Young mother of 3, with cancer, needs your help

Kelly Luther is 28, lives in a small Texas town called Alvin. She is a single mom with 3 young kids and she has cervical cancer. Prior to discovery of her cancer she purchased a health insurance policy for her family. Unfortunately she cannot afford the $6000 deductible that Clear Lake Hospital has demanded. (read her story in the Alvin Sun here)

So. Can you help? I have talked with Kelly and confirmed the bank account setup in Alvin. Once she is able to secure the money, she will be scheduled for treatment, and her 3 kids might keep their mom. Here is the info:

To Benefit Kelly Luther
Account Number: 205642
Texas Advantage Community Bank
1701 Fairway Plaza
Suite 18
Alvin, TX 77511
281-388-5200

It is an absolute shame that this is happening in America.

Bettencourt, Vasquez, Johnson, Bohac, Oh My!

Harris County Tax Accessor and Collector, Leo Vasquez, has reassigned Ed Johnson, the associate voter registrar, away from Harris County voter data.

The Lone Star Project has learned that Republican Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez has reassigned Associate Voter Registrar Ed Johnson from voter registration duties to a communications role. Johnson was exposed by the Lone Star Project as "the inside man" to Republican elected officials, particularly State Rep. Dwayne Bohac (HD138-Houston).

Johnson was found to be moonlighting and selling the voter registrar data to political clients. Lone Star Project has also found that he accessed drivers license data and if he sold or profited from this activity, he is in violation of Federal laws. And if any of this was done on County time, well, he might want to contact former District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal for some advice.

All of this may be up and up, but reassigning Ed doesn't look good. In fact it raises more questions. What did Bettencourt know about all this? Did this situation lead him to quit like Sarah Palin? How does State Representative Bohac fit into all of this? Vazquez isn't talking and has yet to clear this up.

Only a lawsuit will tell, and one has been filed.

Pete Session, Republican hypocrite of the week

Just when you think a member of the republican party can't get any more hypocritical than being a "Christian Conservative" while banging a hooker, loving on a hot wise Argentina woman, or having an affair with your 22 year old intern, Congressman Pete Session comes forward as a candidate for republican hypocrite of the week.

Turns out Session, from Dallas, who called earmarks “a symbol of a broken Washington to the American people.” received $1.6m for a blimp company in Chicago, using an address for the request to Congress in Dallas, an address that happens to be the address of a close friend of the owner of the blimp company.

If Pete is going to put his name in the hat for Hypocrite of the Week and $1.6m of tax dollars, he should. at the very least. request funding within his own district. The story gets much worse according to Politico:

Yet in 2008, Sessions himself steered a $1.6 million earmark for dirigible research to an Illinois company whose president acknowledges having no experience in government contracting, let alone in building blimps.

What the company did have: the help of Adrian Plesha, a former Sessions aide with a criminal record who has made more than $446,000 lobbying on its behalf.

Pete Sessions. republican Hypocrite of the Week. At least he didn't have sex with anyone or bust into flames while doing it.

Kudos to Culberson on NASA's funding

From all the speakers including our Senators and Congressman Olson, John Culberson was the only one to make any significant statements besides "space is our future" and "the best and the brightest work at NASA", "think of the children", etc etc at the Augustine Commission here in League City.

Culberson hit the nail on the head when he stated that President Bush in 2004 set NASA on a course for the Moon, Mars, and to explore the universe, but failed to secure adequate funding to do so. So here we are 5 years later with a program that is in disarray because we don't have enough money. Once again NASA is trying to go to reach for the stars on the budget of a step ladder.

How much will it cost?
During a hearing in 2004 the NASA Administrator, Shaun O'Keefe, refused to answer the simple question "How much will it cost to go to the Moon and Mars"? Instead of saying $150B and $500 Billion respectively, he said that money would be shifted around, the Shuttle would be retired, programs would be cut, etc. After being asked 4 times, the members of the committee gave up on getting an answer. And we haven't gotten one since.

What are the options?
A NASA employee speaking to the commission used the old Bush phrase "Stay the course" meaning "Stay the course and send a boatload of money". Before a decision is made, NASA needs to determine what their goals are. In the 60's the goal was well defined and accomplished in 1969. Now, what is our goal? flying the shuttle? maintaining Station? building CEV? going to the Moon, Mars, and beyond?

And how much will it cost?

Harris County Tax Assessor under fire again.

Now this is interesting. According to Lone Star Project, Ed Johnson, the deputy voter registrar of Leo Vasquez office, (Leo took over the office of Tax Assessor and Collector when Paul Bettencourt quit, much like Sarah Palin) is under fire again.

Last month, the Lone Star Project revealed that Harris County Associate Voter Registrar, Ed Johnson, is a paid employee of a GOP political consulting firm, Campaign Data Systems (CDS), owned by Republican State Representative Dwayne Bohac. On the firm’s website Bohac boasted that the CDS voter data file is enhanced by information culled from “driver license” records. The contact name provided to obtain the data is Ed Johnson, Bohac’s business partner AND the Harris County Associate Voter Registrar. How did CDS get the drivers license records? It appears that Bohac obtained the records improperly by way of his “man on the inside” Ed Johnson. Accessor

Turns out that if you obtain the drivers license data from the State you sign an agreement to not sell the data. The Lone Star Project has these signed agreements. Obviously someone needs to explain what Ed Johnson was doing and if it was within the law.

So, what did he sign and when did he sign it? And why is he still employeed by Leo Vasquez?

Shatner does Palin

And to think, she was running for VP of the United States.

Locke-d out of Locke's campaign

Everyone seems to be making a big whoop out of Mayoral candidate Gene Locke firing his fundraiser, Sue Walden. I think the reason is pretty obvious, based upon The Chronicles columnist, Rick Caseys observation:

Sue Walden isn't just any old fundraiser. She's one of Houston's veterans, having raised money for Mayors Bob Lanier and Lee Brown. She handled Texas and Louisiana last year for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. And she is currently on contract to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for her gubernatorial race.

