On April 20, 2010 the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon killed 11 people and began what has been called the world’s “the worst environmental disaster”. It is now early in JULY, over 75 days as of July 4th and still no real end in sight. In listening to all the news and analysis of this disaster, I find two scenarios quite interesting. Neither is very comforting. Make no mistake about this: it is the PRESIDENT’S JOB to lead and get this cleaned up along with, of course, BP. This is not like Hurricane Katrina in which the states are the first line of defense (and don’t get me started on the ineptitude of former Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen (I’m leaving, but I’ll be back with body bags”) Blanco). The buck does stop on President Obama’s desk!

In my first scenario, the President is just “fiddling while Rome burns” because he really doesn’t have a clue as to what he should be doing and neither do the rest of his advisors. There are many things he could do, but he is too inept to know what to do first, so he does little or nothing. Indeed it does take him 10 days to make his first public comment on the oil spill. By Day 11, the oil penetrates the Louisiana wetlands while Obama meets with U2’s Bono in the Oval Office. So in this scenario, it turns out that the President is not nearly the “rocket scientist” that he has been portrayed to be and he really is not capable of leading in a crisis. Maybe that’s why he’s paid attorneys so much money to keep his school records under wraps.

Now to the second scenario, the President knows exactly what he is doing and this fits into his chief of staff Rahm “Dead Fish” Emanuel’s favorite saying: “Never let a good crisis go to waste!” With cap and trade looming on the horizon, why not use this to demonize “Big Oil” and America’s so-called addiction to the evil substance and just let everything “go to hell in a hand basket.” After all, the states being affected the most are “Red States” that all supported John McCain (with the exception of Florida). And if your goal is to bring America to it’s knees then who cares about the number of jobs lost or the damage to the coastline. According to Saul Alinsky (the first “community organizer”), a man that Obama greatly admires the end justify the means. And so now we have the cabal of Obama, Reid and Pelosi once again pushing a bill that will cripple the United States and cause job loss and massive increases in the cost of energy. Do they care? What do you think?

Considering all the evidence that this oil spill could have been contained had Obama acted quickly and taken advantage of the help that was offered from all over the world, I’ll let you decide which scenario fits. And we’ll see what happens with Cap and Trade or should we call it “Cap and Tax.”?

Catherine Gibb

Ken Paxton
State Representative
District 70

Last week, Governor Rick Perry announced that Texas is prepared to respond to any effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill along the Texas coast. The State Operations Center has remained at an increased readiness level and the State continues to work with federal and local authorities to track the spill and prepare contingency plans.

The Office of the Governor participates in daily conference calls with the White House, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and gulf state governors.

Any oil reaching Texas shores is expected to be in the form of weathered tar balls, which are naturally occurring on the Texas Gulf Coast during the summer months, according the information from the General Land Office and Coast Guard. Fortunately, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has equipped and trained his staff in preparation for a potential spill off the Texas coast. Texas’ General Land Office (GLO) has five coastal offices equipped with boats, 4×4 trucks, trailers, ATVs, and skimmers available for response activities. Silt curtains may be deployed to protect washouts.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has activated 12 Mobile Response Spill Assessment Teams capable of conducting air monitoring and collecting sediment and water samples. TCEQ also has staff available to advise on waste disposal and provide training in shoreline clean-up techniques.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, TCEQ and GLO to provide any assistance necessary. TPWD has also formed an internal oil spill response team and is conducting weekly conference calls with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Sea Grant College Program and commercial fisheries. No fisheries have been closed along the Texas coast due to the oil spill. TDA is working with grocery stores to promote consumer awareness that both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Texas Department of State Health Services have affirmed the health and safety of Texas seafood and shrimp.

The Oil Spill Prevention and Response Division of the General Land Office was created in 1991 to prevent oil spills and to ensure platforms, pipeline operators, vessels and refineries have contingency plans in place to respond to spills. Division personnel audit and inspect over 625 facilities that store, transport or refine petroleum products along the Texas coast to check for compliance with applicable regulations. The Division also maintains records on over 18,000 vessels that operate in state water to ensure they have operational guidelines and procedures in place to deal with oil spills.

Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard Houston-Galveston, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi and the GLO will continue regular communication to coordinate activities on the federal, state and local level.

Texas beaches remain open for summer recreation and business. For more information, please visit www.traveltex.com.

DALLAS - The Republican Party of Texas has a new chairman.  At its 2010 convention in Dallas Saturday, the more than 5,000 delegates on hand voted to elect Steve Munisteri of Houston chairman of the state party.  Chairman Munisteri sounded a note of unity upon taking office Saturday afternoon.

“I’m humbled and honored that the delegates to the convention of the Republican Party of Texas have elected me,” said Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri.  “Together we will move united into November to deliver victory for our Republican candidates at all levels of government.  I call upon the grassroots to join me in these efforts.  As for me and my staff, we will be hard at work Monday morning, focusing on victory in November, with the re-election of Gov. Rick Perry as our top priority.”

Gov. Perry welcomed the newly elected chairman.

“Anita and I offer our congratulations to Steve for his election as chair of the Texas Republican Party. He will play an integral role in fortifying the momentum of our party’s values – values based on principles of limited government, restrained spending and personal liberty. Steve is a true patriot and one who has faithfully fought to uphold the Texas values that have made our state the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family. I’m proud of his leadership and look forward to his guidance of our state party as it fuels the effort to win in November and keep Texas as a model of good governance for the rest of the nation to follow.”

A graduate of the University of Texas and the UT Law School, Chairman Munisteri comes to the chairmanship from a career of advocating for the conservative cause. Mr. Munisteri entered politics on Republican Hank Grover’s campaign for Texas governor in 1972, and founded the Young Conservatives of Texas.  A veteran of over 50 political campaigns across four decades, Mr. Munisteri brings a strong record of accomplishment to the Republican Party of Texas.

The delegates also elected Melinda Fredricks of Conroe vice chairman.

This week, Governor Perry and other state lawmakers attacked the recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take over air quality permitting for up to forty refineries and facilities in Texas.  

This effort serves as the latest attempt by the federal government to usurp control over our State’s authority.  

As Governor Perry mentioned in a recent press conference, this action undermines Texas’ successful clean air programs and will cost the state thousands of jobs while growing the federal bureaucracy. 

Texas’ air is significantly cleaner than it was in 2000, even with the population, employment and economic growth that Texas has experienced in the last decade. 

In fact, the Texas clean air program achieved a 22 percent reduction in ozone and a 46 percent decrease in NOx emissions between 2000 and 2008, compared to an eight percent reduction in national ozone levels and a 27 percent reduction in national NOx levels during that same time. 

Additionally, no county in Texas is in nonattainment for fine particulate matter, one of the pollutants with the greatest impact on human health.

As Governor Perry points out, Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants and advancing renewable energy sources.

Our State has successfully balanced the need for environmental improvements with fostering economic growth, new investment and job creation.  

Texas continues to advance new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable regulation, not costly mandates and taxes.  

Imposing unnecessarily stringent regulations will only undermine our State’s innovative efforts and serve to constrict economic growth.

Catherine Gibb

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce that on Monday, June 7th, the Nostradamus of Pollsters, Dr. Frank Luntz (shown at right), will serve as my special guest for a dinner at the Westin Galleria in Dallas.

Along with Frank, my longtime friend Mark Davis, host of The Mark Davis Show on WBAP News Talk 820, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

In 2008 Frank provided us with an excellent presentation on the politics of the Presidential election.

I am honored that he has agreed to come back to the Lone Star State for another entertaining performance focusing on the midterm election and our chances for a GOP takeover of the House of Representatives.

If you are interested in attending, please visit my website to sign up – seats are filling up fast!

Respectfully,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

The 2010 Republican Party of Texas (RPT) State Convention will be held at the Dallas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, June 11th and 12th. The following information should be of use to you if you plan to attend:

The Republican Party of Texas was scheduled to send out during the week of April 19th post cards to all Republicans who were selected as Delegates or Alternates to the State Convention. The post cards will include registration instructions for the Convention.

Purpose – At the 2010 RPT State Convention, Delegates will elect a State Party Chairman and State Party Vice-Chairman, who by the Texas Election Code must be of different gender. Each State District Caucus will select a State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who will serve on the State Republican Executive Committee. In addition, Delegates will adopt the 2010 State Party Platform.

Registration - You can register as a Delegate or Alternate via the www.Texasgop.org web site. Once you reach the site, click on the 2010 Convention icon, then on ‘Pre-registration’. The Party is asking all Delegates and Alternates to pay a $35 facilities fee to help cover convention expenses, as has been done in previous years.

Guests – You can order a guest pass on the site. There is a $25 charge for a guest pass for those at least 18 years of age. Children under 18 may receive a guest pass at no charge.

Hotels – The Hyatt Regency Dallas is the main hotel and has been fully booked. The Crowne Plaza is the second choice hotel, followed by the Westin when the Crowne Plaza is fully booked. All three hotels are on DART train lines.

Transportation and Parking – Parking at the Convention Center is extremely limited, and all Convention attendees are urged to use the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The RPT is working with DART to have addition train cars and possibly buses for the Convention. If you would like to purchase DART day passes ($4.00), you may do so via the RPT web site.

Volunteer Opportunities - The Convention, which is the largest political Convention in the United States and possibly the world, could not run without hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers are needed to man registration desks; to act as Sergeants at Arms on the convention floor, in Senate District Caucuses and at DART stations; and to act as pages throughout the Convention. Registration forms for all volunteer opportunities are available on the RPT web site. Pages must be between the ages of 15 and 18, and there application form must be signed by either the prospective pages State Republican Executive Committeeman, State Committeewoman, or by their County Chairman. The deadline for turning in volunteer forms is May 25, 2010.

Convention Center – The General Sessions and the Prayer Rally will be held in Exhibit Hall F, the newest of the Convention Center’s exhibit halls. The room is over 200,000 square feet in area with no pillars to block views. In addition, all caucus meetings will be held in meeting rooms, unlike the last Dallas convention (2002) when some caucuses were held is curtained off areas of the Convention Center garage.

Additional Information – Additional information about the State Convention can be found at the RPT website. You may also feel free to contact me with any questions, either by cell phone at 214-803-1847, or via e-mail at Nealkatz23@verizon.net.

I can’t speak for everyone in our club, but I didn’t get involved with PRW or TFRW to have social time. I wanted to be able to make a difference in the politics in our county, our state, and our country. And now, more than ever, we cannot sit on the sidelines, wringing our hands and bemoaning the state of the nation. We have a job to do and this is our call to action. In addition to working to get out the vote in Collin County, we need to see what we can do to help in other critical races across the state of Texas. If your budget doesn’t have room for donations to candidates, there are numerous other ways to help and we will be exploring those in future club meetings and via information emails. I know that we are all inundated with emails and that we each have our own personal lives and problems to deal with. But if we don’t take our heads out of the sand and make the time to do all that we can to win in 2010, we will not recognize this nation in just a few short years. Healthcare, banking reforms, cap and trade, second amendment challenges, liberal judges, trillion dollar deficits and amnesty will change the face of our nation forever. I leave you with this quote from Ronald Reagan, January 5, 1967: “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance, it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have know freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” DO YOU WANT THE LEGACY OF OUR GENERATION TO BE THAT WE LOST OUR FREEDOM?

Catherine Gibb

RPT Update 04/23/10

Earlier this month, Democratic nominee for governor, liberal Bill White, accused Gov. Perry and the Texas Republican leadership of engaging in “Soviet-style” budget management, when they announced efforts to trim the state’s budget across the board.  Coming from the nominee of a party that is spending the country toward bankruptcy and is increasingly insinuating itself into every single facet of American life, that was a bit rich.

Well, earlier this week, trial lawyer Bill White took a shot at Gov. Perry’s resume.  This, coming from the nominee of a party that’s led by the president with one of the thinnest resumes in American political history, is, again, a bit rich.

But it’s even worse than that.  By taking a swipe at Gov. Perry’s career, Bill White managed to overlook the fact that Gov. Perry’s connections to Texas life are deep and strong.  Gov. Perry has worked on a ranch, and he spent five years flying C-130s for the United States Air Force.  Gov. Perry has spent decades trying to keep Texas ‘ government small and Texas ‘ families and businesses thriving, while Democrats have done everything they could to expand government power.

We’re sure that Bill White didn’t intend to insult ranchers or military veterans.  John Kerry didn’t mean to insult the military either.  And neither did Dick Durbin.  Liberal Democrats never intend to insult the military.  They just keep doing it over and over again, year by year.

The Pelosi Democrat leadership didn’t mean to call opponents of Obamacare “un-American,” either.  They just…you know…did.  In print.

If Bill White wants to talk resumes, then he should start answering questions about why he still won’t disclose his tax returns.  Or why the city he left behind, Houston , is in such financial troubles.  Or he could answer for the company he led, BJ Services, and why it’s under Congressional investigation.

The one thing Both Ways Bill evidently doesn’t want to talk about are the big issues of the day.  Issues like cap and trade and Obamacare, which he still hasn’t given Texans a straight answer on.  It’s not hard to figure out why.  According to Rasmussen, while 67% of Texans support repealing Obamacare, 82% of Texas Democrats don’t.  Texas Democrats are fine with Washington mandates that force individuals to buy insurance, and that threaten to bankrupt Texas .  The majority of Texas isn’t fine with that, and wants Obamacare repealed.  Bill White and the Democrats are out of touch with Texas on Obamacare.  And a whole lot more.

That must be why liberal Bill White is taking cheap - and factually deficient - shots at Gov. Perry’s resume.

CONTACTS:
Nicole Chardavoyne, nchardavoyne@gorvis.com, 202-306-7139
Mark Hey, Mark.Hey@house.state.tx.us, 512-463-0544

State Lawmakers Honored for Their Support of DWI Courts

National Center for DWI Courts and Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. Thank Rep. Madden and Sen. Seliger for Their Work to Prevent Drunk Driving

WHAT:

• The National Center for DWI Courts, judges, law enforcement and Beam Global executives unite to support DWI Court and honor Rep. Madden and Sen. Seliger for their work passing H.B. 530
• DWI Courts successfully address hardcore and repeat drunk driving offenders by providing long-term, ongoing accountability and rehabilitation, in addition to conviction.
• Since the passage of H.B. 530 the number of DWI courts has tripled in Texas.

WHEN:

• Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:

• The South Steps of the Capital Building
  Congress and 11th Streets
  Austin, Texas   78701

WHY:

• Hardcore drunk drivers, drivers with high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) or repeat offenders, are the deadliest drivers on our roads.
• Hardcore drunk drivers are responsible for 58 percent of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States and are 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
• DWI Courts have a successful track record of convicting, treating and monitoring hardcore, repeat drunk driving offenders.

