#TXLEGE: Gonzalez and Springer Collude Against Public

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

Barf:



So-called "water policy" is an ongoing act of larceny the state of Texas commits against its citizens.  You can read our full archive on the topic here.  Gonzalez and Springer continue this ignominious tradition.

[Note:  This one especially.]

As to the specifics of Prop. 2 this year, Texas Scorecard has details:

PROPOSITION 2: Oppose

How it reads: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”

What it means: The Texas Water Development Board will be allowed to issue bonds, and therefore go into debt, in order to continue financing water supply, sewer service, and drainage projects in economically distressed areas.

TFR Stance: Oppose Proposition 2
Our Reasoning: State-subsidized debt serves as a disincentive to properly prioritizing spending and distorts market forces.

Aka. Crony Capitalism.

What makes Prop. 2 particularly galling is that the lege got their so-called "water infrastructure development bank" in 2013.  But it's never enough.  Six years later (aka. long enough for voters to forget), they're asking for another slush fund.

[Note: We wonder who's gonna finance the relevant debt.]

Furthermore, there's a dirty little secret to which the lege hopes you never get wise: The state of Texas has plenty of water to meet all of its residential and commercial needs.  The only reason Texas has anything remotely resembling a water "shortage" is because we subsidize growing cotton (a water intensive crop) in the panhandle (an arid climate).  If rural cotton farmers paid market rates for water, it would change the game.

But, of course, a lot of that cotton is grown in Drew Springer's district...so Springer wants the rest of us to pay.

We don't know how Gonzalez et. al. are getting paid, although history would suggest approaching this question with the most cynical lens possible.

Bottom Line: Government (with its attendant friends and cronies) never satisfies its appetite for other people's money.

#TXLEGE: Straus...selectively edits...history on his way out door

"For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
Revelation 18:3

The other night, we announced our pleasure at Joe Straus' departure.  Turns out we misread the Texas Constitution.  Straus remains the sitting speaker until Tuesday.

Which gave him time to release a preposterous DMN op-ed:

Joe Straus: I'm leaving the Texas Legislature but not the debate

The op-ed is vintage Straus.  Apparently, he's planning to create some sort of "policy shop" with his leftover campaign funds.  Straus leaves a target-rich environment, but we'll focus on three claims.

-------

The Budget:

Straus:

We've balanced budgets, cut billions of dollars in taxes and kept record amounts of money in reserves.

Horse manure.

Under Joe Straus' 'leadership', the Texas house never met a spending bill it didn't like.   This is the gang that, less than two years ago, wanted to drain the rainy day fund...a month before Hurricane Harvey.  But, "record reserves!"

--------

Water:

Straus:

We provided long-needed funding for water-supply projects[.]

There's a lot that can be said about this.  "Water policy" has been an ongoing act of larceny in this state for a long time.  Straus didn't invent this racket, but he absolutely expanded it.

Read what we said about Straus' crowning achievement on "water policy" at the time.

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Running the house:

Straus:

But in the Texas House, we've shown that there is a better way to lead - with a pragmatic and inclusive approach....

If by "pragmatic and inclusive" you mean completely lawless, then yeah, and yeah, and yeah, and yeah....

See more here.

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It's beyond the scope of this blog post, but somebody really OUGHT to examine whether Straus will be personally enriched by this so-called "policy shop."

-------

Straus yammering about so-called 'economic development' dovetails with what we said yesterday about crony capitalism.

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Bottom Line: Good riddance.

Adler to seek State/Federal **BAILOUT** for HIS Failures in Water Debacle

"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."
Matthew 23:4

Is this a joke?!?

Everybody’s conserving water! Water quality and reserves are improving! We must keep conserving! Still anticipating late-weekend end to boiling. In the meantime, I’ve declared a local state of disaster https://t.co/RX2ZzpflMn necessary to help with reimbursement & procurement.

— Mayor Adler (@MayorAdler) October 25, 2018

"Reimbursement" and "Procurement."

In other words, taxpayers elsewhere in Texas and the United States are going to be expected to pick up the tab for this 100% local failure.  This is coming from the same Mayor who has prioritized regulating Uber to death, inventing municipal entitlements, and boondoggle soccer stadiums over basic infrastructure.  But now Steve Adler wants the state of Texas and the Feds to pick of the cost of this debacle.

To the extent that they can do so legally, both Greg Abbott and Donald Trump should tell Adler to pound sand.

