She said her electric bill was $150 per month for her apartment and
wow, isn't that so much higher than on the mainland! Clearly this
woman has not heard of our fabulous electricity deregulation in Texas
which did NOT lower rates as promised.
When are Texans going to wake up and elect legislators and a Governor
who don't take our money from us and line their buddies' pockets with
it?
Mahalo.
The Augustine Commission, designed to review the current NASA mission, was in League City today taking testimony from elected officials, JSC management, and from the public.
Elected Officials
Senators Hutchinson, Cornyn, and Congressmen Olson and Culberson submitted comments either by letter or video. All four gave rah-rah speeches, NASA is our future, our children need science, blah, blah, blah. Culberson was the only person who acknowledge that Bush directed NASA to support the shuttle, the space station, go to the Moon and Mars, and build a new vehicle, all without adequate funding. Kudos to Culberson for saying this.
Whats the problem?
As Culberson said, the Bush Administration changed NASA's mission and sent us on a very expensive journey without any new funding, much like the No Child Left Behind Act. But NASA was at fault for not standing up and saying we couldn't meet the challenge with the limited funds. At the time NASA Administrator O'Keefe wouldn't disclose the cost of going to the moon ($150B) or mars ($500B). So bottom line is that NASA has a new direction, but not enough money.
Public Testimony
A handful of folks testified for a few minutes each, few provided anything significant beside the rah-rah. Most said nothing more than send money. And that was actually the main issue, send money. Someone suggested that NASA's budget be increased from $18B to $72B. (yea right) Another NASA employee said to simply "Stay the course", as in continue going to the Moon and Mars, maintain the Shuttle and Space Station, as well as building the new vehicle. (Oh and send money to pay his salary and health care for the next 10 years) This same person took a cheap shot at the President claiming he doesn't support NASA.
Conclusion
So, in the end, it is all about money. NASA employees say we have a clear path and vision, yet are not shy about asking for another handout. The commission has a very serious problem. Do we stay the course and ask for more money? Or do we live within our budget and chart an achievable goal? It is obvious, we have enough money to do everything half ass, or enough to do a few things right.
Let me start:
Uh...Jared, what is the internets? Hey Mildred, want to see my hard drive? Hey baby, after this bozo is done wanna go back to my assisted living center?
Here is a listing of gifts valued at more than $250 each that have been disclosed by Gov. Rick Perry since he entered office since he took office in December 2000. If each gift listed was only valued at $250, then the list below would represent $16,000 in gifts to the governor and his family.
$16,000 is assuming the gifts were valued only at $250. Hunting trips are not $250. And medical tests for you and your wife is not $250. And if you can assume Perry is getting a pair of boots like State Representative John Davis paid for with his donor's money, then Perry received over $20,000 worth of fancy footwear.
State Representative John Davis was fined $1000 and had to refund the cost of the boots back to his campaign. If he had been as smart as the Governor, he would have had a donor just give it to him as a gift and list it as valued at $250. Badabing!
In all, Perry probably pocketed over $130,000 in gifts including boots, Spurs tickets, lodging and transportation for his family, hunting trips (without Dick Cheney), football tickets, and while he denies CHIP coverage for the poorest of the poor children in his state, he and his lovely wife Anita are getting free medical tests from Dr. Kenneth Cooper. Sweet!
Here is the list from the blog with an estimate of the cost of each gift. Kudos to R.G for the story!
