Pro-Education but Anti-Reform? No Way!

Can politicians be pro-education and anti-ed reform? Maybe the answer is “no”.

This quote came from the WSJ Online 12-16-08:

"For the last decade or so, the Democrats have not been as strong on education reform as the Republicans have. The Republicans have been much, much better, in my opinion, on ensuring strict accountability for schools and for districts, for ensuring that people are held responsible for closing the achievement gap and significantly increasing student achievement levels for every single child. What worries me about the Democrats is that they tend to be softer on these things, and soft is not what we need right now. Allowing schools to continue to fail year in and year out without significant ramifications either to the district or to the school is doing a disservice to the children. . . . I don't think it's too much for the children of this country to ask for to have somebody who's leading the education system who is always going to put their interests first and foremost, who is not going to care about the politics, the political flak, how many adults get mad at them, keeping the adults happy" -- District of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, on why despite being an Obama voter she is "somewhat terrified of what the Democrats are going to do on education," in an interview with NationalJournal.com's Amy Harder.

Pedernales Electric Co-Op Scandal Begs Legislative Action

One of the most offensive scandals of 2008 has been the Pedernales Electric Co-Op’s continuing saga of greed and corruption. The PEC has royally urinated on its “members” – captive customers of the utility.

It has been the subject of extensive coverage by the Austin American-Statesman. See the most recent article http://www.statesman.com/search/content/business/stories/other/12/17/1217pec.html
as well as the accompanying Editorial by the Statesman: http://www.statesman.com/search/content/editorial/stories/12/17/1217pedernales_edit.html

Like most scandals, the web is woven by a number of players, and the circle is often unbroken:

The alleged ringleader in the scandal is Bennie Fuelberg, the former General Manager of the PEC. Apparently, the PEC made some questionable payments to the law firm of Clark, Thomas & Winters that eventually made their way to Curtis Fuelberg, the brother of Bennie Fuelberg. Among his many clients, Curtis Fuelberg is one of the lead lobbyists for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

In the AAS story, the spokesperson for Bennie Fuelberg is none other than Jason Stanford. Stanford is one of the leading liberal opposition researchers in Texas, a perennial Democratic Party vendor and frequently works for the TTLA on various political campaigns.

It appears to me that Curtis Fuelberg and Jason Stanford may be getting paid with monies from ill-gotten gains.

This week, a 390-page investigation was released which is full of problems for the PEC executives – and the captive ratepayers.

There are few heroes when corruption is so prevalent and ongoing, but the Austin American-Statesman and reporter Claudia Grisales along with Sen. Troy Frasier and Rep. Patrick Rose are to be commended for shedding light on the problems, and encouraging action.

Let’s hope the legislature sees fit to release the customers of this failed monopoly and brings justice to the members.

Perhaps the PEC should be split up, sold and the members get the profits, along with opportunity to shop for another electricity provider.

Sky-high salary brings promises of improved student performance

Most businesses would wait until an employee's demonstrated value to the organization before giving them a raise or bonus. Not so in Round Rock ISD. There, school board members reward the Superintendent hoping that improved student performance will result. It appears the school board is rewarding his personality, not performance.

Survey examines pay for district supers

LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter

Round Rock ISD Superintendent Jesus Chavez's salary falls into the upper range of Texas superintendent salaries for the 2008-09 school year.

The average superintendent salary for the 2008-09 school year is $113,334, a 3 percent increase from the 2007-08 school year, according to the Texas Association of School Boards Superintendent Salary Survey released recently. Average superintendent salaries range from $79,493 in districts with less than 500 students to $272,347 in districts with more than 50,000 students.

Six percent of the responding districts gave a raise averaging 4.2 percent to their respective returning superintendent's for the 2008-09 school year, according to the TASB salary survey. The average bonus paid was $9,339 or 7 percent of the superintendent's salary.

The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees voted in February to increase RRISD Superintendent Jesus Chavez's base salary to $243,080 from $221,991. In addition, the board increased his business expense allowance by $1,000, giving him a total of $5,800 for the year. Chavez's contract was extended to June 30, 2011. His previous contract would have expired in 2010.

"This was an easy decision," RRISD Trustee Diane Cox said in February, after the board made the decision to give Chavez a raise. "He has more than proven himself with the board. He has developed such community support. You even hear at regional and state meetings good comments about him and how he is leading RRISD. He's a strong mentor, cognizant of needs and always willing to give of his time."

Since Chavez became superintendent in 2006, he has helped contribute to some memorable moments in the district. He said the highlights of the past two years have been:

• completing a bond study report with the community in early 2006

• passing the November 2006 bond for approximately $267 million

• reorganizing the district into elementary and secondary sectors

• standardizing the curriculum, programming and benchmarking tests

• adopting "Failure is Not an Option" as the district's school improvement model and developing curriculum around that model

"There is no doubt we as a district will improve and individual schools will improve," Chavez said in February. "Good things will happen in Round Rock."

The TASB Superintendent Salary Survey is a compilation of superintendent salary and benefit information submitted to TASB's Human Resources Services during the fall semester of the 2008-09 school year. TASB sent invitations to participate in the salary survey to 1,030 Texas school districts.

Texas Ranked #1 in Consumer Choice in Electricity

A newly released study reveals that Texas is the top state in the U.S. in competitive electricity. And that competition has benefited consumers. Consumers win when they are given choices in the marketplace. The study confirms the benefits of consumer choice.


Electricity competition has given Texans the freedom of choice in providers, services and pricing of electricity among numerous power producers and retailers.


While much of the electricity in Texas is generated by natural gas, and those prices have been volatile, Texans have been insulated from some of the price surges other states have seen, largely due to the competitive marketplace.


Some of the recent criticism of competitive markets (by folks like the liberal AARP) is also addressed in the report. Critics claim that "rates are increasing in competitive markets" when rate fluctuations are really the result of fuel price increases that can be exacerbated by regulatory or legislative decisions to artificially depress prices below market costs.

We also need to open the municipal electricity and co-ops to competition. These are currently monopolies and residents served by munis and co-ops are held captive to those providers and have no electricity provider options.


The study can be accessed at: http://www.defgllc.com/news/news.asp?show=VIEW&a=66

Texas Cities line up in DC for money

Texas Cities line up for federal dollars

The country's mayors went to Washington this week to hand Congress a wish list worth $73 billion. And Texas mayor were lined up at the trough.