Some might grouse that this is unfair to local taxpayers.  Nonsense; local Austin voters are the ones who've been electing this joke of a municipal government.  It's perfectly appropriate for them to bear the full cost of getting out from this mess.  [Note: That being said, vote for Prop. K.]

Bottom Line: This one's on us.  This failure's 100% local.  The state and the feds owe us nothing.

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On a lighthearted note, this Twitter user said it perfectly:

Darn that Trump for the totally inadequate management of Austin's municipal water system. Clear evidence of racism on his part and on the part of the patriarchal republican leadership of Texas.

— John C (@JohnCDick) October 25, 2018

#TXLEGE: The Legislature needs to take a SERIOUS look at Austin Water

"He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him."
Proverbs 14:2

Seriously?!?

In fairness to the city, in response to the backlash they're now claiming it will only take a "handful" of days.  Of course, the beautiful thing about the word "handful" is that it's so vague it can mean anything.  As one commenter on Twitter explained:

i mean a handful of apples is two apples. a handful of skittles is 25. a handful of water boil days is ___________???????

— Claire McInerny (@ClaireMcInerny) October 23, 2018

Here's the thing: Municipal Utilities are 100% within the jurisdiction of the legislature.

We're not sure what they should do.  Several possibilities exist.  They should start with basic financial accountability.

Another issue worth considering: There were drinking water related issues during Harvey.  Obviously, Harvey was a much bigger storm, and a much better reason for drinking water issues to exist.  But, aside from accountability for Austin Water's DEBACLE, there might also be a case to act of the grounds of emergency preparedness.

But that's not to minimize the case for holding Austin Water accountable for this breakdown.

Bottom Line: Accountability for municipal utilities needs to be a big part of the conversation next session....

Austin Water DEBACLE a textbook example of Why we need an Audit

"Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another."
Ephesians 4:25

UPDATE: We haven't discussed this topic with Ellen Troxlair, but apparently great minds think alike....

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Seriously?!?

The City of Austin's water utility has issued a citywide boil-water notice as it struggles with the impact of debris from flooding on its water treatment capabilities. Austin Water advises customers to boil water for three minutes before consuming it and says that water filtration systems alone will not remove harmful bacteria.

The utility says there have been no positive tests for "bacterial infiltration" of the water system so far, but emphasizes that there is still a risk. Austin Water has also prohibited the use of water to irrigate lawns or foundations, fill pools, run fountains or ponds, and wash vehicles, pavement or other surfaces.

....

Restaurants have closed for the day because of water concerns and bottled water has sold out at grocery stores across the city.

"The high level of debris, silt and mud requires extended filtration that slows the process of getting treated water into the system," Austin Water said in a press release. "To provide necessary water pressure for fire protection, plants must distribute water at treatment levels not typical of the utility’s high standards for consumption."

....

Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said last week's flooding washed untold volumes of soil, silt and debris into the river system. Austin Water says all three of its water treatment plants are currently running at a third to a quarter of the capacity they would normally run.

Normally, Austin Water is able to treat more than 300 million gallons a day, but the utility has been only able to process only a little more than 100 million gallons of water for the last two days.

"It's been a real struggle," Meszaros said. "We haven't had a violation yet but we believe one is probable, and we wanted to issue this boil-water notice ahead of all of that."

What a PATHETIC failure.

Newsflash: This is Central Texas.  Heavy rainfall happens from time to time.  Nothing that has happened in the past week is out of the ordinary.

But the real outrage is that Austin Water has a Billion dollar annual budget.  Yet they can't plan for heavy rain?!?  What are they doing?!?

Apparently, nothing good:

If you live in #Austin, remember this: Instead of improving its water infrastructure, @austintexasgov spent a bunch of money to embed an artist in the city's Watershed Protection Dept. Let that sink in. #txlege #atx #tcot @TPPF https://t.co/tXHyJYILin

— James Quintero (@JamesQuinteroTX) October 22, 201

Seriously, that "artist in residence" character sound like a real winner.

Bottom Line: When you're getting over a Billion dollars a year and you fail to plan for an obvious and predictable occurrence, it might be time to let an outsider take a look at your books....

CD-27 Runoff: Cloud Running Strong Campaign....

"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

In the race to succeed the disgraced Blake Farenthold, the Trib takes notice of Michael Cloud's surprisingly strong first round performance:

In December, U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold drew national attention when, in the middle of a sexual harassment scandal, he announced he was not running for another term. Yet the race to replace the Corpus Christi Republican has been one of the state's most under-the-radar contests.

That was, in part, because many have assumed Bech Bruun, the former Texas Water Board Commission chairman and most prominent candidate in the 6-way Republican primary, was a safe bet to take over the seat.

