Will AG Greg Abbott Allow Use Of Electronic Strip On Driver’s Licenses To Be Used To Verify Age At Lottery Vending Machines?

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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Texans For Lawsuit Reform Involuntarily Dissolved By Secretary Of State

Although their website remains up and they appear to be open for business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a longtime thorn in the side of progressives, has been “involuntarily dissolved” by the Texas Secretary of State’s office for failure to file periodic reports with the office pursuant to the Texas Non-Profit Corporations Act.

After being first notified on September 11 of last year that they had to file a legally mandated periodic report with the SOS office (and having been further warned about needing to file it on subsequent occasions), the SOS ordered TLR involuntarily dissolved on February 13, 2008.

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Christmas Mountains Transfer Hits Additional Roadblocks

It is starting to look more and more like the Christmas Mountains may not make it into the hands of the National Park Service anytime soon. Notes the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s continued insistence that the state get paid for the pristine Christmas Mountains could slow down any potential transfer to the National Park Service by at least a year, a federal park official said Friday.

The National Park Service has expressed an interest in acquiring the land, which was donated to the state for conservation purposes but which Patterson had attempted to sell to private interests.

William Wellman, superintendent of Big Bend National Park in West Texas, said that the park service will likely have a proposal ready for the state by February.

But he said that the insistence by the Texas General Land Office that it get paid for the 9,269-acre tract could seriously complicate any potential transfer.

“You’re looking at a year delay if you were to involve federal funds — it would definitely be a hurdle, and I don’t know if it would be insurmountable,” Wellman said.

Patterson’s office has said that it is its interpretation of state law that it cannot give the property to the park service — even though the property was donated to the state in 1991 for conservation purposes, and even though the General Land Office pledged when it accepted the donation that it would remain in state hands or go only to the National Park Service.

Let’s be honest: this is a weird, sticky situation, and while I don’t think Patterson is necessarily handling the situation to my linking, he believes he is trying to do his job.

Land under the custodial control of the General Land Office is for the sole purpose of making money for the Permanent School Fund. That’s what Patterson is trying to do and that’s his bottom line. I understand that and respect that he makes that a priority.

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Technorati Tags Christmas Mountain, Jerry Patterson

Looking At State Agency Spending On Advertising & Public Relations

The San Antonio Express-News has an interesting story up on state agency spending on advertising and public relations–a topic that’s been in the news a good bit already:

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Texas’ Public Pensions: Underfunded Or The Latest Object Of Political Gamesmanship?

This week, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that 82 of the state’s public pension plans have underfunded liabilities totaling $23 billion. To boot, he recommended a series of “reforms” to protect “taxpayer interest” and, of course, the retirees who depend upon the pensions.
Does all of that sound odd to anyone else? And I mean, odd on all levels.

First and foremost, aren’t such fiscal analysis the job of the Comptroller of Public Accounts? As poor as many may think Carole Keeton Strayhorn did her job as Texas Comptroller, I can’t fathom that she’d have completely missed a $23 billion pension deficiency.  For one thing, it would have been a dynamite campaign issue for her last fall, i.e., something she could claim she’d “fix” as Governor.

Check this out on part of Abbott’s study of the pensions, though:

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Lottery Commission Official At Center Of Kickback Probe

From KLBJ:

Did someone at the Texas Lottery Commission accept kickbacks from a financial planning firm in exchange for steering lotto winners their way? That’s what prosecutors want to find out.

The allegation came during a May Lottery Commission meeting by a longtime lotto critic and after learning of the accusations, Lottery Commission Chairman C. Thomas Clowe instructed officials to get to the bottom of it and call in the D.A.if necessary. Commission spokesman Bobby Heith says the allegations are being taken seriously but nothing has been proven.

What the hey? It was only a few days ago that sagging ticket sales were making news and now this. The Lottery Commission can’t seem to catch a break.

Randy Neugebauer: Has He Flipped On Farm Subsidies?

