Barack Obama – Record Setting President

Running on His Record

Essentially, gold and gasoline have doubled because the dollar has halved. Inflation under Obama is presently at 50% and few Americans recognize it. Even Congress shies away from use of the word. But, this is classic inflation due to “quantitative easing” – the fed pumping fiat currency into the economy by way of “buying” U.S. Treasury Bonds, a practice, if you or I do it, called “check kiting”.

What ever name you assign, Obama and the Democrats have placed us into an inflation spiral that affects not only our people, but every other nation on the face of the earth.

The Greek crisis isn’t over. Greeks are rioting in the streets, intensely worried about how to pay bills and feed their families. Now, Spain is following suit.

	INAUGURATION DAY	TODAY	CHANGE
Gas Prices	$1.85	$3.90	111%
Unemployed Americans	12.05 million	12.81 million	757,000
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	8.3%	6.4%
Total Jobs	133.6 million	132.7 million	864,000
Home Values	$169,700	$146,200	14%
Worker Health Insurance Costs	$3,354	$4,129	23%
College Tuition	$6,591	$8,244	25%
Americans in Poverty	39.8 million	46.2 million	6.4 million
Food Stamp Recipients	32 million	47 million	45%
Misery Index	7.8	11.2	44%
Federal Debt	$10.6 trillion	$15.6 trillion	47%
Debt per person	$34,731	$49,752	$15,021
U.S. Global Competitiveness	1st	5th	4 places

Democrats under leadership of three guests to the Mad Hatter’s tea party (Obama, Reid and Pelosi) have led America to the edge of the abyss. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warned we face going over a “massive fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts due to kick in early 2013.

Let’s not forget the failure of the Democrat Senate Majority and the President to pass a balanced budget throughout Barack Obama’s three years in office. Our Republican House has provided  numerous budgets over his three years, but none get through the Senate. Why? A budget would LIMIT Obama’s spending and he can’t have any of that.

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) lays out two visions on a recent interview on Face The Nation. Which do you want, an engorged federal bureaucracy or a decent future for your children?

It’s time for leadership to arise from our high schools, colleges and universities. I encourage young leaders to get out in front and take charge. You don’t need “permission” of the older people. Only you can shape your future, young Americans.

Left: Aaron Schock (R-Illinois), currently the youngest member of the House; right: Mike Lee (R-Utah), currently the youngest member of the Senate.

Here in Rockwall County, we haveremarkable, intelligent and capable young leaders. They are high school seniors preparing to graduate from Rockwall High, Rockwall-Heath and Royse City High schools. Young professionals are making a place for these extraordinary high school seniors in the Rockwall County Young Republicans Club.

Connect with Rockwall County Young Republicans via Facebook. Click on the YR logo below to learn more.

About

The Rockwall County Young Republicans is an organization comprised of men and women who are 18 to 40 years of age and want to become more actively involved in local, state, and national politics. We are dedicated to upholding the values set forth by the U

Mission

1. To encourage involvement and galvanize the young adults within the GOP.

2. To support any and all candidates who promote and protect The Constitution and the platform of the Republican Party.

3. To prepare, educate, and encourage those in High School and College in all aspects of the Republican Party and civic involvement.

4. And above all to place into action the idea of self government and the responsibilities that it entails.

Our New Board for 2012

President – John Stacy
Vice President – Wesley Wolf
Treasurer – Erin Erwin 
Secretary – Katieann Fox-Veselka

ObamaCare Before Supreme Court – Scalia has the “hold card”?

What Will Saclia Do?

My law-student son-in-law related to me one day how his law professor taught Constitutional law: “They teach everything except the Constitution.” His professor taught him how Supreme Court rulings set precedents that obligate other courts to follow.

This is the problem with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a Reagan appointee. Scalia is supportive of the commerce clause in such a way he

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

believes this clause authorizes the federal government to regulate ALL commerce, not just interstate commerce and international commerce. Scalia’s writings see to foretell what will come out of the court, with respect to the individual mandate.

Precedent Trumps the Constitution?

Is this true? Must Supreme Court Justices yield to “precedent” while ignoring the Constitution? If true, then all people of African descent brought here to serve as slaves have no natural rights. If no natural rights, then it must follow there is no God, for all natural rights come from our creator.