Walden was shocked when Locke told her he was letting her go. Not only did she feel she had helped propel his candidacy to a good start, but the news came just a week after she had been treated for breast cancer.

It can't be the cancer. No one is that cruel. Well, almost no one. Instead it is the fundraising aspect. With donations down due to the economy, Walden was able to tap into her base of republicans who support Locke's vision for the city. Who best to raise money from republicans than the fundraiser who raised money for John McCain and Kay Bailey? But now the republican donors are tapped out and she has no one else to tap. So it is time to find someone else that can now tap the other side of the aisle. Sue isn't a good fit.

Of course, this is my opinion and while sitting around opinionating, eating tamales and drinking an ice cold Bohemia, waiting for Locke's dream of building a Hispanic Museum to come to fruition, I wish Sue Walden the very best with her bout with cancer.

Texas Governor is an embarrassment to our state

Rachel Maddow of MSNBC has Governor Perry pegged.

Clear Lake Hospital, a heart of cold.

This is why we need health care reform:

Kelly Luther of Alvin Texas, age 28, is a single mother of a daughter who is seven and two sons who are six and four. She has insurance and stage two cervical cancer, but can't afford the $5000 deductible that Clear Lake Hospital has demanded to be paid in full.

And it get's worse. From the Alvin Sun:

Luther has contacted the offices of State Representatives and State Senators, Governor Rick Perry’s office, United States Senators and United States Representatives as well as President Barack Obama’s office in order to find a solution. To date, she has received no help.

She has also contacted Medicare and Medicaid. Luther receives $721 per month in child support. She has been told that she does not qualify for these agency services because she exceeds their income requirements. In order to qualify, she would only be able to earn $308 per month in income.

God almighty. This is happening right here in our own backyard in Alvin Texas. In the state where the "compassionate conservative" was unearthed for personal gain by some individuals. Because she cannot come up with the $5000 that Clear Lake Hospital has demanded, her kids will lose their mother. I just can't believe Clear Lake Hospital can be so cold hearted. It is beyond reason.

We, as a society, has decided that $5000 in profit is worth more than the life of a 4 years olds mother.

We are truly a sick, sick nation.

Texas Gov accepts stimulus welfare. Teabaggers AWOL

Texas Governor Rick Perry is contending for Fiscal Hypocrite of the Year award given by the tea baggers of Texas. Just a month after speaking to a group of tea baggers on the steps of the capitol claiming fiscal responsibility and his refusal to accept stimulus funds, Perry craps on fiscal responsibility and accepts stimulus funds, not to create jobs, but instead to give Texas teachers a raise of $800.

Texas ranks 27th in teacher pay. God knows they deserve more money and respect. The $800 raise is only for 2 years then Texas (you the taxpayer) will have to pitch in from then on and you should do it with a smile on your face.

With this amount of hypocrisy, you have to wonder where the tea baggers are? Didn't they just bow to the mother of all fiscal responsibility-ers, Governor Rick Perry? Aren't they the ones calling for an end to the give aways like the $1billion NASA received from the stimulus package?

Or are they just playing around with their own package? Tea baggers. Good to the last drop of hypocrisy.

NASA: What Not to Wear

White shirt and ties are out and dockers and collared knit NASA shirts are in for engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake.

Unfortunately, sometimes that is not a dress code that works for the rest of the business community.

I heard from a good source that there was a NASA review at UH Clear Lake and a bunch of NASA engineers couldn't get in because there was a dress code and they were dressed too casually.

I guess that golf game on the moon 40 years ago gave someone the great idea that golf attire was the new NASA uniform.

Another family picture of a Gross Old Phart

Ok. This is becoming a pattern for the late "family values" party of Gross Old Pharts (GOP):

A Republican state senator from Tennessee–who is married and the father of two– has admitted to police that he had sex with a 22 year old intern after her boyfriend allegedly demanded money from the legislator to not make public a video of the legislator and intern having sex.

Ok. It is bad enough to be a self proclaimed Christian man of family values who hates gays, but is this really necessary?

Stanley himself admitted to police that he had had a “sexual relationship” with the intern and had taken nude pictures of her in “provocative poses,” according to a sworn affidavit police made public yesterday. The couple also filmed a video of themselves having sex together.

A family values sex portrait and home movies? Gross. Old. Pharts.

Racism alive in Grand Prairie Police

When you are looking for a good dose of racism, why go to Vidor Texas, when you can stay in the comfort of your own police department in Grand Prairie?

Four Grand Prairie police officers and a dispatcher are on administrative leave after a racist e-mail about President Obama was circulated, and the local NAACP chapter is asking whether a recent round of diversity training was for naught.

....

Police did not release the contents of the e-mail. But a person who claimed to have knowledge of its content said it included a racist reference to the tail number on Air Force One and suggested that Obama will serve only one term because a black man can't hold a job longer than four years.

TX Senator Cornyn: I don't like Hispanics

No place but Texas. United States Senator John Cornyn in his quest to alienate any last Hispanic in the Republican party vowed to vote against Judge Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice.

"Quite frankly, I just don't like Hispanics" stated Cornyn to a jaw dropping crowd of reporters. Cornyn continued "Sure, she is very well qualified and I believe she would base her decisions on the law of the land, but she is a Mexican or a Mexican-like, and I don't like Mexicans, or Hispanics, and especially Puerto Rican wise Latina women. It is just that simple."

During the press conference Senator Cornyn was flanked by Pat Buchanan, a member of the KKK, and Senator Sessions. Cornyn was later seen eating a burrito with hot sauce.

American Arbitration Association deceives again.

The American Arbitration Association while talking to Congress about the abuse of mandatory binding arbitration claims they are leaving the debt collection industry. Sort of. According to creditcards.com:

That group's senior vice president, Richard Naimark, testified Wednesday before a congressional subcommittee that is examining the controversy.

