DOCSLIB.ORG

Texas Monthly: Everything's Coming up Bluebonnets THIS ISSUE

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Texas Monthly: Everything's Coming up Bluebonnets THIS ISSUE Texas Monthly: Everything's Coming Up Bluebonnets THIS ISSUE / FEATURES The West Texas Waste Wars by Nate Blakeslee 8 For more than a decade, the nuclear waste industry has been in retreat. As they make their last stand in Texas, the radioactive lobbyists have laid siege to Austin. The Cyber-Hammer: Tom DeLay Online by Mark Murray 14 Most Congressmen use their Web pages for legislative info and constituent service. Not the Majority Whip: his "D-Files" pour partisan venom on the Enemy. DEPARTMENTS BOOKS AND THE CULTURE VOLUME 89, NO. 6 Dialogue 2 Plain Talk of the Deepest Kind 20 A JOURNAL OF FREE VOICES We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the Poetry by Karen Fiser truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are ded- Editorial icated to the whole truth, to human values above all in- The Facts—and the Truth 5 Journeys Into Madness 21 terests, to the rights of human-kind as the foundation of democracy: we will take orders from none but our own Book Review by Lars Eighner conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent Bad Bills 7 the truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater Legislation To Look Forward To Texas Monthly's Blue Period 25 to the ignoble in the human spirit. Writers are responsible for their own work, but not Media Observer by Rod Davis for anything they have not themselves written, and in Political Intelligence 16 publishing them we do not necessarily imply that we The South Has Risen Again 28 agree with them, because this is a journal of free voices. 18 Molly Ivins Book Review by Ron Nixon SINCE 1954 Rappin' on Rapoport AFTERWORD Founding Editor: Ronnie Dugger Jim Hightower 19 Publisher: Geoff Rips Mickey El Raton, Welfare Scam and Real Country Life 29 Editor: Louis Dubose Wall Street Bonuses By Brad Tyer Associate Editor: Michael King Production: Harrison Saunders The Back Page 32 Cover photos by Alan Pogue Copy Editor: Mimi Bardagjy Thousand-Dollar-Man Rob Junell Poetry Editor: Naomi Shihab Nye Business Manager: Amanda Toering Special Correspondent: Karen Olsson Editorial Intern: Mark Murray Contributing Writers: Bill Adler, Barbara Belejack, Betty Brink, Brett Campbell, Jo Clifton, Lars Eighner, DIALOGUE I James Galbraith, Dagoberto Gilb, James Harrington, Jim Hightower, Molly Ivins, Paul Jennings, Steven Kellman, Tom McClellan, Bryce Milligan, Debbie PAY AT THE DOOR federal tax when I buy five dollars' worth Nathan, Brad Tyer, James McCarty Yeager. Some of President Reagan's and President of gas for my car. A gambler pays zero Contributing Photographers: Vic Hinterlang, Patricia sales tax on a $5,000 gamble on stock. Moore, Alan Pogue. Bush's wealthy friends and Hollywood Contributing Artists: Michael Alexander, Eric Avery, stars visited them in the White House. But Some seventy-five years ago, such sales Tom Ballenger, Richard Bartholomew, Jeff Danziger, Beth I am sure none ever contributed to Repub- were taxed. Why not now? Epstein, Valerie Fowler, Kevin Kreneck, Michael Krone, Ben Sargent, Gail Woods. lican campaigns. That would have been Samuel Schiffer Editorial Advisory Board: David Anderson, Austin; absolutely scandalous! Los Angeles, CA Elroy Bode, El Paso; Chandler Davidson, Houston; Dave Denison, Arlington, Mass.; Bob Eckhardt, Austin; Is it possible that some of Speaker Gin- Sissy Farenthold, Houston; John Kenneth Galbraith, grich's or Senate Majority Leader Lott's WHY BOTHER Cambridge, Mass.; Lawrence Goodwyn, Durham, N.C.; for covering George Hendrick, Urbana, Ill.; Molly Ivins, Austin; well-to-do friends visited them at their tax- First, thanks to the Observer Larry L. King, Washington, D.C.; Maury Maverick, Jr., supported congressional offices? If they the confirmation process for Barry McBee, San Antonio; Willie Morris, Jackson, Miss.; Kaye Northcott, Fort Worth; James Presley, Texarkana; also contributed to Republican campaigns, the chairman of the Texas Natural Re- Susan Reid, Austin; A.R. (Babe) Schwartz, Galveston; somebody might think they were trying to source Conservation Commission ("Wild Fred Schmidt, Fredericksburg. About Barry," February 28; see also pages Development Consultant: Frances Barton buy legislative favors! Business Manager: Cliff Olofson, 1931-1995 Tom Burtis 4 and 5 in this issue). In my view, the THE TEXAS OBSERVER (ISSN 0040-4519/USPS 541300), entire contents Lubbock state's major daily papers have not given copyrighted, © 1997, is published biweekly except for a three-week interval between issues in January and July (24 issues per year) by the Texas Democ- this, or other gubernatorial appointments, racy Foundation, a 501(03 non-profit corporation. 