The Wall Street Journal wrote: “But before taxpayers give them a dime, let's see the mayors rank those 11,391 goodies -- I mean "infrastructure" projects -- based on effectiveness and potential return on investment for taxpayers:

- Arlington, Texas, needs $4 million to expand its tennis center.
- La Porte, Texas, wants $7.6 million for a "Life Style Center."
- Euless, Texas, wants $15 million for the Midway Park Family Life Center, which, you'll be glad to note, includes both a senior center and aquatic facility”

Robert Poole from Reason Foundation penned the piece which ended the with:
“It was very nice of the country's mayors to hand taxpayers a wish list worth $73 billion. But before taxpayers give them a dime, let's see the mayors rank those 11,391 goodies -- I mean "infrastructure" projects -- based on effectiveness and potential return on investment for taxpayers.”

Read it all here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122887075956093233.html

DISD pays extra for administrator to steal

Steal $1 million and Dallas ISD will pay you $65,000 in severance pay. It’s a scam and a shame.

We could not write it any better – Dallas Morning News reporter Scott Parks penned a news article which ran last week on a school district which continues to be the “poster child” for what can go wrong with a monopoly school system.

“Ruben Bohuchot lived like "a rock star" during his five years as Dallas ISD's chief technology officer, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. In January, he will report to a federal penitentiary and start living like an inmate.

“U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay sentenced Mr. Bohuchot to 11 years in prison for participating in an elaborate bribery and money-laundering scheme involving lucrative computer contracts. Mr. Bohuchot showed no emotion as the judge announced the sentence and chastised him for his crimes.

"In doing this, somewhere along the road, something went bad," Judge Lindsay said.
“Federal investigators calculated that Mr. Bohuchot took almost $1 million in illegal gifts, gratuities and cash payments from Houston computer vendor Frankie Wong. In return, Mr. Bohuchot made sure that Micro System Enterprises, Mr. Wong's company, won two contracts to supply computers and other technology services to the school district for more than $120 million.

“The most sensational aspect of the bribery scheme involved two deep-sea fishing yachts named "Sir Veza" and "Sir Veza II." Testimony during Mr. Bohuchot's three-week trial last summer showed that Mr. Wong purchased the 46-foot "Sir Veza" for $305,000. After Mr. Wong won a second big DISD contract, he bought the 58-foot "Sir Veza II" for $800,000.

“Mr. Bohuchot, an avid fisherman, named the boats and controlled their use, according to testimony.”

At Americans for Prosperity, we were well aware of the allegations even before they hit the news as at one of our grassroots training sessions in Dallas, an activist had met with and shared much of this information with us.

Certainly, DISD is a poster child for what is wrong with public education. We’d like to think this is unusual, but fear that with as much money as is spent on public education, there are likely many other abuses.

It is important to note that the Dallas Morning News may be largely responsible for the investigation which lead to conviction. Their investigative reporting first challenged a trip the DISD official took aboard the computer company’s yacht.

It is important to note that, in typical style of school districts, the financial officer who stole at least $1 million from ISD was put on paid leave for 8 months then received a $65,000 “buyout package.” His salary is $143,492. So again, a school district pays one of their own (a thief). It’s a scam and a shame. Taxpayers, students and parents deserve better.

Read the full article here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/111308dnmetbriberysentence.4a3707f.html


-- Peggy Venable, AFP-Texas director

Dallas City Council Passing Go, Collecting $550 Million Taxpayer Dollars

By: Allison Miller

Dallas City Council members believe a new convention center and hotel will serve as a centerpiece for their efforts to revitalize the city’s downtown area. But several taxpayer advocacy groups say the project is a waste of public money and won’t meet Mayor Tom Leppert’s expectations.

Leppert has said he believes the Convention Center hotel is essential to the city’s growth and will allow it to compete with other top convention cities like Las Vegas and Orlando.

The hotel will be connected to the Dallas Convention Center on land currently owned by Cincinnati-based Chavez Properties Ltd. The City Council already approved spending $500,000 on an option to buy the Chavez Property for $42 million, which is estimated to be twice the size actually needed for the development. The hotel will be publicly financed, costing the city an estimated $550 million. 

The group Citizens Against the Taxpayer Owned Hotel collected more than 60,000 signatures calling for a referendum on the issue in May 2009. But developer Jack Matthew said that before the vote takes place, the city will have already spent $10 million on construction costs. City Council members plan to hurry the project along, hoping voters will see their tax dollars already in use and vote to complete the hotel so their money is not wasted.

The Dallas City Council has repeatedly claimed that Dallas must build the hotel in order to stay competitive in the convention center business with other cities that have added hotels. This includes the cities of Austin and Houston. 

Furthermore, Leppert has treated the hotel as an economic generator, saying it will bring new revenue, generate new business, and create new jobs in Dallas. The City Council adds that Dallas stands to lose several businesses if they can’t keep their convention center booked. They say that consistent bookings of the convention center can only occur if they add the extension.

A study by Dr. Heywood Sanders for the Brookings Institute on the economic impact of convention centers finds these grounds given by Mayor Leppert and the City Council to be erroneous and misleading to the public.

According to Dr. Sander’s study, all three rationales can be disproved by the fact that the trend of large convention center events has been in decline since before the post-9/11 economy. Existing convention centers have lost large amounts of business within the past decade, while newly constructed centers and expansions have not been able to gain or keep consistent business.

This trend doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon, and it seems like convention centers and their expansions, like the hotel in Dallas, will become a drain on taxpayers’ wallets. Even a turnaround in the industry would not create a substantial increase in business for any given city. 

A testament to the failures of Dallas’ plan is the St. Louis taxpayer-owned hotel, which was largely financed the same as the planned Dallas hotel. The St. Louis hotel is now missing its second mortgage payment and projects business to deteriorate even more this year.

If the Dallas hotel fails, taxpayers will be the ones incurring the debt. Taxpayers deserve to know the real facts that surround the taxpayer-owned hotel.

Links:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/10/hey_look_theyve_alrea...
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20050117_conventioncenters.pdf
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-04-17/news/demanding-answers-as-the-d...
http://www.notaxpayerhotel.com/
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/mound-city-money/uncategorized/2008/11/...

Secondhand Smoke: The Phantom Menace

We received an excellent column from Dr. John Dunn, a physician from South Texas, who says the American Cancer Society should re-check the "facts" they've been spreading about the effects of secondhand smoke.

Of course, we know the ACS's true agenda has nothing to do with secondhand smoke. They want to ban smoking altogether, and they're chipping away at the issue through smoking bans, "for public health reasons," they say.

We call this back-door prohibition.

Here is the column from Dr. Dunn, which pokes holes in the pro-smoking ban argument:

I can say with confidence that second hand smoke may irritate some, but it does not kill. Those claiming thousands of deaths from second hand smoke to the Dallas City Council and the public are deceitful for a political goal.

