Dan Branch: The eyes of the nation are upon us
By Jonathan Tilove | Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 07:24 AM
Dallas Rep. says Texas must prove to the nation that the red mega-state can be governed not only conservatively but well.
Good morning Austin.
This is Rep. Dan Branch , R-Dallas, speaking at yesterday’s day-long Texas Conservative Roundtable Policymakers Conference at the Omni downtown.
“Michigan and Ohio were once great economic engines. If i were California I’d be very concerned about the direction of my state. I mean there’s a state that added congressional seats in every decennial census until this last time. Texas added four new congressional seats. No other state added four. No other state added three. Very few added two. We are the states that’s moving and therefore, as everyone pays attention to us, we beter be responsible with that and show that a conservative, red state, right-of-center state, can govern itself and can solve the issues of the day, the problems and challenges of the day.”
That set the tone for the conference, which began with opening remarks by House Speaker Joe Straus, who said conservatives must “recognize that a healthy business climate requires more than low taxes. The people of this state, young and old, urban and rural, want to know Texas will have the water, the roads and the workers that we will need in order to grow.”
There were panels on education, transportation, healthcare, the budget, water and energy. Branch, who chairs the House Higher Education Committee, and others on the education panel, recognized that Texas is a state in some peril.
Bill Hammond , president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. “Unless we get this issue we’re discussing right, unfortunately Dr. (Steve) Murdock (Rice University demographer) will be right. He’s predicted that by 2040, 30 percent of adult Texans will lack a high school diploma unless we do a beter job of of educating our young people. That’s third world country territory for Texas … Our best educated are old people like me and that’s not good for our future.”
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock , R-Killeen, co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance. “Unless we turn around the black student, the brown student, the poor white student, our future workforce is dismal.”
Branch said that on education, water, roads and power, Texas had to rise to the occasion.
“If we don’t succeed people will say, OK, you had low taxation, you had light regulation, but you failed in the most fundamental areas of limited government, you didn’t invest in infrastructure, you had a massive influx of people – 1,200 a day – and you failed to secure your future.”
It was hard to know exactly what to make of the Texas Conservative Roundtable, which is only about a year old. The lead organizer of yesterday’s conference was Chuck Hahn of Southlake, a Texan of relatively recent vintage who served as chief of staff to California State Senate Republican leader, Dave Cogdill.
AgendaWise last year traced some of its funding indirectly to Straus.
The conference had its corporate sponsors: BP America, ANGA, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, AT&T Services, the Texas Farm Bureau, Wagner Oil, America’s Natural Gas Alliance, Hayden Oil & Gas and Gategreen Partners.
From Straus, who opened the day, to critical legislators like Branch, who peopled its panels, to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst , who closed the day, it had heavyweight participation. But to call attendance light would be generous. Never more than 50 and sometimes fewer than 20.
“The whole point of this is not to have an agenda but to have a conversation,” said Dallas attorney Brigham McCown , a member of the TCR board.
But, almost as soon as it was formed, TCR issued a legislative scorecard for the last session and, after it develops an agenda for this session based on conversations like yesterday’s, it will do the same for this session.
Branch ambition
Gromer Jeffers reports in The Dallas Morning News that Branch is considering running for attorney general if Greg Abbott decides to seek another office.
“It’s not a burp; it’s barely a fart.”
That’s how California Gov. Jerry Brown dismissed Gov. RIck Perry’s California radio ads inviting California businesses to relocate to the greener pastures of Texas. The Dallas Morning News’ Wayne Slater reported that at media availability at a UPS distribution center Tuesday, Brown said the measly $24,000 radio ad buy, paid for by TexasOne, a public-private partnership, was too piddling to be taken seriously.
“If they want to get in the game, let them spend $25 million on radio and television. Then I’ll take them seriously,” said Brown.
Machine Gun Morgan
CNN host Piers Morgan, who backs an assault weapons ban, brought his show to a gun store in Katy, Texas, Monday night, where he tried firing a machine gun and interviewed Attorney General Greg Abbott , who, when asked why anyone would need such weaponry, answered: “The [Mexican] cartels and the drug dealers are crossing the border confronting ranchers on an ongoing basis in the state of Texas. They deserve, under the Second Amendment, to have the ability to meet force with force, which is what the Second Amendment guarantees. So these ranchers need to be able to protect themselves.”