307 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Telephone: (512) 477-0746. E-mail: [email protected]. the coverage they deserve. World Wide Web DownHome page: httpd/www.hyperweb.coni/txobserver TAXING QUESTION Periodicals postage paid at Austin, Texas. Thank you for Jim Hightower's piece But, having attended the Senate Nomi- SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year $32, two years S59, three years $84. Full-time students $18 per year. Back issues $3 prepaid. Airmail, foreign, group, and "Jargon of Tyranny" (February 28). Two nations Committee hearings regarding Mr. bulk rates on request. Microfilm editions available from University Micro- films Intl., 300 N. Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, MI 48106. points: (a) According to Mr. Nader, 80 to McBee's confirmation, I think your edito- INDEXES: The Texas Observer is indexed in Access: The Supplementary rial misses one of the major points about Index to Periodicals; Texas Index and, for the years 1954 through 198 I,The 90 percent of stock sales are pure gam- Texas Observer Index. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE TEXAS OBSERVER, bling, not genuine investments. The stock the whole process: Senators Barrientos, 307 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. exchange runs gambling dens, not "invest- Gallegos or Truan at least were interested ment" houses; (b) I pay a heavy state and enough to ask questions and explore some 2 ■ THE TEXAS OBSERVER MARCH 28, 1997 DIALOGUE / of the problems at the agency. A number of their questions did bring out some very problematic trends at TNRCC, and Mr. OBSERVER HONORED McBee was also asked to respond to a set he Texas Observer has just been recognized, by Project Censored, for its cov- of written questions. erage of one of the Top Ten Censored Stories of 1996. "Shell's Oil, Africa's The real issue is, where was every other TBlood," by Ron Nixon and Michael King (January 12, 1996), recounting the Senator's interest? Senators Shapiro and covert involvement of the Royal Dutch/Shell Corporation in supporting the Nigerian Madla had only one or two questions, and military dictatorship, has been named the No. 2 most under-reported story of 1996. the rest of the committee was absent or Project Censored is a media watch group based at Sonoma State University in Califor- seemingly uninterested in exploring any nia, and its panel of judges is drawn from journalism experts across the U.S. issues in depth. Moreover, the Observer also had another story included in the "Top 25" under- Clearly, there are plenty of issues to reported stories of 1996. Our coverage of the EPA's decision to allow the re-importa- explore with a major regulatory body like tion of PCBs for commercial incineration ("Choose Your Poison" by Michael King, TNRCC—issues that have been in the March 8 and April 19, 1996), was judged to be the eighteenth most under-reported press and raised by citizen organizations story of last year. All twenty-five stories will be reviewed in Project Censored's annual repeatedly over the last couple of years. yearbook, Censored 1997: The News That Didn't Make the News, and authors of the Appointments should not necessarily be top ten ranked stories will be honored at a dinner in New York this spring. political footballs, but neither should they be rubber-stamped without relevant exam- cineration is a new use of the land, which is January 15. No agreement was reached. ination of the nominee's track record and not authorized in zoning codes. Because While we are still open to negotiations, we philosophy. If that type of exploration this was a "work session" of the City Coun- are going forward with a public hearing does not occur—in the public forum cil, they were able to avoid acting on our (to designate parties), scheduled for April where there is at least some accountabil- requests. We plan to return to a formal City 21 in Lubbock. ity—why bother with the confirmation Council meeting in the near future to force Kathryn Suchy process at all? them to vote on these issues. Neighbors United Mary E. Kelly At the meeting, it was revealed that the Lubbock Austin City has been subsidizing O'Hair's waste disposal for several years at the cost of up LUBBOCK STILL BURNING to $25,000 per month. (This figure reflects You were kind enough to write a short what the City would have made in revenue article in your December issue about our had they charged O'Hair for their waste Look for us next time you case against an air permit for a trench disposal.) The City (understandably) burner near our neighborhood in Lubbock, wants to end this subsidy, and so O'Hair leave the house. You'll find Texas ("To the Trenches," Political Intel- Shutters has chosen to incinerate because us in these Texas locations: ligence, December 20). it's the cheapest and most convenient Things have been progressing nicely solution to its waste disposal problem. • B. Dalton since then. We went before the City Coun- It was also revealed at City Council (by • Barnes & Noble cil on January 9..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Reproductions Supplied by EDRS Are the Best That Can Be Made from the Ori Inal Document. SCHOOL- CHOICE