I have been a Texan for 22 years, and a physician specializing in emergency medicine for 36 years. I am familiar with the public health science on second hand smoke.

Public health studies cited by the American Cancer Society and the Surgeon General claim thousands of deaths result from second-hand smoke. These are weak, cherry-picked studies. Their supporters compound the deceit by ignoring studies by the World Health Organization (Buffetta 1998 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute), Stranges, 2006 in Archives of Internal Medicine, and Enstrom 2003 in The British Medical Journal – all of which show no effect from second-hand smoke.

In science, one study that disproves a scientific theory is more important than a pile of studies that are slightly positive. Anti-smoking advocates and fanatics ignore that basic rule and ignore any study they don’t like.

They are propagandists, not scientists.

The crusaders are willing to do and say anything about second hand smoke, including making public statements about thousands of deaths from second hand smoke. Those claims are diverse and duplicitous—they are lies. Second hand smoking, even for the spouse of a smoker is one cigarette or less per day—which has no effect. The second hand smoke scare is a phantom menace conjured up by the High Holy Church of Smoke Haters to support the anti-smoking crusade.

Smoking Bans violate the Texas tradition of minding your own business. If the City Council thinks it has a role in telling people how to live, they should get a Divinity Degree and find a congregation. Folks in Dallas can easily avoid second hand smoke, and employment in a bar or restaurant is voluntary. Smoking is legal. Avoiding smoke is easy.

John Dale Dunn, MD, JD

Policy Advisor American Council on Science and Health, NYC, and the Heartland Institute, Chicago.

McAllen officials dump more debt into the lap of taxpayers

Apparently McAllen officials would rather fund fluff projects instead of paying off the current city debt.

Officials in McAllen are planning to build “outdoorsman's oasis”, which will include a 6.4-acre fishing lake and camping grounds at Fireman's Park in addition to 11 acres of park land. The park will include a playground, pavilion, restrooms, showers, concession building, trails with bridges, fishing piers and a sand volleyball court.

The City of McAllen is adding $800,000 from its coffers to fund the project.

While the idea of an outdoorsman’s addition to Fireman’s Park seems like a great idea, how is it that the City of McAllen feels like they have enough extra taxpayer dollars laying around for a frivolous project?

According to the Texas Bond Review Board website, as of 2007 the current outstanding debt for the city of McAllen is: $207,789,903.

And who stands to pay the city’s debt? – McAllen residents via taxes.

Ellis County's Lowest, Highest Taxed Cities

The Ellis County Press' Megan Gray compiled a list of Ellis County's highest taxed cities and the lowest taxed cities (she's working on a list for the county's school districts, too), and here are the results:

Top 3 Highest Taxed Cities
1.Italy ($0.937 per $100)
2.Venus ($0.801506 per $100)
3.Ennis ($0.70 per $100)

Top 3 Lowest Taxed Cities
1.Pecan Hill ($0.30 per $100)
2.Garrett ($0.328803 per $100)
3.Oak Leaf ($0.348544 per $100)

To view all of the Ellis County cities, click this link.

Sen. Kip Averitt Is Being Watched

State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor, will have his every vote, motion and campaign visit monitored by the District 22 Blog.

The District 22 Blog - http://district22blog.blogspot.com - is published by The Ellis County Observer and seeks to eye Averitt on his liberal voting tendencies.

TEC Posts Declared Speaker Candidates

4 Republicans, 5 Democrats

List can be found on the TEC Website - here.

What does this mean for Speaker Tom Craddick? The big question is whether he will be re-elected or not; but, with 68 of the 74 House Democrats meeting to unite behind one D candidate and Republicans fracturing the Republican vote...

the votes for Tom Craddick are seemingly decreasing.

The fractured Republican support may just pave a way toward a Democrat as our next Texas Speaker of the House.

Smoking Ban Shenanigans

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has made no secret of wanting to expand the city’s smoking ordinance. The new amendments would prohibit smoking in bars, pool halls and tobacco shops.

But at Wednesday’s city council briefing, he let his desires get in the way of fair and equal treatment of the people he serves: the citizens of Dallas. More than 20 community members – including bar and tobacco shop owners – took time out of their workday to attend the city council meeting to speak out against any expansion of the ordinance.

Discussion of the smoking ordinance was supposed to take place immediately following the council’s lunch -- which ended around 3 p.m. The local citizens had been waiting for the chance to speak to the council since 1 p.m. Ironically, the city council chose to re-open their briefing within an hour of the arrival of several pro-smoking ban activists.

When the meeting opened, these pro-ban individuals were given the opportunity to speak to the council. However, due to mixed messages from the city staff, including the city secretary, only one person was allowed to speak against the all-out ban.

AFP's Texas State Director Peggy Venable said these shenanigans "threw freedom-loving citizens for a loop.”

“Business owners should have the right to set policies for the use of their own properties, and they should certainly have a right to publicly speak at a city council meeting when government is threatening regulations which will hurt their businesses. Government doesn’t hesitate to take their tax dollars. It’s like telling businesses to shut up and pay up,” she said.

Americans for Prosperity opposes smoking bans as a violation of consumer choice and free market principals. The solution AFP recommends is simple: encourage business owners to post a sign outside their establishments that identify then as smoking or non-smoking.

Texas Remains Red

Here are the Election Results, Texas-style...

Texas November 4, 2008 election night highlights

Early voting was the winner with 47 % of the voters casting their votes before Nov 4.
With 13,575,062 registered voters in Texas, 59% cast their ballots this election cycle.

At the top of the ticket, McCain carried TX with 55%.

US Congress – Texas picked up one Republican seat and kept Sen. Cornyn.

Sen. John Cornyn was re-elected with 55% of the vote.

Republicans picked up a US House seat with Pete Olson defeating incumbent Nick Lampson who took Tom DeLay’s seat in a special election for HD 22.

So Texans will now send 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats to DC, a pickup of one Republican seat.

Texas Statewide elections saw no changes

Republican Michael Williams won re-election to the Texas Railroad Commission with 52% of the vote.

Each of the 3 sitting Texas Supreme Court Justices on the ballot won re-election with 51 and 52% margins. All 3 are Republicans.

Three Republicans on the Court of Criminal Appeals handily won re-election.

State Board of Education saw no upsets as the five Republicans and two Democrats won their re-election bids.

TX Senate – D’s gained 1 seat, one in run-off, now 19 R’s, 12 D’s

Of the seats up this cycle, only one incumbent lost as Republican Kim Brimer lost his bid for re-election to Wendy Davis in SD 10. That shifted one seat from the Republicans to the Democrats making the totals now 19 R’s and 12 D’s.