Obviously, the Fourteenth Amendment nullified the Dred Scott decision. Even more obviously, God nullified it before Dred Scott v. Sandford ever appeared before the Court. In this case, the Court’s ruling was unconstitutional and it was an amendment, one that should have never been needed, to right a great injustice.

The point is simply this: whether good or bad, wise or foolish, no Supreme Court decision shall ever overrule or nullify any precept enshrined in our founding documents: the Declaration of Independence or our revered Constitution.

My personal note to Justice Scalia

You are merely human. Humans make mistakes. Thus, our founding fathers developed a system of checks and balances to right wrongs.

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 limits power of the federal government “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”

Regulate – verb: control or maintain by means of rules and regulations

Mandate – verb: (1) give someone authority to act in a certain way, (2) make mandatory

You see, Justice Scalia, these two distinct verbs have distinctly different meanings. You find the first in the referenced Article 1, the second conspicuous by its absence.

Article 3 of the Constitution and the Eleventh Amenment do not authorize you to legislate from the bench.

Justice Scalia, I adjure you to submit to the ultimate precedent of the Constitution of the United States of America.

TEA Party Rockwall – The Role of Government

The Roll of Municipal Government

Why Do We Elect You?

Let’s start with what we do not want. We didn’t elect you to play “mommy and daddy” – many of us have children your average age. Neither did we elect you to micromanage our lives. Rest assured that our collective intelligence, several thousand strong, will always be superior to your seven-person collective intelligence.

What Do We Expect from You?

Fiduciary Responsibilities

Your chief duty is that of steward of our tax dollars – taxing and spending. We want a lower tax burden on residential property by inviting businesses that contribute to our community.

Along the way, we want transparency. Too long have decisions like The Harbor had been made without a vote of the citizens.

No Added Debt

A CIP committee recently proposed a bond election for millions of dollars of development, one sort or another, with implications that one project be constructed for the benefit of people who don’t live here. Let’s do a reality check: our money should be spent on projects that benefit our citizens.

Transportation

How much of Rockwall have you seen lately? Do you notice crumbling streets and sunken sidewalks? I do. In fact, my own alley is in need of repair, likewise the intersection of Alamo and Boydstun that has been in a state of disrepair for some years. What is our 2012 budget for repairing streets? What’s the breakdown? What is the schedule for street repairs? As usual, I suppose there is a meager lump sum number in the new budget. Look closely. Am I correct?

Sanitation

When did you last pass through Lake Rockwall Estates after a rain? Drainage is a mess, an unhealthy mess. You may not know that many home sites on the factory-built side are still on septic systems. How much is in the budget to remedy poor drainage in LRE?

Are our priorities in order? Should we not attend to the most basic of city services to all neighborhoods annexed into our city?

Business Friendly Government

If you collectively or singularly possessed sufficient experience and wisdom to pick winners and losers, with respect to which businesses would or would not succeed and where they may or may not succeed, you ought to leave city government and go to work for a growing company. Such is not the case, is it?

Entrepreneurs, investors, do their homework. They usually have demographics and experience on their team. In other words, these prospective businesses know better than you where they best fit in our community.

For as long as I have lived in Rockwall, apart from the retail corridor along I-30, Rockwall has been unfriendly to non-retail business owners. As an aside, Mayor Sweet, you will recall the morning I introduced you to an entrepreneur who, along with his partners, had their offices in our fair city. Due to unreasonable demands of city staff, they moved their businesses to Royse City – twelve businesses in all. Today, not one dime of their taxes comes into our treasury.

Coming To the End

Certainly, I don’t speak for all Rockwall residents, but I know very well I speak for a very large number of them. You’ll hear from perennial naysayers who oppose everything that doesn’t exactly fit their mold of “the way things used to be” or “the way we’ve always done it”.

Generally speaking, I am pleased with you, as I know others are as well. We the people made good choices.

We elected whom we elected because we have great expectations of you: fiscal responsibility, transparency and champions of private property rights.

Instead of looking to Frisco, Plano, Dallas and other cities for a model, let’s be a model of conservative government to those cities.

60 million rea$on$ to Read About the 2011 CIP Bond Election

Tonight, Rockwall City Council will be deciding on setting a bond election for this fall. Bond issues range from downtown improvements, to a new park featuring the rock wall around Rockwall and a costly ball field. Click on the following link for details.