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 460 188 UD 034 633 AUTHOR Moffit, Robert E., Ed.; Garrett, Jennifer J., Ed.; Smith, Janice A., Ed. TITLE School Choice 2001: What's Happening in the States. INSTITUTION Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC. ISBN ISBN-0-89195-100-8 PUB DATE 2001-00-00 NOTE 275p.; For the 2000 report, see ED 440 193. Foreword by Howard Fuller. AVAILABLE FROM Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-4999 ($12.95). Tel: 800-544-4843 (Toll Free). For full text: http://www.heritage.org/schools/. PUB TYPE Books (010) Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC11 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Academic Achievement; Charter Schools; Educational Vouchers; Elementary Secondary Education; Private Schools; Public Schools; Scholarship Funds; *School Choice ABSTRACT This publication tracks U.S. school choice efforts, examining research on their results. It includes: current publicschool data on expenditures, schools, and teachers for 2000-01 from a report by the National Education Association; a link to the states'own report cards on how their schools are performing; current private school informationfrom a 2001 report by the National Center for Education Statistics; state rankingson the new Education Freedom Index by the Manhattan Institute in 2000; current National Assessment of Educational Progress test results releasedin 2001; and updates on legislative activity through mid-July 2001. Afterdiscussing ways to increase opportunities for children to succeed, researchon school choice, and public opinion, a set of maps and tables offera snapshot of choice in the states. The bulk of the book containsa state-by-state analysis that examines school choice status; K-12 public schools andstudents; K-12 public school teachers; K-12 public and private school studentacademic performance; background and developments; position of the governor/composition of the state legislature; and statecontacts.
    [Show full text]
  • UC San Diego Department of Sociology Working Paper 2016-2
    UC San Diego Department of Sociology Working Paper 2016-2 Market University or University Family? Challenges to the Locus of Authority in Public University Tuition Policy Jennifer Nations Abstract State higher education systems have played an important role in increasing college participation among disadvantaged student populations, partly because they have been students’ most affordable option. Since the 1980s, nearly every state legislature with power to set public sector tuition has transferred tuition setting authority to unelected university governing boards, making way for substantial increases in tuition costs. I use a comparative case study method to show how institutionalized ideologies about public postsecondary education led policymakers in New York to resist this national trend while in Texas they abdicated control over tuition. I demonstrate that the organizational arrangement of postsecondary institutions placed different types of normative constraints on political actors as they weighed the merits of devolved tuition authority, leading to divergent outcomes. My research advances sociological understandings of the politics of higher education and education policymaking in general. Suggested Citation: Nations, Jennifer. 2016. “Market University or University Family?.” Working paper number 2016-2, UC San Diego Department of Sociology. http://sociology.ucsd.edu/_files/research/wp2016-2.pdf J. Nations Tuition Devolution 2016 – p. 1 INTRODUCTION Sociologists of education have shown that tuition costs and financial aid affect college access, especially for low-income students who are more sensitive to tuition increases (Baker and Velez 1996; De La Rosa 2006; Heller 2006, 1997; US Department of Education 1999). More broadly, the issue of tuition at the nation’s colleges and universities—and related increases in student debt—has grabbed the attention of scholars and the general public (Houle 2013).
