Blog 8: Commentary on colleague's work

Megan Nye reported that CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) had announced their list of the worst Governors. Amongst the worst was our own Governor, Rick Perry. In both Megan's work and in the article it mentions his discretions from his use of campaign contributions for personal use and most recently, his rejection of the federal stimulus package to help our school system.
Rightfully mentioned was the fact that CREW is a liberally funded organization. Everyone involved from reporting to contributions comes dominantly from Democrats. For those who are strictly Republican will not agree with these findings (especially since he has been re-elected for the past two terms) but for those who are either Democratic or wait to listen to reason before deciding who to vote on probably see these discretions on a regular basis. Governor Perry definitely fits the bill as one of the worst governors and though I see that he will again be re-elected it would be nice if we finally left him in the past and try to bring our state back up and bring in someone new who will actually do our government good. Megan and CREW make valid points and speaking as a Republican and reported time after time about Perry's questionable actions it is time for others to wake up as well and decide to check another box when election time rolls around.

Blog 7: Taxpayers money going to an unworthy cause

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White released in a statement recently about how much Texas taxpayers are paying annually for current Governor Rick Perry's rental home while the Governor's Mansion is being renovated on. We are currently paying $9,000 a month for his rental, shared with his wife, Anita, totalling over $360,000 annually. In a statement released on April 13 and reported by PolitiFact, nominee White gave Perry some advice: Move! He calls for Perry to "set a budget-cutting example" since we are facing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. Is it right for taxpayers to be paying for his rent? or should he be paying out of pocket? Living in the Governor's Mansion including the up keep cost doesn't amount to the same for taxpayers, except for 2007 when renovations were beginning. There is no reasoning behind having to live in a million-dollar rental when a smaller home can be just as cozy and comfortable. It gives you all the amenities you need. We are living in a time when the economy is low and budgets are having to be made and the Governor of our State should be the ONE person who should be leading the pack in budgeting. Just as Bill White says, "Everyone else is tightening their belts, why can't Rick Perry?" could it be because he is selfish and feels that since he is Governor he is entitled? Could be but we will never know, we are only left to speculate. Now that one has spoken up maybe it is time we all speak up. I know what I would rather be spending my hard earned tax dollars on and it certainly is not Perry's rent!

New Law in Texas over Infanticide

Megan Nye reported about a new bill that is looking to be passed in Texas over the controversial illness known as Postpartum depression. The law is to make the mental illness caused by the birth of a child be seen as a legitimate defense for women who are consumed by the illness and are indicated due to their murdering their own child. In part of the bill it would only be substantial if the deceased child is under the age of 1. The jury, in the defense of the accused, can take into account of evidence of the disease as a result of giving birth. As of today there are over 25 countries that recognize Infanticide and if passed in Texas we will be the first in the United States to recognize it.
As a resident of Texas I hope that a bill like this does pass for postpartum depression is a serious illness that can result in a lack of sense that otherwise wouldn't be thought of. Personally I have seen what this illness can do to someone, though never have they killed their child, it almost resulted in taking their own life. To have a bill that will protect those taken over by something of this nature will be a great asset and value to those involved and for Texas as well. If evidence is there to be proven as for the condition of the mother in question then an infanticide bill should be moved into action.

Blog 5: Response to Health Care

It is has been a month since the Health Care Bill passed and signed by Obama and turned into a law. Texas being a primarily Republican state, people were out in hordes protesting the bill and calling it "unconstitutional." What makes this bill unconstitional? I guess it must be everyone being considered as equal by our national government? oh wait, no I think it is because it is known as the "baby killer" bill. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit against the bill as have other states saying they will do anything to keep our states from adapting to a change of this stature. The bill states that we should "stand with the people of Texas and not their party...support our liberties; A majority of Americans believe that the Democrats' tactics in passing Obamacare constituted an abuse of power." Before reading the suit I didn't realize that the bill was destroying our businesses and attacking our family budgets. That almost seems laughable. I understand that we have been taken away our rights to say "No" to health insurance and are now mandated to get it but then again who doesn't want it? It has taken me months to get on the side of the bill as a Republican but to hear that it is attacking our families and destroying our businesses makes me realize that my party is just being sore losers because Democrats are holding almost every national seat. Maybe its' time to adapt an old saying? Can't we all just get along? The bill will take time for many to get used to but it is happening for all the right reasons. Go Obamacare!

