Here's a headline you don't want to see

'HGAC to discuss bacteria reduction'

Who wants lots of bacteria in their watershed?

Residents who live in the Clear Creek watershed will have an opportunity to review a plan that aims to reduce bacteria in local waterways.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Bacteria Implementation Group developed the Implementation Plan, or I-Plan, which offers activities for municipalities, industry and landowners to prevent water contamination.

Is it nice to know that we have a Bacteria Implementation Group or sad that we have to have one?

Should El Paso go for solar power?

Why is that a question let alone a major battle?

A major fight looms as the City Council prepares to vote Tuesday on whether to support an initiative to finance solar power in El Paso.

The outcome of the fight could determine whether the Sun City generates significant amounts of the renewable energy anytime in the foreseeable future.

Why do republicans want to steal money from retirees?

Pensions are deferred compensation. For any wayward republican who happened to accidentally got this post, let me repeat - pensions are money that has been previously earned by a worker. EARNED!!! To reduce a pension or to take it away entirely is to steal money that a retired person already earned. That's what John Cornyn and his fellow republicans want to do. Meanwhile, Wall Street types skate will ill gotten billions.

Senator John Cornyn asked this month whether Congress should consider establishing a bankruptcy procedure for states.

Why?

Policymakers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

Florence Shapiro has an idea to kill public education immediately

School districts should be allowed to give teachers unpaid furloughs and cut their salaries to help deal with a funding shortfall that one estimate says could cost 100,000 jobs, a leading state senator says. State Senate Education Committee Chairman Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said the layoff projection could be whittled if school districts could take less drastic steps, an area she said loosening state restrictions could help temper the effects of a budget shortfall.

Why would anyone want to become a teacher? Some much grief, so little respect and low pay. Teachers should be among the most respected.

It's Monday TPA blog roundup time!

The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready to retire the phrase "blue norther" for another year as it brings you this week's blog roundup.

Off the Kuff took an early look at fundraising for 2011 city of Houston elections.

The Big Gas Mafia says it's impossible but hydraulic fracturing causes gas to migrate threatening life...AGAIN. TXsharon puts 2 and 2 together at Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

Bay Area Houston has a press release from Rick Perry titled Rick Perry Asks Republican Voters to Quit Their State Jobs.

Texas republican at the forefront to kill Medicare. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is not surprised.

This week at Left of College Station, Teddy calls out Congressman Bill Flores’ health care hypocrisy for voting to repeal health care reform that ensures health care for millions of Americans while voting against repealing his own government health care. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.

The Texas Cloverleaf highlights the TX state house GOP vote against open government.

Ryan at TexasVox asks "Where's the outrage?" from TCEQ approving another polluting power plant despite local opposition, warnings from the EPA, and rulings from two SOAH hearings, this time the ironically named Las Brisas plant in Corpus Christi.

During the voter I.D. legislation fight on the floor of the Texas Senate last week, a new problem emerged on the policy. And it's not what you think this time - potential problems for minorities, or the elderly, or rural Texans, or poor folks. This time, it's a problem with your right to vote. Yes, you. Letters From Texas explains why.

Eye On Williamson, points out that the GOP's proposed budget is asking for huge sacrifices from poor and working Texans, but little or nothing from the wealthy and corporations, the Texas GOP budget proposal is morally bankrupt.

Ever been broken down on the side of the road and everybody in the car is arguing about who's going to get out in the rain and try to fix what's wrong? Well, that's where the state's highway fund is. And our Austin representatives are "ready to have a discussion" about it. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs double-checked, and no, nobody has a roadside assistance plan, either.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw serves up a heaping helpin' of snark, in Governor Rick Perry Urges Republican Voters to Abandon Public Schools. By the reactions she got, she ruffled a few feathers. You go girl!

Neil at Texas Liberal had jury duty in the past week. Neil dressed well for jury duty and feels that you should do the same when you are called. What merits greater respect than our common society?

Texas republican leads effort to kill Medicare

Remember all of those crazed seniors yelling 'hands off my Medicare"? Well, their Tea Party darlings in Congress have their hands all around Medicare's neck.

House Republicans would support a plan to privatize Medicare in their annual budget, a member of the GOP leadership said.

Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the House Republican Conference Chairman and second-ranked GOP member of the budget committee, made the revelation during a panel discussion, according to the National Journal.

Another refinery emission - another small fine

Citgo in Nueces County was 'fined' just over 50 cents a pound.

$8,000, air violation, investigated May 5, for failure to prevent the unauthorized release of almost 15,000 pounds of volatile organic compound emissions when tank 1016 over-filled due to a faulty gauge level reading.

The TCEQ doesn't care about you.

Expect another explosion of elderly and disabled homeless thanks to the repubicans

Thanks Ronnie.

The most dramatic cut in domestic spending during the Reagan years was for low-income housing subsidies. Reagan appointed a housing task force dominated by politically connected developers, landlords and bankers. In 1982 the task force released a report that called for “free and deregulated” markets as an alternative to government assistance – advice Reagan followed. In his first year in office Reagan halved the budget for public housing and Section 8 to about $17.5 billion. And for the next few years he sought to eliminate federal housing assistance to the poor altogether.

In the 1980s the proportion of the eligible poor who received federal housing subsidies declined. In 1970 there were 300,000 more low-cost rental units (6.5 million) than low-income renter households (6.2 million). By 1985 the number of low-cost units had fallen to 5.6 million, and the number of low-income renter households had grown to 8.9 million, a disparity of 3.3 million units.

Another of Reagan’s enduring legacies is the steep increase in the number of homeless people, which by the late 1980s had swollen to 600,000 on any given night – and 1.2 million over the course of a year. Many were Vietnam veterans, children and laid-off workers.

Killing Medicaid means closing hundreds of nursing homes.  Where is your granny going to live?

Hundreds of nursing homes, including dozens in Dallas-Fort Worth, may close if lawmakers cut Medicaid as leaders propose, industry officials said Thursday.

Since last week, GOP leaders have introduced budgets in both chambers that would reduce by one-third the state’s budget for its 56,000 nursing home residents on Medicaid. Two-year spending would sink to $2.8 billion, from $4.2 billion.

The AP says that the Travis DA is still looking into the legislator double dipping

You kind of wonder why the lawmakers don't just get away with it. George Bush can admit ordering water boarding with apparent immunity while the sane world calls that a war crime. George Bush's administration seemingly violated the Hatch Act with - wait for it - impunity too. Why aren't there dozens, if not hundreds, of Wall Street types in jail? In this country it looks for all the world that justice doesn't reach to the rich and powerful.

Prosecutors have already acknowledged a criminal investigation into state Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, but not Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, the only other lawmaker identified by the AP to have possibly double-dipped.

