Texas Sonogram Law Struck Down By Federal Judge

Key parts of the so-called sonogram law passed by the Texas Legislature during the last session were struck down as unconstitutional by a US District Judge today in Austin. Early this summer the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a class action lawsuit against the new ultrasound requirements behalf of Texas medical providers performing abortions and their patients. The Houston Chronicle reports that US District Judge Sam Sparks ruled that the law violates doctors' and patients' free speech rights and said the state cannot impose penalties against doctors who fail to meet its requirements.

In a press release the Center for Reproductive Rights said that “today’s ruling is a huge victory for women in Texas and a clear signal to the state legislature that it went too far when it passed this law. Politicians have no business telling doctors how to practice medicine or meddling in women’s private medical decisions.” Governor Rick Perry issued a statement saying the ruling was a “great disappointment to all Texans who stand in defense of life. This important sonogram legislation ensures that every Texas woman seeking an abortion has all the facts about the life she is carrying, and understands the devastating impact of such a life-changing decision. I have full confidence in Attorney General Abbott's efforts to appeal this decision as he defends the laws enacted by the Texas Legislature."

As the Los Angeles Times reported, anti-choice legislation flood the state legislatures this year, and Texas’ sonogram law was set to go into effect Thursday on September 1st. According to an article in the Texas Independent, requires women seeking abortions to undergo a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure (with the waiting period reduced to two hours for women who live more than 100 miles from an abortion provider). Doctors must also show and describe the images to the woman and play sounds of the fetal heartbeat. Women could only opt out of hearing the sonogram described by certifying in writing that they either underage, were pregnant as a result of sexual assault, or were carrying a fetus with a medical condition. The Washington Post reported that ruling also struck down a requirement that allows women to avoid seeing the sonogram images only if they sign a statement that they are pregnant because of sexual assault or incest. Sparks ruled, that the state cannot compel a woman to disclose such private information that she may not even wish to tell police.

The Center for Reproductive Rights challenged the law on eight grounds and based their request for a preliminary injunction on four: Equal Protection, subjecting pregnant women to unwanted speech, vagueness, and compelling speech by physicians and patients. Judge Spark’s ruling found that the law was unconstitutional based on vagueness and compelled speech.

The Judge rejected the Equal Protection challenge saying that “if the Texas Legislature wishes to prioritize an ideological agenda over the health and safety of women, the Equal Protection Clause does not prevent it from doing so under these circumstances.” Although in a footnote on that page the Judge wrote that “It is ironic that many of the same people who zealously defend the state’s righteous duty to become intimately involved in a woman’s decision to get an abortion are also positively scandalized at the government’s gross overreaching in the area of health care.”

In rejecting that the law subjects pregnant women to unwanted speech, Judge Sparks wrote that despite the logic of the plaintiff’s argument, “the State of Texas wishes to force a particular message upon a captive, and potentially unwilling, audience.” The Judge went on to write that there “are limits to the government’s power to impose whatever message it desires, on whomever it likes, under any circumstances it desires, those limits seem fairly undefined, at least as applied to this case.”

The Judge did rule that the law “contains three provisions that are, at least under some circumstances, unconstitutionally vague.” The Judge also ruled that the law violated the 1st Amendment because “compels physicians to advance an ideological agenda with which they may not agree, regardless of any medical necessity, and irrespective of whether the pregnant women wish to listen.”

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - August 29, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance, which has some experience in these matters, extends its best wishes to the east coast as it recovers from Hurricane Irene. Here now is the roundup:

Off the Kuff notes that Texas' unemployment rate is at its highest level since the days of the oil bust. Maybe firing thousands of teachers and other public employees isn't such a hot idea.

Sanger ISD Administrators make fun of Rick Perry in a Hee-Haw sing along skit.

A Houston city council candidate has affixed hundreds of his campaign signs to utility poles -- in violation of both city ordinance and the utility company's rules -- throughout the city, many of them 20- and 30-feet off the ground. This candidate, an attorney, blames "overzealous volunteers" and makes no promise to remove them. This candidate's name is Eric Dick. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs asks the (hopefully obvious) question: does Houston really need another dick on city council?

How can you tell that republicans are batsh*t crazy? Rick Perry has jumped to the top of the polls. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme has warned you for years.

Libby Shaw at TexasKaos has a roundup of Icky Ricky's Pay to Play Politics for those inquiring minds that need to know. See Icky Ricky Perry, the Master of Pay to Play Politics.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson shows that state Sen. Steve Ogden needs to check his facts about who's to blame for the budget impasse last session, Sen. Ogden's false equivalency.

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy continues to look at Rick Perry's Texas. From tort reform that doesn't deliver on promises to water infrastructure neglect that has left Texas a dry state; from crony capitalism that benefits Perry's campaign contributors to the fact that Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured in the nation. It's hard to mess with Texas when Perry already has.

