Good evening. I'm Congressman Paul Ryan from Janesville, Wisconsin - and Chairman here at the House Budget Committee.
President Obama just addressed a Congressional chamber filled with many new faces. One face we did not see tonight was that of our friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. We all miss Gabby and her cheerful spirit; and we are praying for her return to the House Chamber.
Earlier this month, President Obama spoke movingly at a memorial event for the six people who died on that violent morning in Tucson. Still, there are no words that can lift the sorrow that now engulfs the families and friends of the fallen.
Bachmann Blasts Obama In Tea Party Response
What we can do is assure them that the nation is praying for them; that, in the words of the Psalmist, the Lord heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds; and that over time grace will replace grief.
As Gabby continues to make encouraging progress, we must keep her and the others in our thoughts as we attend to the work now before us.
Tonight, the President focused a lot of attention on our economy in general - and on our deficit and debt in particular.
He was right to do so, and some of his words were reassuring. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I assure you that we want to work with the President to restrain federal spending.
In one of our first acts in the new majority, House Republicans voted to cut Congress's own budget. And just today, the House voted to restore the spending discipline that Washington sorely needs.
The reason is simple.
A few years ago, reducing spending was important. Today, it's imperative. Here's why.
We face a crushing burden of debt. The debt will soon eclipse our entire economy, and grow to catastrophic levels in the years ahead.
On this current path, when my three children - who are now 6, 7, and 8 years old - are raising their own children, the Federal government will double in size, and so will the taxes they pay.
No economy can sustain such high levels of debt and taxation. The next generation will inherit a stagnant economy and a diminished country.
Frankly, it's one of my greatest concerns as a parent - and I know many of you feel the same way.
Our debt is the product of acts by many presidents and many Congresses over many years. No one person or party is responsible for it.
State of the Union: Obama's Battle Cry for the Next Two Years
There is no doubt the President came into office facing a severe fiscal and economic situation.
Unfortunately, instead of restoring the fundamentals of economic growth, he engaged in a stimulus spending spree that not only failed to deliver on its promise to create jobs, but also plunged us even deeper into debt.
The facts are clear: Since taking office, President Obama has signed into law spending increases of nearly 25% for domestic government agencies - an 84% increase when you include the failed stimulus.
All of this new government spending was sold as "investment." Yet after two years, the unemployment rate remains above 9% and government has added over $3 trillion to our debt.
Then the President and his party made matters even worse, by creating a new open-ended health care entitlement.
What we already know about the President's health care law is this: Costs are going up, premiums are rising, and millions of people will lose the coverage they currently have. Job creation is being stifled by all of its taxes, penalties, mandates and fees.
Businesses and unions from around the country are asking the Obama Administration for waivers from the mandates. Washington should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. The President mentioned the need for regulatory reform to ease the burden on American businesses. We agree - and we think his health care law would be a great place to start.
Last week, House Republicans voted for a full repeal of this law, as we pledged to do, and we will work to replace it with fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms that actually reduce costs and expand coverage.
Health care spending is driving the explosive growth of our debt. And the President's law is accelerating our country toward bankruptcy.
What Obama's New Slogan Means for America
Our debt is out of control. What was a fiscal challenge is now a fiscal crisis.
We cannot deny it; instead we must, as Americans, confront it responsibly.
And that is exactly what Republicans pledge to do.
Americans are skeptical of both political parties, and that skepticism is justified - especially when it comes to spending. So hold all of us accountable.
In this very room, the House will produce, debate, and advance a budget. Last year - in an unprecedented failure- Congress chose not to pass, or even propose a budget. The spending spree continued unchecked.
We owe you a better choice and a different vision.
Our forthcoming budget is our obligation to you - to show you how we intend to do things differently ... how we will cut spending to get the debt down... help create jobs and prosperity ... and reform government programs. If we act soon, and if we act responsibly, people in and near retirement will be protected.
These budget debates are not just about the programs of government; they're also about the purpose of government.
So I'd like to share with you the principles that guide us. They are anchored in the wisdom of the founders; in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence; and in the words of the American Constitution.
They have to do with the importance of limited government; and with the blessing of self-government.
We believe government's role is both vital and limited - to defend the nation from attack and provide for the common defense ... to secure our borders... to protect innocent life... to uphold our laws and Constitutional rights ... to ensure domestic tranquility and equal opportunity ... and to help provide a safety net for those who cannot provide for themselves.
We believe that the government has an important role to create the conditions that promote entrepreneurship, upward mobility, and individual responsibility.
We believe, as our founders did, that "the pursuit of happiness" depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government.
Limited government also means effective government. When government takes on too many tasks, it usually doesn't do any of them very well. It's no coincidence that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of government is at an all-time high.
The President and the Democratic Leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs to increase its size and its reach, its price tag and its power.
Whether sold as "stimulus" or repackaged as "investment," their actions show they want a federal government that controls too much; taxes too much; and spends too much in order to do too much.
And during the last two years, that is exactly what we have gotten - along with record deficits and debt - to the point where the President is now urging Congress to increase the debt limit.
We believe the days of business as usual must come to an end. We hold to a couple of simple convictions: Endless borrowing is not a strategy; spending cuts have to come first.
Our nation is approaching a tipping point.
We are at a moment, where if government's growth is left unchecked and unchallenged, America's best century will be considered our past century. This is a future in which we will transform our social safety net into a hammock, which lulls able-bodied people into lives of complacency and dependency.
Depending on bureaucracy to foster innovation, competitiveness, and wise consumer choices has never worked - and it won't work now.
We need to chart a new course.
Speaking candidly, as one citizen to another: We still have time... but not much time. If we continue down our current path, we know what our future will be.
Just take a look at what's happening to Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom and other nations in Europe. They didn't act soon enough; and now their governments have been forced to impose painful austerity measures: large benefit cuts to seniors and huge tax increases on everybody.
Their day of reckoning has arrived. Ours is around the corner. That is why we must act now.
Some people will back away from this challenge. But I see this challenge as an opportunity to rebuild what Lincoln called the "central ideas" of the Republic.
We believe a renewed commitment to limited government will unshackle our economy and create millions of new jobs and opportunities for all people, of every background, to succeed and prosper. Under this approach, the spirit of initiative - not political clout - determines who succeeds.
Millions of families have fallen on hard times not because of our ideals of free enterprise - but because our leaders failed to live up to those ideals; because of poor decisions made in Washington and Wall Street that caused a financial crisis, squandered our savings, broke our trust, and crippled our economy.
Today, a similar kind of irresponsibility threatens not only our livelihoods but our way of life.
We need to reclaim our American system of limited government, low taxes, reasonable regulations, and sound money, which has blessed us with unprecedented prosperity. And it has done more to help the poor than any other economic system ever designed. That's the real secret to job creation - not borrowing and spending more money in Washington.
Limited government and free enterprise have helped make America the greatest nation on earth.
These are not easy times, but America is an exceptional nation. In all the chapters of human history, there has never been anything quite like America. The <> American story has been cherished, advanced, and defended over the centuries.
And it now falls to this generation to pass on to our children a nation that is stronger, more vibrant, more decent, and better than the one we inherited.
Thank you and good night.
.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Largest Tax Hikes in History
Six Months to Go Until
The Largest Tax Hikes in History
From Ryan Ellis on Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:15 PM
In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011:
First Wave: Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families. These will all expire on January 1, 2011:
Personal income tax rates will rise. The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed). The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent. All the rates in between will also rise. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:
- The 10% bracket rises to an expanded 15%
- The 25% bracket rises to 28%
- The 28% bracket rises to 31%
- The 33% bracket rises to 36%
- The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%
Higher taxes on marriage and family. The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackets for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child. The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level. The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax. This year, there is no death tax. For those dying on or after January 1 2011, there is a 55 percent top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes and a retirement account could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones.
Higher tax rates on savers and investors. The capital gains tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 20 percent in 2011. The dividends tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 39.6 percent in 2011. These rates will rise another 3.8 percent in 2013.
Second Wave: Obamacare
There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax" Thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The "Special Needs Kids Tax" This provision of Obamacare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (Currently, there is no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education.
The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike. This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Third Wave: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise-the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expired. The major items include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year. According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families-rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the higher level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear. Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000. This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can expense half of their purchases of equipment. In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses. There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax Benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced. The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available. Tax credits for education will be limited. Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expenses. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut. Employer-provided educational assistance is curtailed. The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable Contributions from IRAs no longer allowed. Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA. This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
PDF Version
Read more: http://www.atr.org/sixmonths.html?content=5171#ixzz0szmK4uSI
The Largest Tax Hikes in History
From Ryan Ellis on Thursday, July 1, 2010 4:15 PM
In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011:
First Wave: Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families. These will all expire on January 1, 2011:
Personal income tax rates will rise. The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed). The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent. All the rates in between will also rise. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:
- The 10% bracket rises to an expanded 15%
- The 25% bracket rises to 28%
- The 28% bracket rises to 31%
- The 33% bracket rises to 36%
- The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%
Higher taxes on marriage and family. The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackets for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child. The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level. The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax. This year, there is no death tax. For those dying on or after January 1 2011, there is a 55 percent top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes and a retirement account could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones.
Higher tax rates on savers and investors. The capital gains tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 20 percent in 2011. The dividends tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 39.6 percent in 2011. These rates will rise another 3.8 percent in 2013.
Second Wave: Obamacare
There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax" Thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The "Special Needs Kids Tax" This provision of Obamacare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (Currently, there is no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education.
The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike. This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Third Wave: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise-the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expired. The major items include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year. According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families-rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the higher level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear. Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000. This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can expense half of their purchases of equipment. In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses. There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax Benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced. The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available. Tax credits for education will be limited. Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expenses. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut. Employer-provided educational assistance is curtailed. The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable Contributions from IRAs no longer allowed. Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA. This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
PDF Version
Read more: http://www.atr.org/sixmonths.html?content=5171#ixzz0szmK4uSI
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?
A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?
By Robin of Berkeley
So what is the matter with Obama? Conservatives have been asking this question for some time. I've written a number of articles trying to solve the mystery.
Even some liberals are starting to wonder. James Carville railed about Obama's blasé attitude after the catastrophic oil spill. The New York Times' Maureen Dowd revamped Obama's "Yes We Can" motto into "Will We Ever?"
The liberal women of the TV show "The View" have expressed sympathy for Michelle Obama's living with a man so out of touch. Peggy Noonan, hardly a vehement Obama foe, recently pronounced him disconnected.
Obama's odd mannerisms intrigue a psychotherapist like me. He also presents a serious diagnostic challenge.
For one, Obama's teleprompter and the men behind the Blackberry keep him well-scripted. We know so little about the facts of his life.
But it's more than just a lack of information. Obama himself is a strange bird. He doesn't fit easily into any diagnostic category.
Many people attribute Obama's oddness to his narcissism. True, Obama has a gargantuan ego, and he is notoriously thin-skinned.
Yet a personality disorder like narcissism does not explain Obama's strangeness: his giggling while being asked about the economy; his continuing a shout-out rather than announcing the Ft. Hood shootings; or his vacations, golfing, partying and fundraising during the calamitous oil spill.
Take also Obama's declaring on the "Today Show" that he wants to know whose ass to kick. Consummate narcissists would never stoop to this vulgar display of adolescent machismo.
Obama is flat when passion is needed; he's aggressive when savvy is required. What's most worrisome is that Obama doesn't even realize that his behavior is inappropriate.
So if it's not just simple narcissism, what is wrong with Obama? Since I've never evaluated him, I can't say for sure. But I can hazard some educated guesses.
If I saw a client as disconnected as him, the first thing I would wonder: Is something wrong with his brain? And I'd consider the following theoretical diagnostic possibilities.
--Physical problems: There are a multitude of physiological conditions that can cause people to act strangely. For instance: head injuries, endocrine disturbances, epilepsy, and toxic chemical exposure.
It makes me wonder: Did Obama ever have a head injury? His stepfather in Indonesia was purportedly an alcoholic abuser. Was Obama subject to any physical abuse?
-- Drugs and alcohol: Damage to the brain from drugs and alcohol can also cause significant cognitive impairments. Obama once said that there were 57 states -- and didn't correct himself. Memory problems can be caused by both illicit and prescription drug use.
Obama admits to a history of drug use in his youth. Did his usage cause some damage? Does Obama still use?
--Asperger's Syndrome: Also known as high-functioning autism, Asperger's causes deficits in social skills. A person with Asperger's can't read social cues. Consequently, he can be insensitive and hurtful without even knowing it.
Could Obama have Asperger's? He might have some mild traits, but certainly not the full-blown disorder. In contrast to Obama, those with Asperger's get fixated on some behavior, like programming computers. Obama lacks this kind of passion and zeal.
--Mental Illness: Obama's family tree is replete with the unbalanced. His maternal great-grandmother committed suicide. His grandfather, Stanley Dunham, was particularly unhinged: He was expelled from high school for punching his principal; named his daughter Stanley because he wanted a boy; and exposed young Barry to not just drunken trash talk, but unrestricted visits with alleged pedophile Frank Marshall Davis (who might or might not be Obama's biological father). Barack Sr. was an abusive, alcoholic bigamist.
Since mental illness runs in the family, does Obama have any signs? Yes and no. No, he is not a schizophrenic babbling about Martians. But there are red flags for some other conditions.
While Obama doesn't appear to hallucinate, he seems to have delusions. His believing he has a Messiah-like special gift smacks of grandiose delusions. His externalizing all blame to conservatives, George W. Bush, or the "racist" bogeyman hints at persecutory delusions.
Along with a delusional disorder, Obama may fit for a mild psychotic disorder called schizotypal disorder. It may explain some of Obama's oddness.
People with schizotypal disorder hold bizarre beliefs, are suspicious and paranoid, and have inappropriate and constricted affect. They have few close friends and are socially awkward. A schizotypal is someone like your strange cousin Becky who is addicted to astrology, believes she is psychic, and is the oddball at social gatherings.
Schizotypal Disorder does ring some bells vis-à-vis Obama. One way the diagnosis doesn't fit, however, is that schizotypals are generally harmless, odd ducks. Not so with Obama.
--Trauma: My gut tells me that Obama was seriously traumatized in childhood. His mother disregarded his basic needs, dragged him all over the place, and ultimately abandoned him.
But I think there may be something even more insidious in his family background. While I can't prove it, the degree of Obama's disconnect reminds me of my sexually abused clients.
With serious sexual abuse, the brain chemistry may change. The child dissociates -- that is, disconnects from his being -- in order to cope. Many adult survivors still dissociate, from occasional trances to the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder.
Apparently, young Barry was left in the care of Communist Frank Marshall Davis, who admitted to molesting a 13-year-old girl. As a teenager, Obama wrote a disturbing poem, "Pop," that evoked images of sexual abuse -- for instance, describing dual amber stains on both his and "Pop's" shorts.
Would trauma explain Obama's disconnect? In many ways, yes. A damaged and unattached child may develop a "false self." To compensate for the enormous deficits in identity and attachment, the child invents his own personality. For Obama, it may have been as a special, gifted person.