The special election for SD 7, Kyle Janek’s vacated seat, is in a run-off between Democrat Chris Bell and Republican Joan Huffman. They received 38% and 26% respectively.

TX House – D’s gained 3 seats now 76 R’s, 74 D/s

HD 11 – Republican Brian Walker came within .2% of taking out incumbent Chuck Hopson losing by 102 out of 52,830 votes cast.

HD 17 – Republican Tim Kleinschmidt beat Donnie Dippel for Robby Cook’s seat, an R pick-up.

HD 29 – Randy Webber, Republican handily defeated Kevin Murphy for the Mike O’Day seat. The seat didn’t change parties

HD 32 – Todd Hunter defeated Democrat incumbent Juan Garcia 50% to 47%.

HD 47 – Donna Keel failed to unseat Democrat Valinda Bolton.

HD 48 – Pam Waggoner failed to take Democrat Donna Howard’s seat.

HD 52 – In this open seat once vacated by Mike Krusee, this once considered safe Republican seat went to Democrat Diana Maldonado who beat Brian Daniel by less than 1%. The Libertarian candidate got almost 4%.

HD 55 – open seat - Republican Ralph Sheffield handily beat Democrat Sam Murphey
(this is formerly the Republican Diane Delisi seat)

HD 73 – Republican Doug Miller handily defeated Daniel Boone in this open seat after defeating Nathan Macias in the primary.

HD 78 – Republican Dee Margo who beat Pat Haggerty in the primary was defeated by Democrat Joseph Moody so this El Paso seat goes to the Democrats.

HD 81 – Tryon Lewis easily picked up the former Buddy West open seat.

HD 82 – Speaker Tom Craddick easily beat challenger Bill Dingus

HD 96 – Democrat Chris Turner unseated Republican incumbent Bill Zedler 51-47%.

HD 97 – Republican Challenger Mark Shelton defeated incumbent Dan Barrett 55-45%.

HD 101 – Democrat Robert Miklos defeated Republican Mike Anderson by 1.2%
(The Republican incumbent Thomas Latham was defeated in the primaries)

HD 102 – Democrat Challenger Carol Kent defeated incumbent Tony Goolsby 53-47%.

HD 105 – Incumbent Republican Linda Harper-Brown narrowly defeated challenger Bob Romano by a mere 25 out of 40,700 votes cast.

HD 107 – Conservative Bill Keffer failed to unseat incumbent Democrat Allen Vaught to win back the seat he lost last cycle. The vote was 50-47%.

HD 112 – Republican Angie Button won this seat with 56% of the vote against Democrat Sandra Vule. The Libertarian candidate earned over 4% of the vote in this open seat.

HD 130 – Republican Allan Fletcher beat libertarian candidate William Gray Junior to keep this seat Republican after defeating Corbin Van Arsdale in the primary.

HD 133 – Incumbent Republican Jim Murphy lost to Democrat Kristi Thibaut by 464 votes.

HD 144 – Republican Ken Legler defeated Joel Redmond for this open seat formerly held by Republican Robert Talton.


Bond Initiatives

A total of 37 School districts had bond initiatives on the November ballot. Only 11 failed, bringing the total debt passed in one day in Texas to a startling $1.4 billion. The largest was for $219 million in Allen, Texas. It appears even in this tough economy, most passed. The listing is here: http://s3-texasisd.s3.amazonaws.com/Public/Nov08_bond.pdf


Tax Rollback Elections

It appears that around 47% of the tax rollback elections in 49 ISD’s passed. That means that half the time, voters didn’t allow the taxing authority to take in more revenue. Six are slated for later this year. We thank the Texas ISD website for this information and for the bond initiative data: http://s3-texasisd.s3.amazonaws.com/Public/Nov08_TRE.pdf


Harris County

218,182 registered voters and 62.6% of them participated in this election
47% of the Republicans voted straight party ticket compared to 53% of the Democrats; but 59% of the early voting Democrats cast straight party votes; 119,484 cast a vote in the open senate seat SD 17 (Chris Bell and Joan Huffman are headed to a runoff)

Republican County Judge Ed Emmett won handily with 54% of the vote; Republican County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt won with 54% of the vote, Pct 3 County Commissioner Steve Radack won with 60%.

Almost 16% under voted down ballot, and a number of local judges were unseated. Even though Obama won big in this Houston area, Republicans Ed Emmit was re-elected as County Judge and taxpayer advocate Paul Bettencourt kept his seat as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector.

Dallas AFP Action Item

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will hold a council briefing tomorrow to talk about amendments to the city's smoking ordinance.
Click here to view Dallas City County Agenda

These amendments, if passed, would make Dallas completely smoke-free. Bar and tobacco shop owners would no longer have the ability to let customers smoke on the premises, which violates their property rights.

We know that smoking bans hurt local businesses and economies and tells these small business owners that the government knows better how to run their businesses. We need your help.

Please e-mail or call the mayor and city council TODAY to tell them know we oppose any further action to restrict these private property owners' rights. The smoking ordinance briefing will happen at 1:15 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street. The council plans to put the amendments to a vote at their Nov. 19 regular meeting.


CONTACT:

TOM LEPPERT, MAYOR

tom.leppert@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4054

DR. ELBA GARCIA, MAYOR PRO TEM -- Place 1

elba.garcia@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4052

DWAINE R. CARAWAY, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM -- Place 4

dwaine.caraway@dallascityhall.com

214/670-0781

PAULINE MEDRANO -- Place 2

pauline.medrano@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4048

DAVID A. NEUMANN -- Place 3

david.neumann@dallascityhall.com

214/670-0776

VONCIEL JONES HILL -- Place 5

vonciel.hill@dallascityhall.com

214/670-0777

STEVE SALAZAR -- Place 6

steven.salazar@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4199

CAROLYN R. DAVIS -- Place 7

carolyn.davis@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4689

TENNELL ATKINS -- Place 8

tennell.atkins@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4066

SHEFFIE KADANE -- Place 9

sheffield.kadane@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4069

JERRY R. ALLEN -- Place 10

jerry.allen@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4068

LINDA KOOP -- Place 11

linda.koop@dallascityhall.com

214/670-7817

RON NATINSKY -- Place 12

ron.natinsky@dallascityhall.com

214/670-4067

MITCHELL RASANSKY-- Place 13

mitchell.rasansky@dallascityhall.com

214/670-3816

ANGELA HUNT -- Place 14

angela.hunt@dallascityhall.com

214/670-5415

YRs Demand "Change"

While the political realm heats up and our presidential race ends tonight, two Young Republicans took it upon themselves to inject a little humor and get their political message across last night.

