Austin ISD gives Taxpayers GIGANTIC Middle Finger!!!

"There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it."
Proverbs 21:20

There's are no words; TPPF this morning:

TPPF Statement on Austin Independent School District Proposed 2015-16 Budget

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Austin school board will consider adopting a $1.1 billion budget for 2015-16 that spends 8.9 percent more than the previous year’s budget. Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the proposed budget:             “AISD’s budget is set to see a near-double digit increase at a time when student enrollment is shrinking and homeowner tax bills are soaring. The district’s inability to live within its means will add another $168 per year to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, further exacerbating Austin’s affordability crisis and likely leading to even more students leaving the area.             “AISD’s latest budget snafu highlights not only its problem with budget restraint, but also its difficulty with debt. In the district’s latest budget proposal, debt service payments constitute almost 10 cents of every dollar spent, which is money that is not going to the classroom but instead going to help pay off the district’s $1.2 billion in total debt.”

Bottom Line: Austin ISD hasn't been a high priority since we curbstomped their bond two years ago.  If they want to pass profligate budgets, they can become a priority very quickly.  The next round of elections is in November 2016, and Austin ISD trustee races are always low-turnout affairs at the end of a VERY long ballot; they would not be difficult to swing.

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Personal Note: Cahnman's Musings would like to lavish praise on the Texas Public Policy Foundation for catching this monstrosity.  Their diligence is the only reason we found out about this.  If you are a person of means, do feel free to support their work here.

Sarah Davis...anti-Second Amendment?!?

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

It's a well known fact that, despite labeling herself a "Republican," Rep. Sarah Davis (R - Houston) is against human life and for government spending.  For that reason, she's a prominent Joe Straus lieutenant.  But where does she stand on the Second Amendment?!?

In theory, Davis can claim to be pro-Second Amendment.  This past session, she voted for final passage of both campus carry and open carry.  She's even been endorsed by the NRA!!! (*)

But where does she stand when nobody's looking?!?

As a trusted Joe Straus lieutenant, Sarah Davis sits on the Calendars Committee.  SB 11, the Campus Carry bill, was considered in the Calendars Committee on Sunday, May 21st 2015.  How did Sarah Davis vote?!?

[NOTE: Patricia Harless was also a Republican who voted against the bill, but she's retiring.]

Davis also played games with the bill during floor debate.

Bottom Line: While a case can be made that Davis is the best Republican you can get out of that district, there's no reason for her to sit on powerful committees.  Yet there she was, perfectly positioned to vote against campus carry when no one was looking.  And that's only because Joe Straus put her there.

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* -- Which, on a slightly related note, illustrates the uselessness of the NRA.

Did "Dallas Business Leaders" lie to Bloomberg?!?

"A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ruin."
Proverbs 26:28

Yesterday, we wrote a post about Jeb Hensarling, GE, and the Export-Import bank.  It was based upon this report from Bloomberg news.  The Bloomberg piece claimed that GE chose not to relocate to Dallas because Jeb Hensarling's opposition to the Ex-Im bank created an "unfavorable political climate."

Our former colleague Tim Carney is a national expert on the Export-Import bank and its relationship with GE.  When we posted yesterday's piece to Facebook, we tagged Tim.  Strangely, he didn't buy it:

• 

  Tim Carney This cannot be true.

  Like · 21 hrs
• 

  Adam Cahnman What?!?

  Like · 21 hrs
• 

  Tim Carney I don't believe GE would do that. I actually don't.

  Like · 21 hrs
• 

  Tim Carney It's only anonymous sources

  Like · 21 hrs
• 

  Adam Cahnman I've got to imagine Bloomberg would have solid sourcing on a story like this otherwise they wouldn't run it in the first place.

  Like · 19 hrs

This bothered us.  On the one hand, we trust Tim.  On the other hand, Bloomberg news doesn't have a reputation for publishing false stories.

That motivated us to take a closer look at the original Bloomberg report, consider this paragraph:

GE told Dallas business leaders in recent days it would look elsewhere for alternatives to its Connecticut home, said the people, who asked not to be identified because details aren’t public. They said GE cited some Texas lawmakers’ opposition to the U.S. Export-Import Bank, an important source of financing for some overseas sales.

