Yes for Proposition 2

Proposition 2 of the proposed 16 constitutional amendments, would authorize 500 million dollars worth of low-interest student loans and would add to the depleting student aid funds now available. This proposition is a great idea because the bond would not take away any taxpayer’s money. The money would also allow more students to better themselves and reach for higher education. Higher educating the upcoming generations of our citizens will help the future of our state. Also having a non-profit state agency would make the students’ loan rates significantly lower than what students will get on the commercial loan market. And since the loans will have a lower interest rate, they will help students pay off their loans without costing them too much money and getting them into too much debt after they graduate. The bonds also would not count against the states’ debt limit, since the investors will be reimbursed with the students’ loan payments. By 2009 the coordinating board’s bonding authority will run out if proposition 2 is not approved. In today’s world education is more important than ever and this commitment would benefit Texans for years to come. Proposition 2 offers a rare opportunity to invest in higher education our future leaders and without increasing taxes.

DPS Wasteing Money Over Tapes

The Texas State Department of Public Safety, or DPS, is refusing to give up videotapes of goings-on in a back hallway of the State Capitol building during a legislative session. Attorney General Greg Abbott rejected the DPS’ argument, which was it is a matter of state security. The Department of Public Safety is using the taxpayer’s money by paying $165,000 in legal fees so far to fight the disclosure of the videotapes. A Texas Observer filed an open records request for the copies of the tape to better understand a legislative battle over a bill to enact a pilot school voucher program. The Observer wanted to see if James Leininger, who is an advocate for school vouchers, was in the back hallway lobbying and, if he was then to see whom he met with. This is just basic freedom of press and our Department of Public Safety is wasting our money over a useless videotape. Since the DPS is covering this tape up, it really makes you wonder what did happen on the tape that they want to keep so secret. In the court filings the DPS has claimed that the videotapes contain “critical, sensitive information” about the details of Capitol security. After that statement, it is hard to not think something happened that the DPS wants to cover up and is okay with spending the taxpayer’s money to do so.

For the link to this article, just click the title.

US Needs Coastal Insurance Plan for Next Major Hurricane

After all the money lost from Hurricane Katrina, this is a great idea and should be strongly looked at. Since the insurance rates went up after Katrina, a lot of people decided they just could not afford it and no longer have flood insurance for their homes. The idea of the government becoming the main provider of hurricane insurance in coastal areas, would help regulate the price of the insurance so that everyone could afford it and not be forced to relocate because they are worried they would not be able to replace their home after a hurricane. The other great idea was what the state of Florida is doing, where the government offers a catastrophe fund for private insurers. As I was reading the comments to this editorial, most of them said we should just move inland, that is just stupid, first of all you will never get that many people that depend on the ocean to move inland away from what they depend. And second the tourist attraction that the ocean brings will never go away; there will always be housing and businesses on the coast. We depend on the ocean in many ways, such as trade and fishing and moving inland would stop that. The best way is to set up a catastrophe fund and always be prepared for the next major hurricane. There is that risk that the fund will not be enough but that is why we should start now, so that the fund will be there and be enough to rebuild what we lost.

Click title for the link to the article.