I think Houston based Lyondell is the largest producer of MTBE in the world. The
Canadian company still can sell to rest of the U.S, I so I don't see how that
will fly.  Don't many of these NAFTA suits get negotiated as package deals? 
Bush has proposed some pretty stupid tariffs, such as the lumber tariff against
Canada.
-jon boyd
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Randy Scott
   To: OilPatch Democrats
   Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 9:26 AM
   Subject: [OPDems] Fwd: [Kucinich-Hou-Core] Fw: Make Oil Companies PAY for
Their Environmental Damage


   First, I agree with the sentiment expressed below, however;
   Secondly, the author doesn't seem very well educated about MTBE. While it
certainly IS a deadly,
   toxic poison, the last I heard or read of it, MTBE has no odor at all, it
isn't "smelly". That's
   one of the things that make it so dangerous, it could be in your tap water and
you don't know it.

   BTW; this is directly related to the treason of NAFTA. A Canadian company that
makes MBTE has sued
   the State of California after Cal banned the use of MTBE because NAFTA allows
a foreign company to
   sue for damages on the grounds that an environmental regulation in an American
state causes a loss
   of profits for the foreign company. I don't know whether CAFTA contains such
provisions.

   Randy


   --- Kate <katestorm@...> wrote:

   > > ----- Original Message -----
   > From: "The Pen" <activist.gb@...>
   > To: <katestorm@...>
   > Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:06 PM
   > Subject: Make Oil Companies PAY for Their Environmental Damage
   >
   >
   > >
   > > The People Email Network Energy Bill ACTION Alert
   > >
   > > This year again the administration is trying to deliver a huge payoff to
   > > their corrupt oil company campaign contributors, absolving them of any
   > > future liability for polluting our water supplies with MTBE, an insidious
   > > smelly solvent infiltrating water systems all over the country.  Let me
   > > get this straight, the oil industry, who is rolling in so much windfall
   > > profits cash their biggest problem is they don't know what to do with it,
   > > THAT oil industry can't afford to clean up after their environmental
   > > disasters.  This measure barely passed the house but not in the Senate and
   > > will now be settled in conference.
   > >
   > > With such shaky support, those pushing for this mammoth act of corporate
   > > welfare are offering to create some kind of fund that oil companies will
   > > "contribute" to in some kind of LIMITED way, and the rest of us just get
   > > to pick up the rest of their tab, whatever that might be.  And if that
   > > wasn't outrageous enough, we now discover that hidden in the energy bill
   > > like some stealth elephant is repeal of the original Public Utilities
   > > Holding Company Act, the last thing standing between our public utilities
   > > and worst kind of speculators, like nobody's supposed to notice or Enron
   > > never happened.  We still have time to raise a howl about all this, so
   > > please use the action page below to do so
   > >
   > > http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
   > >
   > > What they did to grease this hit job on the PUHCA was to propose that
   > > oversight responsibility be shifted to the director of FERC, who just
   > > HAPPENS to be a hardcore administration crony.  Yes, you heard right, yet
   > > another wolf put in charge of administrating the dismantling of the Hen
   > > Protection Act, this one a key member of Cheney's SECRET TASK FORCE who
   > > wrote the energy bill itself.  It gives incentives to mostly the wrong
   > > people, does nothing to promote real conservation to reduce our dependence
   > > on foreign oil, will decimate the sea life off our coasts with
   > > excruciating sonic booms in preparation for destroying even more of our
   > > coastal environment, and all instead of making renewables the urgent
   > > policy priority they should be.
   > >
   > > http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
   > >
   > > Please take action NOW!  Forward this email to everyone you know, and
   > > encourage its posting on blogs and websites.
   > >
   > > Or if you would like to cease receiving our alerts, just use the function
   > > at http://www.usalone.com/optout.htm
   > >
   > > Powered by The People's Email Network
   > > Copyright 2005, Patent pending, All rights reserved
   > >
   > >
   >
   > _______________________________________________
   > To reply only to the person posting this note, use "Reply".
   > To reply so that everyone on this list receives your note, use "Reply All".
   > Check the "To:" field in your message, before sending, to ensure it goes to
the correct address.
   >
   > Progressive Action Alliance  http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
   > Kucinich-Houston-Discuss mailing list
   > Kucinich-Houston-Discuss@...
   > To subscribe, unsubscribe, access the archives, or change your options on
this list, go to:
   > http://lists.chandrakantha.com/mailman/listinfo/kucinich-houston-discuss
   >


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

First, I agree with the sentiment expressed below, however;
Secondly, the author doesn't seem very well educated about MTBE. While it
certainly IS a deadly,
toxic poison, the last I heard or read of it, MTBE has no odor at all, it isn't
"smelly". That's
one of the things that make it so dangerous, it could be in your tap water and
you don't know it.

