The WARTS are back. White Angry Racist TeabaggerS

This is what the teabag party is all about. From the Houston Chronicle:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Halloween-themed graphic featuring a zombie President Barack Obama with a bullet hole in his forehead provoked widespread outrage and the attention of the Secret Service Monday after a local Republican committee in Virginia used it to scare up interest in Halloween parade political activities.

Sick people.

In his own words: Why Rick Perry shouldn't be President

Try to watch this video of Rick Perry in New Hampshire. From Huffington Post :"It was different," Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas told HuffPost after the speech. "Different"? That is being nice. Good luck watching. You will need it!

CCISD joins lawsuit against the State

From the CCISD Newsletter:

The Board of the Trustees of the Clear Creek Independent School District unanimously approved a resolution to join a coalition of school districts in a lawsuit against Texas. Public school financing is a complex and controversial system dating back to 2006 when the State forced school districts to reduce property tax rates from $1.50 to $1.00 per $100 valuation, froze per-student funding based on 2006 property values, and promised to make up  the difference through the contentious business franchise tax. This tax never delivered the intended results. The State then came in this last session and cut $5 billion on top of that. Despite these cuts, the Texas legislature has continued to add requirements for school districts, increased accountability standards and testing requirements. Additionally, the State has enrolled more than 77,000 new students this year. "This has created the perfect storm for local school districts," said Greg Smith, Superintendent of Schools. "We are in a situation where the State is requiring more from students and schools but has failed to provide the adequate resources to meet those requirements. We all share in the moral and fiscal responsibility to do what is right for children." 

The Trustees of CCISD has performed an outstanding job of balancing the needs of the students while our elected officials play games with the funding of our state. I guess they have had enough. Good for them.

I also guess they didn't get State Representative John Davis memo about how he worked hard to provide funding for our Texas schools.

Rolling Stone article absolutely nails Rick Perry

It is a long, but very well written article titled "The Best Little Whore in Texas", and it nails Rick Perry to the cross he claims to be carrying. There are so many good quotes, too many to choose from, but here are some of my favorites:

The governor went from presumptive front-runner to stammering talk-show punch line seemingly in the speed of a single tweet, rightly blasted for being too incompetent even to hold his own in televised debates with a half-bright pizza salesman like Herman Cain and a goggle-eyed megachurch Joan of Arc like Michele Bachmann.

"He's a cash-and-carry governor," says Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice, a group that monitors campaign contributions in the state. "He has an extremely strong stomach for holding his nose and doing really dirty favors."

"He'll be whatever you want him to be," says one longtime political opponent. "He's all about greed.

"There's no line he won't cross," says another.

"This guy doesn't believe in one damn thing," says a third.

OUCH! Take a moment to read the article. It pretty much sums up what Rick Perry has been in the State of Texas, a whore.

Rick Perry, a coward to his own Tea Party

As he did in Texas during the 2010 election, Rick Perry is refusing to participate in any more Teabag Party debates. He has a horrible record as Governor, one that he cannot defend, and is incapable of churning out the one liners like Herman Cain. As I have said in the past, he is truly a coward.

Perry's strategy: No debate till I see a birth certificate

Governor Rick Perry has a new strategy team. First up, rekindle the birther controversy. Next, do exactly as he did in the Texas race for Governor in 2010, don't debate until your opponent shows his tax returns or in this case, his birth certificate and when it is produced, claim it's a fake. From the Texas Tribune:

Perry wasn't so self-assured when faced with questions about his comment on Obama's birth certificate on a cable talk show this morning. When asked if he thought Obama's U.S. birth certificate was real, Perry wouldn't say yes or no.

And so the birther controversy is born again.  Leave it to the Governor of a state that has racked up more debt during his term in office than any other state in the country, with $27 Billion in 2011 alone all because of his failed tax schemes, policies, and leadership. Leave it to Perry, the Governor of a State that ranks last in most categories such as affordability of health care, education, and more. He has absolutely nothing to run on and nothing he can defend.

If Perry gets the nomination, don't expect him to debate Obama. He has a record and is a coward.

