Card and now Attorney General Eric Holder is demanding that the Federal Court in San Antonio, Texas, requires Texas to ask for Federal permission prior to changing any Voter laws.

Holder sites as his reasoning that Texas has been one of "those states" that has had "racist issues" in its past and therefore, to ensure voting integrity, must seek Federal permission, a.k.a., oversight, before changing ANY of its Voter laws.

Texas, along with Alabama, Wisconsin, Montana, Mississippi and several other "red" states is being "targeted" by Holder and the Obama administration for their respective changes in Voter laws.

Not surprising to anyone, neither side is willing to give an inch on this issue and it is sure to come to a head eventually.  Will the South rise again in this fight?  Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott declares that Texas will win this battle.

It's going to be an interesting fight as both sides are gearing up for a prolonged  battle in the courts.

TxDOT's "pass-through" Road Projects and Lack of Oversight

The evolution of the Texas Department of Transportation stinks like month-old fish.  The state agency does whatever it wants, with little direct oversight.  It continues to milk millions of tax dollars for its elite management's special interests, which also happen to be Gov. Rick Perry's special interests.

TxDOT prefers what it calls "creative methods" of building roadways, a.k.a., toll roads and/or "managed care lanes" that also are toll roads.  Toll roads create long-term debt and are NOT cost-effective methods of building and maintaining our roads.

The "pass-through" projects are the new way TxDOT suckers various communities and districts into putting their hard-earned tax dollars down for new roads and road improvements with the agency's ridiculous promise to repay the communities sometime "down the toll road" --- only where will TxDOT get the money to repay the communities?  Who knows, since TxDOT continues to whine that it has no money.

It may be a good idea to shut down TxDOT completely and have private companies plan and build our roadways.

TxDOT already contracts out a large part of its work, but does not maintain a good oversight on the work done.  That's why some areas need work done twice using twice the tax dollars to do the job correctly once.

 No one is held accountable... ever!

It's time Texans know exactly where their tax dollars are going and the agency needs much better oversight than it currently gets.

Furthermore, the Texas Governor should NOT appoint the head of TxDOT.  It is a position that should be determined by Texas voters, even though the possibility of corruption is still present.  It is a top state position and one of great importance to the Texas community to leave it up to the Governor to appoint one of his top campaign contributors and/or special cronies.

One thing is certain.  We can no longer let TxDOT be managed without more careful scrutiny.  The Texas Legislature knows this already, but does nothing about it.

Abortion Laws and Politics...

Even though the Texas Legislature passed the "Anti-Abortion" law, it most likely will get stalled by Democrats for years.  The same is true in states where Democrats have passed pro-Abortion legislation and which is being blocked in the courts by Republicans.

We need only view what is happening in other state that have passed pro- or anti- abortion laws.  In either case, the laws have become stalled as the courts decide what will happen.  In many cases, the laws will be stalled for years.

The history of abortion is interesting and worth the read.

The new Wisconsin Abortion law stalled.

An overview of State Abortion laws.

Out of the state's 42 abortion clinics, only six meet the new Texas abortion law.  It would be a big problem for women who want an abortion even before 20 weeks.

In Arizona the Appeals Court struck down the 20-week abortion law.

In Oklahoma the State Supreme Court ruled that the 20-week abortion law was unconstitutional.

The Federal Court ruled that the state of Mississippi cannot enforce onerous admitting privileges designed to close the state’s lone abortion clinic.

Consequently, the issue of pro- or anti- abortion has had a long history of conflict and just because various states have issued laws for or against abortions does not mean those laws will hold up in court.  It will take many more years before any real laws stay on the books.

Abortion, Anti-Abortion Politics

Abortion Laws are often stalled in the courts...

pstern 09:43 on 21 July 2013 Even though the Texas Legislature passed the "Anti-Abortion" law, it most likely will get stalled by Democrats for years.  The same is true in states where Democrats have passed pro-Abortion legislation and which is being blocked in the courts by Republicans. We need only view what is happening in other state that have passed pro- or anti- abortion laws.  In either case, the laws have become stalled as the courts decide what will happen.  In many cases, the laws will be stalled for years. The history of abortion is interesting and worth the read. The new Wisconsin Abortion law stalled. An overview of State Abortion laws. Out of the state's 42 abortion clinics, only six meet the new Texas abortion law.  It would be a big problem for women who want an abortion even before 20 weeks. In Arizona the Appeals Court struck down the 20-week abortion law. In Oklahoma the State Supreme Court ruled that the 20-week abortion law was unconstitutional. The Federal Court ruled that the state of Mississippi cannot enforce onerous admitting privileges designed to close the state’s lone abortion clinic. Consequently, the issue of pro- or anti- abortion has had a long history of conflict and just because various states have issued laws for or against abortions does not mean those laws will hold up in court.  It will take many more years before any real laws stay on the books.