The phrase "[T]hey said GE cited" in the second sentence strongly suggests that the sourcing for this article came from the "Dallas Business leaders" side of the talks.

And THAT'S interesting; Tim might be the expert on GE's method of operation, but this website is the expert on the "business community's" M.O. in Texas.

And it's VERY easy to believe that someone from the Dallas Chamber lied to Bloomberg.

Since the beginning of the year, the Texas Association of Business and their subsidiaries have been DESPERATELY attempting to paint supporters of free enterprise as "anti-business" because we oppose corporate rent seeking.  Last month, in a separate controversy over "business incentives" for Facebook, the Texas "business community's" favorite hack wrote:

It is difficult for some observers to imagine that a senator often described as one of the “the most conservative lawmakers in Austin” would actively argue against her community taking steps to be as competitive as possible in attracting high-quality jobs to her district. After all, bragging about the state’s economic prosperity is one of the Texas Tea Party’s favorite talking points. What they either deny or simply do not understand is that the so-called “Texas Miracle” is the result of a mixture of policies that has for years included economic incentives.

So the attack on Jeb Hensarling fits the narrative.

Bottom Line: We can't prove it, but it makes far more sense for someone from the Dallas "business community" to lie to attack the Tea Party than it does for a major multi-national corporation to go after a sitting Congressional chairman.

Thanks to Jeb Hensarling; Texas' Economy dodges Corporate Welfare bullet!!!

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Phew:

General Electric Co. dropped the Dallas area as a site for a possible headquarters move because of concern that Texas’s political climate is unfavorable to the company’s business, people familiar with the matter said.

GE told Dallas business leaders in recent days it would look elsewhere for alternatives to its Connecticut home, said the people, who asked not to be identified because details aren’t public. They said GE cited some Texas lawmakers’ opposition to the U.S. Export-Import Bank, an important source of financing for some overseas sales.

....

The Ex-Im bank’s charter expired June 30 when Republican members of Congress blocked a reauthorization vote, eliminating a source of credit for U.S. companies seeking export sales. GE has benefited from that financing on international orders, especially for its jet-engine business.

Ex-Im Fight

Texas Republicans including Representative Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, helped lead the charge against the bank, saying the federal agency used taxpayer money to benefit large corporations and foreign interests. The congressman’s office said in a statement that if Ex-Im stances are influencing GE’s choice, “they are going to have to bypass pretty much every state, including Georgia.”

“Most companies base important decisions like this on low taxes, a skilled workforce, a fair legal system and quality of life, which is why everyone knows there is no better state to do business in than Texas,” Jeff Emerson, a spokesman for Hensarling, said via e-mail.

GE’s international customers received almost $1 billion in credit assistance from the bank last year, according to an Ex-Im annual report. GE Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt said in June that the company would move manufacturing work and jobs out of the U.S. if the bank isn’t reauthorized. Some lawmakers are working to revive the agency.

(h/t Bud Kennedy's Facebook)

For those unaware, General Electric is one of the most gluttonous consumers of corporate welfare in the United States.  They embraced the 'green' agenda long before Barack Obama showed up.  GE has supported a long list of transgressions against free enterprise.

Closer to home, these guys would have been a nightmare around the Texas Legislature; they also would have been a lifeline to "Battleground" Texas.

Bottom Line: There's nothing quite like seeing General Electric cite Texans' opposition to the Export-Import bank as an "unfavorable political climate" to illustrate the difference between corporate rent-seeking and free enterprise.

Government "Education" Bureaucrats honor Straus

"Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

If you were wondering why School Choice has gone nowhere in the Texas House the past few sessions:

AUSTIN– Texas PTA has selected the Honorable Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio as Texas PTA’s 2015 Legislator of the Year. Speaker Straus has been a staunch advocate on behalf of the children of Texas for many years.

In his fourth term as Speaker of the House, Straus has proved he is truly a friend of Texas children through his support of several pieces of legislation impacting children and youth including:

• Earmarking $1.2B in new money for public schools. 

