Unfunded Mandate Hard Tack, But Better Than Closure
By the time Chief Deputy Robert Flood got back to the office
from Commissioners' Court and lunch today, the plumber's
pump truck was pulling away from the 40-year-old Bosque
County Jail.
Same old story.
The jail, a tilt-wall concrete structure that houses the
dispatch center, administrative offices for the Sheriff's
Department, the kitchen, visiting area and interview rooms
was backing up with water. Toilets and sinks were
overflowing.
Heavy rains have saturated the rocky soil of the hill that
holds downtown Meridian and the Courthouse at its apex.
Water is streaming down between the strata toward the Bosque
River below. This runoff is invading the sewer pipes from
the Courthouse and the resulting overflow is flooding the
building. It's a health risk, pure and simple.
The problem: The inadequate old structure is situated
smack dab in the middle of the 100-year flood plain.
But there is more. Its flat roof leaks and when it does,
walls are saturated, electrical junction and breaker boxes
short out and fire, smoke and escape alarms go on the blink.
It's not fire that kills, it's the deadly carbon monoxide in
smoke that takes lives and does so in an instant. Without
the proper alarms systems in place and functioning, no one
would know what hit them.
Not good. In fact, horrors.
Not only does the Texas Commission on Jail Standards ride
herd on messy situations like these, it shuts down jails
when staff finds it necessary. When that happens, counties
like Bosque have to board prisoners in neighboring jails -
at about $43 to $45 per day.
According to Deputy Flood, it's the furthest thing from
Commissioner Adan Muñoz's mind. He has always found a way
to work with county officials, but soon the jig will be up.
With a jail population reported at 35 on March 1, that's a
costly per diem expense for a small county - $1,575 per day,
plus the expense of paying certified corrections officers to
transport prisoners back and forth to court, the hospital,
visiting hours and the like.
"I wish we could stick our heads in the sand, but we can't.
"It's here," says County Judge Cole Word. "I wish it wasn't,
but it's here." He recalled that during his first term, the
Court studied the problem of building a new jail up and
down, sideways and back and couldn't come up with an
acceptable solution.
Those days are gone forever, now. It's time to pony up and
pay the piper.
The estimated cost if plans go forward today?
Total cost: $8.5 million amortized over a 20 to 25 year
period with certificates of obligation issued by the Court.
What if they hold off awhile? Maybe until after the
elections, in the fall?
An additional million to a million and a half dollars would
be required because every day the interest rates get higher,
building materials
Copper is up 30 percent. Steel, the kind you need to
reinforce the standard hardened concrete walls eight inches
thick, is up 12 percent. And the list goes on.
The chief problem is overcrowding. With 44 beds, the jail
is way overpopulated when you consider the commission
standards for something called prisoner classification.
They are either low security, medium security or high
security. Low and medium security prisoners may be housed
together. Medium and high security prisoners may be housed
together, but low and high security types are never to be
mixed. Females must naturally be segregated from males.
It's classification security and it involves a factor of 10
percent for the classification of male prisoners and 10
pecent for females.
With the average daily census as recorded by the
commission's staff, the minimum number of beds that makes
sense is 64, expandable to 98 to comply with future
projected jail population growth.
"It's a challenging budget," said Jeffrey E. Heffelfinger of
Southwest Architects, the firm that has designed the totally
open design new jail and law enforcement center to be
located in the Meridian Industrial Park on Hwy., 174.
He told commissioners and taxpayers how a single corrections
officer will be able to supervise the entire jail population
from a central control room. All cells will be visible from
there, the doors automatically controlled. Every last
design criteria is focused on minimizing staffing and energy
requirements, he explained.
For instance, most escapes take place when inmates are sent
to a hospital for medical attention.
Therefore, his design eliminates the problem. There is a
medical room designed in, to be staffed by a physician's
assistant who will be working on a part-time basis. There
will be no need to send inmates to the local hospital where
they come in contact with free world patients, doctors,
nurses and staff.
Visiting hours?
We're talking video, here. Though they have opted to forego
the expense of equipping each cell with a camera for now,
the wiring will go in when the building is constructed.
Visitors will go to the visiting area, the inmate will sit
in a designated chair in his cell and the visit takes place
over video waves.
There will be no need to let all who have visitors out of
their cells.
Since the walls are eight inches thick and the roof is
insulated to an R-30 factor, if the air conditioning goes
out, the cells will hold their comfort zone for two to three
days. The law does not require air conditioning, just
minimal ventilation standards. For an additional $150,000,
the roof can be insulated with urethane foam to increase the
comfort factor that much more
The cost to taxpayers?