Let's return now to my original question: What is wrong with Obama? My guess is a great deal. The answer is complex and likely includes some combination of the above.
Along with the brain issues are personality disorders: narcissism, paranoia, passive-aggressiveness. There's even the possibility of the most destructive character defect of all, an antisocial personality. Untreated abuse can foster antisocial traits, especially among boys.
If my assessment is accurate, what does this mean?
It means that liberals need to wake up and spit out the Kool-Aid...and that conservatives should put aside differences, band together, and elect as many Republicans as possible.
Because Obama will not change. He will not learn from his mistakes. He will not grow and mature from on-the-job experience. In fact, over time, Obama will likely become a more ferocious version of who he is today.
Why? Because this is a damaged person. Obama's fate was sealed years ago growing up in his strange and poisonous family. Later on, his empty vessel was filled with the hateful bile of men like Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers.
Obama will not evolve; he will not rise to the occasion; he will not become the man he was meant to be. This is for one reason and one reason alone:
He is not capable of it.
This article is not intended to offer any definitive diagnoses, but for educational purposes only.
A frequent AT contributor, Robin is a psychotherapist in Berkeley and a recovering liberal. You can e-mail Robin at robinofberkeley@hotmail.com. She regrets that she may not be able to acknowledge your e-mail.
142 Comments on "A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?"
By Robin of Berkeley
So what is the matter with Obama? Conservatives have been asking this question for some time. I've written a number of articles trying to solve the mystery.
Even some liberals are starting to wonder. James Carville railed about Obama's blasé attitude after the catastrophic oil spill. The New York Times' Maureen Dowd revamped Obama's "Yes We Can" motto into "Will We Ever?"
The liberal women of the TV show "The View" have expressed sympathy for Michelle Obama's living with a man so out of touch. Peggy Noonan, hardly a vehement Obama foe, recently pronounced him disconnected.
Obama's odd mannerisms intrigue a psychotherapist like me. He also presents a serious diagnostic challenge.
For one, Obama's teleprompter and the men behind the Blackberry keep him well-scripted. We know so little about the facts of his life.
But it's more than just a lack of information. Obama himself is a strange bird. He doesn't fit easily into any diagnostic category.
Many people attribute Obama's oddness to his narcissism. True, Obama has a gargantuan ego, and he is notoriously thin-skinned.
Yet a personality disorder like narcissism does not explain Obama's strangeness: his giggling while being asked about the economy; his continuing a shout-out rather than announcing the Ft. Hood shootings; or his vacations, golfing, partying and fundraising during the calamitous oil spill.
Take also Obama's declaring on the "Today Show" that he wants to know whose ass to kick. Consummate narcissists would never stoop to this vulgar display of adolescent machismo.
Obama is flat when passion is needed; he's aggressive when savvy is required. What's most worrisome is that Obama doesn't even realize that his behavior is inappropriate.
So if it's not just simple narcissism, what is wrong with Obama? Since I've never evaluated him, I can't say for sure. But I can hazard some educated guesses.
If I saw a client as disconnected as him, the first thing I would wonder: Is something wrong with his brain? And I'd consider the following theoretical diagnostic possibilities.
--Physical problems: There are a multitude of physiological conditions that can cause people to act strangely. For instance: head injuries, endocrine disturbances, epilepsy, and toxic chemical exposure.
It makes me wonder: Did Obama ever have a head injury? His stepfather in Indonesia was purportedly an alcoholic abuser. Was Obama subject to any physical abuse?
-- Drugs and alcohol: Damage to the brain from drugs and alcohol can also cause significant cognitive impairments. Obama once said that there were 57 states -- and didn't correct himself. Memory problems can be caused by both illicit and prescription drug use.
Obama admits to a history of drug use in his youth. Did his usage cause some damage? Does Obama still use?
--Asperger's Syndrome: Also known as high-functioning autism, Asperger's causes deficits in social skills. A person with Asperger's can't read social cues. Consequently, he can be insensitive and hurtful without even knowing it.
Could Obama have Asperger's? He might have some mild traits, but certainly not the full-blown disorder. In contrast to Obama, those with Asperger's get fixated on some behavior, like programming computers. Obama lacks this kind of passion and zeal.
--Mental Illness: Obama's family tree is replete with the unbalanced. His maternal great-grandmother committed suicide. His grandfather, Stanley Dunham, was particularly unhinged: He was expelled from high school for punching his principal; named his daughter Stanley because he wanted a boy; and exposed young Barry to not just drunken trash talk, but unrestricted visits with alleged pedophile Frank Marshall Davis (who might or might not be Obama's biological father). Barack Sr. was an abusive, alcoholic bigamist.
Since mental illness runs in the family, does Obama have any signs? Yes and no. No, he is not a schizophrenic babbling about Martians. But there are red flags for some other conditions.
While Obama doesn't appear to hallucinate, he seems to have delusions. His believing he has a Messiah-like special gift smacks of grandiose delusions. His externalizing all blame to conservatives, George W. Bush, or the "racist" bogeyman hints at persecutory delusions.
Along with a delusional disorder, Obama may fit for a mild psychotic disorder called schizotypal disorder. It may explain some of Obama's oddness.
People with schizotypal disorder hold bizarre beliefs, are suspicious and paranoid, and have inappropriate and constricted affect. They have few close friends and are socially awkward. A schizotypal is someone like your strange cousin Becky who is addicted to astrology, believes she is psychic, and is the oddball at social gatherings.
Schizotypal Disorder does ring some bells vis-à-vis Obama. One way the diagnosis doesn't fit, however, is that schizotypals are generally harmless, odd ducks. Not so with Obama.
--Trauma: My gut tells me that Obama was seriously traumatized in childhood. His mother disregarded his basic needs, dragged him all over the place, and ultimately abandoned him.
But I think there may be something even more insidious in his family background. While I can't prove it, the degree of Obama's disconnect reminds me of my sexually abused clients.
With serious sexual abuse, the brain chemistry may change. The child dissociates -- that is, disconnects from his being -- in order to cope. Many adult survivors still dissociate, from occasional trances to the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder.
Apparently, young Barry was left in the care of Communist Frank Marshall Davis, who admitted to molesting a 13-year-old girl. As a teenager, Obama wrote a disturbing poem, "Pop," that evoked images of sexual abuse -- for instance, describing dual amber stains on both his and "Pop's" shorts.
Would trauma explain Obama's disconnect? In many ways, yes. A damaged and unattached child may develop a "false self." To compensate for the enormous deficits in identity and attachment, the child invents his own personality. For Obama, it may have been as a special, gifted person.
Let's return now to my original question: What is wrong with Obama? My guess is a great deal. The answer is complex and likely includes some combination of the above.
Along with the brain issues are personality disorders: narcissism, paranoia, passive-aggressiveness. There's even the possibility of the most destructive character defect of all, an antisocial personality. Untreated abuse can foster antisocial traits, especially among boys.
If my assessment is accurate, what does this mean?
It means that liberals need to wake up and spit out the Kool-Aid...and that conservatives should put aside differences, band together, and elect as many Republicans as possible.
Because Obama will not change. He will not learn from his mistakes. He will not grow and mature from on-the-job experience. In fact, over time, Obama will likely become a more ferocious version of who he is today.
Why? Because this is a damaged person. Obama's fate was sealed years ago growing up in his strange and poisonous family. Later on, his empty vessel was filled with the hateful bile of men like Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers.
Obama will not evolve; he will not rise to the occasion; he will not become the man he was meant to be. This is for one reason and one reason alone:
He is not capable of it.
This article is not intended to offer any definitive diagnoses, but for educational purposes only.
A frequent AT contributor, Robin is a psychotherapist in Berkeley and a recovering liberal. You can e-mail Robin at robinofberkeley@hotmail.com. She regrets that she may not be able to acknowledge your e-mail.
142 Comments on "A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?"
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Preserve Our Nations History
This country, The United States of America, is the greatest nation in the world. It was made that way by the men and women that forged forward relentlessly over the years since its founding. And, it doesn't take a genius to recognize that it was founded on Christian principles. Anyone with a brain can see that merely by reading a few lines of our Constitution or any other historical document for that matter. And those documents, principles and all, are part of our history. These things cannot and should not be forgotten or altered in any way. Our history, the good and the bad, needs to be taught to the generations to come lest mistakes made be repeated. The citizens of this great country should stand tall and proud of all of the accomplishments that our country (meaning the people themselves) have made.
The "Board" must make sure that factual accounts be kept in our chidrens text books. If Texas fails the youth of America, then they have no hope at all.
"To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education" Thomas Jefferson
The "Board" must make sure that factual accounts be kept in our chidrens text books. If Texas fails the youth of America, then they have no hope at all.
"To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education" Thomas Jefferson
Monday, October 12, 2009
Texas Proposition 11 On The November Ballot
Your “yes” vote for proposition 11 in November will help protect private land owners from the government’s use of eminent domain.
Texas Proposition 11, also known as House Joint Resolution 14-1, will appear on the November 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.
If passed after the November election, the measure will strengthen Senate Bill 7, which prohibits the government from acquiring land for non-public use. The bill will also require the government to first determine if each property in a neighborhood is blighted before deciding if the neighborhood itself is blighted. According to Sen. Robert Duncan, who is sponsoring the amendment: “Texas voters are the most appropriate authority on the government's use of eminent domain. This proposition gives them the final word on that authority.”
The Texas House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 144-0, followed by the State Senate on May 25, 2009 with a vote of 30-1.Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the legislation on June 15, 2009, therefore allowing voters to decide on the constitutional amendment in the fall.
Impact
If enacted, the measure would:
Amend the state constitution to limit the taking of private property by eminent domain.
Specifically prohibit the taking of private property to give to another private entity for the purpose of economic development or enhanced tax revenue.
Limit the use and ownership of property taken by eminent domain to either the state or the public at large
Require new entities seeking the power of eminent domain to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature
Require condemnation for urban blight to address each particular property
Ballot language
"The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature's authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity."
Support
The Texas Farm Bureau have voiced their support of the measure, making a statement on October 2, 2009 on their website, encouraging members of the bureau to go vote, saying a big turnout would lead to a successfull passage of the measure. Kenneth Dierschke, president of the organization, wrote the column on the Texas Farm Bureau’s website and stated that the amendment would also protect property owners in a state that “takes pride in property ownership.” Also among the reasons to vote “yes” on the measure is that passage would pave a way for further eminent domain reform in the future, such as compensation to owners who have lost their property access rights. Dierschke stated:
"Eminent domain is not something people think about until their land, home or business property is taken. That power is being misused and abused in Texas. Proposition 11 does not fix all of the problems, but is a good first step toward eminent domain reform."
Texas Proposition 11, also known as House Joint Resolution 14-1, will appear on the November 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.
If passed after the November election, the measure will strengthen Senate Bill 7, which prohibits the government from acquiring land for non-public use. The bill will also require the government to first determine if each property in a neighborhood is blighted before deciding if the neighborhood itself is blighted. According to Sen. Robert Duncan, who is sponsoring the amendment: “Texas voters are the most appropriate authority on the government's use of eminent domain. This proposition gives them the final word on that authority.”
The Texas House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 144-0, followed by the State Senate on May 25, 2009 with a vote of 30-1.Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the legislation on June 15, 2009, therefore allowing voters to decide on the constitutional amendment in the fall.
Impact
If enacted, the measure would:
Amend the state constitution to limit the taking of private property by eminent domain.
Specifically prohibit the taking of private property to give to another private entity for the purpose of economic development or enhanced tax revenue.
Limit the use and ownership of property taken by eminent domain to either the state or the public at large
Require new entities seeking the power of eminent domain to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature
Require condemnation for urban blight to address each particular property
Ballot language
"The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature's authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity."
Support
The Texas Farm Bureau have voiced their support of the measure, making a statement on October 2, 2009 on their website, encouraging members of the bureau to go vote, saying a big turnout would lead to a successfull passage of the measure. Kenneth Dierschke, president of the organization, wrote the column on the Texas Farm Bureau’s website and stated that the amendment would also protect property owners in a state that “takes pride in property ownership.” Also among the reasons to vote “yes” on the measure is that passage would pave a way for further eminent domain reform in the future, such as compensation to owners who have lost their property access rights. Dierschke stated:
"Eminent domain is not something people think about until their land, home or business property is taken. That power is being misused and abused in Texas. Proposition 11 does not fix all of the problems, but is a good first step toward eminent domain reform."
Friday, October 9, 2009
Speak No Evil
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Markup
Publications
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 14:42
The Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet will meet in open markup session on Thursday, October 8, 2009, to consider H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio Act of 2009; H.R. 1084, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act); H.R. 1258, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009; and H.R. 3633, a bill to allow the funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program to remain available through FY 2012.
WHEN: Thursday, October 8 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
H.R. 1147 is being proposed to pave the way to end conservative talk radio and fund minority owned radio stations. It is yet another ploy by the Obama administration to take away free speech and turn to government (“community”) run radio. By doing so Obama silences his critics and opens up the airwaves to those who choose to chant or sing ditties in honor of his greatness. His community organizers will make public service announcements and point the peasants in the direction of the nearest food line….if there are any…. All the while playing “I’ld Like To Teach The World To Sing”. China would be so proud.
Call, write, email and/or fax your representatives. Voice your concerns about H.R. 1147.
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.
Thomas Jefferson
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1147
To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 24, 2009
Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. TERRY, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. PAUL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. CAPUANO, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Ms. BALDWIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Local Community Radio Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to increased ownership consolidation in the radio industry.
(2) At a hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 4, 2003, all 5 members of the Federal Communications Commission testified that there has been, in at least some local radio markets, too much consolidation.
(3) As a result of consolidation of media ownership, there have been strong financial incentives for companies to reduce local programming and rely instead on syndicated programming produced for hundreds of stations. A renewal of commitment to localism--local operations, local research, local management, locally originated programming, local artists, and local news and events--would bolster radio's service to the public.
(4) Local communities have sought to launch radio stations to meet their local needs. However, due to the scarce amount of spectrum available and the high cost of buying and running a large station, many local communities are unable to establish a radio station.
(5) In 2003, the average cost to acquire a commercial radio station was more than $2,500,000.
(6) In January 2000, the Federal Communications Commission authorized a new, affordable community radio service called `low-power FM' or `LPFM' to `enhance locally focused community-oriented radio broadcasting'.
(7) Through the creation of LPFM, the Commission sought to `create opportunities for new voices on the air waves and to allow local groups, including schools, churches, and other community-based organizations, to provide programming responsive to local community needs and interests'.
(8) The Commission made clear that the creation of LPFM would not compromise the integrity of the FM radio band by stating, `We are committed to creating a low-power FM radio service only if it does not cause unacceptable interference to existing radio service.'.
(9) Currently, FM translator stations can operate on the second- and third-adjacent channels to full power radio stations, up to an effective radiated power of 250 watts, pursuant to part 74 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, using the very same transmitters that LPFM stations will use. The Commission based its LPFM rules on the actual performance of these translators that already operate without undue interference to FM stations. The actual interference record of these translators is far more useful than any results that further testing could yield.