"As a result of the AAA's review and our experiences administering debt collection arbitrations," he said, "in addition to our consideration of a number of policy concerns that have been raised, it is the AAA's position that a series of important fairness and due process concerns must be addressed and resolved before we will proceed with the administration of any future debt collection arbitrations.

This is the same Richard Naimark a group of consumers met with in Houston. He was asked to stop honoring mandatory binding arbitration agreements in new home contracts. He refused. He was also asked, as well as his two staff members, if he thought a $6000 filing fee was reasonable to pay just to begin the arbitration process. He and his staff refused to answer except to say the AAA needed to fund their building rental, their staffs salaries, and their lavish lifestyles etc.

Saying that debt collection arbitration needs addressing is nothing new for Naimark. When under attack in Texas for abusing new home buyers, the AAA did something very similiar and addressed "a series of important fairness and due process concerns". In short they "allowed" consumers to go to small claims court, and lowered their fees (not that much), and did a few other sugar coating ideas much like what they are telling Congress.

Congress is conducting hearings on the abuse of arbitration. And so far two sets of arbitraitor companies have quit. See Public Citizens article on this situation for links to the Congressional reports and more.

Also, The best line in the testimony at a Senate hearing came from Richard Alderman of the University of Houston:

To me the question is simple, it is not whether arbitration is fair or benefits consumers, it is whether the more powerful party to a bargain should be able to deny the other access to the courts.

Army of compassionate conservatives are AWOL

Remember when Bush, as a candidate, created the republican character the "compassionate conservative". Once elected we didn't hear about these mythical creatures until 2004 when he was running for re-election. And now they are extinct. From the Houston Chronicle:

Thus Texas will maintain its disgraceful title as the nation's leader in the number of uninsured youngsters, with more than 1.5 million who have no health coverage.

As reported by the New York Times, lawmakers in 13 states recently expanded their Children's Health Insurance Program coverage to include an additional 250,000 youngsters. Among those liberalizing eligibility rules for the program were Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia, states hardly known as bastions of support for government-funded health care.

Arkansas? We have become worse than Arkansas? And Alabama? Well, it is clear, the era of the "compassionate conservative" is over, as well as the era of "family values", "Fiscal responsibility", "Strong on defense", and "protectors of the constitution". The republican party has become the compassionate conservative army of none.

Republicans are returning to their original form, too pale, too frail, too male, with the compassion of a baby seal killer and the family values of a hooker at a republican convention.

GOP Congressman agrees the GOP are nutballs

Holy Jesus! The lady who stands up at this townhall mtg talking about President Obama's birth place is a scary nutjob, but then the rabid right wing loons agrees with her! Even the republican Congressman realizes they are looney. Here is the video.





When your own Congressman agrees you are a nut, you probably are. Wow and notice the diversity of the crowd!

Perry's Predators missing in action at Ellington Airforce Base

In 2005 Governor Perry promised a squadron of Predator aircraft would be deployed at Ellington Air Force Base after losing the F16s of the 147th Fighter Wing due to the base realignment. Four years later the skies are silent with no Predators in sight. Here is Governor Perry in a press release back in 2005:

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced that Ellington Field in Houston will be home to a new squadron of Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as part of the Air Force’s Total Future Force plan designed to prepare the military for the demands of the 21st Century.

"The Predator is not only critical to today’s military missions, but also the missions of the future," Perry said. "I can think of no better home for a Predator squadron than Ellington Field, a base that is also essential to the military missions of today and tomorrow."

Maybe this is a good thing since the Predator has a tendency to fall out of the sky and could make a bad day at one of the local parks for those at a family picnic. Maybe this was a correct prediction:

It is my belief that this drone idea is nothing but a red herring to distract from the fact the 147th was lost due to base realignment. Come 2012, everyone would have forgotten about them.

We forget so easily.

It's your money: Health care for Congress and federal employees

Members of Congress and federal employees have the best example of a public option for health care. And you, the taxpayers, are paying 72% of the premiums. Here are the benefits:

Sick leave. 4 hours are earned each pay period, approximately 13 days a year. Employees are allowed to roll the unused hours over to the next year. This helps when a extended sick leave for an operation or to provide care for someone in your family is required. Any unused days count toward retirement. It in not unusual to have hundreds of unused hours at retirement. (this is on top of the 3 weeks of vacation provided to all federal employees when they enter the service, and 4 weeks after 5 years, 5 weeks after 20)

Donated leave. Employees can ask for donations from other employees if they are on extended sick leave and have exhausted their own leave and vacation time. It is not unusual for an employee to receive months of donated leave to battle a long term illness.

Yearly physicals. Every employee is offered a yearly physical (might depend on your particular service location) which includes endoscopic examination of the lower tract after the age of 45, full blood work, eye exams, hearing exams, EKGs, and more.

Choice of health plans. Federal employees and members of Congress have a number of plans available to choose from including Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal, Aetna, Postal Employees (available for non-postal employees). Each year they are allowed to change without any fears of being denied for pre-existing conditions. The plans have a wide number of options, so many it can be confusing.

It's your money! The cost of the coverage depends on the plan and swings wildly. If your doctors are coverage under the HMO plans it makes no sense to pay twice as much for a PPO plan. But then again, who is complaining about the cost when the taxpayer pays 72% of the cost!

So if you are complaining about paying for health coverage for the 50 million kids who don't have health care just remember, it's your money that is paying for the federal employees public option health care for your member of Congress and almost 2 million federal employees. Stuff that in your tea bag!

Congressional health care. The best public health care your money can buy!

The end is near for mandatory binding arbitration.

The end is near. The abuse of arbitration is going to stop in the near future. Here is one major step towards that. From Business Week:

After coming under increasing fire for bias towards major credit-card companies, the nation’s largest arbitration firm involved in adjudicating delinquent credit-card debt has agreed to pull out of the business, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson disclosed on Sunday, July 19.