But last month, Bruun just narrowly placed first in the March 6 primary with 36 percent of the vote. Close behind him was former Victoria County GOP Chairman Michael Cloud at 34 percent.

That margin surprised more than a few political insiders in the state, who assumed Bruun, who has ties to the state's GOP leadership and has racked up a string of prominent endorsements, would either avoid a runoff entirely or come much closer than he did to drawing the majority support needed to do so.

But Cloud is putting up a tenacious fight that is leaving more than a few Texas political insiders less sure of who might win the GOP nomination in the May 22nd runoff.

....

Cloud, a current member of the State Republican Executive Committee, had been running for the seat since early October, two months before Farenthold announced his retirement. And Bruun said that while he decided to run after Hurricane Harvey hit the region in late August, he held off from announcing his run for Congress until December, when his time at the water board was winding down.

....

Cloud is running as "a constitutional conservative," with an emphasis on border security and scaling back the power of the federal government. And he argued in remarks in Port Lavaca in February that his early bid suggests an added layer of sincerity in his campaign.

"If you followed the race, we got involved back in October," he said. "The landscape was completely different, and then news happened that shifted the race. That news happened a week before the filing deadline."

He then implicitly criticized the other candidates who entered the race in that time period, including Bruun.

"We got in the race because I looked at what was happening in our nation, and I felt like we needed something to happen," he added. "And I felt like we needed to send people who had the courage, who had the conviction to stand up to a culture of corruption in Washington, D.C. So that's what got me into this race, that was the message from the beginning."

....

But Cloud had clearly built a following with his head start. He also has the endorsements of former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, one of the country’s most prominent libertarian-leaning politicians; David Barton, an influential evangelical activist and author; and the four Republican candidates who did not make the runoff.

Farenthold, the scandal-tarred incumbent, has not endorsed in the race and neither candidate appears to be pursuing his support.

Bottom Line:  On the one hand, you've got a personal friend of Ron Paul.  On the other hand, you've got a Todd Hunter crony who's a key player in Texas' corrupt water polices.  This decision isn't difficult.

#TROXROX: Due to DOGGED Effort of ONE Council Member, #atxcouncil CUTS water rate (for first time in 30 years)!!!

"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

Fantastic News:

 

From the Article:

Austin leaders reached a deal with their largest water customers Thursday evening that will reduce water costs across rate classes — for residents and businesses alike.

Additionally, the utility will keep rates flat for the next two years, its staff said. It won’t be able to raise rates again without the input of an independent hearing examiner, after the City Council agreed to an amendment from Council Member Ellen Troxclair.

The average homeowner will see a $2.40 drop in the monthly water bill, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said. That will be effective May 1.

“This recommendation brings all of our customer classes to cost-of-service,” Meszaros said. “We haven’t always had that, so this is a positive step.”

City staffers said no one can remember a time Austin Water has lowered water rates in at least the last 30 years.

....

The council approved the rate reductions 9-0, with Council Members Delia Garza and Greg Casar away from the dais. Troxclair’s amendment to require a hearing examiner for any future rate increases passed 7-2, with Council Members Kathie Tovo and Sabino “Pio” Renteria opposed.

....

The city said it was able to find the savings through a management plan that uses developer connection fees to pay down the utility’s debt. Those fees have increased for builders connecting new projects to city pipes, and the revenue has grown from $8 million in 2013 to a projected $30 million this year.

Excellent.  In a city with a municipal utility, your water bill is essentially a hidden tax.  Thus, last week's actions are a tax cut!

[Note: What we really need is choice and competition for water instead of a government monopoly.  But that's a discussion to have on the campaign trail (aka. you'd need 5 additional votes on the dias).  Given the status quo, this is good.]

Also, as a resident of district 3, we have to add: Seriously Pio?!?

But kudos to Ellen Troxclair.  She's been working Austin Water for years and it's finally paying off.  Her diligence is amazing.

[Note II: It's also funny how, whenever Troxclair outmaneuvers the rest of the council, they always vote unanimously when they cave to passively-aggressively attempt to deny her a victory.]

Bottom Line: This was a long time in coming.  And well deserved.  #TROXROX.

How DECENTRALIZATION and PROPERTY RIGHTS (not Cronyism and Regulation) will fulfill Texas' Water needs

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exodus 17:6

"Water policy" is one of the quieter, ongoing, acts of larceny in which the Texas Legislature engages.  During our first session, in 2013, when the Legislature created an absurd slush fund to allegedly aid "water infrastructure development."  Last year, TPPF released a guide on how to permanently fix the problems, which we finally had an opportunity to read this afternoon.