| Bobby Steiner, Bastrop: boots | 1500 |
| Charles Tate, Houston investor: tickets to A&M football game | 1000 |
| Clay Cavender, owner of western wear store in Tyler: Boots for Perry child | 1500 |
| Clay McPhail, owner of El Arroyo in Austin: dinner. | 500 |
| Dan Freidkin, Houston auto dealer: hunting trip for Rick and Anita Perry. | 10000 |
| Danny Jueka of Weldon, Tx.: Rick and Anita Perry and one child: Transportation to view school. | 500 |
| Dave Carney, Perry political consultant: television and DVD player. | 1000 |
| David Nance, CEO Introgen Theraputics Inc. of Austin: Hunting trip | 10000 |
| David Weeks, media consultant: Anita Perry and one child. Concert tickets. | 300 |
| David Weeks: Football tickets for Perry | 750 |
| Dr. John Estes, Abilene: boots. | 1500 |
| Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Dallas: medical tests for Rick and Anita Perry. | 4000 |
| Emmitt Smith, former Dallas Cowboy: signed football helmet | 1000 |
| Fausto Yturria, Brownsville real estate developer: Boots for Perry | 1500 |
| Frank Yturria, Brownsville rancher: lodging | 500 |
| Fred Arnold of Houston: Two Olympic jackets | 500 |
| George Rodrique, painter New Orleans: Blue dog print | 2500 |
| J. Robert Brown of El Paso, an appointee to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission: Boots | 1500 |
| James Huffines, Austin banker and appointee to the University of Texas board of regents: Transportation for Anita Perry. | 500 |
| James Huffines: Football tickets for Rick and Antia Perry | 750 |
| James Huffines: transportation and lodging for Anita Perry to attend a wedding. | 3000 |
| James Leininger, San Antonio investor: hunting trip | 10000 |
| James Leininger: Air travel, room and board. | 2000 |
| James Leininger: tickets to Spurs game. | 500 |
| James R. Dorsey of Jewett: boots for Perry | 1500 |
| Jim Nantz, sportscaster: Baseball tickets for Rick and Anita Perry | 500 |
| John Nau, Houston beer distributor: transportation | 1500 |
| John Steen, San Antonio lawyer, appointed to Texas Department of Public Safety Commission in 2008: Rick and Anita Perry and one child. Transportation to graduation. | 1000 |
| Kenny Hansmire, executive director of the National Child Identification Program: signed football helmet | 1000 |
| Larry Martin, Houston: hunting trip | 10000 |
| Larry Vinson, Albany, Tx.: hunting trip and transportation | 15000 |
| Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst: belt buckle birthday gift | 250 |
| Mike Cavender, of Tyler: Rockin' R cufflinks | 500 |
| Peter Holt, Blanco Caterpillar dealer and owner of the San Antonio Spurs: Rick and Anita Perry and one child. Basketball tickets. | 1000 |
| Peter Holt: Rick and Anita Perry and one child. Basketball tickets. | 1000 |
| Peter Holt: Rick and Anita Perry. Transportation and basketball tickets | 2000 |
| Peter Holt: tickets to Spurs game | 500 |
| Phil Adams, Bryan, insurance and appointed by Perry as a Texas A&M regent: Rick and Anita Perry. Transportation and tickets to Big 12 basketball tournament. | 3000 |
| Phil Adams, Bryan: football tickets | 500 |
| Phil Adams: football tickets for the Perrys and their children. | 750 |
| Phil Adams: transportation and lodging for Rick and Anita Perry and one child | 2000 |
| Phil Adams: transportation, lodging and tickets for the Perrys and their children. | 2000 |
| Randy Watson, Fort Worth: boots | 1500 |
| Red McCombs, San Antonio car dealer and former owner of the Spurs: Rick and Anita Perry. Lodging. | 1000 |
| Richard Salwen: Lodging for the Perrys and their children | 500 |
| Richard Sweaney of Forney: Boots | 1500 |
| Rick Campbell, Center: boots | 1500 |
| Rick Campbell, portable building company Center: Boots. | 1500 |
| Rick Salwen of Austin: The Perrys and children. Lodging. | 500 |
| Rick Salwen, Austin investor: Lodging for Rick and Anita Perry and one child | 2000 |
| Robert Mosbacher, Houston oilman: Anita Perry. Transportation. | 1000 |
| Rocky Carroll, Houston boot maker: Boots for Perry. | 2500 |
| Rocky Carroll, Houston boot maker: Republican Governors Association boots | 2500 |
| Rocky Carroll, Houston: boots | 1500 |
| Rocky Carroll: Boots for Perry | 2500 |
| Rocky Carroll: Boots for Perry | 1500 |
| Roger Williams, Fort Worth car dealer, later named secretary of state: Boots | 1500 |
| Ross McKnight, rancher in Throckmorton: The Perrys and children. Travel to Stillwater, Ok. | 2000 |
| Ross Perot Jr., Dallas real estate developer: tickets to Spurs game. | 500 |
| Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas: Aggie cufflinks | 500 |
| Steven Hicks, Austin investor: Transportation for the Perrys and two childre | 1000 |
| Tamaulipas Gov. Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba: Perry. Wooden chest. | 2000 |
| Then state Rep. Gabi Canales, D-Alice: Pen, birthday gift | 500 |
| Thomas Harris of Garland: Two Stetson hats | 500 |
| Tom Fordyce, parole commissioner Huntsville: Spurs. | 500 |
| Wayne Kinsey of Houston: A&M belt buckle and cufflinks | 350 |
| 131650 |
Texas teachers will soon get raises, thanks to a state application for federal stabilization funds, which was approved Friday.