You might have seen Nathan Glass and Matthew Kidwell out on the corner 2222 and Shoak Creek in Austin last night; but probably didn't recognize them.

That's because they dressed up as homeless men carrying home-made, politically driven signs to inform others of the tax hike we'll be receiving if we allow an Obama administration.

From their reports, they surprisingly received positive responses from their audience.

Conservatives can be mighty creative.

Way to go Nathan & Matt!

Maldonado admonished by her pastor

Diane Maldonado is running for Texas House Seat 52. Much controversy has arisen over her out-of-district, even national funding from pro-abortion groups.

This email was sent to some HD 52 residents from a Moldonado fellow church member.

"A woman who is registered at our parish is running for State Representative on the Democrat ticket. She appears to be very misinformed about Church teaching on the primacy of defending innocent life and marriage, despite the best efforts of our pastor to meet with her. Because of her apparent failure to respond to his pastoral efforts to form her Church teaching, our pastor wrote the following letter to every family in the parish. Awesome!"

http://www.devinrose.heroicvirtuecreations.com/blog/2008/10/31/our-brave-pastor/

$2,000 investment could make firm $6 million!

It would make sense to prohibit individuals and firms from contributing to a tax increase initiative if they might benefit financially from it passing.

Here’s why: an architectural firm would readily make a $2,000 investment in promoting a bond package which could set them up to get a contract which would reap millions…if they get even 6% of a $100 million project, that’s $6 million!

Architectural firms regularly do get 6% of the cost of the building they design. No wonder so many new schools are taj mahal facilities. No wonder architectural firms aren’t supporting “smart” or “frugal” facilities plans.

For instance, when a school district proposes a multi-million dollar bond initiative to build new schools, it would result in taking more money from taxpayers, but putting money in some folks’ pockets. Since the

People watching the Round Rock ISD bond initiative campaign have kept an eye on who is contributing to the pro-bond campaign. Would it surprise anyone to know among the financial supporters are architects, attorneys and others who are working for the school district and could be beneficiaries of the bond passing?

Taxpayers don’t have that same leverage.

It has been called to our attention that:

1) Keith Hickman is getting an architect fee of 7.9% of the construction costs, over $5 million, for the new $67m+ high school under construction. Plus he's received many other smaller construction contracts under the 2006 bond.

2) McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore is the school's attorney.

3) Graber, Simmons & Cowan is getting a 12.06% architect fee of the $8m+ for the new Technology Data Center under construction.
(The following is from the GOUGED website: http://www.gouged.info/)

THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE BOND PROPOSITION URGING YOU TO VOTE YES (and line their pockets in the process)
• Bartlett-Cocke (construction firm) - $2,500;
• Brown & Butler Construction Inc. (construction firm) - $2,000;
• K.A. Hickman Architects & Interior Designs (architectural firm) - $2,000;
• O’Connell Robertson (architectural-engineering firm) - $2,000;
• Graber, Simmons & Cowan (architectural firm) - $1,500;
• Alliance Geotechnical Group of Austin (engineering firm) - $1,000;
• Brath General Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• Bury & Partners Inc. Engineering Solutions (engineers) - $500;
• Jamail Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP (law firm) - $500;
• Chasco/Chaz Glace (construction firm) - $250;
• Heritage Title Company of Austin (title company) - $250;
• Round Rock Industrial Equipment - $250;
• Summit Commercial Industrial Properties (real estate) - $250;
• Robert Allen – of Cunningham-Allen, Inc. ( land-surveying and civil engineering firm,) Anchor Ventana (architectural glass supplier) - $200;
• Roy Beard – member, Zoning Board of Adjustment (real estate) - $100;
• Frost National Bank (banker) - $100;
• Catherine Hanna (lawyer) - $100;
• John Lewis – Real Estate Council of Austin (real estate) - $100;
• Pena Swayze & Co. LP (accounting firm) - $100;
• Plains Capital Bank (banker) - $100; William Romans - with First State Bank Central Texas (banker) - $100;
• Sheets & Crossfield P.C. (lawyer) - $100;
• Union State Bank (banker) - $100.

Let's level the playing field for taxpayers. Encourage your elected school board members to prohibit any contractor from contributing to pro-bond iniatiative campaigns. If a school facility is needed, we don't need contractors to "invest" in promoting them.

Taxpayer Rally at Stony Point HS TONIGHT

Unfortunately, hubby and I are double-booked tonight and can't make this rally, but if you can, you should.

GOUGED (Groups Opposed to Unsustainable Government Education Debt)

RRISD parents, property owners and taxpayers are rallying at the last pro-Bond "public hearing" event being help Oct. 28th at Stony Point High School.

Vote NO and other signs will be provided. The rally will last about an hour, from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. People are needed outside to carry signs and hand out pro-taxpayer flyers to the people arriving at the event.

Media is expected, and there will absolutely be defenders of the outrageous new debt and taxes at this event. A good showing by fiscal conservatives will go a LONG WAY towards motivating voters to defeat the Bonds, and save our taxpayers from further fiscal damage.

For background, see this New 8 Austin story on our Oct 22nd rally:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=222668

FOR MORE INFO contact Danielle Kays (512)341-9661, Wilco Campaign for Liberty / GOUGED member

From Round Rock ISD website:
"At the recommendation of the 2008 Citizens Bond Committee that studied projected and current enrollment data, school capacity, and infrastructure needs, the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees called for a bond election to be held on Nov. 4, 2008, to ask voters to approve funding for capital improvement and facility projects totaling $293,940,000.

The district will be hosting Public Hearings at all four high schools to give residents a chance to learn about the bond projects and ask questions regarding the election. All public bond forums will be held at 7 p.m."

source: https://www.roundrockisd.org/home/index.asp?page=3115

Alvord Mother Proves We Can Keep ISDs Accountable

Just a reminder of how we can and should keep our school districts accountable:

Earlier this year, Alvord mother, Tracy Lodes had information that her school superintendent, John Trice, had potentially violated a number of laws, and in her trying to expose the infractions, she had been banned from her daughter’s elementary school campus.

Her local newspaper would not print any of the information she had, so we posted it on our blog - Voice of the Taxpayer - and got an astounding number of comments.

The allegation was electioneering on campus and we turned it over the AG and the Secretary of State’s office for investigation. Because of controversy over a number of issues, the superintendent resigned.

This is a video of her story:


Mom Takes Down Superintendent from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.

Comptroller Combs touts Texas economy at event honoring Austin-area women

I had the great honor of being recognized among the “Texas Women Movers and Shakers” in Travis County last week.