Neil at Texas Liberal will be taking part in a spoken word event and concert in Cincinnati on Saturday, 9/3 to mark the release of the Aurore Press book Living In The Lap Of Labor. This book is a collection of essays about working in America. Neil has an essay in the book and will be reading from that essay. While it is unlikely you will be in Cincinnati in the week ahead, Neil asks you to stop on by and say hello if you are in fact in town.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Keynesian Miracle

Keynesian Miracle: Despite the rhetoric from Rick Perry, the public sector has driven job growth in Texas more than the private sector. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, employment in Texas’ public sector has grown more rapidly than the private sector recently, with a 19 percent growth in government jobs compared to 9 percent growth in private jobs since 2000. Texas has added more than one in five of the public-sector jobs nationwide at local, state and federal levels.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Texas A&M Freshman Convocation 2011

The Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2015 began their journey at Texas A&M University by gathering in one place, at one time on August 28, 2011. Joining the students at the ceremony were President Loftin, vice presidents, provosts, and faculty from each academic department in full academic regalia to welcome everyone into the Community of Learners and Scholars. The 2011-2012 Student Body President provides an introduction to what it means to be an Aggie.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Tort Reformed

Tort Reformed: Texas underwent drastic tort reform in 2003 under the promise of lower health care cost and bringing doctors to underserved rural areas, despite the fact that malpractice claims made up less than one percent of total health care expenditures in Texas. Texas Monthly reported that malpractice insurance reductions have been less than 1.5% since 2003, and that nothing changed except that insurance company profits doubled. While Perry credits tort reform for luring 17,000 new physicians to the Texas, more than 5.2 million Texans live in areas designated as official health professional shortage areas. Texas ranks 48th out of 50 states in the number of physicians per 100,000 residents.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

The Mess in Texas: Debunking Perry

Rick Perry’s Texas: Dry State

Dry State: Since passage of legislation in 1997 state funding for water projects has dried up. As the Houston Chronicle reported, state leaders still have not found a reliable way to finance water development beyond asking voters for authority to issue debt through bonds. While $53 billion in Texas infrastructure development has been identified, but experts say that without the investment 83% of Texans will not have an adequate supply of water in times of drought.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

On the Agenda: College Station City Council

From the Regular Agenda:

Budget Amendment No. 3
The council will conduct a public hearing and will consider Budget Amendment No. 3 to amend the FY 2010-2011 budget in the amount of $7,699,757. The council also will discuss two contingency transfers and one inter-fund transfer. The city charter allows the council to amend the annual budget when revenues are available to cover increased expenditures. Click here and go to page 118-121 to view a detailed listing of the items in the budget amendment.

Issuance of COs and GOBs
The council will consider approving the issuance of certificates of obligation for $7.9 million for electric and wastewater improvements and general obligation bonds for $1.9 million. The city issues debt to fund various capital projects identified and approved as a part of the annual budget. General Obligation Bonds are paid primarily through the debt service portion of the property tax rate and are authorized by voters. Utility Revenue Bonds are backed by the revenues of the city’s utilities and are issued as a business activity. These are typically only issued for utility capital projects. Certificates of Obligation normally include at least one additional revenue stream, such as utility revenues, but are considered to be much like general obligation bonds and normally receive a similar rating. Voters approved almost $77 million in the 2008 bond election, and this is the third bond sale from that authorization, which provides for a seven-year capital plan.

Read more from the preview of the College Station City Council Thursday, August 25th meeting at the city's blog.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Crony Capitalism

Crony Capitalism: Perry has used the governor’s office to ensure that top campaign donors were rewarded with state money or appointed to high profile positions. As the New York Times reported, over three terms in office, Mr. Perry’s administration has doled out grants, tax breaks, contracts and appointments to hundreds of his most generous supporters and their businesses. According to a study by Texans for Public Justice, Perry has raised at least $17 million from more than 900 appointees or their spouses, roughly one dollar out of every five that he has raised as governor.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Michael McCaul is Richest Member of Congress

The residents of Texas Congressional District 10 are represented by the wealthiest member of Congress. Representative Michael McCaul is worth $294.21 million, according to analysis of personal financial disclosure documents by Roll Call. The per capita income in District 10 is $25,186 per year and 8.2% live in poverty. According to an article in the Texas Tribune, McCaul is considering a run for US Senate in 2012 and reports speculate that he could self finance the campaign.

Perry’s Contradictory Stimulus Views

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - August 22, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance believes that all visitors are welcome in Texas as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff has one piece of advice for President Obama regarding Rick Perry's Presidential ambitions.

The already-existing field of Republican Presidential candidates, along with former Bush administration officials, and even the current occupants of the White House, reacted to Rick Perry's entry into the Presidential race, and Letters from Texas reacted to their reaction. The conclusion: they're all screwing this up.