The application – submitted by Gov. Rick Perry just 18 minutes before the July 1 deadline – is the first phase of a two-part process to send more than $3 billion in federal stimulus funds to Texas schools.
Most of the money will be spent on $800-per-employee pay increases for teachers and select other educators, much to the ire of some school superintendents and Democratic members of the state's Congressional delegation, who feel the money is being inappropriately used.
They argue the state shifted funds intended for education to other purposes and then plugged the whole in the education budget with stimulus funds, an unintended use of the money.
“The governor was able to augment the rainy day fund,” said Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio.
In a release, the Texas Education Agency said the stabilization money will help address a decline in a state endowment fund that is used for general education spending.
Gonzalez said he was frustrated by what basically amounted to “a shell game” although he was pleased teachers would see raises.
“What's done is done,” Gonzalez said. “We didn't want to penalize the state.”
A spokeswoman for the TEA said local districts would begin receiving the money by September 1.
I turn my back for one minute to pack for my vacation to Hawaii, and an opportunist takes over my blog! I'm not even gone yet!
Yeah, while I'm snorkeling, ziplining and hiking an active volcano, johncoby is going to entertain you here at musings.
People often tell John he is "full of wit" - or something that rhymes with wit, anyway.
Maybe he'll liven the place up and bring his fanatic commenters over here to the Sugar Land side of TX-22. Guess that means I should make him an admin so he can approve comments. Yikes.
Adios, and Aloha!
HISPANICS KEEP OUT. That is the sign posted above the door of a 72 year old lady exercising her right to be a racist old bitty in Azle Texas. WFAA has the story. The kicker of the story is the comment by her neighbors "We are practicing tolerance". The old hag had this to say:
"We think this is our privilege as an American to protect our property," she said. "This is our property."I guess posting a HISPANICS KEEP OUT sign is protecting her property. It's not that any Hispanics have been tresspassing, or going into her house to use the bathroom, or even jumping the fence to get the baseball they hit in her yard. She probably hasn't had any Irish Americans, Italian Americans, or Europeans trespassing or taking a leak on her shrubbery. This is nothing but an old bitty having nothing better to do with the remaining years of her life than to be a racist dumbass. And yet her neighbors are tolerating her racism. Is America great or what?
Annise Parker Campaign Raises More than $800,000 from 2,254 donorsParker: “We’re building a grassroots campaign like Houston has never seen before.”
Houston, TX – The Annise Parker for Mayor Campaign released its fundraising totals through June 30 today, raising $810,114.92 from 2,254 donors. “We’re building a grassroots campaign like Houston has never seen before,” said Parker. “It will take all of us to keep Houston moving through these tough times to a strong economic recovery – and that’s why there is a place in our campaign for everyone to make a difference.” The proof, according to Parker’s campaign manager Adam Harris, is in the numbers: • 2,254 donors – the campaign set a goal of 2,000 donors for the period and easily surpassed it • 7,008 supporters on Facebook and Twitter – greater than three times those of all Parker’s opponents combined • 1,099 online donors contributed a total of $303,927.87 • In the last two days of the period, 291 donors contributed $42,948 online in response to an email appeal Parker sent to her supporters • 1,002 donors made 1,144 contributions of $50 or less • 742 people signed up to volunteer Harris, who has worked on campaigns across the country, said the campaign has applied lessons learned from last year’s presidential campaign: “We’re bringing more people into our campaign using 21st Century tools – like organizing through social networks and online fundraising – in addition to the tried and true methods of phone banks and block walks.” Harris added that the campaign’s substantial investment in its grassroots infrastructure was worth it: “This is the lesson of Obama’s campaign,” Harris continued. “Each one of our 2,254 donors is a powerful fundraiser – capable of reaching out and asking each of their friends to join our campaign by making a contribution.” Parker added: “These 2,254 people are more than stakeholders in our campaign – they are stakeholders in the future of our city.” Harris said the Parker campaign would file its finance report on the July 15 due date.
As Houston’s elected City Controller, Annise Parker directs Houston’s financial investments and manages billions of tax dollars. Her record of independent audits has cut waste and saved the city money to use for priorities like public safety, after-school programs, and economic development. A businesswoman and neighborhood leader, Parker also served on Houston’s City Council. She spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry before entering public service. Parker is a candidate for mayor of Houston in the November 3, 2009 election. Learn more on her website at: www.anniseparker.com.
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