BTW; this is directly related to the treason of NAFTA. A Canadian company that
makes MBTE has sued
the State of California after Cal banned the use of MTBE because NAFTA allows a
foreign company to
sue for damages on the grounds that an environmental regulation in an American
state causes a loss
of profits for the foreign company. I don't know whether CAFTA contains such
provisions.

Randy


--- Kate <katestorm@...> wrote:

> > ----- Original Message -----
> From: "The Pen" <activist.gb@...>
> To: <katestorm@...>
> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:06 PM
> Subject: Make Oil Companies PAY for Their Environmental Damage
>
>
> >
> > The People Email Network Energy Bill ACTION Alert
> >
> > This year again the administration is trying to deliver a huge payoff to
> > their corrupt oil company campaign contributors, absolving them of any
> > future liability for polluting our water supplies with MTBE, an insidious
> > smelly solvent infiltrating water systems all over the country.  Let me
> > get this straight, the oil industry, who is rolling in so much windfall
> > profits cash their biggest problem is they don't know what to do with it,
> > THAT oil industry can't afford to clean up after their environmental
> > disasters.  This measure barely passed the house but not in the Senate and
> > will now be settled in conference.
> >
> > With such shaky support, those pushing for this mammoth act of corporate
> > welfare are offering to create some kind of fund that oil companies will
> > "contribute" to in some kind of LIMITED way, and the rest of us just get
> > to pick up the rest of their tab, whatever that might be.  And if that
> > wasn't outrageous enough, we now discover that hidden in the energy bill
> > like some stealth elephant is repeal of the original Public Utilities
> > Holding Company Act, the last thing standing between our public utilities
> > and worst kind of speculators, like nobody's supposed to notice or Enron
> > never happened.  We still have time to raise a howl about all this, so
> > please use the action page below to do so
> >
> > http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
> >
> > What they did to grease this hit job on the PUHCA was to propose that
> > oversight responsibility be shifted to the director of FERC, who just
> > HAPPENS to be a hardcore administration crony.  Yes, you heard right, yet
> > another wolf put in charge of administrating the dismantling of the Hen
> > Protection Act, this one a key member of Cheney's SECRET TASK FORCE who
> > wrote the energy bill itself.  It gives incentives to mostly the wrong
> > people, does nothing to promote real conservation to reduce our dependence
> > on foreign oil, will decimate the sea life off our coasts with
> > excruciating sonic booms in preparation for destroying even more of our
> > coastal environment, and all instead of making renewables the urgent
> > policy priority they should be.
> >
> > http://www.usalone.com/energy.htm
> >
> > Please take action NOW!  Forward this email to everyone you know, and
> > encourage its posting on blogs and websites.
> >
> > Or if you would like to cease receiving our alerts, just use the function
> > at http://www.usalone.com/optout.htm
> >
> > Powered by The People's Email Network
> > Copyright 2005, Patent pending, All rights reserved
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> To reply only to the person posting this note, use "Reply".
> To reply so that everyone on this list receives your note, use "Reply All".
> Check the "To:" field in your message, before sending, to ensure it goes to
the correct address.
>
> Progressive Action Alliance  http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
> Kucinich-Houston-Discuss mailing list
> Kucinich-Houston-Discuss@...
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, access the archives, or change your options on this
list, go to:
> http://lists.chandrakantha.com/mailman/listinfo/kucinich-houston-discuss
>


__________________________________________________
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Lots to do in Houston this Saturday - and please consider yourself
invited to this as well.

3:00-5:00 p.m ~ Helping Democrats Get Elected (HDGE) Pappas Burger
Restaurant [in the party room] 5815 Westheimer Rd, 77057
http://tinyurl.com/8n58w [between Fountain View & Chimney Rock] see
HDGE site http://www.hdge.bravehost.com/ - We will talk about
upcoming city elections and the candidates. Information about the
2006 elections and campaigns will also be provided & disscussed.