(10) Small rural broadcasters were particularly concerned about a lengthy and costly interference complaint process. Therefore, in September 2000, the Commission created a simple process to address interference complaints regarding LPFM stations on an expedited basis.
(11) In December 2000, Congress delayed the full implementation of LPFM until an independent engineering study was completed and reviewed. This delay was due to some broadcasters' concerns that LPFM service would cause interference in the FM band.
(12) The delay prevented millions of Americans from having a locally operated, community-based radio station in their neighborhood.
(13) Over 800 LPFM stations were allowed to proceed despite the congressional action. These stations are currently on the air and are run by local government agencies, groups promoting arts and education to immigrant and indigenous peoples, artists, schools, religious organizations, environmental groups, organizations promoting literacy, and many other civically oriented organizations.
(14) After 2 years and the expenditure of $2,193,343 in taxpayer dollars to conduct this study, the broadcasters' concerns were demonstrated to be unsubstantiated.
(15) The FCC issued a report to Congress on February 19, 2004, which stated that `Congress should readdress this issue and modify the statute to eliminate the third-adjacent channel distance separation requirement for LPFM stations.'.
(16) On November 27, 2007, the FCC again unanimously affirmed LPFM, stating in a news release about the passage of the Third Report and Order and Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the Commission: `Recommends to Congress that it remove the requirement that LPFM stations protect full-power stations on operating on the third-adjacent channels.' Five years after the release of the FCC's report and recommendation, this recommendation has still not been acted upon.
(17) Minorities represent almost a third of our population. However, according to the Federal Communication Commission's most recent Form 323 data on the race and gender of full power, commercial broadcast licensees, minorities own only 7 percent of all local television and radio stations. Women represent more than half of the population, but own only 6 percent of all local television and radio stations. LPFM stations, while not a solution to the overall inequalities in minority and female broadcast ownership, provide an additional opportunity for underrepresented communities to operate a station and provide local communities with a greater diversity of viewpoints and culture.
(18) LPFM stations have proven to be a vital source of information during local or national emergencies. Out of the few stations that were able to stay online during Katrina, several were LPFM stations. In Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, LPFM station WQRZ remained on the air during Hurricane Katrina and served as the Emergency Operations Center for Hancock County. Additionally, after Hurricane Katrina when thousands of evacuees temporarily housed at the Houston Astrodome were unable to hear information about the availability of food and ice, the location of FEMA representatives, and the whereabouts of missing loved ones over the loud speakers, volunteers handed out thousands of transistor radios and established a LPFM station outside the Astrodome to broadcast such information.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PRIOR LAW.
Section 632 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-553; 114 Stat. 2762A-111), is repealed.
SEC. 4. MINIMUM DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS.
The Federal Communications Commission shall modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between--
(1) low-power FM stations; and
(2) full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster stations.
SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF RADIO READING SERVICES.
The Federal Communications Commission shall retain its rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power non-commercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.
SEC. 6. ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF SPECTRUM FOR LPFM STATIONS.
The Federal Communications Commission when licensing FM translator stations shall ensure--
(1) that licenses are available to both FM translator stations and low-power FM stations; and
(2) that such decisions are made based on the needs of the local community.
Publications
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 14:42
The Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet will meet in open markup session on Thursday, October 8, 2009, to consider H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio Act of 2009; H.R. 1084, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act); H.R. 1258, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009; and H.R. 3633, a bill to allow the funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program to remain available through FY 2012.
WHEN: Thursday, October 8 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
H.R. 1147 is being proposed to pave the way to end conservative talk radio and fund minority owned radio stations. It is yet another ploy by the Obama administration to take away free speech and turn to government (“community”) run radio. By doing so Obama silences his critics and opens up the airwaves to those who choose to chant or sing ditties in honor of his greatness. His community organizers will make public service announcements and point the peasants in the direction of the nearest food line….if there are any…. All the while playing “I’ld Like To Teach The World To Sing”. China would be so proud.
Call, write, email and/or fax your representatives. Voice your concerns about H.R. 1147.
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.
Thomas Jefferson
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1147
To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 24, 2009
Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. TERRY, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. PAUL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. CAPUANO, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Ms. BALDWIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Local Community Radio Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to increased ownership consolidation in the radio industry.
(2) At a hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 4, 2003, all 5 members of the Federal Communications Commission testified that there has been, in at least some local radio markets, too much consolidation.
(3) As a result of consolidation of media ownership, there have been strong financial incentives for companies to reduce local programming and rely instead on syndicated programming produced for hundreds of stations. A renewal of commitment to localism--local operations, local research, local management, locally originated programming, local artists, and local news and events--would bolster radio's service to the public.
(4) Local communities have sought to launch radio stations to meet their local needs. However, due to the scarce amount of spectrum available and the high cost of buying and running a large station, many local communities are unable to establish a radio station.
(5) In 2003, the average cost to acquire a commercial radio station was more than $2,500,000.
(6) In January 2000, the Federal Communications Commission authorized a new, affordable community radio service called `low-power FM' or `LPFM' to `enhance locally focused community-oriented radio broadcasting'.
(7) Through the creation of LPFM, the Commission sought to `create opportunities for new voices on the air waves and to allow local groups, including schools, churches, and other community-based organizations, to provide programming responsive to local community needs and interests'.
(8) The Commission made clear that the creation of LPFM would not compromise the integrity of the FM radio band by stating, `We are committed to creating a low-power FM radio service only if it does not cause unacceptable interference to existing radio service.'.
(9) Currently, FM translator stations can operate on the second- and third-adjacent channels to full power radio stations, up to an effective radiated power of 250 watts, pursuant to part 74 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, using the very same transmitters that LPFM stations will use. The Commission based its LPFM rules on the actual performance of these translators that already operate without undue interference to FM stations. The actual interference record of these translators is far more useful than any results that further testing could yield.
(10) Small rural broadcasters were particularly concerned about a lengthy and costly interference complaint process. Therefore, in September 2000, the Commission created a simple process to address interference complaints regarding LPFM stations on an expedited basis.
(11) In December 2000, Congress delayed the full implementation of LPFM until an independent engineering study was completed and reviewed. This delay was due to some broadcasters' concerns that LPFM service would cause interference in the FM band.
(12) The delay prevented millions of Americans from having a locally operated, community-based radio station in their neighborhood.
(13) Over 800 LPFM stations were allowed to proceed despite the congressional action. These stations are currently on the air and are run by local government agencies, groups promoting arts and education to immigrant and indigenous peoples, artists, schools, religious organizations, environmental groups, organizations promoting literacy, and many other civically oriented organizations.
(14) After 2 years and the expenditure of $2,193,343 in taxpayer dollars to conduct this study, the broadcasters' concerns were demonstrated to be unsubstantiated.
(15) The FCC issued a report to Congress on February 19, 2004, which stated that `Congress should readdress this issue and modify the statute to eliminate the third-adjacent channel distance separation requirement for LPFM stations.'.
(16) On November 27, 2007, the FCC again unanimously affirmed LPFM, stating in a news release about the passage of the Third Report and Order and Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the Commission: `Recommends to Congress that it remove the requirement that LPFM stations protect full-power stations on operating on the third-adjacent channels.' Five years after the release of the FCC's report and recommendation, this recommendation has still not been acted upon.
(17) Minorities represent almost a third of our population. However, according to the Federal Communication Commission's most recent Form 323 data on the race and gender of full power, commercial broadcast licensees, minorities own only 7 percent of all local television and radio stations. Women represent more than half of the population, but own only 6 percent of all local television and radio stations. LPFM stations, while not a solution to the overall inequalities in minority and female broadcast ownership, provide an additional opportunity for underrepresented communities to operate a station and provide local communities with a greater diversity of viewpoints and culture.
(18) LPFM stations have proven to be a vital source of information during local or national emergencies. Out of the few stations that were able to stay online during Katrina, several were LPFM stations. In Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, LPFM station WQRZ remained on the air during Hurricane Katrina and served as the Emergency Operations Center for Hancock County. Additionally, after Hurricane Katrina when thousands of evacuees temporarily housed at the Houston Astrodome were unable to hear information about the availability of food and ice, the location of FEMA representatives, and the whereabouts of missing loved ones over the loud speakers, volunteers handed out thousands of transistor radios and established a LPFM station outside the Astrodome to broadcast such information.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PRIOR LAW.
Section 632 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-553; 114 Stat. 2762A-111), is repealed.
SEC. 4. MINIMUM DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS.
The Federal Communications Commission shall modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between--
(1) low-power FM stations; and
(2) full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster stations.
SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF RADIO READING SERVICES.
The Federal Communications Commission shall retain its rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power non-commercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.
SEC. 6. ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF SPECTRUM FOR LPFM STATIONS.
The Federal Communications Commission when licensing FM translator stations shall ensure--
(1) that licenses are available to both FM translator stations and low-power FM stations; and
(2) that such decisions are made based on the needs of the local community.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Make Him Sing
By now everyone has heard about this idiot Smadi that has been charged with attempting to blow up a building in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. The FBI agent that oversaw the investigation testified that Smadi researched how to use a cell phone to detonate a bomb and “made a video to give to Osama bin Laden”. Excuse me….this guy can get stuff to bin Laden. Does he just call him up or what? Shouldn’t we be water-boarding this guy or something to find out how to deliver our own bombs to bin Laden? We can drop them right in his lap.
Let the Texas Rangers have that little jerk for a while….they will find out what he knows.
DALLAS, TX (KERA) -
A federal judge has ruled there is sufficient evidence for the case to continue against a teenager from Jordan accused of trying to blow up a Dallas high-rise. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.
There just needed to be enough evidence to send to a grand jury for an indictment against 19 year old Hosam Smadi. And the judge ruled there was. In Monday's probable cause hearing, an FBI agent said Smadi made a 7-minute video he hoped to send to Osama Bin Laden. The agent also testified Smadi studied how to trigger a car bomb with his cell phone, and wondered whether the car was strategically parked to bring down Fountain Place.
Peter Fleury, one of Smadi's court appointed defenders, says he still does not know the exact charges against his client.
Fleury: They've had the case since March. We just go the case. We're way behind them. And we got a scared 19 year-old kid, well away from his family. And we're just going to do the best we can.
Former U.S. Prosecutor John Ratcliffe attended the hearing and says the government will methodically make its case.
John Ratcliffe, former U.S. Attorney: There's testimony here and there's going to be evidence presented that this will move before a jury who will hear that there are individuals out there that spent the better part of a year, in Mr. Smadi's case, talking about, planning, discussing surveilling and ultimately acting on the desire to commit mass casualties with a weapon of mass destruction.
Prosecutors have until October 24th to indict Smadi. No date has yet been set.
Let the Texas Rangers have that little jerk for a while….they will find out what he knows.
DALLAS, TX (KERA) -
A federal judge has ruled there is sufficient evidence for the case to continue against a teenager from Jordan accused of trying to blow up a Dallas high-rise. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.
There just needed to be enough evidence to send to a grand jury for an indictment against 19 year old Hosam Smadi. And the judge ruled there was. In Monday's probable cause hearing, an FBI agent said Smadi made a 7-minute video he hoped to send to Osama Bin Laden. The agent also testified Smadi studied how to trigger a car bomb with his cell phone, and wondered whether the car was strategically parked to bring down Fountain Place.
Peter Fleury, one of Smadi's court appointed defenders, says he still does not know the exact charges against his client.
Fleury: They've had the case since March. We just go the case. We're way behind them. And we got a scared 19 year-old kid, well away from his family. And we're just going to do the best we can.
Former U.S. Prosecutor John Ratcliffe attended the hearing and says the government will methodically make its case.
John Ratcliffe, former U.S. Attorney: There's testimony here and there's going to be evidence presented that this will move before a jury who will hear that there are individuals out there that spent the better part of a year, in Mr. Smadi's case, talking about, planning, discussing surveilling and ultimately acting on the desire to commit mass casualties with a weapon of mass destruction.
Prosecutors have until October 24th to indict Smadi. No date has yet been set.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Texans Call Your Senators
Texas governor voices opposition to climate bill
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON — A climate bill being debated in Congress is "draconian" and would wreak havoc on the Texas economy by wiping out thousands of jobs in the energy sector, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday.
But an environmental group said the bill would be an economic boost.
Perry said Texas does not need federal mandates as the state already balances the needs of the environment and the energy sector.
"I would respectfully ask Washington if they are interested in having a positive impact on the environment, look at Texas. We can show them how to not put these sweeping mandates that have a draconian impact on the population," Perry said during a meeting in Houston with business leaders and state lawmakers.
The bill includes an economy-wide cap-and-trade system that would require power plants, industrial facilities and refineries to cut carbon dioxide and other climate changing pollution.
Perry said the bill is a massive energy tax on consumers that would result in higher prices in gasoline, utilities and household goods and wipe out between 200,000 and 300,000 energy sector jobs in Texas.
The governor said the federal government should follow Texas' example and do such things as expand its renewable energy portfolio, reduce the cost of alternative energy forms like solar and wind and promote investment in technology that captures emissions of carbon dioxide.
"We did it while still adding jobs and having the economy grow," he said.
Most Republicans like Perry have voiced strong opposition to the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill, which the House passed in June. The Senate is working on its own version of the bill.
Democrats who support the bill acknowledged the cost of energy will increase but contend the impact on consumers can be mitigated by increased energy efficiency and other measures included in the legislation.
Environmentalists see cap-and-trade as the best way to control carbon emissions.
But Oliver Bernstein, a spokesman for environmental group Sierra Club's office in Austin, said the climate bill "is the true pathway toward economic recovery" because it will create millions of clean energy jobs in Texas and across the country.
"The worst thing we can do for the economy here in Texas is to stay devoted to the dirty energy policies of the past," he said.
The state's energy industry supplies 20 percent of the nation's oil production, one-fourth of its natural gas production, a quarter of its refining capacity and nearly 60 percent of its chemical manufacturing.
___
Below are the Texas Representatives that voted for the “cap and trade” bill in June.
Remember them well in 2010. Pass this on to friends and family that live in the districts that these yahoos represent. Make sure that they become unemployed when we go to the polls on voting day. After all, that was their plan for millions of Texans.
Al Green, (D)
Ruben Hinojosa (D)
Silvestre Reyes (D)
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D)
Charles Gonzalez (D)
Lloyd Doggett (D)
Henry Cuellar (D)
Raymond Green (D)
Eddie Johnson (D)
Also, call your senators and make sure that they understand that Texans expect a “No” vote when this bill comes to the Senate floor. Make sure that they know that we are paying attention.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R- TX)
Phone: 202-224-5922
Fax: 202-224-0776
http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Senator John Cornyn (R- TX)
Phone: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON — A climate bill being debated in Congress is "draconian" and would wreak havoc on the Texas economy by wiping out thousands of jobs in the energy sector, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday.
But an environmental group said the bill would be an economic boost.
Perry said Texas does not need federal mandates as the state already balances the needs of the environment and the energy sector.
"I would respectfully ask Washington if they are interested in having a positive impact on the environment, look at Texas. We can show them how to not put these sweeping mandates that have a draconian impact on the population," Perry said during a meeting in Houston with business leaders and state lawmakers.