TX Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson on the Nazi license plate

TX Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is one of those politicians who side on the sensational instead of those making sense. Unlike every other Texan, Patterson has to carry two guns including one in his sock, just in case he is attacked by a pack of wolves as he jogs in his tennis shoes and black socks. He is a strange dude indeed.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone if Jerry Patterson supports a Nazi license plate on behalf of Nazi family members " to honor their forefathers' service" as he has done for those who support the Confederate license plates. As he said in his OP-ED in the Dallas Morning News:

"Both plates represent private organizations proud of their history. Both are symbols for larger ideas.". 

He continues with

"As a statewide elected official, I sponsored the plate because of my personal heritage and my commitment to Texas history - even the history others might find offensive."

And the history of the Nazis is offensive, as well as waving the confederate flag in front of our noses is offensive, but according to Matt Glazer in an OP-ED in the American Statesman it is our privilege to be offended.

The public opposition to the license plate by state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, shows that the opposition to this racist relic has nothing to do with politics. Patterson argues that it's "the privilege of every American to be offended" — as if those who suffer from the economic and emotional harms of racism should feel proud that some in their country think so little of them.

So after the Confederate flag is approved look to Patterson to spearhead a license plate to honor those Mexican soldiers who came to the Alamo and kicked the living crap out of those who wanted to steal their land. It is history. They should be honored.

And you should be offended.

Ramiro Fonseca for HISD District 3 Trustee

Ramiro Fonseca is running for HISD District 3 Trustee with a long record of accomplishments and dedication to the education community. I met Ramiro at the Houston Hispanic Forum which he has served as a board member since 1985 and is currently the President.

This is one of those races, if you follow School District races, that you wished someone with a load of talent would challenge the incumbent, and one has. HISD has been in the news far too long for all the wrong reasons and maybe a shake up is needed. Personally I am tired of the bickering and the bad publicity that is used to further attack our teachers and our public school system. So it is definitely time for a new and exciting perspective in District 3. Ramiro's talent and dedication to education makes him a great candidate for this position.

Ramiro Fonseca for HISD District 3 Trustee.

GOP blames Obama for starting Iraq War

After criticizing President Obama for calling for complete troop withdraw from Iraq by years end, they just couldn't resist stepping it up a notch. It is almost unbelievable.

Senator McCain: I will not and cannot give credit to a President for ending a needless war that he himself started.

Senator Graham: Instead of withdrawing our troops before Christmas Obama should be apologizing to the families of those who will never come back from a war he started.

Senator Cornyn: Although I have never served a day of my privileged life in the service, I can only imagine what our soldiers are thinking coming home from an unnecessary war, one that President Obama started.

Speaker Boehner: 9 years after starting the Iraq War, President Obama now wants us to give him credit for stopping it? I don't think so. We may be stupid, but we are not ignorant.


Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert: As someone who played soldier when I was a kid I understand the cruelty of war, of stepping into a pile of goo that was once your squad leaders pudding or watching your best friend cry out to mommy as she takes away his toy rifle. I will always remember these horrors when holding those accountable for sending our troops to an unnecessary war.

Governor Rick Perry:  Obama was before the war before he was against it, and after the war he was against taking responsibility before or after his previous stance on whatever I was talking about beforehand. Over.

As I said, unbelievable.

Bob Perry was right about American workers

Remember what Rick Perry's biggest donor said about American workers compared to immigrant workers? Here it is from a Dallas Morning News Op-Ed:

But few young Americans want to do hard physical labor, particularly in our climate.

And it seems like he might have a point. Alabama farmers are losing crops and money because harsh immigration laws have chased off their work force and "hard working Americans" don't seem to be willing to work that hard. Pretty sad situation on many fronts.

Houston At Large Candidate forum in Clear Lake Tonight!

What: Houston At Large Candidate Forum
When: Oct 20, 6:30 - 8:30
Where: Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake Park. 5002 E NASA Parkway

Houston City Council at-large candidates will have a chance to answer questions in a forum-style format and also meet with voters beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake Park.

Bay Area New Democrats (BAND) and Bay Area Association of Democratic (BAAD) Women are co-hosting the event at the regular meeting time and place for the BAAD Women monthly meeting.
Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. The first set of candidates, for at-large positions 3, 4 and 5, will answer questions, from 7 to 7:45 p.m., and the second set, for at-large positions 1 and 2, will appear 7:45-8:30 p.m.