--- In OPDems@yahoogroups.com, Randy Scott <rscott77070@y...> wrote:
> > For Immediate Release
> > July 16, 2005
> >
> > US Diplomat Who Resigned over Invasion of Iraq
> > to Speak at Downing Street Minutes Teach-In
> >
> > Press Contact: June Larsen 281-482-5621
> >
> > The Progressive Action Alliance (PAA)
> > http://progressiveactionalliance.org , Houston members of Code
Pink
> > http://www.codepink4peace.org/ , and other organizations will
sponsor
> > the "Downing Street Minutes Teach-In/Movie Night" from 7 to 9:30
pm
> > Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the First Unitarian Universalist
Church at
> > 5200 Fannin. This is an event to recognize the 3rd anniversary of
the
> > Downing Street Minutes and it coincides with similar events in
over
> > 150 cities nationwide. Our special guest and speaker will be Ann
> > Wright, one of three US diplomats who resigned in March 2003 in
> > opposition to the Iraq invasion
> >
> > This effort is being coordinated by After Downing Street
> > http://www.afterdowningstreet.org , a coalition of veterans'
groups,
> > peace groups, and political activist groups, which has launched a
> > campaign to urge the U.S. Congress to begin a formal
investigation
> > into whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in
> > connection with the Iraq war.
> >
> > The Downing Street Minutes (DSM) are the highly classified
minutes of
> > a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his advisers, which
were
> > leaked to a London newspaper. They show conclusively that Bush
> > deceived the American people and the world by saying he would try
to
> > avoid war when he had in fact already decided to invade
Iraq. "Bush
> > wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by
the
> > conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts
were
> > being fixed around the policy." The DSM have received intensive
> > worldwide circulation but have been largely suppressed by the
> > American mainstream media. It is essential that we continue to
bring
> > them to the public's attention by events such as this. Complete
> > details about the DSM may be found at the
> > http://www.afterdowningstreet.org web site.
> >
> > Our speaker, Ann Wright, is a member of Code Pink and has spoken
> > at many Code Pink events in Washington, DC and New York City. Ms.
> > Wright has master's and law degrees from the University of
Arkansas
> > and a masters degree in National Security Affairs from the US
Naval
> > War College, Newport, Rhode Island. She has been featured in
articles
> > in the Washington Post magazine, Government Executive magazine,
> > Foreign Service Journal, Ms magazine and has been interviewed by
> > radio and TV networks.  She participated in the documentary film
> > "Uncovered: The Truth about the Iraq War." Her story is in the
new
> > Code Pink book. For more information about this remarkable woman,
you
> > can read her extremely impressive biography and testimony to
Congress
> > on the PAA web site at http://progressiveactionalliance.org .
> >
> > In addition, we will have several very good films, which are
still
> > being selected. The meeting is open to the public. A $5 donation
> > is suggested to help defray the expense of renting the meeting
room,
> > but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. There will be
free
> > refreshments. Further details are still being worked out and
updates
> > of this information will be available on the PAA web site listed
> > above.
> >
> > Please join us in this educational experience and help build
support
> > for the growing effort to bring out the truth, and to remove
those
> > who lie to justify war from the White House.
> >
> > Press Contact: June Larsen 281-482-5621
> >
> > For more information and updates, see the Progressive Action
Alliance
> > web site http://progressiveactionalliance.org/ or http://paa-
tx.org .
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