Water policy in Texas is guided by a 1997 law known as SB 1 (75(R)).  The law attempted to use "planning" to reach a "comprehensive solution" to Texas' water needs.  There is a lot that could be said about SB 1, but suffice to say that it was devised by Karl Rove (Dubya was Governor) working alongside a Democrat Lt. Gov (Bob Bullock) and a Democrat Speaker (Pete Laney).

20 years later, TPPF explains the result of the SB 1 process:

[T]he face that the overwhelming majority of water management strategies in the [State Water Plan] remain to be executed points to problems with its centralized nature.  Only 14 percent of the over 3,000 water supply strategies in the 2012 [state water plan] have reported any progress over the last five years.  They remain simply strategies on paper.

The 2017 [State Water Plan] continues to rely on a significant number of new large surface reservoirs without acknowledging the costly, lengthy, and potentially insumountable federal and state permitting procedures to build these reservoirs. (6)

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

Furthermore:

[A] variety of provisions in SB 1, which were intended to facilitate voluntary water transfers in a competitive market, have been interpreted and applied in a way that obstructs water markets. (8) 

SB 1,  followed by a number of other lousy pieces of legislation, have muddled property rights related to water.  This makes it impossible to profitably develop water resources (of particular note are so-called "groundwater conservation districts").  Essentially, they're taking a problem caused by too much government intervention, and they're trying to solve it with even more government intervention.

The report lists a number of other regulatory impediments to a functional water market, highlights include:

• "Surface water in Texas, as in most western states, is a public good...." (10)
• aka. If everybody owns it, nobody does.
• To the degree to which you can determine rights to use and development...the process is very complicated and very expensive.

• "[R]egulatory impediments in the water market hinder both buyers and sellers from gaining a better understanding and expectation of prices for water transfers.  The lack of pricing information and other regulatory impediments may stop agricultural users from shifting to lower water-use crops or from investing in more efficient irrigation practices." (10)
• aka. This is why we grow cotton in the middle of the desert.

• "[T]he reliability of existing water is weakened by inconsistent responses from regulatory agents."  (10)

TPPF then catalogs the difference in how groundwater and surface water are regulated.  Neither one is good.  The result is unclear property rights, higher costs, and supply shortages.

As far as policy recommendations, highlights include:

• Force "groundwater conservation districts" to reconognize private property rights.

• Note: Or you could, you know, ABOLISH "groundwater conservation districts."

• Clarify the law so that water rights more closely resemble oil and gas rights.

• Amend the law to explicitly allow for the type of property rights in surface water that we (at least technically) have in ground water.

• Streamline Permitting

Bottom Line: There's no problem related to water policy in Texas that can't be solved via. clearer property rights and smaller government.  But that would alleviate the artificial shortages and reduce opportunities for the politically directed allocation of capital. And what fun would that be for the average member of the Texas legislature?!?

#TXLEGE: Lyle Larson's cute little "Water" stunt....

"They are deeply corrupted,
As in the days of Gibeah.
He will remember their iniquity;
He will punish their sins."
Hosea 9:9

Well, at least some bills are moving in the house.

As part of house leadership's extended middle finger to Governor Abbott's special session agenda, today house natural resources committee chairman Lyle Larson heard several of his own bills related to water that Governor Abbott vetoed following the regular session.  Then the committee voted all of them out.  You read that correctly: Larson heard and voted out several bills that the Governor just vetoed; the embedded disrespect is deliberate.

When discussing water policy in Texas, it's important to remember that the whole thing is a corrupt bureaucratic morass.  Disgraced former state representative Jim Keffer was a master at this (see more here and here).  While we've never confirmed it, we've also heard rumors over the years that Larson and Todd Hunter have business interests related to water infrastructure...which makes the fact that a major desalination project in Hunter's district just secured funding last week all the more interesting.

As to the bills themselves, a couple of them (HB 26, HB 228) might have a certain amount of value on the merits.  But this is not the appropriate venue to discuss them.  According to a comment from Trent Ashby during the hearing, the house will probably attempt to push them through creative interpretation of the expedited permitting and the property rights sections of the special session charge [Note: They're probably on solid ground with a couple and nowhere near it on the rest].

In addition, the committee heard testimony on the water development slush fund they passed in 2013 (which, unfortunately, the voters subsequently ratified).  Apparently, they've issued a few billion in various forms over the past couple of years (mostly with multi-decade maturities), are planning to issue another $5.6 billion before 2025, and yet somehow still have almost all of the original $2 billion they were originally allocated in the bank.  Don't ask us how that math works.

