Trump Administration staffing means Texans should prepare for special elections

"Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house."
Proverbs 24:27

The Trib yesterday:

As soon as the race for the White House ended Tuesday — concluding with Donald Trump's stunning victory — another one kicked into high gear: the race for jobs in the next president's administration. Throughout his campaign, Trump relied on a relatively small but loyal group of allies in Texas, and now some appear poised to reap the benefits with a one-way ticket to Washington, D.C.

In the 48 hours since Trump's win, a rough list has formed of Texans being mentioned most often as potential recruits for a Trump administration. The list includes former Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas. Countless other names are coming up.

"I think there’s a lot of opportunities for our current elected officials," said Matt Langston, a Republican consultant based in Austin, as Trump's win became clear late Tuesday night.

Translation: 2017 is going to be the year of the special election in Texas.

Michael McCaul is a good choice for Homeland Security.  He appears to have a passion for the subject, and it would be a face-saving way to get rid of an otherwise lousy congressman.  Can he take Lamar Smith with him?!?

Bottom Line: Real power is built one special election at a time...look at what happened to the Texas Senate in 2014.

UT Regents rubber stamp almost $400 MILLION in new debt

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

Some of these projects are probably worthwhile, but the overall package is ridiculous:

Regents approve PUF proceeds for capital projects, including first-of-its-kind collaboration 

AUSTIN—The University of Texas System Board of Regents today approved $392.2 million from Permanent University Fund bonds as a source of funding for nine capital projects at UT academic and health institutions. 

This year’s provision included a new approach by Regents – cross-institutional facilities funding for a first-of-its-kind collaboration, an example of Chancellor William H. McRaven’s charge to UT System institutions to break down silos, operate as a “team of teams” and leverage the System’s collective size, talent and scale to attack challenging issues facing our world today. 

At the Chancellor’s recommendation, Regents approved $45 million in PUF bonds for a cancer collaboration among UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, UT Health Northeast, UT Medical Branch in Galveston and UT Austin’s Dell Medical School. The funds will be divided roughly equally among the five institutions, targeting the most critical capital needs in each setting. The money may be used to renovate existing facilities or build new facilities. It could also be directed toward the purchase of equipment and information systems, including systems that would enable digital health services such as telepathology and teleradiology.  

.... 

 The bulk of the total — $347.2 million — is earmarked as a source of funding for several new important facilities at UT academic and health institutions that will provide the opportunity for world-class research, teaching and clinical care for Texas and beyond.

Read the whole thing, including the full list of expenditures, here.

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While we're on the subject, check out this gem they discussed in the executive session:

U. T. El Paso: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the purchase of approximately 458 acres of land out of the J. Baker Survey #10 and the I. F. Harrison Survey #54, located on Paisano Drive and Interstate Highway 10 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, commonly known as the former ASARCO smelter site, from ASARCO Texas Custodial Trust, for future programmed campus expansion.

And what, pray tell is the "former ASARCO smelter site"?!?

University of Texas System officials are in negotiations to possibly purchase the former Asarco copper-smelter site in West Central El Paso for expansion of the UTEP campus, Asarco site trustee Roberto Puga said.

The environmental cleanup of the site is nearing completion.

....

The smelter site has restrictions and obligations that the buyer will have to meet, Puga has said. One of the biggest obligations is for the buyer to preserve and monitor a 5-acre landfill where hazardous waste is buried, he has said.

No residences can be built on the 210-acre smelter site. But commercial buildings, classrooms and stadiums could be built there, he has said.

No price for the land has been publicly disclosed.

Separate press report makes another good point:

The Board of Regents is chaired by El Paso businessman and philanthropist Paul Foster.

So they, literally, intend to spend tens of millions of dollars to purchase a toxic waste dump; read the the whole thing here and here.

UT Regents awarding "bonus pay" in private....

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
John 3:20

[Update: Upon further thought, burying this news the day after the Presidential election is SUCH a typical UT move.]

From the Statesman's write up of this weeks' UT board meeting; buried beneath a discussion of not entirely terrible construction projects, we find this gem:

The UT board meeting, which will begin Wednesday, will include a closed-door discussion in which regents will consider awarding bonus pay for campus presidents, system executives and other highly compensated employees.

Read the whole thing here.

Bottom Line: This is a textbook case of 'just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right.'

The 85th #TXLEGE: Preparation begins this Saturday!!!

