Providing needle exchange programs in the state of Texas may seem like a very controversial issue but I think that if you know the proper facts about these programs then one can see that it could be beneficial for the state of Texas.
Although it may seem that this is just providing drug users more oppurtunities to use drugs, it is not the only purpose. It states that these programs are reducing the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Also, it is providing for these drug users to seek treatment. So again, it may be providing more drug use, the overall goal is to prevent disease and practice safer habits.
The state of Texas should be more open to these programs because it is actually saving money. The costs to treat a patient with HIV is much much more than to run these programs to reduce the spread of the disesase. Although theses programs are provding needles for drug users, at the end of the day they are only trying to help the state of Texas be clean.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Texas Public School Finance
The current school finance plan has been running since 1993. Up till that point, the system of funding public schools was declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court. The Texas Constitution guarantees every child a free public education. Every child has a right to an equal share to provide a public education.
Since the districts of Texas are not equal, the "Robin Hood" system went into effect. Under the current system, 87% of the school districts in Texas receive a share of their public school funding from the other 13%.
Now, even though the current system of recapture levels the districts, the major problem is that it relies too heavily on local property taxes. The State of Texas currently contributes only 38% of the total cost of public education. The other 62% comes from local property taxes. The 38% that is contributed by the State is the lowest level of state support since World War.
The state is taking too much from a community just because it is "property wealthy" They do not take into consideration that these communities are growing at a rapid rate, so theses school districts are trying to play catch up because the states are taking too much money and they keep getting more and more children. They need to start using another resource because too much is being used from property taxes.
Since the districts of Texas are not equal, the "Robin Hood" system went into effect. Under the current system, 87% of the school districts in Texas receive a share of their public school funding from the other 13%.
Now, even though the current system of recapture levels the districts, the major problem is that it relies too heavily on local property taxes. The State of Texas currently contributes only 38% of the total cost of public education. The other 62% comes from local property taxes. The 38% that is contributed by the State is the lowest level of state support since World War.
The state is taking too much from a community just because it is "property wealthy" They do not take into consideration that these communities are growing at a rapid rate, so theses school districts are trying to play catch up because the states are taking too much money and they keep getting more and more children. They need to start using another resource because too much is being used from property taxes.
Proposition for Beer and Wine
Personally, I would have to vote yes to the proposition to make Wimberly, Texas allow the sales of beer and wine at local stores. It is a pretty simple solution to the problem. No matter what the community of Wimberly is still going to bring beer and wine into the city. What does is matter if it sold there? It is already being sold at restaurants with private memberships , so it is only fair to give the people who cannot receive this private membership the chance to purchase beer and winer in at local convienent stores. Having sales tax on beer and wine will only bring in more revenue to the city. There shouldn't even be an issue anymore if it is being sold privately.
I'm sure the community of Wimberly works very hard for their city, so it is only fair, if they want, to purchase beer and wine at their convienence. It is a pretty simple solution to the problem: allow booze and no more wasting the community's time with silly propositions.
I'm sure the community of Wimberly works very hard for their city, so it is only fair, if they want, to purchase beer and wine at their convienence. It is a pretty simple solution to the problem: allow booze and no more wasting the community's time with silly propositions.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Diana Maldonado for House District 52
Diana Maldonado is ahead of her game and starting her campaign early. She will be running for the 2008 election for State Representative House District 52. Although, this is a different direction from the Round Rock ISD School Board, she shows determination.
Diana M. Maldonado's vision and leadership have served her well as a 20-year veteran with the State Comptroller's Office. Diana has been elected president of the Round Rock ISD school board for 2006-2007. School officials said that Maldonado is the first Hispanic woman to lead the board and will manage one of the fast-growing districts in the state.
Maldonado has written an introductory letter stating some facts, " First, I have 22 years experience in state government dealing with fiscal matters, including 20 years with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the past 13 years, I’ve headed the Tax Applications Section, where I work with businesses to make sure their accounts are set up properly. My section is responsible for 30% of Texas’ sales tax revenue. My responsibilities include finding ways to improve operations and increase compliance, and I have achieved these results:
• A 200% increase in business sales tax inventory productivity
• A 50% increase in hourly productivity through cross-training of staff employees
• A 78% increase in staffing productivity to improve customer service across 25 field offices
For these and other achievements helping Texas taxpayers get more for their tax dollars, I’ve been awarded the Comptrollers Personal Professional Award and the Outstanding Team Award.