For the half hour before and after the two sessions, voters can meet personally with the candidates. The forum is open to the public.

Rick Perry's immigration problem: Bob Perry

Rick Perry called out his major donors at the last Tea Party debate claiming that he was going to get tough on those who hire illegal workers if he became President. I guess just like he has done here in Texas. (not)

Like many Texans, the only thing Perry is tough at is talk. He talks a big game about a fence, then claims it's not feasible, economical, or effective. He talks tough about putting boots on the ground yet we still have an immigration problem. He talks tough about supporting illegal immigration bills, yet signed none. And now last night he talks tough about cracking down on his donors. Yet he hasn't. And he won't.

Perry is a puss when it comes to illegal immigration and not for the right reasons, only because his donor's tell him to be one. Here is a snippet of what his conservative donors said about immigration from an op-ed in the Dallas Morning News: (a copy can be found here)

But few young Americans want to do hard physical labor, particularly in our climate.

Not only that, but immigrant workers renew and reinvigorate America. They remind us what it's like to give a job your all. We talk about old-fashioned family values; they live them.

These are good people with good values doing work that we need done, reaching for the American Dream and helping make it a reality for all. 

You Don't Know Jack. O'Conner.

(Thanks Kris for the heads up!)

 If Jack O'Conner was Jack O'Lantern I would at least have an idea that Jack was somehow associated with Holloween, but that isn't the Jack I know and I really don't know Jack. And really don't want to.

Jack O'Lantern, or Jack O'Conner, is running, or at least is acting like he is running, for the Mayor of the 4th largest city in the United States. You would think that, in itself, would encourage him to raise more than the few dollars it took to buy yard signs and pay someone to scatter them around public right of ways, or at least shave that 1980's mustache. Or maybe even create a campaign website instead of a free blog. I mean, dude, take some baby steps and try running for president of the Super Neighborhood, PTA, or local glee club, then move up to something more daring like head of the boy scout troop.

But, Jack has decided instead to call out the "liberal bloggers" on his website, blog, or whatever it is. I guess this, along with a couple of signs strategically placed in public right of ways will put him over the top come November.

Whatever. I am bored with this post already. Nice to know at least someone is thinking of me.

TX Ethics Commission now allows unlimited corporate donations

UPDATE: The Ethics Commission say that unlimited corporate EXPENDITURES are now legal. So they can not give a million dollars to a candidate, but they can pay for a million dollars in advertisement, TV, mailers, blockwalkers, etc etc in support of the candidate. In the end, corporations are going to have a field day with this.

Texas prides itself in having no limits on contributions for State elections. It pays to pay here in Texas and many understand that. The Governor has accepted a $1million contribution in the past from his home builder buddy, Bob Perry and Bob has been rewarded for it. Some State Legislator candidates have received hundreds of thousand from just one person. Luckily corporations have been limited in their donations, until today.

Who would have thunk it? Tort reform failed Texans

What a surprise. From Public Citizen:

There [in Texas], the imposition of medical liability caps in 2003 – which prevent the most severely injured patients from being fully compensated for damage caused by bad doctors – has not reduced medical costs or curbed the ordering of expensive diagnostic tests. Instead, health care is less available and has become more expensive compared to national averages.

It doesn't take much of an idiot to realize the average Texan has received little if any relief from the high cost of health care after 8 years of massive tort reform sold by Rick Perry in 2003. Many of the promises such as lower health care costs, lower health care premiums, and more access to health care have never materialized. In fact Texan's insurance premiums have increased faster than any other state in the country.

The caps on medical malpractice lawsuits required a change to the Texas Constitution which narrowly passed by 50.1% of the votes. The overwhelming vast majority of Texan's will never need the help of an attorney, but when they do they will learn a hard, hard lesson about tort reform. At least 50.1 of them will.

Tort reform has never helped the consumer. It has always helped the insurance industry and Rick Perry's campaign donors. In return for giving the insurance industry and doctors less regulation and a good environment for business Texan's simply got screwed.