If work begins on the site this summer leveling the 21-foot
slope of the rock ground and filling it with more stable
soil, well before the year 2011 wings in and bond financing
is still at 4.8 to 4.9 percent - $.06 per $100 assessed
valuation. Total cost - $9.75 million.
What if they wait until after the elections?
At $10.5 million and a resulting estimated 8 percent cost
increase, you're looking at a substantially higher tax rate,
according to Vince Viaille, managing director of Specialized
Public Finance, Inc., Lubbock, the financial advisory
service contracted to handle the securities issue, subject
to approval by the County Attorney.
The Commissioners' Court could issue Certificates of Obliga-
tion and the work would begin this Spring. If as many as
five percent of registered voters petition, they could force
a bond issue election on the November ballot. Once the bond
issue was approved, they would be distributed and work could
begin in the winter of 2011.
A team of private citizens coordinated by Emergency Services
Manager Dewey Ratliff worked out the design recommendations
with Southwest Architects.
Their ideas will be presented to the public at Town Hall
Meetings in the following places before any decisions are
made final.
* Thursday March 25 at the Meridian Civic Center
* Tuesday March 30 at the Westshore Community Center
* Thursday April 1 at the Old City Hall in Valley Mills
* Tuesday April 6 at the Walnut Springs Community Center
* Thursday April 8 at Bettis Auditorium, Clifton
Elementary School
All meeting times are at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 2010
"After All, The President Is Not Congress" -
Michelle Bachman, R-Minnesota, Pro-Life Congresswoman
It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack.
No hard feelings if I never look back... - Four Jacks
and a Jill - ca. 1965
The coming constitutional crisis of conflicting voices
demanding change through executive versus Congressional
authority took an interesting turn in Sunday's debate over
the Health Care Reform Bill.
Amid the controversy regarding assurance of the prohibition
of using taxpayer funds to provide on-demand abortions, one
Pro-Life Congresswoman spoke in defense of the
Constitution's Article 1, Section 1 provisions.
Said Michelle Bachman, R-Minn., of the Slaughter Rule which
allows the House of Representatives to pass amendments to a
bill and thereby return it as "deemed approved" without a
yea or nay vote, "Our names need to be recorded in the
journal because, after all, the President is not Congress."
In a compromise, Democrats had offered an Executive Order by
President Obama guaranteeing that taxpayer funds will not be
used for on-demand abortions.
Article 1, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution proclaims that
"All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a
Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a
Senate and House of Representatives."
Other conservative members of the House had earlier decried
the fact that Pro-Life Democrats seemed to have no problem
with this arrangement of the executive order to replace
earlier amendments prohibiting such a turn of events.
The Health Care Reform Bill has been sent to the President
for his signature.
It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack.
No hard feelings if I never look back... - Four Jacks
and a Jill - ca. 1965
The coming constitutional crisis of conflicting voices
demanding change through executive versus Congressional
authority took an interesting turn in Sunday's debate over
the Health Care Reform Bill.
Amid the controversy regarding assurance of the prohibition
of using taxpayer funds to provide on-demand abortions, one
Pro-Life Congresswoman spoke in defense of the
Constitution's Article 1, Section 1 provisions.
Said Michelle Bachman, R-Minn., of the Slaughter Rule which
allows the House of Representatives to pass amendments to a
bill and thereby return it as "deemed approved" without a
yea or nay vote, "Our names need to be recorded in the
journal because, after all, the President is not Congress."
In a compromise, Democrats had offered an Executive Order by
President Obama guaranteeing that taxpayer funds will not be
used for on-demand abortions.
Article 1, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution proclaims that
"All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a
Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a
Senate and House of Representatives."
Other conservative members of the House had earlier decried
the fact that Pro-Life Democrats seemed to have no problem
with this arrangement of the executive order to replace
earlier amendments prohibiting such a turn of events.
The Health Care Reform Bill has been sent to the President
for his signature.
Texas Republican Chairman Vows To Fire Nancy Pelosi
Predicting a "new army" of 16,000 IRS agents, Cathie Adams
vowed to put House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the back benches
come November.
Following the passage of the Health Care Reform Bill last
night, the State Republican Party Chairman said, "To those
Obama-Reid-Pelosi Democrats in Texas, today we send a
message. In November, Texans will remember. It's time to
fire Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and the surest
way to do that is to vote Republican in November."
In attributing the House passage of the new law, Ms. Adams
said the bill "increases taxes, raises premiums, slashes
Medicare and does nothing to control the cost of
healthcare."
Saying the law is "loaded with sweetheart deals and
kickbacks for special interests," something she said "seems
to be just business as usual in Nancy Pelosi's Democratic
Congress," the bill "saddles Texans with over $24 billion in
new spending over the next ten years..."