• Encouraging a bi-partisan group of House members to work throughout the interim to develop a new system of school funding and prioritizing the legislation that resulted from the work, HB 1759, for debate in the House. In the end, the members were not prepared to move forward with the legislation, but an important debate was begun. 

• Supporting and encouraging the development of a new system of accountability for public schools that focuses more broadly on the work of schools. Supporting fast track legislation to offer an alternative for 2014-2015 seniors who passed all required courses but been unable to pass one or two end-of-course exams. 

• Supporting legislation to create an alternative method of assessing writing, and legislation requiring state-mandated assessments to be validated by an independent entity and ensuring that there are appropriate limits on the length of time a test may take to be completed. 

• Supporting legislation requiring the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills to be reviewed.

Speaking after the presentation, Leslie Boggs, President of Texas PTA said, “I was honored to present Texas PTA’s Legislator of the Year award to Speaker Joe Straus today. Speaker Straus’ actions improved our system of public schools, expanded opportunities to some of our most at risk students, and in doing so helped to re-enforce Texas PTA’s mission to make every child’s potential a reality.”

In addition to corrupting children, government "education" is one of the largest components of Texas' state budget (to say nothing about all the lawsuits).  For both educational and fiscal reasons, Texas needs to structurally reform this component of the budget.  This award illustrates why that will NEVER happen as long as Joe Straus runs the Texas House.

How Governor Abbott can discipline the lawless Texas Racing Commission

"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."
Matthew 24:12

Yesterday, in a BRAZEN act of chutzpah, the Texas Racing Commission gave the elected leadership of Texas a GIGANTIC middle finger:

Commissioners voted 4-3 against removing references to historical gaming machines from its rules at today’s meeting.

"Historical racing" is a euphemism for slot machines.  Last year, the Racing Commission approved "Historical racing" terminals in an attempt to impose Casino Gambling on Texans. Texas Senate Republicans refused to go along.

Here's where things get interesting: Three current members of the Racing Commission are holdovers whose terms expired in February.  Of those three, commissioners Gary Aber and Michael Martin voted for "Historical racing."  This gives an opportunity to Governor Abbott.

When the legislature is out of session, Article IV, Section 12, subsection (c) of the Texas Constitution grants the Governor wide appointment authority:

If an appointment of the Governor is made during the recess of the Senate, the Governor shall nominate the appointee, or some other person to fill the vacancy, to the Senate during the first ten days of its next session following the appointment.

Bottom Line: Governor Abbott has the authority to replace two of the Commissioners who yesterday voted to allow "Historical racing."  The appointees would take office as soon as the Secretary of State received the paperwork and would serve until (at least) 2017.  It will be interesting to see if Governor Abbott uses this authority.

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Governor Greg Abbott:
Phone: (512) 463-2000
Twitter: @GregAbbott_TX

Whatever happened to Pickett's Federal Reserve Rent-a-Cop bill?!?

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9

One of the biggest controversies of the 84th Texas Legislature concerned a bill by (Straus' committee chair) Rep. Joe Pickett (D - El Paso) that would grant state law-enforcement powers to private Federal Reserve security guards.  When they attempted to sneak this bill through the Local and Consent process, Jonathan Stickland knocked it off the calendar.  That exchange was the direct antecedent to Chairman Pickett's actions against Stickland in a committee hearing later that evening.

Unfortunately, the House passed the bill through the regular Calendars committee a week later.

But what happened after that?!?

It's often said in the Texas Legislature that "delay equals death."  The Texas Senate received Pickett's bill from the House on May 14th.  Lt. Governor Patrick sat on the bill for a week.

On May 21st, Patrick referred the bill to the Criminal Justice committee...where it died without a hearing.

They never took it up.

Bottom Line: Joe Pickett's bill to grant law enforcement powers to a subset of private security guards never reached the Governor's desk...thanks Dan Patrick!!!

Giovanni Capriglione...and Steve Bresnen?!?

"Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

Steve Bresnen is a prominent Austin lobbyist.  He has longstanding ties to BINGO interests and Trial Lawyers.  As a lobbyist for the Texas Family Law Foundation, he was instrumental in killing American Laws for American Courts legislation last session.

Bresnen is also the driving force behind the Texas "Ethics" Commission's jihad against Empower Texans.

