RIP - William F. Buckley 1925-2008

Young Americans for Freedom and National Review founder William F. Buckley died at his home in Connecticutt late last night.

Like so many others, the National Review was my first introduction to conservative thinking, and without it, I might not have ended up as a conservative activist. I owe a somewhat unique debt to Buckley - he founded Young Americans for Freedom in the 1960s, the organization that spawned Young Conservatives of Texas.

Ed Frank with Americans for Prosperity wrote a great piece about Buckley, and how much he'll be missed, at the AFP National Blog here.

EDIT:

PENCE STATEMENT ON PASSING OF WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR.
"In the Battle Over Ideas, the Conservative Movement has Lost its Commander in Chief"

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Mike Pence released the following statement regarding the passing of William F. Buckley Jr.:

"In the battle over ideas, the conservative movement has lost its commander in chief.

"The passing of William F. Buckley Jr. is not just a loss to the conservative movement; it is a loss to the nation.

“William F. Buckley Jr. was an American leader whose immense intellectual force will influence the life of this nation for generations.

Bad judgement or abuse of taxpayer dollars?

Is it poor judgement or abuse of power when a school superintendent uses the school district law firm to prepare her divorce papers, at the same time she has recommended the school board increase the contract with the law firm.

The Galveston Daily News has come up with a shocking example of the good old boy system in their school district. It involves bad legal advise and poor judgment. That’s a dangerous combination for a law firm serving Galveston ISD – or more likely, serving the Superintendent. This is the same law firm which advised the District to sue an AFP member for comments posted on her blog about the District.


The attorney for the school district said, “We do these things for clients. We do things for people all the time through the different school communities. We’ve gotten board members out of dog-bite cases and represented people’s children who get in trouble and need assistance.”

WOW! So the District’s law firm is actually a go-to-firm for folks who hire them and determine the size of their contract. Is this what those expensive contracts with school district law firms are for?


Read the story here: http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f6468b8626ecb067

Is this what can be overheard outside the Superintendent's office when she is talking to the school distrcti law firm?: "Let's sue this parent, and BTW, how's my divorce proceeding?" "I'll ask the board to increase your contract. You're doing such great work for me."

More education for our money please

More education for our dollars, not more dollars for education


According to the Houston Chronicle, in 2006, the HISD superintendent was making over $300,000 base salary. The article is worth a read and cited information provided by education associations:
http://blogs.chron.com/schoolzone/2006/12/can_you_guess_the_average_sala.html


$180,000 salary; $1,000 a month car allowance; $20,000 signing bonus

Perks for a CEO?

Try some Central Texas School Superintendents”

This is the promo for an investigative news report airing on CBS KEYE-TV. Award-winning investigative reporter Nanci Wilson contacted me and asked for my on-camera reaction to the research she had compiled on how Austin area school districts spend tax dollars.

The CBS News investigative report is slated to aire Monday, Feb. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 27. The link for KEYE-TV’s investigative reports: http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/investigates/default.aspx

The promo quotes me several times, expressing my outrage that taxpayer dollars are being misspent and some expenditures hidden from taxpayers. The promo also provides a glimpse of an interview with a very defiant Austin Superintendent.

Background: AFP launched a campaign “More education for our dollars” to get more education dollars directed to the classroom, when three years ago we traveled the state with a ruler with “How Does Your School District Measure Up?” and a link to the Comptroller’s web site and the School District Watch List. The data reveals that most districts have one non-teaching staff for each teacher, only 50% of the education dollars are spent in the classroom and most school districts are rated as “acceptable” – this is not acceptable to most taxpayers.

Update: Comptroller Susan Combs changed the listing to be called “School District Listing” and has now taken the listing off her new website, though the information is still available. AFP has worked with the Texas Education Agency to get the information posted there – http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/snapshot/2006/district.srch.html and the information is still at: http://www3.cpa.state.tx.us/districts.nsf, though not visible on the Comptroller’s website. Comptroller Combs said that she no longer has the responsibility to do the school district audits. True, but the funding to do that project didn’t get withdrawn.

Stay tuned -- I'll keep you posted as the sparks fly when the powerful CBS-TV Affiliate reveals just how our education tax dollars are being spent. -- Peggy Venable

The Texas Educrat PAC Revisited

In October 2006, I co-wrote this article about the Texas Parent PAC for the Lone Star Report and the Dallas Blog with my now-husband. At that point, we were watching the PAC closely, concerned that their influence could swing several elections in favor of educrat candidates. Our fears were not unfounded, as it turned out. Bill Keffer and Martha Wong were felled in the general election by moderate Democrat opponents who received ample support from the Texas Parent PAC, as did incumbent and still sitting Reps. Delwin Jones, Tommy Merritt, and Charlie Geren.