- See more at: http://salon.glenrose.net/default.asp?view=plink&id=14907#sthash.UoHwljVO.dpuf

Texas is a Dictatorship!

Texas appears to be little more than a Dictatorship...

I am a centrist or centered Republican and I am not pro-abortion per se, but I am for right to privacy and for individual rights.  That said, I don't believe that women should use abortion as a means of birth control.  That's just wrong.

A few years ago Chinese officials made the choice to kill female babies when they were born as a means of birth control.  That was wrong.

What Gov. Perry and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst did re: the "anti-abortion" bill by using heavy-handed political extremist tactics was also wrong.  Attorney General Greg Abbott has the same mentality.

If the state wants to educate women before and during their pregnancies, I'm all for it.  But for the state simply to dictate what women, their doctors and women's clinics must do is just damn wrong!

The state doesn't want outside interference in managing state affairs, but it is too quick to step in and regulate what the GOP and/or "Right to Life" and/or religious supporters want.  That's wrong.

The state doesn't want to regulate businesses in Texas, but it does want to regulate women, abortion clinics and public school districts.  That's wrong.

So, in Texas it seems that regulation is good when it is good for the extreme Republican majority, but not good otherwise.

However, there is no doubt that if the Democrats were in control of the legislature here in Texas, they also would have used heavy-handed methods to get what they want.

What I'm saying is that there is no room for extremist politics in Texas [or at the national level].  It is just wrong.

To push extremist politics on all the people is nothing more than a dictatorship, no matter what your individual beliefs are.  Few lawmakers seem to want to work together, to work on compromise and to arrive at more intelligent and rational decisions and resolutions.

That just seems more like a Dictatorship... and that's just wrong!

Get rid of the [Texas] School Board of Education

 School Board members are "irked" by the new school laws approved by the legislature.

The SBOE should "irk" all Texans and should be dissolved. The Board should NOT be empowered to make rules for all Texas school districts. The SBOE is little more than a politically motivated stopping ground for some of the most unintelligent individuals who then push for their special interest whims.

Place the management of Texas public education in the hands of each district to control themselves. Central governing seldom works. Perry and Texas legislators don't want Washington to tell us what to do, but we're okay with the centralist SBOE to govern and control all Texas school districts? Really?

We keep government out of controlling businesses in Texas, but we won't let schools control themselves?

Get rid of the SBOE and let school districts manage themselves. School-Based Management really works better.

One of AG Greg Abbott's first campaign ads for Texas Governor...

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and here's another one...

AG Greg Abbott is wheel-chairing for Texas Governor

Don't know if you've been following the start of Attorney General Greg Abbott's run for Governor.

Abbott gave Perry a few days after making the announcement that he will not seek reelection next year.
It makes me ill that Abbott, who around 1986 or so became disabled in a freak accident whereby a tree fell on him as he was out jogging, flaunts his disability by saying stuff like "Some people say they have a spine of steel, but I really have one."

FYI, I am a 100 percent disabled veteran.  Most people don't know that about me because I don't flaunt it.  It really bugs me that Abbott has no problem using his disability to gain more votes.  But I guess that's what politicians do... use whatever they think will get them more votes.

It also doesn't seem to bother him that he and Perry pushed to eliminate "frivolous lawsuits" and yet Abbott became a millionaire from exactly such a lawsuit when he became disabled.

 One of the things Greg Abbott will [try to] use to his advantage is the fact that his wife is of Mexican origin.  It will be interesting to see how the Hispanic population of Texas views and reacts to it as the gubernatorial campaign progresses.

All that said... I think Abbott has some good points for Governor, it loses a lot when you hear him say things like, "My day [as AG] consists of going to work, suing the Federal Government and going home."
In fact, Abbott is supremely proud that he has sued the Federal Government [or as he is fond of saying, "suing Obama"] 27 times, the most of any State Attorney General in the US.