Bay Area Houston says Fact checking Rick Perry is not for the ignorant.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is amazed that the always nuts Congressional rep Peter King wants Rick Perry to tone it down. No doubt that today's republican is looking to nominate the mayor of crazy town.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the horror that often times is the Williamson County justice and DA John Bradley. A man has spent 24 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, it truly is A tragic story.

From Iowa corn dog porn, to "gaps" in the theory of evolution, to passive-aggressive assaults on Ben Bernanke and from Karl Rove, Rick Perry had a no good, very bad first week on the national stage. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs documents the governor's gaffes, faux pas and self-administered gunshots to both cowboy-booted feet.

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy continues the Rick Perry’s Texas series by looking at innocent executions, college denied, child poverty, and even a chart showing that despite Perry’s belief in the “free market” that Keynes has come to Texas.

Neil at Texas Liberal said this week that while circumstance matters, it is best not to let others construct your reality.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Uninsured Population

Uninsured Population: Texas has the highest rate of people without health insurance in the nation. According to statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 26% of Texans are without health insurance, compared to a national average of 15.4%. There are more uninsured residents in Texas than there are people in 33 states. According to reporting by the Houston Chronicle, 1 in 5 children in Texas are without health insurance.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Douthat on Messing With Texas

I read Ross Douthat in the same way that I read David Brooks, hoping for some interesting insight into conservative intellectual thought – only to be disappointed by the same rehash of conservative arguments. In Douthat’s column in the New York Times today he writes about why he thinks his opponents (both in the Republican primary and possibly the general election) would be wrong to criticize Texas and not criticize Rick Perry. In doing so Douthat sings Texas’ praises with some of the familiar conservative talking points:

“Texas does have higher high school dropout rates than the average American state. But then again, Texas isn’t an average state: it’s an enormous melting pot that shares a porous, 1,969-mile border with Mexico. Once you control for demographics and compare like with like, the Texan educational record looks much more impressive.”

Meaning, once you discount all the people of color – and compare Texas to much whiter states then it looks more impressive. One of the biggest drivers of dropout rates is poverty, and when one in four Texas children grow up in poverty that might have more to do with it than sharing a border with Mexico.

“Perry can credibly claim that his state delivers on conservative governance’s two most important promises: a private sector that creates jobs at a remarkable clip, and a public sector that seems to get more for the taxpayers’ money than many more profligate state governments.”

Except that job growth in Texas has largely been driven by public sector jobs and not private sector jobs, and the public doesn’t get more for the taxpayers money – we just have to do more with a hell of a lot less.

“Many of his policy forays have been boondoggles or train wrecks, from the failed attempt to build a $175 billion Trans-Texas Corridor (the kind of project conservatives would mock mercilessly if a Democrat proposed it) to an ill-designed 2006 tax reform that’s undercut the state’s finances.”

Here is where Douthat makes a real and important point – while the state of Texas does paint an important picture of Rick Perry as a governor there are policy disasters that are a direct result of Perry and not the two decades of conservative policies in Texas. Whether he is right that it would be more effective politically to criticize Perry as a governor rather than Texas under Perry remains to be seen.

Bill Flores 44th Richest Member of Congress

According to an analysis of financial disclosure records by Roll Call, Texas Congressional District 17 is home to the 44th richest member of Congress. Representative Bill Flores has $7.81 million is assets (Flores made his money as an oil and gas industry executive), and $100 thousand in liabilities. Flores represents a district whose per capita income is $17,207 and whose 17% of constituents living in poverty is higher than the 15.4% statewide.

On the Agenda: Bryan City Council

On the Bryan City Council agenda tomorrow is a first public hearing for a proposed tax increase. The council will “receive public comment regarding a proposal to adopt a property tax rate of $0.6364 per $100 assessed valuation, raising the annual amount of taxes imposed by $959,952 to a total amount of $23,800,131. The council will also hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2012 budget of $392 million.

Also on the agenda is a public hearing on a text amendment for Bryan Code of Ordinances (Chapter 130, Zoning, of the City of Bryan Code of Ordinances) by adding a definition for afterhours club uses. This is in response to what the Bryan Police Department has described as “causing a serious quality of life problem.” The first reading of this ordinance is also on the agenda. Read the rest of the workshop agenda and regular meeting agenda.

What I'm Reading

Humble Service With a Side of Swag

Ever want a politician to just come out and say that the reason he is running for office is to feed is own ego? This is exactly what Frank Bruni desires, what he most hopes to hear from a politician is this speech:

“I’m running for president/governor/senator because it’s about time I moved up in the world, and if I win, the perks are out of control. People will pretty much genuflect before me. I can wring my hands about the environment from the back seat of a chauffeured Escalade with continents of legroom. I’ll have a staff big enough for one aide to carry my Purell and another to dispense my Altoids. And there’s huge “Meet the Press” potential. Nothing says power like a Sunday morning round table.”

