GOP Legislature About to Vote Themselves a Massive Tax Break

Why does it surprise me that GOP politicians are voting themselves a tax cut, raising taxes on small business, smokers and the poor, and doing nothing for the public school children of Texas? I guess it really doesn't. The Texas GOP has no shame, no point where they won't go to enrich themselves. Vote. Register voters. Make sure they vote. It starts in your neighborhood and your precinct. We have the power. Vote.

MySA.com: Metro | State: "The average state senator would get property tax savings nearly four times the $512 that an average San Antonio homeowner would get under a proposal working its way through the Legislature.

That calculation is based on property appraisal records and lawmakers' declared desire to lower school property taxes to $1 per $100 valuation, down from the $1.50 per $100 most Texas school districts levy for maintenance and operations.

Wealthier Texans, because they tend to own more and higher-priced real estate, stand to benefit the most from tax reforms now being considered in the Capitol, a recent study by the nonpartisan Legislative Budget Board indicated.

An analysis by the Express-News shows three Texas senators living in million-dollar homes and owning other real estate would see tax savings ranging from $6,535 to more than $9,000 under the bill, which is moving toward a Senate vote this week.

On the other hand, a San Antonio state representative who pays rent and owns no real estate would get no tax break."

FortBendNow: Tom DeLay Replacement Candidates Bump Up Against The Perry Factor

Fort Bend Now once again provides some brilliant original reporting. All Democrats need to be analyzing this piece, and how it relates their own precinct politics. We must have our groundtroops in order.

FortBendNow: Tom DeLay Replacement Candidates Bump Up Against The Perry Factor: "As the clock ticks toward Tom DeLay’s expected resignation announcement, insiders and outsiders alike continue spilling ink speculating on the favorite frontrunner replacement candidate."

Haigler sworn in as law judge for region

Abilene Reporter News: Local: "After 12 years of waiting to become a federal administrative law judge, Abilene lawyer Dave Haigler finally saw his dream come true Friday when he was sworn in as a judge for the Dallas region.

''He (Haigler) has the temperament and independence to be a good judge,'' District Judge Thomas Wheeler said after swearing in Haigler at the downtown federal courthouse. ''He is experienced in that area - I think he's going to be a great judge.''


In his new position as a federal administrative law judge in Dallas, Haigler will review cases dealing with disability and Social Security. His first day of work will be May 15.

''There are a lot of hurting people out there,'' he said ''This is an opportunity to hear their story and see who is legit and who's not,'' Haigler said."

Off the Kuff: Why you should never say "How could it get any worse?"

I refrained from posting on this since it wasn't really a Texas story. But if Kuff says it's Texan, it be Texas.

Off the Kuff: Why you should never say "How could it get any worse?": "With every lousy poll that comes out for the Republican Congress, you have to think that some of them have asked themselves if it were possible for things to get any worse. If so, I have bad news for them. How does a prostitution scandal grab you?"

Hispanic population surges - will political clout follow?

I'd love to see similar numbers for Taylor County. I think I know where to get them but it's boing to have to wait until the school year is over.

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News: "Reading statistics on the growth of Dallas' Hispanic population is one thing. Seeing half a million people marching down Ross Avenue is another.

It is at moments such as the immigration rally this month that demographic trends are transformed into political power – a power that could be tested again as some rally organizers plan local participation in a national boycott Monday.

Hispanics have become the largest ethnic group in Dallas. But their economic and political clout traditionally has lagged behind the population statistics. Even many rally organizers expressed surprise when the Dallas rally proved to be one of the largest in the nation."

DeLay Replacement Process Shines Light On Precinct Chair Vacancies - FortBendNow

Fort Bend Now has caught one of the most important stories about grassroots politics in Texas, and I want to make sure it doesn't stay under the radar.

Why is this story important? Because both parties have become complacent about politics as usual. Lots of Republican precinct chairs are vacant in Fort Bend because everyone trusted or didn't care about the good old boys in power. The GOP ruled, and that was good enough.

Lots of Democratic precinct chairs in Taylor County (Abilene)are vacant as well. Because we acted like a bunch of whipped yellow dogs. The Republican party had taken over. No way we could beat them in Red Texas. We whined and yelped, and like dogs bit**ed, but did nothing to rebuild the party. There is no excuse, however.