I was humbled to be among some outstanding women who were recognized at a luncheon hosted by Rosemary Edwards and co-chaired by Katherine Armstrong and Polly Sowell.

Those recognized were Tina Benkiser, Deirdre Delisi, The Hon. Melissa Goodwin, Donna Keel, Teresa Spears, Pam Waggoner and Kathleen Hartnett White...and me.

Texas women are involved in every aspect of public policy and politics in Austin and around the state (and the nation).

Texas First Lady Anita Perry spoke as did Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Comptroller Combs provided some uplifting news about the Texas economy which reflects the policy decisions made in Austin.


Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states. With our mix of industries and avoidance of the housing price bubble, Texas should have more resistance to – but not immunity from – recessionary conditions.

• In fiscal 2008, Texas’ gross state product grew by 4.1 percent, versus 1.5 percent for the national economy.
• In the 12 months ending in September 2008, Texas gained almost 248,000 jobs, more than the next 14 top job-growth states combined.
• Over last 12 months, Texas accounts for 54 percent of entire job gains for all states.
• In the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to our economy.
• Texas sales tax receipts for September 2008 increased 3.7 percent from the same month the year before.
• Consumer confidence across the nation is weak, as reflected in the lowest consumer confidence index numbers since 1992. Texas’ numbers remain fairly strong, however. In September, the U.S. index stood at 59.8 (with 1985 = 100). The Rust Belt region was 45. Texas’ regional index was 88.5 — the highest of any region in the nation.

Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and although the Texas economy is still expanding, its rate of expansion is slowing. But Texas’ economy is in good shape relative to other states and the rest of the country.

It's thanks to Texas leaders, the women and the women behind the policies that Texas is doing so well relative to other states and the nation.

For more information, go to: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html or www.GoodNewsInTexas.com.

-- Peggy Venable

McAllen city leaders have big plans for McAllen taxpayers' money

McAllen seeks to draw the ‘creative class' - The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/city_19076___article.html/people_young.html

Last week, the city commissioners gave preliminary approval for $960,000 of projects designed to meet the goal of drawing young, creative people here.

Among those projects is beautification work throughout the city, including landscaping near the airport and La Plaza Mall and accent lighting on public buildings.

Money was also allocated for public art, a campaign to minimize the use of plastic shopping bags and the development of a park-and-ride system for special events.

Almost $2.25 million worth of projects is included in the plan, which city leaders will gradually fund over the next few years, said Mike Perez, the McAllen city manager.

City leaders also hope to create a new music festival, develop a plan for a performing arts center and incorporate the current main library at 601 N. Main St. into the arts community once its replacement is built at the former Wal-Mart building at the intersection of North 23rd Street and Nolana.

Pledge with Texans Spotlight: Limiting the Growth of Government

Limit the Growth of Governments

Impose strict constitutional spending restraints to further slow the growth of state government; ensure that dedicated funds are spent for their intended purpose or return the money to taxpayers; return to a true zero-based budgeting process to force agencies to justify all spending requests each legislative session; close loopholes in welfare programs; increase resources for child support collection to reduce reliance on government programs; and, end double taxation on phone bills by eliminating the sales tax on telecommunications fees and surcharges.

In the recently released Pledge with Texans, the Texas Conservative Coalition highlights limiting the growth of government as one of the key planks to the Legislative Agenda for conservatives in the 81st Texas Legislature. I could not agree more with this statement.

The best plan of the 80th Legislative Session was proposed by State Representative Ken Paxton (R-McKinney). Paxton's plan would have limited state spending to the rate of inflation plus the increase in population. This amounts to about a 5% increase per year. If the Legislature has an emergency and needed to spend beyond the 5% increase, there would need to be a 2/3 super-majority to increase the appropriation beyond that point. Any additional money that was brought in from taxes under the Paxton plan would automatically go into tax-relief funds, under the oversight of the Comptroller, which would be evenly dispersed to all citizens to lower their property, business, and sales taxes. Representative Paxton's bill, HJR 53, would have also put the caps in place on local governments as well.

The current constitutional spending cap that limits Legislative appropriations is very tough to comprehend and is easily broken every year by a simple majority. Which ever party happens to be in power choses to break the cap by voting to increase the limit on the appropriation before the budget is heard. In 2007, the Republicans in teh House voted to break the constitutional spending cap to pass property tax relief.

Regardless of the intent to increase government spending, an increase in spending is still an increase in spending. Why is this important? Taxpayers complain about high taxes. Taxpayers have the potential every year of having their homes taken by the government because of climbling property taxes. Business owners are now subject to the gross margins business tax so revenue can continue to come into the Texas coffers. Why? Because Texas spends a lot of money.

If a true constitutional spending cap that limits state spending to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth that also takes a 2/3 super majority to break had been put in place in 1978, the Texas budget would be about 1/2 the size that it currently is. The current state budget is roughly $168 billion and growing.

There is no better way to limit the authority and power of government and the role of government in our daily lives then to limit the growth of the budget. Without increasing spending, the government cannot grow because the government does not produce a marketable product that, on its own merits, will make money for itself. All government programs are subsidized by taxpayers. If the subsidies go away, the program will too. If the program was truly necessary, a non-profit or business will quickly fill in to continue the job and will produce better results than the government agency.

Now is the time to take bold initiatives and bold steps to create the most business friendly climate that we can in Texas. With the national economy sputtering and jobs going oversees, it is imperative that Texans give the rest of the country an example of how to attract businesses and limit the role of government to give our citizens a better quality of life for all.

lobby prohibition is the ticket price of admission to the public trough

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) said Monday she will propose a bill requiring that financial institutions participating in the Treasury's $700 billion financial-markets rescue plan be banned from lobbying with that money.Fine, Sen. Feinstein, but that doesn’t go far enough.

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a betrayal of taxpayers’ trust. No public dollars should be used to lobby.

Washington’s $3 billion-a-year lobby industry may fight the ban, but a complete prohibition should be the price of admission for accepting public dollars.

Lobbying is part of a democratic system, but it isn’t ever appropriate to lobby with tax dollars.

We’ve have seen associations representing cities, counties and school districts across the country spending hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying congress and state legislatures. Unfortunately, their lobby agenda is often anti-taxpayer. They lobby to defeat taxpayer protections such as spending and revenue caps. And they do it with our money.

So either accept public funding and stop lobbying or refuse public funding and lobby. It's as simple as that.

A lobby prohibition is the ticket price of admission to the public trough.

Let's see if Sen. Feinstein would support that ticket.

Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory

It appears that one State Republican Executive Committee member is ready to throw Speaker Tom Craddick overboard, and grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mark McCaig is calling for Speaker Tom Craddick to announce he will not seek the Speaker position. McCaig claims Republicans have little to be tout under Craddick’s leadership.