Rick Perry’s Radical EU-Style Federalism

You wouldn’t think that the governor of Texas, the most conservative of the viable candidates in the Republican presidential field, would want to make the United States more like Europe. Unless, of course, you have read Rick Perry’s book. Ezra Klein chronicles the ways in which Rick Perry’s radical state’s rights position has more in common with the European Union than the United States:

“What’s perhaps most interesting about Perry’s take is that he’s not quite willing to abandon the government’s core commitments. When questioned, he doesn’t argue that pensions and health care are none of the government’s business. Instead, he suggests that we let “the states keep their money and implement the programs.” So Perry’s world is not a libertarian dreamscape devoid of Social Security or bank regulation. It’s a world in which public pension systems and bank regulation vary state by state. It’s a world, in other words, that looks less like the United States of America and a whole lot more like the European Union.”

The Republicans’ new voodoo economics?

Conservatives used to support monetary policy – in fact it is often noted that Milton Freeman said that it was a failure of a lack of monetary policy that caused the Great Depression. But as Greg Ip writes, things have changed:

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a newly declared candidate for president, said it would be “treasonous” for Greenspan’s successor, Ben Bernanke, to “print more money between now and the election” in an effort to boost the economy. Other candidates have been equally damning if slightly less extreme in their statements. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has accused the Fed of “debasing the currency,” while Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has written a bestseller called “End the Fed.” The party’s economic standard-bearer in the House, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, repeatedly charges the Fed with “bailing out” what he considers President Obama’s reckless fiscal policy and wants the institution stripped of its mandate to promote employment."

Broadcast of College Station City Council's Budget Workshops

All 12 hours of the College Station City Council's budget workshops will be rebroadcast on Suddenlink Ch. 19 starting on Monday.

• Monday, August 22nd: Water/Wastewater Fund, General Funds, Tax Rate (10am & 2pm)
• Tuesday, August 23rd: General Funds, Recreation Funds, Pay Plan (10am & 2pm)
• Wednesday, August 24th: Public Agency Funds, Other Governmental Funds (10am & 2pm)
• Thursday, August 25th: Other Governmental Funds, Internal Service Funds (10am & 2pm)

The four workshops were conducted Aug. 15-18 at the Carter Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, which prevented live broadcasts being produced. The meetings also are archived on the city's website at cstx.gov/cstv19. A public hearing for the city's proposed FY 2012 budget is set for September 8th, with final adoption scheduled for September 22nd. View the proposed FY 2012 budget.

Week in Headlines: Perry Campaign Week 1

Perry's Colorful Tongue Takes the National Stage

An Off-the-Cuff Rick Perry Vaults Into the Headlines

Fact Checking Field Day of “Texas Miracle”

A Closer Look at the Texas Miracle

Tough Questions for Perry in New Hampshire

Rove Criticizes Perry For Dissing Bush

Rick Perry's Anti-Science Streak is Nothing New

Rick Perry’s Social Security Problem

Something Political About The Response After All

Aggie Tales From the Dixie Chicken

Rick Perry’s Texas: Child Poverty

Child Poverty: A report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities that found nearly one in four Texas children lived beneath the poverty line. Texas Kids Count released a report showing that Texas is home to 1 of every 6 children newly added to the poverty rolls, and continues to have the highest rate of uninsured children. More than 600,000 Texas children have at least one unemployed parent who is looking for work. One of every four Texas preschool-aged children is not read to on a regular basis - ranking last in the country.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Keynes Goes to Texas

via Talking Points Memo:

“As Bernstein notes this "shows Texas to be following a traditional Keynesian game plan: as the private sector contracts, turn to the public sector to temporarily make up part of the difference."

Additionally, Perry's papered over some looming budget gaps with fancy paperwork, and unless he or the next governor take steps (like raising taxes) to balance the books, he'll have to cut spending (read: public sector jobs) and many of his gains will have proved illusory.

That's doesn't match Perry's private market, anti-government rhetoric very well, which is why he and his supporters will shout "Texas miracle!" if they're confronted with these facts, to obscure the underlying reality.”

Rick Perry’s Texas: College Denied

College Denied: Because of the deep budget cuts less students will have a chance to go to college. Only 33,100, of the 110,000 incoming low income college students who meet academic and financial eligibility requirements will receive grants for college. The Austin American-Statesman reports that as a result 70% of the students that qualify will not receive much needed college aid.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Bob Moser Evaluates Governor Rick Perry's Touted Record in Texas

Since announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination over the weekend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has already raised eyebrows over a number of heated comments. On Monday Perry accused Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke of treason and suggested he would face physical harm in Texas. His comments were widely criticized from the White House to Republican key strategist Karl Rove. Perry has also drawn criticism for calling Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare "a Ponzi scheme." Perry's record in Texas is also beginning to face increased scrutiny. He claims responsibility for the an "economic miracle" in Texas, but many have questioned the success of his economic policies. Democracy Now! takes a look at Perry's recent comments and his past with Bob Moser, Executive Editor of The American Prospect. Moser is the former editor of The Texas Observer where he spent the last three years in covering Perry.