She added that Democratic representatives consistently
ignored the pleas of their constituents, "and chose instead
to stand with their party bosses in Washington."
Ms. Adams called the new program "the Democrats' $2.5
trillion government-run health care experiment."
The figure most used in the run-up to last night's passage
was $981 billion over the next coming decade, a calculation
of the Congressional Budget Office.
In contrast, Mrs. Pelosi told her colleagues in remarks
from the well of the House Chamber during the general de-
bate prior to the vote that the measure would save the
taxpayers $1.3 trillion.
In its final form, the Health Care Reform passed 219 to 212.
Some 34 Democratic Congressmen crossed party lines to vote
against the new law, including 17th Congressional District
Representative Chet Edwards.
The votes for reconciliation with the Senate version and
to recommit the bill with instructions had similar razor
thin margins of passage.
vowed to put House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the back benches
come November.
Following the passage of the Health Care Reform Bill last
night, the State Republican Party Chairman said, "To those
Obama-Reid-Pelosi Democrats in Texas, today we send a
message. In November, Texans will remember. It's time to
fire Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and the surest
way to do that is to vote Republican in November."
In attributing the House passage of the new law, Ms. Adams
said the bill "increases taxes, raises premiums, slashes
Medicare and does nothing to control the cost of
healthcare."
Saying the law is "loaded with sweetheart deals and
kickbacks for special interests," something she said "seems
to be just business as usual in Nancy Pelosi's Democratic
Congress," the bill "saddles Texans with over $24 billion in
new spending over the next ten years..."
She added that Democratic representatives consistently
ignored the pleas of their constituents, "and chose instead
to stand with their party bosses in Washington."
Ms. Adams called the new program "the Democrats' $2.5
trillion government-run health care experiment."
The figure most used in the run-up to last night's passage
was $981 billion over the next coming decade, a calculation
of the Congressional Budget Office.
In contrast, Mrs. Pelosi told her colleagues in remarks
from the well of the House Chamber during the general de-
bate prior to the vote that the measure would save the
taxpayers $1.3 trillion.
In its final form, the Health Care Reform passed 219 to 212.
Some 34 Democratic Congressmen crossed party lines to vote
against the new law, including 17th Congressional District
Representative Chet Edwards.
The votes for reconciliation with the Senate version and
to recommit the bill with instructions had similar razor
thin margins of passage.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Two Run For State Republican Honcho Junta
A new slate of two Senatorial District 22 candidates for the
State Republican Executive Committee announced their
intentions to contest the incumbents at the State Convention
in June.
GOPIsForMe.com Training and Development Director Janet
Jackson and Waco refuse hauler Jimmie Kerr said on the Duke
Machado Saturday night weblog discussion show that they
would try for selection to the important new posts at the
convention.
Ms. Jackson is a Precinct Secretary from Bosque County.
She operates a ranch realty brokerage in Clifton
Through her involvement with GOPIsForMe.com, a boutique
creative and educational multi-media blog, website,
streaming video and weblog radio serivce.
Mr. Kerr is a Precinct Chairman from McLennan County
who organizes inner city precincts with GOP chairmen and
party apparatus to get out the vote.
"Makes no difference if you have money or if you're white or
black, brown or yellow," he says. "All you have to be is a
human being and you're a voter - as long as you're
registered."
Their platform is one of transparency, voter education and
organization of the Republican Party on a new grass roots
level.
In remarks on the GOPIsForMe.com blog talk radio show, Ms.
Jackson said, "I feel like if you're going to take this
position, you need to make yourself totally available."
In her case, that means traveling from city to city in the
10-county Senatorial District 22 to put on Power Point
presentations of how to register voters; how to obtain
voting records from the Republican Party of Texas; how to
file for election as a Precinct Chairman and organize not-
for-profit Republican Clubs using Secretary of State forms
supplied by state party officials.
Another benefit is to file IRS forms as both a 501(c)3 and
501(c)4 corporation. This way, a civic organization may be
both a charitable not-for-profit club and an electioneering
political society without jeopardizing its tax exempt
status, all of which information she supplies free of
charge.
Mr. Kerr asked this rhetorical question of a caller to the
show.
"In my business, I use about 700 gallons of diesel a day.
How do I reduce my costs for diesel?"
The caller hemmed and hawed, then came up with the deduction
that if motor fuel use taxes could be curbed, the cost of
doing business would thereby be reduced.
"How do you do that?" Mr. Kerr asked sincerely.
The only logical conclusion is to organize voters along
conservative lines of less intrusive government, reduced
taxation and more freedom for entrepreneurs on all levels.