Let’s look at the cold, hard facts. While 30 states are experiencing a budget shortfall, we will enjoy a surplus. Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states.

In fiscal 2008, Texas’ gross state product grew by 4.1 percent, versus 1.5 percent for the national economy.

Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and the Texas economy is still expanding. It will slow due to the US economic situation, but Texans are faring better than other states.

One way to look at it is the fact that Texas is leading the nation in job growth. In the 12 months ending in September 2008, Texas gained almost 248,000 jobs, more than the next 14 top job-growth states combined.

Over last 12 months, Texas accounts for 54 percent of entire job gains for all states.

In the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to our economy.

This information came straight from the Comptroller’s website: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html

So maybe, Mr. McCaig, you should step back and say “thanks” to the leaders who have brought tort reform, kept taxes relatively low, and kept government growth in check so in these tough economic times across the country, Texas has a budget surplus, not a shortfall.

It makes no sense to beat up the leadership. This good news for Texans didn’t happen in a vacuum.

Here is the McCaig op ed:
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/1023mccaig_edit.html

Tell Government to "Butt" Out.

Dallas City Council is considering an ordinance expanding their smoking ban by including bars and taverns.

It's a freedoms issue: Business owners should have the freedom to choose to be smoke-free or allow smoking within their establishments. Just as consumers should have the freedom to choose which establishments they'd prefer to go to.

It is not the government's right to infringe on our freedom of choice.

If they succeed in passing this expansion, is Dallas any different than Cuba?

AFP interviewed the owner of Havana Social Club in Dallas, Carlos Rodriguez, to find out how this ban will personal affect him and his business.


An American Dream Up in Smoke from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.

A few news stories on this issue:
Dallas mayor pushes for smoking ban in bars - Dallas Morning News
Expansion of Dallas Smoking Ban Seen as Unconstitutional by Local Tobacconist - Reuters
Groups rally against extended smoking ban in Dallas - Dallas Morning News

Taxpayers Footing the Bill for More than Superintendent’s Base Salary

Most may not know it, but our school districts are handing out more of our money to superintendents than we think.

With a couple of clicks, it is easy for anyone to look up their superintendent’s base salary on the Texas Education Agency website; but, do you know all of the financial perks that aren’t included in that online total?

As an example, we looked at Hutto ISD (near Austin). Through an open records request, we were able to obtain the current Superintendent’s current contract and pay increases since the start of his employment.

What we found was shocking. At the start of Hutto ISD’s employment in 2005, he was making a base salary of $94,000. His current contract, outlining the 08-09 school year, has him at a base salary of $131,040. This means that his raises over the past few years have totaled $37,040! That is almost DOUBLE the per capita income for residents in Hutto!

Not only is Hutto ISD’s Superintendent receiving an exorbitant amount in pay increases; but when you look at his contract, you can see all of the other financial perks he receives with our tax dollars.

This is what the taxpayers of Hutto are paying for, to name a few:
**A $5,000 incentive per year for meeting the bare minimum on academic requirements and assuring the district fund balance is increased.
**30 vacation days + every legal holiday/non-duty day = 52 days taxpayer’s pay him to not work (excluding sick days)
**Cellular Phone, Pager, Laptop for personal and business use
**$3,000 monthly allowance for car expenses (totaling $36,000 per year)

You would think that a school district that is willing to give a superintendent more of our tax dollars for an almost 40k raise within three years and financial perks within his contract the ISD would be performing at a level of excellence and that our tax dollars would surely be going toward more instruction for pupils. But, sadly that is not the case in Hutto ISD.

After reviewing the 2007 Snapshot for Hutto ISD on the Texas Education Agency website, this is what we’ve learned:
**Hutto ISD is only “Academically Acceptable”.
**Teachers are paid at least $17,000 per year less than support and administrative staff.
**Only 41% of their budget is spent on instruction in the classroom.

With a school district underperforming, it is difficult to understand how their superintendent is still rewarded.

What financial perks is your superintendent receiving with your money? It is public information.

Austin ISD Wants More of Your Hard Earned Money

It has never been a solution to throw money at a problem; and, Austin ISD’s spending habits are just that – a problem.   Yet, they are asking for more of your hard-earned money on this year’s election ballot.

 

 

Austin ISD’s Proposition 1 asks that the taxpayers of Austin fork over $17.7 million more dollars for“general operating expenses”, according to their brochure, explaining the “need” to increase Austin residents’ taxes. 

 

 

After looking at their district’s Snapshot for 2007 from the Texas Education Agency website, you will find that not only is Austin ISD under performing; but they are spending their money frivolously on everything but teachers’ salaries and instruction for students. 

 

Take a current lawsuit with Austin ISD, which went to trial this past Monday, as an example.  Austin ISD would rather spend your taxpayer dollars on attorney’s fees than reimburse a teacher $22.50 for a Spanish workshop.   

 

 

According to the Texas Bond Review Board website, Austin ISD currently has its taxpayers $1 BILLION dollars in the hole.  This amount does not include the debt taxpayers also carry for their city and county. 

 

 

To view the jaw-dropping total of local government debt in Austin – click here. 

 

 

 

 Things you may not have known about Austin ISD...
 
Did you know...

• Austin ISD is ranked "Academically Acceptable" - which is second from the bottom?
• That only half of Austin ISD's staff consists of teachers?
• Teachers at Austin ISD make over 10k less than "Support Staff"?
• Local Government Debt has been growing 4 times faster than our income.
• The Grand total of Debt (between City, County & Austin ISD) is $8,540,378,421?
• or that, the Debt per Taxpayer in Austin is $11,493.31 - DOUBLE what the state average is?
   

INFORMATION:

(Click on link to view PDF)

Local Government Debt in Austin (information was taken from the Texas Bond Review Website)

Austin ISD Snapshot 2007 (information from Texas Education Agency Website) 

Austin ISD's brochure about Proposition 1 (if you look at the numbers, they don't match up with what the snapshot details show on the TEA state site)

GOUGED (Groups Opposed to Unsustainable Government Education Debt), Taxpayers Oppose Increased Taxes – Voting NO on RRISD Bonds

Contact: Kristin Jones, (949) 230-2965, Don Zimmerman, (512) 577-8842

Statements / Press Conference:
Wednesday, Oct 22nd, 2008 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Round Rock ISD central compound, 1311 Round Rock (Round Rock, TX, 78681)

AUSTIN – Groups of parents and property taxpayers and activists are meeting on Wednesday, Oct 22nd, 12:00 noon at the Round Rock ISD central compound to express opposition to November 4th ballot issues which would authorize unlimited tax increases and school debt by over 30%. The Round Rock ISD Bond seeks to add almost $300 million to an existing debt of about $680 million. Round Rock ISD taxpayers were hit with about $250 million of new debt just 2 years ago. The ballot language permits UNLIMITED TAXES to be assessed, at any interest rate, to repay the bond debt: "...and the levying of a tax in payment of the bonds and to pay the costs
of any credit agreements executed or authorized in anticipation of, in relation to or in connection with the bonds."

