Comment to "Sex in the Suburbs"

I agree with my texas, these people did nothing wrong, other than piss off the wrong neighbors. Amendment 4 of the Bill of Rights says “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches..” doesn’t that amendment mention something about being secure in your home. These people should not be harassed by the police for no more than noise complaints or parking in private property. There are many other laws being broken at the same time that are worse than group sex, maybe the police should concentrate on those more serious crimes. When the complainers said they should make a place of business elsewhere, I liked my texas’ reaction, “Last time I checked there wasn’t any place where you could pay to be in a sex group.” This was a well-done article and made me realize what some police are doing to waste there time, other than getting the real criminals.

850,000 Texas Children Eligible for Medicaid & CHIP, but Ae Not Enrolled

There are 1.5 million children in Texas that do not have health insurance, more than 850,000 are eligible for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP, but are not currently enrolled into either program. Medicaid is free for families that cannot afford children’s health insurance. CHIP is a program for the families that earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. Both of these programs provide immunizations, checkups, prescription drugs, hospital visits and dental care.

Human Services Executive Commissioner, Albert Hawkins said “some families just don’t know about the programs or others say their children are healthy and don’t need the care. Even if you think your children are healthy, there can always be that time that the children could get sick and need a doctor and the family not have enough money to pay for the doctor’s visit.

Texas needs to do a better job of letting these families know about these programs even if the families claim their children are healthy. Advertising in Texas magazines, local television stations or on billboards would go far in helping the word get out about these programs and help these families give their children the proper health care they deserve.

I agree "TX Prison Guards indicted in inmates assault"

I agree. This subject is often over looked just because the inmates are in prison and once there no one cares what their rights are. Yes they did wrong to be put in there but do not deserve more cruel and unusual punishment from guards that are obviously getting away with it. I’m sure the two “correctional officers” that witnessed the punishment were friends with the officers giving out the punishment, but when you see this kind of abuse that should not be happening in prison or out, you should feel the right to speak up. This is something this often over looked and needs to be closer watched. Also the prison mate, Robert Tanzini, should not have to represent himself, what kind of law experience is he going to have. He is going to be in a lose, lose situation and will never have the proper right to defend himself. TX Reporter Chick is right when accused of the assault they should lose their right as correctional officers, be sentenced for 10 years, fined $250,000 and some of the fine should go to the family of the victim.

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.

"Law of Parties" to be ABOLISHED

We talked about this in class and since I heard about it, well it just got on my nerves. As the article is titled on the Austin American Statesman website, "He was the Wheelman, not the Triggerman," the Law of Parties, which Texas is the only state that has this law, needs to be abolished. If you are with someone and do not have any association with the crime, you do not need to be punished to death. Thankfully on August 30th this year, Governor Rick Perry appealed the case against Kenneth Foster, but this law needs to be abolished all together. Foster claims he had no idea that the murder was going to happen, but even if he knew or not, it should not mean death, maybe life in prison, which in my mind is worth than death.

Click the title of the article for the link.