The settlement with the National Arbitration Forum comes after the Minnesota AG [Lori Swanson] sued the firm on July 14 for consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, and false advertising.

The NAF was under fire after a report was issued showing bias towards the credit card industry. It is incredible that within 5 days of the suit the NAF just rolled over and gave up a lucrative arbitration scam. And it is not over because she has her eyes set on the American Arbitration Association also:

Swanson says she is also sending a letter to the American Arbitration Association, an NAF competitor that has been trying to build its credit-card arbitration business. The letter, which makes no allegations of bias, asks the AAA to exit the business because most consumers don’t realize they must use arbitration, rather than going through the courts, as part of credit-card contracts, the AG says. “I am asking the AAA to show some leadership,” Swanson says. AAA General Counsel Eric Tuchmann says he wasn't prepared to comment on the AG's proposal until he saw a copy of the letter.

If you have a credit card, cable , telephone, cell phone, a new car, a new home, an insurance policy, medical insurance, or have a job, you most probably have a mandatory binding arbitration clause which prohibits you from joining a class action suit, or trying to find justice in the court house, a court house paid with your taxes. You have no choice on whether to accept or negotiate for this service. It is a take it or leave it contract.

The Arbitration Fairness Act filed in Congress will protect your rights to the courtroom as well as encourage the use of arbitration, which could be a good alternative. (could, but not in the case of NAF it seems). The Act will make the mandatory clauses unenforceable. Look for it's passage in the next few years.

Until then, don't look for NAF in credit card arbitrations. They have cut and run. And they suck!

Illegal immigrants guide to voting in Texas

Since the Texas gop is hell bent on protecting the "sanctity of the ballot box" as they protected the sanctity of marriage, here is a guide for all illegal immigrants to help them with their driving desire to vote in our elections.

Change your name.
Consider changing your name from Kleinschmidt to something more American, like Brown. Or Chen to Riddle, or Eltife to Patrick. This will bring less attention to you as you come out of the shadows and into the spot light to commit a felony. Remember your new American name must match that of an existing voter.

Find an existing voter.
Now this is the tricky part. With your newly found name, find someone with the same name that is a registered voter who is also in your precinct. Create some sort of identification that has the same name and address of the person you want to vote as. Go to the polls with this fake name, fake ID, and hope you are not challenged. If you are, run like hell.

Dress appropriately
When going to the polls dress like an American. Avoid bright colored clothes or dressing like someone coming back from an international soccer game. Avoid eating or drinking anything non American like crumpets and tea.

Hope.
And then hope your candidate wins, the person who you stole the identity didn't vote, an investigation isn't started, and your ass is not caught. If it is, you will be spending time in jail for a real stupid felony instead of working long hours for little money and no benefits all while benefiting those who exploit you.

With these easy instructions, it is clear why so many illegal immigrants are willing to risk their life living in the shadows making more money than they could possibly make in their home country just to vote in an election that most probably doesn't need their vote anyway.

But then again, there are a lot of stupid people out there. Especially those who actually think you would do it.

Observation on the Houston Latino Summit Mayoral Forum

The Event.
First, the organizers of the Houston Latino Summit should be commended. It was a very professional and well attended event. Thanks to City Councilman James Rodriguez, Marc Campos, and all the others who contributed to the success. The event had a good set of questions as well as participation by the audience. Good event. I hope to see more in the future.

Hispanic Museum.
I have not been in the loop on the proposed soccer stadium on the east side of Houston, but I really must be out of the loop on the proposed Hispanic Museum promised to the Hispanic audience by candidate Gene Locke. A quick search on the internets turned up nothing on any Hispanic Museum. The comment came off like pandering to the crowd and offering up things we can't afford. Of course, I could be wrong and there is actually one being planned right along side of the soccer stadium. Someone fill me in.

Roy Morales.
I am not sure whether to laugh or cry on this one. Roy is out of his league. He has such a shallow understanding of the opeations of the City of Houston. He definitely toned down his anti-immigrant responses during this event. Other than that, he didn't offer much. He really shouldn't be running.

Parker, Peter, Locke
We have three very qualified candidates for Mayor and it should be a great campaign. Annise has the experience with City Council and as City Controller and her message is spot on , the economy. Peter again has the experience from City Council. Gene Locke, I know very little of, but from his debates, he too has excellent experience from working with former Mayors.

Hispanic Voting.
One complaint. There was a number of questions concerning electing more Hispanics to the City Council. The city will have almost a 50% Hispanic community in the next few years, obviously a group to be working with. I think more emphasis should be put on voter registration and getting them to the polls. If we don't vote, we shouldn't be expected to have a voice or a place at the table. I am hoping the Summit can address this in the future.

Hispanic Issues.
Yes, we need to address education and drop out rates. OK. We knew that when we walked in. There was little time to address the specifics about what each candidate (besides Morales) would do to solve these problems. This is not the fault of the candidates. It is obvious they know the issues of the Hispanic community, we, at some time, need more details on solutions.

Electricity
Dang it. I had to leave early and missed the question on electricity. Electricity rates affect all of the citizens of Houston, especially those in low income households. If anyone has a recap of the question asked and the responses, I would appreciate it.

Again, great event, great attendance, great candidates!

(except for Roy)

Hispanic Latino Summit Mayoral Forum

Good crowd. All the candidates are here, as well as Roy Morales. City Councilman James Rodriguez has opened the event. Minerva Perez, former journalist for KTRK is the moderator.

Opening statements:

Roy Morales
Wow. Morales is not bilingual! That is a shock. Didn't expect the other candidates to be, but was surprised to hear Morales was not. Well, no wonder he doesn't like immigrants! Morales starts his opening statement. He was a decorated veteran.

Annise Parker
Native Houstonian. Passion is with quality of life issues. Created the rainy day fund which helped Ike recovery. Number one issue is the economy.

Peter Brown
Native Houstonian. Future of the city and Hispanic community go hand in hand. Archetic, urban planner, city councilman. Four points: Make the city safe. Create jobs. Improve quality of life.