2011 Capitol Improvement Bond

Our pre-bond debt obligations are around $150,000,000 – including the TIF bond for The Harbor. This proposed bond election would add another $60,000,000 to our total debt obligations.

Estimated “worst-case scenario” tax increase would be about 15 cents per $100 valuation.

I find some of these bond issues appealing for one reason or another, but I find the additional debt very un-appealing. So I ask you: In light of economic uncertainty, is this a good time to add debt to our tax payers?

I ask our City Council to delay the bond election to May 2012. By then, we’ll have a better sense of our mutual economic situation.

Our 2008 County Road Bond Committee was told we would have about 12% growth. So, in order to make a conservative forecast on the effect on property taxes, we were counseled to plan for a sure thing – 6% growth. Well, we came in at less than half the conservative number. And, that’s the problem with economic uncertainty – the outcome will probably be worse than the “worst-case scenario”.

Please contact all members of Rockwall City Council to express your desire, regarding increasing property taxes. You can also address Council tonight to speak either for or against the bond election. It’s your money, but it’s your children’s debt.

Mayor David Sweet	DavidSweet@rockwall.com
Place 1 – David White	davidwhite@rockwall.com
Place 2 – Mark Russo	markrusso@rockwall.com
Place 3 – Bennie Daniels	benniedaniels@rockwall.com
Place 4 – Cliff Sevier	cliffsevier@rockwall.com
Place 5 – Michelle Smith	michellesmith@rockwall.com
Place 6 – Margo Nielsen	margonielsen@rockwall.com

Click on this link for tonight’s City Council Agenda.

Thank you,

John White

Rockwall, Texas

Rockwall County Budget – Want More Taxes?

Revenue vs. Expenses – Two Streams

What is a budget and why do we need them? Well, if you’re a bank robber or treasure hunter who lives alone in a shack somewhere, you may not need one, but to operate on a larger scale where the lives and welfare of many persons are at stake, budgets are indispensible.

All organizations, corporations and families have two kinds of expenditures: recurring expenses and unexpected expenses. On the basis of regular income, an organization can budget (plan spending against revenue) for recurring expenses: salaries, utility bills, other routine monthly outlays. Because no one can plan expenditures and revenue with absolute certainty, it becomes imperative we set aside funds for unexpected expenses – emergencies.

Two keywords are “recurring” and “unexpected”.

A First for Rockwall County

By law, the County Judge must prepare an annual budget and present it to Commissioners Court for adjustments and approval. Prior to 2011, Rockwall County budgets were short-sighted, year-at-a-time experiences.

Newly elected County Judge Jerry Hogan, pulling on his life experiences with managing finances in the corporate and military worlds, pulled together a planning team of over 100 county residents to craft a rational five-year plan. I was fortunate to be a part of the finance subcommittee that was led by men knowledgeable and experienced in finance.

Our goal: a five-year balanced budget. Balanced simply means our recurring expenses would not exceed our recurring income. Over several weeks, the subcommittee reviewed past county budgets, listened to department heads and received valuable input from the C.A.D. (County Appraisal District).

The fruit of our labors was a balanced budget.

Picking Old Sores

True, before construction of the new courthouse, the one twice rejected by voters, County finance was a snap. We enjoyed substantial surplus revenue and a balanced budget. Things changed – a lot of things.

Growth is way down, costs are going up and we have to pay for the new courthouse. Now, let’s not go back to beating down our commissioners over this issue, most of the people who went against the will of the voters are gone. We have what we have and we have to make do with what income we have.

What Do You Want?

We have three possible outcomes. Rockwall County Commissioners can choose to

A-     continue deficit spending, eroding away our contingency fund

B-     balance the budget by raising taxes

C-     balance the budget by cutting spending and holding taxes where they are now

What Can You Do?

Contact your County Commissioner and the County Judge. Tell them what you want. If you want the county to go broke, unable to handle emergencies, tell them to do ‘A’ above. If the status quo is good enough for you and you have no problem raising taxes, tell them to do ‘B’ above. If you, as do I, prefer the County cut spending and hold taxes where they are now, then they need to hear from you. Tell them you prefer ‘C’.