Watch these columns for developments along these lines as
the Spring turns to Summer and the Republican Convention
looms at Dallas with its all-important caucus for selection
of the State Republican Executive Committee.
State Republican Executive Committee announced their
intentions to contest the incumbents at the State Convention
in June.
GOPIsForMe.com Training and Development Director Janet
Jackson and Waco refuse hauler Jimmie Kerr said on the Duke
Machado Saturday night weblog discussion show that they
would try for selection to the important new posts at the
convention.
Ms. Jackson is a Precinct Secretary from Bosque County.
She operates a ranch realty brokerage in Clifton
Through her involvement with GOPIsForMe.com, a boutique
creative and educational multi-media blog, website,
streaming video and weblog radio serivce.
Mr. Kerr is a Precinct Chairman from McLennan County
who organizes inner city precincts with GOP chairmen and
party apparatus to get out the vote.
"Makes no difference if you have money or if you're white or
black, brown or yellow," he says. "All you have to be is a
human being and you're a voter - as long as you're
registered."
Their platform is one of transparency, voter education and
organization of the Republican Party on a new grass roots
level.
In remarks on the GOPIsForMe.com blog talk radio show, Ms.
Jackson said, "I feel like if you're going to take this
position, you need to make yourself totally available."
In her case, that means traveling from city to city in the
10-county Senatorial District 22 to put on Power Point
presentations of how to register voters; how to obtain
voting records from the Republican Party of Texas; how to
file for election as a Precinct Chairman and organize not-
for-profit Republican Clubs using Secretary of State forms
supplied by state party officials.
Another benefit is to file IRS forms as both a 501(c)3 and
501(c)4 corporation. This way, a civic organization may be
both a charitable not-for-profit club and an electioneering
political society without jeopardizing its tax exempt
status, all of which information she supplies free of
charge.
Mr. Kerr asked this rhetorical question of a caller to the
show.
"In my business, I use about 700 gallons of diesel a day.
How do I reduce my costs for diesel?"
The caller hemmed and hawed, then came up with the deduction
that if motor fuel use taxes could be curbed, the cost of
doing business would thereby be reduced.
"How do you do that?" Mr. Kerr asked sincerely.
The only logical conclusion is to organize voters along
conservative lines of less intrusive government, reduced
taxation and more freedom for entrepreneurs on all levels.
Watch these columns for developments along these lines as
the Spring turns to Summer and the Republican Convention
looms at Dallas with its all-important caucus for selection
of the State Republican Executive Committee.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
TEA Party Has U.S. Capitol Surrounded
Three Key Votes Will Decide Health Care Reform On Sunday
BULLETIN: Late Saturday afternoon, Democratic House leader-
ship announced an abandonment of the Slaughter Solution to
having the Health Care Bill "deemed accepted" by suspending
the rules. The TEA Party's direct action of surrounding the
Capitol worked with flying colors.- The Legendary
Key TEA Party activist Toby Walker phoned from Washington
twice. The first time, about 10 a.m., she estimated 10,000
people had converged on the U.S. Capitol Building.
People were packed so tightly around the door to
Representative Chet Edwards's Sam Rayburn House Office
Building digs that you couldn't get up to the threshold to
look in, she said. Getting through the door was an
impossibility.
Mr. Edwards aroused the ire of TEA Partiers when he vowed
last Monday to vote against the Health Care Reform Bill,
then turned around in mid-week to vote for a bill suspending
the rules.
TEA Party activists interpreted this as a sign he was
setting up a prelude to passage of the bill. Mr. Edwards
later defended his actions by saying that he intended his
vote to allow the House to consider routine and mundane
matters such as proclamations, naming post offices or
bridges and other administrative details while they wait for
the amendments to be approved by the Rules and other
committees and come to the floor for a vote.
When she phoned in about 2:30 p.m., 50,000 TEA Party
protesters had the U.S. Capitol Building surrounded.
There tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will make
history when it votes on three key issues bearing on the
Health Care Reform Act bill, a 2000-plus page plan to take
over the administration and costs of health care delivery to
millions upon millions of Americans who will be for the
first time forced to purchase health insurance if it passes.
The first of the three issues to be considered will be
resolutions governing debate on the matter.
The second will be the package of amendments to be made to
the Senate version of the bill.
Thirdly, the House will vote up or down the bill itself,
according to sources at the Capitol building.
Pass or fail, the TEA Party plans either to party down with
plenty of beer at Crickett's on the Square or hold a prayer
vigil in Heritage Square for the American people if it
passes.
BULLETIN: Late Saturday afternoon, Democratic House leader-
ship announced an abandonment of the Slaughter Solution to
having the Health Care Bill "deemed accepted" by suspending
the rules. The TEA Party's direct action of surrounding the
Capitol worked with flying colors.- The Legendary
Key TEA Party activist Toby Walker phoned from Washington
twice. The first time, about 10 a.m., she estimated 10,000
people had converged on the U.S. Capitol Building.