The bill includes an economy-wide cap-and-trade system that would require power plants, industrial facilities and refineries to cut carbon dioxide and other climate changing pollution.
Perry said the bill is a massive energy tax on consumers that would result in higher prices in gasoline, utilities and household goods and wipe out between 200,000 and 300,000 energy sector jobs in Texas.
The governor said the federal government should follow Texas' example and do such things as expand its renewable energy portfolio, reduce the cost of alternative energy forms like solar and wind and promote investment in technology that captures emissions of carbon dioxide.
"We did it while still adding jobs and having the economy grow," he said.
Most Republicans like Perry have voiced strong opposition to the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill, which the House passed in June. The Senate is working on its own version of the bill.
Democrats who support the bill acknowledged the cost of energy will increase but contend the impact on consumers can be mitigated by increased energy efficiency and other measures included in the legislation.
Environmentalists see cap-and-trade as the best way to control carbon emissions.
But Oliver Bernstein, a spokesman for environmental group Sierra Club's office in Austin, said the climate bill "is the true pathway toward economic recovery" because it will create millions of clean energy jobs in Texas and across the country.
"The worst thing we can do for the economy here in Texas is to stay devoted to the dirty energy policies of the past," he said.
The state's energy industry supplies 20 percent of the nation's oil production, one-fourth of its natural gas production, a quarter of its refining capacity and nearly 60 percent of its chemical manufacturing.
___
Below are the Texas Representatives that voted for the “cap and trade” bill in June.
Remember them well in 2010. Pass this on to friends and family that live in the districts that these yahoos represent. Make sure that they become unemployed when we go to the polls on voting day. After all, that was their plan for millions of Texans.
Al Green, (D)
Ruben Hinojosa (D)
Silvestre Reyes (D)
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D)
Charles Gonzalez (D)
Lloyd Doggett (D)
Henry Cuellar (D)
Raymond Green (D)
Eddie Johnson (D)
Also, call your senators and make sure that they understand that Texans expect a “No” vote when this bill comes to the Senate floor. Make sure that they know that we are paying attention.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R- TX)
Phone: 202-224-5922
Fax: 202-224-0776
http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Senator John Cornyn (R- TX)
Phone: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
This document was put out by the League Of Women Voters Of Texas to assist Texans in determining where they stand on the propositions being voted on in November.
Voters Guide
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF TEXAS
Non-Partisan. Really.
2009 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION
November 3, 2009
Early voting - October 19 through October 30 Election day - Polls open 7am to 7pm
Issues That Affect You
PROPERTY TAXES • PUBLIC BEACHESVETERANS • PRIVATE PROPERTY • COUNTY LAND
ExplanationCurrently, municipalities and counties do not have a method to raise the revenue needed to acquire land to provide a buffer zone or open space to prevent en¬croachment from development, or to fund the con¬struction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of adjacent military installations.
The amendment would allow a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes, including tax increment bonds or notes, to finance the acquisition of land adjacent to a military base for the above purposes. If passed, it would take effect Dec. 1, 2009.
This Voters Guide is funded and published by the League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund to help citizens prepare to cast informed votes on the elev¬en proposed Constitutional Amendments on November 3, 2009. Associated with the League of Women Voters of Texas, the Texas Education Fund works exclusively for educational purposes in the general areas of gov¬ernment and public policy, carrying out its objectives through research, publication of educational materials, and other appropriate projects. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan orga¬nization that works to promote political responsibility through active, informed participation in government. Neither the League nor the Education Fund supports or opposes any political party or candidate. Check the League’s website for other helpful informa¬tion about elections, voting, and issues: www.lwvtexas.org.
Arguments For
• Bases provide economic benefits to the state and to the counties and cities where they are located. This proposed amendment would pro- tect military installations from encroaching de- velopment that could restrict training and oper- ational missions, which in turn could cause military installations to close. The construction of highways, utilities, or other infrastructure would also protect or promote the military in- stallations. • The passage of this amendment would allow land owners to be compensated for their prop- erty. Any new infrastructure could also increase property values.
Checking your choice in the boxes by each proposed amendment in this Voters Guide can save you time when you are casting your ballot. It is legal for you to take this Voters Guide into the polling place.
PROPOSITION 1
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the fi¬nancing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer area or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or the construction of roadways, utilities, or other in¬frastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.
Arguments Against
• Cities and counties should not take on additional debt at this time.
• Passing this amendment could lead to higher prop- erty taxes for property owners who are already feel- ing budened by a distressed economy.
You may bring this Voters Guide into the voting booth.*
*In 1995, the Texas law prohibiting use of printed materials, such as this Voters Guide, in the polling place was ruled unconstitutional (Texas Election Code, Section 61.011)
© 2009 League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund
ExplanationThis proposition would amend the Texas Constitution to require that administrative and judicial enforcement of uniform standards and procedures for property tax appraisal be prescribed by general law enacted by the Texas Legislature. It would delete the existing re¬quirement that enforcement of these appraisal proce¬dures originate in the county where the tax is imposed.
PROPOSITION 2
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg¬islature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.
Explanation
Residence homesteads throughout the state have expe¬rienced increasing appraisal values, in some instances more than 200 percent in one year, especially if the prop¬erty is not covered by zoning regulations. This is due to the appraisal practice known as “highest and best use,” a common appraisal method that allows property to be valued on its potential use rather than the current use. Residence homesteads located near new commercial de¬velopment, therefore, have the potential for skyrocketing appraisal values. This amendment authorizes the legisla¬ture to require that a residence be appraised only on the basis of the property’s value as a residence, regardless of what the highest and best use of the property may be. It would apply only to residential homesteads, not to sec¬ond homes or investment properties.
Arguments For
• Passing this amendment would allow direct state enforcement authority and oversight over local ap- praisals in order to attain uniformity and equity of appraisal processes throughout the state. The state could take action to address inconsistencies in appraisal methods among counties. • With this amendment in place, owners of prop- erty in different counties would be reassured that their properties were being evaluated in a similar manner and that state funding for public schools, which is based on the taxable property value in each school district, would be more eq- uitably assessed.
Arguments For
• Texas already protects agricultural and timber land from large appraisal increases due to highest and best use. Now the state needs to protect resi- dential property in the same way.
• A residence homestead should be appraised on its present use, not on any possible future use. • Just because there is development in the area does not necessarily mean the property owner gets an advantage from it.
Arguments Against
•This amendment is unnecessary because the state trains appraisers through the State Comptrol- ler’s Office and also produces an annual property tax study, which enables comparison of local property appraisals with the state appraisal of property. • The proposition would result in giving up local control to the state, which might not understand local conditions.
Arguments Against
• The “highest and best use” of a property has an impact on the sales price, which shows the real value.
• This amendment could reduce taxable property values and thus local tax revenues. • The state might have to provide additional equal- ization funding to a school district if property val- ues are lowered, a measure the state cannot af- ford.
PROPOSITION 4
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment establishing the na¬tional research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve nation¬al prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.
PROPOSITION 3
ExplanationIn Texas, only the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are top-tier public research universities. Seven other universities in Texas are con¬
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment providing for uni¬form standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.
.....continued to next page
2
sidered emerging research universities. They are Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Arlington, Uni¬versity of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Houston, and University of North Texas.
To enable these emerging research universities in Texas to achieve national prominence, this amendment would establish a new National Research University Fund. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University would not be eligible to receive money from this fund.
The enabling legislation for this amendment would dis¬perse the funds in the National Research University Fund to emerging research institutions through three mecha¬nisms: the Research University Development Fund for educational and general activities that promote increased research capacity, the Texas Research Incentive Program to provide matching grants for donations from private sourc¬es, and the National Research University Benchmark Fund to reward universities that meet critical benchmarks toward achieving national prominence as major research universi¬ties.
PROPOSITION 5
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg¬islature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.
ExplanationThe primary function of a board of equalization is to hear appeals of the appraised value of taxable prop¬erty and to resolve disputes between taxpayers and the appraisal district. Each appraisal district must appoint a board of equalization. The prerequisites to serve on such an appraisal review board are minimal; how¬ever, the number of people familiar with the appraisal of property, or who are willing to serve, is limited in some counties. This amendment would allow the Leg¬islature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that want to consolidate their appraisal review process.
Arguments For
• The presence of more tier-one universities would expand the educational opportunities available to Texas students and keep more of them in the state. Currently, Texas loses more than 10,000 high school graduates a year to doctorate-granting universities in other states.
• Tier-one universities are the best way to develop a highly skilled workforce, especially in the scienc- es, engineering, and professional fields that are critical to economic success. • With a population of 24 million and only two public tier-one universities, Texas is at a disad- vantage in attracting and retaining top talent and drawing research and venture capital investment to the state.
Arguments For
•Many rural counties have a difficult time finding enough qualified and willing candidates to sit on their appraisal review boards.
•If appraisal districts can pool their talent for their appraisal reviews, it will help ensure a more professional, equitable and timely appraisal re- view process.
Arguments Against
•Appointed appraisal reviewers from another county may not be familiar enough with the property they must judge in order to resolve dis- putes.
•This amendment does not go far enough in allowing appraisal districts to combine their ef- forts. Many rural counties have a difficult time staffing all aspects of their appraisal districts and should be allowed to consolidate even more functions.
Arguments Against
• In this time of limited state dollars, Texas should focus the use of the National Research University Fund only on those institutions that are closest to attaining tier-one status.
• If there is an urgency to develop more nationally competitive research universities, it would make more sense to target fewer than seven institutions. • The amendment does not include a Sunset pro- vision so that progress could be assessed pe- riodically to determine if this plan is achieving the goal of creating more tier-one research uni- versities.
3
PROPOSITION 6
PROPOSITION 7
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil of¬fices.
ExplanationIf this proposed amendment were passed, it would al¬low officers and enlisted members of the Texas State Guard (or other state militia or military force) to hold a public office simultaneously. Currently, civil officials are prohibited from holding more than one compen¬sated civil office, unless specifically exempted in the Constitution. Those now exempted include county commissioners and justices of the peace, notaries pub¬lic and postmasters, and current and retired officers and enlisted members of the National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces.
The Texas State Guard was overlooked during earlier amendments to this section largely because they were not very active. However, in recent years they have become much more active and provide vital services to Texas during natural disasters.
ExplanationThis amendment would allow the Veterans’ Land Board (VLB) to provide for, issue, and sell general obligation bonds for the purpose of selling land or home mortgages to Texas veterans. The amount of the bonds could not exceed the principal amount pre¬viously authorized by constitutional amendments. In effect, the proposed amendment would reauthorize all previously authorized general obligation bonding au¬thority in the Veterans Housing Assistance Fund, the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund II, and the Veter¬ans’ Land Fund.
Arguments For
• If this amendment passes, it will increase the amount of funding available to the VLB to assist Texas veterans with home and land mortgages.
• The VLB needs a way to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of its home and land mortgage assis- tance programs without having to return to the Legislature every four years. • VLB land and mortgage general obligation bonds are expected to be paid from revenue sources outside the state treasury. Thus, this proposed amendment would not have a significant fiscal impact to the state or local goverments.
Aguments For
• This amendment would correct an oversight in the Texas Constitution. Currently state employees may also hold office in most branches of the mili- tary, including the National Guard. It is only right that members of the Texas State Guard and other Texas military forces should have the same op- tion.
• Many civil officials would like to become active in the Texas State Guard in order to directly serve Texas in times of disaster. Passing Proposition 7 will make that service possible without these of- ficials giving up their civil duties.
Arguments Against
• It is unwise to add a constitutional amendment about general obligation bonds that extends into the future for an unlimited time without any fur- ther oversight by the Legislature.
• If this amendment passes, elected officials can no longer be held accountable for VLB land and mortgage general obligation bonds. • Helping Texas veterans is important, but state assistance needs to be reviewed and adjusted as needed on a regular basis to reflect the actual numbers of veterans in the state and the economic realities of the state in each time period.
Arguments Against
• State employees have a duty to do the job for which they were hired, even in times of disaster. Thus, it is not reasonable that they should have two jobs vying for their service at the same time.
• Framers of the Texas Constitution specifically prohibited dual office-holding by state employ- ees, and we should not continue to add excep- tions to this rule.
4
ExplanationProposition 9 would establish the public’s unre¬stricted right to access public beaches as a per¬manent easement. A public beach is defined as a state-owned beach on the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico from the mean low tide to the landward boundary of the submerged land, and from the mean low tide line to the line of vegetation border¬ing the Gulf of Mexico for which the public has the right of use or easement. The proposed amend¬ment would also authorize the Legislature to enact laws to protect the public access to the beach and the easement from interference and encroachment. There would be no right of private enforcement.
PROPOSITION 8
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.
ExplanationTexas now has nine inpatient veterans’ hospitals in Houston, Temple, Waco, Bonham, Dallas, Kerrville, San Antonio, Amarillo, and Big Spring. The state does not currently have the authority to contribute to a vet¬erans’ hospital operated by the federal government. This proposed amendment would allow Texas to part¬ner with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and local communities to establish additional health care facilities. Texas ranks third in the coun¬try in the number of veterans residing in the state. In 2007, more than 47,000 inpatient visits and 4.3 million outpatient visits were recorded by the veterans health care facilities in Texas.
Arguments For
•This proposed amendment would strengthen the 1959 Open Beaches Act by making the law part of the Texas Constitution. For 50 years, Texas beaches have been protected as public property, allowing people from all walks of life to have access to beaches. Developers would not be able to build properties along the beach and restrict the public’s access to the beach. •Proposition 9 would protect the public’s right to beach access in the wake of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and coastal erosion, that move the line of vegetation so that private structures may rest on Texas beaches. Several lawsuits regarding the status of houses that are now on public beaches are ongoing. The amendment would reduce such litigation. It would not pre- vent the Legislature from addressing issues re- lated to natural events in the future but would clearly state the intent of Texas law to keep the beaches public.• Property owners who have homes on Texas beaches already know that they face the risk of having their property shift into the public ease- ment. Earnest money contracts, deeds, and title policies all state this risk. Houses on the beach have always been at risk as natural events cause the line between public and private land to move back and forth constantly.
Arguments For
•Texas needs more veterans’ hospitals and other health care facilities to accommodate its large population of veterans.
• The rising cost of travel can sometimes delay care for veterans who must go to one of the nine available hospitals. For instance, a veteran who lives in the Rio Grande Valley area has to travel approximately 300 miles to the nearest veterans’ hospital in San Antonio. Passing Proposition 8 means Texas veterans will have better access to medical care.
Arguments Against
• Partnering with the federal government may lead to unintended consequences of red tape and inter- ference.• A constitutional amendment is unnecessary to ac- complish the goal of working with the federal government and local governments to provide better health care for veterans.
PROPOSITION 9
Arguments Against
• Proposition 9 unfairly allows the state to re- quire property owners whose houses are on public land because of storms and erosion to remove their buildings from public land with out compensation.
