Williams' ad tells you everything about how #atxcouncil's "Police Defunding" must poll

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time."
Colossians 4:5

Powerful:

Before we comment, we must make on thing **VERY** clear: Congress has NO jurisdiction here. However much Roger Williams might disapprove of council's decision, he can't actually do anything. Still.

For this ad to run at all speaks VOLUMES about how police defunding polls.

Hint: It ain't popular.

Bottom Line: While the tenth amendment reigns supreme on the policy side, you can infer a lot about the politics of the issue based on this ad.

The most important national story at play in Texas tomorrow (since 538 whiffed)....

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 John 4:1 (NIV)

We just read this embarassingly bad analysis from 538.com about the national stakes in Texas' Congressional runoffs. It's cliche-filled nonsense that, at best, illustrates the hazards of long distance punditry. 538 spends 80% of their time discussing the Democrats despite the fact that Democrats in Texas are irrelevant (unless they're being enabled by Republicans). Honestly, it's not even worth your time.

That being said, there is a national story brewing (for anyone who wants to pay attention): The Republican runoffs, and what they could mean for the Republican conference in the U.S. House.

No matter what happens tomorrow, conservatives are at least +2 in Congressional races in Texas this cycle. Van Taylor is going to replace Sam Johnson. And whoever wins CD-21 is going to be light years better than Lamar Smith. That's already two improvements.

The other four run-offs contrast Texas good ol' boy "Republicans" with grassroots conservatives. If conservatives have a good night tomorrow, it pulls the center of gravity in the Texas delegation significantly to the right. And, if the Texas delegation moves right, so does the Republican conference as a whole.

Those runoffs are below:

• CD 2 (Ted Poe seat): Crenshaw (conservative) vs. Roberts (Good Ol’ Boy)
  
• CD 5 (Hensarling seat): Pounds (conservative) vs. Gooden (Good Ol’ Boy)
  
• CD 6 (Barton seat): Wright (conservative) vs. some hack (Good Ol’ Boy)
   
• CD 27 (Farenthold seat): Cloud (conservative) vs. Bruun (Good Ol’ Boy).

Right now, the Texas delegation has one solid conservative (Gohmert). It has a few reasonably decent members (eg. Hensarling, Ratcliffe, Roger Williams). The rest are good ol’ boy types.

It doesn’t take a genius to see how, as you replace good ol’ boys with conservatives, the Texas Delegation shifts to the right.

It also doesn’t take a genius to see how, as afore mentioned impact occurs, it has a ripple effect on the rest of the Republican conference.

[Note: With all due respect to our friends in the national media, if you just had to google the phrase “good ol’ boy,” you might want to refrain from commenting upon politics in this state.]

Bottom Line: There are several races in Texas tomorrow with potentially large national impact. But they’re happening on the Republican side, not the Democrat. If you want to understand how the national media missed Trump, THIS is how the national media missed Trump.

OBSCENE Local Tax Burdens aren't just a Blue State Problem....

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

We attended an event with Congressman Roger Williams related to federal tax reform efforts this morning; out of respect to our host, suffice to say we found the Congressman long on platitudes and short on specifics.

But this is as good of a time as any to bring up something we've been meaning to discuss: Perverse incentives in the federal tax code subsidize high property taxes, and Texas' congressional delegation appears content to continue this subsidy.

The federal tax code contains a loophole that allows individual taxpayers to deduct the cost of their state and local taxes, but only if they itemize their deductions.  Unfortunately, middle class taxpayers rarely itemize their deductions.  So the federal "state and local" tax loophole subsidizes higher local property taxes.

Unfortunately, Texas' own Kevin Brady seems inclined to preserve this tax subsidy to spendaholic local politicians:

House Republicans' top taxwriter said Saturday he would add a federal tax break for state and local property taxes back into the tax plan set to be unveiled next week, bowing to pressure from members of his conference from blue states with high taxes.

Kevin Brady, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said he was restoring a deduction for property taxes "to help taxpayers with local tax burdens."

The Trump administration and congressional Republicans had proposed to entirely eliminate the ability of federal taxpayers to deduct state and local taxes in order to pay for lower tax rates.

This is absurd.  Brady's concession doesn't "help taxpayers with local tax burdens"; it just raises the tax rates paid by middle class taxpayers to subsidize spendaholic local politicians.  In one pocket and out the other.

Furthermore, this isn't just a blue state problem.  Texas currently has the sixth highest property tax burden in the nation.  Thus, federal subsidies for spendaholic local politicians hurt middle class Texans just as badly as it hurts middle class taxpayers in any blue state.