    [Show full text]
  • Remembering the Alamo. Heights
    FUND-RAISING PHIL GRAMM LOOKS TO '96 Pg. 10 A JOURNAL OF FREE VOICES NOVEMBER 13, 1992 $1.75 Remembering the Alamo . Heights BY NANCY FOLBRE San Antonio; Amherst, Mass. HERE'S AN ENGLISHMAN, A Frenchman, a Texan and a T Mexican, plus a pilot, on a four- engine cargo plane flying an emer- gency mission. One of the engines conks out and the pilot announces that the plane will crash unless they lighten their load. He asks for a vol- unteer to parachute from the plane. The Englishman quietly says "God Save the Queen" and steps out the door. A few minutes later, a second engine conks out. Another sacrifice is required. The Frenchman leaps out, with a gallant "Vive la France." Then a third engine goes, and the pilot screams, "Act fast, boys, somebody else has got to jump." The Texan yells "Remember the Alamo!" and pushes the Mexican out the door. When I first heard this joke, in the halls of Alamo Heights High School about 25 years ago, I thought it was incredibly funny. For some reason, I was reminded of it when I received Demetrio Rodriguez and his grandson at new elementary school ALAN POGUE an upscale brochure in the mail ask- ing for my donation to the Alamo Heights School Anyway, I didn't exactly whip out my check- Court ruling that struck down the principle of Foundation. "This year," the enclosed letter said, book. What can you expect from someone who "separate but equal" education in 1954, Brown "approximately $4 million of Alamo Heights was elected "most revolutionary" of the gradu- v.
    [Show full text]
  • Tort Dodgers: Business Money Tips Scales of Justice
    Tort Dodgers: Business Money Tips Scales of Justice Tort PAC Contributions To the Texas Legislature 1995 Through 1996 By Lynn Tran and Andrew Wheat Texans for Public Justice April 1997 Copies of this report are available for $10 from Texans for Public Justice 609 W. 18th St., Suite E. Austin, TX 78701 (512) 472-9770 [email protected] © Texans for Public Justice, April 1997 Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance of Craig McDonald, Fred Richardson, Aimée Daigle and Dan Tepper in the production of this report. Tort Dodgers: Business Money Tips Scales of Justice Tort PAC Contributions To the Texas Legislature 1995 Through 1996 I. Summary of Findings …………………………………….….. 1 II. Introduction ………………………………………………….. 2 III. Methodology …………………………………………………. 4 IV. General Findings A. Industrial-Strength Tort Dodgers ……………………… 5 Deepest Pockets in Texas Bankroll TLR ……….. 8 B. Lawmakers Legalize Tort Dodging ………………….... 10 Republican Party Animals …………………….... 12 Squeaker Races …………………………………. 13 Fresh Faces, Costly Races ………………………. 15 V. Conclusion ……………………………………………………. 17 VI. Appendices Tort Bills in the 75 th Legislature ……………………….. 18 Tort Take of Individual Representatives ………………. 19 I. Summary of Findings • 22 business PACs spent $3.1 million on winning candidates in the last election cycle, finagling to get the Texas Legislature to relieve businesses of their responsibility for seriously injuring employees, customers and neighbors. • Texas’ biggest PAC, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, raised $1.5 million in the last election cycle, spending $854,826 on the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and current members of the 75th Legislature. TLR alone gave more than twice as much money as did the Texas Trial Lawyers. • 45% of TLR’s money came from just 18 wealthy families.