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
5
.....continued to next page
• Many homes along the Texas Gulf Coast had ex- isted for a number of years before Hurricane Ike’s winds and storm surge changed the vegetation line and left them on the public beach. These proper- ty owners should not be denied the right to contin- ue to live in their homes or to rebuild their homes.• The Open Beach Act already gives the state too much authority to restrict the right of private land- owners to enjoy their property. Having this proposi- tion in the Constitution would compound the prob- lem by making it much more difficult to change the law in the future.
PROPOSITION 11
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to prohibit the tak¬ing, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of emi¬nent domain to an entity.
PROPOSITION 10
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emer¬gency service districts may serve terms not to ex¬ceed four years.
Explanation
The Texas Constitution provides for the power of emi¬nent domain, which allows private property to be taken for public use with adequate compensation even if the property owner does not wish to sell. Lands for public purposes such as highways, railroads, and public utili¬ties have sometimes been acquired by eminent domain. A 2005 Texas law forbids taking of private property for purposes of economic development or the benefit of a private party.
This amendment would spell out the conditions under which private property could be taken by eminent do¬main. Specifically, the taken property must be owned, used, and enjoyed by the public at large, state or local government, or other agency granted the power of emi¬nent domain by law. Taking private property for eco¬nomic development or to enhance tax revenues would be prohibited by the Texas Constitution, not simply by Texas law. In addition, property could be taken if nec¬essary to eradicate urban blight on the property. As of January 1, 2010, the power of eminent domain could be granted only by a two-thirds vote of the Texas Leg¬islature.
ExplanationThe Texas Constitution currently limits the duration of all public terms of office to two years unless oth¬erwise provided in the Constitution. Proposition 10 would amend the Constitution to allow members of governing boards of Texas emergency service dis¬tricts to serve terms not to exceed four years.
Argument For
•Longer terms of service would promote stability and continuity on emergency services districts’ boards.• There is already a legislative precedent for four year terms for hospital districts, whose duties sometimes relate to and overlap emergency ser- vices districts.• Longer terms would help avoid the politicization of essentially non-partisan positions by eliminat- ing an election every two years.
Argument Against
Arguments For
• Longer terms of service for governing boards of emergency services districts diminish public over- sight of the districts.• Because these district boards have the power to levy taxes, they should be accountable to voters every two years, just as the members of the Texas House of Representatives are.• The current system has adequate protection against improper political interference since the elections are non-partisan.
•Passing Proposition 11 would strengthen the ban on taking property for economic development by mak- ing this ban a part of the Texas Constitution. The language would require a condemning authority to keep the property in its possession, occupy it, and use it for some productive purpose.
•This proposition would further protect the rights of private property owners by requiring separate action on each individual property in blighted areas.
6
.....continued to next page
• Passage of this proposition would also limit expan- sion of eminent domain by requiring a two-thirds vote of the Texas Legislature to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do I vote?
For early voting and election day voting locations, call the county clerk or elections administrator’s of¬fice in the county in which you are registered, or go to www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml and scroll to your county. Your local newspaper may also list voting locations.
How do I register to vote?
You may register to vote at any time with your coun¬ty’s election official, who may be the County Tax Assessor, the County Election Administrator, or the County Clerk. You can also register to vote at any time online at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections. During a voter registration drive, it may also be possible to register with a deputized voter registrar. To vote in a particular election, your application for registration must be postmarked or received by the registrar at least thirty days before that election.
October 5 is the deadline to register to vote in the November 3, 2009, election.
What is a provisional ballot?
If your name is not on the list of registered voters in your precinct, and you do not have a valid registra¬tion card, you are entitled to vote a “provisional bal¬lot” which will be kept sealed while a ballot board investigates the problem. You must provide some form of identification to show that you reside in that precinct. You also must vote in the correct precinct on Election Day. Even if you are found to be legally registered, your provisional vote will not be counted if you did not cast it in the correct precinct.
Arguments Against
•Proposition 11 is unnecessary because Texas stat- ute already prohibits taking private property by eminent domain for economic development.
•The “ownership, use, and enjoyment” language may prohibit certain legitimate uses of eminent domain. The language should be amended to read “ownership, use, or enjoyment.” This language requires that any taking, damaging, or destroying of private property must meet all three criteria (owner- ship, use, and enjoyment).•Crucial needs for eminent domain supported by the majority of Texas legislators may be thwarted if this amendment is added to the Texas Constitution.
LWV-Texas Voters Guides are funded by the LWV-Texas Education Fund, a 501 (c) (3) corporation which is supported by contributions from individu¬als, corporations, and foundations. The Education Fund gratefully acknowledges major contributions in the past year from the following:
Harold Simmons FoundationAARPHatton W. Sumners FoundationTexas Bar FoundationLWVEF
Susybelle Gosslee
Pat Vaughan
Linda Wassenich
Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Texas Counseling Association
Texas Nurses Association
Dodge Jones Foudation
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Ruth Bowers
Ruthann Geer
H-E-B
Julia Marsden
Diane Sheridan
Nancy Wilson
Darlene Hicks
More Information
Secretary of State
www.sos.state.tx.us
Texas Legislature Online
www.legis.state.tx.us
LWV-Texas
www.lwvtx.org
Special thanks to Jacqueline Pike for the Spanish translation of the Voters Guide.
On Election Day, November 3, 2009, the polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Voters Guide is protected by copyright. For permission to duplicate the Guide, please call the LWV-Texas office at 512-472-1100.
7
2009 Constitutional Amendment Election
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
Texas voters have approved 456 amendments to the Texas Constitution since its adoption in 1876. An amendment is proposed in a joint resolution that can originate in either house of the state legislature, during a regular or special session. A joint resolution specifies the election date and may contain more than one amendment. The joint resolu¬tion must receive a vote of two-thirds of each house before it is presented to the voters. The governor cannot veto a joint resolution.
The governor can, however, veto the enabling legislation, the bill to enact the amendment if it is passed by voters. Not all joint resolutions require enabling legislation. If the voters reject an amendment, the enabling legislation does not take effect. If the resolution fails, the Legislature may resubmit it in a future legislative session.
The legislature prescribes the ballot language for the joint resolution. Once the amendment is approved by both houses of the legislature, the Secretary of State writes a brief explanatory statement, which then is approved by the Attorney General. The Secretary of State also conducts a random drawing to assign each proposed amendment a proposition number. The constitution specifies that these statements be published twice in each newspaper in the state that prints official notices. The first publication is printed 50 to 60 days before the election. The second pub¬lication is printed the following week.
Amendments take effect when the official vote canvass confirms statewide voter approval, unless a later date is specified in the joint resolution.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING IN TEXAS
• You must be a citizen of the United States.
• You must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election.
• You must be registered to vote.
• You must not have been declared mentally incom- petent by a court.
• You must not be on parole, probation, or in prison for a felony conviction.
• To vote in a given election, you must be registered to vote 30 days before that election. October 5th is the deadline to register to vote in this election.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting for the November 3, 2009, election begins on October 19 and ends on October 30 in counties with more than 100,000 people. Early voting is not mandated in small¬er counties, but may be offered. Check with your County Clerk or Election Administrator for locations and hours of early voting. You may also vote early by mail by requesting an application to be mailed to you from your County Clerk, or by filling out a form online at www.sos.state.tx.us/elec¬tions/voter/reqabbm.shtml.
VOTER INFORMATION
Voting Certificate
• Once you are registered, you will receive a voter regis¬tration card or certificate which you should present at the polling place in order to vote.
• If you have lost or misplaced your certificate, you may get a replacement from the voter registrar of your county. You may vote without a certificate if your name appears on the list of registered voters for your precinct and you can show some form of identification, such as a driver’s license.
• You must vote in the precinct of residence desig¬nated on your voter registration card on Election Day. (During early voting, you may vote at any early voting site convenient to you.)
• You will receive a new certificate every two years, in January of even-numbered years, as long as your registration is not canceled. If you move, your new card will not be forwarded. You must notify your county elections office to get a new certificate. The 2008-2009 voter reg¬istration certificates are orange.
Moving Within the County
• After you move, notify the county elections ad¬ministrator in writing of your new address.
• You may vote at your previous precinct if your registration has not been cancelled or transferred to your new address, but only in county or state¬wide elections. You must still reside in the same city precinct to vote there. You may fill out a change of address form when you vote.
Moving from One County to Another
• If you move from one Texas county to another, you must re-register in the county of your new residence.
• You may be eligible to vote a limited ballot for 90 days after you move if your new registration is not yet effective, but only in statewide races. The limited ballot, however, is available only during early voting, not on Election Day.
8
Voters Guide
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF TEXAS
Non-Partisan. Really.
2009 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION
November 3, 2009
Early voting - October 19 through October 30 Election day - Polls open 7am to 7pm
Issues That Affect You
PROPERTY TAXES • PUBLIC BEACHESVETERANS • PRIVATE PROPERTY • COUNTY LAND
ExplanationCurrently, municipalities and counties do not have a method to raise the revenue needed to acquire land to provide a buffer zone or open space to prevent en¬croachment from development, or to fund the con¬struction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of adjacent military installations.
The amendment would allow a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes, including tax increment bonds or notes, to finance the acquisition of land adjacent to a military base for the above purposes. If passed, it would take effect Dec. 1, 2009.
This Voters Guide is funded and published by the League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund to help citizens prepare to cast informed votes on the elev¬en proposed Constitutional Amendments on November 3, 2009. Associated with the League of Women Voters of Texas, the Texas Education Fund works exclusively for educational purposes in the general areas of gov¬ernment and public policy, carrying out its objectives through research, publication of educational materials, and other appropriate projects. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan orga¬nization that works to promote political responsibility through active, informed participation in government. Neither the League nor the Education Fund supports or opposes any political party or candidate. Check the League’s website for other helpful informa¬tion about elections, voting, and issues: www.lwvtexas.org.
Arguments For
• Bases provide economic benefits to the state and to the counties and cities where they are located. This proposed amendment would pro- tect military installations from encroaching de- velopment that could restrict training and oper- ational missions, which in turn could cause military installations to close. The construction of highways, utilities, or other infrastructure would also protect or promote the military in- stallations. • The passage of this amendment would allow land owners to be compensated for their prop- erty. Any new infrastructure could also increase property values.
Checking your choice in the boxes by each proposed amendment in this Voters Guide can save you time when you are casting your ballot. It is legal for you to take this Voters Guide into the polling place.
PROPOSITION 1
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the fi¬nancing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer area or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or the construction of roadways, utilities, or other in¬frastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.
Arguments Against
• Cities and counties should not take on additional debt at this time.
• Passing this amendment could lead to higher prop- erty taxes for property owners who are already feel- ing budened by a distressed economy.
You may bring this Voters Guide into the voting booth.*
*In 1995, the Texas law prohibiting use of printed materials, such as this Voters Guide, in the polling place was ruled unconstitutional (Texas Election Code, Section 61.011)
© 2009 League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund
ExplanationThis proposition would amend the Texas Constitution to require that administrative and judicial enforcement of uniform standards and procedures for property tax appraisal be prescribed by general law enacted by the Texas Legislature. It would delete the existing re¬quirement that enforcement of these appraisal proce¬dures originate in the county where the tax is imposed.
PROPOSITION 2
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg¬islature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.
Explanation
Residence homesteads throughout the state have expe¬rienced increasing appraisal values, in some instances more than 200 percent in one year, especially if the prop¬erty is not covered by zoning regulations. This is due to the appraisal practice known as “highest and best use,” a common appraisal method that allows property to be valued on its potential use rather than the current use. Residence homesteads located near new commercial de¬velopment, therefore, have the potential for skyrocketing appraisal values. This amendment authorizes the legisla¬ture to require that a residence be appraised only on the basis of the property’s value as a residence, regardless of what the highest and best use of the property may be. It would apply only to residential homesteads, not to sec¬ond homes or investment properties.
Arguments For
• Passing this amendment would allow direct state enforcement authority and oversight over local ap- praisals in order to attain uniformity and equity of appraisal processes throughout the state. The state could take action to address inconsistencies in appraisal methods among counties. • With this amendment in place, owners of prop- erty in different counties would be reassured that their properties were being evaluated in a similar manner and that state funding for public schools, which is based on the taxable property value in each school district, would be more eq- uitably assessed.
Arguments For
• Texas already protects agricultural and timber land from large appraisal increases due to highest and best use. Now the state needs to protect resi- dential property in the same way.
• A residence homestead should be appraised on its present use, not on any possible future use. • Just because there is development in the area does not necessarily mean the property owner gets an advantage from it.
Arguments Against
•This amendment is unnecessary because the state trains appraisers through the State Comptrol- ler’s Office and also produces an annual property tax study, which enables comparison of local property appraisals with the state appraisal of property. • The proposition would result in giving up local control to the state, which might not understand local conditions.
Arguments Against
• The “highest and best use” of a property has an impact on the sales price, which shows the real value.
• This amendment could reduce taxable property values and thus local tax revenues. • The state might have to provide additional equal- ization funding to a school district if property val- ues are lowered, a measure the state cannot af- ford.
PROPOSITION 4
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment establishing the na¬tional research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve nation¬al prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.
PROPOSITION 3
ExplanationIn Texas, only the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are top-tier public research universities. Seven other universities in Texas are con¬
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment providing for uni¬form standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.
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2
sidered emerging research universities. They are Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Arlington, Uni¬versity of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Houston, and University of North Texas.
To enable these emerging research universities in Texas to achieve national prominence, this amendment would establish a new National Research University Fund. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University would not be eligible to receive money from this fund.
The enabling legislation for this amendment would dis¬perse the funds in the National Research University Fund to emerging research institutions through three mecha¬nisms: the Research University Development Fund for educational and general activities that promote increased research capacity, the Texas Research Incentive Program to provide matching grants for donations from private sourc¬es, and the National Research University Benchmark Fund to reward universities that meet critical benchmarks toward achieving national prominence as major research universi¬ties.
PROPOSITION 5
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the leg¬islature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.
ExplanationThe primary function of a board of equalization is to hear appeals of the appraised value of taxable prop¬erty and to resolve disputes between taxpayers and the appraisal district. Each appraisal district must appoint a board of equalization. The prerequisites to serve on such an appraisal review board are minimal; how¬ever, the number of people familiar with the appraisal of property, or who are willing to serve, is limited in some counties. This amendment would allow the Leg¬islature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that want to consolidate their appraisal review process.
Arguments For
• The presence of more tier-one universities would expand the educational opportunities available to Texas students and keep more of them in the state. Currently, Texas loses more than 10,000 high school graduates a year to doctorate-granting universities in other states.
• Tier-one universities are the best way to develop a highly skilled workforce, especially in the scienc- es, engineering, and professional fields that are critical to economic success. • With a population of 24 million and only two public tier-one universities, Texas is at a disad- vantage in attracting and retaining top talent and drawing research and venture capital investment to the state.
Arguments For
•Many rural counties have a difficult time finding enough qualified and willing candidates to sit on their appraisal review boards.
•If appraisal districts can pool their talent for their appraisal reviews, it will help ensure a more professional, equitable and timely appraisal re- view process.
Arguments Against
•Appointed appraisal reviewers from another county may not be familiar enough with the property they must judge in order to resolve dis- putes.