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the Lord."
Proverbs 21:31

Considering that the Longhorns have a home game this Saturday, we will be unable to attend (#HookEm, #Longhorns!!!); nevertheless, Empower Texans e-mails:

Even though the polls are still open, the 2017 legislative session has already begun.

Are you ready to make sure your priorities are addressed? Do you have a plan to promote your legislative initiatives?

This Saturday, Nov. 12, I hope you’ll be in Arlington to take part in the Grassroots Strategy Summit.  This will be an opportunity to develop your own action plan for your own legislative priorities.

The event is being co-sponsored by Empower Texans and Texas Right to Life, but the issues are all yours. Our teams will be there to help folks define objectives, find allies, build coalitions, and map out a path to victory. 

We’ll also hear from experienced legislators about what works, what doesn’t, and the differences between getting things done in the House and Senate.

 RSVP here.

Adler's "Corridor" Bond: The Opposition Closing Argument

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

[Author's Note: For a longer discussion about our feelings about the 'redevelopment' aspect of this bond, see here.]

While we do not fully agree with point #2 and would support housing density along the corridors if it were done in a less corrupt way, we fully endorse points 1, 3, and 4:

11-7 Press Release by Cahnman on Scribd

We will also add that the city transportation department simply isn't capable of executing this complex of a project in anything resembling a competent or timely manner.

Bottom Line: Put this thing out of its misery tomorrow.

Revelation 16:1-9 -- The BOWL Judgments (Part 1)

"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores
So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood
Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood
Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord,
The One who is and who was and who is to be,
Because You have judged these things.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And You have given them blood to drink.
For[d] it is their just due.”
And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Revelation 16:1-9

Pastor Danny Forshee.  Great Hills Baptist Church.  June 14, 2915:

The Bowl Judgments, Part 1 - Dr. Danny Forshee - June 14, 2015 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Outline:

1. The First Plague: Painful Sores (v. 2)
   - For everyone who takes the mark of the beast.
   - Sixth Plague in Exodus.
   
2.  The Second Plague: Seas iuto Blood (v. 3)- Genesis 1:21
   - The Second of each round of judgement deals with blood.
   - Hard, crusted, coagulated matter.
   - Chemically speaking, sea water is very similar to blood.
   - Produces economic collapse when you can't transport goods.
   
3. The Third Plague: Waters to Blood (vv. 4-7)
   
4. The Fourth Plague: Scortching Heat (vv. 8-9)
   - Isaiah 24:4-6
   - Water cycles will change dramatically.
   - Massive Global coastal Tsunamis

Highlights:

• Anything that has a modicum of greatness comes at a great price.

• Sin is ALWAYS judged.
• Choice is whether Jesus takes it or you do.
• "I would rather have Jesus take on my sin than bear it myself."

• God's first desire is always Mercy.

• "The more we reject Him, the more defiant and recalcitrant we become."

• Because God the Father said no to God the Son, He says an eternal YES to His children.

• God's default position is always to bless, but when we reject those blessings we suffer."

• God will always do that which is just.

• If you think sexual sin is bad today, it's nothing compared to what it's going to be in those days.

Burton 85th #TXLEGE Priority: Property Tax APPRAISALS!!!

"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

This is a fantastic idea:

As I hope you are aware, I have attended several hearings of the Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief. At each hearing I heard homeowner after homeowner testify on how the rapid growth in their local property taxes has burdened their family and, in some cases, threatens to drive them out of their home. Texans are demanding property tax relief and appraisal reform.

One of the major drivers of the growing property tax burden is the increase in appraisal values. Typically, your county's Appraisal District selects the Chief Appraiser and tasks him or her with hiring all personnel necessary to carry out the district's operations. Meanwhile, members of the Appraisal Review Boards are appointed with the responsibility of hearing all the protests of the assessed values on properties. Certainly, the Cheif Appraiser and members of the Appraisal Review Board strive to do a great job for their communities in these roles; however, the current system does not allow for direct accountability to the local taxpayers.

To increase taxpayer representation in the appraisal process, I am planning to propose legislation next session which will provide for the election of the Cheif [sic] Appraiser in a partisan November election. The elected appraiser will then be responsible for directly appointing the members of his or her county's respective Appraisal Review Board. Under this new structure, taxpayers will have an elected official to hold accountable at the ballot box for their appraisals and for the review board's management and attitudes towards them, and the outcomes of their protests.

Read the whole thing here.