For the complete transcript, to download the podcast, or for more Democracy Now! reports about the Republican candidates for president, visit DemocracyNow!

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - August 15, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes that the nation remembers Molly Ivins' words about Texas governors as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff notes that the Voting Rights Act is squarely in the sight of Texas Republicans as they try to get their gerrymandered maps approved.

As Texas Governor Rick Perry (R - idiculous) officially enters the race for President, Letters From Texas presents Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Perry, But Were Afraid To Ask.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson warns that a Rick Perry presidential run should not be taken lightly, because if elected he would be Bush on Steroids.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks that Rick Perry, (r-Dominionist), is just a puppet for the true leaders of the slow moving mob of republican fanatics.

Over at TexasKaos , Libby Shaw gives us a quick summary of Good Hair's presidential creds in The Success of Rick Perry.

Do the King Street Patriots -- via the Texas Secretary of State -- intend to turn away veterans at the polls? It looks as if they do, and Open Source Dem at Brains and Eggs has the details.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted on Rick Perry's conflicted views about gay marriage. If you read pages 26 and 27 of the hardcover edition Rick Perry's book Fed Up!, you will see that his social conservatism and his extreme states' rights are not compatible. Both Rick Perry's far-right backers and his centrist and liberal opponents should note this dramatic inconsistency.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Innocent Execution

Innocent Execution: Along with executing the mentally challenged, Texas also executes innocent people. Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in 2004 after being convicted of arson and the murder of his three children. Even after evidence emerged showing that arson had not caused the fire, Perry refused to grant a stay of execution. Five years after Willingham was executed, a report from a Texas Forensic Science Commission investigator found that the fire could not have been arson. As the commission prepared to hear testimony from the investigator in October 2009, Perry quickly fired and replaced three of its members, forcing an indefinite delay in the hearing.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

I Told You So

“The Republican primary will belong to one person: Texas Governor Rick Perry. While Perry’s reelection to the Texas Governor’s mansion is not completely certain, it is going to be difficult for Democratic challenger Bill White to win in such a red state during such a red year. Perry is the perfect match for the anxiety within the Republican Party and the firebrand of the Tea Party. In New Hampshire Perry’s secessionist comments might actually play well, and in South Carolina his connection to the South will benefit him. If he comes into Texas with momentum he could pull ahead of the other candidates, and be standing at the podium in Tampa, Florida as the Republican nominee for President in 2012. But that’s just one theory.”

Week in Headlines

Texas News
Texas’ Thirst for Dams Bucks National Trend

Texas Politics
Big Donors Found to Make Up Half of Perry Campaign Cash

National News
Chamber Of Commerce Battles Anti-Bribery Statute

National Politics
Majority Would Vote Out Current Congress

War & Peace
US Drone Strike Kills 23 In Training Camp

Veterans Issues
Tortured Veterans File Lawsuit Against Former Secretary Rumsfeld

Education
Texas Charters Score Lower Than Traditional Schools In Federal Ratings

Health Care
Nonprofit Hospitals Face Downgrades As Revenues Fall

Environment
Drought Officially 2nd-Worst on Record in Texas

Climate Change
Polar Climate Change May Lead to Ecological Change

Human Rights
Human Rights Abuses Ongoing in Congo

Immigrant Rights
Restrictive Immigration Legislation Passed in 40 States in 2011

Reproductive Rights
Kansas' Planned Parenthood Defunding Faces Federal Scrutiny

Women & Gender Issues
House GOP Revives Global War on Women’s Health With “Gag Rule”

GLBT Issues
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Anti-Marriage Equality PAC Reporting Requirement

Race & Racism
Research Finds That Sleeping Problems Are Linked to Racism

Rick Perry’s Texas: Disabled Execution

Disabled Execution: In 2001, Rick Perry vetoed a bill passed by the Texas legislature banning the execution of the mentally retarded, saying that the state's judicial system already contained adequate protections for such defendants. The Huffington Post has reported that supporters of the bill disagreed, pointing to evidence indicating that at least a half-dozen prisoners with mental deficiencies had been executed since 1990.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Tweets From Town Hall

Tweets from @leftofaggieland during Congressman Bill Flores’ town hall tonight at the Blinn College campus in Bryan (tweets are in reverse chronological order).

