Outside Austin, But Terribly Well Connected

In yet another example of Texas’ Republican-led government failing to pay attention to infrastructure needs, a report by the State Auditor’s Office released last week shows that the state has poorly funded the state’s dam safety program. In fact, Texas ranks 28th out of 47 U.S. states with state-funded dam safety programs.

Too, many dams inspected from 2002-2007 had not been inspected since the 1970s and 1980s. Since 1970, 98 of the state’s 7,603 dams have failed. That may not seem like a large number, but consider this:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Poor State Rep. Phil King (R-Wetherford). He evidently doesn’t have near enough to do after surviving a hang-on-for-life primary campaign, because now he evidently wants to start a collection of appraised value notices from appraisal districts in his area:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

It’s Monday, and that means it’s time to show some love for the best posts from the members of the Texas Progressive Alliance for the preceding week. Check out the best that the Alliance has to offer, brought to you this week by refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Another Texas Congressman signs on to Team Clinton:

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Popularity: 5% [?]

If you thought that right-wing, anti-tax Republicans would temper their desire to see the bogus concept of “property tax relief” move forward in light of recent media coverage showing it to be nothing more than a high-dollar tax shift, think again.

None other than former State Rep. Talmadge Heflin, now the director for the Center for Fiscal Policy, we see exactly where the Republicans’ priorities lie:

“Regardless what the surplus amount winds up being come January, the two iron-clad priorities for those funds are to fund the continuation of the 2006 property tax cut and to preserve the balance in the Rainy Day Fund. . .”

No big surprise there. But, one must wonder: how long will Republicans in the Texas Legislature put property tax “relief” that mainly benefits wealthy homeowners over more human needs–like Texas’ uninsured children?

Popularity: 4% [?]

Texas Congressmen Silvestre Reyes, Gene Green, and Henry Cuellar are among over a dozen members of Congress who late this week sent a letter to other Democrats touting their support for Hillary Clinton, saying she is the strongest candidate to have at the top of the ticket this fall.

Here is the letter:

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Add State Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) to the list of people who have an eye on U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s senate seat–if and when Hutchison resigns to run for governor (or be sworn in as governor, or retire, morphs into a griffin, become a shampoo spokeswoman, etc.):

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Popularity: 5% [?]

The folks at the Texas Lottery Commission today asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for an opinion on whether or not it is legal to use the electronic “strips” on the back of Texas driver’s licenses to verify the age of individuals purchasing lottery tickets at instant ticket vending machines (ITVMs).

This is a very important request for opinion, because it is basically asking the AG to give a state agency the right to use the electronic strip when state statute specifically states that it may only be used for specific purposes:

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Check this out:

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Popularity: 6% [?]

I found quite interest this article from the Associated Press:

Apart from George McGovern, a plainspoken man who knows something about losing elections, not a single Democrat of national stature publicly urged Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday to end her campaign for the White House.

They didn’t have to.

There was no shortage of other ways to signal, suggest, insinuate or instigate the same thing. And certainly no need to apply unseemly pressure to a historic political figure, a woman who has run a grueling race, won millions of votes and drawn uncounted numbers of new Democratic voters to the polls.

Instead, many Democrats preferred to say softly what the party’s 1972 presidential nominee said for all to hear. Barack Obama has won the nomination “by any practical test,” McGovern said.

“By any practical test?” Really? When last I checked, neither Clinton nor Obama had enough delegates to secure the nomination. While Obama may be ahead in delegates, not all contests are decided. And, among those contests that are “decided,” Texas’ delegate count will not be finalized until June.

With all due respect to McGovern, now is not the time for Hillary Clinton to give up–or give in.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Are we the only ones wondering why Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs had her office issue an Energy Report?

Did we miss a piece of legislation that instructed or authorized the Comptroller’s Office to spend state dollars on this report? I hope not, since it appears that this is the stunning conclusion that comes from the 443 page report:

Texas has the resources it needs to meet its energy demands for the foreseeable future, though tomorrow’s fuel mix may be quite different than today’s.The days of near-total reliance on cheap and abundant fossil fuels may be decreasing. Instead, we will rely on a mix of fuels and improved efficiency.

Seriously? Twenty-seven chapters (which we will consent are probably the most beautifully typeset report pages in state history), 443 pages, thousands of footnotes, and a list of contributors that appears to encompass darned near every employee in the Texas Comptroller’s Office and “tomorrow’s fuel mix may be quite different than today’s” is the absolute best they could come up with?

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Popularity: 7% [?]

It would literally be impossible to make this up:

 The National Turkey Federation commends Texas Governor Rick Perry for petitioning EPA to cut the Renewable Fuels Standard in half, citing the standard’s impact on food prices and the cost of poultry and livestock production.

The Turkey Federation commends a great, big, 39-percent turkey.

Popularity: 6% [?]

It is nice to see that there is at least one daily newspaper in Texas that has the right idea on Voter ID:

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Popularity: 6% [?]

In response to the Texas Attorney General’s opinion issued today that Bexar County’s pilot needle exchange program could result in prosecution of volunteers handing out the needles, State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio), said she was disappointed that the program cannot roll out this year:

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Popularity: 8% [?]

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In partnership with the Center for Politics and Governance at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, KXAN Austin News will host a live TV/Internet debate on Wednesday May 7, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. the debate will be moderated by KXAN news anchor Robert Hadlock and Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Director of the Center for Politics and Governance. The debate will simulcast as a livestream on kxan.com and at 1:00 p.m. become a web only live event with interactive opportunities from the community via instant messenger.

The debate will host Place 3 incumbent Jennifer Kim and challenger Randi Shade and the Place 4 race to replace May or Pro Tem Betty Dunkerly will include candidates Robin Cravey, Cid Galindo and Laura Morrison. Place 1 candidate Jason Meeker has confirmed as well.

KXAN Austin News will air the debate beginning at 12:30 during the regular Austin News at Noon broadcast and continue with a livestream of the debate on kxan.com. The debate will include an interactive portion and viewers may instant message the studio at the screenname KXANWebdesk using AOL Instant Messenger.

You may also submit your questions to the moderators prior to the debate in the comment section below or via email at debate@kxan.com.

Popularity: 8% [?]