On his Facebook page, Gov. Rick Perry , wrote that he and “all Texas law-abiding gun owners hope that Piers Morgan enjoyed Texas. He failed, however, to convince anyone that citizens should lose the ability to protect themselves and their families by having their 2nd Amendment rights and freedoms taken from them.” [......]
Obama’s War on Texas – TEXAS STRIKES BACK
When the USDOJ tried to put Texas in a choke-hold by threatening a “No-Fly” Zone over Texas because of the HB [sic] 1937 Freedom of Travel Act, commonly known as the Anti-Groping TSA Bill, the outrage in Texas was tremendous.
The outrage was, understandably, even bigger when Texas Lawmakers actually decided to give in to the Federal blackmail and remove the Bill on May 24, 2011, knowing that there would be no chance for this Bill to be re-installed in the 82nd. Legislative Session.
I wrote about this in my last column.
“Don’t mess withTexas” and “Don’t forget theAlamo” once again this became more than just phrases.
One of the leading people fighting this outrageous act of gutlessness by some of our Texas Lawmakers was a Texas Native, freelance writer, fiscal conservative, and devoted wife and mother Ann-Marie Murrell. Both of us independently used our Networks to make people aware of this issue and fight this removal.
Several of our mutual friends have had their personal liberty and “Right to Privacy” completely ignored by being groped at the airports by the TSA.
As we Texans say – the Lord works in mysterious ways and Praise the Lord – our protests availed.
It was mostly Ann-Marie Murrells strong willed action of constantly contacting our Legislators that allows me to bring some good news to you.
On May 31st, 2011 Mrs. Murrell posted on FB:
“Rep. David Simpson just contacted me asking for help in spreading the word. Please contact Tx. Gov. Rick Perry re. pushing for a special session of Congress to pass the anti-groping TSA bill. Hopefully if Gov. Perry steps up it’ll make a difference: 800-252-9600. See note on my page for more info.”
In her note on Facebook following message:
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Subject: Ask Gov. Perry to tell the TSA “Come and Take It!”by Ann-Marie Murrell on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 7:14pm Hi friends, Rep. David Simpson sent me a personal e-mail asking that I spread his message. Please take a few moments to call and/or e-mail Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Whether you live in Texas or not, they could set the precident for the rest of America to make personal touching/groping in airports illegal. My fellow 4th Amendment activists, There is a possibility of getting the TSA bill added into a special session if we put enough pressure on the Governor. One more push this year! Here is a basic template that you can edit as needed and send on to your people. Just delete this top info and reformat for your group (or send as is). Thank you for all your work! We have accomplished a lot already with all of your help and we’re almost done with session for this year. Keep it up a bit longer! —————————————— URGENT: ASK the GOVERNOR To Include The TSA Bill – HB 1937 In His Call For a Special Session This is a “Gonzalez Moment” for Our 4th Amendment Rights Which Protect the Dignity of Travelers Governor Perry will probably call a special session immediately (Tuesday, May 31st) or possibly in July. He can call up multiple pieces of legislation at his discretion. Please call, fax, email, or write Governor Perry requesting him to include HB 1937 in the Special Session. Contact the Office of the Governor 800-252-9600 Texas 512-463-2000 Main Switch Board 512-463-1782 Austin & Out of State Contact Form (click to go) 512-463-1849 Fax P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711 HB 1937 prohibits public officials from groping the private parts of travelers as a condition of travel A public servant while acting under his office or employment as a part of a search of another person to grant access to a publicly accessible building or form of transportation intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly searches another person without probable cause; and touches certain private parts including through clothing or in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person. HB 1937 Will Stand Up to Scrutiny
Broad Support for HB 1937
This legislation is designed to protect the freedom and dignity of people by stopping the treatment of travelers as criminal suspects and the forcing of innocent citizens to submit to unreasonable and humiliating searches without probable cause as a condition of travel.
Update 31.May 2011
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH REP. SIMPSON again–it’s still on and actually the Lt. Gov David Dewhurst recommended the bill be reintroduced (possibly because he saw the national outpour & he’s up for reelection soon). PLEASE CALL GOV. PERRY’S OFFICE NOW–Rep. Simpson said this session (which STARTED TODAY) could go on for 2 weeks. Let Gov. Perry know your stories–tell him about it, Laydee Tex!