Says Michele Samuelson of Wells Branch Watchdogs, “"Round Rock ISD already owes taxpayers $600,000,000, 1/3 of this is in the form of interest payments from previous bonds. At this rate, the only thing we will pass on to our children is not an education, but a huge pile of local debt that our children and grandchildren will be saddled with. Our children's future depends on responsible spending policies that do not incur additional public debts."

Liz Elleson, former Round Rock ISD trustee and opponent of the failed $350M Bond issue of March, 2005, has filed an open records request for numerous documents, including for payments to Superintendent Chavez and salaried administrative (non-teaching) employees for 2007 – 2009, and for large expenditures approved on a “consent” agenda without full disclosure or debate. Liz will present facts on wasteful spending.

John Gordon, former GOP candidate for State Rep in Williamson County and opponent of the 2005 Bond, will present facts supporting the bad timing and overpricing of the Bond.

Says Craig Wilkerson, of the Williamson County Campaign for Liberty, “Most WilCo residents send their children to public school, but a growing number of parents prefer homeschooling or private schooling. It is against the principles of Liberty to force any WilCo residents to subsidize an educational system they do not utilize and philosophically reject.”

Says Pat Dixon, Libertarian Party state chairman, "As a member of city council in Lago Vista I have always worked to reduce spending and lower tax rates. … In a time when voters are threatened by federal, state, and local politicians with greater intrusion into their wallets, voters need to speak up and protect themselves."
Says Wes Benedict, Exec. Dir of LP of Texas, who had a role in defeating the March, 2005 Bond, “Taxes are already too high and we should not throw more money into government schools.”

Don Zimmerman, Republican candidate for Travis County anti-tax assessor-collector, a Round Rock ISD parent & taxpayer, adds, “The public school monopoly has given us what other government monopolies like the post office give us – marginal service at high cost. We need more school choices, not more debt and taxes.”

GOUGED includes Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and independent voters and taxpayers working to save their homes from confiscatory property taxes.
www.gouged.info
# # #

Taxpayers Reject Cedar Hill, Duncanville ISD Tax Increases

Voters in Cedar Hill ISD and Duncanville ISD rejected 13-cent tax increases that were on Tuesday's ballot, according to BestSouthwestBlog.com, a sister blog to The Ellis County Observer.

To view the latest results, click here.

Cedar Hill ISD Tax Increase Results
For: 385 - 26.03%
Against: 1,094 - 73.97%

Duncanville ISD Tax Increase Results
For: 1,628 - 41.28%
Against: 2,316 - 58.72%



Not a bad campaign for only spending $30. That's right. The Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government defeated the CHISD tax increase with $30.

In a released statement, TAGG chairman Joey Dauben had this to say:

"We want to especially thank Duncanville school board trustee Cindy Werner for being the lone dissenting vote against this tax increase," Dauben said. "Her one 'no' vote was the first sign that things could get interesting in Duncanville. Even with an early election date of October 7, TAGG and the Americans For Prosperity-Texas organization helped inspire and mobilize the forces in these two districts. I personally put up the Vote No signs in Cedar Hill that cost me $30. That's $30 well spent, and 73 percent of the electorate rejected higher taxes. We have plenty to talk about at the AFP summit in Washington, D.C. this weekend!"

The signs were printed off of a color copier, and stakes and nails were donated.

Free Markets work - the key is keeping them free

Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business and TPPF board member, wrote piece on the bailout that sacrifices freedom for dependency. He wrote:

"Charging the Federal Reserve, investment bankers, and politicals to "solve" this crisis is like deputizing arsonists to fight a wildfire. The central enabler is government, with Wall Street hucksters as eager accomplices..."

It's worth a read...
http://www.texaspolicy.com/commentaries_single.php?report_id=2193

-- Peggy Venable

Sarah Palin's able -- credible, likeable, knowledgable and capable

Gov. Palin proved that a hockey Mom who has served as a mayor, as the Alaska energy czar and Governor CAN shut down a US Senator who's warmed a chair for far too long in Washington, D.C. Main Steet takes on Capitol Hill and takes the debate prize. Palin showed the world she is able -- credible, likeable, knowledgable and capable.

Picking up the dropouts should be an "all hands on deck" project

News Flash – the Texas Education Agency has actually identified a few private schools which will be able to get funds to educate public school dropouts. “Horrors!” claim the pro-educrat, anti-student crowd. “Imagine that – giving education dollars to a school which might actually educate dropouts!”

TEA Commissioner Robert Scott deserves cudos for daring to go where the educrat crowd opposed you going... allowing public dollars to be used going to the best schools to educate students who had already been failed by the current public education system.

It isn't entirely the education system’s fault. But a one-size-fits-all usually fits no one perfectly.

Let’s face it – public dollars should be going to educate students, not to institutions. If we go outside the comfort zone and start to fund the child’s education, we would find that the market would provide many opportunities for students to succeed.

The High School Completion and Success Initiative Council had an important mandate – to improve college readiness and to provide help for students at risk of dropping out of school. The Council had a very important task to reduce dropout rates and increase retention.

Right here in America, one student drops out of school every 29 seconds. Every hour of every day, 93 Texas students drop out of public schools. The majority are inner city males. Around 170 Texas schools have been deemed “dropout factories” with some schools in Austin, Houston and Dallas having a retention rate of just over 30%. According to the AP, 20% of Texas schools are “dropout factories”: http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/wdc/dropout/index.html.

The majority are inner city minority males. This is our decades’ civil rights issue. And perhaps for that reason, this story goes largely untold.

The numbers represent a tremendous cost to our economy, and an even greater human tragedy, as many of these dropouts slip between the crevices of productive society.

The 2007 class of high school dropouts will cost Texas taxpayers $377 million this year and every year over the course of their lifetimes. It is a travesty.

So it’s time we look to alternate educational venues and provide parents with a choice, and students with a chance.

Those most vulnerable are those students who have already failed in the current public education setting.

That some public schools as well as a few private schools are designated as dropout recovery schools is an acknowledgment that education takes place in a variety of venues – and students don’t come in “one size fits all”.

-- Peggy Venable