Justice is for the little people.

republicans salivating at chance to kill Medicaid and public education

republicans won't be satisfied until Texas is dead last - in the world. We're already dead last in the US.

Texas must overhaul current laws on Medicaid and public schools to slash spending on health and education and avoid broad tax increases, the Senate’s chief budget writer said Wednesday.

The state also must cut certain medical services now enjoyed by poor adults and hope for help from Washington to eliminate a $6 billion funding gap in Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for the poor, said Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan.

Just let the poor work themselves to death make the rich richer.

There was no doubt that the republican TCEQ would choose cronies over your health

republicans don't even try to hide their disdain for the public anymore.

The two commissioners who voted to approve the [Las Brisas] permit did so despite the fact that this permit has been recommended against twice by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) judges who presided over the contested case hearing and deliberated for months on the specifics.

Again today at the TCEQ hearing both judges recommended against issuance of the permit, and the TCEQ’s own Office of Public Interest Council also recommended denial of the permit.

republicans do not believe in promoting the general welfare. Nope. Only their welfare and the cronies they rode in on.

BP workers dosed with oil and water mixture

This HKOU story sounds like it was written by a BP PR hack.

No one was hurt when several workers were sprayed by a mixture of water and oil Monday morning at BP’s Texas City refinery.

Any residual effects from being coated with oil or breathing it in or swallowing it are to be discounted and ignored.

The El Paso Times has more about the firing of the entire MHMR board

There was just too much backlash after terms of CEO Gary Larcenaire's new MHMR contract were made public. It includes a year's pay if he is fired for insubordination, 18 months pay if he is fired for doing a poor job and $50,000 if he is terminated involuntarily for any reason. His annual pay package is about $200,000

Voter ID is meant to disenfranchise legal voters

Acceptable documents under the bill include a drivers license or personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety, a military identification card, a U.S. citizenship certficate and an unexpired passport. Citing her own experiences when was holding down two jobs, [Texas Senator Wendy] Davis said many low-income Texans do not have the time to leave work and stand in long lines, nor do they have the money to purchase the required documents.

republicans don't want people who hold two jobs to vote. republicans want people who hold two jobs to hold three jobs and then drop dead.  If republicans really cared about valid elections, then electronic voting machines would have a voter verified, independent paper trail.

TCEQ about to do Corpus Christi wrong

Always remember that cronies count for Texas republicans. Your health? They just couldn't give a rat's a**.

But that is a possibility, with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality poised to issue an air permit for the proposed Las Brisas Energy Center, a power plant that would make electricity by burning petroleum coke, a coal-like refinery byproduct.

TCEQ's executive director has recommended approval of the $3.2 billion project today in Austin even after two state administrative law judges concluded that the disputed permit should be denied because the Houston-based developer had failed to properly account for some emissions associated with the plant, among other things. The judges' findings are not binding on the three-member commission, but the project's opponents say the problems in the application are too great to ignore.

I don't get why people who breathe vote for republicans. I don't.

It's blog roundup time!

The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the Packers and the Steelers as it brings you this week's roundup.

WhosPlayin helped organize a cleanup for an historic African American cemetery dating back to about 1845 that had been the target of litterbugs and illegal dumpers. Respect for the dead, and respect for the land are still values that people from left and right can agree on.

Off the Kuff analyzed the initial Republican budget proposal and the utter havoc it would wreak on the state.

TXsharon reported on two important developments on hydraulic fracturing: 1) the EPA is confident gas in Parker County water wells is from Barnett Shale, and 2) the media took a lie about the EPA and regulating diesel fuel and repeated it without fact checking.

At Letters From Texas, Harold points out that Rick Perry keeps calling things "emergencies" that aren't, and continues to ignore emergencies that are.

Capitol Annex takes a look at a study showing that Texas gets an "F" when it comes to reporting outbreaks of food-borne illness and wonders why the media wasn't paying attention last year when candidates were making an issue of food safety in Texas.

There's a muddy, grunting scrum developing among the Republicans coveting the US Senate seat Kay Bailey is vacating, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs posts an update at a safe distance from the bottom of the pile.

Exactly why does Governor Perry want to insist that you can cut spending and maintain services? McBlogger's pretty sure it's a case of cognitive dissonance.

Libby Shaw gets it dead right whem she tells Goodhair to Man Up Governor Perry. Of course he won't. He has already double-downed on completing the demoliiton of Texas public education according to everything coming out about the new state budget.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants to know why Republicans hate people so very much.

TexasVox welcomes guest blogger Jim Hightower as part of a one-two punch on the nuclear waste dump in West Texas: Hightower's Dumping on Texas for Fun and Profit and an expose of Harold Simmons' last minute contributions to Texas politicians in 2010.

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote on the massive budget deficit in Texas. In this fine post, Neil offers up the view that Republican mismanagement of Texas is not the only reason for the shortfall. Neil also cites poor citizenship by the many Texans who don't want to pay taxes in a state with no income tax, but who at the same time kick up a fuss when government services they use are cut.

El Paso wipes out MHMR board

El Paso Mental Health Mental Retardation is likely to get a completely new board March 1.

The county Commissioners Court voted Monday to dissolve the existing, nine-member board of the county's mental health authority and replace it with a seven-member board.

The vote comes amid ongoing controversy over the way MHMR is governed.

Most recently, the board voted last fall to beef up pay by as much as $127,000 to CEO Gary Larcenaire if he is fired or dies. It did so a month after the agency lost almost $2 million from local sources and braced for even deeper cuts from the state.

Larcenaire, meanwhile, is forecasting a loss by June of money to care for mentally ill patients in or near crisis.

republicans in Austin do not care about the consequences of their actions.

Hospitals worry that Medicaid funding isn't nearly enough to cover care

When do we get to the point where republicans just out and out tell the less fortunate to die already?  Are we there now?

Texas hospital administrators aren’t thrilled by the Medicaid rate cuts they’re facing in the House’s proposed 2012-13 budget. But it’s the state’s plan to expand Medicaid managed care that’s keeping their CFOs up at night.

Proposed cuts in the rates health care providers are paid for treating patients covered by Medicaid would cost Texas hospitals a total of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. But that’s nothing, hospital officials say, compared to the expansion of Medicaid managed care — which could wipe out more than $1 billion in federal funds that sustain them each year.

“I would hope,” said Charles Barnett, president and CEO of the Seton Family of Hospitals, “that whatever solution we derive at the state Legislature does not reduce the amount of federal funds that comes into the state to help us provide care.”

Why is the house going slower on the republican voter suppression bill?

