Action Update - Issue 93 : : March 20, 2007
The AG and Politics
What my father taught me about Bobby Kennedy
by Royal Masset
Now that Democrats control both branches of Congress and can launch investigations with shotgun subpoenas it can be expected that every week or two one member of the Bush administration will be tried by the media and found guilty. Last week it was Libby. Next week it will be Karl Rove. Now it is Alberto Gonzales. Soon it will be Dick Cheney.
During the 2000 election I saw Alberto Gonzales campaigning in La Grange, Fayette County, for reelection to the Texas Supreme Court. He had no Democrat opponent in November. Naturally I asked him why he was campaigning. His sensible answer was that as a Judge he could not speak out on issues and this election would be his only chance to meet with grass roots voters, make personal contacts and build good will for the next six years.
A lot has happened since then. It was originally assumed that President Bush would appoint him to be the first Hispanic Justice on the U. S. Supreme Court. Because of the War on Terror (and opposition of some conservative groups) such was not to be. He has served President Bush well in Texas as Counsel to the Governor and then Secretary of State. Because of the War on Terror, Alberto was the President’s point man for many controversial legal rulings he made as White House Counsel and now as U. S. Attorney General.
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Notable last minute bill filings:
taxes, healthcare, and toll roads
by William Lutz and Christine DeLoma Lone Star Report
March 9 was the last day for lawmakers to file a bill without having to seek the four-fifths consent of colleagues.
To date, almost 4,000 bills have been filed in the House and 2,000 in the Senate. Obviously, we don't have the time or space to write about every one of them.
So please accept our apologies in advance for not mentioning your favorite. But there are some interesting last minute filings and trends.
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Texas Toll Roads -- the Good, Bad and Ugly
by Robert Nichols, State Senator
Few issues have become as emotionally or politically charged over the past few years as toll roads. As a Texas Transportation Commissioner for eight years and current state senator, I have a well-documented history of supporting toll roads to ensure our transportation infrastructure meets the demands of our growing population.
However, supporting toll roads does not equate to supporting a plan that prohibits competition or agreeing to policies that enrich a few shareholders at the expense of the taxpayer.
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RECOMMENDED READING:
- These Color Don't Run
The problem for the cut-and-run crowd is that a hearty group of American patriots won’t
sit back and allow another generation of America’s troops to be denigrated and
disrespected
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Senate Acts on Electric Rates, TXU Buyout
Senators voted 30-0 to approve three bills whose goal is to increase competition among electric providers, force dominant power companies to sell off assets and allowthe state regulators to review a private equity takeover of TXU
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