The Chron points out that Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer was caught defending farm subsidies (a big no-no for the anti-tax Republican Right Wing!) following the Environmental Working Group’s release of a massive database tracking subsidies by district:

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer on Tuesday defended his district’s ranking in a report of the highest farm subsidy payments, saying it makes sense in a vast region that includes the world’s largest contiguous cotton patch.

Neugebauer’s 19th congressional district ranked fourth to lead five Texas districts in the top 50, according to data released by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that has long pushed for more equitable distribution of payments and is often criticized by agriculture producers.

The 19th district received $1.23 billion in taxpayer money, or 3.5 percent of the country’s total of $34.8 billion, from 2003 to 2005. Texas farmers got 10 percent of the U.S. total, or about $3.4 billion, according to the report.

“When you step back and look at it, less than one half of one penny of each tax dollar goes to ag programs,” Neugebauer said. “The American taxpayer has been getting a great return on their investment because they have the safest, most affordable, abundant supply of food and fiber in the world.”

That’s funny, because I seem to remember Neugebauer being in favor of lesser subsidies at one point. Humm…

Who Will Be Secretary of State

So far, the Governor’s Office has been pretty mum on who will replace Roger Williams as Texas Secretary of State.

SOS is an important position because of the role that post plays in elections.

There aren’t even that many rumors floating about concerning who could be selected. Chances are, it will be another person who hasn’t before held political office but is a major contributor.

Since the Deputy SOS spot is currently vacant, that probably isn’t an option.

One name floated about a little is that of Harris County Tax Assessor/Collector Paul Bettencourt. Bettencourt would be a good political choice to shore up Perry’s right-wing anti-tax wingnut base, but a bad choice for Texas since he’s for Voter ID and was the original source for the allegations about thousands of illegal aliens voting in Harris County elections in 2004.

Have readers heard any other names?

How Convenient: More “Voter Fraud”

Isn’t it convenient that, just after a session in which voter ID was defeated, more alleged “non-citizens voting” cases suddenly crop up (with scant evidence)? And, just in time for Perry to call a special session on the issue:

Dozens of non-U.S. citizens may have voted in Bexar County elections, a county elections official reported, prompting an investigation by federal and local authorities.

The names of 330 noncitizens on the voter rolls were reported by Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen.

Those named had received jury duty summonses but told the court they weren’t eligible to serve because they were not U.S. citizens.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, requested Mr. Callanen’s report in an administrative subpoena. And the Bexar County district attorney’s office is investigating whether as many as 41 of those noncitizens voted in more than a dozen local, state and federal elections since 2001.

“You bet your bottom dollar we’ll prosecute … if we find people voted illegally in violation of the state election code,” Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed said.

The 330 names have since been removed from voter rolls, Mr. Callanen said.

Really? Ever think that maybe they just said they weren’t citizens so they didn’t have to do jury service? Where’s the due process for removing people from the rolls? without a vote.

Democrats said the identification requirements would suppress poor and minority voters and vowed to filibuster the bill – and threaten other bills – if it came up.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other Republicans argued the measure is needed to combat voter fraud. It had already passed the House.

SOS Roger Williams To Resign

Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams has announced he will resign his position effective July 1. An official announcement is expected Monday:

Williams’ communication director Scott Haywood says the secretary is leaving office to pursue other opportunities.

Williams’ name has been mentioned in political circles as a possible candidate for Texas governor in 2010.

Prior to his appointment, Williams was a major fundraiser for President George W. Bush.

Haywood says Williams is most proud of his economic development efforts with Governor Rick Perry to bring more jobs to Texas. He says he was also honored to make voting more accessible for all Texans.

Interesting that Williams would say that, especially since the SOS’s main job is dealing with elections and voting. Par for the course, though. No word on a replacement, but we’re hearing Perry will try to shore up some sagging Latino support with a Latino appointment from the Rio Grande Valley.

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