Which make this item from page 8 of Giovanni Capriglione's January 2015 campaign finance report very interesting:

Capriglione endorsed Straus's re-election as speaker on Monday, November 10th; Bresnen's donation came the following Friday.

Bottom Line: Cahnman's Musings has no beef with Steve making the donation.  On a certain level, we actually respect the chutzpah.  That being said, for Steve Bresnen to see Giovanni Capriglione as a worthwhile investment tells you everything you need to know about where the latter's bread is buttered these days.

Discussing Texas' 2015 Constitutional Amendments

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever."
Psalm 111:10

The Central Texas Republican Assembly also discussed Texas 2015 Constitutional Amendments on Thursday:



Highlights:

• Prop. 1 -- Property Tax Relief. (Yes)

• Prop. 2 -- Yet another complicated attempt to pander to Veterans over property taxes.  (NO!!!)

• Prop. 3 -- Statewide officials don't have to live in Austin.  (Yes)

• Prop, 4 -- Backdoor Gambling.  (NO!!!)

• Prop. 5 -- Small Counties can do private road maintenance.  (Yes)

• Prop. 6 -- Protecting Hunting from rapacious local governments.  (Yes)

• Prop, 7 -- Another complicated Transportation funding Formula.  (Undecided)

CTRA: Kevin Freeman discusses Global Economic Warfare

"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3

Texas Land and Cattle -- Kevin Freeman, author of Game Plan, spoke to the Central Texas Republican Assembly last night.  He discussed foreign activity behind the 2008 stock market crash.  He also outlined the current ominous geo-economic situation:



Highlights:

• The past two days have been the biggest stock market drop in a year and a half.

• "I'm really worried about Radical Islam crashing the stock market."

• Brand new kind of war: Cyber-Economic

• 2008: Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia went after Lehman
• Putin went after Fannie and Freddie

• Saudi Arabia is going broke.

• Kanjorski's "electronic run on the bank" quote.

• Russian media predicting U.S. market collapse this fall.

• Financial Crisis Inquiry Report was a cover-up.

• July, 23 2015 -- China accuses U.S. of crashing their stock mkt.
• Commies always accuse their opponents of doing what they're about to do.

• Chinese role model is Soros' attack against the British Pound in 1992.

• Russians hacked NASDAQ in 2014.

• "You can do a lot of damage with fake tweets."

• China called for an end of the dollar in 2013.

• Kerry dollar comment -- What if they know it's coming and are trying to blame Congress?!?

• Texas needs to get Gold Depository operational.
• Texas could issue "Gold-Backed BITCOIN"

UT. Board of Regents "Memorializes Bad Acts"

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11

UT Administration Building -- By an 8-1 vote, today the University of Texas Board of Regents voted to formally allow Campus Presidents to override admissions decisions in "very rare" cases of "highest institutional importance."

Today's policy change arises from the well documented scandals surrounding former UT-Austin President Bill Powers' improper conduct over the past decade.  As Watchdog.org has documented, former President Powers intervened in hundreds of admissions cases, many of whom would not have been admitted without special access.  Today's change tightens some rules while codifying a glaring loophole.

On the positive side, today's changes requires the University make all factors in the admissions process "readily available for prospective students."  Admissions officers may only consider letters of recommendation "based on substance" rather than the position of the person sending the letter.  The new policy specifically prohibits admitting potential students who have been previously denied admissions or other "egregious" cases.

Unfortunately, the new policy also contains the exception listed above.  The only formal criteria is that the President's decisions must be "defensible" on an academic basis.  Individual campus Presidents will be required to report to the Chancellor annually all cases where they overrode the campus admissions department.  Admissions accountability for campus Presidents will be centralized in the Chancellor's office.  Due to "privacy" concerns, the public will never learn about these cases.  As Chancellor Bill McRaven explained, "to some degree, it's my discretion."  Based on his previous record, if anyone trusts Bill McRaven to operate in an open and transparent manner, we have some mineral rights in South Texas we'd love to sell them.