Larson closed the hearing with an soliloquy about how "Texas will rue the day" it failed to spend a lot of money on water infrastructure when the next big drought hits.  On the one hand, we're all for prudent planning (and made the point several years ago that if Texas is serious about "infrastructure investment" there were other parts of the budget where they could find the money).  On the other hand, we've learned from experience that when politicians start screaming at the top of their lungs they frequently have something to hide.

Bottom Line: On a certain level, we're impressed by the chutzpah.

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Note: That being said, there was one slide shown during the hearing that highlights the biggest problem with water policy in of Texas:

Agriculture consumes over 60% of the water in this state despite the fact that a tiny fraction of the population works in the industry, while all municipal use (ie. residential and commercial) is only 27%.

In other words: STOP GROWING COTTON IN THE PANHANDLE!!!

Straus' 85th #TXLEGE strategy: Small Ball Obstruction....

"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11

Joe Straus spoke with the Trib earlier this week.  We did not attend the event but did watch the video.  You can see it for yourself below:



Highlights:

• "The President elect seems to be somewhat flexible."

• "A real opportunity" re: Medicaid and Trump.

• "There are no excuses now...[Republicans] need to perform."
• "You ask for the responsibility, you have to deliver.
• Author's Note: Save those two quotes for the next campaign season.

• Obamacare: "Won't be quickly dismantled."

• Education, transportation, water....

• Blah, blah, "water"....

• Spend more on Medicaid "for disabled children."
• "It will be addressed in our supplemental budget."
• Author's note: It's always about 'the children.'

• "We need to address school finance in a serious way."

• Blows smoke about school choice.
• House members don't support school choice.

• "Less money to spend."

• Property tax relief: "I don't know whether we can."
• For property tax relief "in a way that is thoughtful."
• Author's Note: "Thoughtful" is a word Republicans love to use when they're

• Supports "constructive" ban on sanctuary cities.
• "you have to be careful on what the words are."
• Author's Note: Sounds like he's setting up a toothless bill that allows Republicans to campaign on the issue but doesn't change much.

• Religious liberty: "Isn't the most urgent concern of mine."

• "I don't have any immediate plans to step down."
• Fun Fact: By the time the next legislative session convenes, Joe Straus will have outlasted George W. Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Rick Perry, David Dewhurst, Barack Obama, and John Bohener...the parallels with Fidel Castro are starting to become striking.

Patrick releases first round of Interim Charges

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

[Update: It gets better, apparently there's also a charge about ending crony "economic development" incentives as well.]

Earlier today, Lt. Gov. Patrick released his first round of interim charges; if you're a conservative there's a lot on this list to like:

• Religious Liberty: Examine measures to affirm 1st Amendment religious liberty protections in Texas, along with the relationship between local ordinances and state and federal law. Make recommendations to ensure that the government does not force individuals, organizations or businesses to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.

• Union Dues: Examine the practice of using public funds and employees for the payment processing of union dues. Make recommendations on whether Texas should end this practice.
• [Author's Note: If you know the history on this issue, this is a STINGING rebuke of Joe Straus and Byron Cook.]

• Eminent Domain: Gather and review data on the compensation provided to private property owners for property purchased or taken by entities with eminent domain authority. Examine the variance, if any, between the offers and the fair market values of properties taken through eminent domain. Make recommendations to ensure property owners are fairly compensated.
• [Author's Note: This is crucial if you ever want to get rid of toll-roads.]

• Ethics: Review current ethics laws governing public officials and employees and recommend changes necessary to inspire the public’s confidence in a transparent and ethically principled government. Review public officials’ reporting requirements to the Texas Ethics Commission. Examine the categorization of ethics reporting violations and make recommendations to encourage accurate reporting and timely correction to inadvertent clerical errors.
• [Author's Note: Another STINGING rebuke of Straus and Cook.]

• State Water Plan: Study and make recommendations on improving the process of developing and executing the State Water Plan.
• [Author's Note: This a polite way of saying that the Senate wants to monitor closely the Water Slush Fund Straus pushed through two sessions ago.]

Read the whole thing here.

Bottom Line: Issuing interim charges over three hot button issues that Straus killed last session tells you everything you need to know about where Patrick is leading the Texas Senate.