> For Immediate Release
> July 16, 2005
>
> US Diplomat Who Resigned over Invasion of Iraq
> to Speak at Downing Street Minutes Teach-In
>
> Press Contact: June Larsen 281-482-5621
>
> The Progressive Action Alliance (PAA)
> http://progressiveactionalliance.org , Houston members of Code Pink
> http://www.codepink4peace.org/ , and other organizations will sponsor
> the "Downing Street Minutes Teach-In/Movie Night" from 7 to 9:30 pm
> Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at
> 5200 Fannin. This is an event to recognize the 3rd anniversary of the
> Downing Street Minutes and it coincides with similar events in over
> 150 cities nationwide. Our special guest and speaker will be Ann
> Wright, one of three US diplomats who resigned in March 2003 in
> opposition to the Iraq invasion
>
> This effort is being coordinated by After Downing Street
> http://www.afterdowningstreet.org , a coalition of veterans' groups,
> peace groups, and political activist groups, which has launched a
> campaign to urge the U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation
> into whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in
> connection with the Iraq war.
>
> The Downing Street Minutes (DSM) are the highly classified minutes of
> a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair and his advisers, which were
> leaked to a London newspaper. They show conclusively that Bush
> deceived the American people and the world by saying he would try to
> avoid war when he had in fact already decided to invade Iraq. "Bush
> wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the
> conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were
> being fixed around the policy." The DSM have received intensive
> worldwide circulation but have been largely suppressed by the
> American mainstream media. It is essential that we continue to bring
> them to the public's attention by events such as this. Complete
> details about the DSM may be found at the
> http://www.afterdowningstreet.org web site.
>
> Our speaker, Ann Wright, is a member of Code Pink and has spoken
> at many Code Pink events in Washington, DC and New York City. Ms.
> Wright has master's and law degrees from the University of Arkansas
> and a masters degree in National Security Affairs from the US Naval
> War College, Newport, Rhode Island. She has been featured in articles
> in the Washington Post magazine, Government Executive magazine,
> Foreign Service Journal, Ms magazine and has been interviewed by
> radio and TV networks.  She participated in the documentary film
> "Uncovered: The Truth about the Iraq War." Her story is in the new
> Code Pink book. For more information about this remarkable woman, you
> can read her extremely impressive biography and testimony to Congress
> on the PAA web site at http://progressiveactionalliance.org .
>
> In addition, we will have several very good films, which are still
> being selected. The meeting is open to the public. A $5 donation
> is suggested to help defray the expense of renting the meeting room,
> but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. There will be free
> refreshments. Further details are still being worked out and updates
> of this information will be available on the PAA web site listed
> above.
>
> Please join us in this educational experience and help build support
> for the growing effort to bring out the truth, and to remove those
> who lie to justify war from the White House.
>
> Press Contact: June Larsen 281-482-5621
>
> For more information and updates, see the Progressive Action Alliance
> web site http://progressiveactionalliance.org/ or http://paa-tx.org .



____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Reminder

> Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 11:42:02 -0500
> To: uucic@..., kucinich-houston@...,
>    "FUUCGreenSanctuary@yahoogroups.com" <FUUCGreenSanctuary@yahoogroups.com>
> From: Nan Hildreth <NanHildreth@...>
> CC:
> Subject: [Kucinich-Hou] Peak Oil Conference Saturday afternoon
>
> Thanks for your sponsorship of this event.
>
> Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE
> SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005
> 1-5:30 p.m.
> First Unitarian Universalist Church
> 5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004
>
> What is Peak Oil?
>
> After growing for a century, global oil production will
> peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil
> will rise drastically changing our property values, food
> prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part
> of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the
> next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).
>
> Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts
> Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.
> The US government thinks the peak may be decades
> from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005
> or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is
> until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary
> film, The End of Suburbia.
>
> This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,
> shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of
> suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and
> shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue
> forever. It will take more than a decade for the US
> economy to adapt to declining oil production
> according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a
> February report to US Department of Energy.
>
> For decades, movements have been growing that offer
> wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,
> alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local
> food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston
> representatives of these solution movements.
>
> Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your
> questions and ideas as we face the challenges of
> transition and envision a future without cheap oil.
>
> Schedule of Activities
> 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak
> Oil
> 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia
> 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Panel discussion
> 3:30 - 5:15 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical
> issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.
> 5:15 - 5:30 p.m. Closing
>
> Panelists
> Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA
> Dan Barnum, architect and city planner
> Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance
> Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net
> Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org
> Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas
> Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center
> Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org
>
> Sponsors
> Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian
> Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org
> Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org
> Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church
> Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org
> Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org
> TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,
> www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp
>
> Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned
> away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First
> Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.
> coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups
>
> Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...
> 713 726-9009
>
> Nan Hildreth, Houston
> 713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
> 713-443-3104 cell
> 3939 Luca St.
> Houston, Tx 77021
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Progressive Action Alliance  http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
> Kucinich-Houston mailing list
> Kucinich-Houston@...
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, access the archives, or change your options on this
list, go to:
> http://web.mylinuxisp.com/mailman/listinfo/kucinich-houston
>
>




__________________________________
Discover Yahoo!
Use Yahoo! to plan a weekend, have fun online and more. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/

Unfortunately, this is the same day as our OilPatch Democrats Fun Day, but since
it's in the same
neighborhood at a different time, a double-dip may be possible.