Second, I am already an elected official in Williamson County serving since 2003 as a Trustee of the Round Rock Independent School District and chosen by my fellow trustees as President. As an elected official, I am entrusted by the voters with adopting policy, employing and evaluating the superintendent, approving a $289 million budget and setting the tax rate for one of the fastest-growing school systems in Texas. This year, the voters expressed further confidence in the job we’re doing by approving $267 million in bonds for new and renovated schools for our 39,000 students.
Third—whether through my work with the Comptroller’s Office to provide a one-stop shop for first-time taxpayers, or on the school board providing prudent tax relief while maintaining high-quality public education—I have demonstrated my dedication to providing value and service to Texas taxpayers.
So, do i think you should support Diana Maldonado? YES, because she is in fact my mother!
Diana M. Maldonado's vision and leadership have served her well as a 20-year veteran with the State Comptroller's Office. Diana has been elected president of the Round Rock ISD school board for 2006-2007. School officials said that Maldonado is the first Hispanic woman to lead the board and will manage one of the fast-growing districts in the state.
Maldonado has written an introductory letter stating some facts, " First, I have 22 years experience in state government dealing with fiscal matters, including 20 years with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the past 13 years, I’ve headed the Tax Applications Section, where I work with businesses to make sure their accounts are set up properly. My section is responsible for 30% of Texas’ sales tax revenue. My responsibilities include finding ways to improve operations and increase compliance, and I have achieved these results:
• A 200% increase in business sales tax inventory productivity
• A 50% increase in hourly productivity through cross-training of staff employees
• A 78% increase in staffing productivity to improve customer service across 25 field offices
For these and other achievements helping Texas taxpayers get more for their tax dollars, I’ve been awarded the Comptrollers Personal Professional Award and the Outstanding Team Award.
Second, I am already an elected official in Williamson County serving since 2003 as a Trustee of the Round Rock Independent School District and chosen by my fellow trustees as President. As an elected official, I am entrusted by the voters with adopting policy, employing and evaluating the superintendent, approving a $289 million budget and setting the tax rate for one of the fastest-growing school systems in Texas. This year, the voters expressed further confidence in the job we’re doing by approving $267 million in bonds for new and renovated schools for our 39,000 students.
Third—whether through my work with the Comptroller’s Office to provide a one-stop shop for first-time taxpayers, or on the school board providing prudent tax relief while maintaining high-quality public education—I have demonstrated my dedication to providing value and service to Texas taxpayers.
So, do i think you should support Diana Maldonado? YES, because she is in fact my mother!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Come On "Down to Crazy Tex’s for Low Interest Student Loans"
The upcoming Propistion 2 was brought to attention by Coyote Mercury, blogger for inthepink.com. The audience targeted, of course, would be college students, potential college students, and student loan competitors.
This year’s Prop 2 will allow the “Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue bonds providing low-interest, low-fee student loans,” so says the TX Higher Education Coordinating Board’s propaganda sheet. "Prop 2 will not (they swear to God, hope to die, stick a finance charge in their eye) increase taxes since the borrowers will repay their loans, which makes the whole thing self-sustaining." The loans will have a 6% interest rate and a six-month grace period and with “income sensitive” repayment schedules.
"Despite the potential to make college more easily affordable to a larger number of people without impacting taxes, Prop 2 still looks like it’s probably a good idea. After all, credit cards should be reserved for other college essentials. Like beer." The Propistion is obviously a positive idea and should be voted yes on. There could be little downside for potential college students looking for student loans.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com/2007/10/22/come-on-down-to-crazy-tex’s-for-low-interest-student-loans/
This year’s Prop 2 will allow the “Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue bonds providing low-interest, low-fee student loans,” so says the TX Higher Education Coordinating Board’s propaganda sheet. "Prop 2 will not (they swear to God, hope to die, stick a finance charge in their eye) increase taxes since the borrowers will repay their loans, which makes the whole thing self-sustaining." The loans will have a 6% interest rate and a six-month grace period and with “income sensitive” repayment schedules.