We already know that voter id aka voter suppression will pass this time. Why pretend to think about the bill and its consequences? We know that republicans intend to the bill to suppress Democratic voters. Voter suppression is the only consequence the republicans care about.  As for the public?  republicans don't care about people.

While the Texas Senate put voter identification legislation on a fast track Monday, the House overwhelmingly rejected an effort to bypass the normal committee process so a bill could be approved without public testimony.

Keying off Gov. Rick Perry's declaration of the issue as a legislative emergency, the Senate turned itself into a committee of the whole Monday so it could start hearing from the public Tuesday and vote on the bill as soon as testimony ends.

The Texas Senate hates kids, too

Senate GOP leaders on Monday introduced a two-year budget cutting deeply into public schools, college students’ financial aid and health care providers.

In the bill’s fine print were signs of a possible jobs-program tussle between the state’s top two elected leaders.

Despite minor shifts, the Senate’s $158.7 billion, two-year budget closely tracks the approach taken by House Republican leaders last week, closing a vast budget gap with cuts and no use of state rainy-day fund money. Spending of state and federal funds would decrease by $28.8 billion. The House plan reduced that spending by $31.1 billion.

Go after our future by killing public education. I told you republicans do not care about the consequences of their actions. They only see and feel the heat from their narrow minded, hate filled ideology.

The batsh*t crazy republicans don't care about the consequences of their actions

How else can you possibly explain their actions with respect to global warming?

State and local governments, such as that of Farmers Branch, should study the financial costs and strain on community relations when they “experiment” with ordinances that crack down on illegal immigration, according to two reports released Monday.

People blinded by hate don't want to see.

Another casualty of republican stupidity

South Texas College may have to stop providing health insurance for its employees if state lawmakers implement House Bill 1 as it is currently written, says STC President Shirley Reed.

Another alternative to be considered by STC’s board of trustees, Reed told the Guardian, is a big increase in tuition fees. She said the elimination of programs would be the last thing to be cut.

What choices.

How to kill medicaid in Texas

What would you do if your paycheck was cut by 10 percent? That's how much state lawmakers want to reduce Medicaid reimbursement for Texas doctors.

Ten years ago, two-thirds accepted Medicaid to help those who can't afford health insurance. Today, the Texas Medical Association says fewer than half do. Now, if more cuts come, even more doctors may be out.

republicans don't like anyone but themselves.

BP in court over emissions

Irresponsibility abounds as long as the CEOs and the politicians supporting them are rolling in money.

About 20 attorneys crowded a Galveston County courtroom to set rules for a lawsuit filed against BP for a 40-day emissions event last year. The case might be more than a year away from starting, but already the outlines of the arguments to be made by plaintiffs and BP are clear.

Between April 6 and May 16, more than 530,000 pounds of chemicals were released through flares at BP’s Texas City refinery after a subunit on the refinery’s ultracracker shut down. The company did not report on the extent of the release until June.

republican priorities exposed

No to public education. No to health care for children and the poor. Yes to harassing women and Hispanics.

But, here's something really important. Roads for republican SUVs and trucks from Mexico.

In an exclusive interview last week, just after taking the oath of office for a third term as one of the Capitol’s three most powerful chieftains, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he would personally push lawmakers to embrace more revenue, and more highway spending, in the current session.

Who owns our government?

After the votes were tallied and the winners announced in last November's elections, more than $13.4 million poured into the campaign coffers of the 181 winning Texas legislators and the state's top two elected officials.

Even if one subtracts the combined $2.1 million raised by Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, that still means special interests gave members of the Legislature an amount of money equal to the annual income of about 234 Texas families.

"Late-train legislative money almost always is associated with some sort of legislative initiative," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, state director of Public Citizen.

EPA does its job. republicans whine.

Rarely a day goes by that a Republican officeholder in Texas does not lash out against the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing the agency and Armendariz of unfairly targeting the state with new requirements and rules at the expense of jobs and the economy.

Because republicans like their polluting cronies way more than you.

Public schools to close making republicans smile

republicans don't like public education.

Texas public schools are facing what could be $10 billion less in state financing — a stark prospect that could empty school buildings across the state as districts consolidate campuses to reduce costs. One proposal under consideration by the Austin Independent School District, the state’s fourth largest, suggests closing eight elementary schools and one middle school.

Here's another example of petty republican racism

A bill filed at the state Capitol seeks to prevent foreign consular officials from entering public schools or state universities in order to distribute foreign identification cards or accept applications for such cards.

...

“The bottom line is we’re trying to keep foreign consuls from being on our campuses,” said Fletcher, R-Houston. “I don’t like them using our public facilities and our schools to basically access the foreign nationals that are in our country and give them an opportunity to take advantage of our benefits when they’re here illegally.

Who says the kids are "here illegally" or "taking advantage"? These kids ARE IN SCHOOL, you bozo.

Wind power yes, Ugly transmission, NIMBY

To encourage others, the state is moving forward on a contentious project to erect $5 billion worth of transmission wires to connect the turbines to the cities that need power. On Thursday, state regulators met in Austin and approved the route of a controversial line that will run about 140 miles through the Hill Country, one of the state’s most scenic regions.

Construction of the line — a project of the Lower Colorado River Authority that will run from Schleicher County to a substation near Comfort — should start next year. Last year, vigorous opposition by landowners, both wealthy newcomers and old-time families, succeeded in derailing plans for another line that the state had wanted to build through the area. Instead, the existing electric infrastructure will be upgraded to carry a greater load. The Public Utility Commission, which is overseeing the process, has also canceled plans for an additional segment of the Hill Country line discussed at the meeting Thursday.

Why even pretend Voter suppression isn't a done deal for republicans

State leaders put legislation requiring more voter identification in the fast lane Thursday.

Gov. Rick Perry designated the legislation known as voter ID as an emergency item, meaning the Legislature can take it up within the first 60 days of its 140-day session. Hours later, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told state senators that they will consider the bill next week — a highly unusual move less than two weeks into a session.

republicans want to stop legitimate voters from voting.

Texas republicans ensure voter suppression bill passes in the senate

A minority bloc of state senators will keep its voting power under rules approved Wednesday — except when it comes to voting on the controversial voter ID legislation this session.

republicans hate it when Democrats have access to the polls.

Is it more important to stop a potential brown person crossing the border, or to save lives with health care?

republicans choose the idea of stopping brown people. No question. As for education, republicans hate public education. Who cares about making our community a better place in which to live.

But some Republicans fired back over a proposal to shutter entirely four community colleges — which they said was being treated as a done deal, instead of as a mere suggestion. And Democrats sounded off loudly over plans to slash Medicaid reimbursement rates and cut pre-kindergarten programs and financial aid, while border security funding remained largely intact. Meanwhile, the special-interest groups are just getting started.