Gene Locke
Houston needs to be city of opportunity. Safe city. Create jobs. Improve quality of life. Soccer stadium on the east side of town. Housing. Harrisburg to be a focus point and create a Hispanic museum. (wow, at least he is pandering to the right crowd.)

Minerva asks again who speaks spanish. Morales no. Annise German. Brown speaks in spanish. Gene no.

Second round. Morales adds nothing to the conversation. Annise job creation. Brown, education. Locke education, health care.

Census questions. 40% of Houston is Latino yet city government doesnt represent it. Annise agrees there is a gap. Has worked to appoint qualified individuals. Brown commits to hiring more Hispanics. Education for the Hispanic community and jobs. Gene. Wants to be remember as the mayor who opened opportunities for Hispanics. (more pandering to Hispanics. Sorry. I think this is over the top for me.) Says he wont consider any group of people unless there is a Hispanic in the group. Morales. Should have more Hispanics in City Government.

My comment: There would be more Hispanics on City Council if Hispanics would come out and vote. Maybe THAT should be the focus of this Summit. If you dont vote, you don't count. And so far, we are not counting.

Capitol improvement. Brown. Need to spend money based on a plan, like an urban plan. Locke wont commit to spending money until he sees the details. Agrees there are infrastructure needs. Panders again. Morales. Before he can commit, we have a looming deficit. Claims a $1.3 million deficit. Annise. See her site for details on Housotn First. We are at capacity for funds. Need to have drainage plan.

Budget cuts. Can we cut parks and libraries. Locke. No, invest more. How to balance the cuts. Mayor assistance program should be geared to interface with government. Morales. Need audits in every department before cutting. Annise believes in the Mayor Assistance Office. 2/3 rds of budget goes to police/fire and need to maximize use of technology. Peter. Needs an accountable and responsive government. Solid waste department got a 4% reduction and is doing more with less.

Back from a bathroom break.

Taking over HISD. Brown. Must improve public education, it is the public challenge. Doesnt favor taking over HISD. (DAMN BATTERY IS LOW) Locke. No. Should not be run by the Mayors office but should work with them. Morales. No. Education is a failure of Austin and Washington. Says we are educating kids with Spanish first. (I am told this is not true) Annise. No. Need after school safety net. Would appoint a education liason for the 17 districts in the city. The private sector must step up.

What is the role of the city for public education. Locke. Mayor should be bully pulpit. (I'm not getting anything out of his statement except generalities) Morales. Has to have a loud voice with Congress. City can have a major effect for after school programs. Wants to double the amount. Annise. Need public, private, charter schools. Middle school need the most help from 3-6 in the afternoon. Has to be a safety net for those kids. Businesses must partner with schools to help the high school kids. Brown. Mayor stay in school program. Community development. Safety. Livable communities. Adopt a school program with additional funding.

Gotcha question. Please list 3 non profit Latino organizations. Morales. La Rosa family services. Latino professional womens association. Annise (missed one) La Rosa, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Peter Alma, Tejano center of community services. La Raza. Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Locke. Hispanic Bar. Community family center. Tejano Center.

City contracts. Annise. Has a record of elevating Hispanic businesses through the Controllers Office. Has performed audits to improve access by minority owned firms by all. Brown. Set goals and plan. Find resources. Need better affirmative action. Locke. Wrote affirmative action plan for Houston. Wrote Metros DBE and Port of Houston. Will revise Affirmitative Action plan. Morales. Needs to revise the affirmative action plan. Says all minority should have access.

Questions from the audience.

Houston has asked to extend HPD authority for immigration. 67 cities have tried and failed. (Let's see what Morales has to say on this. He is suppose to be in favor of it, but will he publically say it in a Hispanic forum) Brown. HPD does not have the resources to be an immigration squad. Need sensitivity training. Do not divert resources from fighting crime to harrassing people. Locke. He would review it. Immigration is a federal issue. Does not believe it works. Needs to root out the crime and not the workers. Morales. Will sign it. He doesnt want profiling. Going off on a tangent. Annise. Agrees with the program in the jails ONLY. But not in the police force. If you are in the jail, you should be subjected to the laws of ICE.

End of battery life for me.

More from the party of "Family values"

It just doesn't get any better (worse) than this. Former Republican Congressman Chip Pickering's former wife has filed suit against Pickering's girlfriend for "alienation of affection". Pickering left his wife and 5 kids for Elizabeth Creekmore Byrd.

The lawsuit says Chip Pickering and Creekmore Byrd were having an affair while Pickering was in Congress and living in a Christian facility for lawmakers on C Street near the U.S. Capitol. He retired from Congress in January and joined a lobbying firm.

Who is Elizabeth and which lobbying firm?

Creekmore-Byrd is on the board of Telepak, which owns Cellular South. The wireless carrier, based in Ridgeland, "secured the services" of lobbying firm Capitol Resources, which "employed (Chip) Pickering and has created an office in Washington, D.C. for him."

Creekmore-Byrd divorced her husband, Dr. Byrd, in 2007, according to the suit, so that she and Chip Pickering could be together. She then insisted that Pickering not accept former Sen. Trent Lott's Senate seat so that he could divorce his wife and the two of them be together.

Nice. This is not Christian family values and the republican party has officially become the party of hypocrites.

GOP reaches out to the Puerto Rican community

Puerto terrorists?

Gov Perry begs for unemployment funds

In the words of bugs bunny "What a maroon!" Perry is trying to defend his request for a $170 million loan from the federal government after refusing the $500 million stimulus. Unlike the stimulus money, the $170 million must be paid back within 18 months before interest is charged and Texas is expected to ask for $650 million more because of rising unemployment. (From News 8 Austin, with video)

Texas has asked for this loan only one other time, in 2003. This year however, the decision is getting extra attention after Governor Rick Perry rejected federal stimulus money that would have replenished the fund. Perry said the stimulus would have expanded eligibility and cost more to business owners in the long run. Many are now questioning that decision

Like a bad neighbor, State Farm beware!