"Despite the potential to make college more easily affordable to a larger number of people without impacting taxes, Prop 2 still looks like it’s probably a good idea. After all, credit cards should be reserved for other college essentials. Like beer." The Propistion is obviously a positive idea and should be voted yes on. There could be little downside for potential college students looking for student loans.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com/2007/10/22/come-on-down-to-crazy-tex’s-for-low-interest-student-loans/
"Perry Appointee to UT Regents Linked to Scandals"
Paul Burka for the Texas Monthy published a blog on a scandal down by the Rio Grande invloving Gov. Perrry's appointee, James Dannenbaum, chairman of Houston-based Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation. The argument was made because James Dannenbaum was linked to politcal scandals with Brownsville and El Paso. This summary of the scandal was based on an invesitigation done by reporter Emma Perez-Trevino for the Brownsville Herald.
In the Brownsville case, the Port of Brownsville wanted to work with Mexico to build a bi-national bridge to Matamoros, Mexico. Brown & Root won the contract to work on the bridge and billed the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) $424,505 up through July 1997.
Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation was hired on as one of the companies to work on the project. DEC's original contract was for $2,053,515, but a series of supplemental contracts brought DEC's take to $15.5 million. Of this money, $10,529,058 went to subcontractors in Mexico, $9.2 million of which was paid to just three companies, all of which had ties to a DEC employee.
This was used to help startup businesses, another provided security services, and the last was with a real estate company. BND was required to approve all subcontracts before any work was done, but DEC entered into 16 of 17 subcontracts without requesting that approval.
The agrument cleary states with strong evidence that Dannunbaum Engineering Company was involved in scandalous operations with Mexico and its project with the Brownsville Navigation District.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/2007/10/perry-appointee-to-ut-regents-linked-to.php
In the Brownsville case, the Port of Brownsville wanted to work with Mexico to build a bi-national bridge to Matamoros, Mexico. Brown & Root won the contract to work on the bridge and billed the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) $424,505 up through July 1997.
Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation was hired on as one of the companies to work on the project. DEC's original contract was for $2,053,515, but a series of supplemental contracts brought DEC's take to $15.5 million. Of this money, $10,529,058 went to subcontractors in Mexico, $9.2 million of which was paid to just three companies, all of which had ties to a DEC employee.
This was used to help startup businesses, another provided security services, and the last was with a real estate company. BND was required to approve all subcontracts before any work was done, but DEC entered into 16 of 17 subcontracts without requesting that approval.
The agrument cleary states with strong evidence that Dannunbaum Engineering Company was involved in scandalous operations with Mexico and its project with the Brownsville Navigation District.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/2007/10/perry-appointee-to-ut-regents-linked-to.php
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Trading Cards
Austin attorney Kurt Kuhn of Brown McCarroll LLP wanted to spruce up his speech with a little attention getter. He was giving a speech on "Voting Patterns on the Texas Supreme Court" which was given at the 21st annual Advanced Civil Appellate Practice Course.
So to make it interesting, Kuhn had made 450 packets of trading cards of head shots of Texas's nine Supreme Court justices in their robes with their decision records on the back. They were a hit and all nine of the supreme court loved it. “There were some who thought the judges wouldn’t have a sense of humor, but the judges really loved ‘em,” said Austin attorney Kurt Kuhn of Brown McCarroll LLP. I've never been a fan of collecting trading cards, and I don't think this will change my mind.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/kelso/entries/2007/09/11/texas_supreme_court_justice_tr.html
So to make it interesting, Kuhn had made 450 packets of trading cards of head shots of Texas's nine Supreme Court justices in their robes with their decision records on the back. They were a hit and all nine of the supreme court loved it. “There were some who thought the judges wouldn’t have a sense of humor, but the judges really loved ‘em,” said Austin attorney Kurt Kuhn of Brown McCarroll LLP. I've never been a fan of collecting trading cards, and I don't think this will change my mind.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/kelso/entries/2007/09/11/texas_supreme_court_justice_tr.html
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