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On the same day she updated:
“I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH REP: SIMPSON again—it’s still on and actually the Lt. Governor Dewhurst recommended the bill be reintroduced (possibly because he saw the national outpour & and he’s up for reelection soon). PLEASE CALL GOV: PERRY’S OFFICE NOW—Rep. Simpson said that session which starts today could go on for 2 weeks. Let Gov. Perry know your stories.”
The fight is not over. We cannot alone rely on one person to fight the battle that concerns all of us. Though great Patriots like Ann-Marie and many of my other friends and fellow compatriots do what we can, we need all of you to help and support us.
Let’s face it, this country is built on WE THE PEOPLE and it is WE THE PEOPLE that hold the power, and our representatives need to be reminded that they have only 2 choices:
1) Represent us and our wishes, and get reelected or
2) Find the next unemployment office
Here I am – I urge you to make your voice heard and call your Rep. – Bombard them with faxes, Emails, or both and make sure they understand they are bound by an oath to protect and defend the Constitution and the American people, and not Barrack Obama’s Czars.
Here is the contact Stats for the Amarillo area (13th Congressional District)
Governor Rick Perry’s office
Telephone
Information and Referral Hotline [for Texas callers] :
(800) 843-5789
Citizen’s Opinion Hotline [for Texas callers] :
(800) 252-9600
Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline [for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers] :
(512) 463-1782
Office of the Governor Main Switchboard :
(512) 463-2000
Citizen’s Assistance Telecommunications Device
If you are using a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD),
call 711 to reach Relay Texas
Office of the Governor Fax:
(512) 463-1849
For email go to the Governors Website:
http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/
Lt. Governor Dewhurst’s office
Call by phone
(512) 463-0001
Fax:
(512) 463-0677
Email contact form
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (For West Texas)
Phone:
(806) 472-7533
Fax
(806) 472-7536
Email:
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson
Phone
(325) 676-2839
Fax
(325) 676-2937
Email:
http://hutchison.senate.gov/?p=email_kay
Texas Congressional District 13 Mac Thornberry
Amarillo Office
Phone
(806) 371-8844
Fax
(806)7044
Email:
https://thornberry.house.gov/Contact/default.aspx
Senate District 31 Senator Kel Seliger
Phone
(806) 374-8994
Fax
(806) 374-4607
Email:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist31/dist31.htm#Office
House District 86 – Rep. John T. Smithee
Phone
(806) 372-3327
Fax
(806) 342-0327
Email:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=86&session=82
I put a lot of effort in providing the contact information in here for you. Now it is up to you to take action. All it takes is a short message to let them know how you feel and urge them to support the Bill HB1937 ina special congressional Session.
We Texans have always taken actions against the Federal opressors, we always put up a fight. Go fight for our independency and call your Rep today.
DONT FORGET THE ALAMO
God bless you and
GOD BLESS TEXAS
Action Alert:
Texans for Accountable Government call for a “Support Anti Groping Bill” rally.
Place: Texas Capitol South Step; Austin – Texas
When: Saturday June 4, 2011
12.30pm – 1.30pm
War against Texas – How TX Lawmakers cringing before Obama
His Royal Highness Barrack Hussein Obama, tyrant, dictator in chief, ruler over all Americans (who have to shut up when his highness Obama speaks and rules) has done it again and nothing will stop him from doing it again.
He has declared WAR ON TEXAS AND IN A LONG RUN ON EVERY SINGLE STATE OF THE UNION THAT DARES TO TALK BACK – and what makes me double mad is that our Texas legislator have paddled back in no time.
What happened: since month we the citizens complain about the unconstitutional, inappropriate and sexual molesting “pat down” on airports by Federal TSA perverts. The entire country was angry about that.
The blow off was, among many others, the pat down of a 6 month old toddler at Kansas City Airport.
I was so amazingly proud of my Home state when Texas took it upon itself to make bold step forward protecting its citizens from this molesting handling and introduced “Texas Legislation Bill HBO 1973 – Travel Freedom Act” outlawing this procedure.
In lame terms the bill says that no resident attending a public building or Airport within the boundaries of Texas shell be pat down and any inappropriate physical contact will be prosecuted under Texas Law and that counts also for TSA agents on Airports.
Taking the lead on that many states considered a similar law introduction. But narcissist Dictator in Chief “B.H. Obama” of course did not take that and started an open war on Texas and in a long run any other State that dares not to bow before his highness.