Blog 4: Texans winners thanks to Health Care Bill

Contrary to what Rick Perry, Dewhurst and Straus say about how we will be affected by the passing of the health care bill Texas is actually being affected in a good way. Capitol Annex posted a statement saying that due to the passing of the bill one in four Texans currently are without health care insurance and with the adding of the new economic security the bill will bring billions of dollars back to the state of Texas through insurance tax credit each year to those in the middle and lower classes including the poorest citizens. Anne Dunkelburg is quoted as saying "Medicaid expansion to cover working parents of children on Texas Medicaid today will be 100 percent federally funded for three years, with the state getting nine federal dollars for each state dollar from 2020 on...Twice as man now-uninsured Texans will gain coverage by purchasing affordable private insurance through the new exchange will gain Medicaid bringing even more federal dollars to Texas with no state matching dollars required." The statement within itself is like a big speaker up to Perry's face saying "We are for the better so stop knocking it down." The passing of the bill will not only help all Americans uninsured but luckily will also help our own state become more powerful and who doesn't want that? It will take some time to get all the kinks out and get everyone on board but wasn't it like this when Social Security was brought into play? I believe it was and look at where we are at now with it. We accept it, our retired live off of it because it is what we do to protect ourselves financially and with the passing of this bill we are not only protecting ourselves financially but we are also protecting our bodies and our health which is important. Extremely important.

Blog 3: Hate Crimes Laws

Liberty Institute made a statement saying that an attack on a 22-year-old man who happened to be homosexual is more protected than an attack on an 8-year-old child. The reliance on this statement is only half-true. In today's statesman Politifact protested saying that under Texas law an attack on a 22-year-old homosexual man can, not is, more protected under the law than an attack on an 8-year-old child. The only way for it to be more protected under the law is if there was certain proof showcasing the fact that he was attacked primarily because of his sexual orientation. Under the law it states that an attack on a child is punishable by 10 years in prison no less than 2 years whereas an attack on a gay male is only punishable by up to a year in prison under a Class A misdemeanor. Another way the homosexual male can be protected, if proof be given to his attack, is under the Shephard Act which came into effect after the brutal attack and murder of Matthew Shepard in the early 1990's. There are only five states in the United States that do not have a law prohibiting hate crimes. Texas is one state that takes hate crimes more seriously. Texas cracks down on all stereotypes that could be attacked physically for who they are and protects them whether you are a child, an elder person over the age of 65 or even someone who happens to have a different skin tone than someone else. The bottom line for the Liberty Institute is that if you are to make a statement stating it as a fact than you should do the research to make sure it is true. The hate crimes laws are not just the big print in the book and the most foreseen but also ignites through the protection of those you may not know.

Time for a New Governor? You Think?

Eye on Williamson made a clear presentation about points Bill White made during a speech on Tuesday about his opponent for the Governor seat, Rick Perry. White said "They'll talk about this massive debt in Washington...in order to hide the fact that debt has almost doubled in Austin under Governor Perry." His facts are true and the one thing that can be said about the Republicans is that they like to give the runaround and avoid the real issues to gain acceptance from their own party. His debt is contributed by his transportation goals as well as raising tuition. With the staggering number of unemployed families in the country and in our home of Austin do you think that is time for a new member of our government to take the seat away from Perry and try fixing the damages caused by Perry himself? Should it be Bill White to take it away or should we continue down the spiral we are on?