Flores complains about stimulus, says tax cuts would have been more stimulative - Ignores that it was 1/3 tax cuts. #florestownhall

Flores says top ten percent pay 70 percent of taxes - Ignores that they make 40 percent of income. #florestownhall

Flores asked about tax loopholes: "There are not loopholes." #florestownhall

Flores says he doesn't support natural gas subsidies - but defended oil company subsidies in Roll Call. #florestownhall

Flores asked if he would support law to make Congress subject to all laws - He said he would. - Newsflash: They are. #florestownhall

Flores says he supports budget cuts to defense in Ryan budget - I have found some agreement with @RepFlores #florestownhall

Ask about what budget cuts could make meaningful difference - Says Congressional salaries should be cut. #florestownhall

Flores says budget can be balanced in 17 years - Progressive Caucus budget balances budget faster than #GOP plans. #florestownhall

Flores says we borrow "40 cents out of every dollar from the Chinese." - False #florestownhall

Flores asked about America's infrastructure - He says "What's the President's plan?" #florestownhall

Flores: "Government doesn't create jobs." - While standing in a public community college. #florestownhall

Flores asked about the fair tax, and says "I like the fair tax" but adds uncertainty to economy if implemented now. #florestownhall

Flores asked if he is a member of the #GOP or #teaparty - Says if "you want to call me that" he'd be glad to be called one. #florestownhall

Question proposes interesting conservative critique of Balance Budget Amendment based on giving Congress general & broad powers.

Question ask how Super Committee is Constitutional. Flores says it was "the last option" calls trigger "nuclear warhead." #florestownhall

Flores is taking question - written question. #florestownhall

Flores say Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are "insolvent." - False. #florestownhall

Flores says the best way to create revenue is with a private sector job. - I thought we didn't have a revenue problem? #florestownhall

Flores: "Silver lining" on the downgrade is that it is "2x4" over head on President and Congress. #florestownhall

Flores touts Ryan budget as score by the Heritage Foundation - Despite the wide spread debunking of scoring. #florestownhall

Flores plays a clip of Paul Ryan interview with Sean Hannity defending vote for Budget Control Act - Cuts off Hannity follow up questions.

Crowd gets angry at Flores vote for Budget Control Act. #florestownhall

Flores: "If you didn't like the last three days" then you wouldn't have liked default. #florestownhall

Flores promotes Balance Budget Amendment - Worst idea in Washington. #florestownhall

Flores on Ryan budge "single most important piece of legislation." - Budget that uses bad math and privatizes Medicare. #florestownhall

Flores: "new freshman are trying to stop the damage." - #GOP are the ones causing the damage. #florestownhall

Flores is having fun with charts - Manipulating data and making wrong assertions. #florestownhall

Flores: "Washington doesn't have a problem with tax receipts" but with spending. - False: Revenue at 14 percent of GDP #florestownhall

Congressman Flores is giving presentation - Says "we're making progress" at "painfully slow rate." #florestownhall

Presentation of colors, invocation, Pledge, introduction, mic troubles. #florestownhall

#florestownhall has officially begun.

What are the chances this starts on time? #florestownhall

Overhearing interesting conversations before @RepFlores town hall. Mostly conservative crowd. #florestownhall

@TeamSHIFTInc The @RepFlores town hall begins @ 6pm #florestownhall

What question do you want to ask @RepFlores? #tx17 #bcstx #tamu #tcot #p2 #florestownhall

Got a front row seat for the @RepFlores town hall. #tx17 #bcstx #tamu #florestownhall

Rick Perry’s Texas: Underfunded Schools

Underfunded Schools: Due to draconian cuts in education, to address a $27 billion budget shortfall, thousands of Texas teachers will be losing their jobs this year. The Texas Tribune reports that Perry signed a school finance plan that cut $4 billion from districts statewide. To date 12,000 teachers have already lost their jobs, and up to 100,000 of the state's 330,000 teachers might lose their positions.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Free Speech TV Coverage of The Response

Texas Governor Rick Perry, a possible candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, spoke at a controversial "prayer event" in Houston this weekend. Mary Tuma, a reporter for the Texas Independent, has more on the event.

Rick Perry’s Texas: Failing Schools

Failing Schools: Half of Texas school districts and 1 out of 4 campuses failed to reach federal academic targets established by the No Child Left Behind Act. The Austin American-Statesman reported that statewide 605 districts and 2,233 traditional and charter schools failed to make the grade.


Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - August 8, 2011

Having been raptured in May, the Texas Progressive Alliance was ready for The Response as it brings you this week's roundup.

There's still redistricting going on, as Harris County tries to redraw its County Commissioners precincts. So far, the main thing they've done is attract a lawsuit from Latinos who say they have retrogressed the one Latino opportunity district. Off the Kuff has the scoop.

The Response had better than expected attendance, a very diverse crowd, and the event's sponsors made a sincere effort to have the event be all about one man (not the governor of Texas). Having praised it, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs then proceeded to rip it. Wide open.