•This amendment does not go far enough in allowing appraisal districts to combine their ef- forts. Many rural counties have a difficult time staffing all aspects of their appraisal districts and should be allowed to consolidate even more functions.
Arguments Against
• In this time of limited state dollars, Texas should focus the use of the National Research University Fund only on those institutions that are closest to attaining tier-one status.
• If there is an urgency to develop more nationally competitive research universities, it would make more sense to target fewer than seven institutions. • The amendment does not include a Sunset pro- vision so that progress could be assessed pe- riodically to determine if this plan is achieving the goal of creating more tier-one research uni- versities.
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PROPOSITION 6
PROPOSITION 7
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil of¬fices.
ExplanationIf this proposed amendment were passed, it would al¬low officers and enlisted members of the Texas State Guard (or other state militia or military force) to hold a public office simultaneously. Currently, civil officials are prohibited from holding more than one compen¬sated civil office, unless specifically exempted in the Constitution. Those now exempted include county commissioners and justices of the peace, notaries pub¬lic and postmasters, and current and retired officers and enlisted members of the National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces.
The Texas State Guard was overlooked during earlier amendments to this section largely because they were not very active. However, in recent years they have become much more active and provide vital services to Texas during natural disasters.
ExplanationThis amendment would allow the Veterans’ Land Board (VLB) to provide for, issue, and sell general obligation bonds for the purpose of selling land or home mortgages to Texas veterans. The amount of the bonds could not exceed the principal amount pre¬viously authorized by constitutional amendments. In effect, the proposed amendment would reauthorize all previously authorized general obligation bonding au¬thority in the Veterans Housing Assistance Fund, the Veterans’ Housing Assistance Fund II, and the Veter¬ans’ Land Fund.
Arguments For
• If this amendment passes, it will increase the amount of funding available to the VLB to assist Texas veterans with home and land mortgages.
• The VLB needs a way to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of its home and land mortgage assis- tance programs without having to return to the Legislature every four years. • VLB land and mortgage general obligation bonds are expected to be paid from revenue sources outside the state treasury. Thus, this proposed amendment would not have a significant fiscal impact to the state or local goverments.
Aguments For
• This amendment would correct an oversight in the Texas Constitution. Currently state employees may also hold office in most branches of the mili- tary, including the National Guard. It is only right that members of the Texas State Guard and other Texas military forces should have the same op- tion.
• Many civil officials would like to become active in the Texas State Guard in order to directly serve Texas in times of disaster. Passing Proposition 7 will make that service possible without these of- ficials giving up their civil duties.
Arguments Against
• It is unwise to add a constitutional amendment about general obligation bonds that extends into the future for an unlimited time without any fur- ther oversight by the Legislature.
• If this amendment passes, elected officials can no longer be held accountable for VLB land and mortgage general obligation bonds. • Helping Texas veterans is important, but state assistance needs to be reviewed and adjusted as needed on a regular basis to reflect the actual numbers of veterans in the state and the economic realities of the state in each time period.
Arguments Against
• State employees have a duty to do the job for which they were hired, even in times of disaster. Thus, it is not reasonable that they should have two jobs vying for their service at the same time.
• Framers of the Texas Constitution specifically prohibited dual office-holding by state employ- ees, and we should not continue to add excep- tions to this rule.
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ExplanationProposition 9 would establish the public’s unre¬stricted right to access public beaches as a per¬manent easement. A public beach is defined as a state-owned beach on the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico from the mean low tide to the landward boundary of the submerged land, and from the mean low tide line to the line of vegetation border¬ing the Gulf of Mexico for which the public has the right of use or easement. The proposed amend¬ment would also authorize the Legislature to enact laws to protect the public access to the beach and the easement from interference and encroachment. There would be no right of private enforcement.
PROPOSITION 8
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state.
ExplanationTexas now has nine inpatient veterans’ hospitals in Houston, Temple, Waco, Bonham, Dallas, Kerrville, San Antonio, Amarillo, and Big Spring. The state does not currently have the authority to contribute to a vet¬erans’ hospital operated by the federal government. This proposed amendment would allow Texas to part¬ner with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and local communities to establish additional health care facilities. Texas ranks third in the coun¬try in the number of veterans residing in the state. In 2007, more than 47,000 inpatient visits and 4.3 million outpatient visits were recorded by the veterans health care facilities in Texas.
Arguments For
•This proposed amendment would strengthen the 1959 Open Beaches Act by making the law part of the Texas Constitution. For 50 years, Texas beaches have been protected as public property, allowing people from all walks of life to have access to beaches. Developers would not be able to build properties along the beach and restrict the public’s access to the beach. •Proposition 9 would protect the public’s right to beach access in the wake of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and coastal erosion, that move the line of vegetation so that private structures may rest on Texas beaches. Several lawsuits regarding the status of houses that are now on public beaches are ongoing. The amendment would reduce such litigation. It would not pre- vent the Legislature from addressing issues re- lated to natural events in the future but would clearly state the intent of Texas law to keep the beaches public.• Property owners who have homes on Texas beaches already know that they face the risk of having their property shift into the public ease- ment. Earnest money contracts, deeds, and title policies all state this risk. Houses on the beach have always been at risk as natural events cause the line between public and private land to move back and forth constantly.
Arguments For
•Texas needs more veterans’ hospitals and other health care facilities to accommodate its large population of veterans.
• The rising cost of travel can sometimes delay care for veterans who must go to one of the nine available hospitals. For instance, a veteran who lives in the Rio Grande Valley area has to travel approximately 300 miles to the nearest veterans’ hospital in San Antonio. Passing Proposition 8 means Texas veterans will have better access to medical care.
Arguments Against
• Partnering with the federal government may lead to unintended consequences of red tape and inter- ference.• A constitutional amendment is unnecessary to ac- complish the goal of working with the federal government and local governments to provide better health care for veterans.
PROPOSITION 9
Arguments Against
• Proposition 9 unfairly allows the state to re- quire property owners whose houses are on public land because of storms and erosion to remove their buildings from public land with out compensation.
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
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• Many homes along the Texas Gulf Coast had ex- isted for a number of years before Hurricane Ike’s winds and storm surge changed the vegetation line and left them on the public beach. These proper- ty owners should not be denied the right to contin- ue to live in their homes or to rebuild their homes.• The Open Beach Act already gives the state too much authority to restrict the right of private land- owners to enjoy their property. Having this proposi- tion in the Constitution would compound the prob- lem by making it much more difficult to change the law in the future.
PROPOSITION 11
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to prohibit the tak¬ing, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of emi¬nent domain to an entity.
PROPOSITION 10
Official Ballot Language
The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emer¬gency service districts may serve terms not to ex¬ceed four years.
Explanation
The Texas Constitution provides for the power of emi¬nent domain, which allows private property to be taken for public use with adequate compensation even if the property owner does not wish to sell. Lands for public purposes such as highways, railroads, and public utili¬ties have sometimes been acquired by eminent domain. A 2005 Texas law forbids taking of private property for purposes of economic development or the benefit of a private party.
This amendment would spell out the conditions under which private property could be taken by eminent do¬main. Specifically, the taken property must be owned, used, and enjoyed by the public at large, state or local government, or other agency granted the power of emi¬nent domain by law. Taking private property for eco¬nomic development or to enhance tax revenues would be prohibited by the Texas Constitution, not simply by Texas law. In addition, property could be taken if nec¬essary to eradicate urban blight on the property. As of January 1, 2010, the power of eminent domain could be granted only by a two-thirds vote of the Texas Leg¬islature.
ExplanationThe Texas Constitution currently limits the duration of all public terms of office to two years unless oth¬erwise provided in the Constitution. Proposition 10 would amend the Constitution to allow members of governing boards of Texas emergency service dis¬tricts to serve terms not to exceed four years.
Argument For
•Longer terms of service would promote stability and continuity on emergency services districts’ boards.• There is already a legislative precedent for four year terms for hospital districts, whose duties sometimes relate to and overlap emergency ser- vices districts.• Longer terms would help avoid the politicization of essentially non-partisan positions by eliminat- ing an election every two years.
Argument Against
Arguments For
• Longer terms of service for governing boards of emergency services districts diminish public over- sight of the districts.• Because these district boards have the power to levy taxes, they should be accountable to voters every two years, just as the members of the Texas House of Representatives are.• The current system has adequate protection against improper political interference since the elections are non-partisan.
•Passing Proposition 11 would strengthen the ban on taking property for economic development by mak- ing this ban a part of the Texas Constitution. The language would require a condemning authority to keep the property in its possession, occupy it, and use it for some productive purpose.
•This proposition would further protect the rights of private property owners by requiring separate action on each individual property in blighted areas.
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• Passage of this proposition would also limit expan- sion of eminent domain by requiring a two-thirds vote of the Texas Legislature to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do I vote?
For early voting and election day voting locations, call the county clerk or elections administrator’s of¬fice in the county in which you are registered, or go to www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml and scroll to your county. Your local newspaper may also list voting locations.
How do I register to vote?
You may register to vote at any time with your coun¬ty’s election official, who may be the County Tax Assessor, the County Election Administrator, or the County Clerk. You can also register to vote at any time online at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections. During a voter registration drive, it may also be possible to register with a deputized voter registrar. To vote in a particular election, your application for registration must be postmarked or received by the registrar at least thirty days before that election.
October 5 is the deadline to register to vote in the November 3, 2009, election.
What is a provisional ballot?
If your name is not on the list of registered voters in your precinct, and you do not have a valid registra¬tion card, you are entitled to vote a “provisional bal¬lot” which will be kept sealed while a ballot board investigates the problem. You must provide some form of identification to show that you reside in that precinct. You also must vote in the correct precinct on Election Day. Even if you are found to be legally registered, your provisional vote will not be counted if you did not cast it in the correct precinct.
Arguments Against
•Proposition 11 is unnecessary because Texas stat- ute already prohibits taking private property by eminent domain for economic development.
•The “ownership, use, and enjoyment” language may prohibit certain legitimate uses of eminent domain. The language should be amended to read “ownership, use, or enjoyment.” This language requires that any taking, damaging, or destroying of private property must meet all three criteria (owner- ship, use, and enjoyment).•Crucial needs for eminent domain supported by the majority of Texas legislators may be thwarted if this amendment is added to the Texas Constitution.
LWV-Texas Voters Guides are funded by the LWV-Texas Education Fund, a 501 (c) (3) corporation which is supported by contributions from individu¬als, corporations, and foundations. The Education Fund gratefully acknowledges major contributions in the past year from the following:
Harold Simmons FoundationAARPHatton W. Sumners FoundationTexas Bar FoundationLWVEF
Susybelle Gosslee
Pat Vaughan
Linda Wassenich
Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Texas Counseling Association
Texas Nurses Association
Dodge Jones Foudation
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Ruth Bowers
Ruthann Geer
H-E-B
Julia Marsden
Diane Sheridan
Nancy Wilson
Darlene Hicks
More Information
Secretary of State
www.sos.state.tx.us
Texas Legislature Online
www.legis.state.tx.us
LWV-Texas
www.lwvtx.org
Special thanks to Jacqueline Pike for the Spanish translation of the Voters Guide.
On Election Day, November 3, 2009, the polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Voters Guide is protected by copyright. For permission to duplicate the Guide, please call the LWV-Texas office at 512-472-1100.
7
2009 Constitutional Amendment Election
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
Texas voters have approved 456 amendments to the Texas Constitution since its adoption in 1876. An amendment is proposed in a joint resolution that can originate in either house of the state legislature, during a regular or special session. A joint resolution specifies the election date and may contain more than one amendment. The joint resolu¬tion must receive a vote of two-thirds of each house before it is presented to the voters. The governor cannot veto a joint resolution.
The governor can, however, veto the enabling legislation, the bill to enact the amendment if it is passed by voters. Not all joint resolutions require enabling legislation. If the voters reject an amendment, the enabling legislation does not take effect. If the resolution fails, the Legislature may resubmit it in a future legislative session.
The legislature prescribes the ballot language for the joint resolution. Once the amendment is approved by both houses of the legislature, the Secretary of State writes a brief explanatory statement, which then is approved by the Attorney General. The Secretary of State also conducts a random drawing to assign each proposed amendment a proposition number. The constitution specifies that these statements be published twice in each newspaper in the state that prints official notices. The first publication is printed 50 to 60 days before the election. The second pub¬lication is printed the following week.
Amendments take effect when the official vote canvass confirms statewide voter approval, unless a later date is specified in the joint resolution.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING IN TEXAS
• You must be a citizen of the United States.
• You must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election.
• You must be registered to vote.
• You must not have been declared mentally incom- petent by a court.
• You must not be on parole, probation, or in prison for a felony conviction.
• To vote in a given election, you must be registered to vote 30 days before that election. October 5th is the deadline to register to vote in this election.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting for the November 3, 2009, election begins on October 19 and ends on October 30 in counties with more than 100,000 people. Early voting is not mandated in small¬er counties, but may be offered. Check with your County Clerk or Election Administrator for locations and hours of early voting. You may also vote early by mail by requesting an application to be mailed to you from your County Clerk, or by filling out a form online at www.sos.state.tx.us/elec¬tions/voter/reqabbm.shtml.
VOTER INFORMATION
Voting Certificate
• Once you are registered, you will receive a voter regis¬tration card or certificate which you should present at the polling place in order to vote.
• If you have lost or misplaced your certificate, you may get a replacement from the voter registrar of your county. You may vote without a certificate if your name appears on the list of registered voters for your precinct and you can show some form of identification, such as a driver’s license.
• You must vote in the precinct of residence desig¬nated on your voter registration card on Election Day. (During early voting, you may vote at any early voting site convenient to you.)
• You will receive a new certificate every two years, in January of even-numbered years, as long as your registration is not canceled. If you move, your new card will not be forwarded. You must notify your county elections office to get a new certificate. The 2008-2009 voter reg¬istration certificates are orange.
Moving Within the County
• After you move, notify the county elections ad¬ministrator in writing of your new address.
• You may vote at your previous precinct if your registration has not been cancelled or transferred to your new address, but only in county or state¬wide elections. You must still reside in the same city precinct to vote there. You may fill out a change of address form when you vote.
Moving from One County to Another
• If you move from one Texas county to another, you must re-register in the county of your new residence.
• You may be eligible to vote a limited ballot for 90 days after you move if your new registration is not yet effective, but only in statewide races. The limited ballot, however, is available only during early voting, not on Election Day.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Let's Hear It For China?
WTF is an understatement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The U.S. is honoring communist China…..what’s next???? An all-out tribute to Hitler himself? I know…..we can super-impose his face on the Statue of Liberty.
We cant succeed fast enough for me.
Empire State Building turns red-yellow for China's 60th
(AFP) – 16 hours ago
NEW YORK — New York's iconic Empire State Building will light up red and yellow Wednesday in honor of the 60th anniversary of communist China.
The Chinese consul, Peng Keyu, and other officials will take part in the lighting ceremony which will bathe the skyscraper in the colors of the People's Republic until Thursday, Empire State Building representatives said in a statement.