WHO:

• Representative Jerry Madden, District 67
• Senator Kel Seliger, District 31
• The  Honorable Elixateth A. Earle, Travis County Court #7
• David Wallace, director, National Center for DWI Courts
• Matt Stanton, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Beam Global Spirits & Wine

Dear Friends:

Americans want, need, and deserve a United States Congress that reflects the will of the hardworking taxpayer, but the recent passage of the $2.6 trillion healthcare bill reiterates the Democrats’ arrogant disregard for the interests of the American people.

With rising unemployment and budget deficits, why on earth would Congress want to cut Medicare, slap small businesses with more taxes, and expand government once more by putting your healthcare decisions in the hands of Washington bureaucrats?

The Senate health bill that passed on Christmas Eve was made possible only after days of arm-twisting, backroom negotiations and sweetheart deals for dozens of Senators.

Exemption for Reid and Pelosi staff
The Democrats’ healthcare bill exempts senior staff in Congressional leadership and committee offices from being forced to purchase healthcare plans from the newly created exchanges.

The “Louisiana Purchase”
In an effort to secure her vote, Senator Mary Landrieu’s home state was granted a $300 million Medicaid bailout.

The “Cornhusker Kickback”
Senator Bill Nelson (D-NE) received a Medicaid payoff of $100 million.

The “Dodd Clinic”
Senator Chris Dodd secured $100 million in additional funding to benefit Connecticut hospitals.

“Gator-Aid”
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) was able to exclude Florida seniors from the hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare Advantage cuts that will force millions of seniors in the rest of the country to lose Medicare benefits.

The “Hoffa Handout”
Thanks to Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), union members received an extra $5 billion toward their medical expenses.

For a complete list of sweetheart deals, please visit my Web site.

As you know, the President signed this bill into law on March 23rd.   Never in history has legislation with such a strong impact been passed without bipartisan support.

Please continue to spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues, that enough is enough!  For example, would you please forward this email to five of your friends? 

It’s time to take our country back.  Let’s send a strong message to Washington this November by voting for liberty.

God Bless,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

Registered Voters 415353 - Cards Cast 19420 (4.68%)
Precincts 179 - Precincts Reporting 179 (100.00%)

For more details visit:  http://www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/election_results/index.jsp

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has long fought for your Constitutional rights, and now he is waging the fight of his career.  Attorney General Abbott has joined his colleagues from 13 other states in filing a constitutional challenge to Obamacare, the health care takeover bill that the Democrats passed against the objections of most Americans.  Attorney General Abbott’s lawsuit could spell the end of Obamacare.  But he needs your support.

Show Attorney General Abbott that you support him by signing our petition below.  This petition will be delivered to Attorney General Abbott on April 16, 2010.  The petition states:

We, the people of the great state of Texas, stand as one to oppose the Democratic Party’s assault on our Constitutional rights through Obamacare.

A majority of Americans believe that the Democrats’ tactics in passing Obamacare constituted an abuse of power.  Yet the Texas Democrats stand with their party, not the people.  We will not stand by while Democrats elected by Texas voters vote for the unconstitutional individual mandate forcing Texans to purchase insurance against their will.  We will not stand by while the Democrats’ statist visions destroy our businesses, attack our family budgets, add unsustainable spending to our state’s budget, and pile up trillions of dollars of unfathomable debt to our nation’s future.  We will not let the Democrats’ Obamacare stand, and we stand as one to support our great Attorney General, Greg Abbott.

We call on Texas Democrats to stand with the people of Texas and not their party.  We call on Texas Democrats to put party fealty aside and support our liberties.  And we support Attorney General Greg Abbott’s quest to bring down Obamacare.

In the few short years that I have known Denise, we had become such close friends and I respected and loved her. We were “in sync” about our views of the world and our passionate love for this nation. She also loved the Republican Party. One of the last things that we talked about was her concern that we as Republicans were not standing up for our party. Denise believed in what the Republican Party stands for and while we have those in Congress who have strayed from those conservative principles, it does not mean that Republican Party should be abandoned. She also thought that the Republican Party spent too much time on the defensive by allowing the Democrats and others to define us.

Denise Short with Congressman Hall and Congressman Johnson, Lincoln Day Dinner, February 6, 2010

We enjoyed many conversations about the need for leaders who could articulate our message and inspire conservatives everywhere. Denise wrote many times that we need to elect strong, principled conservatives who would stand up to the Democrats in Texas and in Washington and help take this country back. She feared, as I do, that we have only a short window of opportunity to turn the tide and that if we do not stand up now and make our voices heard, that we may not have that chance again.

The mainstream media is doing all in its power to “indoctrinate” the public regarding Obamacare, so-called “climate change,” and the rest of Obama’s leftist agenda, and all the while it continues to demonize the Republican Party and the Tea Party. What has been going on since this healthcare disaster passed is right out of Saul Alinsky’s playbook: demonize, divide and conquer. Obama’s promise to unite this country was just empty rhetoric as he uses his “bully pulpit” at every opportunity to divide us along racial lines.

For those who have asked what happened to Denise’s beloved dog, Jack: With the blessing of her family, he is now living with the Van Taylor family.

Denise had a brilliant mind and she saw Obama for whom and what he really was from the very beginning. She knew that we were in for the fight of our lives if Obama was elected. We had lengthy discussions about all that was wrong with his ideas on healthcare, cap and trade, illegal immigration, and national security and policies that have left this nation vulnerable to attack. I am truly sorry that she will not be here with us to fight this to the end, but I know her spirit is with us. And one thing I know she believed: GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! Rest in peace, my good friend.

U.S. history shows us that when political forces of arrogance have forced unpopular government expansion on the people, those very people rise up and lead the charge of “not on my watch”. Then the government of misdirection has been soundly defeated in the next election cycle.

Americans have great concerns about the direction of our nation.  The national leaders have lost touch with the citizens.  They are not listening.  They have charted a course and taken steps the citizens loathe and fear.  Some see no way to correct these political errors and chart a different course for America. 

We need to be reminded to look at the great resilience our country has shown to such blunders of the past.  In the end right has triumphed and the political forces of arrogance and misdirection have been soundly defeated.  We have at least two examples in our history where seemingly irresistible forces have been defeated even after major legislative victories.

The first example was in 1798, the Federalists buoyed by political victory felt that our country must root out alien forces trying to move our country into entangling alliances. They also felt that we should stamp out any force that used character attacks or information that attacked political leaders.  The political leadership wanted these voices of dissent silenced and imprisoned.  With their overwhelming majorities in Congress and with the consent of the President they passed the Alien and Sedition Act.  They tried to stamp out the opposition of the Republicans lead by Thomas Jefferson. 

A growing grassroots political movement rose in opposition to these acts and within two years in 1800 these forces swept the Presidency and made large gains in Congress.  They repealed the repugnant Alien and Sedition Act and in the process sent the Federalist Party who passed the bill into oblivion.

The second example occurred in 1854 when pro slavery elements in the Congress using their control of the Congress and with the support of the President felt it was time to overthrow the great compromises of 1820 and 1850 on which our government had dealt with the problem of slavery.  Senator Stephen Douglas proposed and with the help of the Democratic Party passed the Kansas Nebraska Act which totally changed the countries restrictions on the spreading of slavery and allowed slavery to expand into the Northern Territories under the guise of “popular sovereignty”. The vast majority of Americans opposed this change. 

The Kansas Nebraska Act caused grass roots opposition to spring up and in Wisconsin and one of those groups was called the Republican Party.  They were able to attract many leading northern political leaders to their cause including Simon Cameron, Salmon Chase, William Seward, and an Illinois lawyer named Abraham Lincoln.  Even after the Supreme Court made the situation worse with the Dred Scott decision these forces rallied citizen support and in 1860 they swept to victory in the Presidential race. 

The citizens said ‘even with the threat of disunion we will not allow these unpopular changes to distort our country’.  In the end while our country was greatly transformed it was done by a political leader who taught the citizens with his actions and persuaded them with his words.  Lincoln did not lead the county in a direction they did not support.  He had the popular support we needed to make sure our country was placed above base partisan programs.  And the Democratic proponents of Kansas Nebraska were destroyed as a political force.

Historically in a major crisis our citizens have been the backbone of our democracy. And while for a few years the forces that would have taken our country against the people seemed to have won the legislative day, we can be very optimistic that once again the people will rise up and  will deliver the same fate past generations have given to these forces that have misread and misdirected our great land. 

Across this great nation voters in opposition to the expansion of government in Washington are rising up in unison to say “No not on our watch.”  And I for one have faith that in the end the people will prevail over misguided government once again.

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Supreme Court Justice, Place 3
• Debra Lehrmann
• Rick Green
Texas State Representative, District 66
• Mabrie Jackson
• Van Taylor
District Judge, District 219
• Angela Tucker
• Scott J. Becker
County Court at Law #3
• Lance S. Baxter
• Stewart Matthews
County Court at Law #4
• David Rippel
• Matthew Goeller
County Court at Law #6
• Terri Green
• Jay Bender
District Clerk
• Alma Hays
• Patricia Wysong Crigger
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
• Cheryl Williams
• Jerry Hoagland

This change will only effect April 2010, following meeting dates will remain as the second Tuesday of each month.

Meeting location will be Legacy Texas Bank on Preston Rd. and Charles St. (just one block north of Parker).

Social time begins at 6:30, business meeting at 7:00

Attorney General Abbott Challenges the Constitutionality of Federal Health Care Takeover

AUSTIN–Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and 12 state attorneys general today filed a legal action challenging the constitutionality of the recently enacted federal health care law. The bipartisan legal challenge explains that the new law infringes upon Americans’ constitutionally protected individual liberties; encroaches upon the states’ constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty; forces states to spend billions of additional dollars on entitlement programs; imposes an unconstitutional tax; and violates the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Under the new law, for the first time in the nation’s history, the federal government is attempting to force individual Americans to enter into contracts and purchase services from private companies-in this case, insurance companies-or face a penalty. The state attorneys general are challenging this so-called individual mandate requirement, explaining that such an imposition on the American people exceeds Congress’ authority and violates Americans’ constitutional rights. Additionally, the states are challenging provisions of the new law that will impose dramatic Medicaid spending increases on the states-including more than $24 billion in mandatory spending increases in the State of Texas.

“The federal health care legislation signed today violates the United States Constitution and unconstitutionally infringes upon Texans’ individual liberties,” Attorney General Abbott said. “No public policy goal–no matter how important or well-intentioned–can be allowed to trample the protections and rights guaranteed by our Constitution. To protect all Texans’ constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation’s founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states have filed a legal challenge seeking judgment from the courts that the federal health care take over is unconstitutional.”
The thirteen-state coalition, which includes Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Alabama, South Dakota, and Idaho, filed its legal challenge in the Federal District Court in the Northern District of Florida. It was filed shortly after President Barack Obama signed the bill into law. The legal action specifically challenges the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and names the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor as defendants because those federal agencies are charged with implementing the Act’s constitutionally impermissible provisions.

Encroachment on Individual Liberties
According to the states’ legal action, the federal health care bill violates both Article I and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “The Act represents an unprecedented encroachment on the liberty of individuals living in the Plaintiffs’ respective states, by mandating that all citizens and legal residents of the United States have qualifying healthcare coverage or pay a tax penalty. The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying healthcare coverage. By imposing such a mandate, the Act exceeds the powers of the United States under Article I of the Constitution and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.”

Explaining why the individual mandate is unconstitutional, Attorney General Abbott said: “Our nation’s founding fathers had the wisdom to limit the federal government’s authority by specifically enumerating the powers given to Congress. Today, the federal government is attempting an unconstitutional power-grab-and relying upon Congress’ authority to regulate Commerce to justify their unprecedented overreach. If there are to be any limitations on the federal government then ‘Commerce’ cannot be twisted to cover every possible human activity under the sun-including mere human existence. The act of doing absolutely nothing does not constitute an act of commerce, and today’s legal challenge reflects the states’ attempt to preserve the individual liberties that were intended by our founders and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.”

Removes States’ Discretion
The states also charge that the Act “converts what had been a voluntary federal-state partnership into a compulsory top-down federal program.” As a result, the Act effectively removes the states’ discretion and constitutes a “derogation of the core constitutional principle of federalism upon which this Nation was founded…[and] exceeds the powers of the United States and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.”

Unprecedented Encroachment on State Sovereignty
Further, the multi-state lawsuit explains that the federal health care law “represents an unprecedented encroachment on the sovereignty of the states” by imposing new federal Medicaid enrollment standards. According to the Texas Health & Human Services Commission, the Act will double the number of Medicaid recipients and therefore force the Texas taxpayers to spend an additional $24.3 billion on Medicaid over the next 10 years. In addition to dramatic spending increases, the new law will shift substantial administrative costs to the states and therefore requires that state employees and agencies devote considerable time and resources to implementing the Act. The lawsuit also cites “several unfunded mandates that will cost state governments significantly.”

Unconstitutional Tax
Finally, the states allege that the Act imposes an unconstitutional tax on the American people. According to the states’ legal action, “the tax penalty required under the Act, which must be paid by uninsured citizens and residents, constitutes an unlawful capitation or direct tax, in violation of Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the Constitution of the United States.”

Dear Friends,

As one of my supporters, I want to share with you the latest effort to stop Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s government takeover of health care: Project Code Red.

• Visit the Project Code Red website

With Democrats using legislative tricks to quickly ram their bill through the Congress, the last line of defense will be the U.S. House of Representatives. That’s why I’m mobilizing my campaign to help Project Code Red hold Democrats accountable for ignoring the American people and pushing a bill that will:

• Destroy jobs here in Texas;
• Radically increase government spending;
• Raise taxes on families and small businesses;
• Cut Medicare for seniors;
• Force you out of health coverage you like; and
• Allow for taxpayer funding of abortion.

Americans have already rejected this reckless proposal. In fact, a recent Rasmussen survey found that “61% of U.S. voters say Congress should scrap that plan and start all over again.”

But Democrats aren’t listening. And make no mistake: they’re determined to pass their bill within a matter of weeks.

We need to stop them. So check out the Code Red website or visit my Web site for a link. The only reason this bill hasn’t passed yet is because patriots like you have sent a clear message to Washington – and with your help and support, we can scrap it once and for all.

God Bless,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

P.S. If you’re on Twitter, follow the action and get involved using the #gopcodered hash tag. And don’t forget to check out NRCC.org/CodeRed/ today. Thank you again!

You Can Vote in the Runoff if Registered and Did Not Vote in a Different Party Primary

With an unusually high number of runoff elections in Collin County and across the state it is not surprising that there a great deal of interest in exactly who can vote an in which runoff election.

“As a past member of the Elections committee for the Texas House of Representatives I can tell you there are always a lot of questions about runoff elections and who is eligible to vote in them,” said State Representative Jerry Madden from District 67.

