The Houston Chronicle reports that a Philadelphia based designer, Ed Mitchell, has taken the liberty of redesigning all 50 state flags. Is this redesign of the Texas flag an improvement on – or an insult to – the current design? You make the call.
As for us, we’ll keep the old flag, thank you very much.
The Texas Tribune reports today that even if voters approve Proposition 6 to raid the Rainy Day Fund to the tune of $2 Billion, the state’s water problems will continue to persist. The Tribune explains:
“It could help with future droughts, but it’s unlikely to help with the current drought,” Jeremy Brown, an environmental law researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, said of Proposition 6.
“By the time projects are identified, bonds are issued, and projects are actually initiated and then come online, that’s some ways down the road,” Brown said, “even for the most shovel-ready of projects.”
Then there are bureaucratic hurdles. A North Texas water supplier fought for 10 years to win state approval of the first reservoir to be built in decades, and it is still awaiting a federal permit. Some river authorities are in multiyear battles for rights to more water, including from the Brazos River. And many cities and industries are looking to groundwater to meet their growing needs, but they have to wait for legal fights to be resolved and for legislation to ...
Wondering how you should vote on bond initiatives in your area on November 5th? This infographic from the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance should help make your decision.
The numbers are shocking and speak for themselves. As of 2011, combined state and local debt in Texas was pushing a quarter trillion dollars! This, by the way, is only the face value of the debt. The actual amount increases by more than one hundred billion dollars when you consider the cost of debt service. So before voting to approve bond initiatives for parks, road projects, so-called “affordable housing”, schools, or a slew of other things that may be on the ballot in your city or county, think about the cost of the debt and who will be paying it back.
Are you prepared to obligate your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to a crushing burden of debt for luxury items that may be nice but aren’t necessary? It’s ok to say “No!” to local debt!
On November 5, voters across Texas will go to the polls to cast ballots for a variety of local elections and statewide ballot propositions. Looming largest on the ballot will be Proposition 6 which would raid the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), also known as the Rainy Day Fund, to pay for the newly created State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas (SWIFT). In a guest column for Texas Weekly, Debra Medina explains why it’s a bad idea that voters should reject. Arlene Wohlgemuth details alternative options for legislative consideration.
Medina argues:
Prop 6 does create a new water infrastructure bank. Voters are rightly leery of government banks, especially one hidden behind an appointed board. In creating the State Water Infrastructure Fund for Texas (SWIFT), the Texas Water Development Board will be able to provide debt service, deferred loan structures and credit enhancement for loans funded by the board. In plain language, SWIFT funds only help pay the interest on loans. Funding for projects must come from Texas Water Development Board loans which were authorized back in 2011 but remain on the shelf. There is no doubt investment bankers, lawyers and financial ...
It’s like science fiction, only it’s science fact. He is….The Man Who Knew Nothing.
Sage advice from Roger Custer of America’s Future Foundation for employers and job seekers:
Often, smart work does require long hours, but smart work must be focused on the results and not on the amount of hours worked or the location of the hours worked. Employees and employers should both reconsider the notion that “hard work” is defined by the amount of hours worked.
Read the whole thing here.
On this day in 1864, President Lincoln issued a proclamation admitting Nevada to the Union. Read the proclamation here.
The Obamacare enrollment rollout has been one of the worst political disasters in living memory. Here is a roundup of some of the latest and most shocking revelations. It’s worth noting that none of these revelations come as a shock to those of us who opposed the law from the beginning – they merely confirm all of our most dire predictions. It is also worth noting that many of these revelations are being published by the same mainstream media who alternatively dismissed and ignored our criticisms and warnings. Without further ado I give you the latest roundup of Obamacare Shock and Awe.
NBC notes that Obamacare explodes small business owner’s premium 400%.
CBS notes that insurance co-ops are scrambling away from Obamacare.
HHS Secretary Sebelius claims Obamacare website has never crashed….while the website was crashed.
More people are losing their health care than are enrolling in Obamacare. CBS News reports that “more than two million people [are] getting booted from existing health insurance plans.” It is worth noting that the president promised that if we liked our health insurance plan we could keep our health insurance plan. This was not an off the cuff promise made at a minor campaign event. This was a major selling point to get the euphemistically named Affordable Care Act passed into law and to get himself re-elected last year. Let’s take a look at some of the many times he repeated the promise that he has been so diligent about not keeping. Roll tape.
The Austin City Council is making a major and historic change from at large seats to individual district seats. They are in the district map drawing stage and will be holding their fourth public hearing tonight on the proposed district maps. We highly encourage Austin residents to attend and participate. See the link for time and location.