But most Texans don't care until they need to. And then it is too late. 

Driving TX State Rep Joe Driver out of office

State Representative Joe Driver is calling it quits. From the Dallas Morning news:

As expected, state Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, Thursday announced he would retire from the House when his term ends in 2013.

He added:

"I will now return to private life and let others carry the torch," Driver said.

There is probably another reason Driver is going to "return to private life" which may has something to do with the Travis County District Attorney's office.

Driver was caught double dipping from the State by claiming travel expenses from his campaign and then from the State Comptroller's office. As previously noted he also claimed very questionable mileage reimbursements. From BAH:

According to his campaign reports and his payments from the State Comptrollers office, Driver received  over $40,000 for mileage from the State, while receiving over $100,000 for his car payment. The payments from his campaign account were made to the State Farm North Texas Federal Credit Union for "Campaign Legislative/Travel Expense Reimbursement" and "car payment".

Reimbursements for a POV (privately owned vehicle) is to defray the cost for the use of a vehicle that is privately owned. (duh!) Driver's car was paid for by his campaign. It is the campaign's car and is not privately owned, yet he claimed and pocketed the $40,000 for himself.

Driver, once flush with donations from Bob Perry and the Republican Party, has less than $700 in his campaign account, which is $49,000 short, the amount he claims to have repaid his campaign after being outed by Jay Root of the Associated Press. (he didn't)

And let's not forget the $150,000 he put into the State Farm Federal Credit Union to earn interest.

Maybe the $150,000 can be used as a down payment for Rusty Hardin, Jerry Eversole's attorney.

Rick Perry's son abandons wife for campaign

You just can't make this stuff up. As Anita Perry stated, from CNN via Politico:

He resigned his job two weeks ago because he can't go out and campaign with his father because of SEC regulations," she continued, referring to the Securities and Exchange Commission. "He has a wife... he's trying to start a business. So I can empathize."

So, Perry's son has a choice to make, continue making money, starting a business, and supporting his wife or join his dad's fading campaign. And what does he do? Dumps the wife. I don't know which is more  dishonest, me claiming Perry Jr. dumped his wife or Anita Perry claiming Obama made him do it.

"My son had to resign his job because of federal regulations that Washington has put on us," Mrs. Perry said while campaigning for her husband in South Carolina, after a voter shared the story of losing his job.

What a load of Texas bullshit. (both of us) Anita Perry needs to do her husband a favor and  find a pie for her hole and shut the living hell up. She is beginning to make Sarah Palin and Tammy Faye Baker sound like a couple of sane individuals compared to her rants including yesterdays "burning bush" moment. From the Houston Chronicle:

“God was already speaking to me but he (Rick) didn’t want to hear it,” Anita Perry told the sympathetic audience. “I said you may not see that burning bush but there are people seeing that burning bush for you.”

What the hell? Did Rick put God on hold while you sat there yapping your damn mouth off? Jesus Christ! No place but Texas.

New picture of Rick Perry found

 

Rick Perry, once the leader of the pack of wolves, is now in 4th place with 9% of the vote, 20 points behind Romney and inline to be Texas sized toast. Even Newt Gingrich, 3rd place, has better poll numbers. I guess Rick Perry is just too stupid even for teabaggers.

Who would have thunk it?

More on the Fraga $35,000 loan

The $35,000 loan that Bo Fraga, candidate for COH At Large 2, received highlights a major problem with the Texas Ethics Commission and the City of Houston. The loan Fraga received, according to the Texas Ethics Commission is clearly illegal. According to Title 15 of the Election Code:

(2) “Contribution” means a direct or indirect transfer of money, goods, services, or any other thing of value and includes an agreement made or other obligation incurred, whether legally enforceable or not, to make a transfer. The term includes a loan or extension of credit, other than those expressly excluded by this subdivision, and a guarantee of a loan or extension of credit, including a loan described by this subdivision.

The COH ordinances does not address loans, but does address the campaign donation limit of $5000. This is clearly a violation of the limit, but who is going to take action to urge candidates to return to the rule of law? The Texas Ethics Commission will take a complaint and a year after the election might take some action, but the damage would have been done by then.