On a practical level, today's action will probably restrict the worst abuses.  For example, it's hard to see the Jim Pitts case moving forward under the new rules.  Former state representative Jim Pitts (who chaired the appropriations committee), retired in disgrace in 2013 after it became public that his son Ryan was admitted to UT Law school despite having scored 155 on his LSAT.

Regent Wallace Hall was the only dissent.  Hall protested the fact the 15 minutes of discussion that preceded today's vote was the only time the Board has discussed either admissions corruption or the Kroll Report.  As Wallace explained, today's vote "memorializes bad acts from a hidden admissions program."

Bottom Line: While the new rules modestly rein in the most public abuses, making the Office of the Chancellor (without a public paper trail) the only check on Presidential admissions overrides tells you everything you need to need to know about the new University of Texas admissions policy.

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Update: Watchdog has more here.

Texas Supreme Court rebukes Annise Parker...AGAIN!!!

"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:1

And the farce continues to grow larger:

The Texas Supreme Court has again overruled Mayor Annise Parker's administration in connection with the legal fight over her signature nondiscrimination ordinance, ruling Wednesday that the mayor and City Council erred in choosing the language that will appear on the November ballot when the ordinance faces possible repeal.

The justices, writing in "yet another mandamus proceeding concerning the City of Houston's equal rights ordinance," said the city charter is clear in requiring that voters be asked to vote for or against the ordinance. Parker had instead argued it was proper to vote for or against repealing the measure, and the council approved language with that approach Aug. 5.

"Though the ordinance is controversial, the law governing the City Council's duties is clear. Our decision rests not on our views on the ordinance — a political issue the citizens of Houston must decide — but on the clear dictates of the City Charter," the justices wrote. "The City Council must comply with its own laws regarding the handling of a referendum petition and any resulting election."

Read the whole thing here; Empower Texans has more here.

Wallace Hall at NE Tarrant Tea Party

"The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.?
Proverbs 28:1

Wallace Hall spoke to the NE Tarrant Tea Party last week; start with Hall's prepared remarks:



Highlights:

• "There hasn't been a lot to be optimistic about" in Texas govt. the past few years.

• "Being a Regent is a significant responsibility that should be taken very serious [sic]."

• "It is not sufficient to treat the role of regent as an honorary post."

• $15 billion annual budget, over 200k students in full UT system.

• "It is critical that the funding under our direction is not wasted."

• Insisted on following National Accounting Standards.
• UT restated their financials by over $200 million.
• Author's Note: Personally, out of all the UT scandals Wallace has uncovered, we think this one is the worst. 

• Blew the whistle on "forgivable loan" program.

• Sought "proper compliance with the Texas Public Information Act."
• "Incredibly, three years after this effort has begun, the project remains a work in progress."

• Procurement irregularities related to no-bid contracts.

• The admissions stuff.

• "The most prominent attempt to stop me was in the form of a campaign by House speaker Joe Straus to impeach me."
• Assisted by (the disgraced) Jim Pitts and Dan Branch.

• Bill Powers created "a phalanx of defenders."

• For the past 10 years, UT Austin has "languished."

• "Regents are either too intimidated or disinterested to perform their regental duties, this is made worse when board members see it as their duty to block honest inquiry because they fear exposing friends and/or politicians."

• "It is one thing for board members to sit by while others ask uncomfortable questions (or, in other words, perform their duties), it is something else for board members to encourage opposition to other board members who ask uncomfortable questions."
• "Unfortunately, that is what is taking place on our board."
• "Our board leadership consistently has pushed for more and more rule changes that restrict, if not make impossible, efforts by Regents to obtain information."

• Only gets: "Spoon-fed, redacted, information."

• "Opacity is our enemy."

• Runs through Criminalization of Politics
• Stickland
• MQS
• Perry
• Paxton
• Literally the next day, Jane Nelson was added to the list.
• ALL INITIATED BY STRAUS OR HIS ALLIES.

Q&A with Jonathan Stickland:

Highlights:

• Perry was very insistent that costs were too high.

• No idea he would find what he found heading in.

• "The big pink building" was when he couldn't function as a fiduciary.

• Stickland: "They knew the message, they just reject conservative principles."

• Gene Powell "was terrific."

• Cranberg, Pejovich also "terrific."