Obviously, Texans need the Texas legislature to strengthen property tax rollback protections.  The legislature should also take a long look at the appraisal system (if not outright elimination of property taxes).  But the fact that the Texas legislature has failed to act within the areas of its jurisdiction doesn't excuse the Texas' congressional delegation if they fail to eliminate subsidies for spendaholic local politicians in the federal tax code.

Bottom Line: From Democrats like Steve Adler in Austin and Sylvester Turner in Houston, to Republicans like Betsy Price in Fort Worth and Craig Doyal in Montgomery County, it's not a secret that local politicians across Texas love to spend other people's money.  Loopholes in the federal tax code subsidize that spending.  It's a shame that Texas' congressional delegation appears more interested in preserving those subsides than in making local officials be honest with their voters.

Konni Burton "Interferes" in ANOTHER Speaker's Race!!!

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

When Konni Burton spoke at a pro-Scott Turner for Texas House speaker this past January, people around Austin threw a fit.  This time, it's D.C's turn.  This is going to irritate people who deserve to be irritated:

Konni Burton U.S. House Letter

[Of note: A cursory examination reveals that Konni's Texas Senate district overlaps with the U.S. House districts of Joe Barton, Kenny Marchant, and Roger Williams (which is AWESOME for those of us based in Austin) on the R side.]

Bottom Line: One of the longest standing unwritten rules in politics is that that elected officials should 'interfere' in the 'internal affairs' of other governmental entities.  In reality, this appeal to governmental solidarity protects the status quo.  Good for Konni for refusing to play that game.

-----

Author's Note: It's worth pointing out that Don Zimmerman did the exact same thing at the Courthouse hearing last week.

Roger Williams votes AGAINST arming Syrian 'rebels'

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass."
Psalm 37:7

Good for Roger:

Republicans — Barton, X; Brady, Y; Burgess, N; Carter, Y; Conaway, Y; Culberson, Y; Farenthold, Y; Flores, Y; Gohmert, N; Granger, Y; Hall, Y; Hensarling, Y; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, Y; McCaul, Y; Neugebauer, N; Olson, Y; Poe, N; Sessions, Y; Smith, Y; Stockman, N; Thornberry, Y; Weber, N; Williams, N.

[Emphasis added]

Also, and we don't say this often, but kudos also to Lloyd Doggett for voting against this looming disaster.

Maybe he's smarter than his colleagues.  Maybe he just knows where public opinion stands in his district.  In either case, kudos to Roger Williams!!!

Another Good Vote from Congressman Roger Williams

Earlier today, the U.S. House voted on an atrocious farm bill; unfortunately, it passed, but there was one interesting tidbit:

---- NAYS 166 ---

....

Williams

Other noteworthy nay's include Justin Amash, Michelle Bachman, Louie Gohmert, and Steve Stockman; every other Republican in the Travis County delegation voted aye.

Credit where due: Texas Democrats, Joaquin Castro, Lloyd Doggett, and Shelia Jackson Lee also voted no.

Another decent vote from Congressman Roger Williams

From Americans for Prosperity -- Texas Facebook page:

How did Texas Congressional members vote on the $1.1 billion omnibus spending bill? House Vote 21 - Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill.

....

Texas Members who voted NO:

....

Roger Williams R TX-25

Kudos to Roger; the other three Republican Congressmen from Travis County ought to be ashamed.

Keep it Closed -- An Open Letter to Congressman Roger Williams

Dear Congressman Williams,

I'm writing because, last night, the federal government partially shut down.

In the subsequent 18 hours:

• The EPA has been forced to scale back by 93%.

• The IRS has been forced to scale back by 91%.

• Michelle Obama's taxpayer funded twitter account has been suspended.

Congressman Williams, as of last night, Americans are freer than we've been in decades. We no longer have to deal with the EPA, the IRS, or Michelle Obama on twitter.  That's a pretty good start.

Let's keep the federal government closed for at least six months.

Sincerely,

Adam Cahn

Austin, TX

October 1, 2013

On Syria -- An Open Letter to George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,

I hope retirement is treating you well.  How are Laura and the girls?!?  41's internet sock phenomenon was awesome.

I'm writing today because, with Syria in the news, people are talking about you.

James Carville:

You know, what I would say and maybe a little bit of a different view here. I think what really is freaking people out is the incompetence of the Bush administration in Iraq.