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 No. 61 House of Representatives The House met at 10:30 a.m. and was have considered three mammoth and On this day that millions of Ameri- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- expensive tax bills in 2001, 2003 and 2004 cans are filing their tax returns and 4 pore (Mr. HOLDEN). that refused to address the alternative million are paying the mutated, unfair f minimum tax inequity. They have alternative minimum tax, it is time to made few modest additions with broad have that critical national debate on DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO benefit like the 10-percent bracket but taxes in honest terms: TEMPORE showered their real attention, their af- Should we tax people who work at The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- fection, and huge sums of money on jobs more than people whose money fore the House the following commu- those who need help the least. In the works for them? nication from the Speaker: process, the $5.6 trillion surplus inher- Do we care about reducing the ability WASHINGTON, DC, April 17, 2007. ited by this administration has evapo- of some very privileged people to es- I hereby appoint the Honorable TIM rated, to be replaced by $2 trillion more cape taxation? HOLDEN to act as Speaker pro tempore on in additional national debt. What is our priority for tax reform? this day.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Assessment for Interim Storage Of
    DOE/EA-0812 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR INTERIM STORAGE OF PLUTONIUM COMPONENTS AT PANTEX LETTERS RECEIVED ON THE PRE-APPROVAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND THE REVISED PRE-APPROVAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PUBLIC MEETING VOLUME 11 JANUARY 1994 U.S. Department of Energy Albuquerque Operations Office Amarillo Area Office Pantex Plant P.O. Box 30030 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME II, SECTION I LETTERS RECEIVED ON THE PRE-APPROVAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT VOLUME II, SECTION II LETTERS RECEIVED DURING THE 1WO-WEEK COMMENT PERIOD FOLLOWING THE DECEMBER 6, 1993 PUBLIC MEETING (DECEMBER 6 TO 20, 1993) Volume 11, Section 1 Letters Received on the Pre-Approval Environmental Assessment Document Author Affiliation 1001 Ann W. Richards, Governor State of Texas 1002 Alison A. Miller Texas Air Control Board 1003 Thomas A. Griffy University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics 1004 C. Ross Schulke U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 1005 Jeri Osborne & Family Crtizen Comments 1006 Auburn L. Kitchell University of Texas at Austin, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology 1007 Joseph A. Martillotti Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control 1008 Boyd Deaver Texas Water Commission 1009 Tom Millwee, Chief Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management 1010 Wah Kelley City of Amarillo/Counties of Potter and Randall Emergency Management 1011 Dana O. Porler Citizen Comments 1012 Margie K. Hazlett (1) Citizen Comments 1013 Margie K. Hazlett (2) Citizen Comments 1014 Sam Day, Director N ukewatch 1015 Addis Charless, Jr. Panhandle Area Neighbors and Landowners (PANAL) 1016 Jeri Osborne Citizen Comments 1017 Jim Osborne Citizen Comments 1018 Bob Bullock, Lt.