• "Senator Zaffirini would make some condescending comment to the press."

• Stickland: UT gave an "incredible" spread to legislators.
• "Amazing to me" how many people this was the only issue they cared about.
• They kept impeachment "completely away from Jonathan Stickland."

• Value of a discretionary seat at UT-Austin has increased tremendously over the past two decades.

• UT-Austin: 24,000 employees for 50,000 students.
• "I still don't know the answer for that."

• Straus' offer: Walked over to Gov's [Perry] office and said 7 reasons to impeach.
• Jessie Ancira called Perry's Chief of Staff and said the whole thing would go away if Wallace resigned.

• Wallace: "Governor Perry has been a stalwart."
• Stickland: "On this issue."

• "Our board never got to speak to the [Kroll] investigators."

• The Board has never discussed admissions or the Kroll report.

• Gets anonymous calls and e-mails "frequently."

• Stickland plugs Bo French.

• Stickland: UT still stonewalling the Lege.

• Stickland: Establishment tries to make examples out of ringleaders.

• "If they don't do what they said somehow there's this really complicated explanation...."

• "There's no use trying to persuade people once they've gone down that path, all you can do is replace them."

• Tenure reform something else the Board hasn't discussed.

Bumbling Paxton Prosecution needs a Do-Over

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7

File Under: LOL....

Two first-degree felony charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton were dismissed Tuesday and replaced with new indictments that clarify the securities fraud allegations.

Paxton’s lawyer, Joe Kendall, said the new indictments by a Collin County grand jury confirm “troubling issues” with the case.

“They had months to investigate and then rushed to indict. Now, the special prosecutors are back to clean up the botched indictments,” Kendall said. “It should make every fair-minded person question the process in this case.”

Read the whole thing here.

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Update: Upon further consideration, releasing this story at 9PM tells you everything you need to know about credibility of the charges.

Thomas McNutt / Byron Cook updates

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24

Big news out of Corsicana:

Today I'm proud to announce the endorsement of Cathie Adams, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

----

"Thomas McNutt is one of the strongest conservative candidates I've met across the entire state. I am so excited about his candidacy and his passion for conservative principles. I am encouraging all of my conservative friends across Texas to support Thomas!" - Cathie Adams

Meanwhile, Empower Texans begins to detail Byron Cook's shenanigans on sanctuary cities:

Last session, State Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Frisco) filed HB 4117, which would have banned cities from adopting laws prohibiting governmental entities under their jurisdiction from cooperating with federal authorities to curb illegal immigration. The bill was read and immediately sent to State Affairs, where Cook let it die without a hearing.

Next, Texas Right to Life:

Byron Cook inexplicably took upon himself the mission of dismantling the Pro-Life agenda of the Texas Legislature – in some cases singlehandedly.

One of the many stains on Cook’s dismal record from the 84th Legislative Session was his sabotage of SB 575. Senate Bill 575 would have prohibited insurance plans from paying for abortions. Cook sabotaged this common-sense measure by purposely stalling the bill for two weeks, and then demanding the bill be weakened beyond recognition prior to allowing passage out of his Committee and onto the House floor. Because of Cook’s decisive anti-Life actions, the deaths of preborn Texans will continue to be footed by insurance premiums paid by Pro-Life Texans who denounce the practice.

Sadly, the preborn are not the only group of vulnerable Texans Cook abandoned during session. Cook also worked against legislation that would protect hospital patients from being killed by their doctors under the legal protection of the Texas Advance Directives Act (TADA). Cook again served as the primary impediment to Pro-Life Priority Bills when he categorically denied even holding a hearing for two patient protection bills (HB 2949 and HB 3414). These widely supported bills had numerous co-authors and the support of many Pro-Life groups, as measures that would have protected vulnerable patients from secret or unwanted Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders and from the removal of Life-sustaining treatment based on anti-Life “quality of life” ethics.

 How many children will die because Byron Cook played politics with pro-life legislation?!?

Texas Senate Democrats More Conservative than House Republicans

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

[Author's Note: Senate D's are in Blue; House R's are in Red.]