It all started with an open insult to our Governor Rick Perry during Obama’s border visit in El Paso.
Though Obama knew he was going to Austin, the State capitol, he “invited” Rick Perry to travel 400 miles in one direction so he can stay on his side while Obama speaks to illegals.
Responsible Governor Perry informed him that this is a waste of money and time and since Obama is going to be the next day in Austin he is invites to the State capitol for a discussion.
Guess what, that narcissist Obama, being a guest in Texas, did not have enough courtesy, respect and manners to visit the Governor of Texas but ignored his invitation.
The next hit against Texas came right away. While being in Europe on a 6-day petting tour, at least they like him, Obama’s czars issued a letter to Texas Lawmakers concerning the already mentioned Bill “HBO 1973”.
The basic content of the letter reads as followed:
“If HR [sic] 1973 were enacted, the federal government would likely seek an emergency stay of the statue,” Murphy wrote. “Unless or until such a stay were granted, TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passenger and crew” (Source – the Tenth Amendment Center).
Or in other words, if Texas dares to protect its residents and its guests from inappropriate physical molesting President Obama will issue a No-Fly Zone over Texas and damage our economy and State sustainably.
As I have learned from Tenth Amendment Center similar letters have been issued to Oklahoma two years ago, Montana and Tennessee in 2009 in response to those states passing a Firearms freedom act, more recently to the Governor of Rhode Island warning against the States implementation of Marijuana legislation, and at least four other states implementing a similar “travel freedom legislation” act.
I was very disappointed to hear that Texas Lawmakers have not lived up to our amazing Heritage as a fighting State and instead of taking a stand against “Obama tyranny” they have pulled their tails between their legs like a beaten dog and on May 24, 2011 one day after the letter was delivered Texas Legislation has withdrawn the “Travel Freedom Act, also known as HBO 1973” and on May 25, 2011 marked the same as “Not placed in Intent” level.
Shame on you Texas Lawmakers!!
This is not the Texas spirit of our founding fathers in the Alamo. Our spirit is.
“DON’T FORGET THE ALAMO”.
But there are things we can do. Call your congressman/woman, call Lt. Governor Dewhurst (Website Link: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php), his phone number: 512-463-0001, and let them know how disappointed you are, go the Governors website and leave a message (Website Link: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/) or call the governor his phone number is 512-463-2000.
Make them know you support continues of the Bill 1973 and show them that WE THE PEOPLE RULE and not a dictator in Washington.
I wrote a mail to Governor Perry already, I let him know of the publishing my column and I called him.
You also may want to read.
Ann-Marie Murrell on Patriot Update: “Texas Anti-Groping Bill Shot Down by DOJ Threats” based on her Interview with TX Rep. David Simpson
GOD BLESS TEXAS
Sources:
- USA Today
- Texas Legislator
- Tenth Amendment Center
- Ann-Marie Murrell on Patriot Update
Dumping Nuclear Waste on Texas
How do you feel about the safety and well being of yourself and your children being jeopardized for hundreds of years for a profit of 19 Million Dollars in Tax revenue made between 2012 and 2016?
Well, that just happened on 03/30/2011 when the Texas Legislature passed the Law Bill HB 2184 by a vote of 9 Yays, 3 Nays, and 1 not voting.
This Bill in simple terms give one single private company the authorization to collect nuclear waste all across the country and dump it in Texas, while at the same time in a case of Emergency not the company, but the State of Texas accepts ownership and liability.
Endangering Texas Citizens for “probable Revenue Gain” of 19,000,000 (nineteen Million) Dollars in five years. Yes, not in one year that is a total of five years.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
| 2012 | $2,000,000 |
| 2013 | $6,000,000 |
| 2014 | $5,000,000 |
| 2015 | $3,000,000 |
| 2016 | $3,000,000 |
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
| Fiscal Year | Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1 |
| 2012 | $2,000,000 |
| 2013 | $6,000,000 |
| 2014 | $5,000,000 |
| 2015 | $3,000,000 |
| 2016 | $3,000,000 |
Since 03.11.2011 when a Tsunami of biblical magnitude hit the northern part of Japan and not only killed thousands of Japanese, but also destroyed the nuclear power plant of Fukoshima damaging all four reactors the entire world has been discussing the use and the safety of Nuclear Plants.