    [Show full text]
  • SR00824F.Pdf
    SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 824 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great pleasure in recognizing the fifth class of the Senator Gregory Luna Legislative Scholars and Fellows Program, offered through the Senate Hispanic Research Council and named in memory of Senator Gregory Luna of San Antonio; and WHEREAS, A true champion for the underrepresented and underserved in Texas, Senator Luna dedicated his life to public service and fought for educational equity; and WHEREAS, As a tribute to Senator Luna 's admirable work in the Senate, this prestigious program was created to provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from across the state to serve as full-time legislative assistants in the Texas Senate and acquire the training necessary to become successful leaders for our great state; and WHEREAS, These Scholars and Fellows perform a variety of legislative tasks and are learning firsthand how public policy is shaped; they also coordinated the Third Biennial Senator Gregory Luna Scholars Youth Leadership Institute, which assisted high school students from the historic Edgewood Independent School District with successful completion of their college admission process and gave them an inside look at the legislative process; and WHEREAS, The following Scholars and Fellows have demonstrated outstanding dedication and achievement in Senate offices: AngÅlica Aguilar from El Paso, serving in the office of State Senator Judith Zaffirini; AdÄn Arriaga from Jasper, serving in the office of State Senator John Whitmire; Natalie
    [Show full text]
  • Salsa2journalindex 5171..5422
    5171 SENATE JOURNAL Ð REGULAR SESSION 5171 AUTHORS OF SENATE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS AVERITT, KIP SBi16,iiRelating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture and storage of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances. SBi18,iiRelating to the acquisition of property by entities with eminent domain authority. SBi19,iiRelating to the computation of the franchise tax. SBi105,iiRelating to limitations on increases in fees and designated tuition charged by public institutions of higher education. SBi521,iiRelating to the Texas Department of Transportation s' memorial sign program. SBi522,iiRelating to the use of personal leave by a public school employee. SBi523,iiRelating to the practice of veterinarians in certain mercantile establishments. SBi663,iiRelating to the dissolution of the Tablerock Groundwater Conservation District. SBi776,iiRelating to regulating the collection or solicitation of donated goods subsequently sold by for-profit entities or individuals; providing a civil penalty. SBi841,iiRelating to the child health plan program. SBi842,iiRelating to the operation of health care sharing organizations. SBi846,iiRelating to the exemption of oil and gas royalty interests owned by private institutions of higher education from oil and gas severance taxes. SBi847,iiRelating to applicability of fee exemptions for military personnel and their children to certain course fees charged by public technical institutes and public state colleges. SBi855,iiRelating to a county motor fuels tax in certain counties for mobility improvement projects; providing authority to impose the tax, issue bonds, and impose penalties. SBi876,iiRelating to the performance of annual soil tests for certain concentrated animal feeding operations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 1 Reporter's Record 2 Volume 1 of 1 3 Texas State Senate Committee on Jurisprudence 4 Regional Hearing In
    PAGE 1 1 REPORTER'S RECORD 2 VOLUME 1 OF 1 3 TEXAS STATE SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 4 REGIONAL HEARING IN WACO, TEXAS 5 JULY 9TH AND 10TH, 2003 6 7 PANEL MEMBERS: 8 Senator Robert Duncan, Chairman 9 Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman 10 Senator Kip Averitt 11 Senator Chris Harris 12 Senator Royce West 13 14 ALSO PRESENT: 15 Senator Leticia Van de Putte 16 Dan Carroll, Translator 17 Professor David Guinn, Baylor School of Law 18 Professor Mike Morrison, Baylor School of Law 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PAGE 2 1 REPORTER'S RECORD (Continued) 2 VOLUME 1 OF 1 3 TEXAS STATE SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 4 REGIONAL HEARING IN WACO, TEXAS 5 JULY 9TH AND 10TH, 2003 6 7 BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 9th day of 8 July, 2003, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 9 11:59 p.m., and continuing on the 10th day of July, 10 2003, between the hours 12:00 a.m. and 12:41 a.m., the 11 above entitled cause came on for public hearing at 12 Baylor University School of Law, 1114 S. University 13 Parks Drive, Room 127, Waco, McLennan County, Texas, 14 76798, before the Texas State Senate Committee on 15 Jurisprudence, Chairman Senator Robert Duncan, Vice 16 Chairman Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Senator Kip 17 Averitt, Senator Chris Harris and Senator Royce West, 18 and the following proceedings were had, to-wit: 19 20 ---o0o--- 21 22 23 24 25 PAGE 3 1 CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX 2 VOLUME 1 OF 1 3 JULY 9, 2003 PAGE VOL.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Report Texas Fact Book 2004
    TEXAS FACT BOOK CONTENTS III LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD SEVENTY-EIGHTH TEXAS LEGISLATURE 2003 – 2004 DAVID DEWHURST, CO-CHAIR Austin, Lieutenant Governor TOM CRADDICK, CO-CHAIR Representative District 82, Midland Speaker of the House of Representatives TEEL BIVINS Senatorial District 31, Amarillo Chair, Committee on Finance BILL RATLIFF Senatorial District 1, Mt. Pleasant CHRIS HARRIS Senatorial District 9, Arlington JOHN WHITMIRE Senatorial District 15, Houston TALMADGE HEFLIN Representative District 149, Houston Chair, House Committee on Appropriations RON WILSON Representative District 131, Houston Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means FRED HILL Representative District 112, Richardson VILMA LUNA Representative District 33, Corpus Christi JOHN KEEL, Director TEXAS FACT BOOK CONTENTS I II CONTENTS TEXAS FACT BOOK THE TRAVIS LETTER FROM THE ALAMO Commandancy of the Alamo–– Bejar, Feby. 24, 1836 To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World –– Fellow citizens & compatriots –– I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna –– I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man –– The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken –– I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls –– I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch –– The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.
