Let the Perry propaganda begin

Rick Perry followed George Bush as governor. Everybody hates George Bush. Rick Perry wants to follow George Bush and be President. Would anyone want another Texas republican as president? What to do? What to do? Plant stories that Bush and Perry didn't get along. Yup, that's the ticket.

Barck Obama say F* Y* to Texas Democrats

President Barack Obama snubbed Texas Democrats on Tuesday and nominated Republican picks for leaders of all four U.S. Attorneys’ offices in Texas.

Obama tapped John Malcom Bales for the Eastern District of Texas, Kenneth Magidson for Southern District of Texas, Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas and Sarah Saldana for the Northern District of Texas. Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison recommended the nominees to Obama in October 2009.

John Crisp explains the biblical basis for Perry's call to prayer

Crisp says Rick Perry cited the Old Testament prophet, Joel, for his call to prayer at Reliant Stadium.

In short, Joel’s message is about turning to the Lord in times of trouble, but it’s also about chosen people and their enemies, insiders and outsiders, those favored by the Lord and those laid waste by His wrath. Thus it’s an apt inspiration for Perry’s “Response,” which claims to be nondenominational, but which adopts a “statement of faith” whose seven principles describe a particular brand of Christianity that includes a “resurrection of damnation” for the lost.

Just to be clear: According to this way of thinking, if you are Jewish, Hindu, and certainly Muslim, if you are homosexual, if you drink or gamble too much, if you take the Lord’s name in vain, if in fact you do not subscribe to a fairly narrow definition of Christianity that may or may not include Catholics, then you, my friend, are going to Hell.

So I hope the other governors will stay home on Aug. 6 and that good Christians will consider the advice of Jesus, who told his followers not to be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly in synagogues and on street corners where people can see them.

Nueces County commissioners keep old set back rule

Nueces County commissioners approved a draft of an erosion response plan that includes a long-standing 350-foot beach development rule.

The plan now will be sent to the Texas General Land Office for review. After that process, which could take a few months, public input will be sought before a final plan is approved. The 4-0 vote was taken during the absence of Commissioner Joe A. Gonzalez, who had to leave early.

Here's a top statistic Nueces County won't like

Trash, motor oil, pet waste — it all washes up onto local beaches along the bay.

In fact, Nueces County's bay beaches saw 50 percent of the states' closures and health advisories last year, according to an annual beach water quality report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Those closures and advisories occur when pollutants and bacteria levels exceed state health standards.

When you live at the coastal bend, the currents aren't your friend.

Brown Coffee Company wakes up and smells the backlash after homophobic tweet

Apparently, the owner of this San Antonio business, tweeted his bias just after New York legalized gay marriage. Owner, Aaron Blanco, followed his ugly tweet with a denial that would shame a four-old caught with his hand in a cookie jar. I won't be buying Brown Company coffee.

New TWIA bill takes away citizens right to sue and defunds a Democratic donor base

No attempts to address solvency issues of the fund. Texas republicans, like all republicans, are all about their corporate cronies. Promote the general welfare? Not on your life.

Susan Combs won't deign to testify on her security breach

Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs was ordered to participate in a three-hour deposition in the aftermath of the largest privacy breach by a state agency in Texas history.

Allen Spelce, a communications official in Combs' office, said in an email the Attorney General will be representing the state in legal action and will appeal the court's ruling on a deposition.

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

'DA takes boxes from Bayou Vista's city hall'

Investigators with the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office showed up at Bayou Vista’s city hall Tuesday morning and left with boxes of files from the police department as an investigation into the use of city credit cards entered a new phase.

Last week, police Chief Ed Lucas was suspended with pay when Mayor Bobby Rosenquist found that the police department was charging diesel fuel prices on a city credit card, even though the department does not have a diesel vehicle.

Windstorm inpector wasn't an engineer

More than 400 property owners whose windstorm inspections were fraudulently issued more than three years ago will get that news in a letter sent out Tuesday by Corpus Christi Police Chief Troy Riggs.

The windstorm insurance on those properties will stay valid unless the Texas Department of Insurance removes the certification, according to a statement from John Polak, interim general manager of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

The inspections, conducted before 2008, were issued by Gary Garza. He also operated under the business name of Geotech Engineering, which is similar to a legitimate engineering firm’s name.

Well, isn't that just great.

You knew that the Koch brothers were among Rick Perry's puppet masters

Two prominent Republican governors – Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Rick Perry of Texas – mingled with other GOP notables and some of the wealthiest conservative donors in the country at the annual summer retreat organized by the Koch brothers that began Sunday near Vail, Colo.

Hispanics notice when they are being bashed

Rick Perry, in his quest for the batsh*t crazy vote, went after Hispanics until his crony puppet master, Bob Perry, stopped the the Sanctuary City portion.

Led by the legislative actions of Arizona state officials, Gov. Rick Perry has taken the lead in enacting similar imprudent laws here in Texas.

Specifically, he and the Texas legislature are pushing bills that are negatively aimed at Hispanic citizens. Three dubious bills are as follows: (l) Voter ID Bill, (the 21st Century equivalent to the Poll Tax); (2) Redistricting Bill, (an old trick to gerrymander voting districts to diminish the Hispanic vote); and (3) Sanctuary Cities Bill, (an offensive mandate to intimidate and question the citizenship of loyal Texas citizens that look Mexican and/or speak Spanish).