Contact Information

Office	Office Telephone	E-Mail Address
County Judge Jerry Hogan	Office (972) 204-6000	jhogan@rockwallcountytexas.comjerryhogan@sbcglobal.net
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jerry Wimpee	Office (972) 204-6000	jwimpee@rockwallcountytexas.com
Precinct 2 Commissioner Lorie Grinnan	Office (972) 204-6000	lgrinnan@rockwallcountytexas.com
Precinct 3 Commissioner Dennis Bailey	Office (972) 204-6030 Cell    (972) 322-2612	dbailey@rockwallcountytexas.com
Precinct 4 Commissioner David Magness	Office (972) 204-6040 Cell    (214) 676-3966	dmagness@rockwallcountytexas.com

If unsure about your precinct, check your voter registration card. Generally speaking, all Texas counties divide into four precincts: northwest quadrant is precinct 1, southwest quadrant is precinct 2, southeast quadrant is precinct 3 and northeast quadrant is precinct 4.

Your messages, email or telephone, should be short, to the point and courteous. State your name and home address. Make a short statement like, “I want you to keep up spending and don’t worry about a balanced budget” or “I want you to cut spending and hold taxes where they are now”. Please, don’t harangue anyone over the new Courthouse. It is what it is, so let’s go forward with our lives and insist on a balanced budget, if that is what you so desire.

I want a balanced budget and no new taxes.

Rockwall County TEA Party

TEA: Taxed Enough Already

Democrat Socialism vs Responsible Capitalism

Why Are Obligations of Private Businesses?

Ask Caroline Heldman, Democrat strategist – she’ll tell you it’s our (business owners’) responsibility to hire unemployed people. No, I’m not making this up.

Caroline Heldman - Democrat Strategist

Caroline spoke with Neil Cavuto this afternoon on Fox News Channel. According to her, and consistent with the socialist worldview of her fellow Democrats, we business owners have a moral obligation to hire people. Furthermore, according to Heldman, we must not prepare for expected economic decline, but keep unneeded employees on the payroll until we start losing money.

How Do Risk-Takers (business owners) Think?

We exist solely to provide goods and services to our customers – the American people. Personally, I believe my business has an obligation to provide the very best goods and services at a competitive price. In fact, we strive to go “above and beyond”, “going the extra mile”, doing whatever it takes to be the best provider of our type of services.

Yes, we enjoy the fruits of our labors. Yet, most of our profits we sow back into our businesses in order to serve a larger customer base. It’s called “capital formation”.

Democrats Are In the Socialist Kool-Aid Business

According to the Democrats (and Karl Marx), we business owners owe all our success to our employees and the profits we enjoy are taken off the backs of our employees. True, effective, productive employees are essential to all businesses. But, if not for an entrepreneur’s willingness to risk his/her capital and peace of mind, there would be no place of employment.

Let’s Set the Record Straight

All good businesses begin with a creative idea. We are problem solvers.

• Hungry? The grocer solves your problem.
• Car out of gas? Yes, that problem is solved by a service station owner.
• Persistent backache? You guessed it: the chiropractor solves that problem for you.

Get the picture?

Adding personal wealth is our incentive for providing services. We risk our capital – risk, as in possibly losing it all. Even Wal-Mart started as a small variety store in Arkansas. You can read about old Sam’s life another time in his biography Made in America.

No, Miss Caroline Heldman, and I say this to all your fellow socialist Democrats: Businesses do not exist to become places of employment. Businesses exist to serve mankind both necessities and luxuries. Our chief responsibility is to our investors who have entrusted us with their capital, their money. Did you catch that word their. Yes, it is their money, not the government’s.

Rockwall City Council Agenda – February 07, 2011

 

AGENDA
ROCKWALL CITY COUNCIL
Monday, February 07, 2011
4:00 p.m. Pre-Council Meeting
City Hall, 385 S. Goliad, Rockwall, Texas 75087

Public meeting begins at 6:00 PM

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. HOLD EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTIONS 551.071, 551.072, 551.074 AND 551.087 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS:
1. Deliberation regarding the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.
2. Personnel Issues, including Board, Commission, and Committee Appointments, and Related Matters.
3. Commercial or financial information regarding business prospects that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City of Rockwall and with which the Board is conducting economic development negotiations.
4. Pursuant to Section 551.071(2) of the Open Meetings Act: Consultation with attorney with regard to a matter that it is the duty of the attorney to consult with the Council pursuant to the Attorney Client Privilege under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas.