People were packed so tightly around the door to
Representative Chet Edwards's Sam Rayburn House Office
Building digs that you couldn't get up to the threshold to
look in, she said. Getting through the door was an
impossibility.
Mr. Edwards aroused the ire of TEA Partiers when he vowed
last Monday to vote against the Health Care Reform Bill,
then turned around in mid-week to vote for a bill suspending
the rules.
TEA Party activists interpreted this as a sign he was
setting up a prelude to passage of the bill. Mr. Edwards
later defended his actions by saying that he intended his
vote to allow the House to consider routine and mundane
matters such as proclamations, naming post offices or
bridges and other administrative details while they wait for
the amendments to be approved by the Rules and other
committees and come to the floor for a vote.
When she phoned in about 2:30 p.m., 50,000 TEA Party
protesters had the U.S. Capitol Building surrounded.
There tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will make
history when it votes on three key issues bearing on the
Health Care Reform Act bill, a 2000-plus page plan to take
over the administration and costs of health care delivery to
millions upon millions of Americans who will be for the
first time forced to purchase health insurance if it passes.
The first of the three issues to be considered will be
resolutions governing debate on the matter.
The second will be the package of amendments to be made to
the Senate version of the bill.
Thirdly, the House will vote up or down the bill itself,
according to sources at the Capitol building.
Pass or fail, the TEA Party plans either to party down with
plenty of beer at Crickett's on the Square or hold a prayer
vigil in Heritage Square for the American people if it
passes.
Two Bolts Of Lightning Course Through Convention
Dub-yah Endorses Sibley; Joe B. Hinton's Uncle Murdered
Before the convention could get started in the huge
conference room, the chairman told the delegates that
McLennan County Republican Chairman Joe B. Hinton could not
make it Saturday.
A close relative had been murdered and Mr. Hinton had to be
on hand to help his grieving family in their hour of need.
One of Mr. Hinton's uncles, a man who lived at Houston, had
fallen to a murderer, according to Justice of the Peace
Billy Martin.
After some routine matters were disposed of, former Senator
David Sibley rocked and shocked the convention hall when he
announced that former President George W. Bush had endorsed
him for election to fill out the unexpired term of Senator
Kip Averitt. It is the first political act of the former
President since he vacated office in January, 2009, and the
first candidate endorsement, as well.
Mr. Sibley told convention delegates that if elected, he
will come back into the Senatorial fold with 11 years
seniority as a legislator, "more than Kip Averitt had when
he became a Senator."
Congressional District 17 Republican Primary runoff
candidate Rob Curnock told the delegates, "I will be
bipartisan on the color of the drapes, the carpet, but on
the rest of it, we'll stand on our principles."
Mr. Curnock said he now has more than 1,500 volunteers
serving his campaign in the 12-county Congressional
district.
His opponent, Candidate Bill Flores, said, "We see (House of
Representatives) Nancy Peolosi and (President) Barack Obama
attacking the very constitution that we live under." He
reminded the party leadership that "More than 40 percent of
the voters called" in polls, "identify themselves as
conservative. In this district, it's more like 65 percent."
He called for a strong national defense and strong border
security as two elements that will help the U.S. reach a
position of strength in the world.
State House of Representatives District 56 incumbent "Doc"
Anderson said, "We are the party of few and individual
expressions. They are the party of unfunded government
mandates."
Abel Reyna, a candidate for District Attorney, told the
convention that he is out to establish his presence in the
office of the chief prosecutor in three areas - in the
office, where assistant prosecutors are seeking guidance to
developing criminal cases for trial; in the courtroom, where
citizens expect to see stiff sentences handed out to felony
offenders; and in the community, where "We have to restore
faith in the criminal justice system."
Police officers are disgusted, he said, with not getting
their cases before the Grand Jury for indictment. "All they
get is a dismissal. They don't get a call; they don't get a
letter, just a form saying the case was dismissed.
"I want to try cases, lead by example," he said. The
greatest criminal threat to the Waco area today, he said, is
that it's "fertile ground" for such Central American and
Mexican gangs as MS-13 and Texas Syndicate. Crips and
Bloods and all forms of gang organizations come into the
area through being kin to area residents in the community.
That's where the prosecutor's staff needs to be working, in
the schools, the political clubs and civic associations, to
reassure the public that "We are going to put them in the
pen for long, long stretches when we get them."
He recalled a burglary conviction of a an area woman that
resulted in a sentence with credit for time served of a mere
three days. He shook his head in disgust.