Texas residents especially in the Galveston/Harris County area can expect up to a 20% increase in their insurance rates from State Farm. According to the Houston Chronicle:

Homeowners close to the coast will bear the brunt. Those in southern Harris County and in Galveston County will see increases in the 20 percent range, according to State Farm.

The new rates go into effect starting Oct. 1 for existing customers as policies renew, and on Sept. 1 for new customers.

And according to Governor Rick Perry in 2002:

"To make sure Texas consumers are protected, I am asking the Attorney General to investigate the market conduct and marketing practices of our state's biggest homeowner’s insurance companies," Perry continued. "I’m concerned that the big insurance companies may be misleading Texas families about the changes in homeowner’s coverage and costs. I’m concerned that in this changing market, insurance companies are not providing consumers with the honest facts they need and deserve."

Uh huh......right. How did that turn out for you? Homeowners in the Bay Area are going to receive the largest increase in the country due to Hurricane Ike. But, as State Representative Larry Taylor has said "you can shop around!" and see if you can get a better rate by increasing your deductible, or removing coverage, or voting next time.

You might be paying thousands more for insurance than you did before deregulation, but at least you saved $10/year on taxes!

Eversole rambles about ethics charges

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole looks like he is losing it. After being fined $75,000 and ordered to pay back $41,000 for using his campaign donations for personal use, Eversole goes on a wild ramble about Wayne Dolcefino's story the day before.



Clearly Eversole is trying to divert attention from the fact that he spent over $162,000 on livestock, western art, western clothing, western guns, and antique western books, and got away with over $121,000 of it.

Spending Campaign Cash: Jerry Eversole

The Texas Ethics Commission' (TEC) settlement with Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole has been posted to their website and has raised some significant questions about Eversole's spending habits. It also raises questions about the Ethics Commission's handling of this particular case. A spreadsheet of this information can be found here. Here is a quick breakdown of Eversole's expenses during 2006-2007:

Cattle $26,000+
Eversole spent over $26,000 on two "Livestock" auctions. He also spent about $1500 on meat processing. The TEC only addressed $16,000 of these expenses and concluded there was evidence of a violation. Why the TEC limited their review is not clear. Donating to a charity is allowed by the TEC, but not if you receive something in return. Buying a cow for $16,000 is unreasonable especially when it's not your money.

Western Books $39,000+
Eversole has spent over $39,000 on books including $11,600 to Robert Gwodz, $24,000 to The Book Collector here in Houston, and $576.38 to Tombstone Old West Books from Tombstone AZ. The TEC only addressed $6000 of these purchases. The Book Collector specializes in:

Antique Toy Soldiers, Appraisals, First Editions, Leather Sets, Rare Books, Rare Children's, Specialize In Texana & Civil War & Leather Decorative Books- & Books By The Yard!

Western guns. $39,000+
Eversole spent over $39,000+ on guns from Beretta USA and through donations to the Former Texas Rangers Foundation through an auction. The TEC addressed only $27,000 of these expenditures and concluded there was evidence that a violation occurred. Eversole in his defense to the TEC stated the $19,000 pistol and rifle which he bought at auction was donated after the expenditure was "examined in a news report".

And Eversole talked to the newspaper about those expensive guns he bought at an auction for the Former Texas Rangers Foundation. He says they've been now been donated to charity. He didn't say when. Eversole says he'll cooperate with any investigation and reimburse any expenses found to be improper.

Western Art $8000+
Eversole spent $8000+ on western art from Buck Taylor Art, The Gallery Collection and Texas Cowboy Trappings.

Western wear $12,000+
(Is there a western pattern here?) Eversole has spent $12,000+ on western wear including $2800 to River Crossing in Colorado, "Your source for custom-made old west clothing", $650 to King Ranch Saddleshop and $1700 to Texas Jack in Fredericksburg.

Gym $9700+
Over $9700 has been spent on "Affordable Nutrition" a gym highlighted by Wayne Dolcefino of KTRK in his three part series on Eversole's spending and time he spent in the gym. Here is a review:

"Privately owned and they are super friendly and informative. They also do Personal training right in the store. Don't forget to get a protein shake before you leave, they are the best in Humble. 5 Stars all the way!"

Golf $18,000+
Over $18,000 was spent on various golf items, clothing, and clubs including $5000 to Golfsmith Golf Center.

Purchases from China $1700+
Over $1700 was spent on art from Bejing China. The TEC briefly addressed the trip to China.

Food and coffee (Unknown)
The 4 ethics reports reviewed for 2006 and 2007 had a tremendous amount of food and coffee purchases. In his 2008 report there has been a significant reduction in these types of expenditures. Dolcefino reported over $10,000 in coffee alone. The number of entries for food and coffee was just too many to address. The TEC generically addresses these expenditures.

In Total $162,044.87
According to the ethics reports, Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole spent $162,044.87 of his donor's money on cattle, western guns, western art, western clothing, western books, golf, art, and an unknown amount on food and coffee.

The TEC has fined him $75,000, the largest fine in TEC's history, but he will pay this with his donor's money. He is also paying his legal counsel, over $46,000, with his donor's money also. Eversole claims he has repaid his campaign over $41,000 which seems low considering his book purchases alone amount to $39,000.

It is clear that the TEC rushed through this ethics complaint. Clearly the amount in question is over $41,000 and although a $75,000 is severe, it is being paid out of his campaign cash.

According to the TEC, someone with standing could file a civil suit against him, maybe like one of his donors. Then his western and accounting books will be open for all to see.

Still clinging onto the TRCC

The home builder supporters, including members of the Texas Residential Construction Commission, continue to defend the now extinct TRCC with a dose of crap in Lubbock Online:

Art Cuevas, a Lubbock custom home builder who is also a TRCC commission member, said that reverting to RCLA means a homebuyer with a complaint will have to lay out several thousand dollars to hire a lawyer if the issue goes into litigation.