III. TAKE ANY ACTION AS RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

IV. PRE-COUNCIL DINNER

V. ADJOURNMENT

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT

III. OPEN FORUM

Open forum is an opportunity for citizens to speak to council about anything not posted on this agenda. You can address council with your concerns about trash collection, city indebtedness, roads, etc.

When you arrive, fill out one of the yellow forms you will find on a lectern as you enter Council Chambers. Hand the form to City Secretary Kristy Ashberry over to the left-hand side of the room.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consider approval of the minutes from the January 18, 2011 regular City Council meeting and take any action necessary.
2. Consider Park Board recommendations regarding 2011 youth sports agreements, and take any action necessary.
3. Z2010-024 – Consider approval of an ordinance for a request by Darby Burkey of Rockwall Flower & Design for approval of a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow for a “General Retail Store” within (PD-53) Planned Development No. 53 district, specifically at 1014 Ridge Road being Lot 2, Block A, Rock Ridge Office Park Addition, and take any action necessary. (2nd Reading)
4. Z2010-025 – Consider approval of an ordinance for a request by Jonathan Wakefield of Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation for approval of a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow for “Automotive Repair, Minor” within the (C) Commercial District, specifically on a 0.70-acre tract within the proposed Rockwall Market Center South Addition, which is
currently described as Tract 12-2, Abstract 64, E. P. G. Chisum Survey and situated along the north side of Ralph Hall Pkwy east of Market Center Blvd, and take any action necessary. (2nd Reading)
5. Discuss and consider approval of the Official 2011 Zoning Map for the city, and take any action necessary.
6. Consider an ordinance increasing the speed limit on SH-205 (Goliad), between the DGNO railroad bridge and Boydstun, to 40 MPH and take any action necessary. (1st Reading)
7. Consider the authorization of the payment to TXDOT for new roadway signs on IH-30 for Corporate Crossing (old FM-549, IH-30 to SH-276), and take any action necessary.
8. Consider the abandonment of a portion of a 30-foot utility easement at the Wedding Chapel on Fannin, and take any action necessary.
9. Consider the abandonment of a portion of a sanitary sewer easement located on the Cambridge Companies property, east of John King Blvd., and take any action necessary.
Monday, February 07, 2011 City Council Agenda

V. APPOINTMENTS
1. Appointment with the Planning and Zoning Chairman to discuss and answer any questions regarding cases on the agenda and related issues and take any action necessary.
2. Appointment with Candy Bigham to hear request associated with waiving or lowering of fees at the Harbor amphitheater for an upcoming not-forprofit event and take any action necessary.
3. Appointment with Jerry Archer of Archer Car Care to discuss a potential amendment to the Unified Development Code to allow for minor automotive repair within the (DT) Downtown district, and take any action necessary.
4. Appointment with Rockwall resident Patrice Kapur to hear concerns related to proposed changes in municipal garbage collection services and take any action necessary.

VI. SITE PLANS / PLATS
1. SP2010-015 – Discuss and consider a request by Cameron Slown of Adams Engineering for approval of a variance to the Rooftop Design requirements of the North SH 205 Overlay district, in association with a site plan for McDonald’s Restaurant, being a 4,700-sf drive-thru restaurant located on a 1.32-acre part of Lot 6, Block A, Stone Creek Retail Addition, which is zoned (PD-70) Planned Development No. 70 district and situated along the east side of North Goliad (SH 205) north of Bordeaux Drive, and take any action necessary.
2. MIS2011-002 – Discuss and consider a request by Karin Sumrall of The Woodmont Company for approval of a variance to the outdoor lighting requirements of the Unified Development Code, specifically to allow for directional light fixtures in association with the existing Best Buy store on Lot 6, Block A, Rockwall Business Park East Addition (aka Rockwall Plaza Phase I), which is zoned (C) Commercial district and located at 995
East IH-30, and take any action necessary.
3. MIS2011-003 – Discuss and consider a request by David Reno for approval of a special request to the standards of the (PD-75) Planned Development No. 75 district (Ord 09-37), specifically to allow for the expansion of a non-conforming accessory building(s) on the property located at 218 Russel Drive, being Lots 1228-1230, Rockwall Lake Estates Phase 2, and take any action necessary.
4. SP2011-001 – Discuss and consider a request by Mark Pross of Pross Design Group, Inc., for approval of special exceptions to the Unified Development Code, in association with an administrative site plan for a proposed 119,745-sf expansion to SPR Packaging, located on Lot 1, Block A, SPR Packaging Addition, being 10.8672-acres zoned (LI) Light
Industrial District and located at 1480 Justin Drive, and take any action necessary.