"I don't care if it's 2 people or 200 people. You call me
and I'll come see you and we'll work something out.
His clients, he says, are the People of the State of Texas
and no one else. He does not aim to serve the criminal
element, but only the law abiding and hard working honest
men and women who are looking to him to put on the best
prosecution available.
Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ray Meadows assured delegates
that "I am opposed to civil service."
The convention adopted the resolutions approved by voters to
be introduced at the State Convention to be added to the
platform.
One resolution in particular drew a rousing cry of approval.
It concerns the idea that no law should be enacted that does
not apply equally to Congressmen, Senators, the President
and any other government official.
Before the convention could get started in the huge
conference room, the chairman told the delegates that
McLennan County Republican Chairman Joe B. Hinton could not
make it Saturday.
A close relative had been murdered and Mr. Hinton had to be
on hand to help his grieving family in their hour of need.
One of Mr. Hinton's uncles, a man who lived at Houston, had
fallen to a murderer, according to Justice of the Peace
Billy Martin.
After some routine matters were disposed of, former Senator
David Sibley rocked and shocked the convention hall when he
announced that former President George W. Bush had endorsed
him for election to fill out the unexpired term of Senator
Kip Averitt. It is the first political act of the former
President since he vacated office in January, 2009, and the
first candidate endorsement, as well.
Mr. Sibley told convention delegates that if elected, he
will come back into the Senatorial fold with 11 years
seniority as a legislator, "more than Kip Averitt had when
he became a Senator."
Congressional District 17 Republican Primary runoff
candidate Rob Curnock told the delegates, "I will be
bipartisan on the color of the drapes, the carpet, but on
the rest of it, we'll stand on our principles."
Mr. Curnock said he now has more than 1,500 volunteers
serving his campaign in the 12-county Congressional
district.
His opponent, Candidate Bill Flores, said, "We see (House of
Representatives) Nancy Peolosi and (President) Barack Obama
attacking the very constitution that we live under." He
reminded the party leadership that "More than 40 percent of
the voters called" in polls, "identify themselves as
conservative. In this district, it's more like 65 percent."
He called for a strong national defense and strong border
security as two elements that will help the U.S. reach a
position of strength in the world.
State House of Representatives District 56 incumbent "Doc"
Anderson said, "We are the party of few and individual
expressions. They are the party of unfunded government
mandates."
Abel Reyna, a candidate for District Attorney, told the
convention that he is out to establish his presence in the
office of the chief prosecutor in three areas - in the
office, where assistant prosecutors are seeking guidance to
developing criminal cases for trial; in the courtroom, where
citizens expect to see stiff sentences handed out to felony
offenders; and in the community, where "We have to restore
faith in the criminal justice system."
Police officers are disgusted, he said, with not getting
their cases before the Grand Jury for indictment. "All they
get is a dismissal. They don't get a call; they don't get a
letter, just a form saying the case was dismissed.
"I want to try cases, lead by example," he said. The
greatest criminal threat to the Waco area today, he said, is
that it's "fertile ground" for such Central American and
Mexican gangs as MS-13 and Texas Syndicate. Crips and
Bloods and all forms of gang organizations come into the
area through being kin to area residents in the community.
That's where the prosecutor's staff needs to be working, in
the schools, the political clubs and civic associations, to
reassure the public that "We are going to put them in the
pen for long, long stretches when we get them."
He recalled a burglary conviction of a an area woman that
resulted in a sentence with credit for time served of a mere
three days. He shook his head in disgust.
"I don't care if it's 2 people or 200 people. You call me
and I'll come see you and we'll work something out.
His clients, he says, are the People of the State of Texas
and no one else. He does not aim to serve the criminal
element, but only the law abiding and hard working honest
men and women who are looking to him to put on the best
prosecution available.
Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ray Meadows assured delegates
that "I am opposed to civil service."
The convention adopted the resolutions approved by voters to
be introduced at the State Convention to be added to the
platform.
One resolution in particular drew a rousing cry of approval.
It concerns the idea that no law should be enacted that does
not apply equally to Congressmen, Senators, the President
and any other government official.
Friday, March 19, 2010
TEA Party Activists Hold Chet Edwards' Feet To Fire
Rules suspension is about "bipartisan legislation"
Angered and confused, a group of TEA Party activists stood
in the bright sunshine and blustering March winds at the
corner of 6th Street and Austin Avenue in downtown Waco
today at noon and tried to fathom the conflicting
information they received from internet sources and
Congressional staff.
On the one hand, on-line voting records proclaimed that
Congressman Chet Edwards had voted along with 221 other
Representatives to "suspend the rules;" on the other hand,
they were told by office staffers upstairs in the 17th
Congressional District Office that the Representative had
not voted in favor of the "Slaughter Solution."