To be sure, laws are necessary in society and are meant to keep citizens safe and secure. However, oftentimes they have been used in U.S. history to terrorize citizens, not to protect them. For example, Jim Crow laws were officially enacted in the U.S. to deny equal rights to Black citizens. Those abhorrent laws remained on the books from the end of the Civil War to 1965.

Likewise, the three bills named above are reminiscent of similar anti-Hispanic laws in our state’s past. They echo the negative Jim Crow-type mindset of post-1836 that subjected Spanish Mexican Texans to despicable discriminatory practices imposed by the Anglo Saxon majority. Officially, that state-supported bigotry lasted for over 120 years.

The nasty Chris Adler wants to revisit the beach development rule

So, a couple of republican Corpus Christi city council members were absent when the city council decided to side with the people over beach development.  Ooops.  Can't let that decision stand.

The City Council plans to reconsider on Tuesday a closer setback rule for development on Mustang and Padre islands.

At a June 21 meeting, council members amended a draft of the city's erosion response plan to concur with a Nueces County rule that beach development must be at least 350 feet landward of the vegetation line. Supporters of the 350-foot rule say it provides erosion protection for the islands.

...

Councilwoman Chris Adler said she asked Mayor Joe Adame to place the item on the agenda so the council could have more discussions. She voted last week to amend the plan to the 350-foot rule.

Does no rate increase for TWIA insurance matter, if there is no way to collect?

republicans have two reasons for denying access to the judicial system for citizens. Greedy cronies can deny legitimate claims while dodging redress and another potential Democratic funding source is removed. Ok, there's a third reason, republicans just hate regular people.

Texas lawmakers said Monday they have struck a deal to reshape the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the state's property insurer for people living on the coast.

Rep. Connie Scott, R-Robstown, a member of the House Conference Committee assigned to work out a deal on House Bill 3, said the bill's primary authors — Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, and Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, — assured her the latest version contains no rate increases for coastal residents.

Hispanic students scoring are improving, but education gap remains

The National Center for Education Statistics report, released Thursday morning, finds that Hispanic students overall have improved significantly on the National Assessment of Educational Progress since 1990. The mean scale scores in mathematics rose 28 points for Hispanic 4th graders and 21 points for 8th graders; in reading, the scores improved 10 points in the 4th and 8th grades from the early 1990s to 2009, with each 10-point increase equal to about one grade level of improvement.

Yet non-Hispanic white students exceeded Hispanic students’ increase in math in both the 4th and 8th grades during the same time, and while white students’ performance improved more slowly in reading, the growth was not slow enough for Hispanic students to catch up and close the gaps of more than two grade levels between the groups in both subjects.

Why did the White House pick a charter school official for education panel?

IDEA schools priority hire teachers that go through the five week Teach for America training over teachers who actually get a college degree in education.

Several months — and a long vetting process — later, President Barack Obama selected the Houston native and longtime Rio Grande Valley resident[,JoAnn Gama, chief schools officer of IDEA Public Schools,] to sit on a 15-member advisory commission. The panel will assist in crafting the nation’s policy for improving educational opportunities and outcomes for Hispanics.

It's not about education. It's about taking taxpayer money and handing it over to greedy CEOs.

Article proves republicans are clueless, heartless and arrogant

But you knew all of that already.

The Republican authors of legislation prohibiting transgender marriage do not know why anyone would oppose it.

Geraldine Sam is out as La Marque mayor

Her contentious ride is over. Her recall worked.

With 72 percent of the vote, pastor and real estate broker Bobby Hocking was elected the next mayor of La Marque, defeating Geraldine Sam in a special election. Sam was only able to muster 461 votes in her attempt to regain the office she lost in a recall election last month.

Hocking rode a wave of anti-Sam sentiment that led to an overwhelming recall in May. He will serve the final 10 months of Sam’s three-year term in office.

Get your fresh of the press TPA blog post roundup

The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready to say "Sine Die" for the second time as it brings you this week's roundup.

The Congressional map got its final legislative approval, and Off the Kuff analyzes the new districts.

This week WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the (in)action at The Lege. Quorums were broken and tempers flared, This week's Political wrap-up, GOP laziness was the theme.

Bay Area Houston thinks the Texas Tea Party is calling for an immigration raid on homebuilder Bob Perry for his roll in killing their sanctuary bill.

This week, McBlogger tells us exactly why a federal debt default isn't a good thing.

Rick Perry's 'aids' (sic) are preparing to respond to the 'crusted-over rumors' of the governor's alleged homosexual liasons. Chief 'aid' (sic) Dave Carney emphasizes that Perry is the 'most tested' candidate on the Republican side. Seriously, that's what Politico wrote. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has a screen shot.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees republican hate meets the greed of Rick Perry crony, Bob Perry. Greed wins.

Libby Shaw gives us the skinny: Rachel Maddow Debunks Rick Perry's "Texas Miracle" Myth . Check it out at TexasKaos.

Public Citizen's TexasVox shows us that while Houston implements water restrictions to deal with this global warming-enhanced drought, San Antonio is trying to do something about it by retiring their coal plant and making heavy investments in solar.