We can't run a 50 state strategy. We can't run a 254 county strategy in Texas. We are the people, and we need to run a strategy based on every single precinct, in every state. If you are a county chair for the Democratic party, I challenge you. If you have a precinct that had only one Democratic voter, you need to convince that person to be county chair. We must have a precinct chair in every precinct.

There isn't a county in Red Texas that doesn't include a voting Democrat. There shouldn't be a county that doesn't have a county chair.

Click through and read this story. Grassroots politics counts. Especially when it matters.

DeLay Replacement Process Shines Light On Precinct Chair Vacancies - FortBendNow: "As Republican Party officials in four counties prepare for the impending resignation of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, increasing attention is focusing on a seemingly mundane side issue: Precinct chair vacancies.

But with precinct chairman about to play a key role in naming DeLay’s replacement in the race against Democrat Nick Lampson for Congressional District 22, vacant precincts – and how or whether they will be filled – have become an election issue.

The reason involves politics and math."

Burnt Orange Report: :: 197,000 Computer Records Breached at UT

I'm a UT grad, so this concerns me as well. I'm not sure what the answer is, but we need to find one.

Burnt Orange Report: :: 197,000 Computer Records Breached at UT: "I can't write or say anything more so I'm posting the entire Statesman article. Needless to say, I'm in Liberal Arts so thankfully not affected by this, but it appears to be a huge breach as far as I can tell, more damaging than the one in 2003."

Most Texas Counties Lack Cell Phone 911 Technology

This sounds to me like the GOP run government doesn't give a damn about those of us in more rural areas--like Taylor County.

Click2Houston.com - News - Most Texas Counties Lack Cell Phone 911 Technology

When Gail Sternberg called police on her cell phone to report she had been shot, it took officers 34 minutes to find her home. By then she was dead."

She had been shot a couple of times in the torso. If we could have had a more timely response, her odds of survival would have been greater," Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith told the Houston Chronicle in Sunday's editions.

Waller County, like about 80 percent of counties in Texas, doesn't have the equipment to pinpoint cell phone locations. And most counties won't have it for at least a year and a half, said Kelli Merriweather, a spokeswoman for the Commission on State Emergency Communications.

Many counties say their systems aren't up to date because the Legislature has raided a fund created from a phone tax designated for 911 services, using the money for other purposes.

According to state records, the Legislature has been releasing only a portion of the money to the commission, which funds 911 services in most counties. The rest - $82 million to date - has been reserved to certify the state budget in case of a shortfall, the Chronicle reported.

That's not a problem for most counties surrounding large cities that have the new equipment, such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Lubbock. But in a state where roughly half of the 12 million calls last year to 911 were on wireless phones, officials in smaller counties are eager for upgrades.

Capitol Annex » History Of School Finance In Texas

An incredible resource--a number of links articles and timelines about the history of school finance in Texas, including some that go back to annexation.

Capitol Annex » History Of School Finance In Texas: "I had planned on preparing my own article on the history of school finance in Texas so that Annex readers and others interested in the business before the Special Session of the Texas Legislature could have some background about the system going back to its earlies times.

In working on that, I realized that many others had already done the same thing and done so, I dare say, better and more extensively than I could. So, I’d instead like to refer you to a number of links on the history of school finance in Texas in hopes that we all may gain a little insight about the historical context in which the current debate falls."

Rally at the Capitol

I can't make this one, since I'll be at Texas Tech's graduation ceromonies, but I wanted to let y'all know about it.

Rally at the Capitol: "When? 2–3 p.m. Saturday, May 13

Where? South steps of the Capitol

Join hundreds of ATPE and Texas PTA members as we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of public schools and students during the third special session of the 79th Legislature. You will be joined by ATPE and Texas PTA state officers to ensure our message is heard while legislators debate property tax reduction and how to fund Texas public education. This is your opportunity to take a public stance for education.

We’ll also be celebrating PTA’s National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–13), a time set aside to honor the dedicated men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children.

"

Strayhorn: Tax bill unconstitutional

Strayhorn is going to make sure this special session is brutish and nasty. The more the GOP engages in circular firing squad behavior, the more we can capitalize on it. I just regret the fact that the children of Texas are also in the crosshairs.