VII. ACTION ITEMS
1. Discuss and consider approval of task order contracts associated with Capital Improvement (CIP) programs, and take any action necessary.
2. Discuss and consider event advertising opportunities, and take any action necessary.
3. Discuss and consider an ordinance amending Chapter 15 Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations, Article IV Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Vendors to prohibit solicitation and panhandling, and take any action necessary.(1st Reading)
4. Discuss and consider application by Aqua Texas to increase retail water service rates within the subdivision known as Lake Rockwall Estates, including alternative actions and adopting the appropriate course of action to be taken by the City of Rockwall in response to the application, and adopting a resolution containing orders relating to the application.

VIII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT TO DISCUSS CURRENT CITY ACTIVITIES, UPCOMING MEETINGS, FUTURE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
1. Departmental Reports
Building Inspection Monthly Report – December 2010
Internal Operations Department Monthly Report – December 2010
Police Department Monthly Report – December 2010
Police Department Quarterly Report
Finance Department Monthly Report – December 2010
Recreation Department Monthly Report – December 2010
Harbor PD Monthly Report – December 2010
Quarterly Report for Rockwall County Committee on Aging
Quarterly Report for STAR Transit
Fire Dept. 2010 Annual Report
2. City Manager’s Report

IX. HOLD EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTIONS 551.072, 551.074 AND 551.087 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS:
1. Deliberation regarding the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.
2. Personnel Issues, including Board, Commission, and Committee Appointments, and Related Matters.
3. Commercial or financial information regarding business prospects that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City of Rockwall and with which the Board is conducting economic development negotiations.
4. Pursuant to Section 551.071(2) of the Open Meetings Act: Consultation with attorney with regard to a matter that it is the duty of the attorney to consult with the Council pursuant to the Attorney Client Privilege under Monday, February 07, 2011 City Council
the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas.

X. TAKE ANY ACTION AS RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

XI. ADJOURNMENT

This facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parking spaces are available. Request for accommodations or interpretive services must be made 48 hours prior to this meeting. Please contact the City Secretary’s Office at (972) 771-7700 or FAX (972) 771-7727 for further information.

I, Kristy Ashberry, City Secretary for the City of Rockwall, Texas, do hereby certify that this Agenda was posted at City Hall, in a place readily accessible to the general public at all times, on the 4th day of February, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. and remained so posted for at least 72 continuous hours preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.

Every Citizen a Suspect? – Homeland Security Mindset Overtakes State Capitol

An Open Letter to Texas State Government Elected Office Holders

From the time of its dedication on San Jacinto Day, April 21, 1888, Texans have freely entered and moved about our beautiful State Capitol building. Visitors interested in history casually walked its hallowed halls. Texans have always enjoyed free and unfettered access

1888 Texas State Capitol - South Steps

to the building, visiting offices of their respective State Representatives and State Senators. Texas DPS officers guarding the Capitol were always friendly and helpful – but no more.

Why?

Little over one year ago, Fausto Cardenas “fired several shots on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol” on the afternoon of January 21, 2010 – 12:15 PM, to be precise. Earlier he visited the office of one lawmaker “acting strangely”. [Read article in Statesman.com]

No one was injured. DPS officers subdued and arrested the man and “booked him into the Travis County Jail on charges of deadly conduct”.

Did I say the incident took place outside the Capitol? On the South Steps? Not inside the Capitol?

Now, exactly what did Fausto Cardenas do? According to Mexican tourist Veronica Birseño, Fausto “raised his arm in the air and fired five shots. We were just not far away. We weren’t sure what to do. The police were right on him. We just watched them arrest him.”

Every Citizen a Suspect

If you haven’t recently visited, entering the Capitol is a radically different experience. Fausto is still in jail, but all citizens are now suspects. To enter, visitors and staff members pass through metal detectors and are subject to search of their person. If you bear a CHL (Concealed Handgun License), you bypass metal detectors, but may be interrogated by uneasy, unfriendly DPS officers who often demand a second means of identification.