Neil at Texas Liberal compiled a Fourth of July reading list. As fun as it might be to blow off your fingers as you set off fireworks in violation of drought-mandated brushfire rules, it is even more fun to learn about your past. If you allow others to define your history---as, for example, we have allowed crazies to take over the symbolism of the Boston Tea Party---such folks will most likely use this power to also screw up your future.

republican greed beats republican racism.

At least for now.

As two of Texas' most politically-involved business leaders emerged as opponents, a bill banning "sanctuary cities" lost crucial momentum Friday, raising the possibility the measure will be killed or substantially weakened before the special session of the Texas Legislature ends Wednesday.

HillCo Partners' lobby team, led by Neal T. "Buddy" Jones, is working on behalf of Houston home builder Bob Perry and San Antonio grocery store magnate Charles Butt to alter a proposal that would permit law enforcement officers to inquire about the immigration status of people they detain, Jones' partner Bill Miller confirmed.

Every greedy guy needs undocumented labor to abuse. 

Texas republicans want to push racist envelope with a confederate license plate

Texas officials are in the process of deciding whether to offer a specialty license plate featuring the Confederate flag.

The Texas sanctuary city bill is all about racism

Carlos Uresti points out the hypocrisy of the TSA pat down bill and the sanctuary cities bill.

Just a few hours before the woman called, I was on the Senate floor explaining what Latino Americans will experience under the sanctuary cities act. My arguments fell on the deaf ears of 19 of my Senate colleagues — many of whom support a state law cracking down on the TSA.

It is hard to understand their disconnect on these two issues. They are willing to side with the traveling public, despite the real threat of violence in the skies, yet they are unwilling to protect Latino citizens from the very same kind of degradation, just so we can have a sanctuary cities law that accomplishes nothing.

Robstown ISD misused money meant for migrant children

And, they got away with it.

Robstown Independent School District dodged having to repay $1.2 million in misused federal grants because of a five-year limit on the U.S. Department of Education's ability to recover misspent money.

Instead, the district will have to repay $74,410, or 6 percent of the total amount of misused federal dollars that were aimed at helping migrant children, according to a letter from the Texas Education Agency to the district.

Couple indicted in Limas bribery case

Two more indictments have been handed down in the Abel C. Limas racketeering case with a married couple now facing wire fraud charges.

Karina and Armando Peña, address unknown, are accused of providing $1,800 in bribes to Limas, then the 404th state district judge in Cameron County, in exchange for Limas allowing Armando Peña to report to his probation officer by mail.

republicans trying to make the founders prophets and the constitution a holy document as interpreted by them

republicans don't really care about our constitution and what it really says. republicans just want to create a religious, 'infallible' reference for their worldview. Autocrats need such a basis to rule as they please. Time Magazine gets this wrong in their article about shredding the constitution. 'The framers were not gods and were not infallible.'

republicans aren't shredding the constitution, they are enshrining it. The republican shrine also serves the purpose of hiding the document from public view. Only the anointed ones can interpret the true meaning of this religious document.  Is America ready for Saint Newt Gingrich?  Saint Rush Limbaugh?  republicans have already given Limbaugh pope status in their church.

Aaron Peña says he will seek re-election

Whatever Aaron Peña does is for Aaron Peña. Isn't that the perfect definition of a republican?

Ending speculation about his political future, state Rep. Aaron Peña announced today he will seek re-election to a sixth term in the state House.

Peña, R-Edinburg, announced via Twitter that he intends to run for re-election in his newly-configured House district based in McAllen. When the veteran legislator announced his switch to the Republican Party in December, some surmised he was positioning himself to run for Congress, but Peña ruled out such speculation today, saying he wants to continue advocating for the Rio Grande Valley in the state House.

What fresh hell will the republicans visit on coastal residents?

republicans are all about protecting their insurance industry cronies. If republicans can score points with their batsh*t crazy base without sacrificing profits for their buddies, all the better.

More changes to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association were approved Wednesday after the Texas Senate passed its own version of a wind insurance reform bill, which differs from a House version passed nearly a week ago.

With the special session ending next week, any disagreements over the bill could push lawmakers into a second special session this summer.

No doubt the 'prohibit access to the courts' faction will win this fight. Removing institutions that serve the people is part of the republican basic agenda. That's why the attack is on teachers, public education, Planned Parenthood, ACORN, the media and on and on and on. republicans will not be satisfied until everyone but the ultra rich are powerless.

Former judge's bribery case claims more bad actors

An attorney and a bondsman were arrested in connection with the bribery and extortion schemes of former 404th state District Judge Abel C. Limas as the puzzle laid out in the disgraced judicial officer’s indictment continues to take shape.

Ray R. Marchan, 54, of Port Isabel, has been practicing law for 28 years, but on Wednesday he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio and pleaded not guilty to seven counts of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, aiding and abetting extortion, and aiding and abetting wire fraud. He is free on an unsecured $100,000 bond.

Francisco “Pancho” Cisneros, 47, of Brownsville, who according to the indictment filed against him Tuesday was a bail bondsman, is charged with conspiracy to extort and aiding and abetting extortion. He is being held without bail, and his arraignment and detention hearing are scheduled for Friday.

Kay Bailey Hutchison wants to be known as a Social Security killer

Killing Medicare just wasn't enough. republicans go after Social Security, too. Die, seniors, die!!

Add Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) to the list of Republican lawmakers unsatisfied with the party's reluctance to back Social Security cuts.