How do you kill Medicaid without explicitly killing Medicaid?

Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors, nursing homes and other health care providers — already set so low that more than half of Texas doctors are refusing new Medicaid patients — face a 10 percent cut .

Such a reduction, on top of earlier rate trims, would drive Texas doctors out of the Medicaid business entirely, said John Holcomb, a Texas Medical Association doctor and chairman of the association's select committee of Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and the uninsured.

Die, poor people, die.  And, no job for you.

As many as 100,000 school district jobs could be eliminated in the face of a significant reduction of state aid for public schools, said Lynn Moak, a school finance consultant.

Why do Texas republicans want to cut higher education the most

Cause the dumber people are, the more likely they'll fall for the drivel republicans sell. Plus, republicans hate public education.

Here are some numbers that every chancellor of a university system in Texas knows by heart: Out of $1,250,250,767 that Texas cut out of its current, 2010-11 biennial budget, $518,424,781 was drained from higher education. That’s 41.47 percent of the 5 percent total reduction among all state agencies demanded by the state's leadership. Higher ed’s overall share of the state’s budget, meanwhile, is 12.5 percent.

The chancellors are adamant that their institutions not be hit disproportionately in the next round of cuts.

Here's a headline you don't want to see

'U.S. Marshals supervisor sentenced to probation'

Naw. It wasn't corruption by drug lords.

A U.S. Marshals supervisor previously convicted of using tracking devices to keep tabs on his ex-wife was sentenced Tuesday in federal court.

He got probation. I hope his wife gets a restraining order.

Here's a slightly encouraging headline

'Push for coal-fired power plants in Texas fades as natural gas prices drop'

New budget hurts kids and the poor

That isn't any surprise. republicans hate public education and don't mind if other people suffer and die.

Texas would slash support for public schools, cut at least 60,000 college students from financial aid and decrease Medicaid fees by 10 percent to doctors, nursing homes and hospitals under a budget plan that House leaders unveiled late Tuesday.

The $156.4 billion budget for 2012-13 would fill a huge hole by whacking $31.1 billion from current spending of state and federal money — a nearly 17 percent reduction.

No taxes would be increased, as GOP leaders have pledged. Nor would the state tap any of $9.4 billion in the state’s rainy-day fund.

But, glory hallelujah, the rich won't have to pay a penny more in taxes. Meanwhile, Rick Perry threw a $2M party to celebrate his victory. Don't worry. The money all came from cronies who you can bet expect to be paid back by a factor of a gazillion with your tax dollars.  [That $2M is being touted as a cut back from Perry's last inaugural party.  That's the ticket.  Lets emphasize the cut back.  Yeah.  $2M isn't so much.]

UT can consider race in admissions

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cited the Michigan case in affirming a 2009 decision by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin to uphold UT's admissions policy, which was challenged by two white students who were denied acceptance. The 5th Circuit judges, based in New Orleans, unanimously agreed with Sparks that the policy avoids quotas, is narrowly tailored and otherwise meets standards set by the high court in the Michigan case.

El Paso still fighting for domestic partner benefits

El Paso City Council will decide on Tuesday whether to bring the issue of domestic benefits back to the voters - this time with a non-discrimination clause in the city charter written by a city attorney.

The move is meant to trump November's voter-approved citizens referendum that stripped away the health insurance of gay and unmarried partners of city employees. That ordinance was written and brought to the voters by local religious group, El Paso for Traditional Family Values, in response to City Council's decision in the fall of 2009 to provide health insurance for domestic partners.

This headline says it all

'Donors, corporate interests footing bill for Rick Perry's inauguration'

How much is that doggie in the window? The one with the waggly tail.

It's official. Dick Cheney does not have a heart.

Wouldn't it be the pits to die and be an organ donor for the Dick?

Here's a funny headline

'Dogs on walking trail create concerns'

Concerns? Is that what they're calling it now?

Daddy Bush likes Roger Williams for Kay Bailey's seat

Yawn.

El Paso to get $11M for health care

Nearly $11 million flowing into El Paso to support community clinics as a part of health care reform will have some long-lasting positive effects, clinic officials said. It will be a drop in the bucket, however, toward providing comprehensive medical care for the region's poor.

As a growing number of poor and low-income people obtain health insurance under an expanded Medicaid program or with government subsidies, it is the community health care clinics that are expected to see the largest increase in patients.

El Paso will see an estimated 169,000 newly insured, said Rene Navarro, who runs Centro San Vicente's Alameda clinic.

republicans just hate that. The first thing they want to do in Congress is repeal so that 169,000 do without.

Texas republicans happy as clams about our budget shortfall

republicans are always looking for ways to dismantle our government.

How bad is the budget crisis in Texas? Ask the Republicans who run the state, and they'll tell you it's in the eye of the beholder.

The way they see it, the $8 billion drop in state revenue can be offset with some belt-tightening. The $7 billion loss in federal stimulus funding? Well, that was expected. And as for the roughly $12 billion more that state agencies say they need to avoid cutting services - Republicans say they just won't get it.

Voila, the $27 billion shortfall is gone.

Here's a headline you don't want to see

'Arsenic levels in rural community exceed federal limits'

Not to worry. Texas is a free market state where somebody in another country gets to decide what level of pollution they'd like to leave you with.

Some residents in the northwestern reaches of Nueces County are paying for well water that contains levels of arsenic above what the federal government says is safe to drink.

...

Clusters of counties in the Rio Grande Valley, Gulf Coast and West Texas have water systems out of compliance, according to information from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

If you're called up for jury, everyone will be Googling and checking your Facebook page

The [Cameron County] district attorney’s office plans to use prospective jurors’ Facebook profiles and postings when considering whether an individual is qualified to sit on a jury.

Psst. Cameron County, religion is not one of the questions you're required to ask on the juror form. Cut it out.

Texas House republican proposes an insurance exchange

Isn't this part of the health care bill demonized by the republicans? Hypocrisy and lack of shame are hallmarks of the republican

.Rep. John Zerwas, R-Katy, filed a bill last week that would create the Texas Health Insurance Connector, a state-run exchange that would make it easy for individuals, small businesses and others to select their own policies. It would also serve as a clearinghouse for those who qualify for Medicaid.

"The exchange would provide an environment where people could determine their needs and be matched up with a health plan," Zerwas said. "That's why it's called the Connector. It connects health plans to meet people's needs."