We expected to see more Parent PAC activity in the 2008 primary, and we haven't been disappointed. Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) is in a fight for his seat against alleged Democrat interloper Joe Tison in HD 61. Tison has received, to date, more than $12,000 from the Texas Parent PAC, in cash and services. You can see Tison's latest Ethics Commission report here.

I've written more about this over at my blog, Blue Dot Blues.

New poll

On the righthand side of our blog, we've added a poll function. We try to update this poll with new questions every two weeks or so, and more often as issues arise.

The current poll is "Do you plan to vote in the March 4 primary?"

Please take a moment to participate in this poll. Thank you!

Alvord ISD officials electioneering

Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice and Larry Wilson (Assistant Secretary of the School Board) appear to have lost their minds, and should soon lose their jobs. They are using their positions to electioneer.

These nitwits have sent a letter to “Fellow Educators and School Employees” which all but threatens school district employees to vote for State Rep Dist 61 candidate Joe Tison.

This letter begins with, “We assume your family, health and livelihood are most important to you.” (Duh!)

“With confidence, we endorse Joe (Tison) and do ask your support and vote. As career educators, public schools are our 1st priority and primary reason to support Joe.” (And here we thought the family and health were priorities!)

Even superintendents should do their homework. Several items in the letter are blatantly false, such as Rep. King’s support for elimination of the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was a big loss to school districts.*

There was nothing subtle about the letter:

“…we can elect the candidate of our choice…….if we all vote!”

The letter goes on to say “We can win with Joe Tison in the primary and general election if….
1. Every school employee and their family members support and vote for Joe.
2. Every school employee tells other family members & friends why they should support/vote for Joe. Ask each of these to tell three others
3. Some employees participate in a campaign strategy meeting (inform Mr. Trice)
– This is the Superintendent!!!
4. Employees will display a yard sign supporting Joe Tison. You can contact Mr. Trice or Mr. Wilson at 427-8711 for a sign.
5. Go to the polls for early voting. Employees could group together and go vote.”

The letter ends with a basic civics lesson:

“Important to remember:
1. Please vote in the Republican Primary…
2. The candidate receiving the majority of votes wins the primary and their name will be listed on the General Election Ballot in November.
3. Registered voters can vote for any party’s candidate in the General Election.”

“You have our thanks and respect.

John Trice Larry Wilson”
(Letter is signed by each)

Tison was reported early in his campaign as “currently looking for a political consultant. In the meantime, he is relying on the Texas Parent PAC.” We don’t know who is advising him, but clearly no one with any sense is advising the Alvord school officials.

Friends, my bet is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t be any too happy that these school district employees are being encouraged to vote in the Republican primary.

And I anticipate that these school officials broke a myriad of laws.

But it isn’t our job to prosecute them, but to call public attention to their shenanigans and to call for a public outcry against public school officials using their position to influence elections.

UPDATE: A call to Supt Trice at 5:07 pm today went into his voice mail. He was likely out campaigning for Joe Tison.

-- Bahamamamasmama


* Brief on TIF Tax:

 The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was institute in 1995 and is a 1.25% tax on telephones

 The TIF Tax costs Texas consumers $200 million a year

 The TIF Tax was originally slated for repeal after the collection of $1.5 billion—this goal was met sometime ago

 The TIF Tax no longer serves the primary purpose it was intended to—which was to place broadband in schools, libraries and hospitals

Spending Limitation Resolution

This was posted by Marc Levin on Empower Texans blog.

Texas GOP Primary Ballot will include a Spending Limitation ResolutionTexas Republican primary voters will weigh in on a non-binding resolution that asks whether state and local governments should be required to limit annual budget increases to the sum of the population growth and inflation rate. The measure is likely to pass overwhelmingly, just as a similar proposition did several years ago. Hopefully, this time lawmakers will get the message.

http://www.empowertexans.com/node/441

Texas Conservative Conference: Live Blog. Peggy Venable

Peggy Venable, the Texas Director for Americans for Prosperity is now speaking.

Peggy is a leading taxpayer advocate in Texas. She is speaking on the TaxPayers Bill Of Rights (TABOR). Taxpayers need transparency and accountability among our elected officials. Government entities are spending lots of money with no restraint.

County governments are spending money on lobbyists, through the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Municipal League, to lobby the Legislature for additional money. Taxpayer funded lobbyists is a major problem in that the money that is spent on lobbyists is usually going to advocate for additional tax money wasted by our government entities. This is a blatant violation of the Texas local government code. Peggy Venable has sued Williamson County for spending money on the Texas Association of Counties to illegally lobby for additional funding. Peggy Venable won the lawsuit, but Williamson County has not pulled out of the Texas Association of Counties.