Something was not quite right.
House Resolution 1190, on House Calendar No. 174 of the
111th Congress, Second Session, is captioned as "Providing
for consideration of motions to suspend the rules."
On March 17, 2010, St. Patrick's Day, "Mr. McGovern, from
the Committee on Rules, reported the following resolution,
which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed."
In six lines, the document reads, "Resolved, That it shall
be in order at any time through the calendar day of March
21, 2010, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the
House suspend the rules. The Speaker or her designee shall
consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on the
designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this
resolution."
TEA Party activist Michael Simon read the document supplied
by the Congressman's staff over a battery-powered bullhorn.
His words echoed off the faces of buildings and across the
parking lots of downtown Waco.
"What does it mean?" People asked the question of each
other.
"What does it mean?"
The murmur rose through the crowd amid the honking of horns
circling the block to protest the Congressman's actions,
perceived as a betrayal of a promise to vote nay on the
Obama Health Care initiative.
Inside the second floor office, staffers were telling
visitors that Mr. Edwards had not voted for the Senate bill.
Neither, they said, had he voted for the Slaughter Solution.
"That was not the Slaughter Rule," said District Director
Myrtle Johnson. "That was to suspend the rules."
Asked by concerned constitutents and reporters, she said
that to suspend the rules is not the same action as to pass
the Slaughter Solution.
Earlier, the crowd had heard Mr. Simon tell them that such a
measure is usually used to handle much smaller matters,
administrative details such as naming bridges and opening
Post Offices at new locations, adjourning sessions of
Congress, or passing bills that are enacted in recognition
of local accomplishments and heralding the accomplishments
of certain people in various Congressional Districts.
The crowd of people burst into laughter when he compared
Obama Care with those matters. "This suspension of rules is
never used to approve a spending bill that is equal to one-
sixth of the American economy each year and has an overall
estimated cost over ten years of one trillion dollars!"
What it means, he said, is that Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi will be able to inform the Minority Leader that the
majority leadership has reached an accord on the amendments
to the bill returned by the Senate and the bill is therefore
deemed accepted, something that is scheduled to take place
on Sunday.
The crowd of about 50 people, most of them hoisting signs
that said things like "Chet Thinks You're Stupid," or "Honk
If You Love Freedom," booed and hissed their disapproval.
Meanwhile, the cars continued to circle the 600 block of
Austin Avenue, the drivers raising merry hell with their
horns.
Upstairs, again a smaller delegation of reporters and
concerned citizens piled into the Congressman's reception
room, signed the guest book and waited until Ms. Johnson
came out of the inner office to answer questions.
She said, "It's the total perception that is an up and down
vote on the Slaughter Rule." She insisted it is not.
"It's just a suspension of the rules."
"It's two seperate things."
A gentleman in the small throng spoke up and said, "All he
had to do is give (Mrs. Speaker) Pelosi the authority to use
it...It's the same thing."
A woman who had driven all the way form Burleson to attend
the noon rally, Ms. Maggie Wright, said she and a companion
had stopped at the Cleburne District Office of
Representative Edwards where they confronted a man who
answered the phone at the Capitol Hill office and tried to
tell them the same thing.
"How does it feel to be a liar for a liar?" she said she
asked him, though he refused to give his name when she asked
him for it.
"Whatever he's done in 17 years, he just lost all his credit
for that with what he did yesterday and today," a man said
in a very loud and angry tone.
As it turns out, Ms. Johnson was right. She just didn't
have the specific language the Congressman intended to
release, as yet.
Several hours later, Public Information Officer Josh Taylor
contacted The Legendary with this written statement
generated by Congressman Edwards:
"It is a shame that some are so desperate to misrepresent my
position on the health care bill that they will say
anything. That is the kind of gotcha politics that people
are sick and tired of.
"The fact is that I voted ‘no’ on the House health care bill
last November, and I will vote ‘no’ on the Senate bill in
the next few days.
"In addition, on Monday, I voted in the Budget Committee to
stop this process altogether by voting against using
reconciliation to pass the health care bill.
"Yesterday, the vote I cast for H. Res. 1190 was to allow
non-controversial, bipartisan legislation to be brought up
on the House floor on Saturday and Sunday while we are
waiting for the health care vote.
"I will vote ‘no’ on the Slaughter rule, ‘no’ on using
reconciliation and ‘no’ on the final health care bill."
Angered and confused, a group of TEA Party activists stood
in the bright sunshine and blustering March winds at the
corner of 6th Street and Austin Avenue in downtown Waco
today at noon and tried to fathom the conflicting
information they received from internet sources and
Congressional staff.