According to U.S. NRC there are 4 power plants active in the State of Texas. “Comanche Peak 1” and “Comanche Peak 2” which are located on I-40 SW of Fort Worth in central Texas, but “South Texas Project 1” and “South Texas Project 2” are located in Bay City Texas directly on the Gulf Coast in an area well known for its Hurricanes.
Like many Americans I have never wasted much thought on the danger of Nuclear power and trusted in American engineering and professionalism.
But Fukoshima taught me that even the most technologically advanced and sophisticated Country is not immune from the power of nature and its lethal force.
It is the power of Nature in combination with the greed of some businesses that really worries me.
Following the news reports all over the world it is shocking how easy it is for nuclear plant operating companies to cover up and hide dangerous incidents and accidents in their plants, even in highly overregulated socialist countries, such as Europe.
When following the news reports the talk is always about the nuclear fuel rods as being the most dangerous part of a Power plant, but there is a real hidden danger in the nuclear waste. That stuff is at least as lethal and dangerous as the actual rods.
And it’s this nuclear waste that the Texas Legislature has now permitted to be dumped in Texas; by a company with no physical experience in that area, Debra Medina reports.
U.S. NRC classifies nuclear Waste in 4 categories:
1) LLW – Low Level Waste
2) WIR – Waste incidental reprocessing
3) HLW – High level Waste
4) Uranium mill tailings
But just because the Texas Legislature has determined the authorized Waste dump as LLW’s that does not mean the stuff is not dangerous.
The time frame in question when dealing with radioactive waste ranges from 10,000 to 1,000,000 years according to studies based on the effect of estimated radiation. Researchers suggest that the forecast of health detriment for such periods should be examined critically. More practical studies only consider up to 100 years as far as effective planning and cost evaluation (From Wikipedia).
Now putting this in context with a low experienced company and the fact that in any case of emergency the State of Texas takes responsibility, this 19 Million Dollars of tax revenue makes the whole thing look like a big joke.
And the Texas Legislature has not yet revealed where that nuclear Material is supposed to be stored?
And there are many things that can go terribly wrong here.
1) The company does not provide a proper financial assessment and local managers start to dump that stuff illegally
Sure, the federal government represented by the NRC is the superior controller, but let’s be honest since when has a Federal Institution run by a bunch of bureaucrats ever managed to do their job properly.
2) Material can be stolen by Terrorists
The material stored might not be weapon-grade plutonium and capable of building a nuclear bomb, but it could be used for a so called dirty bomb. Dirty bombs are small bombs with small contamination of biological, chemical, or nuclear pyrolyzed material.
3) Storage Units are targets of Terrorists
These storage Units, wherever they might be could be a target of Terrorists either for attacks or for theft, pilferage, and non-delivery.
4) Incompetent handling of Storage material and contamination of Grounds
This is not really made up out of thin air. Many previously “reputable” companies have been caught dumping their contaminated waste for economical reasons illegally or negligently.
But while chemical or biological waste has a measurable half-value-period nuclear waste when dumped negligently contaminates the ground for hundreds of years. And Texas is primarily a ranching State.
That nuclear contamination, once in the ground, can spread all over Texas. The contaminated grass can spread through pollination across the State; it will then be ingested by cattle and other animals affecting their health and then more than likely end up on your dinner table.
5) And there are many more things that can happen.
So, we have two plants right in a Hurricane area, and who is telling us that there is no way a Tsunami can hit the state of Texas? We also will now have nuclear waste dumped in our State and we the Texas Taxpayer are not only going to carry the burden of financial liability, but also take the risk of contamination.
And again, do you really think in case of an accident the information and warnings will be given out immediately or accurately? Observing (especially lately) how Nuclear Power companies deal with accidents and the release of information to the public, I doubt that.
As far as I am concerned I have already called members of the Texas Legislature to stop that nonsense and I urge you to do the same.
I am not one of those green activists or radical environmental protectors, but I am a resident of Texas, a proud Texan, and a father of a son who worries about the future and Japan has not only opened my eyes, but also made me re-think my position on this.
Call your congress rep. today!
May
GOD BLESS TEXAS
Sources:
1) Texas Legislative
2) Texas Legislative
3) U.S. NRC – Comanche Peak 1
4) U.S. NRC – Comanche Peak 2
5) U.S. NRC – South Texas Project 1
6) U.S. NRC – South Texas Project 2
7) Debra Medina
8) U.S. NRC Waste Categories
9) Wikipedia
tclehner