Mike Villarreal stands up for civil rights

Texas employers would no longer be able to discriminate against employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a bill filed by state Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio). No federal law is in place to protect gay and transgender employees, though as of July 2009, 21 states have nondiscrimination laws, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

“In effect any employer in Texas who learns about an employee’s sexual orientation can basically say, ‘Pack your bags. You’re out of here.’ Just on that fact. And there’s no recourse for that employee,” said former state legislator and gay rights activist Glen Maxey.

Too bad the hate-filled batsh*t crazy crowd is in charge of the Texas legislature.

It's Monday TPA blog roundup time!

The Texas Progressive Alliance celebrates the MLK Day holiday as it brings you this week's blog roundup.

Off the Kuff wrote about Governor Perry's sanctuary scam and what it says about his priorities.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes that Perry and his merry band of republicans play to the Tea Party/corporate polluters while the EPA starts doing its job.

Lightseeker over at TexasKaos offers some ideas on how you can become a civility warrior, starting today. Hint: think leading with good values and standing up for what you want among your friends and colleagues. Check out: ow to inject civility when Uncle Joe Starts channeling Glen Beck.

This week, McBlogger takes a look at No Labels.

Letters From Texas published a powerful guest editorial from Jeff Rotkoff, on the issue of tea partiers' claims that America is a tyrant state.

Bay Area Houston has a Perfect Picture of Palin, but not for children.

At Capitol Annex, Vince takes a look at the potential contenders for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat now that her retirement has thrown the doors wide open for the 2012 primary.

After a two-part investigation last year on one town's air quality problems WhosPlayin was happy to report that the Town of Flower Mound is increasing the scope and frequency of its air quality monitoring program as complaints continue by neighbors of natural gas facilities. A Lewisville neighborhood group facing gas well development in residential neighborhoods quickly followed suit, announcing increased testing and testing for sulfur compounds.

On the scene for the 82nd legislative session's opening day, PDiddie managed to defy the Capitol's tech support department with laptop connectivity issues, and then quickly ran his Android's battery down Tweeting. Still, he managed a Brains and Eggs post about the day 24 hours after the fact.

TXsharon catches the Big Gas Mafia telling the truth. Gas does migrate up from the formation and it does so in a big way. Read about it on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

After reading a Texas Tea party blogger who had just attended a Tea Party meeting, Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about the Tea Party vision of America. Will English-only require a federal language bereaucracy? Will deportation of all undocumented person mean government raids in our homes? Does the Ten Commandments posted every public building mean that Christianity can't thrive without government support? Will repeal of Healthcare Reform allow insurance companies to once again cancel policies of people who get sick?

TexasVox reviews the showdown over greenhouse gas permits at an EPA public meeting in Dallas on Friday where over 100 local residents showed up to support the EPA and the Clean Air Act, demanding action on climate change because Rick Perry and TCEQ refuse to follow federal law.

George at The Texas Blue had been taking some time off post-election... but the reaction to events in Arizona finally pissed him off enough to write. (And just in time for the new legislative session!)

republicans reaping what they sow

Who are the chicken hawks?

Executive security in Texas is not just gubernatorial anymore and has been expanded to include the state's three other top officials after "credible threats" were documented.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst confirmed Thursday that he had been provided state bodyguards on an as-needed basis starting last month, as have House Speaker Joe Straus and Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Guess what happens when you let crazy people have guns.

The EPA doesn't care for the Dallas Fort Worth air quality

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has long been among the most traffic-congested metro areas in America, and come Tuesday it will be recognized by the federal government as having some of the most polluted air as well.

Gays and others still have their health benefits in El Paso

The gay bashers have lost a round in court.  For now.

A federal judge has ordered the city to preserve health benefits for gay and unmarried partners of city employees -- and about 200 others -- until a lawsuit is decided.

Texas papers in a tizzy over Kay Bailey Hutchison

Kay Bailey is smart enough to read the Texas tea leaves. The only question is who will play the part of Sharron Angle in 2012? The Texas Tribune handicaps the race. The Dallas Morning News likes David Dewhurst or Roger Williams.  The Austin American Statesman adds more candidates to the mix as does the Houston Chronicle.

I'm going with whoever seems the craziest.

More drama in La Marque - fire chief resigns

Fire Chief Todd Zacherl resigned Tuesday a day after City Manager Eric Gage suspended him with pay because of a "lack of confidence" in the chief’s leadership. Gage also reversed Zacherl’s decision to fire two paramedics last week and put the two men back on the job.

...


His resignation follows the public revelation last week that a five-month-long investigation because of allegations of sexual and racial harassment found his department was a hostile work environment for some members of the department, in particular paramedics.

CREW files ethics complaint over Pete Sessions drive by oath of office

Pete Sessions, like all republicans, talks the talk about our constitution, but when it comes to walking the walk?  Not so much.

A nonpartisan watchdog group filed an ethics complaint Wednesday against U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas and a Pennsylvania lawmaker, stemming from an unprecedented incident last week when the duo missed the House oath-taking ceremony to attend an event with political supporters.

Pete Sessions was just showing us what he values most - raising money from special interests.

Is big business saying yes to EPA in Texas?

Perry is still running as a Tea Party a**hole for president.

The politics and rhetoric of the Environmental Protection Agency's multi-front battle with Texas make for a grand spectacle. The EPA insists that Texas' environmental-permitting systems for air quality are too lax and must change — prompting state officials, from the governor on down, to denounce heavy-handed federal interference. Federal courts are considering a dozen lawsuits brought by Texas against the EPA.

Behind the scenes, however, there are signs that industry is trying to move past the stalemate. Big plants, unable to tolerate permitting limbo at the risk of some of their operations getting shut down, have been talking urgently with federal regulators about their permitting standards — and preparing to revamp their own systems in accordance with the EPA's demands. The EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have also held meetings, out of the spotlight, to discuss a way forward, although the TCEQ says that the differences remain stark.

Meanwhile the courts side with the EPA.  Perry's posturing is bad for business, good for catering to the batsh*t crazy crowd.

La Marque residents have had it with the mayor

When Geraldine Sam was elected mayor two years ago, she got 355 votes in a three-way race. On Tuesday, residents looking to oust Sam from office delivered 52 petitions with 1,019 signatures calling for a recall of the mayor.

The group, led by La Marque residents Diane Gerami and Maggie Manuel, needs 490 signatures from registered La Marque voters to force a recall election.

See previous posts on La Marque city council dysfunction.

Straus re-elected speaker

But, what about the Tea Party? Too bad about them.

Straus, a San Antonio Republican who became speaker in 2009, was elected to a second term by a 132-15 vote after his two challengers, Reps. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, and Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, dropped out.

What David Sirota said

- If after a calculated political assassination attempt we cannot talk about the downsides of a right-wing media that effectively endorses political violence, when can we talk about this subject? Or should we never talk about this problem?