Randy


--- Ivan ESPINOSA <ie3456@...> wrote:

> Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 18:32:40 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Ivan ESPINOSA <ie3456@...>
> Subject: Hello Friends
>
>
> Dear HDGE Team,
>
>
>
>                              We hope each & every one of you has been having
an enjoyable
> summer. The staff of the program is excited & optimistic about the 2005 City
of Houston
> election. There are some fine Democrats running for City Council. And, the
best part of this is
> that we will begin to get organized and refreshed for the 2006 election
season. The Democrats
> have a good chance of winning many positions and offices. With your help, we
will be victorious.
> We wanted to inform you about the upcoming meet-up of the Helping Democrats
Get Elected Club. It
> will be on Saturday, July 23, 2005 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. We really need
everyone to attend
> this important meet-up. We will talk about the upcoming city elections and the
candidates.
> Information about the 2006 elections and candidates will also be provided &
discussed. We will
> organize ourselves and set up some group committees. The meet-up will be held
at the Pappas
> Burger on Westheimer Road between Fountain View & Chimney
>  Rock. We hope to see all of you at the meet-up and please check out our
website at
> www.hdge.bravehost.com
> >
> Sincerely,
>
> The HDGE Program
>



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Make Yahoo! your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

"Here we go a-Viking, a-Viking, a-Viking
Oh, here we go a-Viking:
Pillage, rape & plunnnnnder!"

[2nd verse, same as the first]



--- Kate <katestorm@...> wrote:

> From: "Kate" <katestorm@...>
> To: <texas_kos@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Oil motive for Iraq invasion began well before war
> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:53:41 -0500
>
> This is a fantastically good, comprehensive article on the oil motives for the
invasion.  One
> writer claims the attempt to sell off Iraq's oil (really the only natural
resource they have)
> started the insurgency and drove it (don't know if it still drives it but I
bet it does.
> Insurgents are enraged, too, that Halliburton got the lion's share of
reconstruction contracts
> instead of Iraqi firms that were more qualified.  They see foreigners making
billions while they
> don't have water or electricity.)  But these are by-the-ways.
>
> The body of the article is concerned with a historical approach, tracing the
beginning of the
> Iraq invasion plan soon after they got in office, and citing each development
along the way.
>
> http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Iraq's_oil_industry
>
> Then we get some current information.  It's a great article with plenty of
links, and at the
> end, important referrals.
>
> Further, the Cabinet decided in April 2001 that Iraq was an obstacle to oil
flow.  The decision
> is further down in the article.
>
> http://www.plim.org/IraqOil.html
>
>
> In Googling that, I ran into this article about the  2001 PNAC plan for regime
change and global
> domination . It sums up the PNAC plan pretty neatly.  Some British politician
was just outraged
> by it.  I'm sure we all are.
>
> http://www.culturechange.org/Bush_planned_Iraq_before.html
>
> Somewhere I learned that Cheney's office was studying maps of Iraq oil in
early 2001.  Oh,
> here's one article about maps the energy task force had.  Says the military
option was suggested
> to Cheney in April 2001.
>
> http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33642
>
> Here's a good condemnation of Cheney as a driving force to the war.  Remember,
we've got to get
> him too.
>
> http://www.counterpunch.org/singham07192003.html
>
> Chas. I tried the method you recommended to get a live link, but it isn't
working for me.  Sorry
> about the links guys and gals, I need help transferring a link that lives.
>
> Kate




____________________________________________________
Yahoo! Sports
Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football
http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/30/12434/2296

Texas: Approves Highest Tax in Nation (Could this spell Democratic Wins in 06?
It should)
by comeon  Thu Jun 30th, 2005 at 09:04:33 PDT

For those on the outside, it is important to understand that Texas has long
prided itself as one
of only a handful of states in the union that does not have a state income tax.
Of course, for
many years the flip side of this is that Texans enjoy higher sales taxes than
many other states in
order to support state programs that might otherwise be supported with an income
tax.
It is in reality a bit of a taxation shell game, whereby people are paying taxes
with their
purchases rather than in a lump sum once a year on their income, this makes
paying taxes less
obvious and has apparently been the preference of many Texans in the past.

A good article giving the details of this plan can be found at Austin American
Statesman Online
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/tx/legislature/stories/06/30taxes.h\
tml

Another important detail is the high rate of property taxes in the state and
what has been termed
taxation by valuation. Taxation by valuation has been proposed as a problem in
districts who's
property taxes are already at the maximum allowable by law, in order to raise
more revenue,
counties have been accused of artificially inflating the value of homes in order
to collect more
taxes on these properties.