On the one hand, on-line voting records proclaimed that
Congressman Chet Edwards had voted along with 221 other
Representatives to "suspend the rules;" on the other hand,
they were told by office staffers upstairs in the 17th
Congressional District Office that the Representative had
not voted in favor of the "Slaughter Solution."
Something was not quite right.
House Resolution 1190, on House Calendar No. 174 of the
111th Congress, Second Session, is captioned as "Providing
for consideration of motions to suspend the rules."
On March 17, 2010, St. Patrick's Day, "Mr. McGovern, from
the Committee on Rules, reported the following resolution,
which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed."
In six lines, the document reads, "Resolved, That it shall
be in order at any time through the calendar day of March
21, 2010, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the
House suspend the rules. The Speaker or her designee shall
consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on the
designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this
resolution."
TEA Party activist Michael Simon read the document supplied
by the Congressman's staff over a battery-powered bullhorn.
His words echoed off the faces of buildings and across the
parking lots of downtown Waco.
"What does it mean?" People asked the question of each
other.
"What does it mean?"
The murmur rose through the crowd amid the honking of horns
circling the block to protest the Congressman's actions,
perceived as a betrayal of a promise to vote nay on the
Obama Health Care initiative.
Inside the second floor office, staffers were telling
visitors that Mr. Edwards had not voted for the Senate bill.
Neither, they said, had he voted for the Slaughter Solution.
"That was not the Slaughter Rule," said District Director
Myrtle Johnson. "That was to suspend the rules."
Asked by concerned constitutents and reporters, she said
that to suspend the rules is not the same action as to pass
the Slaughter Solution.
Earlier, the crowd had heard Mr. Simon tell them that such a
measure is usually used to handle much smaller matters,
administrative details such as naming bridges and opening
Post Offices at new locations, adjourning sessions of
Congress, or passing bills that are enacted in recognition
of local accomplishments and heralding the accomplishments
of certain people in various Congressional Districts.
The crowd of people burst into laughter when he compared
Obama Care with those matters. "This suspension of rules is
never used to approve a spending bill that is equal to one-
sixth of the American economy each year and has an overall
estimated cost over ten years of one trillion dollars!"
What it means, he said, is that Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi will be able to inform the Minority Leader that the
majority leadership has reached an accord on the amendments
to the bill returned by the Senate and the bill is therefore
deemed accepted, something that is scheduled to take place
on Sunday.
The crowd of about 50 people, most of them hoisting signs
that said things like "Chet Thinks You're Stupid," or "Honk
If You Love Freedom," booed and hissed their disapproval.
Meanwhile, the cars continued to circle the 600 block of
Austin Avenue, the drivers raising merry hell with their
horns.
Upstairs, again a smaller delegation of reporters and
concerned citizens piled into the Congressman's reception
room, signed the guest book and waited until Ms. Johnson
came out of the inner office to answer questions.
She said, "It's the total perception that is an up and down
vote on the Slaughter Rule." She insisted it is not.
"It's just a suspension of the rules."
"It's two seperate things."
A gentleman in the small throng spoke up and said, "All he
had to do is give (Mrs. Speaker) Pelosi the authority to use
it...It's the same thing."
A woman who had driven all the way form Burleson to attend
the noon rally, Ms. Maggie Wright, said she and a companion
had stopped at the Cleburne District Office of
Representative Edwards where they confronted a man who
answered the phone at the Capitol Hill office and tried to
tell them the same thing.
"How does it feel to be a liar for a liar?" she said she
asked him, though he refused to give his name when she asked
him for it.
"Whatever he's done in 17 years, he just lost all his credit
for that with what he did yesterday and today," a man said
in a very loud and angry tone.
As it turns out, Ms. Johnson was right. She just didn't
have the specific language the Congressman intended to
release, as yet.
Several hours later, Public Information Officer Josh Taylor
contacted The Legendary with this written statement
generated by Congressman Edwards:
"It is a shame that some are so desperate to misrepresent my
position on the health care bill that they will say
anything. That is the kind of gotcha politics that people
are sick and tired of.
"The fact is that I voted ‘no’ on the House health care bill
last November, and I will vote ‘no’ on the Senate bill in
the next few days.
"In addition, on Monday, I voted in the Budget Committee to
stop this process altogether by voting against using
reconciliation to pass the health care bill.
"Yesterday, the vote I cast for H. Res. 1190 was to allow
non-controversial, bipartisan legislation to be brought up
on the House floor on Saturday and Sunday while we are
waiting for the health care vote.
"I will vote ‘no’ on the Slaughter rule, ‘no’ on using
reconciliation and ‘no’ on the final health care bill."
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