Sgt. Schultz on MSNBC:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Best of all was Timothy Egan in the New York Times:

Blame Bush? Of course, President Obama has to lead; it’s his superpower now, his armies to move, his stage. But the prior president gave every world leader, every member of Congress a reason to keep the dogs of war on a leash. The isolationists in the Republican Party are a direct result of the Bush foreign policy. A war-weary public that can turn an eye from children being gassed — or express doubt that it happened — is another poisoned fruit of the Bush years. And for the nearly 200 members of both houses of Congress who voted on the Iraq war in 2002 and are still in office and facing a vote this month, Bush shadows them like Scrooge’s ghost.

Mr. President, thank you for keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for disappearing for 12 hours while a(n) CIA Weapons Depot American Consulate was attacked and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr President, thank you for overthrowing Mubarak, and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for ignoring the Iranian Green Revolution and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Mr. President, thank you for delivering a timetable to our enemies in Afghanistan and keeping America out of Obama's War in Syria.

Since you control events, Mr. President, America owes you a debt for slowing down Obama's war in Syria.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
September 7, 2013

P.S. Next time you talk to Roger, make sure you tell him to vote NO on Syria.

On Immigration and Syria: An Open Letter to Congressman Roger Williams

Dear Congressman Williams,

It's been an interesting few months.  We've had our agreements.  We've also had multiple disagreements.

I'm writing today on two topics: Immigration and Syria.

On immigration, I expect you to vote against ANY bill out of the United States' House.  Any bill the House passes will be a Trojan horse for Amnesty in conference committee.  Do not vote for ANY bill related to immigration between now and the end of the 113th Congress.

On Syria, I encourage you oppose any military intervention in Syria that President Obama and Senator McCain might advocate.  Unfortunately, following his record in Libya, I doubt this President will ask Congress for permission.  In that event, I expect you to IMMEDIATELY move to de-fund this action.  Nothing good can come out of military intervention in Syria (at least at this time).  As Sarah Palin said last week, let Allah sort it out.

As I told you during the campaign last year, we're not going to agree on every issue.  That's fine.  If you do the right thing on immigration and Syria, however, I can overlook A LOT of other areas of disagreement.

You'll be in my prayers.

James 4:17

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
June, 19 2013

Congressman Roger Williams promotes ANOTHER George Bush

No comment necessary:

The son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, George P. is the headliner Thursday at a Washington fundraiser for family friend and first-term Texas Rep. Roger Williams. He's dubbed a "special guest" on the invitation of the lawmaker known for his humorous 2012 campaign video called "The Donkey Whisperer."

....

Williams told Secrets that Bush is an impressive candidate who could go all the way. "You never know, we've had a few Bushes that have been president, so there's no reason to think any different I guess, " he said.

"George P. has got a great future, even if his name wasn't Bush," added Williams. "He's the kind of guy we need."

 With all due respect, Congressman, I've had enough politicians named George Bush, thank you very much!!!

Another RANCID vote from Congressman Roger Williams

Congressman Roger Williams, who recently voted to continue funding Obamacare, is back.

Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives passed the Cyber Information and Sharing Act (CIPSA); the Republican Liberty Caucus explains the Act:

CISPA (HR624)  would massively reduce the privacy and security of your online communications and personal data. It would give government agencies and many private companies access to your personal communications and financial information and would allow government security agencies like the National Security Agency unprecedented power to access your data including medical records, private emails and financial information – all without a warrant, oversight by any court or due process of law.  It is supported by government security agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and also by big online data companies like Google and Facebook which want to use your data for marketing with fewer restrictions.

 And yes, Congressman Williams voted for it.

Why Did Congressman Roger Williams vote to Fund Obamacare?!?

Well, that's disappointing.

Fresh off of Rand Paul's historic filibuster, U.S. House Republicans passed a bill to fund the government for the rest of the year; unfortunately:

except for ten brave souls, every Republican Congressman Voted to Approve Obamacare Today,  and they broke their own rules to do it.

 My Congressman, Roger Williams (R - Austin/Ft. Worth), was not one of those ten brave souls.

To explain his vote, Congressman Williams said:

“The President’s sequester placed rigid requirements on the Department of Defense, putting our nation at risk.  This CR provides the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs with the flexibility to meet all fiscal requirements and determine how best to absorb the sequester cuts and ensure that our troops – both past and present – have the necessary resources,” said Williams.