“The most frequent misconception is that you must have voted in the primary election to vote in the primary runoff. The actual election law states that any registered voter can vote in the runoff unless they voted in the Primary election for a different party,” stated Madden.

Some believe that if you voted in either primary you can vote in either runoff and that is incorrect as well. You cannot switch parties between the primary and the runoff, said Madden.

“Another frequent misconception circulating is that you cannot vote in the primary runoff unless you were eligible to vote in the primary election. Any person who is registered on or before March 13 is eligible to vote in the runoff. The runoff election will be held April 13 and to be eligible you have to register 30 days prior to that date,” continued Madden.

There are a record number of primary runoff races on the ballot this election cycle. There are 8 runoff races on the local Collin County Ballot alone. Looking at the state wide ballot for the Republican Party there are 6 runoffs for U.S. Representative, 8 runoff elections for the Texas House, one for Supreme Court Justice and one for the State School Board. On the Democratic ballot there are runoff elections for U.S. Representative and one for the Texas House.

This is taken directly from the Texas Secretary of State Web site:

Q: Does a voter have to vote in the main election in order to vote in a runoff-election?

A: Section 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in order to vote in a Texas election.  There is no specific requirement to have previously voted in the main election in order to participate in the subsequent run-off election.  Therefore, such a requirement cannot be enforced.  However, please note that if you participated in a main primary election for one party, you cannot participate in the runoff primary election of another party.

Early voting for the Republican and the Democratic Primary Runoff Election begins on Monday, April 5th and runs through Friday, April 9th. Election Day is Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

All registered voters are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Democratic Primary Election, according to the Republican Party of Texas website. The reverse is also true, all registered voters are eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Republican Primary Election.

The short version to the question ‘Who can vote in the runoff’ is that anyone registered on or before March 13 can vote in a runoff for Texas Primary Runoff election as long as they did not vote in the opposing party’s primary election on March 2nd explained Madden.

Please join Congressman Sam Johnson for his next Freedom Council meeting on Saturday, March 13th from 9:30 – 11:00 am at the Collin College Central Park campus in McKinney. 

Join Sam as he provides a direct legislative update from Washington following a Q&A session.  He will also commemorate his 37th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the day the longest held POWs were freed from their captivity in Vietnam.  If you plan on attending please RSVP by responding to this email or calling 972/424-9573.

What is the Sam Johnson Freedom Council?
Sam launched the Freedom Council because he understands that common-sense ideas and solutions come from the citizens of the Third District, not Washington bureaucrats eager to expand our already bloated government.  Sam’s Freedom Council empowers you to express your ideas and concerns on the issues you are facing in the Third Congressional District.  It also provides you with the opportunity to hear direct legislative updates from Sam.  Meetings are held a few times a year and are free for those who reside in the Third Congressional District.  If you are interested in joining the Freedom Council please respond to this email or call 972/424-9573.  Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested in participating. 

March Meeting:
Saturday, March 13
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Collin College Central Park Campus
2200 W. University Drive / McKinney

Best Regards,

Mary M. McClure
Friends of Sam Johnson
Campaign Manager
972-424-9573 office
972-422-4797 fax

The Collin County Republican Party (CCRP) recently held its 42nd Annual Lincoln Dinner, which is an opportunity to honor volunteers and to raise funds for the operational expenses of its local headquarters.

“I would like to thank the Lincoln Day Dinner committee and all of our committee chairmen. I am humbled by the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our sponsors. Their hard work made this year’s dinner was a resounding success,” said Moses.

“We concentrate our efforts on this one annual fundraising dinner so that we can focus on our political activities the rest of the year,” said dinner chairman Diann Jones. “I am proud to announce that we have exceeded our fundraising goal by quite a margin and have raised the money to continue our work for republicans well into the future.

Master of Ceremonies Mark Davis, from WBAP News Talk 820, started off the evening with a rousing tribute to “Republican Momentum” as evidenced in the recent election in Massachusetts. The evening included a VIP Reception, a silent auction, a live auction, a seated dinner and a full evening of entertainment.

Tributes for Congressman Ralph Hall & Congressman Sam Johnson were the highlight of the evening as they were honored as “Living Legends.”

Ross Perot made a guest appearance and special presentations were made to Congressman Hall from the National Rifle Association and to Congressman Sam Johnson from the Blue Angels.

Taped messages were presented from Pastor Chuck Swindoll, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Texas Governor Rick Perryand a letter was read from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

CCRP County Chairman Fred Moses presented “Chairman Awards” to:

• Tim McCord, for his work with the Plano Balloon Festival;
• Chris Hill for his work in creating a new web presence for the party; and
• Diann Jones for her leadership with fundraising efforts and for chairing this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

Long time party volunteer Wayne Tucker received the John McVeigh Award which is the life time achievement award given annual by the CCRP. Dixie Jeffers received the Gladys Harrington Award which is presented to an outstanding precinct chairman each year. Mary McClure was presented with the Dixie Clem Award which is presented each year to an outstanding young republican.

“I want to thank all the volunteers and sponsors that made this event so successful,” said county chairman Moses.

“We are honored to have so many people willing to give of their time, their energy and their money to support the Republican Party.”

I urge our members to decide which candidates you are supporting and to volunteer to help them during this short political season to get out the vote in this runoff. Runoffs, unfortunately, have notoriously low turnout and just a few votes will often decide an election. These are all important elected positions and the candidates of your choice will welcome your help and support. Be sure to keep up with your campaign hours and turn them in to our campaign chair, Kimberly Brown.

This has been a rather “cantankerous” primary, but once the runoff is over, Republicans in Collin County need to come together and work toward victory in November as we do have Democrat challengers in the following Collin County races: U. S. House of Representatives, Districts 3 and 4, Criminal District Attorney, County Judge, County Court at Law 3, Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 2, and Justice of the Peace, 3, Place 2, not to mention the various statewide races. We must not take any race for granted. We must commit ourselves to get behind our candidates at the local, state and national level and work as though our entire way of life is at stake, for indeed I believe it is. This election is the most critical of our lifetime and no one who loves the nation can afford to sit this one out. Many made that mistake in 2008 and we are paying dearly for their inaction. I’ve always believed that if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you have no right to complain about the government you get.

All registered voters are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Democratic Primary Election, according to the Republican Party of Texas website. The reverse is also true, all registered voters are eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Republican Primary Election. So get out there and work for the candidates of your choice and get out the vote in the primary runoff. You can make a difference!!!

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3

• Rick Green
• Debra Lehrmann

State Representative, District 66

• Mabrie Jackson
• Van Taylor

District Judge, 219th

• Scott Becker
• Angela Tucker

Judge, County Court at Law 3

• Lance S. Baxter
• Stewart Matthews

Judge, County Court at Law 4

• Matthew Goeller
• David Rippel

Judge, County Court at Law 6

• Jay Bender
• Terri Green

District Clerk

• Patricia Wysong Crigger
• Alma Hays

County Commissioner, Precinct 2

• Jerry Hoagland
• Cheryl Williams

Catherine Gibb

Primary Election Early Voting Daily Totals (by Party & Location)

source: Collin County Election Commission

Important Note: Eligible Collin County registered voters (with an effective date of registration on or before March 2, 2010) may vote at any of these early voting locations.

When voting on election day, you will need to attend the specific polling location that is servicing your precinct. All polling locations will be open for voting from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 2nd.

During this primary season, I encourage everyone to support the candidates they believe are the best candidates and are the best voice for and representative of the Republican Party’s positions. But please do so in a positive manner. We damage the Party when we slam other Republicans. We should be able to articulate why our candidate is the best choice without resorting to smearing their opponents. And smearing another Republican certainly gives ammunition to the Democrats who are circling like sharks these days here in Collin County. You can rest assured that this kind of negativity can come back to haunt us in the fall. My personal opinion is that if you can’t win on your own merits, you aren’t going to get my vote.

On another note, I just returned from the first quarter meeting of the TFRW board in my capacity as the District Director for SD 8. We elected 3 Members-At-Large to serve on the TFRW Executive Board: Sylvia Manley, Jeannee O’Neill and Judy Prada. And we approved the TFRW budget, among other business matters. I will be sharing additional information regarding their board positions with our board members The highlight of the trip, however, was getting to hear Dana Perino from Fox News and former press secretary for George W. Bush speak and she was introduced by Karen Hughes. She regaled us with some great stories about President Bush as well her colleagues at Fox News.

Early voting starts February 16th and Tuesday, March 2, 2010 is primary day. Cast your vote wisely!

Catherine Gibb

source: Americans for Tax Reform on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 10:55 AM

Naughty

• Former Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) – for not understanding that people want skinny budgets, not skinny governors
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — for repeatedly failing to put legislation online for 72 hours before a vote, in violation of her explicit promise
• Peter Orszag, Rep. Charlie Rangel, Tim Geithner, Larry Summers, John Podesta, Paul Volcker, Roger Altman, Alan Greenspan, Nancy Pelosi, and the Center for American Progress —for being storm petrels for a Value Added Tax
• Rep. Charlie Rangel, again – for engaging in “unilateral tax reduction” while raising everyone else’s taxes
• Tom Daschle – for engaging in “unilateral tax reduction” after a long career of raising everyone else’s taxes
• Sen. Harry Reid – for representing Washington, DC instead of Nevada
• Sen. Max Baucus – for violating the Eighth Commandment by claiming the Senate health bill doesn’t raise taxes
• Sen. Jay Rockefeller – for threatening to have the government take control of the internet during an “emergency”
• Sens. Kent Conrad and Judd Gregg – for trying to set up a bipartisan budget commission which is guaranteed to recommend tax hikes
• Sen. Mary Landrieu – for taking a $300 million bribe to vote for cloture on the Senate health bill
• Sen. Chris Dodd, Rep. Barney Frank, and Rahm Emanuel – for helping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac destroy the life savings of millions of Americans
• Christina Romer—for slinging around the bogus term “saved or created jobs” — when in the real world, 2.8 million Americans lost their jobs since the signing of the “stimulus” bill
• Andy Stern and Anna Berger of the SEIU – for their efforts to strip workers of their right to a secret ballot election, all while skirting the lobbying rules Obama, Reid, and Pelosi championed
• Randy Pullen, Arizona Republican Party Chairman – for pushing a $3 billion tax increase
• The 11 New York county party chairmen who anointed Dede Scozzafava
• The New York Court of Appeals – for ruling against property owners in the famous Brooklyn Atlantic Yards case: This is the first state court to rule against property owners since Kelo in an eminent domain for private gain case
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – for instituting a forced exercise program onto its riders
• Vice-President Biden – for his “stimulus” package claim: “In my wildest dreams, I never thought it would work this well.”
• (And for washing his Trans Am in the White House driveway, shirtless)

Nice

• Rep. Paul Ryan – for providing the free-market budget alternative to the Obama-Pelosi-Reid tax-and-spend plan
• Creigh Deeds – for admitting he wanted to raise taxes if elected Governor, thus electing Bob McDonnell
• Paul Volcker, Chairman of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board – for not yet releasing his secret, hidden, horrible tax report until next year
• Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer – for warning that Obama’s double-tax proposal will make the U.S. less competitive: “It makes U.S. jobs more expensive…we’re better off taking lots of people and moving them out of the U.S.”
• Whole Foods CEO John Mackey – for penning his op-ed on free market healthcare reform in the Wall Street Journal
• Rick Santelli – for his motivational speaking skills reminding us that the government shouldn’t reward bad behavior
• Robert Gibbs — for cleaning up after David Axelrod and Tim Geithner by reminding the American people that there are indeed “no caveats” to President Obama’s promise not to raise “any form” of taxes on families making less than $250k per year
• Flat Tax Jurisdictions – Iceland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Albania, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Georgia, Romania, Iraq, Ukraine, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Jamaica, Jersey, Guernsey, Pridnestrovie, and Hong Kong
• Rep. Tom Price—for leading the conservative majority of the GOP conference in his role as chairman of the Republican Study Committee
• Rep. John Shadegg – for leading the effort to allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines (First on every free-market health care action list)
• Sen. Jim DeMint – for introducing the Healthcare Freedom Act, the most comprehensive free-market alternative to the Reid-Obama health scheme
• Rep. Patrick McHenry – for sponsoring the taxpayer-friendly alternative to the Wolf Commission bill
• Arizona State Sens. Pamela Gorman and Ron Gould – for leading the fight against the Gov. Chuck Coughlin/Junior Staffer Jan Brewer/Randy Pullen $3 billion tax hike
• Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño – for slashing thousands of government jobs as part of a plan to cut Puerto Rico’s government spending by $2 billion per year
• Keith Self (Collin County, TX Judge) – for opposing a gas tax increase and making his one of the first counties that has opened its books to public scrutiny by posting government spending data online
• Hannah Giles, James O’Keefe, and Andrew Breitbart – for exposing ACORN’s willingness to pimp out their “services” at taxpayer expense
• House Republican Leader John Boehner, Sen. Mike Johanns, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, and Rep. Darrell Issa – for winning the Nutcracker Award (Awarded for “Outstanding Leadership in Protecting Taxpayers from Corrupt Organizations Named After Nuts”)
• San Diego ACORN office – for not using a shredder
• Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney – for producing Not Evil Just Wrong — a film debunking Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth
• Malcolm Turnbull – for getting deposed by his own conservative opposition party, thus leading to the defeat of Cap and Trade in Australia
• The whistleblower who released the Climategate documents
• Carbon Dioxide – without it, plants would die
• CNN – for deporting Lou Dobbs

CONGRESSMAN HALL URGES DEMOCRATS
TO DROP PLANS FOR GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER
OF HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON, DC . . . As the House of Representatives reconvened today following the holiday break, Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX/4) reiterated his opposition to a government takeover of health care and issued the following statement:

“I spent the recent break talking to folks all across the Fourth District. My constituents, along with Americans all across the country, continue to express their strong opposition to the Democrats’ plan for radical health care reform. In light of these concerns, Democrats should drop their partisan plan and work with Republicans to craft bipartisan, common-sense reforms that rein in costs and make quality health care available and affordable for our citizens.

“The Republican plan, which I support, would reduce the deficit, reduce health insurance premiums by up to ten percent, allow states to establish interstate compacts, and increase fraud prevention, among other features. Instead, the Democrats’ bill is a generation killer for our children and grandchildren. It will lead to a government takeover of health care that will raise taxes, increase health care costs, increase the federal deficit, ration care, and allow government bureaucrats to make decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors. The increase in taxes on small businesses will lead to a loss of more jobs and force more Americans out of their current health care plan and into a government-run plan.