His significant pride, rigidity and excessive aggression may not be what Texans need in their next Governor.  We've already had those characteristics for 12 years in Rick Perry and even longer if you look at George Walker Bush's history before Perry.

I believe we need a different persona in our next Governor:  someone with intelligence and someone who is more grounded on issues.   We surely do NOT need another extremist as Governor.
Many credit Perry on creating jobs and building our successful economy.  Few seem to realize that Texas is a very special place, with an economy based on oil and high tech foundations.  As history does show, the Texas economy does well under Republican and Democrat governors.  In fact, the Texas economy has a life of its own, so to give Perry credit for it all is, at the least, incorrect.

So far, once again the Democrats do NOT have a significant candidate to run against Greg Abbott; however, Tom Pauken is running as a Republican against Abbott in the Primary.  If you don't know anything about Pauken, you would do well to review his credentials.  He campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and he is a lot more grounded as a Republican than either Perry or Abbott.


While he may not have the name recognition and the money on hand that Abbott does, he may be a better candidate for the majority of Texans.

Of course, all the potential candidates have not yet been heard from, but I suspect there will be a handful of GOP, Democrats, Libertarians, Green Party and Independent candidates ready to throw their hats into the gubernatorial ring.

Let's hope Texans make a better choice than they have during the past decade.

re: Abortion bill demands...

Most importantly, it's a women's right issue --- NOT for government interference and control.

I see no problem if the government wants to put effort into educating women on making a more educated decision to abort or not abort, but government does NOT have the right to make these demands on women and their doctors.  Texas believes in not regulating businesses, but it's ready to regulate doctors?

Also, usually, government is so paranoid about privacy rights issues and yet it sees no problem with jumping into every pregnant woman's life.

Government is NOT the caretaker of every fetus around... no matter what it and "right to lifers" may think.

Diversion of [transportation] tax dollars

In Texas, Legislators love to divert tax dollars from one fund to others.   Currently they are considering moving one-third of the sales taxes provided to DPS now to TxDOT.

For once it would be nice for the People of Texas to be assured that their dollars go to the fund the money was originally slated for.

Legislators should not be able to move monies without the prior approval of taxpayers.

Write your Senator and House Reps and let them know how you feel about it.

House contacts

Senate contacts

Extremist Politics Alive and Doing Well in Texas...

The Texas Anti-Abortion bill will be passed soon.   Along with the ridiculous Voter ID Law, Texas is now back in the Dark Ages.

So, welcome back to the 1950’s!  Seems we have quite a few McCarthy's in our legislature.

And before you point the finger that I am a liberal.... wrong!  I am a centrist Republican, not one of those extremist GOP Tea Party crumpet nut jobs infiltrating our government at all levels --- a REAL Republican.

Real Republicans are a faint glimmer of the past.  They believe in the basic GOP platform: less government in our lives, fewer taxes, rein in extravagant spending, and yet having compassion for all citizens and a high regard for the community good.  Those were the days, my friend.

It is just common sense that the above 2 laws attack individual rights, women, the elderly, the poor and majority community needs.

That said, there is no doubt that within a few years the Anti-Abortion and Voter ID laws will be overturned and removed.  It’s just a matter of time.

GOP extremists won the battle on these 2 issues, but NOT the war.

Extremists in either party will destroy themselves eventually.  Being more centered on most issues is best for the American people.

re: Central Texas Roadways: the bottleneck grows...

 

Central Texas roadways need to be dealt with more intelligently. Bottlenecks on main roads are horrific and could be resolved easily if Austin, TxDOT and Department of Public Safety really wanted to.

MOPAC at known points needs to be widened, enabling a more even and consistent flow. The coming 2 toll lanes in the center of MoPac will do little to resolve many of the issues. It is merely a special interest toll road project placebo.

An underpass or overpass is needed on MoPac at Slaughter Lane [like the one at MoPac and William Cannon Rd].

Capital of Texas Hwy., a.k.a., 360, needs side roads to be closed and traffic lights removed so that it becomes a true highway. Locals don't like the idea, but tough. It would create a consistent flow as a highway should have, instead of stop and go traffic jams.

Many local traffic issues could be resolved simply by re-timing traffic lights. It should be done post-haste, e.g., William Cannon Rd., Slaughter Lane, West Hwy 290 where there are lights, Hwy. 71, Hwy. 620, Brodie Lane and the list goes on and on.

Peter Stern, PO Box 316, Driftwood TX 78619, 512-426-4802