"Someone who buys a $500,000 home, a million-dollar home has the funds to pay an attorney. Someone who buys an entry-level home ... it will take them $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 to take someone to court," Cuevas said. "A lot of people don't have the funds to hire a lawyer."

This is a huge load of crap. The RCLA (Residential Construction Liability Act, passed in 1989) is still in effect even with the TRCC. Cuevas is assuming the TRCC actually helped the consumer prevent the need of an attorney, when in reality, the TRCC was so complicated and chock full of legal loopholes, that an attorney was needed. And when the TRCC failed to assist the consumer, they were bound by the rules of RCLA. He continues:

Cuevas, who said TRCC had been making a lot of progress in recent months speeding up its handling of complaints, said of the legislative situation, "We just weren't a priority."

Cuevas said TRCC was developing several consumer resources, including listing of problem builders and a display on the agency's Web site for consumers about "how a house is supposed to react and respond over time."

Again, that is just not true. This was a $7 million commission with over 80 employees, created by the largest donor in Texas, Bob Perry. The builders supporters controlled the Senate, the House, and Rick Perry. Don't tell us it wasn't a priority to save this Commission. It was killed because no one wanted to defend it anymore. And waiting 6 years to create a useful website is about as incompetent as it gets.

Good riddance.

Texas is number 1. Again.

In 2003 Texans were promised the massive tort reform package ushered in by the republican party would lower health care costs, putting your hard earned dollars back in your pocket, all while they were ripping the shirt off of your back. Let's remember what Governor Perry's organization, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, said prior to passing tort reform:

Tort reform will lower costs for health care consumers, enabling them to get more from their health care spending. It will improve access to care by making insurance more affordable and available.

And yet CNN is reporting in "Most expensive health care. Why does McAllen, Texas have the country's most expensive health care? Elizabeth Cohen looks at cost geography.

The promises by the republican party when it comes to insurance reform, tort reform, and any reform they have proposed have never reduced the cost for Texans. It has been nothing but a give away to the insurance companies.

Anyone surprised?

The freepers of the gop

The gop should be so proud. A conversative blog, the free republican has made front page on the Vancouver Sun website. Turns out the "freepers" just can't keep their racial slurs to themselves providing a face that is reflective of the gop:

"A typical street whore." "A bunch of ghetto thugs." "Ghetto street trash." "Wonder when she will get her first abortion."

These are a small selection of some of the racially-charged comments posted to the conservative 'Free Republic' blog Thursday, aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama's 11-year-old daughter Malia after she was photographed wearing a t-shirt with a peace sign on the front.

Real bunch of classy folks. but there is more:

"To entertain her daughter, Michelle Obama loves to make monkey sounds."

"This disgusting display makes me more and more eager for the revolution," while another read, "I never actually wnated [sic] to be a pistol before but..."

"Poor kids. I hope they're not 'punished with a baby'," wrote another. "Hopefully they won't deal cocaine like the Kenyan."

Yep. That is the republican party. No ideas. No record of success. No color. No barber. No class.

Palin and Perry sitting in a tree....

Q-U-I-T-T-I-N-G. Perry, the longest serving Governor of Texas will be roaming the state with the shortest serving Governor of Alaska.

CONROE, Texas (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry says Sarah Palin is committed to campaigning for his re-election bid and that he welcomes the support of the soon-to-be-former Alaska governor.

Why does the idea of Perry and Palin campaigning around Texas together bring thoughts of another family values scandal in the making?

Oh. Now I need a shower. With Comet. And a bristle brush.

Congressman Olson townhall meeting 7/11/09

Title:		Congressman Pete Olson Town Hall Meeting
When:		Saturday July 11, 2009 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Where:		San Jacinto College - Central Campus, Monte Blue Music Bldg, Rm 105
Street:		8060 Spencer Highway Pasadena TX 77505

Come on out and ask questions of the Congressman about the health care provided to our elected officials and why this care cannot be extended to all citizens of the United States. Ask about pre-existing conditions which the Congressman has personal experience with. Inquire about how much more money NASA will need to complete Bush's vision to go to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The floor is open. Come on out!

Communion on the moon.

This is pretty interesting about Buzz Aldrin taking communion on the Moon:

The astronaut later described in Guideposts magazine what took place during the radio blackout as Armstrong watched but did not participate.

"I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements."

Aldrin proceeded to read from John 15:5.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me."

Take that you non-Catholics!

Don't eat the fish

If you visit Challenger park off of NASA Rd 1 you will see a warning sign on the boat ramp about eating the fish. This sign has been there for many years, in fact, maybe as long as the park as been open. The Chronicle has another warning about fish in Clear Creek:

Texas health officials on Wednesday issued a warning against eating any fish caught within the banks of Clear Creek after high levels of dangerous industrial chemicals were detected in several varieties of marine life.

The Environmental Protection Agency in 1979 banned PCBS, but said items containing them did not have to be replaced. PCBs levels in fish above .047 parts per million can pose a health risk for humans. The levels from the recent samples averaged .100 to .676 ppm, officials said.

So, don't eat the fish.

The verdict is in: WiFi on jury duty.

Harris County Clerk Loren Jackson in his continuing crusade to move the Clerk's office into the 21st century has just announced the availability of WiFi in the Jury Assembly room.

“Jury Service is crucial to the judicial system of Harris County,” Jackson said. “We are doing our part to make it more convenient for our citizens to show up when they’re summoned. Providing them with free WIFI enables them to stay connected to their family and their work. Jury service should be thought of as ‘a great form of service,’ not just an obligation or duty. Jury service is a way to serve your community and your peers.”

Very cool.

Leo Vasquez The inside man.

Doesn't look good when you put it all together.