“Currently, a Conference Committee composed of a small group of Democratic Senators and Representatives has begun negotiating a final Conference Agreement. These partisan discussions unfortunately are occurring behind closed doors. I, along with a united Republican Caucus, have expressed our strong support to a request by C-SPAN that these negotiations be open to the public through media coverage.

“Health care reform is too important, affects too much of our economy, and touches too many lives to be written in secret by a select few Democrats. The American people deserve openness, transparency and accountability – not more secret partisan deals. Negotiations need to include Republicans and need to be televised and open to the press.

“I will continue to be an advocate for my constituents on this critically important legislation. I fought against the Democratic plan in the Energy and Commerce Committee and on the House Floor, and I will continue to oppose it through these final negotiations. Congressman Joe Barton and I worked together to amend the House bill – with several nights’ debates lasting past midnight. The Democrats have a 40-vote advantage in the House – but we came within five votes of killing this bill when it passed the House Floor. I am the senior Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and will be doing battle again when the health bill gets back to the House Floor.

“We need health care reform, but the Democrats’ radical plan is not the prescription for reform that the American people want or deserve.”

# # #

Ballot order results for selected races include:

Texas Governor

1. Kay Bailey Hutchison
2. Rick Perry
3. Debra Medina

Collin County Judge

1. Keith Self
2. John Muns

Collin County Criminal District Attorney

1. Jeff Bray
2. Greg Willis
3. James Angelino

Collin County Republican Party Chairman

1. Fred Moses
2. Mandy Tschoepe

The entire ballot order may be viewed here.

Governor Perry discusses House Bill 8, House Bill 3612 (both by Representative Otto) and Senate Bill 771 by Senator Williams.  All of these bills will improve the appraisal process and include provisions that impose limits on what is considered a comparable sale for appraisal purposes.  Additionally, these bills create an expedited arbitration process and require substantial evidence to increase an appraisal after a successful appeal.  Finally, these changes will improve the fairness and accuracy of the appraisal process and increase the oversight of appraisal districts to ensure they are following uniform appraisal practices and procedures.

Governor Perry also mentions House Bill 1038, which I authored, to ensure that appraisers consider all comparable properties when appraising a home, including ones that have been recently sold at foreclosure or have decreased in value.  HB 1038 is one more solution for providing some property tax relief by prohibiting appraisal districts from overlooking foreclosed properties.

Last November, voters approved Proposition 2, which will ensure that residential property is appraised only based on its use as a homestead rather than on a hypothetical alternate use.  Voters also passed Proposition 3, which will allow the Legislature to adopt uniform statewide appraisal standards in the future.  Property tax appraisal practices and procedures vary widely across the state.  A property located in one county is sometimes appraised differently than a similar property located elsewhere in the state.  Proposition 3 will allow the State to create a standard appraisal method for appraisal districts to follow.

The aforementioned measures will provide greater protection for property owners by improving transparency and fairness to the appraisal process.  However, there is still much more that we can do.  Improving the appraisal process to benefit taxpayers continues to be a priority for me and I look forward to focusing on this issue again next legislative session.

Ken Paxton
State Representative, District 70

In the meantime, we have a very pressing issue that has come to light with the latest attempt by a radical Muslim to blow up the Northwest airline. Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Czar has banned the use of “war on terror”: it is now “Overseas Contingency Operation” and when something happens it is now a “man-caused disaster”. Apparently she believes, along with President Obama, that if you tone down the rhetoric that suddenly those fanatic Muslims will suddenly no longer want to blow us to kingdom come. NEWS FLASH: if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a bloody duck and calling it a pig will not make it so. We are at war and we have been at war since the takeover of the U. S. Embassy in Iran in 1979. We just didn’t know it or maybe Jimmy Carter was just too stupid to realize that his refusal to back the Shah of Iran, maybe not the most benevolent ruler in the entire world, but a damn sight better that the Ayatollah Khomeini, was the match that lit this fuse. And since that time the threat has only increased and the enemy has become more emboldened, culminating in September 11, 2001. But they didn’t count on the resolve of George W. Bush. Of course he had to deal with the loony left, the Democrats that represent them and the bureaucracy of a bloated Federal government. However, we have a new president now and he doesn’t see this threat in the same light. He’s dismantling many of the safeguards that have kept us safe; he’s demonized the CIA, has the military going after Navy Seals that did their jobs but are now being punished for doing so, trying these enemy combatants in civil courts as though they had the rights of American citizens and still plans to close Gitmo.

So how safe are we these days. Well, through a friend, I’ve found out a bit about PETN, the explosive that was smuggled aboard the Northwest plane. It takes about 80 grams of PETN to knock an aircraft out of the sky. That is less than a fifth of a pound. How much cocaine enters the United States in a single day? Every day, more than two tons of powder flows through Mexican and the Caribbean, with one-third of that ending up in the U.S., or about 1320 pounds per day. And these statistics are from 1997!

Do we really think that radical Islamic terrorists might now try doing the same thing with PETN? And since PETN cannot be detected through electronic detection, we don’t use bomb-sniffing dogs and your grandmother is more likely to be searched than a man whose father contacted the CIA about his radical views, how safe do you feel?

We must make the most of the opportunities we have been afforded in 2010 to make changes. Our very lives may depend on it.

Catherine Gibb

While millions of Americans are more than ready to put 2009 behind them, they should know that Congress failed to reauthorize dozens of tax breaks for individuals and businesses before the Members scurried home for the Holidays. These “expiring provisions” affect every American in one way or another as individuals or businesses. By allowing them to lapse, Congress has enacted tax increases at time when these taxpayers can least afford it.

The House has passed legislation (H.R. 4213) that would have extended 63 current tax provisions, but the Senate failed to bring this bill to a vote. Thus, all of these provisions expired at midnight last night. Notable provisions as reported today by Tax Notes include:

• Deduction of state and local general sales taxes (section 164) (Personal Tax Incentives)
• Additional standard deduction, up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples, for state and local property taxes (section 63) (Personal Tax Incentives)
• Research tax credit and alternative simplified credit (section 41) (General Business Tax Incentives)
• New markets tax credit (section 45D) (Community Assistance Provisions)
• Empowerment zone incentives (sections 1391 and 1202) (Community Assistance Provisions)
• Renewal community tax incentives (sections 1400E, 1400F, 1400I, and 1400J) (Community Assistance Provisions)
• District of Columbia Investment Incentives (sections 1400, 1400A, 1400B, and 1400C) (Community Assistance Provisions)
• Net disaster loss designation and $500 limit per casualty for personal casualty losses attributed to federally declared natural disasters (section 165) (General Disaster Relief Provisions)
• Expensing for qualified disaster expenses (section 198A) (General Disaster Relief Provisions)
• Biodiesel and renewable diesel incentives (section 40A) (Energy Incentives)
• Alternative motor vehicle credit for heavy hybrids (section 30B) (Energy Incentives)

Although the House has acted and passed its version of the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, the Senate failed to act on similar legislation, as a result the following additional key tax provisions will expire:

• Increased exemption levels for the individual alternative minimum tax (section 55) and personal tax credits allowed against the AMT (section 26)
• Exclusion of unemployment compensation benefits from gross income (section 85)
• Alternative fuel mixture tax credit (section 6426(e))
• Reduced estimated tax payments for small businesses (section 6654(d)(1)(D))

The Senate has had a lot on its plate this year. But it is still unacceptable that they have stalled on the chance to extend these tax provisions that affect every American. By allowing these tax provisions to expire, taxes will rise on many individuals and businesses, and for some of these groups, a punitively steep tax hike.

At the very least, we hope for a New Year’s Resolution from Congress that it acts swiftly in 2010 on passing legislation to amend and extend tax laws that assist every American individual and business which will lead to a stronger, robust economy.

Even better, would be if Congress reformed the entire tax code and brought us a tax system based on one rate, applied once to all income, and in a form every taxpayer can understand. However, that may be asking too much in one New Year’s Resolution.

“This is a great honor, and I am grateful to be able to serve my country everyday as the representative from the Third District of Texas,” said Johnson, a 29 year Air Force veteran and prisoner of war for nearly seven years in Vietnam.

The full article will be published on Friday, December 11, 2009.  For a sneak peak please visit visit http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/12/insiders_love_w.php.

Borah Van Dormolen, a seasoned political activist and fundraiser, previously ran for this position in 2008 at the Republican State Convention, demonstrating her interest and dedication in serving Texas Republicans.  Borah is known for her achievements in fundraising and building Conservative coalitions.
 
This Texas Republican National Committeewoman position was vacated earlier this year when Cathie Adams became the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.
 
Borah will represent Texas well at the RNC. Thank you, Borah, for all your service to TFRW and the party. We wish you the best.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement regarding the non-partisan and independent Congressional Budget Office’s fresh analysis on the effect of the Reid health care bill on health care premiums:

“The whole point of health care reform is to lower costs for American families, so it’s unfathomable that Harry Reid and Senate Democrats would try to push through a bill that will increase family premiums by $2,100 a year.”

“That may not be much to Washington elites, but it would be devastating for middle class families and small businesses. President Obama made a ’solemn pledge’ that health care reform would lower health care premiums $2,500 a year for American families.  That’s one campaign promise of his that must not fall through the cracks.”

On a much happier note, I would like to thank all of our officers and committee chairs for what you have done to make this a successful year. Plano Republican Women’s Club has again been awarded both the Diamond Award from NFRW and the John Tower Award from TFRW. And we also were awarded for our Caring for America project which has sent $65,000 plus in coupons to our adopted military base in Japan. Cindy Stachiw did a great job on this and we owe a big thank-you to a long-time former member and now an associate member, Betty Westbrook for providing us with so many coupons. Our returning officers for next year, besides “yours truly” as president, are Linda Schenck, 2nd Vice President, Membership, Anne Logan, Recording Secretary, and Janet Rawe, Corresponding Secretary. Newly elected officers are Denise Laman, 1st Vice President, Programs and Stephanie Casson, Treasurer. I look forward to working with such a capable group of women in the coming year to grow our club and work to elect Republicans in November. Our thanks to State Representative Jodie Laubenberg, who presided at our installation on December 3. Also I want to especially thank Ruby Kerr for all her hard work in putting together the installation and Christmas Luncheon.

I hope that all our members will plan to attend our “Review of the Past and Look to the Future” retreat which will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at my home, 4305 Angelina Drive, Plano, Texas from 10 AM to 2 PM. Lunch will be provided. I am looking forward to serving my 4th term as your president, but the club needs everyone’s input and ideas to make 2010 a truly remarkable year for our club. I will be making a very special announcement at this meeting, but you will have to attend to “get the scoop.”

As we all look to a new year, let us learn from the past and plan for the future. We are in the midst of that most joyous, yet stressful time of the year. Let’s all take time to remember the real reason for the season: the birth of our savior whose birthday we celebrate each year at this time. I wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Catherine Gibb

Texas Representative Ken Paxton

Representative Ken Paxton joined a large bipartisan group of state legislators and other elected officials from all 50 states who have signed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” brief supporting the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) position that the Second Amendment must be upheld by the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The amicus brief bears the signatures of 891 state legislators and other elected officials, including two governors and three lieutenant governors, and was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago.

Last week, the NRA filed the brief complete with lawmakers signatures with the U.S. Supreme Court as Respondent in Support of Petitioner in the McDonald case. The NRA brief asks the Court to hold that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

“I was pleased to see so many state lawmakers agree that our Second Amendment freedoms should apply to all Americans. Gun owners across the country should be proud of the stand that their elected officials are taking to support this crucial effort to restore and protect the gun rights
of law-abiding Americans,” said Representative Paxton.

In September, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider the McDonald case, which is on appeal from the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that prior Supreme Court precedent prevented the court from applying the Second Amendment rights to the states and local governments. However, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided in an earlier case (Nordyke v. King) that the Supreme Court precedent does not prevent the Second Amendment from applying to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

“I am hopeful that the U.S. Supreme Court will rule in accordance with the Constitution’s true meaning, which will guarantee the rights for all law-abiding Americans to own and bear arms,” concluded Representative Paxton.

Chicago has had a handgun ban and other restrictive gun laws in place for 27 years. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the McDonald case in February 2010.

According to the press release issued, Gov. Palin will sign her books without any personalization, and does not intend to give any presentation or speech.

Please RSVP online at http://buttonmaddentownhall.eventbrite.com/.

For more information, visit TCC online at www.txcc.org.

State Representative Jerry Madden, House District 67 (Richardson), Member of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

State Representative Angie Chen Button, House District 112 (Garland and Richardson), Member of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

 Texas Conservative Coalition, P.O. Box 2659 H, Austin, Texas 78768. Online at www.txcc.org. Legislative Advertising. Brent Connett for Rep. Wayne Christian, President, Texas Conservative Coalition

The Pelosi Bill will:

• Cost $1.3 trillion, or $500 million per page, financed through massive debt and tax hikes
• Raise taxes 13 different ways, including forcing Americans to buy a product (health insurance)
• Increase insurance premiums and decrease access to health care
• Cost Texas at least 15,000

This bill must be stopped.  The good news is, all of Texas’ Republicans are working together to defeat this bill.  the bad news is, some Texas Democrats have not yet made up their minds as to whether they will support Texas families, veterans and health care professionals, or whether they will support the extremists in their party who are trying to take over one-sixth of the US economy via this bill.  these Democrats are Reps. Chet Edwards (Waco), Ciro Rodriguez (San Antonio) and Solomon Ortiz (Corpus Christi).  The vote will be very close.  You can help.

What You Can Do
 
You can help these Democrats make up their mind.  Demonstrations are already scheduled in two of these Democrats’ districts, and two more are in the planning stages.  Here are the planned protests. 
 
San Antonio
Tuesday 2 pm and Wednesday 2 pm
Cong. Rodriguez N SA Office
6363 DeZavala Ste 105
San Antonio, TX;
Congressman’s contact:  (210) 561-9421
Congressman’s fax: (210) 561-9442
Tuesday Organizer Contact: 210-493-5512
Wednesday Organizer Contact: 210-494-6393
 
Corpus Christi
Wednesday 4 pm
Cong. Ortiz Office
3649 Leopard, Suite 510
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
Congressman’s contact: 361-883-5668
Congressman’s fax - 361-884-9201 fax
Organizer Contact: 361-877-3711
 
Bryan/College Station
Tuesday, 12 noon
Cong. Edwards Office
4001 East 29th Ste 116
Bryan, TX 77802
Congressman’s contact: 202-225-6105
Organizer Contact: 979-229-2182
 
We urge everyone who can make it to attend these demonstrations to show that Texans oppose Pelosi’s health care takeover bill.. Even if you do not live in these districts or cannot get to these protests, you can get involved by writing letters to your local newspaper editors urging that your Congressional Representatives listen tot he voice of Texas and VOTE AGAINST this health care bill.  Call in to your local talk radio shows and make a firm, clear case against the bill.  Especially if you are a health care professional or a veteran, your letter and your phone call will carry great weight with the public and with those three undecided Democrats. 
 
