The Texas Progressive Alliance brings you this week's blog roundup, sponsored in part by the impending Ice-pocalypse.
Off the Kuff took an early look at fundraising for 2011 city of Houston elections.
The Big Gas Mafia says it's impossible but hydraulic fracturing causes gas to migrate threatening life...AGAIN. TXsharon puts 2 and 2 together at Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
Bay Area Houston has a press release from Rick Perry titled Rick Perry Asks Republican Voters to Quit Their State Jobs.
Texas republican at the forefront to kill Medicare. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is not surprised.
This week at Left of College Station, Teddy calls out Congressman Bill Flores’ health care hypocrisy for voting to repeal health care reform that ensures health care for millions of Americans while voting against repealing his own government health care. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.
The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the TX state house GOP vote against open government.
Ryan at TexasVox asks "Where's the outrage?" from TCEQ approving another polluting power plant despite local opposition, warnings from the EPA, and rulings from two SOAH hearings, this time the ironically named Las Brisas plant in Corpus Christi.
During the voter I.D. legislation fight on the floor of the Texas Senate last week, a new problem emerged on the policy. And it's not what you think this time - potential problems for minorities, or the elderly, or rural Texans, or poor folks. This time, it's a problem with your right to vote. Yes, you. Letters From Texas explains why.
Eye On Williamson, points out that the GOP's proposed budget is asking for huge sacrifices from poor and working Texans, but little or nothing from the wealthy and corporations, the Texas GOP budget proposal is morally bankrupt.
Ever been broken down on the side of the road and everybody in the car is arguing about who's going to get out in the rain and try to fix what's wrong? Well, that's where the state's highway fund is. And our Austin representatives are "ready to have a discussion" about it. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs double-checked, and no, nobody has a roadside assistance plan, either.
At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw serves up a heaping helpin' of snark, in Governor Rick Perry Urges Republican Voters to Abandon Public Schools. By the reactions she got, she ruffled a few feathers. You go girl!
Neil at Texas Liberal had jury duty in the past week. Neil dressed well for jury duty and feels that you should do the same when you are called. What merits greater respect than our common society?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Texas State House GOP Votes Against Open Government
The super majority of Texas Republicans in the new State Legislature already managed to break campaign promises in the first month in session.
House Democrats proposed common sense rules in regards to open government, spending, etc for this session and every single item was voted down by the Republicans. Here is a list (with the sponsoring house member in parentheses):
++++Editor's Note
A commenter wanted citations to the votes in question. And one was corrected to reflect the proper House member. Here you all go.
The Burnam Amendment (Amd. 28): http://www.journals.house.
House Democrats proposed common sense rules in regards to open government, spending, etc for this session and every single item was voted down by the Republicans. Here is a list (with the sponsoring house member in parentheses):
- Ensuring the public can monitor meetings of conference committees- small groups of hand-picked lawmakers who are able to make last minute changes to legislation. (Rep. Lon Burnam)
- Requiring every bill that costs the state money to be considered after the budget has been finally passed. (Rep. Jessica Farrar)
- Giving every House member access, upon request, to budget documents given to the Appropriations committee, and any Appropriation subcommittee. (Rep. Pete Gallego)
- Empowering House members to detail the impact of the projected budget cuts to their own home county. (Rep. Roland Gutierrez)
- Banning unfunded mandates to local government. (Rep. Donna Howard & Rep. Garnet Coleman)
- Requiring an estimate of how a bill would impact either the creation or destruction of jobs in the private sector. (Rep. Marc Veasey)
- Allowing a five-day layout period for the final version of the budget, giving time for everyone, lawmakers and the public, to review and understand it. (Rep. Armando Walle)
++++Editor's Note
A commenter wanted citations to the votes in question. And one was corrected to reflect the proper House member. Here you all go.
The votes in question correlate to amendments to the House Rules, or HR 4 (http://www.capitol.state.tx.
The Farrar Amendment (Amd. 24): http://www.journals.house.
The Gallego Amendment (Amd. 32): http://www.journals.
The Gutierrez Amendment (Amd. 25): http://www.journals.
The Howard/Coleman Amendment (Amd. 21): http://www.journals.
The Veasey Amendment (Amd. 13): http://www.journals.house.
The Walle Amendment (Amd. 31): http://www.journals.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Young Conservatives of Texas Out Of Touch With Texas?
The Young Conservatives of Texas graced us with their legislative agenda for the 82nd Texas Legislature this week. The group was first formed in 1980, and apparently still holds true to values from 1980. Mind you, they also claim to be nonpartisan.
While perusing their agenda, a few things stick out to me. Their Top 15 Legislative Priorities are quite the priority list. "1. Concealed Carry On Campus". Really? That is number 1? Out of all things that Texas will face this year, like the gaping $27 Billion budget hole, hiding your pistol on campus is priority one?
Number 9 is rather interesting as well: "Limiting the authority of cities to annex territory without explicit voter approval". I am sure there are folks out there who would love not to have their rural home gobbled up by an encroaching city, but there is this thing called extra territorial jurisdiction that gives them that right and also the right to enforce their will on an area outside the city. That is a long precedent and will take a lot to get rid of.
They also go onto say they oppose gambling. Totally not fun.
And when I thought things could not get worse, they saved their worst for the last page. The "Family/Ethical Issues" is an assault on women, the LGBT community, and people who don't want to stick to missionary sex. They want to regulate a woman's right to choose. They want to oppose any and all rights of LGBT people to marry or get a civil union, even going so far as to oppose domestic partnership benefits. They also want to enforce Texas sodomy laws. Didn't we already have a Supreme Court of the United States ruling that it was ok to fuck a Young Conservative of Texas in the mouth? I am pretty sure we did. Of course, Lawrence v. Texas did not explicitly call for that, it does give one the option.
The main point is, YCT's are out of touch with reality and out of touch with Texas. Equality Texas recently commissioned a poll in 2010. Among the findings, 63% of Texans believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to have a civil union. 5 years ago, the state voted to ban all forms of recognition of those relationships. My how times have changed. If only the Young Conservatives would too.
While perusing their agenda, a few things stick out to me. Their Top 15 Legislative Priorities are quite the priority list. "1. Concealed Carry On Campus". Really? That is number 1? Out of all things that Texas will face this year, like the gaping $27 Billion budget hole, hiding your pistol on campus is priority one?
Number 9 is rather interesting as well: "Limiting the authority of cities to annex territory without explicit voter approval". I am sure there are folks out there who would love not to have their rural home gobbled up by an encroaching city, but there is this thing called extra territorial jurisdiction that gives them that right and also the right to enforce their will on an area outside the city. That is a long precedent and will take a lot to get rid of.
They also go onto say they oppose gambling. Totally not fun.
And when I thought things could not get worse, they saved their worst for the last page. The "Family/Ethical Issues" is an assault on women, the LGBT community, and people who don't want to stick to missionary sex. They want to regulate a woman's right to choose. They want to oppose any and all rights of LGBT people to marry or get a civil union, even going so far as to oppose domestic partnership benefits. They also want to enforce Texas sodomy laws. Didn't we already have a Supreme Court of the United States ruling that it was ok to fuck a Young Conservative of Texas in the mouth? I am pretty sure we did. Of course, Lawrence v. Texas did not explicitly call for that, it does give one the option.
The main point is, YCT's are out of touch with reality and out of touch with Texas. Equality Texas recently commissioned a poll in 2010. Among the findings, 63% of Texans believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to have a civil union. 5 years ago, the state voted to ban all forms of recognition of those relationships. My how times have changed. If only the Young Conservatives would too.
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