    [Show full text]
  • DOE/EIS-0236, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Stockpile Stewardship and Management ()
    DOE/EIS-0236, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Stockpile Stewardship and Management () Volume 4 Chapter 1 Introduction Public Hearing Format Organization of this Comment Response Document How to Use this Comment Response Document Changes from the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 2: Comment Documents Public Hearing: Los Alamos, New Mexico not available electronically Public Hearing: Albuquerque, New Mexico not available electronically Public Hearing: Las Vegas, Nevada not available electronically Public Hearing: Oak Ridge, Tennessee not available electronically Public Hearing: Kansas City, Missouri not available electronically Public Hearing: Livermore, California not available electronically Public Hearing: Washington, D.C. not available electronically Public Hearing: Amarillo, Texas not available electronically Public Hearing: Santa Fe, New Mexico not available electronically Public Hearing: North Augusta, South Carolina not available electronically All Public Hearings not available electronically Chapter 3: Comment Summaries and Responses Land Resources Site Infrastructure Air Quality Water Resources Geology and Soils Biotic Resources Cultural and Paleontological Socioeconomics Intersite Transportation Waste Management Radiation and Hazardous Chemicals Environmental Justice Cumulative Impacts Stewardship-Contained Firing Facility Stewardship-National Ignition Facility Stewardship-Atlas Facility Management-Weapons Assembly/Disassembly Management-Nonnuclear Components Management-Pits Management-Secondaries
    [Show full text]
  • Soldier of Covid War Surges Into First As Austin Lobby Navigates New World
    2/13/2021 Texas Lobby Power 2021 Soldier of Covid War Surges into First Mike Toomey as Austin Lobby Navigates New World Texas Lobby Partners, Texas House, 1 Chief of Staff to Govs. Rick Perry and Bill Mike Hailey Clements Capitol Inside February 9, 2021 Neal T. "Buddy" Jones 2 HillCo Partners, Texas House, Texas Partisan Democrats went ballistic last spring when Governor Greg Abbott enlisted veteran lobbyist House Speaker Gib Lewis Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to manage the reboot of the Texas economy that had been on life support for a month Robert Miller in the baby stages of the coronavirus crisis. The Democrats contended that Toomey would be in Leticia Van de Putte John Whitman 3 Locke Lord, Houston METRO Chairman, prime position to help his wealthy allies with the special assignment that could pay major dividends Texas Senate Aide for an already lucrative lobby practice when he returned to the private sector eventually. They were dead right on both points. But they missed it on the motives. Daniel Hodge DTH Strategies, Chief of Staff and 4 A former state lawmaker who'd served as chief of staff for Campaign Manager for Greg Abbott as Republican Governors Bill Clements and Rick Perry, Toomey wasn't Governor and Attorney General in it for the money when he signed on as the chief operating officer Professional Advocacy Lara Keel for the Strike Force to Open Texas from the initial COVID-19 Association of Texas 5 LLK LLC, Texas Senate Aide lockdown. That's always been a secondary consideration for Mike the Knife - the moniker that his conservative Democratic colleagues Broadband Access Battle John Pitts at Capitol Has Titans Cast bestowed on him as the Texas House Appropriations Committee's 6 Texas Star Alliance, Lt.
    [Show full text]