Our economy is in bad shape and is unlikely to get better any time soon. WCNews at Eye On Williamson tells us the reason why, The politics of the economy are upside down.

Prior to The Response, Letters From Texas predicted the response to the response to The Response.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is disgusted with the republican campaign to destroy the middle class, kick the poor to kingdom come and abandon the elderly.

This week Left of College Station began Rick Perry’s Texas project – telling the truth about Rick Perry’s record in Texas. From Perry’s record on climate change to the truth that the Texas economic miracle was really a stimulus miracle.

Lightseeker offers his take on Why Democrats Lose Texas Elections. Hint, Its NOT because we are too Liberal! See the whole analysis at TexasKaos.

This week at McBlogger, Harry offers forth from the Book of Balczak his take on Prayerapalooza.

Questions for Congressman Bill Flores

This week Congressman Bill Flores, who represents Bryan-College Station in the Texas Congressional District 17, is holding a town hall to allow constituents to ask questions of our freshman representative in the House of Representatives. I have a few questions that I would like Congressman Flores to answer.

The first question I have is – Where are the jobs? When Flores and the rest of the Congressional Republicans gained control of the Congress in the 2010 midterm elections they did so on a claimed mandate of repairing the economy. But since the new Republican Speaker John Boehner gaveled the 112th Congress into session Republicans have done anything but address America’s job crisis. Instead they have focused on a laundry list of radical right wing legislation. Everything from further restricting a woman’s right to choose to defunding National Public Radio, Republicans have done nothing to help the poor and working people who were hit the hardest by the Great Recession. But, instead Republicans have continued to advocate for tax breaks for the wealthiest of Americans while cutting aid to the poor and unemployment insurance for the jobless.

The second question I have is – If you are so concerned with the deficit and the debt that why don’t you support the repeal of the Bush era tax cuts? A Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analysis found that the single greatest contributor to America’s current budget deficits are the Bush Administration tax cuts that predominantly benefited the wealthiest of Americans. These tax cuts cost the federal government billions of dollars in uncollected revenue, and did not stimulate the economy or create the kind of job growth that they were promised to do. Even a free market fundamentalist like former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan has advocated for allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire. If Republicans are serious about deficit reduction then they should support the repeal of the Bush tax cuts.

The third question I have is – Why do you continue to support and defend federal subsidies and tax breaks for big oil companies? Companies like Exxon Mobile and Chevon are the most profitable companies in the world, and in fact they are the most profitable companies in the history of the world. Big oil companies make billions in profit each year, but year they still pay little to no federal taxes, and in fact still receive tax subsidies from the federal government. Why do Republicans oppose the federal government supporting poor and working Americans but support the federal government supporting big oil companies? If Republicans always preach against welfare then why do they continue to support corporate welfare? If Republicans were ideologically consistent about the roll of government then they would oppose federal tax subsidies to big oil companies.

There are many more questions I have for Congressman Bill Flores, but the most important question I have is for you my readers. What are you going to do to let your voice be heard, and to advocate for government policies that do not only benefit the wealthiest Americans by that support the poor and working people of America? Let your voice be heard this week at Congressman Flores town hall. This Wednesday, August 10th at 6:00pm at the Bryan Campus of Blinn College; the meeting will take place in the Student Center (E Building) in Room E-105. What question will you ask?

Week in Headlines

Texas A&M News
Texas A&M's University Dining Hungry for Improvement

Texas News
Texas Reports Significant Drops in School Accountability Ratings Statewide

Texas Politics
State Legislators Reflect on Major Budget Cuts

National Politics
Wall Street Continues to Spend Big on Lobbying

Foreign Policy
US Report Finds Security Deteriorating in Iraq

War & Peace
Iraq Death Toll for July Second Highest in 2011

Economy
US Adds 117,000 Jobs In July As Jobless Rate Falls

Health Care
Debt Deal Sets Up Another Round of Medicare Cuts

Climate Change
Small Amount of Subsurface Warming Can Trigger Rapid Collapse of Ice Shelves

Human Rights
Somalis Waste Away as Insurgents Block Escape From Famine

Reproductive Rights
Kansas Law Defunding Clinic Faces First Legal Test

GLBT Issues
CA Supreme Court Hearing On Prop 8 To Be Televised

Race & Racism
Civil Rights Report Shines Light on Education Disparities

Rick Perry’s Texas: Untested Students

Untested Students: "We have more kids take the SAT than any other state in the nation. I mean a high percentage of our kids take the SAT." The non-partisan PolitiFact called that statement by Rick Perry false. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Texas ranks 45th out of 50 states in combined SAT scores, and only 51% of Texas high school graduates take the SAT. Only New York, Georgia, South Carolina and Maine have lower combined SAT scores.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Meet the Real Rick Perry