This is one of the many problems with our campaign finance laws and those who "enforce" them. The $35,000 loan is clearly a violation and someone, the TEC or the COH, should take immediate action to resolve this.

Oh FYI. The TEC is under a review by the Sunset Commission. More later.......

Fraga's $35,000 loan

People say good things about Bo Fraga. He is running for Houston City Council At Large Position 2. Bo might want to consult with the Texas Ethics Commission about his recent campaign filings:

Marine Pilot II
From what I can gather Marine Pilot II is either a mistake in the entry for a $2000 donation or it is an illegal contribution from a corporation. A search shows that MPII is registered with the Secretary of State as a corporation and corporate donations are not allowed in city elections.

$35,000 loan
According to the TEC a loan is just like a contribution. There are no limits to contributions in State elections, but the City of Houston has a $5000 limit, therefore the $35,000 loan is off by $30,000. Fraga should immediately return the $30,000 otherwise he has an unfair and illegal advantage over his opponents. The loan is from a relative and was made at 5% interest which is an incredible deal considering the current interest rates.

It make cents
The TEC rule makes a lot of sense. For instance, let's say a donor is flush with money and wants to get around the $5000 limit. Instead of him and his wife donating $5000 each, he just gives the candidate a $200,000 "loan". After the candidate wins he can simply write the loan off. Bingo! A giant loophole!

Chris Daniel
Over the last few years we have seen some crazy loan manipulations especially with Chris Daniel. Daniel lent himself through various means over $199,000, but in Harris County elections there is no limit to donations. So Daniel is in the clear.

Unless he is money laundering, or claiming invalid tax deductions.

Texas Ethics Commission under Sunset review

The Texas Ethics Commission is currently under a Sunset Commission review. From the announcement:

The mission and performance of the Texas Ethics Commission is currently being reviewed by the Legislature as required under the Texas Sunset Act. The Act provides that the Sunset Commission, composed of legislators and public members, periodically evaluate a state agency to determine if the agency is still needed, and what improvements are needed to ensure that state funds are well spent.

Key dates:

Nov 21 2011 Suggested deadline for comments
March 2012 Sunset Commission files a report
April 2012 Public testimony taken on the report
Jan 2013 Legislature acts on the report

If you are interested in providing information or commenting on the Sunset review you can contact the Sunset Commission at:

Sunset Advisory Commission
C/O Karl Spock, Sunset staff
P.O. Box 13066
Austin, Texas 78711
512/463-1300
Fax: 512/463-0705
Email: sunset@sunset.state.tx.us

Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup

The Texas Progressive Alliance is occupying your browser as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff took a look at demographic change in one of Houston's historic neighborhoods.

Harold Cook at Letters From Texas takes a look back at old friend Molly Ivins, when he reviews a new book just released about her. His conclusion: "if you ever spent evenings with Molly, reading the book will give you the gift of spending one more. Even better, if you never got to spend that evening with Molly, you're in luck - after reading the book, you'll feel just like you did."

Bay Area Houston has an interesting audio clip of Teabag darling Galveston County Tax Assessor, Cheryl Johnson.

Justice finally starts to come for man falsely convicted 25 yreas ago in Williamson County. WCNews at Eye On Williamson has the story, Michael Morton walks free after 25 years behind bars.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme says Texas Republicans hate the elderly, workers, children and women.

Occupy Houston, the solidarity march and protest which grew out of the continuing Occupy Wall Street action, was covered by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

Neil at Texas Liberal reported on the first day of Occupy Houston. It is great that something hopeful is finally taking place in our politics. The Occupy Wall Street movement gets the idea that the work of freedom and democracy is up to each of us.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw tells us "Poor Rick Perry thought he could easily preen, charm and tall tale his way through the 2012 Republican Presidential primary cycle. Unfortunately for the Governor he has not been outside of his impenetrable Texas Republican bubble much. Rick Perry spends so much time with his crony donors that he obviously has no clue what the other 99% of the population believes." She explains why that didn't happen. Read more: Rick Perry: Razzle, Dazzle, Snap, Crackle and Flop.

Rick Perry and Farmers Insurance screws Texans.