The longtime Senator, who will retire at the end of her term in 2012, called on both parties to include the program in debt ceiling talks on Tuesday in a speech at the Heritage Foundation. She's releasing her own legislation to spur talks, a bill that would raise the retirement age gradually to 69 and reduce benefits by trillions over the next several decades by pegging the annual cost-of-living- adjustment (COLA) to one percent below inflation every year.

Rick Perry goes after Hidalgo Water District

Gov. Rick Perry requested a wide-ranging audit of Hidalgo County Water Improvement District 3 on Monday, asking about “any financial weaknesses or misappropriation of funds” and activity that could be considered “a waste of water.”

...

City officials presented those allegations to Austin lawmakers this year and persuaded the Legislature to pass a bill designed to dissolve District 3.

Perry vetoed the bill Friday and issued a proclamation stating the legislation would have “set a troubling precedent.” While District 3 residents would have been able to force a referendum on the takeover, both city and district residents would have been able to vote.

Why do I always suspect politics when Perry is involved?

Brownsville Mayor gets a reckless driving conviction

A South Texas mayor accused of DWI has pleaded guilty to reckless driving and must serve two years of probation.

Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada Jr. also must pay a $200 fine, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for six months, do 150 hours of community service and face random testing for alcohol.

Corpus Christi city council nixes staff plan to build closer to beach

The City Council overturned a staff recommendation Tuesday that sought development closer to the beach.

Council members amended a draft of the city’s Erosion Response Plan to continue a rule that beach development must be at least 350 feet landward of the vegetation line. The draft now will go to the state.

City planning staff recommended the council change the setback rule to 200 feet, which they said would keep Corpus Christi competitive with Port Aransas for island development. Those council members against the change were worried how it would affect the dunes, which provide erosion protection for the islands. The city maintains 25 miles of beach on Padre and Mustang islands.

Kudos to the city council. Boos to the staff.

75% of US nuclear plants leaked radioactive material

Radioactive tritium has leaked from three-quarters of U.S. commercial nuclear power sites, often into groundwater from corroded, buried piping, an Associated Press investigation shows.

The number and severity of the leaks has been escalating, even as federal regulators extend the licenses of more and more reactors across the nation.

Second time today I've seen the 'Perry to handle gay rumors' meme

The Huffington Post has it. Is this Rick Perry's campaign getting it out, no pun intended, early in the race? Or, is this an effort from Perry's competition?

From the original Politico article, I would say Perry's team thinks it has a problem to address.

Religious, anti-science bigots shut down McAllen exhibit

This is insane.

More than four months after McAllen shelved an outdoor science exhibit that discussed evolution, the $100,000 project remains in limbo.

Called “A Walk Through Time: From Stardust to Us,” the exhibit consists of 90 panels explaining the universe’s origins. After nearby residents complained about the exhibit, McAllen removed panels from Second Street and canned plans to install it along Bicentennial Boulevard.

Many of those complaints were about the exhibit’s discussion of evolution, which includes information about mankind’s descent from apes. It’s the same information contained in countless science textbooks and a generally accepted scientific theory.

Hispanic farmers claim disparate treatment from USDA

But every year it got more difficult. Flores and his wife, Jana Flores, depended on loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through a system set up to help small farmers get financing to keep the farms running and pay it back after the crops had been harvested. But for the family, like other minority farmers in the nation, it didn’t work that way.

“Every year the USDA would take longer and longer to approve operating loans — it would be time to farm the fields and there would be no money,” Jana Flores said. “We found out this was only happening to Hispanic farmers.”

Norberto Flores was also required to keep any funding in a supervised bank account mandating that he get a co-signature to purchase any farm supplies.

“I had to go to classes on how to manage money and it was all Hispanics, no Anglo farmers,” he said.

Rick Perry madly polishing his batsh*t crazy credentials

Check out this headline 'Gov. Perry adds airport pat-down ban to special session agenda'

What could be more important or more special than worrying about some poor security guard checking for knives and bombs?

Which Democrats will run for the new Texas Congressional Districts?

While state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. joins the list of Democrats who have decided not going to run for the U.S. House in what could be a new congressional District 34 anchored in the Rio Grande Valley, U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold is encouraging Republicans to seek the seat.

Please, somebody good, run for Farenthold's seat.

republicans like charter schools to be religious school - unless

unless those schools are accused of promoting Islam.

For Texas legislators, one of the most coveted activities in recent years has been 10-day trips to Turkey, paid for in full or in part by various Turkish American organizations.

A dozen or so state officials, including several Central Texas legislators, have taken the trips in the past several years, and more have been invited this year.

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, said he has taken many fact-finding trips, including to almost every country in Europe, but Turkey stands out.

...

However, some legislators say they're having second thoughts about going this year, in part because of a recent New York Times article that suggested connections between the Harmony Schools, which operate 33 charter schools in Texas, and several Turkish American businesses and organizations, including the Houston-based Turquoise Council.

You're anti-'Christian' unless you are pushing your version of Christianity down everyone else's throat.

Texas Latinos file voting rights lawsuit

You knew that had to happen.

Latino groups and individuals have joined forces to file a lawsuit in federal court in order to have new Texas House and congressional maps drawn that reflect the demographics of the Lone Star State.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio with the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force as the lead plaintiff.