Joe Straus' HILARIOUS New Website

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

It's not a secret that the "leadership" of the Texas House of Representatives pretends to be conservative during election season, but Joe Straus' new campaign website is an impressive collection of half-truths, revisionist history, and taking credit for the accomplishments of others (primarily Rick Perry and Dan Patrick) even by their standards.

[Author's Note: You can read our report card for this past legislative session here.]

Economic Issues, what he claims:

Economic Issues, what really happened:

• Spending: The 2013 budget, which was the one over which Straus had greatest influence, was a disaster.  The 2011 budget was "balanced" via gimmicks..  The 2015 budget was 100% due to Dan Patrick.

• Taxes: In 2015, Dan Patrick came into office with a mandate to reduce property taxes.  In an attempt to derail property tax relief, Joe Straus and House "leadership" came up with a screwy plan to cut a sales tax no one is complaining about.  Patrick held his ground and Straus caved.

• "The Spending Cap": The current 'spending cap' in the Texas budget is a joke.  Under Straus, attempts to create a spending cap with teeth have died 3 sessions in a row.  This claim is akin to a 6 year old bragging about a participation trophy.

• Rainy Day Fund: Most of the money that goes into the rainy day fund come from "severance taxes" that result from Oil and Natural Gas extraction.  During the early part of this decade, Texas was blessed by a shale energy boom that filled state coffers.  Straus, meanwhile, attempted to raid the rainy day fund several times and did so successfully on....

• Water: ...a "water infrastructure development bank" more accurately described as a slush fund.  This was an idea originally proposed by Franklin Roosevelt and most recently championed by the former Democrat Governor of Pennsylvania Fast Eddie Rendell.  Franklin Roosevelt and Fast Eddie Rendell aren't exactly conservative heroes.

Education Issues, what he claims:

Education Issues, what really happened:

• "Expanding School Choice": This claim is laughable, Joe Straus and his handpicked education committee chairman Jimmie Don Aycock are the primary obstacles to meaningful school choice.

• A through F grades for schools: Dan Patrick's idea that Straus couldn't stop.

• "Improving Higher Education": LOL, Joe Straus is one of the worst offenders in the abuses of power we've seen at U.T.  Joe Straus drove the Wallace Hall impeachment.  But at least he spent a lot of money and created a new slush fund for them last session.

Border Issues, what he claims:

Border Issues, what really happened:

• While none of Texas' "leaders" (except the outnumbered Dan Patrick) have covered themselves in glory on border issues, Straus has habitually been one of the worst offenders.  In 2014, when Rick Perry belatedly sent DPS to the border, Straus dragged his feet.  Straus later attempted to play games with the funding.  The final 'border security' package that passed the #TXLEGE did little more than spend money.

• The interstate compact for border security passed the Texas Senate then died in the Texas House.

• Suffice to say, efforts to end subsidized tuition for illegal aliens and sanctuary cities went nowhere.

"Conservative Values," what he claims:

[Author's note: The fact that Straus links unrelated issues like Election Integrity, Life, and the Second Amendment under "Conservative Values" illustrates the disdain he has for all three.]

"Conservative Values," what really happened:

• Life: Whatever his shortcomings on other issues, Rick Perry was a warrior for life.  In 2011, Perry made the Sonogram bill an emergency item.  In 2013, Rick Perry called multiple special sessions to pass the bill that ultimately became HB 2.  In 2015, absent Gubernatorial leadership, 8 pro-life bills died in the Texas House and the 2 that did pass felt like pulling teeth.  The only reason the Texas House has done anything to protect innocent human life is because the politics of the issue have become so one-sided.

• Second Amendment: Considering his role in illegally squelching the debate over constitutional carry, this claim is particularly galling.  No one denies that the Texas Legislature passed a watered down version of licensed open carry.  Unfortunately, more meaningful pro-Second Amendment legislation languished.

• Voter ID: Another 2011 Rick Perry emergency item.

• Religious Liberty: Straus doesn't even discuss it, but it's worth mentioning that House leadership squelched numerous pro-Religious Liberty bills this past session.

Bottom Line: The fact that Joe Straus had to build his campaign website around half-truths, revisionist history, and taking credit for the accomplishments of others tells you everything you need to know about his record.

Drew Darby Alienates Hometown Voters

"He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20

Never a good idea to treat your own constituents like garbage:

Some Tea Party members, including members of the San Angelo Tea Party (SATP), want a new Speaker of the Texas House too, vowing a concerted effort—and floor vote—to replace incumbent Speaker Joe Straus, a Republican from San Antonio. They are backing a fresh face and Tea Party Republican: One-term Texas House member Rep. Scott Turner from Frisco.