We need elected officials to stand up for spending constraints at the state and local government level. Over the past 30 years, local government spending has risen 4 times from what is was in the early 1980's. The debt of local governments has increased 5 times from the early 1980's. The total amount of interest on debt that local government pays statewide, as of 2007, is greater than the amount of money that local governments spend on fire and police departments statewide. More money is spent on interest payments than on the necessary functions of local governments.

The government is run by those who show up. Inform yourselves and get active in lobbying your elected officials for spending restraints, appraisal caps, and transparency in government. Only through a grassroots efforts can we lower spending and limit the growth of government spending.

Government Flight Services - The Only Way to Fly (if you're a state employee)

I was tipped off about something very interesting in the TxDOT budget this morning. Did you know that our state employees can travel by private jets, owned and operated by the Texas Department of Transportation?

I was a tad surprised to learn this, but sure enough, here's all the info on the TxDOT website.
Check out the features of our taxpayer-funded Beechwood King Air 200 (which my pilot friends and limited aviation experience tell me is the Rolls Royce of multi-engine small planes):

• Cruising Speed – 310 mph (Most airports in Texas can be reached in less than one hour.)


• Range – 1,400 miles (Non-stop flights means less time traveling)


• Minimum Runway Length Required – 3,000 feet (This means more than 400 airports are available in Texas to meet your needs as opposed to only 19 accessible commercially.)


• Seating Capacity – Eight to 10 (No key personnel need be left behind)


• All Weather Capabilities (Don't miss those important events)


• Pressurized Cabin (Capable of altitudes in excess of 30,000 feet to fly over most weather)

Well, golly! Must be tough travelling in that sucker. There's more information available on one of the planes the state owns here.

Check out the inside of the 2000 Raytheon B200 (N808WD):

Vote Down the Ballot

Vote Down the Ballot
By Randy A. Samuelson

Early voting for the March primary begins next week in Texas. While many believe the top of the ticket is already decided and is uninspiring towards fiscal conservatives, the Republican base still needs to turn out in support of our down ballot conservatives in contested races.

Because of the low turnout that is expected, many conservative candidates will not fare well in their down ballot elections for County, State Legislative, and Congressional races. This will hurt our chances of holding or gaining conservative representation in the general election even harder.

In 2006, because of the lackluster top of the ticket in the general election, Republicans stayed home statewide. This allowed the Democrats to win back many State House seats and County races in places like Dallas and Tarrant Counties. I call the 2006 election the “Dallas Massacre” as Democrats in Dallas won nearly every down ballot race in the county. This was all due to voter apathy among conservative Republicans.

We conservatives are spending so much time complaining about John McCain that we are forgetting that Bill Zedler, Betty Brown, and Doc Anderson all have primary opponents. If our conservative base does not get out to support these incumbent conservatives, along with others like Bryan Daniel, Mike Pearce, and Randy Dunning, we have nobody to blame but ourselves when the State Legislature increases taxes and spending in 2009.

Remember to vote down the ballot for conservatives down the ballot in the 2008 primary! Voter apathy is the friend of bureaucrats and liberals.

Venable and Captain Ed

Peggy Venable, director of Americans for Prosperity - Texas and a blogger here at Voice of the Taxpayer, is speaking at CPAC in Washington, DC today. This morning she was interviewed by Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters, a great conservative blog.

You can check out what Ed had to say, and a podcast of the interview, here at Captain's Quarters. Peggy and Ed discussed taxpayer-funded lobbying, and a very exciting event happening this July in Austin!

Did anyone else bring jelly beans to the office?

Today is President Ronald Reagan's birthday.

While we continue to argue and discuss which presidential candidate most embodies Reagan's legacy, perhaps it is most fitting to simply stop and contemplate the man himself.

Reagan conservatism may not be over, and his legacy may yet echo through these United States, but constantly bickering and attempting to emulate Reagan instead of learn from him will get us exactly nowhere.

Happy birthday, Mr. President. We miss you.

Where possibility meets opportunity

Conservatives from across the state gathered at last night’s Reagan Conservative Society in Dallas dinner honoring Fred Meyer.

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams wowed the group, and talk show host Mike Gallagher served as emcee for the event.

In presenting a memento to Meyer, Merrie Spaeth provided some personal glimpses of her former boss, Ronald Reagan.

Keynote speaker was former Maryland Lt Gov and current GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele. His message was a clear one: Republicans should unite behind one candidate (likely McCain) and no Ronald Reagan clones were available.

In his remarks, Steele talked about his childhood, growing up in the inner city by his widowed mother who didn’t want government help to create her American dream.

“Where possibility meets opportunity, that’s the American dream,” said Steele.