Thanks for all that you do!
 
Toni Anne Dashiell,
President
 

Waco
Wednesday, 2-4 pm
Cong. Edwards Office
600 Austin Ave, Suite 29
Waco, TX 76701
Congressman’s contact: 254-752-9600
Organizer Contact: 254-741-9120
Bring your voices to sing patriotic songs.
 

Contact Us
phone: 512-477-1615
email: tfrw@tfrw.org
website: www.tfrw.org

So why we were so complacent…what caused us to sit back and let “Big Brother” become the “be-all, end-all” for everything? My theory is that life in America has been, up to now, pretty great and when things are going good, people get lulled into a false sense of security. Also, the “drive-by” media’s journalistic work has been patently pitiful. Instead of being a “watch-dog”, they’ve pretty much been the “lap-dog” of the Democrats and never more than for the current occupant of the White House. It’s also easy to fall into that old “I’m only one person, what can I possibly do to change things.” Let me give you some examples of persons who changed the course of history: Jesus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and then there are others such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Karl Marx, Osama Bin Laden. We may not be in the same league as Washington and those other good men, but if we all do a little something…make a phone call, send a fax, email, attend an event to become more informed, etc. we can and do make a difference. Do any of you realize the sphere of influence that you do have, the people whose lives you touch and who value your opinion? If you reach out to them and they reach out to their friends, a movement can start. We must act now while we still have free communications and we cannot rest or we will have failed our children and our grandchildren. I do not want to be the generation that let this country fall. We owe it to all those brave men and women who have fought and died in the past and to those who are today protecting and dying for this country to do everything we can here at home to see that their sacrifices have not been in vain.

It is my challenge to you to take 10 minutes out of your busy schedule daily during the week and a bit more time on Saturday to make a few phone calls or send a fax or email, etc. Spread the word. We have only a small window of opportunity to save this great nation. I, for one, want to know that I did all that I could.

I leave you with these two thoughts:

“No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” Mark Twain (1866).
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson

Catherine Gibb
catgibb@hotmail.com
(972) 578-0704

by State Representative Ken Paxton

One in four Texans has unclaimed property, and Texas is currently holding more than $2 billion in cash and assets that need to be returned to the rightful owners. Unclaimed property can be any financial asset that appears to have been abandoned by the owner for three years or more and includes items such as uncashed dividends, payroll checks, cashier’s checks, stocks, mutual fund accounts, bonds, utility deposits and other refunds, bank accounts and safe deposit box contents.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs recently announced a record $147 million in unclaimed property for fiscal year 2009.  This amount represents a 19 percent increase from last fiscal year.

The unclaimed property law, which originally passed in 1961, requires financial institutions, businesses and government entities to report to the state personal property they are holding that is considered abandoned or unclaimed.  The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is responsible for administering the Texas Unclaimed Property Program. Property is turned over to the Comptroller’s office annually when the owner’s whereabouts are unknown and the property has been inactive on the books of the reporting company between three and five years.  The state acts only as custodian for the missing owners, holding the property in trust until it is claimed.  Texas never takes legal ownership of the property, so there is no time limit for filing a claim.

The Unclaimed Property List may be viewed at http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/. This website allows users to search for property under an individual’s name or business’s name. Additionally, the online database includes unclaimed property owners who have less than $100 in unclaimed property - names which were not published in the newspaper list.

If your name appears on the list or if you have questions regarding unclaimed property in Texas, there are a number of ways to contact the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division. One way, as mentioned above, is the Unclaimed Property website. You can also call 1 (800) 654-FIND (3463). You may write to Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Unclaimed PropertyResearch and Correspondence Section, Post Office Box 12019, Austin, Texas 78711-2019. Finally, the Unclaimed Property Division can be reached by email at unclaimed.property@cpa.state.tx.us.

If you prefer to call or write, you will need to provide the property owner’s name, all previous and current Texas addresses, a taxpayer identification number or social security number and a current mailing address for claim purposes. If a search of the database results in any matches between the information you provide and data reported, possible ownership is indicated, and the Comptroller’s Office will mail a claim form to you.

David Dewhurst, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF TEXAS

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Given recent comments about our state’s budget, I feel it is time to separate fact from political fiction. The fact is, in stark contrast to the U. S. Congress, the Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to balance the state budget every two years, and that would have happened with or without any federal stimulus dollars.

In 2007, I led the effort to save $7 billion to balance the revenue shortfall we anticipated this year.

So it’s simply political fiction that stimulus dollars were necessary to balance our budget.

Although we tried to use the federal stimulus dollars on one-time expenditures, in some cases the federal government made us use the money on recurring costs that actually add to the cost of state government.

While other states struggle with overwhelming deficits, Texas has created a model for the rest of the nation to follow that is based on living within its available revenue. The state cut taxes a net $4 billion per year in 2007 while fostering a predictable regulatory environment that allows business to thrive and continue to make Texas the No. 1 job creator in the U.S. over the past two years.

Although this year’s session took place in the context of significant turmoil in the global marketplace and economic upheaval in Texas and across our country, the Legislature successfully shaped a balanced state budget that meets the needs of Texans and sufficiently funds essential programs and agencies through the next two years.

Working together, we crafted and Gov. Rick Perry signed a balanced budget that has left our state prepared to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Not only did we balance our budget without raising taxes, we cut taxes for more than 40,000 small businesses and left our Rainy Day Fund untouched so we can once again balance our budget in 2011.

The fact remains that Texas is one of only six states whose budget isn’t in the red, even though our state is among the fastest growing in the nation. The state has an unemployment rate well below the national average, it continues to attract jobs from companies that have relocated or expanded in Texas, it has one of the healthiest housing markets in the nation, and Texas cities are consistently recognized for their healthy job markets, high quality of living and resistance to the recession. Here in Texas, we live within our means and create a climate that gives individuals and businesses the opportunity to succeed.

Texas has faced and overcome tough financial situations in the past by tightening our belt, just like Texas families are doing today. In 2003, Texas encountered a $10 billion budget shortfall. Instead of raising taxes, we cut discretionary spending and implemented sound fiscal policies that helped us generate a multi-billion dollar surplus over the next six years, before the national recession hit Texas.

Unlike Washington, we balance our budget every session, control spending, keep taxes low and ensure our children and grandchildren aren’t saddled with the kind of crippling debt that our federal government has irresponsibly created.

www.empowertexans.com

www.freemarket.org

For voting locations and times visit:  www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/index.jsp

My problem with Obama has nothing to do with his race and everything to do with what he wants to do to this country. My mother used to tell me that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at the people he or she hangs out with or admires. So who are Obama’s friends and associates? Who does he admire? One of Obama’s role models is Saul Alinsky, author of Rules for Radicals, who believed that change “meant a Marxist revolution achieved by slow, incremental, Machiavellian means which turned society inside out. This has to be done through systematic deception, winning the trust of the naively idealistic middle class by using the language of morality to conceal an agenda designed to destroy it.” Another close friend, “the unrepentant domestic terrorist William Ayers, quoted the following poem in
his blog just two months before the election:

“The end of an empire is messy at best
And this empire is ending
Like all the rest
Like the Spanish Armada adrift on the sea
We’re adrift in the land of the brave
And the home of the free
Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye (1)

And since most Presidents generally surround themselves with people who support their views of governing, etc., one has only to look at the 28 or so czars appointed by Obama to see that this man has a revolutionary radical’s agenda. He wants “change” alright, but it’s not the kind of change that the American people will embrace - nationalized banks, government healthcare, government ownership of the auto industry, longer school terms to indoctrinate our children, reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine - all of which would spell the death of dissenting opinions, as would redistribution of wealth and a domestic police force to control the populace. No, this is not what I want for my country. I truly do believe in what Dr. Martin Luther King said about “judging a man by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” And from where I stand, the content of Barack Hussein Obama’s character is looking bright Communist Red.

Catherine Gibb

(1)”Obama: The Trojan Horse” by Joan Swirsky, December 3, 2008

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with the signatures of 27 fellow Republican Senators, requesting that he instruct pertinent Senate leaders to open investigations and hold public hearings to determine the full extent of ACORN’s criminal activities and the sources of all federal funds that ACORN and its affiliates receive, directly or indirectly. This follows Sen. Cornyn’s effort last October to request a criminal investigation into ACORN.

“It is irresponsible and a disservice to American taxpayers for Senate Democrat leaders to stall any longer on bringing ACORN under investigation. As the organization’s laundry list of fraudulent activity and abuse of taxpayer dollars continues to grow, it is time to crack open ACORN and expose once and for all the organization’s full record of offenses. I hope Majority Leader Reid will demonstrate responsible leadership and instruct committee chairmen to begin investigations at once.”

In addition, Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of an amendment to the FY 2010 Interior Development appropriations bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., which would bar ACORN from receiving any future Interior funding. The amendment passed by a vote of 85-11.

Last October, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to then-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey requesting that the Department of Justice immediately launch a nationwide criminal probe into ACORN’s voter registration activities and investigate ACORN as a “criminal enterprise.”  The full text of this letter can be read here.

The full text of today’s letter to Senator Reid is below and attached:

Dear Senator Reid:

We write to request that you immediately instruct the appropriate Senate committee chairs to open investigations and hold public hearings concerning the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”). 

Last week, 11 ACORN employees in Miami were arrested and charged with voter fraud.  Meanwhile, undercover journalists released a series of videos showing ACORN employees giving advice on falsifying legal documents and evading tax, prostitution, immigration, and child exploitation laws.  These events are only the latest chapters in ACORN’s long and troubled legal history. 

Various federal responses to these events have already occurred. The Census Bureau announced that it had severed all ties with ACORN.  The President’s spokesman called ACORN’s activities “unacceptable.”  And as you know, on Monday the Senate voted 83-7 to prohibit ACORN from receiving any federal housing and transportation funds.  See S.Amdt. 2355 to H.R. 3288 (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010).  This overwhelming bipartisan vote was an important victory for preventing taxpayer dollars from flowing to entities with a known history of criminal activity. 

Federal actions so far are welcome, but not sufficient.  In particular, Monday’s vote should not be the Senate’s last word on ACORN.  In light of the emerging consensus that the federal government should sever all ties with ACORN, it is crucial that Congress definitively determine the extent to which ACORN’s questionable activities are funded at taxpayer expense.

Severing ties with ACORN and its criminal activities requires that Congress first determine (1) the full extent of those criminal activities and (2) the sources of all federal funds that ACORN and affiliated groups receive, directly or indirectly.

Fully divesting taxpayer money from ACORN’s questionable activities will not be a simple task.  As NPR reported in a blog post entitled “ACORN’s Money Tree has Many Branches,” ACORN has a “giant web” of “dozens of affiliated entities, from a home-buying assistance corporation to community radio stations to liberal research and training institutes.”  That post concluded by observing that “ACORN’s network is complex, and money often transfers from one affiliate to another, making it hard for outsiders to keep track of it all.”

American taxpayers must be able to trust that their money is being spent responsibly, and is not being used to fund criminal enterprises.  As Senate Majority Leader, we hope that you will deploy all of the resources at your disposal to restore that trust.  Therefore, we respectfully request that you instruct the chairs of all appropriate committees to hold public hearings to determine the extent of ACORN’s wrongdoing and to end all direct and indirect federal funding of ACORN and its affiliates.

Today on the floor of the House, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd District, Texas), citing an urgent need for transparency and accountability with the presidential appointments of czars, announced his support of legislation that would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

With annual salaries up to $172,000 - in addition to unchecked staff, office and travel budgets - Congressman Johnson sees the appointments as a growing problem costing taxpayers millions. For example, earlier this year, President Obama’s Stimulus Accountability Czar announced that the stimulus accountability website would receive a costly $18 million makeover at taxpayers’ expense.

The czars have bypassed Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution which mandates the advice and consent of the Senate when the President appoints top-level officers. Johnson believes that the President should keep his campaign promise of government transparency and require his closest policy advisors to come before the Senate and undergo the constitutionally-mandated vetting and approval process.

Johnson co-sponsored H.R. 3226, the Czar Accountability and Reform Act, which would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In addition, Johnson supports H.Con.Res.185, a congressional resolution that would request the President to certify the qualifications and responsibilities of czars. Johnson feels that czars wield extraordinary unchecked power and influence and the American people have a right to know who they are, their qualifications, their potential conflicts of interest, and what their job descriptions will be. Johnson maintains that the President has an obligation to disclose this information. For example, why was a 31-year-old with no background in the auto industry appointed to serve as the car czar?

Johnson’s prepared remarks follow:

“Since being sworn in, the President has appointed 34 czars… a health czar, a car czar, an urban czar and a Great Lakes czar, to name a few. In 300 years, czarist Russia had just 18 czars. Why do we need an energy czar and a Secretary of Energy or a health czar and a Secretary of Health?

“Worse, 27 of 34 czars have not even been confirmed by the Senate - despite the Constitution’s requirement. These czars make $172,000 yearly and that does not include expensive, unchecked staff and budgets - with zero accountability. I back legislation that would withhold funding from any czar not confirmed by the Senate.

“Americans want, need, and deserve transparency and accountability. Let’s rein in the czars.”

I want to be one of the first to welcome you to Texas for your fundraising visit on Saturday in Austin.  You should feel at home as you drive from the airport to your event, passing by businesses that were once located in your home state of California and being greeted by the smiles of friendly Californians who now call Texas home.

I understand that you will be here to accept donations for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  Texas is an excellent venue for such as an event, as workers in our state still have jobs and discretionary income.  In addition to taking Texas money back with you to Washington, I would like to respectfully request that you also carry back some insight for your colleagues that you may personally witness during your visit to our state.

Since your party gained control of Congress and the White House, you and your colleagues have proposed federal policies that look like the policies that have recently been used to govern California.  I understand you spend most of your time in the beltway, so let me help you become reacquainted with your home state.

California’s unemployment rate is teetering on 12%, which is more than two points higher than the national average.  California is currently struggling to close a $24.3 billion budget gap, partly caused by a decrease in revenue from the personal income tax.  California lawmakers are looking to further increase income taxes on the middle class to make up the difference, just as you and your colleagues are proposing to fund your health care proposal.  Rather than taking more money out of the pockets on taxpayers, may I suggest another solution?

Texas, which has a 7.5% unemployment rate (two points BELOW the national average), was affected by a slowing economy after 9/11.  During the 78th Legislative Session, Texas faced a $10 billion shortfall.  By cutting expenditures and passing a responsible budget, the Legislature managed to cover our state’s expenditures for the biennium without raising taxes and without dipping into our “Rainy Day Fund.”  Furthermore, because of our business-friendly policies, our economy recovered, and we ended our next Legislative session with a $14 billion surplus.  Last year, more jobs were created in Texas than in the other 49 states COMBINED.  Did I mention that we don’t even have a state income tax?