- Aren't calculated political assassination attempts by definition "political?" If so, then how can anyone argue that anyone is trying to "politicize" the Tucson shooting?

Sadie Baker has a name for what the right wing is and does.

Stochastic terrorism is the use of mass communications to stir up random lone wolves to carry out violent or terrorist acts that are statistically predictable but individually unpredictable.

This is what occurs when Bin Laden releases a video that stirs random extremists halfway around the globe to commit a bombing or shooting.

This is also the term for what Beck, O'Reilly, Hannity, and others do. And this is what led directly and predictably to a number of cases of ideologically-motivated murder similar to the Tucson shootings.

Mission police chief gave away items seized

Hidalgo County’s top law enforcement officials have criticized Mission’s police chief, saying he used “poor judgment” when he improperly gave away TVs and other items seized during a criminal investigation.

Chief Leo Longoria allowed the items, worth several thousand dollars, to be used as door prizes during police department and city Christmas parties. State law requires such property to be donated or sold, and the money deposited in city coffers.

Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra called the decision “a mistake” and Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Longoria had “poor judgment.”

TCEQ to rule on Las Brisas permit

Will the TCEQ promote the general welfare and do the people's work? Just kidding. This is the crony-run republican owned TCEQ we're talking about.

Las Brisas Energy Center’s air permit has been placed on environmental commissioners’ Jan. 26 agenda.

Harlingen city manager forces police chief out the door

City Manager Carlos Yerena confirmed Monday he had forced Harlingen Police Chief Danny Castillo from the post he has held for more than a decade.

Yerena first said he had “removed” the chief, then hours later, said Castillo had submitted his resignation to the city.

New El Paso court focused on preventing domestic violence

"The court will provide a one-stop venue for all issues involving the family during the duration of the protective order, including child support, custody of children and visitation issues," a written statement by Gutierrez, who will supervise the new court, said.

State law requires courts to hear protective orders within 14 days of when they are requested. But County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal said they need to be heard faster than that.

Houston advocate understands the need for pollution control

Commissioner Steve Radack is proposing a new pollution control department at today’s Commissioners Court meeting because he believes the Harris County Department of Public Health and Environmental Services does not pursue polluters aggressively enough.

“We have people out there violating the law and they’re polluting,” Radack said. “They’ve been getting away with it for a long, long time while it’s been under the health department, and it’s time to change that.”

Last March, Commissioners Court approved a recommendation to study how to strengthen pollution control, but no report has been issued. Radack said he has waited long enough

.

Texas loves their oil and gas cronies. You? Not so much.

When republicans see promote the general welfare they see 'promote my own interests'.

Seven years ago, a group of Eastern and Western states sued the federal government to require the regulation of greenhouse gases. The resulting Supreme Court decision paved the way for the first limits on carbon-dioxide emissions that took effect this month.

Now a smaller gang of Southern states, with Texas leading the pack, is aggressively challenging those rules. Joining forces with oil and mining companies that are subject to the rules, the states have sued the Environmental Protection Agency over every step of its rulemaking process, including the critical "endangerment finding" that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare.

Who cares about your health or the health of your babies, when crony profits are at stake.

republicans exhibit sanity in speaker's race

How can that be? republicans picked Joe Straus by a wide margin to continue as speaker of the Texas house. Middle finger to the Tea Party.

The Texas House Republican Caucus on Monday overwhelming endorsed incumbent Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, for another term despite loud protests from tea party groups that insisted on a more conservative leader.

Straus received 70 votes from 100 members attending a caucus meeting. The vote is nonbinding but virtually guarantees Straus' re-election today, when the Legislature opens a new session.

Tom DeLay sentenced to prison

Let's hope he gets to go.

Judge Pat Priest sentenced Tom DeLay to three years in prison.

right wing rhetoric kills real people

Many republicans on the ballot for the US Congress in 2010 espoused 'second amendment remedies'. Right wing rhetoric from the media and elected republican officials is full of images of violence. Since the republicans went for a white racist strategy, we've had nothing but one hate filled wedge issue after another from them. Each one nastier, more obvious and vicious than before.

It's no wonder that doctors who perform abortions are murdered. Now the rhetoric has targeted anyone who is not a Tea Party favorite. Expect more.

The motive of the man suspected of being Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' shooter was still unclear Saturday, but authorities believed they had identified some of his rambling, anti-government writings on the Internet. Several Texas members of Congress said they had worried that widespread anger with Washington could spill into violence.

Check out the following.

2/3 of Texans say no to a Perry presidency

Perry only got 39% of the vote the election before this last run for governor. I don't think Texans are that hot for him in any office.

Although Perry, a Republican , has emerged as a tea party favorite and national voice on states rights, nearly two-thirds of Texas voters oppose a bid for the White House.

"It's not necessarily a vote of no confidence," said pollster Mickey Blum. Democrats in the statewide survey overwhelmingly don't want him to run, and many Republicans don't, either.

Over a third of Hidalgo students live in poverty

With republicans throttling the middle class, life will not get any easier.

To little surprise, the proportion of impoverished youth in the county stands well above the national rate: more than 35 percent of the county’s 5- to 17-year-olds belong to families in poverty, compared to 18.2 percent in the United States.

But the Census Bureau’s latest Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates show child poverty increases from 2008 to 2009 outpaced general population growth in local districts, especially in Sharyland, an area known for its affluent residents.

republicans in Texas legislature hate democracy

How do I know? Because they just want the republican caucus to elect the next speaker of the house. Such a vote marginalizes republicans who would vote for Joe Straus and eliminates any vote from a Democrat. Such a vote allows a non-majority of the house to select the next speaker.

It (finally) comes to this: The House Republican Caucus will meet today to express its preference in a race for speaker of the House that has three candidates: the incumbent, Joe Straus of San Antonio, and challengers Warren Chisum of Pampa and Ken Paxton of McKinney.

...

The House GOP Caucus will meet early this afternoon to talk about their favorites in the race. If they get a quorum — that's 51 of their 101 incoming members — they can have a vote to decide whether they want to choose a caucus favorite. If that passes — it requires two-thirds of those present, or a quorum, whichever is greater — they can then select their top candidate. That vote isn't binding, though, meaning everyone could come out for Candidate A in the caucus and then vote for Candidate B when the matter comes before the full House tomorrow.

It's Monday TPA blog roundup time!

The Texas Progressive Alliance is keeping all of the victims of the Arizona shooting in its thoughts as it brings you this week's roundup.

Refinish69 at Doing My Part for the Left has misgivings about the border patrol shooting teenagers because they are throwing rocks. The hate mongering expressed in the Immigration bills for the 82nd Texas Legislature will only add fuel to the fire.