Regulation promotes competition and a healthy business environment

Without regulations, businesses will not fight fairly. Monopolies will emerge and all competition will be stifled. Products will be shoddy and unsafe. Pollution will be rife. Workers will be less than slaves.

All of the above is the republican dream of utopia. Why don't they consider that they will suffer the loss of innovation and the consequences of pollution? republicans and their CEO bosses are like spoiled kids in a candy shop. Consequences, smonsequences. They will eat until they explode sh*t all over you.

It's time for the Texas Progressive Alliance roundup!

Have we mentioned that the Texas Progressive Alliance is ready for some rain to fall? Because we're ready for some as we bring you this week's roundup.

We have our first poll of Texas for November 2012 and Off the Kuff says that so far 2012 still looks like 2008.

This week WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the Texas GOP's latest health care scheme, House GOP OK's following Oklahoma and Georgia into misguided health care compact.

Bay Area Houston has a theory about Rick Perry's veto of the texting while driving ban.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is organizing a series of nationwide rallies calling for our country's leaders to focus on employment, and the road show comes to Houston on July 21st. PDidde at Brains and Eggs has the details on the "Speak Out for Good Jobs Now" tour.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes that John Cornyn had a busy week what with moving to kill Medicare and raining on Rick Perry's presidential parade.

Libby Shaw explains how Rick Perry is wooing Wall St. What a shock! Check it out at TexasKaos.

This week at McBlogger, we take a look at the Olympic-sized swimming pool of fail that is the policy section of General Sanchez's website.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted a picture of a man wading in the waters of the Houston Ship Channel. No matter how bad a day you feel you're having, you're likely having a better day than somebody who feels they must wade into one of the most polluted bodies of water in the nation.

John Cornyn p*sses on a Perry presidential run

"The field is already pretty full," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters on a conference call on Wednesday when asked about Perry's chances, the Houston Chronicle reports. "There have been a lot of people working at it for a number of years.”

Texas republicans continue their assault against public education and teachers

School districts will be able to pay public school teachers less and furlough them without pay beginning in 2012 under a bill passed by the House on Thursday.

The measure also allows the education commissioner to consider budget cuts in allowing larger class sizes in some schools. The bill now goes back to the Senate to consider amendments added by the House on Thursday.

republicans hate good teachers for two reasons. Kids learn about facts and learn how to think for themselves. Teachers have a union and republicans are out to destroy unions.

What if you couldn't get hurricane insurance?

republicans only like insurance, if it makes their cronies rich. Providing security for you? Not a priority.

A Central Texas senator filed a bill Thursday that would kill the Texas Windstorm Association, the insurer of last resort for homeowners in hurricane-prone areas.

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, entered Senate Bill 44 to abolish the association which he said contains inherent funding problems that cannot be solved. Instead, his bill would require private insurance companies operating in Texas to offer insurance, including windstorm and hail policies, along the coast.

What does Fraser care? He doesn't live on the coast. But, republican rep Todd Hunter not only lives on the coast, he represents the coast. Why does he want to kill the insurance of last resort?

Expect lots of wind turbines on Texas coast

A wind energy company official said his company is working diligently to ensure proposed wind farms don't interfere with area military operations.

Baryonyx Corporation, Inc., has applied for a permit through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to install up to 200 wind turbines each in three areas between Corpus Christi and Brownsville.

The company proposes building a wind farm on more than 26,200 acres off Mustang Island.

Cornyn leads new charge to kill Medicare

republicans voted to kill Medicare. Why do they want grannies all of the country to die? That is exactly what will happen with republican voucher care. What good is a coupon if the total price is out of your reach? Death to granny.

SBOE rep defends SBOE

When David Bradley says the SBOE will resist the herd mentality, does he mean that the SBOE will ignore commonly accepted facts in favor of the batsh*t crazy world?

According to the Houston Chronicle.

There is some speculation that Perry may seek payback [for rejecting his nominees to lead the SBOE] by nominating David Bradley, R-Beaumont, the blunt-speaking leader of the board's social conservative bloc.

Why believe in the truth, when it's so easy to live in your own tiny world?

Refugio court clerk accused of stealing

Adela Ochoa is accused of stealing thousands from Refugio municipal court.

Who are the 'serious' GOP presidential candidates?

Am I the only one who cringes when the TV pundits declare Mitt Romney, Tom Pawlenty and Jon Hunstman as the 'serious' candidates? 'Serious' apparently is applied to someone who knows that the GOP agenda is bullsh*t, but panders anyway. So, who wants a lying panderer over someone who believes? The TV pundits. Why? Either one will destroy our country.

Rick Perry claims prophet status

Maybe Rick is just confusing profits with prophets. For sure, Rick Perry is all about his cronies' profits. No doubt.

Will republicans use guns at polling places to stop Democrats from voting?

Voters seemed reluctant to head to the polls Monday in Mercedes after an incident last week in which officers arrested a man for having a gun at the location.
Jose Cavazos, 67, was arrested Friday afternoon after police received a call at 4:27 p.m. that he was displaying a weapon.

I can see this tactic as the next 'logical' step for the batsh*t crazy crowd.

Fight continues over Hidalgo County Commissioner's eligibility

A complaint filed with the Texas Attorney General's Office and the Texas Secretary of State's office claims Commissioner Olga Noriega perjured herself on an application to run for city commission.