State Rep. Drew Darby represents the Texas House District 72 that contains San Angelo and the surrounding communities and he isn’t excited about a Turner speakership.

Darby is a close ally of Straus, and in conservative west Texas, he has received criticism for that, particularly from members of the SATP. The local Tea Party hasn’t found anyone who can oust Darby, however. Darby enjoys widespread support regardless of SATP complaints. He won the 2014 Republican primary election with 79.46 percent of the vote.

Darby says he likes Turner, but doesn’t think he is ready to be speaker. Digging deeper, Darby’s objection to Turner runs into process and ideological differences too. Those differences come from a seasoned understanding of governance, Darby contends. “He’s against water, against transportation, and against the public schools,” Darby said. When Darby says “against”, he means against spending state tax dollars on them.

....

It’s the issue of the public schools that reveals the only stark ideological difference Darby has with Turner’s supporters.

Turner is for school choice and vouchers. Darby doesn’t think school vouchers are good for west Texas. “Our communities out here are defined by the school districts,” he said. Darby wants you to think about high school football. What kind of community would Wall, Christoval, Miles or Winters be if everyone was driving their kids to different private schools? “Vouchers are a way for the city folks to get the state to finance their own private schools,” Darby said.

....

On Jan. 13, members of the SATP are chartering a bus to Austin to show support of Turner and attempt to persuade Darby to vote against Straus. Darby says he isn’t budging, but will listen to constituents who call.

 Read the whole thing here.

Charlie Geren (and Fischer) Reveal Leadership Playbook

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

This morning, we attended the Texas Tribune's On the Road: A Symposium Preview the 84th Texas Legislature.  The first panel, The House vs. the Senate was the most informative.  In that panel, Charlie Geren, along with Trey Martinez Fischer, outlined the playbook legacy Republicans will use against conservatives in the 84th Texas Legislature.


First, expect leadership to attempt to draw distinctions between "real business" and "red meat issues."  According to Geren, education, transportation, and water are the "real business" "we need to focus on."  While Geren allowed that "there will be some red meat," he expected Team Straus (whom Geren repeatedly referred to as "Joe") to focus on "real business first."

Trey Martinez Fischer was Geren's tag-team partner.  That, by itself, is revealing.  Fisher expressed his desire for the House to focus on "two big projects" to address "our common interests" during the bulk of the session before they "fight in May."  Fischer expects "a meltdown" (ie. typical partisan disagreement), "but how much work do you want to get done?!?"  before said "meltdown."  According to Fischer, "we can have fights, but lets have sensible fights."

Translated from bull crap into English, this means passing the leadership/lobbyist agenda in April, then taking show votes for campaign mailers.  To do so, distinguish between "real business" and "red meat issues."  The bi-partisan lobbyist establishment will get their priorities addressed, and issues conservatives care about will only see the light of day if there's time (which, of course, there won't be).

Today, Charlie Geren revealed the legacy Republican agenda for the 84th #TXLEGE.  Historically, this playbook has worked because it muddied the waters and voters (even activists) weren't paying attention.  But that's no longer the case.  We've all seen this movie before.  If current leadership survives January 13th, it will be interesting to see how much juice the old playbook has left....

Rehydrating Texas: Regulatory Reform to Keep Water Flowing for Texans

"This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel[a] to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works."
2 Chronicles 32:30

Texas State Capitol -- Over the last 15 years Texas has made great strides to ensure that the state’s water resources remain flowing and accessible for a growing number of Texans. The financing has been addressed, the plans have been laid out, and the environmental concerns have been considered. The 84th Legislature now has the opportunity to finish the state’s comprehensive water package by removing regulatory impediments to the free development, management, and trade of surface and groundwater. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Highlights:

Toby Baker (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality):

• Water is a major point of contention like air used to be.

• The drought got going in late 2010
• 2011 dryest year in state's history.

• The rain we get now gets instantly soaked into the super dry soil.

• Over 1000 public water systems are in some stage of drought.

Kathleen Hartnett White (TPPF):

• For the market to function, you need clear property rights.

• "Management" is a euphemism for regulation.

• Can't do a lot about complex permitting at the Federal Level.

James Lee Murphy (Guadelupe/Blanco River Authority):

•  Lack of legislative clarity hurts ability to meet water needs.

• The basic question: Do we need new water?!?

• We don't have a commodity market in Water.

Russell Johnson (Austin Water Attorney):

• Groundwater conservation districts (GCD) need to protect the rights of landowners.

• Vast majority of GCD's under 20 years old.  