With all due respect, Madame Speaker, the harsh regulations on businesses, as found in your Cap and Trade bill, and increased taxes on individuals and businesses, as found in your Health Care proposal, will not help our country recover from this economic downturn.  Additionally, a vibrant economy lies not in handouts or bailouts, but in sound and responsible fiscal policies that encourage growth and opportunity.  Rather than relying on the power of government, I believe we should rely on the power and creativity of the American people. Please take a close look while you are in Texas and suggest to your colleagues that Congress should re-focus its priorities by promoting policies that allow businesses, families and individuals to thrive without additional financial burdens and bureaucratic restrictions that lead to job loss and increased prices.

Regards,
Ken Paxton
Texas State Representative, District 70

Wheless is judge of Collin County Court at Law Number Four.  He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Collin County Bail Bond Board, and the American Judges Association.  He is a former assistant football coach for the Plano Sports Authority and a past cubmaster for the Plano Boy Scouts of America. Wheless is also a former member of the Collin County Crisis Center and past president of the Plano Metro Rotary Club.  He served in the US Air Force. He received a bachelor’s degree from California State College and a law degree from the University of Texas.

Admission: FREE, but seating is limited!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Pike Hall Auditorium Theater, Collin County Community College
2200 W. University Drive, McKinney, TX 75070

Mark Krikorian is Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a non‑profit, non‑partisan research organization in Washington, D.C., which examines and critiques the impact of immigration on the United States. The Center is amused by a pro‑immigrant/low‑immigration vision, which seeks fewer immigrants but a warmer welcome for those admitted.

Mr. Krikorian frequently testifies before Congress and has published articles in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Commentary, and elsewhere. He is a Contributor at National Review Online, and has appeared on 60 Minutes, Nightline, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN, National Public Radio and on many other television and radio programs. He is the author of The New Case Against Immigration — Both Legal and Illegal.

Mr. Krikorian holds a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. He spent two years at Yerevan State University in then‑Soviet Armenia. He joined the Center in February 1995.

Don’t miss this important event sponsored by PLANO REPUBLICAN WOMEN.

www. PlanoRepublicanWomen.com

Directions
Campus Map
Pike Hall - bldg. wing D on campus map
RSVP: catgibb@verizon.net

Please visit www.handsofftexas.com to sign up for more information.  There will be a petition to sign that will be delivered to the Democrats at a Texas-size rally on the south steps of the Capitol on Saturday, September 12.  Make plans to attend if you can, to tell these Democrats to go home and keep their Hands Off Texas!

The Morning News editorial board on Sunday noted that tax increases should be used only “for a worst-case scenario.” While times are bad, they aren’t that bad yet, the editorial board wrote.

The best way to deal with a sluggish economy, is to free up capital by reducing the burden of taxes. That’s the route being taken in Collin County, where commissioners just approved a budget that actually cuts property taxes.

In Texas, property tax rates have to be carefully watched. One can keep the old rate, which is actually always a tax increase, because appraisals rise. Or one can adopt the “effective rate,” which accounts for higher appraisals and brings in the same amount as the previous year. Now, some politicians will adopt the effective rate, and claim they cut taxes – while doing nothing of the sort.

Or a taxing entity can do what County Judge Keith Self and the county commissioners did, and adopted a rate below the effective rate – which represents a true tax cut.

Under Judge Self’s leadership, Collin County has continued to streamline operations, reduce costs and cut taxes. They were the first county in the nation to put their expenditures online in a real-time, searchable format. As a result, the local economy continues to perform strongly.

That’s a model that not only Dallas should follow, but others as well.

source: EmpowerTexans.com

Texas has 254 counties and 195 of them were represented at the 131st Texas Sheriffs Association Convention held recently in Corpus Christi.

Two sheriffs are ladies and about a third are newly elected. Five of the lawmen have served since 1985. Only five have served longer.

One sheriff does not look like the typical Texas lawman.

While many wear their Stetsons and side arms and are usually dressed in a white pressed shirt, blue jeans, and boots, this gentle and unassuming lawman dresses casually and unadorned.

Collin County Sheriff Terry Box has held his elected office since February 1985, and peers say he has served with distinction.

“Heck, I showed up in baggy shorts and a golf shirt to the convention, travel wear!” recalls the seasoned lawman. “You can spot out the new ones pretty easily.”

Normally, Sheriff Box wears dress slacks and a polo type shirt. He could more easily pass as a history teacher at the high school.

When the Sheriff took office, Collin County’s population was around 200,000. Now with the tremendous growth of Plano, Frisco, Allen, and McKinney, the count is closing in on a million. The southern border catches a bid of Carrollton, Dallas, Rockwall and Garland as well as parts of Richardson. In all, 31 cities and towns are inside the county’s border. An incredible blend of the newest urban developments and rural aspects of historic Texas can be experienced in Collin County.

FAMILY AND CAREER

Box’s Upholstery in McKinney was Terry’s fathers business. The future president of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas was born and raised in McKinney.

He first dated his wife, Rendy, as a junior in high school, and they are still dating after 40 years.

“My wife is the kindest, most caring person I know,” beams the sheriff. “I am sure she gets me more votes than I do! When she goes shopping, she ends up buying things for others as much as for herself.”

After graduating from McKinney High, he began his career as a 19-year-old dispatcher.

“When I was 21, I became a peace officer in Plano. I took the job because I just couldn’t see arresting people I grew up with and knew so well.”

But 10 years later he was lured to the sheriffs’ office with the rank of Lieutenant and was the Deputy Chief three years later.

After the death of close friend Sheriff Joe Steenbergen in 1985, Terry Box was appointed by the Commissioners Court to complete the term and has been Sheriff Terry Box ever since.

After a special election in ’86 where he faced four opponents, the Republican Party candidate has basically run unopposed ever since.

Peers say that Collin County’s sheriff has maintained an impeccable reputation that has led to special FBI training at Quantico and an appointment by Governor Bush for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards where he became the Chairman in 2000.

“Collin County is very fortunate to have a man like Terry Box as their sheriff,” claims Randall County Sheriff Joel Richardson. “When Randall County built their new county jail we decide to model it after Collin County. Theirs was one of only two jails to successfully integrate a state of the art Direct Supervision Facility. His progressive style of management and his kindness, courtesy, and respect for human rights has helped me to see a different side of law enforcement and jail operations.

“We sent our staff down to McKinney to train at their facility. He and his staff were so accommodating and all of us were grateful and impressed with the leadership and management. When I started in law enforcement, I was part of the bag ‘em and cage ‘em mentality. Now, I see my job in a more humanistic light of protecting the rights of every individual.”

The new facility takes in account that not all who are held in a county jail have been found guilty of the charges.

“The sheriffs’ senior staff views Sheriff Box as an inspiration with great ethics, and an approachable style of leadership that makes everyone strive to be a kinder, better person.” said Major Mike Anderson.

There isn’t enough space to list his resume of boards, directorship, accreditations, and community service involvement. The modest Sheriff doesn’t even list them on the county Web site as others do. Always early to work, he disdains being lazy or late but forgives others just as easily as he leads by his example.

The Sheriffs Association of Texas

Box: “This year there were over 5,000 new bills filed with the Legislators, and we went over the ones that passed and will effect our offices (all 5,000 didn’t pass). Although many were minor, they still cover the many responsibilities that county sheriffs must understand. You have to know the law to enforce it fairly.”

The more than 1,900 attendees included vendors showing all the hardware and now software that make law enforcement more efficient. DPS, US Postal Service, Secret Service, were just some of the many that made this annual event the largest gathering of law enforcement in the state.

This is a family convention. Not just the brother/sisterhood of sheriffs, but the week includes events for wives and children to help bond these officers of the law. The cultural diversity of Texas is on display!

Sheriff Box explains: “You learn as much in the hallways and at the dinner tables about how each of us performs our duties. We discuss how we succeed and even how we have failed in order make us better public servants. The training is outstanding and we find ourselves humbled by the different challenges each of us face.

“There is the huge population growth like Collin County, there is the protecting land mass with mostly rural population (some counties have less than 2000 population with a lot of open land to protect), there is the terror of the Border States, and then you add the Houston and Dallas counties to mix up the requirements to perform our jobs. It’s a great week that I always look forward to.

Box on his Border County brethren: “They live a totally different life than I do! They have to fear for their staff, their families, and even their own safety every day.

“I am always aware that I am one of the truly lucky people to have a job I love in a great county in my home town.”

SCHOLARSHIPS

For a $25 annual fee, you can become an Associate Member of the Sheriffs Association of Texas. Along with the membership card and decals, you receive the quarterly magazine with real stories of Texas Sheriffs.

You also help contribute to funds for fallen officers and to support the seven scholarships awarded every year to encourage new law enforcement officers (www.txsheriffs.org).

Get Educated * Be Informed * Make a Difference

The entire course is FREE to CCCR and Firewheel Conservative members.
Non-members, $40 for entire course series, includes materials.
Non-members, $10/per session, includes materials.
½ price discount for all currently enrolled students.

• August 27, 2009: Federal, State and County Government
• September 24, 2009: Collin County Republican Party, Precinct Chairs, State Republican Executive Committee, Republican National Committee
• October 22, 2009: Texas Legislature: Structure and Responsibilities of Texas Government
• January 28, 2010: U.S. and Texas Constitutions
• February 25, 2010: National, State, Senatorial and Precinct Conventions, Resolution Writing, Party Platform and Delegates
• March 25, 2010: Grassroots Activism

Facilitators include: Collin County Judge Keith Self; State Representative Jodie Laubenberg; State Representative Ken Paxton; Collin County Republican Party Chairman Fred Moses; Collin County Republican Party Vice Chairman Diann Jones; Collin County Republican Party Executive Director Sheryl Mills; Republican National Committeewoman Cathie Adams; Collin County Conservative Republicans President Diana Dail; Texas State Republican Executive Committeewoman (SD 30) Ashlea Quinonez; Jeremy Schwab and others.

All courses convene at 7:00 p.m. at Collin County Republican Party Headquarters, 8416 Stacy Rd., McKinney, TX 75070. For more information, please contact Diana Dail at cccrpresident@yahoo.com

Collin County Conservative Republicans

Keeping Texas Strong, Free & Prosperous

www.CollinCountyConservativeRepublicans.com

Pol. Ad. Paid for by CCCR PAC, Herb Miller, Treasurer, P.O. Box 1845, McKinney, TX 75070

I have recently heard concerns from some of my constituents about the anticipated resurgence of the novel H1N1 flu virus (previously referred to as “swine flu”) this fall when the typical flu season begins.  The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently issued a press release to answer some basic questions about H1N1 and the vaccine, and I would like to share this information with you.

Seasonal flu viruses have been circulating in human populations for several seasons, allowing people to build immunities to them.  However, most people do not yet have immunity to the new strain of H1N1 flu. 

The H1N1 virus that is currently circulating in the United States is passed from person to person without contact with pigs.  Therefore, the name now being used is novel H1N1 flu, rather than swine flu.  Novel H1N1 flu is a respiratory illness thought to spread in the same way that seasonal flu is spread, which is through people infected with the virus who are coughing or sneezing.  It can be spread by touching something with flu viruses on it, such as a tissue or a door knob, and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

While a vaccine is available to prevent seasonal flu, a vaccine for the H1N1 flu is not yet available.  However, clinical trials including effectiveness and safety testing are currently underway.  The vaccine is expected to be ready for distribution in October for individuals who choose to receive the vaccine.  I want to emphasize that the State has no plans to make the vaccine mandatory. 

Priority populations who should first receive vaccines are based on recommendations by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).  DSHS is following these recommendations for planning purposes and recommending the first available vaccines for the following populations:

·         Pregnant women;
·         Household contacts of babies under six months of age;
·         Health care and emergency medical services workers;
·         Children and young people between six months and 24 years of age; and
·         People between 24 and 65 who have chronic medical conditions.

As additional and sufficient supplies of the vaccine become available, additional groups will be included for vaccination.  There will be no charge for the H1N1 vaccine itself.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention will provide information regarding reimbursement of a vaccine administration fee to providers.  Texas will depend on health care providers, including pharmacists, who typically vaccinate against seasonal influenza, to administer the H1N1 vaccine.

For more information on novel H1N1 issues, including symptoms and ways to prevent contracting the flu, DSHS has developed the website, www.TexasFlu.org, where visitors can sign up for email updates.

The governor spoke at a press conference announcing the results of a study about federal health care proposals conducted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).

“It’s clear Washington has no interest in allowing states to develop their own tailored solutions to problems that affect their citizens,” Gov. Perry said. “Instead we have a federal government bearing down on the states, preparing to take greater control through mandates and trampling innovation through runaway costs. The health care reform legislation currently being considered not only poses a serious threat to patients and providers, but will also cost Texas taxpayers tens of billions of dollars over the next 10 years without significantly improving care for Texans.”

The governor noted that aspects of our healthcare system need to be repaired and reformed, but issuing top-down mandates on a break-neck timetable is a surefire way to make things worse. He cited the Medicaid waiver request that Texas submitted in 2008 as an example of how the state is seeking solutions to health care reform that meet the needs of Texans.

In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius last month, the governor reiterated his request for a federal Medicaid waiver that would help transform health care in Texas from a heavy reliance on hospital-based care to increased access to primary and preventive care. The plan is centered on state-specific solutions to eliminate costly federal mandates and use those resources to provide more low-income Texans with insurance, reduce expensive emergency room visits for basic care, and make it easier for the working poor to buy into employer-sponsored insurance. This reform waiver was originally sent to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in April 2008.

“Current proposals based on President Obama’s policies would worsen the system, increase costs, further escalate medical price inflation and add more than $285 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years,” said TPPF Senior Fellow Donna Arduin, a partner in the economic research firm Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics. “Clearly, these reforms are not a cost-effective way to expand health insurance and the news could be worse for Texans. If the federal government chooses to pass the financial responsibility for covering the expansion of lower income individual’s health insurance coverage to the states, the cost to Texans could be higher than the national average.”

Additionally, according to Arduin, legislation that would provide an additional $1 trillion in federal health care spending would not only slow both the Texas and the national economy, but also leave 30 million Americans uninsured.

Current federal proposals include significant Medicaid expansions at the state level, individual and employer mandates to purchase and offer qualifying insurance plans, and federal takeover of some current state insurance functions such as rates and coverage exclusions.

Extending Medicaid benefits to uninsured citizens at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level will cost Texas an additional $2 billion in general revenue per year, in addition to the $19 billion in general revenue the state expects to spend on Medicaid in the 2010-11 biennium. This type of federal government spending mandate would erode the state’s economic viability without containing health care costs or improving health care quality and access.