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas Legislature: "Just as the House signaled it may embrace Gov. Rick Perry's tax-swap plan, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Friday that a key part of it is unconstitutional.

Mrs. Strayhorn said a proposed business tax on partnerships amounts to an income tax, which under the Texas Constitution can't be levied unless voters approve.

'I am waving the red flag,' she said. 'I believe Governor Perry's margins tax is an income tax.'

The comptroller, an independent candidate for governor against Mr. Perry, denied playing politics, though the governor's camp said she was.

'I do not want to put the integrity of our state's finances at risk,' she said.

Mrs. Strayhorn's statement carries no legal weight, and the question would ultimately have to be decided by the courts. She could, however, decline to declare that the bills keep the state budget in balance, and that would invalidate the tax plan."

Texas Democratic Party Legislative Alert

Read the whole piece, and then write, email or call your elected officials.

Texas Democratic Party: "House Republicans Slam the School Doors Shut
Auto-Craddick Rule in GOP House Forbids Efforts to Improve Texas Schools

(Austin , TX ) - Today, House Speaker Tom Craddick and House Republicans passed sham 'procedural' rules designed to prevent House Members from using any of the state's surplus or new Perry tax revenue to improve our children's schools. The rule essentially denies lawmakers the opportunity to offer amendments, or proposals of any type, that would use these funds for Texas schools.

'Tom Craddick and his Republican foot soldiers are working against Texas children,' said Texas Democratic Party Communications Director Amber Moon . 'By voting for the rule that slams the school doors shut and denies even the discussion of much-needed school funding, Republicans have shown they care more about election year politics than providing our children textbooks.'"

The Rothenberg Political Report: New Print Edition: House Outlook

The Rothenberg Political Report has joined the growing chorus of pundits and analysts who believe the Dems may be able to take back the House. I've been in contact with the Ricketts campaign. Let's all join together to do what we can to help him dethrown Neugebauer.

The Rothenberg Political Report: New Print Edition: House Outlook: "We believe that the House definitely is “in play,” and the key to whether Republicans can maintain control is whether they can discredit individual Democratic challengers who otherwise would be positioned to win. We are increasing our estimate of likely Democratic gains from 5-8 seats to 7-10 seats (they need to net 15 seats for control), with a bias toward even greater Democratic gains."

Capitol Annex » Leininger Must See The Writing On The Wall

Capitol Annex picks up on something I wrote about for Burnt Orange Report. I believe that one of the reasons Susan King squeaked out a victory in the GOP primary is because she was the Parent PAC candidate, and Kevin Christian was the recipient of Leinginger money. Moderate Republicans are on the rise. Read the rest of this great piece.

Capitol Annex » Leininger Must See The Writing On The Wall: "Gazillionaire voucher pimp James Leininger won’t push for vouchers during the special, and he’s going to cut back on his spending this fall in the general election, the Dallas Morning News tells us.

“It doesn’t’ make sense to me to take any chance of harming the effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order by bringing up something that’s controversial,” he said.

Hummmmmm…..That’s not really very Leininger. Usually, he’ll take any chance he can get. This leads me to believe that God’s Sugar Daddy has, in fact, seen the writing on the wall and may be lowering his profile at the request of some within the Republican Party of Texas."

Not all trustees care to invest the same amount of time in school budgets

I believe that allowing board members to try to micromanage the budget is a recipe for disaster. Do you agree? Post comments below.

Abilene Reporter News: Local: "Some Abilene public school trustees want a detailed account of the district's $105 million budget. Others just want to know two things: the tax rate and pay raises.

School officials say they walk a fine line between providing the information trustees want or need and involving the board so much they become micromanagers.

''You try to do the best you can to give them what they need to feel comfortable with the budget,'' said Keith Dowell, who oversees finances for the Abilene Independent School District."

Council candidate has felony on record

For the first post on this blog, I thought this was fitting. Texas politics are always a wild and crazy ride.

Abilene Reporter News: Political: "An Abilene City Council candidate pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge in 2000 and has been evaluated for mental competency twice in court proceedings related to theft charges.

However, state law allows Ron Konstantin, 34, to continue his run for the council's Place 1 seat. And Konstantin maintains his innocence despite the guilty plea."