State Farm Insurance and Rick Perry did it a few months ago:

You would think homeowners insured by State Farm would have had enough already, but not it Texas, so State Farm continues to raise their rates, increase their deductibles, and put the screws to them. 

They not only raised rates, they raised the deductibles. Now comes Farmers Insurance. From News West 9:

DALLAS (AP) - Farmers Insurance plans to hike homeowner premiums by nearly 10% next year. The increase will apply to about half of the Farmers Insurance customers across Texas, according to a report (http://dallasne.ws/nGGb13 ) in The Dallas Morning News.

Remember what Perry said back in 2002 elections? Well, if you don't, here is something from his press release in 2002 just before the election:

"In too many cases, homeowner's insurance is getting more expensive, coverage is becoming harder to get, and instead of more companies stepping up to meet the demand, some companies have stopped writing comprehensive policies altogether."

After Perry's insurance reforms of 2003, removing regulation and endorsing the "free market", Texas has the highest rates of insurance in the country with less coverage and higher deductibles. Lucky for Perry, most homeowners are too stupid to know they have been cheated and too lazy to do anything about it.

Galveston County Tax Assessor Cheryl Johnson gone wild

Picture is a tad out of date.

A blast from the past.

I found this little jewel of an audio clip of Teabag darling Cheryl Johnson, the Galveston County Tax Assessor. Cheryl is well known for her red faced yelling and screaming rants and I happen to have caught her on tape. Here is what I wrote then:

Here is a clip from the show. In this I was questioning the character of those of the republican right of supporting their candidate for Vice President who has a unwed, pregnant 17 year old. Most so called "conservatives" would have had a religious fit if this would have happened to anyone else, but when it happens to one of their own, well "It's a private matter". How liberal.

Cheryl can be heard in the background yelling at me. Her face was beet red and about to explode. I silenced her with "But when it happens to your party, you guys are now thinking like Liberals!". The show was canceled a few weeks later.

During that show the host repeated a white wing talking point about Texans not running to FEMA like a bunch of crying little bitches like Louisiana did after a hurricane. Unfortunately just before he came into the room Cheryl Johnson was complaining that her application to....wait for it.....FEMA was denied!

Oh the hypocrisy runs deep in the teacup.

SHSU. OUch! UFC 136 and the Aggies

What a great day of sports!

SHSU vs SFA
First I watched Sam Houston State go 5-0 with a win over Stephan F. Austin in Reliant Stadium. SFA likes to pass (ie had no running game) but as a good friend of mine once said three things can happen when you pass and 2 are not good. And that is what happened with SFA. SHSU over SFA 45-10.

OU vs tu
Then OU routs tu. I'm an Aggie, Class of '78 (and made a better gpa than Rick Perry) The second best thing to happen during football season is tu getting their ass kicked. That happened yesterday with a score of 55-17. I shouldn't revel in the demise of a fellow Texas team, but it's in the blood, although I expect it to get more complicated since my son is applying to the University of Texas.

UFC 136
Then off to UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston. I've been to a number of big fights in Las Vegas, Hagler Leonard, Hearns Hill, Chavez Camacho, and many more but this was my first UFC fight. And it was great, even in the cheap seats. The view could have been better, but if all you are interested in is watching the fights then stay at home. One of the best UFC cards I have ever seen.

A&M vs TTU
Then the Aggies win over Texas Tech. Tough game as always. Tech has always given A&M a hell of a fight. Always an entertaining game, this time with A&M outscoring TTU 45-40. With A&M moving to the SEC this will be the last scheduled game between the two.

SHSU wins. Aggies win. UFC was great. tu lost. Not a bad Saturday of sports. Now for the Texans....

Sow you can't reap?

This is what happens when simple minded, hate filled, people attempt to solve a very complicated immigration problem. From Fox News Latino (which helped cause this problem in the first place)

Atlanta –  Georgia's agricultural industry lost tens of millions of dollars last harvest and many farmers say they will plant less in the upcoming season due to a labor shortage triggered by a strict immigration law, two new studies show.

The Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association released the preliminary results of its probe into the economic impact of HB 87, which it says has caused nearly $140 million in losses.