Less than a month after a Hidalgo County Court at Law judge ruled Noriega complied with the Weslaco charter, clearing the way for her to take the oath of office and serve on the commission, former Commissioner Rene Rodriguez has filed the official complaint.

Refugio women sue over strip search on Texas highway

Two Refugio women have filed a lawsuit against Refugio County Sheriff Robert Bolcik and two of his deputies over claims that the officers illegally strip searched them on the side of the highway in plain view of oncoming traffic.

You have got to be kidding.

Rick Perry continues his campaign across the US

No doubt Perry is running for president.  My guess is that he wants to skip New Hampshire.

His itinerary includes no stops in Iowa or New Hampshire, but don't expect the spotlight to leave Gov. Rick Perry as he barnstorms the U.S. this week.

Perry started his coast-to-coast swing Sunday at an anti-abortion event in Los Angeles, where, in front of a largely Hispanic crowd of thousands, he sharply criticized the Obama administration for its stances on reproductive rights and stem cell research.

On Tuesday, Perry heads to New York City, where he'll address the New York Republican County Committee, filling in for Donald Trump. On Saturday, he'll speak at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, at which U.S. Reps. Ron Paul of Texas and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota are scheduled to appear.

Do we still have time to save our public education system?

The no nothings are like crabs in a pot - pulling back down those that have almost climbed out. Helping the no nothings are the greedy corporate b*st*rds ready to push anyone down who has the temerity to try to climb out.

Why are businesses standing by while the crab pot boils away their chances for educated employees?  Why destroy an infrastructure that produces new marvels and answers to our hard problems?

Rick Perry's new regent darling boy has worked hard to privitize public education.  What fresh hell do you suppose he has in store for our higher education system?

Suspicion has surrounded [Alex] Cranberg from day one. First, there was the speed with which he became a regent — one of the most prestigious appointments a governor can bestow upon a Texan. Cranberg received the nod just two weeks after registering to vote in the state following a move from Colorado for personal reasons.

...

Cranberg has a long history of investing in causes he cares about. In Colorado, when a school voucher initiative he backed failed, he joined with others to create the Alliance for Choice in Education, a nonprofit group that provides scholarships to schoolchildren. An advocate of expanding pathways to citizenship for immigrants, Cranberg paid $10,000 to conduct a poll in his Colorado district just to confirm his belief that he was not an anomaly in the Republican Party.

Everybody should be concerned.

I [Ray Perryman] have become increasingly concerned over the past few months as the basic foundations of our great universities and colleges in Texas have come under attack.

We need the highest quality in education at all levels if we are to compete in the knowledge economy of the future, and we need to provide opportunities for persons of all backgrounds and abilities to develop the skills to become productive (and tax-paying) members of the workforce.

We also must support research of the highest order. The basic research conducted by the gifted minds that inhabit our universities, whether in laboratories or the realm of ideas, improves our lives in countless ways, and has done so for centuries. Moreover, great discoveries lead to concentrations of emerging, high growth industries. With our major Tier One universities and a program to encourage more to develop, other important universities, and vast community and technical college network, Texas has certainly done much that is right.

Read the best posts from the Texas Progressive Alliance

The Texas Progressive Alliance is wishing -- not praying -- for rain as it brings you the week's roundup of the best blog posts from last week.

At McBlogger, Cap'n Kroc discussed the ridiculous plan for Formula 1 racing in Austin and the possibility that it could help us extract better redistricting terms from the Lege. He also points out that that Rick Perry needs to come out of the closet and be himself. It's a blockbuster post that you have to read to believe.

Congressional redistricting moved its way through the Senate and into the House last week, and Off the Kuff took a look at the numbers for the proposed new districts.

Libby Shaw provides the update on Governor Rooster Perry's run for POTUS. Come check out what the national audience has in store for a Perry campaign at TexasKaos.

With all the talk last week about how Sarah Palin misinterpreted Paul Revere's ride, Neil at Texas Liberal offered up a post about the actual event. You need to learn history for yourself. If you let others define your past, they will use that power to screw up your future.

Ryan at TexasVox gives us a double dose of bad news about opposition to the possible tar sands pipeline coming to Texas and the numerous spills they've had already.

Letters From Texas presented the case against Rick Perry for President.

The Republican Party of Texas can't figure out whether to shit or go blind over "sanctuary cities". PDiddie at Brains and Eggs collects the evidence.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks that the 'new' GOP is the same old bad joke if Rick Perry is the best candidate they have to offer.

Today's update on our drug war

We're losing. Just like we've been losing for decades. Forget it. It's past time to legalize drugs. How painful does it have to be before the ideological a**h*les see that?

Story 1 from today:

A former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty to federal charges that he schemed to steal and sell pot bundles on the job.

Omar Salazar, a former burglary investigator, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in McAllen.

Story 2:

Palmview police’s first murder case in nearly three years is one of this year’s drug-related killings and has yet to be solved. Luis Alfredo Coronado, 36, died after at least one suspect drove up to his drug-filled van near the intersection of Breyfogle Road and Highway 83 and opened fire, fatally wounding him in the neck.

That homicide was one of 22 slayings throughout the state that was classified as spillover violence directly tied to Mexican drug cartels by the Texas Department of Public Safety earlier this year.