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Mauris leo erat, imperdiet sit amet vehicula at, aliquam vel nisi. Proin tincidunt erat et orci dapibus ultrices. Maecenas eget massa id purus consectetur sodales. Vestibulum euismod lobortis nulla et vulputate. Praesent commodo mi ut velit fermentum eleifend. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus auctor, lacus quis vestibulum hendrerit, sem mauris imperdiet purus, vitae laoreet lectus tellus nec leo. Cras eu diam in orci ultricies varius. Nulla id mauris sem, in fermentum lacus. Nullam feugiat mollis neque, dictum ornare magna bibendum nec. Nulla cursus egestas mauris, vitae consequat sapien viverra vitae. Cras dictum odio in ante porta ornare. Sed fermentum tincidunt viverra. Curabitur nec pellentesque quam. Phasellus rutrum condimentum accumsan. Nam nec scelerisque leo. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;

Wichita Falls - State Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) released the following letter submitted to President Barack Obama regarding the President’s proposed initiatives on health care and health care insurance.

Dear Mr. President:

Over these last several weeks we have seen a growing number of Americans raise their voice to express their opinion regarding plans to increase the federal government’s role in providing health insurance to the American people. This nationalized health care plan has stirred passions on both sides.

While I agree we have a need to address the problem stemming from a lack of affordable health insurance and escalating health care costs, the solutions will not be found in labeling or marginalizing political opposition. I was profoundly disappointed to see Congressional leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer refer to opposing viewpoints as “un-American.”

I have heard from my constituents who have expressed their opposition to a nationalized health care system, and I will say that I believe my constituents are behaving as real Americans in exercising their First Amendment rights to speak freely in opposition, to assemble freely in opposition, and to petition their government with their grievances in opposition.

Speaking on behalf of my constituents in the 30th Texas Senatorial District, I ask you to hear the voice of the opposition rather than simply dismissing it as an angry mob. The American people are speaking and they are saying that while they agree we need a better way, they are skeptical that government solutions presented thus far offer that better way toward affordable health care.

I would respectfully submit that you reconsider pressing forward at all costs and take a step back. At this moment in history, you are the President of the United States with firm Democratic majorities in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. You have the power to push through any plan you wish regardless of public opinion, but I believe that doing something simply because you can is the worst reason.

If you believe in the axiom that the government closest to the people is the best government, then consider carefully these words offered by a humble Texas State Senator representing 750,000 of the 303 million you serve. Put the plan in a drawer, and reconsider your options. Do not assume that the answer you seek can be found in the halls of Congress. Do not assume that a conference room of bureaucrats will perform better than a boardroom of entrepreneurs. Look to your private sector, look to your non-profits, and look to your governors and state legislatures.

I can appreciate the pressure you feel to produce any legislation that purports to address this issue. However, I have found that when the desire to pass a bill overtakes the desire to solve the problem, the bill becomes part of the problem.

Mr. President, regardless of party affiliation or political philosophy, I respect the Office of the President of the United States, and I believe in your heart you want to do right by the American people simply by virtue of the position you now hold in American history. Will that history remember you to be impatient and obtuse, or deliberative and prudent. You are now writing this chapter in American history and the final narrative will depend largely on not only the solution you seek, but also on how you arrive at that solution.

On behalf of my constituents, I thank you for your time and consideration.

Senator Estes is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and represents Senate District 30 covering Archer, Baylor, Clay, Collin (part), Cooke, Denton (part), Grayson, Jack, Montague, Parker, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, and Young counties.

The tax break applies to both children’s and adults’ apparel.  Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

Additionally, the Legislature passed House Bill 1801 this past session to expand the list of items qualifying for exemption from Texas state and local sales and use taxes during the annual sales tax holiday to include school supplies.  This means that Texas families will now also receive a sales tax break on most school supply items priced less than $100 for use by an elementary school or secondary school student (a purchaser buying school supplies using a business credit card or checking account must provide an exemption certificate certifying that the items are purchased for use by an elementary or secondary school student). 

The tax-free holiday includes the following clothing items:

Baby clothes
Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
Belts with attached buckles
Boots - cowboy, hiking
Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
Coats and wraps
Diapers - adult and baby
Dresses
Gloves (generally)
Gym suits and uniforms
Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
Hosiery
Jackets
Jeans
Jerseys - baseball and football
Jogging apparel
Neckwear and ties
Pajamas
Pants and trousers
Raincoats and ponchos
Robes
Shirts
Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
Socks (including athletic)
Shorts
Suits, slacks, and jackets
Sweatshirts
Sweat suits
Sweaters
Swimsuits
Underclothes
Work clothes and uniforms
The tax free holiday also includes the following school supply items (if priced under $100):

Binders;
Book bags;
Calculators;
Cellophane tape;
Blackboard chalk;
Compasses;
Composition books;
Crayons’
Erasers;
Folders (expandable, pocket, plastic and manila);
Glue, paste and paste sticks;
Highlighters;
Index cards;
Index card boxes;
Legal pads;
Lunch boxes;
Markers;
Notebooks;
Paper (loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board and construction paper);
Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes;
Pencil sharpeners;
Pencils;
Pens;
Protractors;
Rulers;
Scissors; and
Writing tablets.
 

A complete list of items that are exempt and ones that are not exempt may be found at the Comptroller’s website at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html.

President Obama told the American people in his weekend address he wanted to “start dispelling the outlandish rumors” about the Democrats’ risky health care experiment.

I couldn’t agree more with the President. There is no place for outlandish rumor or outrageous rhetoric in the debate for the affordable and accessible health care reform we all want.

Below are some facts that will help you counter the dishonest rhetoric Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and liberal special interest groups are disseminating in their attempt to silence dissent:

Rhetoric: President Obama Promises Americans Can Keep Their Current Health Care Coverage. “You know, the interesting thing is we’ve actually been very clear on what we want. I’ve said I want to make sure if you have health care you are going to keep it…” (PBS’s “The Newshour With Jim Lehrer,” 7/20/09)
FACT: Analysis Shows Over 88 Million People To Lose Current Insurance Under Government Health Care Takeover. “Under current law, there will be about 158.1 million people who are covered under an employer plan as workers, dependents or early retirees in 2011. If the act were fully implemented in that year, about 88.1 million workers would shift from private employer insurance to the public plan.” (John Shelis, Vice President, Lewin Group, “Analysis Of The July 15 Draft Of The American Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009,” 7/17/09)

Rhetoric: President Obama Pledges Americans Can Keep Their Doctor. “If you like your plan and you like your doctor, you won’t have to do a thing. You keep your plan. You keep your doctor…We’re not going to mess with it.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At White House Press Conference, The White House, 6/23/09)
FACT: Mayo Clinic Says Government-Run Health Care Will Force Doctors To Drop Patients. ‘[L]awmakers are on track to approve across-the-board federal payment reductions of $155 billion over 10 years for hospitals … Mayo and similar health systems object to the sweeping cuts. ‘Across-the-board cuts will be harmful to everyone and we think it is particularly bad to penalize the high-value organizations,’ said Jeff Korsmo, executive director of the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center. ‘We will have to violate our values in order to stay in business and reduce our access to government patients.’” (Phil Galewitz, “‘Model’ Health Systems Press Case For Medicare Fix In Reform,” Kaiser
Health News, 7/20/09)

Rhetoric: President Obama Promises No Additional Taxes On Middle Class. “What I’ve said is, and I have stuck to this point, I don’t want to see additional tax burdens on people making $250,000 a year or less.” (NBC’s “Today Show,” 7/21/09)
FACT: Democrats’ Plan Imposes 2.5% Tax On Uninsured Individuals. “The penalty assessed on people who would be subject to the mandate but did not obtain insurance would equal 2.5 percent of the difference between their adjusted gross income (modified to include taxexempt interest and certain other sources of income) and the tax filing threshold …” (Douglas W. Elmendorf, “Preliminary Analysis Of The Insurance Coverage Specifications Provided By The House Tri-Committee Group,” Letter To Chairman Rangel, 7/17/09)

The Republicans want an honest and open debate about how to reform health care, but it is the Democrats who do not want to have a legitimate discussion on the issues. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their liberal special interest cronies are resorting to calling concerned citizens who have questions about their health care schemes “astroturf,” “un-American,” and even “political terrorists.” It’s time for the President to practice what he preached on the campaign trail and respect all voices in the health care debate.

Warmest Republican Regards,
Roger

Speaker : County Commissioner Matt Shaheen

Matt Shaheen serves as County Commissioner for Precinct 1, representing Plano and Frisco on the Collin County Commissioners Court. Mr. Shaheen’s background is in Technology and Management Consulting with a history of delivering results.

Married for fifteen years, Matt and his wife Robyn have three children – Celia, Abby, and Sam. A resident of Plano where he attends Prestonwood Baptist Church, Matt has more than 19 years of professional experience, including 10 years at
EDS.

A native of Virginia, Mr. Shaheen received his Bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon College. Mr. Shaheen also holds a Master’s degree from SMU.

Matt is a former member of the CCRMC.

By Jim Kilpatrick, Staff Writer

“I had been the chair for communication,” Peters said. “When chairman (Rob) Franke requested I take over legislative I was pleased to do it.”

“The energy, involvement and unique perspective Mayor Peters and Commissioner (Kathy) Ward bring to the executive committee will take our organization to a new level,” said Cedar Hill Mayor Rob Franke, the current chair of DRMC. “Their ability to clearly communicate the vision, legislative needs and the challenges we face in transportation planning will be a tremendous service to our region.”

Mayor Peters was elected to the Coppell City Council in 1998. She has represented Coppell on the DRMC executive committee since 2002. She has also served as chair of the DRMC communications committee, and is a member of the DRMC by-laws committee.

“I have always been happy to service with this particular group,” Peters said. “The DRMC plays a very important role regarding transportation advocacy.”

Peters added that she was looking forward to the DRMC continuing to take the lead in the transportation initiative in North Texas.

Collin County Commissioner Kathy Ward was selected as the chairwoman of the communications committee.

Commissioner Ward was elected a Collin County Commissioner in 2008. She was named the DRMC’s Collin County representative in 2009. Prior to being elected county commissioner, she served as party chairwoman of the Collin County GOP.

The DRMC is an organization of cities, counties and public transportation agencies in a five-county region on the eastern side of the Metroplex that advocates for transportation policy, funding and solutions on a local, state and federal level.

source: http://www.scntx.com/articles/2009/08/08/coppell_gazette/news/71.txt

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry jumped early and accepted two debates for the Republican primary, indicating Tuesday that he is eager to test Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on state issues and paint her as a Washington insider.

The acceptance came even before sponsors of the debates had met with the campaign, established dates or considered venues – and for an election seven months away.

“The people of Texas deserve to have the issues discussed in an open forum,” said Perry spokesman Mark Miner. “We are hopeful that Senator Hutchison will leap at the opportunity to dispel concerns that her 16 years in Washington have left her out of touch with the issues facing everyday Texans.”

Hutchison’s campaign also said she is ready to take on Perry and his nine-year tenure as governor, but declined so far to formally accept any particular debate invitations.

“Senator Hutchison looks forward to debating the issues with Rick Perry and plans to do so repeatedly over the next seven months,” said spokesman Jeff Sadosky.

“Of course the more interesting debate could be between Rick Perry’s rhetoric and Rick Perry’s record. Having said one thing and done another on land grabs, border security, stimulus funds and taxes, it’s a crowded stage,” Sadosky said.

The Perry camp agreed to debates that would be sponsored by the Collin County Republican Party and a broadcast event sponsored by The Dallas Morning News and Belo Corp., the parent company of four stations in Texas – WFAA-TV in Dallas, KHOU-TV in Houston, KENS-TV in San Antonio and KVUE-TV in Austin.

The current Belo invitation would provide free broadcast rights to all radio stations and at least one station outside the four owned by the company.

source: www.dallasnews.com

Austin, Texas, and Washington are a little more than 1,500 miles apart, but the differences in governing philosophy could be measured in light years.

Both towns feature well-intentioned public servants and impressive capitol domes, but they seem to represent the polar opposites in the ongoing debate over the benefits of limited government.

In Texas, we have long based our approach on individual liberty and initiative, believing that families, entrepreneurs and individual citizens deserve the opportunity to strive and succeed — with minimal government interference. After regular, 140-day legislative sessions every two years, Texas lawmakers go home to live under the laws they pass.

Limited time at the Capitol not only requires state leaders to focus on the essentials, it also reduces the mischief unrestrained government can do. Limiting state government in Texas has led to balanced budgets, low taxes, a predictable regulatory climate and a fair legal system.

For example, our just-concluded legislative session yielded a balanced state budget, tax relief for 40,000 small businesses, and it left $9 billion unspent for future state needs.

States that have overspent, overtaxed and overregulated have seen greater deficits, job losses and even population loss. Texas proves that fiscal discipline, lawsuit reforms and prioritizing accountable public education can create huge dividends for citizens, taxpayers, employers and government.

Washington clearly marches to a different drummer, with Congress meeting in seemingly endless session. It seems the majority view inside the Beltway is that a benevolent, all-knowing government can expand, decide and encroach without limit because individual Americans simply cannot be trusted to make right choices. I believe this mind-set is driving the explosive growth of the federal government’s size, spending and intrusiveness.

America’s Founders would be appalled at the way their federal successors are riding roughshod over individual liberties, contemplating even more tax increases and intruding further into private enterprise.

Who among them could have imagined federal appointees calling the shots at banks and manufacturers, a budget deficit topping $1.7 trillion and an army of federal auditors descending on nearly every community in America to rifle through the drawers of anyone using stimulus dollars? Who today thinks that Congress and the Obama administration’s big-government plans are the best choice for our personal health care decisions?

In this era of unprecedented, unfettered government expansion, those of us in “flyover country” have little recourse other than exercising our First Amendment rights by speaking up. That spirit is the guiding force behind the “tea parties” that have sprung up all over America on tax day and on Independence Day, as well as the growing passion for state sovereignty.

That spirit led me to stand with a bipartisan group of Texas legislators earlier this year to support a resolution honoring the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The resolution simply restated the Constitution’s principle of federalism: Powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.

Given its traditional passion for the Bill of Rights, I was surprised at the left’s angry reaction when we called to affirm its vital 10th Amendment. Since its founding, our nation and its citizens have been well-served by the principles of federalism, including the premise found on Page 123 of the Federalist Papers: “The State governments will, in all possible contingencies, afford complete security against invasions of the public liberty by the national authority.”