• GCD's are like teenagers with keys to car, liquor cabinet, and gun cabinet in terms of how they protect property rights.

• The state has created 98 separate TCEQ's with substantial regulatory authority and virtually no oversight.

• Texas has more groundwater to access than any state except Alaska, but unelected boards and commissions restrict access.

• Shouldn't be able to hold up projects 7-8 years.

• GCD's rewards legacy producers.

Konni Burton Burns Democrat Opponent

"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."
Psalm 139:13-14

Konni Burton debated her Democrat opponent Sunday.  The debate was a nondescript discussion of issues.  Then, Konni was asked about rape exceptions for abortion; watch....



Highlights:

•  Libby attacked Konni for opposing special interest boondoggles.

• Konni: Include water and transportation in regular budget, not slush funds.

• Konni, re: rape exemptions: "This is about life.  This is about a right.  A right is different than a law....It is our God given right: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  We are talking about a life and what government is supposed to do is to protect the rights of citizens.  That is their first right.  I will always protect the right to life.  Always."

Read our endorsement of Konni here; donate to her campaign here.

SD-28: Prop. 6 Slush Fund Loses Big

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

We haven't discussed the Prop. 6 Slush Fund since it passed last fall.  But last night, in Northwest Texas, something interesting happened.  Charles Perry decisively won a special election in SD-28, despite the fact that the George W. Bush crony running against him attacked him relentlessly on water:



Ouch....

On Water, Trust, and the Texas Legislature

"Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Kings 20:20

This morning, we attended the Texas Public Policy Foundation's economics conference.  The event covered a number of topics, including an intriguing proposal to re-vamp the sales tax.  The topic that stands out, however, was water.

Federal Reserve Dallas president Richard Fisher gave the luncheon keynote.  He detailed Texas' stellar economic performance against the backdrop of Obama's national malaise.  Fischer identified water as Texas' biggest long-term economic challenge.

Demand for water is increasing while supply is going down.  The Texas Water Development Board estimates Texas will need to invest $231 Billion (with a B) over the next 50 years to meet demand (*).  As Fischer dryly noted: "You can't count on the Rainy Day Fund" for an investment of that magnitude.

Fischer urged the legislators in attendance to consider seriously the use of 100 year notes to finance Water infrastructure development.  He detailed how "some of our shrewdest operators" in the most recent credit cycle borrowed over a 100 year term.  When interest rates rise, wealth is redistributed from lenders to borrowers.  With interest rates near record lows, an opportunity exists to create a physical asset and pay for it with less valuable money later.  As Fisher predicted: "interest rates will rise in the next 100 years."

Going back to last year, when Governor Perry made a similar argument with us in a semi-private conversation, we've always found this argument the most persuasive.  There's a certain logic in saying that, since (due to decisions made outside Texas) the money is going to be worthless in a few years, we may as well convert it into something with intrinsic value.  The problem, unfortunately, is trust.

In 2013, the 83rd Texas Legislature had a gigantic surplus.  They blew through it, increased spending by 26%, and still had to raid the rainy day fund.  If you can't prioritize within a biannual budget, what makes us think you can successfully manage interest rate risk over the life of a 100 year note?!?

Using long-term debt to finance genuine water infrastructure development makes a certain type of financial sense.  Due to decisions made outside Texas, the money WILL be worthless in a few years.  Unfortunately, until Texas policymakers prove themselves trustworthy over smaller sums and shorter time frames, this sort of massive long term commitment remains a non-starter.

-----

* For the record, we don't accept the $231 Billion figure, but we readily admit it will be a big number.

Everything you need to know about government in one sentence

From the 2012 Texas State Water Plan, page 176:

When existing water supplies available to a specific water user group are less than projected demands, there is a need for water.

Because only government needs 22 words to explain that demand exceeding supply creates shortages.

Your tax dollars at work....

Ag. Commissioner Candidate Sid Miller discusses Water

Last night, we attended an event where our endorsed candidate for Ag. Commissioner spoke.  Miller spoke in-depth on a variety of issues, but the discussion of water stood out.  We apologize for the rancid quality of the video, but lighting was terrible:



Highlights:

• Miller would be the first Ag. Commissioner to make water his top priority.

• Real oversight of the $8 billion voters approved in 2011 and '13; allowing merit, instead of cronyism, to guide allocation decisions.

• The 83rd Lege reduced the Texas Water Development board membership to 3 from 6; all appointed by the Governor.

If you're interested in Miller's entire presentation, you can view it here, but the video quality isn't any better.