Story 3:

New information obtained from several sources raises questions regarding the claims made by the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding a shootout where U.S. authorities near the Rio Grande came under “heavy fire” Thursday.

Two independent sources from both the U.S. and Mexico said that only six shots from the Mexican side were heard. The rounds hit the ground near the U.S. authorities, raising the question that the incident might not have been that different from any other police-related shooting in the United States.

It was just a little shoot out, not a big one. Ok.

IT IS TIME TO LEGALIZE DRUGS!

Corpus Christi Municipal Court employee charged with record tampering

Maria Benitez, 55, was indicted Thursday on two counts of tampering with a governmental record, according to a police department news release.

Here's another troubling aspect to this story. Benitez is a 'senior staff assistant' making $24K a year. $24K a year for a SENIOR staff assistant? Really?

Live Oak residents find out they can't build their own dam

Who wants Billy Joe Blob in charge of flood control.

A federal judge ruled two Live Oak County residents must remove a private dam built across a creek that feeds into the Nueces River because it violates the Clean Water Act.

Corpus Christi Water Director Gus Gonzalez called the ruling a victory for city water rights. The dam affects how much water the city is able to release from Lake Corpus Christi when the lake levels reach capacity.

The US labor department goes after Texas Child Protective Services

The U.S. Labor Department filed suit against a state agency Wednesday alleging that 800 Child Protective Services workers were denied more than $1 million in overtime pay over the past three years.

The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Austin, said the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services broke federal wage laws by willfully declining overtime pay for the caseworkers and investigators.

republicans love to abuse working people.

Rick Perry wants to be associated with Christain hate group

What's not for Perry to like? It looks great on his republican resume.

Though the eight-hour event at Reliant Stadium, called The Response, is being described by organizers as apolitical, the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association's president, Tim Wildmon, said in an interview Tuesday with The Texas Tribune that non-Christians, Jews and Muslims would "go to hell" unless they accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.

The Southern Poverty Law Center designated the association as a hate group in 2010. The association did not return a call or email for comment.

Though The Response is not much of a diversion from Perry's general participation in public prayer, it still has drawn irritation because of the American Family Association affiliation and concerns that the move is more political than religious.

Of course, this is a political stunt. There really can be no doubt that Rick Perry is running for president. The only doubt is whether he runs in 2012 or waits until 2016.

republicans want to stop Travis County from funding abortions

republicans want women barefoot and pregnant. If republicans actually cared about babies, they wouldn't have cut food and health programs for women and infants. If republicans actually cared about babies, they wouldn't cut funding for pre-school and later education.

The Texas House amended a wide-ranging health bill on Wednesday to target Travis County's health care district over its funding of agencies that provide abortions and to allow Texas to enter an interstate health care compact.

The language by state Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center , would bar hospital districts from contracting or affiliating with any organization that provides abortions or abortion-related services or refers women to an abortion provider.

Cameron County developer charged under colonia law

The Texas Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday charged a Cameron County developer with unlawfully subdividing and leasing lots in violation of colonia prevention laws.

The state enforcement action charges that the developer leased residential lots “that lacked either bonded or installed water and wastewater infrastructure” outside the city of Port Isabel.

Jury says no to Corpus Christi discrimination suit

A jury sided with the city on Wednesday in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Corpus Christi police captain.

Josie Hernandez’s suit claimed she was bypassed for promotions because she is an older Mexican-American woman.

Hernandez, who served on the police force for 31 years, left the department in January 2009. The city says she chose to retire. Hernandez said in court filings that she was forced to quit because of mistreatment and that her law enforcement career was destroyed.

No doubt the republican redistricting plan was meant to thwart Latino voters

republicans hate it when other people vote.

A new congressional redistricting map drawn by Republicans is designed to hold back sweeping demographic changes that will soon see Latinos run the state of Texas.

That is the view of state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso.

Do you trust the republicans to do right with hurricane insurance?

republicans will consider how to give private companies more profit and less risk. Promoting the general welfare is not important. I think that basic services, like insurance, should be provided by the government, because the government is meant to promote the general welfare WITHOUT a profit motive for greedy CEOs. Insurance is perfect - spreading the risk and helping each other out.

So, how are the republicans limiting risk for private insurance companies?

The most controversial part of the bill would limit how much a property owner could win in punitive damages if the association doesn't fulfill its obligation for coverage. The proposed bill would eliminate claims for punitive damages. Trial attorneys have opposed the new provision.

Deny coverage and get away with it.

La Joya appoints another Kino Flores cousin to school board

Isn't there some other family willing to serve?

The school board may have drawn the ire of outgoing trustee and newly elected La Joya Mayor Jose Adolfo “Fito” Salinas when it unanimously selected 25-year-old Isaac Sulemana to fill his vacant seat.

Salinas, who resigned from the school board after ousting longtime Mayor Billy Leo in last month’s municipal election, had hoped the trustees would appoint his daughter, Frances De Leon, to take over his term.

But the board instead chose Sulemana, a recent University of Texas School of Law graduate who is related to Western Hidalgo County political heavyweight and former state Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores.

Why are drug companies allowed to run out of life saving medicines?

Oh, yeah, I know. To republicans it's all about the profit. Promoting the general welfare is of no positive consequence as long as the greedy get more money.