Washington’s current fiscal excesses and unprecedented expansion have placed the protections and powers embodied in the 10th Amendment at risk. As the federal government expands before our very eyes, those of us who value freedom are simply sounding the alarm with every means available. We cannot remain silent while the powers-that-be in Washington methodically dismantle the system that has allowed Americans to determine their own destiny, compete on their own merits and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

I sincerely hope that our nation’s durable principles prevail and keep our states and local communities from becoming mere functionaries of a bloated federal government. Together, citizens across the nation - regardless of political party - can remind this administration and Congress that the Framers of the Constitution deliberately limited the powers of the federal government.

When Washington’s power to tax, regulate, mandate and meddle is restrained, American families are free to enjoy the liberty upon which our nation was founded. Limited government works.

source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/29/austin-to-obama-congress-limited-government-works/

Newly released data from the IRS clearly debunks the conventional Beltway rhetoric that the “rich” are not paying their fair share of taxes.

Indeed, the IRS data shows that in 2007—the most recent data available—the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 40.4 percent of the total income taxes collected by the federal government. This is the highest percentage in modern history. By contrast, the top 1 percent paid 24.8 percent of the income tax burden in 1987, the year following the 1986 tax reform act.

Remarkably, the share of the tax burden borne by the top 1 percent now exceeds the share paid by the bottom 95 percent of taxpayers combined. In 2007, the bottom 95 percent paid 39.4 percent of the income tax burden. This is down from the 58 percent of the total income tax burden they paid twenty years ago.

To put this in perspective, the top 1 percent is comprised of just 1.4 million taxpayers and they pay a larger share of the income tax burden now than the bottom 134 million taxpayers combined.

Some in Washington say the tax system is still not progressive enough. However, the recent IRS data bolsters the findings of an OECD study released last year showing that the U.S.—not France or Sweden—has the most progressive income tax system among OECD nations. We rely more heavily on the top 10 percent of taxpayers than does any nation and our poor people have the lowest tax burden of those in any nation.

We are definitely overdue for some honesty in the debate over the progressivity of the nation’s tax burden before lawmakers enact any new taxes to pay for expanded health care.

source: http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/24944.html

The Collin County Election Department and the designated Citizen’s Committee are holding two (2) public hearings to get the public’s input about this change. The public hearings shall be on Monday, August 3, 2009, and Thursday, August 10, 2009.

If you have any interest in this issue, please plan to attend the public hearing and provide your input. The following individuals from our Party serve on the committee and you may contact them and give them any input you may have:

• Fred N. Moses: fred@tes.com
• Neal Katz: nealkatz23@verizon.net
• Bill Mills: millsengr@yahoo.com

We would welcome any interest and input you may have on this important issue.

Thanks!
Fred Moses

Proposed Election Day Vote Centers for November 3, 2009

For Consideration by the Site Selection Committee, Collin County, Texas

Map of Proposed County-Wide Voting Centers

View larger image

The transcript:

Mark Davis: “What are your thoughts on when and whether to step down from the Senate and devote 100% to the Texas Governor’s race?”

Kay Bailey Hutchison: “Well I am trying to do everything that I can while I am in office to responsibly serve as a Senator. But it is hard because my heart is in Texas. There are so many things that I think we have not done in Texas that we need to do. I think we need new leadership in Texas. So I am trying to determine when is the time when I have done everything I can do to stop this healthcare takeover, cap and trade which is the next thing coming down that I think is going to be so bad for Texas. I am trying to finish those things in a responsible way and then I am coming home to try to give leadership to Texas.”

Mark Davis: “Is there no possibility because you don’t have to step down to run, but you surely will at some point. There no possibility that you will remain a Senator while running for Governor throughout?”

Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I just can’t - as long as Governor Perry stays in the race…

Mark Davis: (laughter)

Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I had hoped that he wouldn’t. You know, no one expected him to run again. And I thought, you know I stepped back last time, Mark. I tried to give him a, really a free ride with no primary because I thought it was right for Texas. But, for him to try to stay on for 15 years is too long.”

Mark Davis: “So you’ll be coming out at some point. When do you think its decision time for you? When would you like, when might we know?”

Kay Bailey Hutchison: “Well I’m going to announce in August. Formal announcement: I am in. Then the actual leaving of the Senate will be sometime - October, November - that, in that time frame.”

“This November, voters will make important decisions regarding possible amendments to our state’s governing document,” said Andrade. “I look forward to again working with election officials across our great state to ensure that our elections process remains fair, secure, and accessible.”

Enacted in 1876, the Texas State Constitution has been amended more than 400 times. Proposed constitutional amendments must pass by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the state legislature to be considered on the ballot. These eleven amendments were approved for consideration by the 81st Legislature and require a majority vote to be amended to the constitution.

“During these summer months, I encourage Texans to register to vote or update their registration if their address has recently changed to ensure they are eligible to cast their ballots in November. I hope Texans will recognize the role they can play in our state’s future and head to the polls this fall.”

The last day to register to vote in November’s election is October 5.

Official Ballot Language and Order for the Nov. 3, 2009 Constitutional Amendment Election

Proposition 1: HJR 132
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.”

Proposition 2: HJR 36-1
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.”

Proposition 3: HRJ 36-3
“The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.”

Proposition 4: HJR 14-2
“The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.”

Proposition 5: HJR 36-2
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.”

Proposition 6: HJR 116
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.”

Proposition 7: HJR 127
“The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.”

Proposition 8: HJR 7
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.”

Proposition 9: HJR 102
“The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.”

Proposition 10: HJR 85
“The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.”

Proposition 11: HJR 14-1
“The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.”

As QAHCAA has taken center stage nationally, a 53% majority has come around to oppose it.

• This could be because word has gotten out that the bill explicitly forces people who change jobs or change their health care plans into the new taxpayer-funded public plan, thus over time destroying private options.
• Or it could be because Obama’s own Congressional Budget Office has testified that the plan will increase, not decrease, health care costs. Or it could be because the plan is built on yet another massive tax increase.
• Or it could be because Americans got one look at Texas Rep. Kevin Brady’s flowchart of this monster and decided they wanted no part of it (see below)!

Sensing that his health care bill’s own pulse may be fading, the president decided to lend his dropping personal credibility to the effort in yet another prime-time press conference Wednesday. But instead of garnering the usual mainstream media fawning, he found himself roundly fact-checked by the Associate Press. The AP caught President Obama delivering several falsehoods and half-truths, including this whopper:

OBAMA: “You haven’t seen me out there blaming the Republicans.”

THE FACTS: Obama did so in his opening statement, saying, “I’ve heard that one Republican strategist told his party that even though they may want to compromise, it’s better politics to ‘go for the kill.’ Another Republican senator said that defeating health reform is about ‘breaking’ me.”

Thanks at least in part to growing national outrage at the Democrats’ statist health care overreach, Republicans now lead the generic Congressional ballot poll by four points. And by the way, the QAHCAA bill in its present form does not explicitly rule out federal funding for abortion. That means that taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for abortions if this legislation passes.

The Democrats’ have taken all this evidence as a sign that they have to push harder to get their government-run health care system takeover passed and put into law, and that’s what they’re doing. So while the polling is breaking away from them, this is no time to give up the fight. Call your senators and call your congressman and tell them, politely but firmly, that you oppose the Democrats’ health care bill and you will remember how they vote on this legislation.

We’ve scheduled three different dates this summer across Collin County.
Come to one, or join us at all three!

Saturday, July 18th, 5-8pm
Bob Woodruff Park (2601 San Gabriel Drive, Plano); RSVP by July 8th
Tickets for the Plano event are $20/person, $35/couple, or $50/family.

Saturday, July 25th, 5-8pm
Frisco Commons Park (8000 McKinney Road, Frisco); RSVP by July 15th
Tickets for the Frisco event are $20/person, $35/couple, or $50/family.

Saturday, August 8th, 5-8pm
Avalon Park (3450 Skyview Drive, Wylie); RSVP by July 31st
Tickets for the Wylie event are $12/person, $24/couple, or $35/family.

Bring your lawn chairs, your family, your friends, and your Republican spirit!

Get your tickets from Executive Director Sheryl Mills at GOP HQ.
Call 972-540-5985 or send an email.

For more information, please contact Candy Noble, 972-867-1060 or noble.house@verizon.net.  The application can be found on our website www.gcrw.org and the applicant deadline is April 30th.

But she didn’t know that Thursday would be her turn.  Young, an 8th-grade social studies teacher at Jackson Technology Center in Garland, thought she would be assisting with a busload of students for the airport’s Rest and Recuperation Program.

Instead, amid a swarm of eager television cameras, she found herself welcoming her husband.

“I can’t even explain the sheer emotion,” said the 28-year old, who hasn’t seen Sgt. Matthew Young since he was deployed in August. “I see other soldiers and I get teary-eyed. I didn’t expect to see my husband jump off the plane.”

A member of the National Guard’s 56th division, the 30-year-old contacted the school’s principal in late January when he found out he would return to his Wylie home for two weeks in March. Originally, he wasn’t scheduled to return until September.

The principal, David Dunphy, got in touch with Christene Wheeler of the North Texas Commission. She coordinates the DFW Airport program along with the United Service Organizations. They masterminded the visiting student scenario.

The hitch: Dunphy got an e-mail Monday night from Young’s husband. He was in Kuwait. He’d be home a day early.

“I played it out as much as I could,” Dunphy said. She has taken classes to greeting sessions before as part of a civics lesson and plans to do it again in May. “I said, ‘If you help maybe they’ll be nice and help us when we come out,’” he said.

Then, he frantically called Wheeler.

About 200 troops come through the airport’s doors daily, but Wheeler said she’s never been asked to help organize this kind of surprise.

“Sneaky, I felt so sneaky,” she said with a grin as mischievous as Sgt. Young’s. Both the husband’s and wife’s families found out about the abrupt visit Wednesday night.

“He didn’t know we would be here so we got the last laugh,” said Dixie Jeffers, Sgt Young’s mother-in-law.

The couple’s 6- and 4-year-old sons darted into the greeting line when they saw their father, burying their heads in his chest.

“As a military spouse she has all the responsibilities to take over,” said the returning veteran as he rubbed his elder son’s head and explained why he so carefully calculated this plan. “I wanted to make this special. Everyone wants to surprise their wife, even if it’s a little mean.”

The pair – who celebrated their eighth anniversary via a web camera in southern Iraq – whispered to each other in between family hugs, interviews and the rest of the embarking crew from Iraq and Afghanistan. About 50 other greeters watched nearby.

“It makes me want to cry,” said Dianna Cabello, who began to tear when she heard about the crafted event. “It’s hard. You never take holidays for granted again.”

Her three sons waved American flags and awaited their own father, on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta airports host the only program of this kind since military-chartered flights arrive from the Middle East with only one stop in Europe. About 150,000 troops come into the two airports annually, many of whom jump on connecting flights elsewhere.

Young has served as a greeter on nearly 15 occasions.

“Now the only problem will be when I come and here and I’m wondering if he’s getting off the plane,” she joked, gliding toward her husband for another hug.

After several live interviews, the Youngs made their exit – but not back to Wylie.

First, they stopped by the school to thank Dunphy where a quick “hello” became a ceremony.

Ever the history teacher, Young used her husband as a virtual show-and-tell for a few afternoon lessons.

Then, carrying her camouflage-pattern purse that reads, “I (heart) my Solider,” and “Army Wife,” she took her children – and her husband – home.

By JESSICA MEYERS (jmeyers@dallasnews.com), The Dallas Morning News

If you haven’t already sponsored a table or made reservations, don’t delay!

The place to be on Friday evening, February 20th, is the Embassy Suites Hotel. The VIP reception begins at 6 pm followed by the dinner at 7 pm.
For tickets and more information contact:

Sheryl Mills
Executive Director
Collin County GOP
972.540.5985
email: collincountygop@sbcglobal.net
website: www.collincountygop.com

MICHELLE MALKIN’S BIO:

Michelle Malkin makes news and waves with a unique combination of investigative journalism and incisive commentary. She’s not afraid to expose hypocritical environmentalists, needle pork-loving politicians or criticize the MTV generation’s morally deprived icons. Most of all, she’s not afraid to hold up the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the relentless scrutiny it deserves post-Sept. 11. Her ground-breaking research and reporting led to her first book, Invasion: How America Still Welcomes Terrorists, Criminals, and Other Foreign Menaces to Our Shores (Regnery 2002), in which she argues “immigration must be treated as a national-security issue.” The book debuted on The New York Times’ nonfiction best-seller list at No. 14 (week of Nov. 17, 2002).

Malkin’s second book, In Defense of Internment: The Case for “Racial Profiling” in World War II and the War on Terror, was released in August 2004. She is releasing her third book, Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild, this fall.

Malkin began her career in newspaper journalism with the Los Angeles Daily News, where she worked as an editorial writer and weekly columnist from 1992-94. In 1995, she was named Warren Brookes Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. In 1996, she joined the editorial board of the Seattle Times, where she penned editorials and weekly columns for three and a half years. Today, her syndicated column appears in over 100 papers nationwide.

Malkin’s work has been cited in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Reader’s Digest and U.S. News and World Report. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Weekly Standard and Reason magazine. She has appeared on “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity and Colmes,” “The McLaughlin Group” and “20/20,” and is currently a Fox News commentator.

Her hard-hitting — and news-breaking — commentary has been honored by several national organizations. Among the journalism awards Malkin has received:

• The 1998 Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award, for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership, for investigative columns that exposed campaign finance abuses by Washington state Democrats, Republicans and political organizations.
• The 1998 Second Amendment Foundation’s James Madison Award, for excellence in journalism “promoting the individual right to keep and bear arms.”
• The 1997 National Society of Newspaper Columnists writing award, for general interest columnists in newspapers with a circulation of at least 100,000 (2nd place).
• The 1997 Evert Clark Science Award for journalists under the age of 30, for commentary and analysis of environmental regulations and science policy (honorable mention).

Malkin, the daughter of Filipino immigrants, was born in Philadelphia and raised in southern New Jersey. She has worked as a press inserter, tax preparation aide and network news librarian; she is also a lapsed classical pianist. Malkin’s hobbies include crocheting and pier fishing with her dad.

A graduate of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, Malkin currently lives with her husband and daughter in Maryland.

The 429th is the ninth state district court in Collin County, and Willis’ appointment will be for a term to expire at the next general election in 2010, according to the Governor’s Press Office.

Willis will be sworn into office on Jan. 2, 2009, at 9 a.m. at the Collin County Courthouse, 2100 Bloomdale Road, in McKinney.

Willis is a lawyer in private practice, who previously worked for Strasburger & Price L.L.P., and clerked for a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas. She is a member of the Judge Paul Brown American Inn of Court, Collin County Bar Association, and Collin County Bench/Bar Foundation. She is also past chair of the Collin County Bench/Bar Conference, and a past member of the U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Committee for the Eastern District of Texas. Willis was named a Rising Star by Texas Monthly in both 2005 and 2006.

Willis received a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.