The upper sections of the building are regularly illuminated to mark special occasions, ranging from all blue to mark "Old Blue Eyes" Frank Sinatra's death in 1998 to green for the annual Saint Patrick's Day.
Just last week the tower turned bright red.
However, that was not to mark some other communist achievement, but the 70th anniversary of the film "The Wizard of Oz" in which Dorothy wears ruby slippers rather than the silver of the original L. Frank Baum novel.
The U.S. is honoring communist China…..what’s next???? An all-out tribute to Hitler himself? I know…..we can super-impose his face on the Statue of Liberty.
We cant succeed fast enough for me.
Empire State Building turns red-yellow for China's 60th
(AFP) – 16 hours ago
NEW YORK — New York's iconic Empire State Building will light up red and yellow Wednesday in honor of the 60th anniversary of communist China.
The Chinese consul, Peng Keyu, and other officials will take part in the lighting ceremony which will bathe the skyscraper in the colors of the People's Republic until Thursday, Empire State Building representatives said in a statement.
The upper sections of the building are regularly illuminated to mark special occasions, ranging from all blue to mark "Old Blue Eyes" Frank Sinatra's death in 1998 to green for the annual Saint Patrick's Day.
Just last week the tower turned bright red.
However, that was not to mark some other communist achievement, but the 70th anniversary of the film "The Wizard of Oz" in which Dorothy wears ruby slippers rather than the silver of the original L. Frank Baum novel.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hutchison Fems Want Perry Apology
Recent polls have shown that Senator Hutchison and Governor Perry are running pretty much neck and neck in the race for Governor of The Great State of Texas. But according to a new poll, women voters prefer Hutchison by a small percentage over Perry. Some might think the slight favor of Hutchison by the “fems” is merely a “women sticking together” sort of thing. But, more than likely it is the comment made recently by a Perry political consultant to the Dallas Morning News. While commenting on a story concerning the state of the national Republican Party, (not the Governors race) Dave Carney stated….”But that doesn’t mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in”. Well, talk about put some panties in a knot…geez. Of course, I am sure that Senator Hutchison’s stand on certain issues has something to do females support as well. For instance, she supports embryonic stem cell research and abortion rights. Granted she is not in favor of federal funding for organizations that perform abortions and is in favor of a ban on late-term abortions but, the Republican Party platform stands against abortion, period. So the girls just assumed that Mr. Carney was referring to Senator Huthchison when he made the whorehouse comment. If I were the Senator I would wonder whey the femi-nazi’s made such an assumption. After all I may support Governor Perry for re-election but, Kay Bailey is very much a lady and a great representative for this state.
A letter demanding an apology from Governor Perry by the gals in this matter is below.
(It’s so disappointing when a small group of women make the rest of us look so petty and childish.)
Dear Governor Perry,
As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to "opening the doors of a whorehouse" in the pages of this past Saturday's Dallas Morning News.
While we come from all corners of Texas and from all walks of life, we come together to express beliefs that are shared by countless others. There is no room in campaign politics for your strategist's recent comments, and even less room for it in a discussion about the future of our great state. Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere.
What would be just as alarming, if it weren't something we as Texans had come to realize years ago, is that this slash and burn rhetoric is not new to your campaigns, or your governorship. The sentiments espoused by David Carney, that someone who isn't as ideologically pure as you claim to be has no place in our party nor anything to offer our state, is in keeping with how you've governed -- through division and an appeal to fear.
Texas can do better; Texas certainly deserves better. In order to ensure that we are able to meet the challenges of the coming years, we must have leadership that addresses the needs of our entire state, not simply the wants of a select few.
We therefore call on you to apologize for and repudiate your adviser's words in the most serious manner, and believe these comments beg the questions: is this divisive rhetoric all you are left with, and should we expect more of it from your campaign? If so, we ask that you save the Republican Party and Texas the bother.
Signed,
Denise McNamara, Dallas
Kris Anne Vogelpohl, Galveston
Betsy Lake, Houston
Penny Butler, Houston
Lisa Nowlin, Lubbock
Rosalind Redfern Grover, Midland
Jacque Allen, Wichita Falls
A letter demanding an apology from Governor Perry by the gals in this matter is below.
(It’s so disappointing when a small group of women make the rest of us look so petty and childish.)
Dear Governor Perry,
As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to "opening the doors of a whorehouse" in the pages of this past Saturday's Dallas Morning News.
While we come from all corners of Texas and from all walks of life, we come together to express beliefs that are shared by countless others. There is no room in campaign politics for your strategist's recent comments, and even less room for it in a discussion about the future of our great state. Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere.
What would be just as alarming, if it weren't something we as Texans had come to realize years ago, is that this slash and burn rhetoric is not new to your campaigns, or your governorship. The sentiments espoused by David Carney, that someone who isn't as ideologically pure as you claim to be has no place in our party nor anything to offer our state, is in keeping with how you've governed -- through division and an appeal to fear.
Texas can do better; Texas certainly deserves better. In order to ensure that we are able to meet the challenges of the coming years, we must have leadership that addresses the needs of our entire state, not simply the wants of a select few.
We therefore call on you to apologize for and repudiate your adviser's words in the most serious manner, and believe these comments beg the questions: is this divisive rhetoric all you are left with, and should we expect more of it from your campaign? If so, we ask that you save the Republican Party and Texas the bother.
Signed,
Denise McNamara, Dallas
Kris Anne Vogelpohl, Galveston
Betsy Lake, Houston
Penny Butler, Houston
Lisa Nowlin, Lubbock
Rosalind Redfern Grover, Midland
Jacque Allen, Wichita Falls
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Who's On First, What's On Second, I Don't Know's On Third
Believe it or not, our oh so intelligent government is now planning to…..get this….asking banks to bail out the government. Excuse me but didn’t we just get screwed with a stimulus package to bail out the banks? Okay, so now I am totally confused. Really, if it weren’t so serious, I would have to laugh at the complete insanity of the whole thing. All of the suits in Washington are running in circles like a dog chasing its tail. (Sorry to include you pups in that analogy….I didn’t mean to insult you.) But it really is like watching a bad episode of the Keystone Cops….on crack!! What may even be worse than their incompetence is the fact that half of the country voted to put Obama in Ford Sterling’s old position.
Read more about this absurd game of ping pong at taxpayer’s expense below.
US officials may soon ask banks to bail out the government22 Sep 2009, 1547 hrs IST, New York Times
WASHINGTON: Tired of the government bailing out banks? Get ready for this: officials may soon ask banks to bail out the government.
Senior regulators say they are seriously considering a plan to have the nation’s healthy banks lend billions of dollars to rescue the federal insurance fund that protects bank depositors. That would enable the fund, which is rapidly running out of money because of a wave of bank failures, to continue to rescue the sickest banks.
The plan, strongly supported by bankers and their lobbyists, would be a major reversal of fortune.
A hallmark of the financial crisis has been the decision by successive administrations over the last year to lend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to large and small banks.
"It’s a nice irony," said Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, a consulting company. "Like so much of this crisis, this is an issue that involves the least-worst options."
Bankers and their lobbyists like the idea because it is more attractive than the alternatives: yet another across-the-board emergency assessment on them, or tapping an existing $100 billion credit line to the Treasury.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which oversees the fund, is said to be reluctant to use its authority to borrow from the Treasury.
Under the law, the FDIC would not need permission from the Treasury to tap into a credit line of up to $100 billion. But such a step is said to be unpalatable to Sheila C. Bair, the agency chairwoman whose relations with the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, have been strained.
"Sheila Bair would take bamboo shoots under her nails before going to Tim Geithner and the Treasury for help," said Camden R. Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers. "She’d do just about anything before going there."
Bankers said they worry that a special assessment of $5 billion to $10 billion over the next six months would crimp their profits and could push a handful of banks into deeper financial trouble or even receivership. And any new borrowing from the Treasury would be construed as a taxpayer bailout that could open the industry to a political reaction, resulting in a wave of restrictions like fresh limits on executive pay.
Any populist furor could be avoided, the thinking goes, if the government borrows instead from the banks.
"Borrowing from healthy banks, instead of the Treasury, has the advantage of keeping this in the family," said Karen M. Thomas, executive vice president of government relations at the Independent Community of America, a trade group representing about 5,000 banks. "It is much better for perceptions than having the fund borrow from somewhere else."
Ultimately, officials say, the deposit insurance corporation could settle on a plan that replenishes the insurance fund by doing some of both: borrowing from healthy banks to shore up the shorter-term liquidity needs of the fund, and imposing a special fee on banks to increase the longer-term capital level of the fund.
Since January the FDIC has seized 94 failing banks, causing a rapid decline in the deposit insurance fund. Despite a special assessment imposed on banks a few months ago to keep the fund afloat, its cash balance now stands at about $10 billion, a third of its size at the start of the year. (Another $32 billion has been set aside for failures that officials expect to occur in the coming months.)
The fund, which stands behind $4.8 trillion in insured deposits, could be wiped out by the failure of a single large bank, although the deposit insurance corporation could always seek a taxpayer bailout by borrowing from the Treasury to stay afloat.
Officials say that the FDIC will issue a proposed plan next week to begin to restore the financial health of the ailing fund.
There is no consensus among the five board members, consisting of Bair, two other FDIC officials, and the heads of the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Others may propose novel ways to replenish the fund, for example, by asking the banks to prepay the premiums that they were planning to make next year.
Borrowing from the industry is allowed under an obscure provision of a 1991 law adopted during the savings and loan crisis. The lending banks would receive bonds from the government at an interest rate that would be set by the Treasury secretary and ultimately would be paid by the rest of the industry. The bonds would be listed as an asset on the books of the banks.
Read more about this absurd game of ping pong at taxpayer’s expense below.
US officials may soon ask banks to bail out the government22 Sep 2009, 1547 hrs IST, New York Times
WASHINGTON: Tired of the government bailing out banks? Get ready for this: officials may soon ask banks to bail out the government.
Senior regulators say they are seriously considering a plan to have the nation’s healthy banks lend billions of dollars to rescue the federal insurance fund that protects bank depositors. That would enable the fund, which is rapidly running out of money because of a wave of bank failures, to continue to rescue the sickest banks.
The plan, strongly supported by bankers and their lobbyists, would be a major reversal of fortune.
A hallmark of the financial crisis has been the decision by successive administrations over the last year to lend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to large and small banks.
"It’s a nice irony," said Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, a consulting company. "Like so much of this crisis, this is an issue that involves the least-worst options."
Bankers and their lobbyists like the idea because it is more attractive than the alternatives: yet another across-the-board emergency assessment on them, or tapping an existing $100 billion credit line to the Treasury.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which oversees the fund, is said to be reluctant to use its authority to borrow from the Treasury.
Under the law, the FDIC would not need permission from the Treasury to tap into a credit line of up to $100 billion. But such a step is said to be unpalatable to Sheila C. Bair, the agency chairwoman whose relations with the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, have been strained.
"Sheila Bair would take bamboo shoots under her nails before going to Tim Geithner and the Treasury for help," said Camden R. Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers. "She’d do just about anything before going there."
Bankers said they worry that a special assessment of $5 billion to $10 billion over the next six months would crimp their profits and could push a handful of banks into deeper financial trouble or even receivership. And any new borrowing from the Treasury would be construed as a taxpayer bailout that could open the industry to a political reaction, resulting in a wave of restrictions like fresh limits on executive pay.
Any populist furor could be avoided, the thinking goes, if the government borrows instead from the banks.
"Borrowing from healthy banks, instead of the Treasury, has the advantage of keeping this in the family," said Karen M. Thomas, executive vice president of government relations at the Independent Community of America, a trade group representing about 5,000 banks. "It is much better for perceptions than having the fund borrow from somewhere else."
Ultimately, officials say, the deposit insurance corporation could settle on a plan that replenishes the insurance fund by doing some of both: borrowing from healthy banks to shore up the shorter-term liquidity needs of the fund, and imposing a special fee on banks to increase the longer-term capital level of the fund.
Since January the FDIC has seized 94 failing banks, causing a rapid decline in the deposit insurance fund. Despite a special assessment imposed on banks a few months ago to keep the fund afloat, its cash balance now stands at about $10 billion, a third of its size at the start of the year. (Another $32 billion has been set aside for failures that officials expect to occur in the coming months.)
The fund, which stands behind $4.8 trillion in insured deposits, could be wiped out by the failure of a single large bank, although the deposit insurance corporation could always seek a taxpayer bailout by borrowing from the Treasury to stay afloat.
Officials say that the FDIC will issue a proposed plan next week to begin to restore the financial health of the ailing fund.
There is no consensus among the five board members, consisting of Bair, two other FDIC officials, and the heads of the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Others may propose novel ways to replenish the fund, for example, by asking the banks to prepay the premiums that they were planning to make next year.
Borrowing from the industry is allowed under an obscure provision of a 1991 law adopted during the savings and loan crisis. The lending banks would receive bonds from the government at an interest rate that would be set by the Treasury secretary and ultimately would be paid by the rest of the industry. The bonds would be listed as an asset on the books of the banks.
Monday, September 21, 2009
So Just Who Benefits From ACORN?
In the article below, an ACORN official states that a lack of federal funding will not hurt the organization. “This is backfiring on conservatives” says Ginny Goldman, head organizer of ACORN’s Texas operations. "People who benefit from ACORN are saying, 'what can I do to help?' They're sending checks. They're mad. They know ………Whoa! Back up! Did she say that they are sending checks? Well unless I am missing something, the people that benefit from ACORN don’t have any money. That’s why they go to the crooked organization to begin with. So where are they getting the extra cash to send to ACORN. Oh, silly me. I forgot. They run whore houses on the side. Duuhhhh. Perhaps each thirteen year old, illegal immigrant prostitute puts in a percent of their take to the pimp daddy just for ACORN donations. After all….they did put a roof over their heads.
Controversy over ACORN flares in Texas
By Mike Ward
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
As controversy over the advocacy group ACORN flared from Washington into Texas on Tuesday, state politicians quickly began lining up to oppose federal financing for the group and to cut off any state financing.
At the same time, ACORN officials in Texas said the dispute was helping, not hurting, their work by triggering an outpouring of Lone Star support.
The back-and-forth unspooled Tuesday, a day after the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to block the Department of Housing and Urban Development from giving grants to ACORN, which stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The vote was a response to hidden-camera videos released by conservative activists posing as a prostitute and a pimp that showed ACORN employees in Baltimore advising them to lie about her profession and launder her earnings to receive housing assistance.
The video was created by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles and posted on BigGovernment.com, where O'Keefe identifies himself as an activist filmmaker. Other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in California, New York and the District of Columbia.
As the Senate moved to cut off all federal money to the group, Texas Republican officials weighed in.
"ACORN is a radical liberal organization facing serious allegations of voter fraud, as well as new charges stemming from the recent videos uncovering criminal conduct and should not receive taxpayer dollars," said Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, who is campaigning for U.S. Senate.
The issue became a flashpoint in the Texas governor's campaign, with incumbent Republican Rick Perry blasting GOP U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, his challenger, for skipping a vote on the issue to attend a fundraiser. Hutchison fired back with a photo showing Perry in 2005 surrounded by ACORN members as he signed a bill they supported.