Fun with Empower Texans' scorecard:

• Sen. Eddie Lucio (60). (***)

• Rep. Marsha Farney (59).

• Rep. John Kuempel (59). (*)

• Rep. Lyle Larson (59).

• Rep. Geanie Morrison (58). (*)

• Rep. Gilbert Pena (58).

• Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (57). (*)

• Rep. Drew Darby (57). (*)

• Rep. Ken King (56).

• Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (55).

• Rep. J.M. Lozano (53). (*)

• Rep. Sarah Davis (52). (**)

• Rep. J.D. Sheffield (51).

• Sen. Carlos Uresti (50).

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* -- Straus Committee Chair

(**) -- Sarah Davis chaired a Subcomittee of the Appropriations committee; furthermore, Straus appointed her to the budget conference committee.

(***) -- Eddie Lucio is one of only two D committee chairs in the Senate.

TABC Micromanages Longhorn Gameday Experience

"A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days."
Proverbs 28:16

In addition to their anti-Second Amendment activities and entrapping service industry employees, it looks like the petty fascists at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have found a new way to bother people:

Providing an engaging, fun and safe environment for all fans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is a top priority for Texas Athletics. As the 2015 Texas Football season approaches, we are proud to announce multiple enhancements to our gameday experience, including a family-friendly pregame fan fest, additional tailgating options, Austin food vendors, concessions upgrades and the addition of beer and wine sales throughout the entire stadium. To facilitate the sale of beer and wine and ensure compliance with Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) laws, rules and regulations, we are also introducing an adjustment to our re-entry policy.

....

For the responsible enjoyment of fans who are of legal age, beer and wine are available for purchase throughout the stadium. To permit the sale of beer and wine, Texas Athletics must comply with all TABC laws, rules and regulations. To ensure compliance, we have made adjustments to our re-entry policy.

All gates open at the conclusion of the Stadium Stampede, or approximately two hours before kickoff; from that point, fans are allowed one entry. Once gates are open and fans have full access to stadium seating, fans who have scanned in will not be able to exit the stadium and re-enter. This policy is consistent with most major sporting venues across the country, including AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans).

[Author's note: Emphasis added.]

Which begs the real question: What the hell makes this any of TABC's business in the first place?!?

Why hasn't Straus condemned anti-Semitic vandalism in San Antonio?!?

“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
Pslam 95:8-11

Considering the history, anti-Semitic vandalism is ALWAYS something to take seriously.

Unfortunately, there was a wave of it in San Antonio Wednesday morning:

Racist and anti-Semitic symbols including swastikas were painted on more than 30 cars, homes, buildings and signs in a predominately Jewish neighborhood in San Antonio, prompting a police investigation, authorities said on Wednesday.

The graffiti was noticed by worshippers as they left morning prayers at an orthodox synagogue on Wednesday, police said.

....

One sport utility vehicle had its windows smashed with a rock and the word “JEW” spray-painted on the driver’s side door. A swastika was spray-painted on a monument dedicating a garden to victims of the Holocaust.

Governor Abbott condemned the attack:

Racist vandalism--including Swastikas--of Jewish Community in San Antonio will not be tolerated. #txlege @TexasGOP http://t.co/RnopQ4cuJb

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 12, 2015

As did Lt. Governor Patrick:

My statement on the criminal and cowardly acts of vandalism in San Antonio yesterday: https://t.co/UcFildm9fB

— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) August 13, 2015

Two days later, Joe Straus hasn't said a word on his campaign website.  Or his Facebook.  Or his Twitter.

Here's why this is interesting: For those who aren't aware, Straus is Jewish.  He's also from San Antonio.  Within certain Austin circles, Joe Straus' religious beliefs (combined with the fact he's from San Antonio) are an all purpose excuse for his unpopularity with the grassroots.

Even the Daily Show tried to do a lame hatchet job on the topic.

Unfortunately, when the state's worst anti-Semitic attack in (at least) a decade happens in his own backyard: CRICKET.  CHIRPING.  SILENCE.

John Hagee has said more.

Bottom Line: For an elected official who uses his religious beliefs as an excuse to deflect criticism, failure to condemn a violent attack against those same beliefs in his own backyard speaks volumes.