GOP reaches out to the Jewish community

The teabaggers in Jacksonville Florida sponsored by the republican party of Duval County decided to reach out to the Jewish community by comparing the President of the United States to Hitler, the guy who systematically tortured and killed 6 million Jews. Keith Olberman has the story (along with video):

Obama with a Hitler moustache, hair cut and Swastika, and, of course, some mush head equating the rather slow-moving voter registration outfit Acorn to SS, the Hitler SS. “Same Thang” it says there. The SS, the people chosen to pull Jews and members of other groups, ranging from the communists to the socialists to the clergy to the rotary club, out of German society, then intern them, then torture them, then murder them; they‘re like Acorn.

The actions by the teabaggers are clearly racist in nature and endorsed by the republican party. This is who they are. They are the fringe of the fringe standing side by side with the minute men, the KKK, and government employees complaining about government spending.

And the GOP wonders why they are the minority party.

Commissioner Eversole fined $75,000, sort of.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Harris County Commission Jerry Eversole has been fined $75,000 and has agreed to repay his campaign $41,000. According to Jerry Eversole:

“I have accepted responsibility for the past errors and used it as an opportunity to completely revamp our campaign finance disclosure practices,”

Jerry's past errors include buying fancy cowboy chaps, collectors books, vintage cowboy outfits, and rare firearms, all using his donors money. His statement saying he accepts responsibility is the biggest horseshit statement ever. If Eversole really wanted to take responsibility for what he did, he would pay the $75,000 fine out of his own damn pocket. Instead he will use his donors money to pay the fine. It is like a bank robber stealing from a bank, getting caught, are paying the fine from the money he stole.

The Texas Ethics Commission, once again, gave a pass to someone who violated the trust of his donors. Maybe the Harris County Commissioners will not be so lenient.

And maybe Eversole would make it all a moot point and resign.

7 minutes of babbling Palin

The republican party in 7 minutes.

Surrendering our rights to the Bill of Rights.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. Besides freedom of religion, right to bear arms, protection from illegal search and seizures, it includes the 7th amendment concerning our access to a civil court:

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Since the mid nineties the used of mandatory binding arbitration clauses have become widespread, and wildly abused in everything from new home purchases to your AT&T phone bill. The clauses are also in new/used car contracts, except for one small exception:

Mandatory arbitration clauses are so insidious that car dealers actually furiously lobbied Congress to get them banned in their contracts with auto manufacturers. The National Automobile Dealers Association wrote members of Congress in 2000 that if they weren't outlawed for the dealerships, mandatory binding arbitration clauses would allow "multinational motor vehicle manufacturers…to be able to unilaterally deny small business automobile and truck dealers rights under state laws that are designed to bring equity to the relationship between manufacturers and dealers." Congress agreed and passed legislation protecting the dealers. Apparently, though, the car dealers didn't see a problem in using the same sort of underhanded contracts with their own customers.

Is that a hoot or what? Car dealers lobbied to protect them from the abuses of arbitration, and yet they use the same process on their customers. Consumers on the other hand won't stand up like the car dealers because they are ignorant of the abuse, or they have become the surrender monkeys of the 21st century. (Most who defend arbitration are in this category)

So over the 4th of July, while you are draping yourself in the flag, attending a tea bagging party, claiming to protect the Constitution, or honoring our military for fighting for your right to surrender your rights without a fight, think about the other amendments to the Constitution:

#	Amendments	Proposal date	Enactment date	Full text
1st	Freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, to assemble, and to petition	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791[1]	Full text
2nd	The right to keep and bear arms	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
3rd	No quartering of soldiers in private houses during times of peace. In a time of war, Congress can pass a law stating that soldiers should be quartered.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
4th	Interdiction of unreasonable Searches and seizures; warrants	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
5th	Indictments; Due process; Self-incrimination; Double jeopardy, and rules for Eminent Domain.	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
6th	Right to a fair and speedy public trial, Notice of accusations, Confronting one's accuser, Subpoenas, Right to counsel	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
7th	Right to trial by jury in civil cases	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
8th	No excessive bail & fines or cruel & unusual punishment	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
9th	Unenumerated rights	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
10th	Limits the power of the Federal government	September 25, 1789	December 15, 1791	Full text
11th	Immunity of states from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders. Lays the foundation for sovereign immunity.	March 4, 1794	February 7, 1795	Full text
12th	Revision of presidential election procedures	December 9, 1803	June 15, 1804[2]	Full text
13th	Abolition of slavery, except as punishment for a crime.	January 31, 1865	December 6, 1865	Full text
14th	Citizenship, state due process, applies Bill of Rights to the states, revision to apportionment of Representatives, Denies public office to anyone who has rebelled against the United States	June 13, 1866	July 9, 1868[3]	Full text
15th	Suffrage no longer restricted by race	February 26, 1869	February 3, 1870[4]	Full text
16th	Allows federal income tax	July 12, 1909	February 3, 1913	Full text
17th	Direct election to the United States Senate	May 13, 1912	April 8, 1913	Full text
18th	Prohibition of alcohol (Repealed by 21st amendment)	December 18, 1917	January 16, 1919	Full text
19th	Women's suffrage	June 4, 1919	August 18, 1920	Full text
20th	Term Commencement for congress (January 3) and president (January 20.) (This amendment is also known as the "lame duck amendment".)	March 2, 1932	January 23, 1933	Full text
21st	Repeal of Eighteenth Amendment; state and local prohibition no longer required by law.	February 20, 1933	December 5, 1933	Full text
22nd	Limits the president to two terms	March 24, 1947	February 27, 1951	Full text
23rd	Representation of Washington, D.C. in the Electoral College	June 16, 1960	March 29, 1961	Full text
24th	Prohibition of the restriction of voting rights due to the non-payment of poll taxes	September 14, 1962	January 23, 1964	Full text
25th	Presidential Succession	July 6, 1965	February 10, 1967	Full text
26th	Voting age nationally established as age 18 (see suffrage)	March 23, 1971	July 1, 1971	Full text
27th	Variance of congressional compensation	September 25, 1789	May 7, 1992	Full text