I have absolutely no pity for Georgia farmers. They didn't speak out before they passed their immigration bill about their need for cheap labor. They didn't call for a comprehensive solution. Instead they hid behind their corn stalks hoping that ignorance and hate wouldn't destroy their, crops, livelihood or profit margins.

Here in Texas Governor Perry crushed every immigration bill during the 2011 legislation session and for all the wrong reasons. He wasn't concerned about families who have lived here for decades being torn apart or their kids who are productive citizens of the Country. Instead he was concerned only about profit margins of the home builders, restaurant owners and the chicken pluckers.

In Georgia they weren't that smart or slick. And now they reap what they sow.

Or not.

What your city taxes pay for, an online tool

This is a pretty cool online tool provided by the City of Houston. Put in your appraisal value and the tool provides a breakdown of your tax dollars.

From the Houston Chronicle:

Councilwoman Melissa Noriega attached an amendment to this year's $1.8 billion general fund budget mandating the tool.

"People should know where their taxes go," Noriega said. "Taxes aren't really just money, they're an investment in your city. This website is going to allow you to see where that investment goes and what it does."

Another of Rick Perry's privatization failures: Accenture

Rick Perry is running around the country claiming less regulation, low taxes, and privatization of services provided by the State is what created his Texas miracle. Well, here is one privatization scheme that cost Texas hundreds of millions and failed so miserably that the Legislature had to eventually stop it in it's track. I wrote about it here, and here.

Accenture
What is harder to notice is the cost of services provided by your taxes. Case in point, the failed privatization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) championed by State Representative John Davis of Clear Lake. As the Editorial Board of the Austin Statesmen stated: [no longer an active link]

An $899 million contract was signed with a business alliance led by a major consulting company, Accenture. Hundreds of state eligibility workers were told to prepare to lose their jobs; some did and others began leaving rather than wait. To make a long story short, the experiment failed. In fact, it failed so badly that the state and Accenture agreed to end the contract last spring, and the Legislature later made provisions to try to salvage the state’s eligibility work force.

This privatization experiment was a complete and total disaster, to the point that Davis had a "come to Jesus" (heh-suzs) moment, signing on to a bill filed and championed by Representative Sylvester Turner to restore funding for CHIP and to stop the privatization in it's track. Davis did not work this bill. He did not champion this bill. He simply signed onto the bill and then took credit for it's success. Credit for causing the problem in the first place.

The article sums the situation appropriately:

What’s not debatable is that this attempt to run state government more like a business failed. And the price for that failure is being paid by taxpayers, the state workers and poor people who truly need the help.

With the disastrous mismanagement of tax dollars and hard earned wages, the middle class, tax paying, Texas citizens can no longer afford to be republicans.

Yep. That is Rick Perry. The Snake Oil Salesman.

A flock of loons in Houston City elections

Elections in Houston can attract a number of loons. Here is my flock of loons for 2011:

Mayor:
Dave Wilson tops the list of loons. Wilson has questioned Mayor Parkers family values as he is living in his business address because he has separated from his wife. Dave should just do the right thing and quit being a hypocrite or just quit.

At Large Position 1
James Partsch-Galvan. This guy can be a flock of loons all by himself. Very strange individual. Not quite sure why he wants to run nor really care. Do yourself a favor and do not add him as a facebook friend.

At Large Position 2
Eric Dick. If you ever spend 10 minutes to listen to him talk about why he is running you will want two things: 1) Your 10 minutes back, and 2) A shower. With kerosone.

District E
Mike Sullivan. Mike is the lone loon in his race with no opponent. Sullivan isn't a easy guy to like. He's like a duck that craps on your head then wants to be invited for dinner.

For now that is the list of loons running for City elections. Depending upon what the rest of the candidates do in the next few weeks there might be more loons flying overhead.

Update on the Clear Lake Golf Course

A few years back I helped John Branch put out hand made signs for Board of Directors of the Clear Lake Water Authority. At the time, 3 of the seats were being challenged by developer friendly opponents. They spent tens of thousands of dollars and were absolutely crushed by a 4 to 1 margin. John and his fellow Board Members have served Clear Lake well. Here is an update from John concerning the Clear Lake Golf Course:

Public Access:
Signs were posted on the property in May which gives public access to the area during daylight hours. There are some provisions such as no motorized vehicles, no fires, no overnight camping, etc.