Taken at face value, Congressman Williams seems to be arguing that giving Chuck Hagel more leeway over the Defense budget is a worthwhile trade-off for continuing to fund Obamacare.  That's a bizarre calculation, on both policy and political grounds, especially for a guy who only got 25% in a12 man primary.  Cahnman's Musings is very disappointed by this vote from Congressman Roger Williams.

Cahnman's Musings has reached out to Congressman Williams' office and will update this post if they respond.

In the meantime, Cahnman's Musings urges our readers in Austin, Cleburne, and Ft. Worth to contact Congressman Williams and express your disappointment over his vote on H.R. 933:

Congressman Roger Williams: 

• Washington D.C.  -- (202) 225 - 9896
• Austin -- (512) 473 - 8910
• Cleburne -- (817) 774 - 2576
  
• Twitter: @RepRWilliams

Congressman Roger Williams: Starting Strong

Cahnman's Musings was very critical of Roger Williams during his runoff against Wes Riddle.  We got to know Roger better during the general election campaign.  In that spirit, we commend Roger's strong start to his Congressional career.

In his first consequential vote as a Congressman, Roger Williams voted AGAINST the Hurricane Sandy boondoggle.

This is an encouraging sign.  Disaster 'relief' bills are a place where Congress frequently substitutes cheap sentiment for effective policy-making.  That Roger Williams saw through the cheap demagoguery to recognize this boondoggle speaks highly of him; well done sir.

Cahnman Makes the Local News

Two Words: Holy Spirit.

CD-25 Runoff: Roger Williams -- Economically Illiterate Liar

About a week ago, I received information from U.S. Congressional candidate Wes Riddle's campaign about opponent Roger Williams.  Because the information I received came from a rival campaign, I refrained from publishing it until I could do my own homework.  Having now done so, I can confirm that Roger Williams lobbied Congress for the first auto bailout under George W. Bush, then lied about doing so.

(Author's note: The CD-25 runoff is happening alongside the U.S. Senate runoff between Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst.  Cruz/Dewhurst is the first race on the ballot.  The Riddle/Williams race is Second)


Roger Williams, the current congressional candidate, is also the namesake for Roger Williams Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep.  On November 18, 2008, as reported by the Associated Press at the time, Roger Williams' wife Patty, president of Roger Williams Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep, personally lobbied the U.S. Congress in favor of the first auto bailout.  On March 27, 2009 Patty Williams rationalized her actions in a guest column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Yes, my business, Chrysler and the entire auto industry face significant challenges as this country works to unfreeze credit and moves through a deep recession.

Yes, the company needs bridge loans to successfully respond to these severe economic conditions and has turned to the federal government as a lender of last resort. 

Chrysler has a sound viability plan to not only get it through these difficult times, but position the business to be an industry leader.  Chrysler's survival represents good news for auto dealers, consumers, American workers, and suppliers.

 With all due respect to Mrs. Williams, this is self-serving, economically-illiterate, bull crap.  It is NOT 'this country's' (ie. Washington D.C.) responsibility to 'unfreeze credit' or act as a 'lender of last resort'.  Free enterprise relies upon a principle called creative destruction.  This means that if a company isn't viable, it should shut down and allow a better company to replace it.  America's failure to live by our values of creative destruction and free enterprise in 2008 is a major reason we're in the mess we're in today.

But it gets worse.  At a candidate forum in Hays County, Roger Williams was asked to detail a time he stood on principle against personal interest.  At the time, he said:

I came out early against TARP and against the auto bailouts....I said from day 1 you cannot bail businesses out. They need to take normal bankruptcies.  And I was attacked pretty hard by that, by my industry and a lot of people that were around me.

 As detailed above, this claim is a bald faced lie.  If Roger Williams had admitted to making a mistake and told us the lessons he'd learned, he might have a case.  Instead of repenting of his wicked ways, unfortunately, Roger Williams is covering them up.

The Roger Williams campaign failed to respond to request for comment.  The phone number listed on the campaign website doesn't reach the campaign.  This statement on the Williams website contains hollow rhetorical bluster, but fails to address the specifics of the allegation.

Roger Williams claims he's running for Congress to 'stop Obama's socialist policies.'  Unfortunately, Barack Obama's socialist policies since 2009 are the direct result of George W. Bush's quasi-Socialist policies in late 2008.  When tested, Roger Williams failed to live by conservative values.  Roger Williams took the path of least resistance.  That's why, if you live in CD-25 and you intend to vote for Ted Cruz, you should vote for Wes Riddle while you're at it.

Update: Apparently, Roger Williams has a less than stellar commitment to the Second Amendment as well.