Schools in Texas are supported primarily through property taxes assessed on the
value of homes in
the individual school districts; there is a "break" on taxes of currently
$15,000 off the total
valuation of your property if you live in your home. This is known as the
Homestead exemption. Due
to the outrage over high property taxes, part of Rick Perry's solution to quiet
his base is to
increase this homestead exemption by and additional $7,500. In my school
district, taxes are about
1.7% of the assessed value.

While schools in Texas are currently under funded, and teachers under paid, our
illustrious Gov.
Rick Perry has been scrambling to cut property taxes, (which have been going up
dramatically in
Texas, and for which he is undoubtedly being screamed at about from his
republican (we aint paying
no stinkin taxes) base.
At one point in order to keep taxes down, Texas citizens voted to approve a
statewide lottery in
order to fund schools. This money however, has managed to find its way funneled
into other
programs leaving schools under funded and property taxes once again
skyrocketing.

It is also important to note that according to the Texas state constitution; a
budget can not be
passed that is not balanced. Therefore, the state of Texas unlike the United
States can not run a
deficit budget, so a couple of years ago when the state was facing a huge budget
shortfall, Rick
Perry gloated over passing a balanced budget, of course one of the primary cuts
that was made to
the budget was cutting funding to state universities and public colleges. This
lack of funding was
made up by uncapping college tuition rates. Now Texas has some of the highest
state tuition rates
in the country as well.

Bottom Line, Perry managed to balance the budget on the backs of people along
with their parents,
seeking to better themselves with a college education. This is in essence the
equivalent of a tax
on higher education.

Now the House Ways and Means Committee has passed Perry's bill 5-4 along party
lines that would
raise statewide sales tax to 7.25 cents per dollar making it the highest state
sales tax in the
country. Along with this increase is a proposed $1 per pack increase on taxes on
cigarettes. The
committee also refused to consider Democratic proposal that would close
loopholes in the state
business franchise tax, it is estimated that currently only 1 in 6 Texas
businesses currently pay
this tax. Closing these loopholes would have increased the number of businesses
that pay the tax
from 150,000 to 475,000 (Perry's plan only added 10,000).

I believe this will result in Texas having one of the most regressive tax plans
in the country.
Under Republican governance, Texas is quickly becoming a state with one of the
highest rates of
poverty in the nation, with the poorest public services. Texans should call
their state
Congressmen and Senetors requesting that they vote NO for the regressive HB2.

If Democrats are not able to use this plan to their advantage in the 06
elections in order to pick
up seats on both the state and federal level, then it is time for the state
party leadership to
resign. Even if we are lucky enough to keep this bill from passing in the House
and the Senate
this bill that alienates the working poor is a gift on a platter to the
Democratic state party; I
can only hope they have the strategic ability to utilize it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/30/12434/2296




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http://www.culturechange.org/issue10/taken-for-a-ride.htm

Excerpts from the Film by Jim Klein and Martha Olson
"Taken for a Ride"

The Pacific Electric Railway served the Los Angeles basin with
trolley service through World War II. In 1950, it abandoned most of
its lines. The "Red Cars" were junked, stacked and left to rot.
Similarly, General Motors targeted over 100 other U.S. cities through
its front company, National City Lines.

This is a story about how things got the way they are. Why sitting in
traffic seems natural. Why our public transportation is the worst in
the industrialized world. And why superhighways cut right through the
hearts of our cities.

Narrator: When you're talking about public transportation in America,
for the first part of this century, you're talking about streetcars.
Trolleys ran on most major avenues every few minutes. Steel track and
quiet electric motors made the ride smooth and clean and comfortable.
The center of the road was reserved for streetcars, and the new
automobiles had to move out of the way.

Bradford Snell, who has made a career researching the auto industry
for 16 years: In 1922, only one American in ten owned an automobile.
(Everyone else used rail.) At that time Alfred P. Sloan (President,
General Motors) said, 'Wait a minute, this is a great opportunity.
We've got 90 percent of the market out there that we can somehow turn
into automobile users. If we can eliminate the rail alternatives, we
will create a new market for our cars. And if we don't, then General
Motors' sales are just going to remain level.'