Mowing:
A contractor has been hired who will mow once a month during the winter months and twice a month during the spring, summer and fall.

Public Input:
We do plan to have a town hall meeting to get input from the community, however some engineering and financing commitments need to be lined up first for the pond construction. We have met once with County Commissioner Morman in June. We have a follow up meeting with him tomorrow prior to meeting with the Harris County Flood Control District. In addition to a lot of engineering questions such as how the current drainage ditches impact the ponds, impact of oil/'chemical pipeline crossings, and depths, we also need to secure the county commitment for funding of dirt removal spread out over several years. We also need to work out the legal issues of CLCWA owning the property, the county putting in and maintaining the detention ponds, and the city installing and maintaining recreational amenities.

Clean-up and Grooming:
A local church has requested and been given permission to sponsor a community service day for their members. They normally have over 1,000 members attend this one day event. We are looking at the second Saturday in November. Some of the projects will include clearing of under brush on the property, clearing out the brush and small trees along the banks of the former water traps, etc. Once they have finalized their plan, there will be information published.

Dead Trees:
Sixty six dead trees were identified and marked when the CLCWA took posession of the property last May. Those trees had died during the period when the golf course was closed. During the summer, those trees were cut down and removed. Due to the extreme drought, over 40 more trees have died. These have been marked and will be removed in the next few months.

State Rep John "Yacht Man" Davis surprised by Texas $27 Billion deficit

While billions were being cut from Texas schools, State Representative John Davis (R-Houston) was busy fighting for his constituents, Theodore Howard III and his wife Muffy, to give them a tax break on selling of their $Million yacht. Davis was ridiculed across the nation and even his own Tea Party refused to pass his bill.

Yet he brags about it in an article by the Bay Area Citizen:

Admitting that it was misunderstood, he explained that it not only helps those buying yachts, but people who work on yachts or sell gas and other products to yacht owners.

As Muffy said:

"It also helps Consuelo who cleans the toilets and cooks our roasted duck with mango salsa. And don't forget our young, strong, deck hands. Where would they be without our much needed tax breaks?"

Davis shouldn't act so *&^damn surprised. In 2005 he created the Business Margins tax that was to offset the huge property tax cut he created. Yet in 2006 the Comptroller warned him and the Governor that this scheme would create an estimated $23 Billion budget crater. Davis didn't listen. And he didn't care.

The crater turned out to be $27 billion resulting in a $4B cut in education. In the article Davis warns about another huge deficit coming in 2013, another one that the Comptroller warned him about. This time it starts at $10 Billion and could easily go higher.

Especially if Muffy and Theodore gets their tax break.

Should County Commissioner Jerry Eversole get jail time?

Former Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and has  agreed to resign and not run for elected office for the next 10 years. His partner in crime, Michael Surface also sang. From the Houston Chronicle:

Houston developer Michael Surface told a federal judge Friday that he intended to influence Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole with roughly $100,000 in cash and gifts in what Department of Justice prosecutors had alleged was a bribery scheme to land county contracts

And.....

During Eversole's trial in March, prosecutors said Surface paid for trips, $35,000 for antique firearms with ivory pistol grips and $63,000 for the final payment on a $180,000 piece of land Eversole bought.

You have to wonder if these were the same antique firearms he bought with his donors money. As a felon, Eversole cannot own or buy guns again and come Jan 4 he will be sentenced for lying. If any other person in Harris county lied to the FBI what could we expect for a sentence? Probation? Jail time?

What would a former Commissioner with a high powered, expensive, lawyer, paid with his campaign donor's money, get? Or what should he get?

If it was Harris County, he would get a pass, as they have done in the past. The Tea Party talks tough on crime except when it's one of their own, but this is a federal case and a federal judge that will hand down Eversole's sentence. The judge could do us all a favor and sentence Eversole to at least 3 years in the pen.

But.....don't be holding out for a fair sentence. I bet he gets 10 years probation and a hefty fine.

Paid with his donor's money.