The nation is in the middle of a massive drug shortage.

According to the FDA, more than 200 medications are in short supply across the country.

Some of those drugs are lifesaving medications used in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and cancer wards.

A Brownsville police officer is accused of ambulance chasing

A Brownsville police officer accused with an employee of a chiropractor of engaging in a barratry scheme that targeted automobile accident victims is slated to appear in state court Monday.

Officer Enrique Marks, 51, who is presently on administrative leave without pay from the police force, will be arraigned in state district court on June 13 on an indictment that a Cameron County grand jury returned against him in mid-May. Marks is scheduled to enter a plea to four counts of barratry.

Anthony Weiner is a giant a**h*le!

I expect republicans to be pigs like Arnold Schwarzenegger.   I expect better of progressives.  I know that Anthony Weiner's marriage is between him and his new wife, but I'm really rooting for her to divorce him.  He's still acting like a 46 year old bachelor.  Why not make that real?

And, for the record, Democratic leadership, aka Nancy Pelosi, is calling for an ethics investigation and Weiner agrees.  Here's the difference between republicans and Democrats in a nutshell - some Democrats do the right thing.  republicans?  Not so much.  Ever.

Perry's stunt to appeal to the religious nuts

Rick Perry is running for president. If not in 2012, then surely in 2016. Rick Perry has invited all of the US governors to Reliant stadium to pray for our country.

When you don't have real solutions and are too ideologically paralyzed to address problems, prayer is just perfect.  Nothing ventured.  No costs.  And, the batsh*t crazy people will love you.

It's the Monday TPA blog showcase

The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates all of the new high school and college graduates as it brings you this week's roundup.

Dr. PDiddie is now in session at Brains and Eggs, and state senator Steve Ogden is on the couch. (He ought to be in the public stocks.)

The Seliger-Solomons Congressional plan is finally out, and though it's been modified from its original form, Off the Kuff still thinks it's a joke.

This week extremist GOP state Sen. Dan Patrick referred to public education as an entitlement. WCNews at Eye On Williamson points out it is actually part of the Texas Constitution - Education is a right in Texas, preserving the liberties and rights of people.

At TexasKaos, libby shaw tells us Show Horse Rick Perry Fast Tracks Texas to Third World Squalor. Sad part is that she is NOT exaggerating!

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about the recent death of Houston Police Officer Kevin Will. Officer Will was killed when struck by a car that was driven by a man who was allegedly drinking and, also, not legally in the United States. Neil wrote that incidents like this one leave people with a choice to respond with hate, or with a resolve to move forward with solutions to immigration concerns.

McBlogger says Ambassador Huntsman has apparently decided to remake Being There in real life.

The odious chamber of commerce gives the odious Aaron Peña an award

Please have your puck bucket at the ready.  I am seriously serious.

Citing his “bold leadership” in a tough legislative session, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has bestowed its Teddy Roosevelt Award on state Rep. Aaron Peña.

San Antonio school wants to force children to listen to prayers

This week's order by Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery left the door open for individual religious expression as long as it doesn't ask others to pray. The school district is fighting it on appeal. Backed by the Dallas-based Liberty Institute, [valedictorian Angela] Hildenbrand argued that the order restricts her rights to free speech.

Hildenbrand, 18 , wants to be able to pray and mention terms or phrases barred by Biery's order — to include “amen” and “in the name of Jesus” in the speech, said Erin Leu , an attorney with the Liberty Institute.

Too bad valdeictorian Angela Hildenbrand doesn't understand our constitution.

Is somebody paying Sarah Palin to disrupt Mitt Romney's campaign?

It sure looks that way. Are the Rick Perry puppet masters behind the Palin spoiler trip? It's pretty clear to me that the greedy corporate masters aren't happy with the GOP field. Rick Perry seems like the perfect GOP candidate appealing to batsh*t crazies, evangelicals and ultimately the perfect corporate puppet. Who dispatched Palin?

Flour Bluff doesn't have enough fire hydrants

Fire service suffers as a result.

Firefighters say it took a couple minutes longer than expected to battle a fire in Flour Bluff Tuesday because fire hydrants are spaced further apart in the area.

In most residential areas, each hydrant is no more than 500 feet away from the next one, which meets state standards.

But, we drove down the 600 block of Claride, the location of Tuesday's blaze, and couldn't find any fire hydrants on the street.

Nueces County jail gets an inspection

A day after Sheriff Jim Kaelin sent an email about overcrowding, the inmate population was back in compliance, but Wednesday brought an unannounced visit from a state jail standards inspector.

The Nueces County Jail will undergo a three-day visit, which is routinely done every year by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

"We were due from the last inspection," Kaelin said.

Are you ready for hurricane season?

Just asking.

You can't have officially sanctioned prayer at a public school graduation

Duh. Despite the fact that many want to force others to take in their religion, it just isn't the law.

A federal judge in South Texas has banned public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony after the agnostic parents of a senior went to court.

Nueces County jail is too crowded

What do you do? Make it less crowded.

Overcrowding at the Nueces County Jail has forced the sheriff to take court-ordered measures to reduce the population which may include releasing nonviolent inmates and refusing to accept federal prisoners.

Sheriff Jim Kaelin emailed county commissioners and county court-at-law and district judges to notify them that a federal court order related to reducing the jail’s population will go into effect.