Off the Kuff writes about the upcoming legislative battle over class size limits.

Bay Area Houston gives the bird back to the Harris County GOP. (With video.)

Hydraulic fracturing brings PEAK WATER to the Eagle Ford Shale as residents find their water tables dropping. A resident found Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS and contacted TXsharon about their flammable water.

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy covers Texas Congressional District 17’s new Republican congressman Bill Flores' first days on the job in Congress. Also, as the 82nd Texas Legislature prepares to gavel into session facing a possible $25 billion budget shortfall, Teddy asks what’s the matter with Texas?

BossKitty at TruthHugger is watching, with amazement, current events unfolding after the Arizona Tragedy. The venom being spewed by extreme groups toward the victims and praise for the shooter is absolutely incredible. BossKitty tries to unravel the reasons these events are now mainstream in this country. Wounded America On Life Support – Op Ed.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees the republican priority - cronies, cronies, cronies.

nytexan at BlueBloggin looks at who we have become Arizona Shooting, Political Discord and Americans Disrespect. American should be ashamed of what we have become, gun toting, hate mongering Neanderthals. We are continually pointing fingers at each other, continually shouting, continually spewing incorrect information, continually exhibiting disrespect. This has now become a national pastime.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted the fourth annual version of his Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List. It is the best such reference on the web.

Texas is not like Arizona, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observes. In Texas we don't arrest people for looking "illegal", or let Medicaid patients die because the governor doesn't want to pay the bill, or shoot Congresswomen in front of supermarkets. Yet.

WhosPlayin is disgusted by a City Council that refused to table a vote on 12 gas wells and a wastewater facility when the operator submitted a weaselly P.R. document instead of a real emissions reduction plan. It's time to replace some councilmen, because one is an illiterate fool, and the other is unethical enough to push an ordinance backed by his employer.

After the Texas Eagle Forum weighed in on the House Speaker's race, Letters From Texas weighed in on the shenanigans of the Texas Eagle Forum.

Over at TexasKaos, libbyshaw, has a reality pill for Rick Perry and his minions. Check out The Great Texas Failure: A Smoke and Mirrors Economy.

TexasVox has a complete rundown of last week's vote to allow the nation's radioactive waste to come to Texas. Long story short? We got screwed.

Perry's commission to hear more on Willingham arson case

The Perry Cover up Commission aka the Texas Forensic Science Commission will go through the motions of hearing about the Willingham case.

The Texas Forensic Science Commission will hear from arson experts for the first time Friday about the investigation that helped send a Corsicana man to his execution, continuing its already two-year review of the case.

There is no justice in Texas.

right wingers try new tactic to unseat Straus - ethics charges

A citizens group aligned with other conservative organizations in an effort to oust House Speaker Joe Straus has filed ethics complaints alleging the San Antonio Republican has unlawfully accepted corporate contributions and failed to disclose required details in campaign finance reports.

We won't have Mike Geeslin to kick around anymore

I wonder what fresh hell Rick Perry has in mind for us?

The state insurance commissioner, who has held the job for 51/2 years, said Wednesday that he won't seek to renew his term after it expires Feb. 1.

Commissioner Mike Geeslin , 41, said in a letter to Gov. Rick Perry that his decision was based on many considerations, but mostly it had to do with his family and a "simple realization that it is time for someone else to lead."

We all know to expect someone who will cater to Perry's cronies and care not a whit about promoting the general welfare.

Penny stupid and pound insane

In what universe is needle exchange a bad idea? The universe of the uptight, incredibly perverse and deliberately ignorant mind of the republican.

Public health officials have been trying for years to get dirty syringes and the diseases they spread off Texas streets with needle exchange programs that allow IV drug users to get clean ones — and always they've come up short. Given November's election results, they fear 2011 may be no different.

What would Jesus do, indeed.

Bob Perry likes Joe Straus

Straus has raised $117,500 in his campaign for speaker, including $15,000 from H-E-B CEO Charles Butt, $10,000 from San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, $10,000 from Houston Texans owner Bob McNair and $10,000 from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry (no relation to Gov. Rick Perry).

Think Aaron Peña is an a**hole? Donate to Keep Hidalgo Blue.

The Hidalgo County Democratic Party formed two fundraising arms this week to begin efforts to unseat state Rep. Aaron Peña following his switch to the Republican Party.

The two political action committees will give Hidalgo County Democrats upset over Peña’s party reversal a way to raise money in support of his Democratic opponent chosen in the March 2012 primary, said Hidalgo County Democratic Party chairwoman Dolly Elizondo-Garcia, who serves as the treasurer for the newly-formed PACs — the first official response from the county’s party to Peña.

Keeping Hidalgo Blue, a general purpose PAC, will raise money to ensure Hidalgo County remains a Democratic Party stronghold without Republicans in elected office, Elizondo-Garcia said. The Committee to Defeat Aaron Peña, a specific purpose PAC, will raise funds directly for the Democratic candidate selected by voters to oppose Peña in the November 2012 general election.

When I find a link I will post it.

New wave of Valley immigrants are wealthy Mexicans

The drug war in Mexico could be economically beneficial to Hidalgo County as more and more elite Mexicans look to foreign investment as a way to escape the violence, said Keith Patridge, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

Wealthy Mexicans have been targeted by criminals because of their assets, Patridge said, and no longer feel safe in their country. Many are looking to relocate and invest north of the Rio Grande.

Like everything else in our country, the wealthy have different rules.

Investor visas are increasingly of interest to the affluent fleeing the country, because it bypasses the immigration backlog as 10,000 visas are set aside for investors.

Anti-abortion leader says conservative republicans sabotaged sonogram bill last session

Very believable. For republicans are all about being selfish.

[President of the Texans for Life Coalition, Kyleen] Wright said Straus has promised that a bill requiring sonograms before abortions will get a hearing on the House floor.

A similar bill failed last season -- undermined intentionally, Wright said, by old-guard conservatives so they could later blame the failure on Straus

"The bill was sabotaged by the same people who have been saying for years that they're all about saving babies," she said, repeating the same analysis she delivered at Republican clubs after the session.

Coverup of minor accident costs McAllen fire lieutenant his job

A cover-up conspiracy within the fire department here, launched on Halloween night after a fire engine backed into a mailbox, cost a fire lieutenant his job last week, The Monitor has learned.

Fire Chief Rogelio Rubio axed Lt. Marcos Reyes on Thursday, after an internal investigation concluded that Reyes tried to cover up the minor traffic accident that damaged a department vehicle. The engine’s acting driver, Venancio Valenzuela, and a firefighter onboard at the time, Robert Vargas, remain under investigation.

republicans in Texas implementing their version of a 'death panel'

Only the rich will be able to access health care.