Meanwhile, ACORN officials in Texas predicted that the five offices that serve an estimated 50,000 Texans — Austin currently has no office — would see little impact.
"This is actually backfiring on conservatives," said Ginny Goldman, head organizer of ACORN's Texas operations. "People who benefit from ACORN are saying, 'what can I do to help?' They're sending checks. They're mad. They know what this is about: politics."
Goldman said that even if the HUD money is cut, the group's Texas operations would not be affected much because they are financed through donations and grants from foundations.
"We never built this organization on government funding," she said. "If we thought the government was doing a good job at the programs that we assist low- and moderate-income families with, we wouldn't be in business."
In Texas, the group has offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso and provides programs that assist people with tax preparation, foreclosure prevention, new citizenship assistance, hurricane recovery, voter registration and counseling on coping with high summer electric bills. It is part of ACORN's national program of community outreach and advocacy.
The group is perhaps best known in Texas for filing a lawsuit after Hurricane Katrina that led to 4,200 families getting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that they earlier had been denied.
Already under fire in several voter-fraud registration cases, ACORN on Tuesday was faced with calls for an FBI investigation into the latest flap. Last week, after months of GOP criticism of the U.S. Census Bureau's plans to work with ACORN in collecting census data and the group's voter-registration programs that they claim benefit Democrats, the census agency severed its ties with the organization.
The group conducted a massive voter registration effort last year and became a target of conservatives when some employees were accused of submitting false registration forms with names such as "Mickey Mouse."
On the hidden camera incident, ACORN said Tuesday that it has fired the employees involved, but it has lashed out at Fox for pumping up the scandal. In a statement, Bertha Lewis, ACORN's chief organizer, said the tapes had been doctored and violated Maryland's wiretapping laws. She promised to sue Fox.
Fox News spokeswoman Dana Klinghoffer said the tapes were vetted editorially before they were aired.
Conservative lawmakers in Washington and Texas insisted their criticisms of ACORN are on the mark.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, said her office is investigating whether ACORN receives any state money, and if so, she is asking state officials to determine how financing can be stopped while the Legislature is not in session.
U.S. Rep Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, called for FBI and Department of Justice investigations into ACORN. Two other wannabes vying to replace Hutchison — Democrat John Sharp of Austin and Republican Florence Shapiro of Plano — said they would have voted with the Senate majority.
State officials said they could not immediately determine whether ACORN receives state money.
mward@statesman.com; 445-1712
Additional material from The Associated Press.
Controversy over ACORN flares in Texas
By Mike Ward
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
As controversy over the advocacy group ACORN flared from Washington into Texas on Tuesday, state politicians quickly began lining up to oppose federal financing for the group and to cut off any state financing.
At the same time, ACORN officials in Texas said the dispute was helping, not hurting, their work by triggering an outpouring of Lone Star support.
The back-and-forth unspooled Tuesday, a day after the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to block the Department of Housing and Urban Development from giving grants to ACORN, which stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The vote was a response to hidden-camera videos released by conservative activists posing as a prostitute and a pimp that showed ACORN employees in Baltimore advising them to lie about her profession and launder her earnings to receive housing assistance.
The video was created by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles and posted on BigGovernment.com, where O'Keefe identifies himself as an activist filmmaker. Other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in California, New York and the District of Columbia.
As the Senate moved to cut off all federal money to the group, Texas Republican officials weighed in.
"ACORN is a radical liberal organization facing serious allegations of voter fraud, as well as new charges stemming from the recent videos uncovering criminal conduct and should not receive taxpayer dollars," said Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, who is campaigning for U.S. Senate.
The issue became a flashpoint in the Texas governor's campaign, with incumbent Republican Rick Perry blasting GOP U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, his challenger, for skipping a vote on the issue to attend a fundraiser. Hutchison fired back with a photo showing Perry in 2005 surrounded by ACORN members as he signed a bill they supported.
Meanwhile, ACORN officials in Texas predicted that the five offices that serve an estimated 50,000 Texans — Austin currently has no office — would see little impact.
"This is actually backfiring on conservatives," said Ginny Goldman, head organizer of ACORN's Texas operations. "People who benefit from ACORN are saying, 'what can I do to help?' They're sending checks. They're mad. They know what this is about: politics."
Goldman said that even if the HUD money is cut, the group's Texas operations would not be affected much because they are financed through donations and grants from foundations.
"We never built this organization on government funding," she said. "If we thought the government was doing a good job at the programs that we assist low- and moderate-income families with, we wouldn't be in business."
In Texas, the group has offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso and provides programs that assist people with tax preparation, foreclosure prevention, new citizenship assistance, hurricane recovery, voter registration and counseling on coping with high summer electric bills. It is part of ACORN's national program of community outreach and advocacy.
The group is perhaps best known in Texas for filing a lawsuit after Hurricane Katrina that led to 4,200 families getting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that they earlier had been denied.
Already under fire in several voter-fraud registration cases, ACORN on Tuesday was faced with calls for an FBI investigation into the latest flap. Last week, after months of GOP criticism of the U.S. Census Bureau's plans to work with ACORN in collecting census data and the group's voter-registration programs that they claim benefit Democrats, the census agency severed its ties with the organization.
The group conducted a massive voter registration effort last year and became a target of conservatives when some employees were accused of submitting false registration forms with names such as "Mickey Mouse."
On the hidden camera incident, ACORN said Tuesday that it has fired the employees involved, but it has lashed out at Fox for pumping up the scandal. In a statement, Bertha Lewis, ACORN's chief organizer, said the tapes had been doctored and violated Maryland's wiretapping laws. She promised to sue Fox.
Fox News spokeswoman Dana Klinghoffer said the tapes were vetted editorially before they were aired.
Conservative lawmakers in Washington and Texas insisted their criticisms of ACORN are on the mark.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, said her office is investigating whether ACORN receives any state money, and if so, she is asking state officials to determine how financing can be stopped while the Legislature is not in session.
U.S. Rep Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, called for FBI and Department of Justice investigations into ACORN. Two other wannabes vying to replace Hutchison — Democrat John Sharp of Austin and Republican Florence Shapiro of Plano — said they would have voted with the Senate majority.
State officials said they could not immediately determine whether ACORN receives state money.
mward@statesman.com; 445-1712
Additional material from The Associated Press.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Pay Attention America
This is merely a handful of the Bills waiting their turn to hit the House Floor or that have already been passed.
S.448 - Free Flow of Information Act of 2009
A bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by...
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 219 Views
S.1551 - Liability for Aiding and Abetting Securities Violations Act of 2009
A bill to amend section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to allow for a private civil action against a person that provides substanti...
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 130 Views
S.369 - Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act
A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market.
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 98 Views
S.1671
A bill to enhance the reporting requirements on the status of the Arab League trade boycott of Israel and other trade boycotts of Israel.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 26 Views
S.1670 - Satellite Television Modernization Act of 2009
A bill to reform and modernize the limitations on exclusive rights relating to secondary transmissions of certain signals.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 22 Views
.
S.J.Res.9
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Senate Passed Sep 11, 2009 46 Views
S.J.Res.19
A joint resolution granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, an...
Senate Passed Aug 19, 2009 61 Views
S.J.Res.7
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the election of Senators.
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 406 Views
S.J.Res.14
A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding India...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 82 Views
S.J.Res.17
A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purp...
Introduced Jul 29, 2009 49 Views
S.Con.Res.39
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that stable and affordable housing is an essential component of an effective stra...
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Con.Res.38
A concurrent resolution expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of the need for screeni...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 55 Views
S.Con.Res.29
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that John Arthur "Jack" Johnson should receive a posthumous pardon for the racial...
Senate Passed Jul 29, 2009 97 Views
S.Con.Res.35
A concurrent resolution authorizing printing of the pocket version of the United States Constitution.
Senate Passed Jul 29, 2009 51 Views
S.Con.Res.37
A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability.
Introduced Jul 28, 2009 44 Views
S.Res.267
A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Senate Passed Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Res.268
A resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense co...
Senate Passed Sep 15, 2009 5 Views
S.Res.266
A resolution recognizing the contributions of John Sweeney to the United States labor movement.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Res.264
A resolution designating the Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building as the "Kennedy Caucus Room".
Senate Passed Sep 14, 2009 35 Views
S.Res.263
A resolution designating October 2009 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month".
Introduced Sep 14, 2009 50 Views
H.R.985 - Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 (Anti-Freedom of Speech Act)
To maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certai...
House Passed Sep 17, 2009 272 Views
H.R.22 - United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act of 2009
To amend title 5, United States Code, to reduce the amount that the United States Postal Service is required to pay into the Postal Service Re...
House Passed Sep 16, 2009 265 Views
H.R.3221 - Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 653 Views
H.R.3246 - Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009
To provide for a program of research, development, demonstration and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 326 Views
H.R.3137
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide clarification relating to the authority of the United
S.J.Res.1 (So Obama Can Run The Country Indefinitely)
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of C...
Introduced Jan 06, 2009 39 Views
S.J.Res.2
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress and the States to prohibit the act...
Introduced Jan 06, 2009 34 Views
S.J.Res.3
A joint resolution ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of the Interior are those which wer...
Senate Passed Jan 16, 2009 8 Views
S.J.Res.4
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the dir...
Introduced Jan 08, 2009 39 Views
S.J.Res.5
A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of obligations under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
Senate Defeats Jan 15, 2009 34 Views
S.J.Res.6
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to United States citizenship.
Introduced Jan 16, 2009 54 Views
S.J.Res.7
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the election of Senators.
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 411 Views
S.J.Res.8
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institu...
Senate Passed May 07, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.9
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Senate Passed Sep 11, 2009 43 Views
S.J.Res.10
A joint resolution supporting a base Defense Budget that at the very minimum matches 4 percent of gross domestic product.
Introduced Feb 12, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.11
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to a seat in the House of Representatives for the ...
Introduced Feb 25, 2009 38 Views
S.J.Res.12
A joint resolution proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously.
Senate Passed Mar 03, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.13
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to parental rights.
Introduced Mar 03, 2009 14 Views
S.J.Res.14
A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding India...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 86 Views
S.J.Res.15
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecrati...
Introduced May 06, 2009 53 Views
S.J.Res.16
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to parental rights.
Introduced May 14, 2009 61 Views
S.J.Res.17
A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purp...
Introduced Jul 29, 2009 48 Views
S.J.Res.18
A joint resolution relating to the approval of the proposed agreement for nuclear cooperation between the United States and the United Arab Em...
Introduced Jul 13, 2009 56 Views
S.J.Res.19
A joint resolution granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, an...
Senate Passed Aug 19, 2009 59 Views
S.448 - Free Flow of Information Act of 2009
A bill to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by...
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 219 Views
S.1551 - Liability for Aiding and Abetting Securities Violations Act of 2009
A bill to amend section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to allow for a private civil action against a person that provides substanti...
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 130 Views
S.369 - Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act
A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market.
Introduced Sep 17, 2009 98 Views
S.1671
A bill to enhance the reporting requirements on the status of the Arab League trade boycott of Israel and other trade boycotts of Israel.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 26 Views
S.1670 - Satellite Television Modernization Act of 2009
A bill to reform and modernize the limitations on exclusive rights relating to secondary transmissions of certain signals.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 22 Views
.
S.J.Res.9
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Senate Passed Sep 11, 2009 46 Views
S.J.Res.19
A joint resolution granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, an...
Senate Passed Aug 19, 2009 61 Views
S.J.Res.7
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the election of Senators.
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 406 Views
S.J.Res.14
A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding India...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 82 Views
S.J.Res.17
A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purp...
Introduced Jul 29, 2009 49 Views
S.Con.Res.39
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that stable and affordable housing is an essential component of an effective stra...
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Con.Res.38
A concurrent resolution expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of the need for screeni...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 55 Views
S.Con.Res.29
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that John Arthur "Jack" Johnson should receive a posthumous pardon for the racial...
Senate Passed Jul 29, 2009 97 Views
S.Con.Res.35
A concurrent resolution authorizing printing of the pocket version of the United States Constitution.
Senate Passed Jul 29, 2009 51 Views
S.Con.Res.37
A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability.
Introduced Jul 28, 2009 44 Views
S.Res.267
A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Senate Passed Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Res.268
A resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense co...
Senate Passed Sep 15, 2009 5 Views
S.Res.266
A resolution recognizing the contributions of John Sweeney to the United States labor movement.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 3 Views
S.Res.264
A resolution designating the Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building as the "Kennedy Caucus Room".
Senate Passed Sep 14, 2009 35 Views
S.Res.263
A resolution designating October 2009 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month".
Introduced Sep 14, 2009 50 Views
H.R.985 - Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 (Anti-Freedom of Speech Act)
To maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certai...
House Passed Sep 17, 2009 272 Views
H.R.22 - United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act of 2009
To amend title 5, United States Code, to reduce the amount that the United States Postal Service is required to pay into the Postal Service Re...
House Passed Sep 16, 2009 265 Views
H.R.3221 - Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 653 Views
H.R.3246 - Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009
To provide for a program of research, development, demonstration and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy.
Introduced Sep 15, 2009 326 Views
H.R.3137
To amend title 39, United States Code, to provide clarification relating to the authority of the United
S.J.Res.1 (So Obama Can Run The Country Indefinitely)
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of C...
Introduced Jan 06, 2009 39 Views
S.J.Res.2
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress and the States to prohibit the act...
Introduced Jan 06, 2009 34 Views
S.J.Res.3
A joint resolution ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of the Interior are those which wer...
Senate Passed Jan 16, 2009 8 Views
S.J.Res.4
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the dir...
Introduced Jan 08, 2009 39 Views
S.J.Res.5
A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of obligations under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
Senate Defeats Jan 15, 2009 34 Views
S.J.Res.6
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to United States citizenship.
Introduced Jan 16, 2009 54 Views
S.J.Res.7
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the election of Senators.
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 411 Views
S.J.Res.8
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institu...
Senate Passed May 07, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.9
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Senate Passed Sep 11, 2009 43 Views
S.J.Res.10
A joint resolution supporting a base Defense Budget that at the very minimum matches 4 percent of gross domestic product.
Introduced Feb 12, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.11
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to a seat in the House of Representatives for the ...
Introduced Feb 25, 2009 38 Views
S.J.Res.12
A joint resolution proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously.
Senate Passed Mar 03, 2009 16 Views
S.J.Res.13
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to parental rights.
Introduced Mar 03, 2009 14 Views
S.J.Res.14
A joint resolution to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding India...
Introduced Aug 06, 2009 86 Views
S.J.Res.15
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecrati...
Introduced May 06, 2009 53 Views
S.J.Res.16
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to parental rights.
Introduced May 14, 2009 61 Views
S.J.Res.17
A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purp...
Introduced Jul 29, 2009 48 Views
S.J.Res.18
A joint resolution relating to the approval of the proposed agreement for nuclear cooperation between the United States and the United Arab Em...
Introduced Jul 13, 2009 56 Views
S.J.Res.19
A joint resolution granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, an...
Senate Passed Aug 19, 2009 59 Views
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