An article in the Austin Statesman quotes State Senator Juan Hinojosa:

“I’m not a big supporter of having metal detectors at the Capitol,” said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen. “If someone wants to shoot a senator or a lawmaker or someone else, they can do it after we leave the building at night. All this security is more of an inconvenience to the general public than anything, in my opinion.”

Clearly, the “Homeland Security” mindset has overtaken David Dewhurst, Governor Perry and other elected officials. Should a visit to the Texas State Capitol be as intrusive and inconvenient as boarding an airplane at DFW airport?

Special Recognition

At this point, I take a moment to applaud Sen. Juan Hinojosa. Thanks to you Senator for your common sense attitude. Thanks, Chuy.

Public Appeal

I call on the below-listed elected office holders to rid OUR Capitol of “security theater”. For over 123 years we Texans have proudly, freely and unfettered, visited OUR Capitol. Your reactionary response to the misbehavior of one visitor has created a miserable climate of fear and suspicion. Let’s remember what Tejas means – friend. A visit to the Capitol of the great State of Texas should be a friendly, memorable experience. Let us not fall prey to the “homeland security” hysteria that has overtaken our country.

Governor Rick Perry

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst

State Senator Bob Deuell

State Representative Jodie Laubenberg

Thank you,

John White

Rockwall, Texas

Texas Young Republican Federation Statement on Judge Vinson’s Ruling

Health Care Law “Unconstitutional”

Today U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled in favor of the United States Constitution and the American people when he ruled that last year’s health care law was unconstitutional because it violated the Commerce Clause.

“Federal Judge Roger Vinson took a stand with Texas today and the efforts of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Our Attorney General spoke decisively and with conviction when he filed one of the first lawsuits on behalf of Texas, as did many other state Attorneys General, that the Health Care Law passed last year is unconstitutional. I am encouraged and so very proud to be in a state that is leading this country in protecting individual liberty,” states Kristy Moore, Chair of the Texas Young Republican Federation.

The Health Care law has been widely unpopular since it was signed into law early last year and today the American people have been given a reprieve from intrusion into their personal lives, a dramatic increase in taxes, and the unconstitutional takeover of the private health care industry.

“Today Texans have another reason to be proud of the work done by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.  Because of his willingness to stand up against the federal takeover of our private health care industry, Texans are one step closer to being free of the unconstitutional mandates included in last year’s health care law.” states Brian Dawson, Political Action Director for the Texas Young Republican Federation.

The fight against last year’s health care law is sure to continue through the federal court system but today’s victory has set the tone for the fight to come.  The Texas Young Republicans Federation encourages the United States Senate to take the next step towards ending this malicious policy by voting to repeal the law.

Rep. Christian Will Continue Work to Prevent Enforcement of Obamacare in Texas

For Immediate Release                                                                 January 31st, 2011
Contact: Jonathon McClellan                                                        (512) 463-0556

AUSTIN, TX- Representative Wayne Christian commends U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional. Rep. Christian declared “I am thrilled to see the voices of conservatives are being heard and we are making headway on this significant issue. As the lawsuits against Obamacare work their way through the court system I fully intend to continue working to block the enforcement of Obamacare in Texas through House Joint Resolution 51.”

While the lawsuits against Obamacare slowly work their way to the U.S. Supreme Court Rep. Christian will continue to pursue Texas House Joint Resolution 51.  If passed HJR 51 will then go to the voters of Texas for approval in the November 2011 general election to amend the Texas Constitution and effectively prevent Texans from  having to purchase government-approved health insurance under the threat of penalty.

Rep. Christian’s HJR 51 addresses health care freedom in numerous ways.  Texans’ right to choose a health care system and to control their health care plan will be protected.   Additionally, residents will be able to pay directly for health care services.  This will prevent any penalties or fines from being imposed, which will further protect the right of citizens to spend their money as they please.

Rep. Christian stated, “If passed HJR 51 will support Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s lawsuit against Obamacare on behalf of Texas.  As the legislative session begins, it is crucial we continue working together to terminate this unconstitutional mandate of the federal government.”

For updates on the progress of HJR 51 please follow it on Twitter @HJR_51 and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HJR51.

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