When the rehabilitation benefit from [Chris Giles'] health insurance ran out in October, his family hoped he could get into a state program that would help him with intensive therapies. He made it to No. 3 on the waiting list .

But state budget cuts mean that the program is no longer an option for him, at least during the budget year that will end Aug. 31, and possibly beyond that. His case illustrates the kinds of decisions lawmakers will grapple with over the next five months as they seek to close a projected $24 billion revenue shortfall for 2012-13 without increasing taxes. Programs such as Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services are especially vulnerable because they're expensive.

For Giles, 29, the cuts mean he lives in a North Austin nursing home near his brother's house, surrounded by people decades older than he is. He hasn't had therapy since mid-October . His parents, who live in Huntsville, Ala., have been spending most of their time in Austin at the nursing home.

Die, sick poor people, die.

Bexar Democratic chair is an a**

My good Democratic friends in San Antonio nearly lost their breakfast reading this puff piece on Dan Ramos that still manages to slam the Democratic party in general.

Get ready for more toll roads, because private companies don't own enough of our precious infrastructure yet

Since then, the privatization of toll roads, long a centerpiece of Gov. Rick Perry's ambitious and controversial transportation agenda, has been on hold in Texas, even as some grandfathered projects like Dallas' LBJ Freeway and the North Tarrant Express continued.

Now the issue is set to be debated again as lawmakers return to Austin, ready to confront rising construction needs even as they grapple with commitments to keep taxes low and a frighteningly large budget shortfall.

Immediately after the last session adjourned, Perry's chief transportation aide promised a hard push to restore the authority to enter into so-called comprehensive development agreements in 2011.

Corporations want to control all of your vital service needs. Get ready for Medieval times.

Texas, get ready for the nuclear waste from all over the US

A commission overseeing the importation of radioactive waste is likely to make a decision today on whether Texas can accept radioactive waste from three dozen states after a federal judge on Monday lifted a restraining order that prevented a commission from voting on the matter.

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, siding with attorneys for the state and the company that wants to dispose of the waste, dismissed a temporary restraining order barring the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission from deciding the matter.

Will it be easier to see your kids at night, if they glow in the dark? Just looking at the bright side.

republicans at state level want to broker crony tax deals with corporations

Cause republicans are all about the crony capitalism. Why should school districts decide their own tax fate, when their are cronies to be made at the state level?

The Texas comptroller, not local school districts, should be in charge of negotiating school property tax breaks to businesses to attract large-scale investments such as manufacturing plants or wind farms, a new report by the Legislative Budget Board recommends.

The recommendation, if adopted by the Legislature, would end the decade-long practice of businesses negotiating tax breaks with school districts, not the state.

republicans are all about promoting corporate welfare not the general welfare.

Hidalgo County judges fears census bureau will short change the county

Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia says he will recommend that Hidalgo Commissioner’s Court take legal action if the U.S. Census Bureau puts the county’s population at no more than 750,000.

Garcia believes the Hidalgo County population to be well over one million. The Census Bureau is expected to announce the population data for every county in the country sometime in February.

“I am hearing that the population will be around 750,000. That is just not right,” Garcia said, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian outside Edinburg City Hall on Saturday, soon after being sworn into office.

republicans put guy who hates Dreams in charge of immigration

republicans are the party of racists.  No doubt.

In the waning days of the lame duck Congress, when Democrats clamored for a citizenship bill for young, illegal immigrants who want to go to college or join the military, Texas Rep. Lamar Smith led conservative opposition and called the DREAM Act an "American nightmare."

The charge inflamed the left and brought harsh criticism of the San Antonio Republican, who said his remarks were born of conviction.

"As far as I am concerned, I am acting on the best interest of Americans," Smith said unapologetically. "Because we disagree, I'm sure my name is taken in vain sometimes."

And, by 'Americans' I'm sure he means rich white people.

Here's a headline you don't want to see

'Need for domestic violence emergency services increases'

A new study shows that for the third straight year, domestic violence programs in the Rio Grande Valley and across Texas have seen an increase in families who need emergency services.

A bad economy keeps people out of work and very unhappy. Why beat up your loved ones?

Here's a headline I've waited to see

'Can Blue Dog Democrats survive the 112th Congress?'

Please, please let the answer be no. We already have enough real republicans in Congress doing the corporations work.

U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre represent a breed of Democrat that got hurt badly in the November election. Conservative Southerners fell in droves, with the Blue Dog Caucus losing half its members.

Kissell, Shuler and McIntyre squeaked through, but the coming changes in both population patterns and re-districting by state legislatures with new Republican majorities mean they, and others like them, will likely have to fight harder than ever to keep their seats two years from now.

It's a scenario playing out across the South. U.S. Census numbers released in late December show that red states gained more congressional seats, and Republicans are expecting more clout in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Why does the press assume that the people moving to red states are republicans? Sure, the babies born to Hispanics will be represented by others until they are old enough to vote.  Still, how can the press be so sure that the new voting demographic will be solidly republican?

It's Monday TPA blog roundup time!

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a happy and prosperous New Year as it brings you the first blog roundup of 2011.

Off the Kuff took another look at the coming fight over class size limits.

Who decides who suffers in the Barnett Shale? TXsharon ponders this question at Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS. Unless you are a decider, you will eventually suffer.

With "Death Panels" being resurrected in 2011, Bay Area Houston has posted An Idiots Guide to Surviving Obama's Death Panels".

Reverend Manny at BlueBloggin takes an in depth look at Bankster Privilege and the Threat of Right Wing Terrorism in 2011-2012. Since the Bush Cabal was thrown out after 25 years of bankster profiteering and warmongering, and the centrist Obama put in his place to preside over a bankster-collapsed economy, there has been over a 250% increase in bankster-sponsored racist and/or separatist right wing groups that openly brandish their capability and willingness for violence. There is a convenience of more than just happenstance for the large corporations that dominate our society. For every “tea party” stance they support, for example, smaller school budgets, there is a huge profit margin for the large corporations. Those same corporations fund most of the paranoid right-wing politicians, who in turn cater to both their violent racist base AND to their banker sponsors.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes that the republicans will use any excuse to kill public education in Texas.

An update on the Keystone XL pipeline, the proposed nuclear waste dump in west Texas, and the prospects for DREAM in the next Congress are all part of this aggre-post by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

Neil at Texas Liberal marked the 165th anniversary of Texas statehood. This post includes links to a number of good reference sources so we may learn more about our state. Also included in this post is a picture of President Obama meant to indicate that Texas is just one state of 50 in our federal union. Let's all get it through our heads---The federal government in Washington is the supreme governmental authority of the the land.