Rick Perry’s Texas: Stimulus Miracle

Stimulus Miracle: “In Texas, we actually know it is a good idea to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Rick Perry rejected $555 million in unemployment insurance from the federal government, only to accepted $14 billion in other federal stimulus dollars. The San Antonio Business Journal reported that economic stimulus initiative created about 2.2 million to 2.8 million jobs nationwide in the first three months of 2010, and Texas reported 205,000 jobs which was the second largest number of job increases in the nation.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Buddy Winn Drops Out of Texas House 14 Campaign

The Bryan-College Station Eagle reported this morning that former Brazos County Tax Collector Buddy Winn has announced that he will drop out of the race for Texas House of Representatives District 14. In 2010, Winn was unsuccessful in a primary campaign challenge against former State Representative Fred Brown. Winn lives a rural part of Brazos County, which is currently in District 14, but after shrinking to encompass mainly the city limits of Bryan and College Station he will live in District 12 (See maps below). Winn is considering a candidacy for District 12 race in 2012 – as that seat will have no incumbent.

2010 Texas House of Representatives District 14

2012 Texas House of Representatives District 14

Rick Perry’s Texas: Climate Changer

Climate Changer: Texas is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the country, and emits more green house gases than the combined emissions of California and Pennsylvania, which are the states with the 2nd and 3rd highest carbon emissions outputs. The Daily Beast reported that in 2005 if Texas was a country it would be the eighth-largest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide worldwide.

Read more about Rick Perry's Texas

Texas Sized Drought

For the third time in four years Texas has fallen victim to an epic drought. 2011 was supposed to be year for farmers and ranchers to rebound from the tough years of the recent past. Instead they are left to wonder how much longer they can hold on.

Rick Perry’s Texas Project

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and sometimes that is true. It is definitely true when in reference to the egos of Texas politicians. Now, the Texas politician with the biggest ego (and the biggest hair) has decided that his ego is just too big for Texas. Republican Governor Rick Perry will likely announce his candidacy for President of the United States, and try to persuade voters that what America really needs is another president from Texas.

How exactly will Perry do that? Well, just look at the miracle that is the Texas economy! He will tout Texas as business friendly (Read: corporate friendly), low regulation (Read: highly polluted), and low taxes (Read: limited welfare services). Republican primary voters will likely buy into Perry’s version of Texas, and the media and pundits on Fox News will varnish over Perry’s record as Governor.

It is with this in mind that I am starting the Rick Perry’s Texas project – a clearing house of information about the actually story of Perry’s tenor as Governor of Texas. The page will be updated regularly – and these updates will be posted on the blog. Hopefully we can catalog the actual effect of radical far right conservative public policies in Rick Perry’s Texas.

The First Three:

American Outsourcing: According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, from June 2009 to June 2011 the state added 262,000 jobs, or half the country’s 524,000 payroll gains. However, those jobs are not being created in Texas, but the equivalent of in country outsourcing. Perry has been traveling the country pouching jobs from other states – and not developing homegrown jobs in Texas.

Corporate Welfare: The businesses and jobs that have relocated to Texas have not just been motivated by low regulation and low taxation. Since 2003 Texas has spent $732 million in tax credits and subsidies to companies that relocated to the Lone Star State.

Working Poor: Texas tied with Mississippi for states having the highest percentage of hourly paid workers earning the minimum wage or less in 2010; 550,000 Texans, 9.5% of hourly paid workers, made the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or less last year. San Antonio Express News reported that median wage of all hourly paid Texans was $11.20 last year compared to $12.50 nationally. In Texas, the median hourly wage for men was $12.13; for women, $10.24. Nationally, the median was $13.76 for men and $11.83 for women.

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - Monday, August 01, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliane would like you to know that it has never held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff says that Texas Democrats need to think about future races when contemplating retirements and open seat opportunities in 2012.

As President Obama asked the nation to call their representatives in Congress to air their views on the so-called debt ceiling crisis, so phoned the nation. And John Culberson finally heard from those in his district whose views have gone unrepresented during his tenure. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs contributed to the conversation. Whether Culberson actually listened is an open question.

While blasting Obama's plan for NASA, Gov Perry silent about tea party's $1.6B cut to NASA funding.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson on how the GOP's budget tricks and cuts will hurt our economy, Diversions & Austerity - the Texas GOP two-step.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw asks So, who is Rick Perry? and answers - he is a chameleon with an unlimited appetite for the limelight and power. Check out the details.

Neil at Texas Liberal marked five years of writing the blog. Thanks to everybody who has read Texas Liberal over the years.

Dos Centavos is back with a guest post by Dr. Rey Guerra regarding Harris County redistricting and the Latino Commissioner's seat. There's one more public hearing on Monday, so, make your voices heard!