They had to get rid of the streetcars. They wanted the space that the
streetcars used for automobiles. They had to find something they
could put in place of the streetcar. Sloan had the idea that he
wanted to somehow motorize all the major cities in the country. That
meant replacing all the street railways with buses—ultimately
thinking that no one would want to ride the buses and therefore they
would buy General Motors automobiles.

Sloan wanted to get in very big in this field. What he bought was
phenomenal: the largest bus-operating company in the country and the
largest bus-production company. And using that as a foothold, GM
moved into Manhattan. They acquired interests in the New York
railways and between 1926 and '36 they methodically destroyed the
rails.

When they finally motorized New York, General Motors issued ads
throughout the country. And this is important, because they are
trying to show that motorization is the wave of the future. They
issued these ads and they said, `The motorization of 4th and Madison
is the most important event in the history of community
transportation.'

Narrator: In the mid-1930s, GM worked hard to create the impression
of a nationwide trend away from rail. But there was no trend.

Buses were a tough sell. They jolted. They smelled. They inched
through traffic. City by city, it took the hidden hand of General
Motors to replace streetcars with Yellow Coach buses.

continued ...........
http://www.culturechange.org/issue10/taken-for-a-ride.htm

JSexton19@... wrote:

From: JSexton19@...
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 10:26:10 EDT
Subject: [Dont-Tread-On-Me] Janette Sexton Campaign Kick-off Reception,
07-14-05, Gilley's, 7:00 PM

Good morning:
Please join me on Thursday, July 14, from 7:00-8:30 PM at Gilley's, 6777
Fairmont Parkway, as I kick-off my campaign for State Representative in District
144.  The PDF version of the invitation is attached.

The restaurant (formerly Ernie's) is located on the north side of the street,
between Red Bluff Road and Beltway 8 East.  For your convenience, you can access
a Mapquest map via this URL:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=\
&searchtab=home&address=6777+Fairmont+Parkway&city=Pasadena&state=TX&zipcode=

Thanks!



Janette Sexton

Candidate for State Representative,

District 144, in 2006

281.479.0934 (h)



Janette Sexton Capaign

P. O. Box 7709

Pasadena, Texas 77508-7709



P.s.  My apologies if you receive multiple copies of this invitation, but many
of you belong to more than one organization or group!  Hope to see you at
Gilley's on July 14th!

__________________________________________________
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bob Jensen's talk will be played at 8pm on KPFT ( progressive forum) TODAY
cheers,
Roopa


{edited only to remove previously posted material on different topic]

Bob Jensen's talk will be played at 8pm on KPFT ( progressive forum) TODAY
cheers,
Roopa

At 01:24 PM 6/23/2005, Scott Randy wrote:
>PERRY'S SCHOOL PLAN TO DOUBLE OCCUPATION FEE ON P.E. LICENSE RENEWALS
>
>In his overall school-finance plan, Gov Perry has proposed doubling the
>occupation fees paid by
>licensed professionals (including doctors, dentists, accountants,
>architects, engineers, lawyers,
>etc.).
>
>What this means to you as a licensed engineer is that your license renewal
>fee is going to go up.
>The current renewal fee of $235 includes a $200 occupation fee that goes
>to the state (which means
>it is not used to regulate your agency). In Perry's plan this fee would be
>doubled to $400, which
>would raise your total renewal license fee to at least $435.
>
>It is imperative that you contact your state senator and representative
>immediately to express
>your opposition to this tax increase on your engineering license fee
>renewal. Be sure to put your
>name and address on the bottom of your email or it will most likely be
>discarded or deleted. Phone
>calls and faxes are even more effective, and you can find all contact
>information at the websites
>listed below.
>
>Contact information for state senators: www.senate.state.tx.us
>
>Contact information for state representatives: www.house.state.tx.us
>
>
>
>____________________________________________________
>Yahoo! Sports
>Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football
>http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


Dr. Roopa Gir
Editor, Oilfield Review
Scientific Advisor
Schlumberger
1325 S Dairy Ashford
Houston, TX 77077

PH:     281 285 1439
FAX:    281 285 1937
CELL:   713 504 1827
Email: roopa1@...

Oilfield Review can be found on the web at:
<http://www.slb.com/oilfieldreview>www.slb.com/oilfieldreview


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

PERRY'S SCHOOL PLAN TO DOUBLE OCCUPATION FEE ON P.E. LICENSE RENEWALS

In his overall school-finance plan, Gov Perry has proposed doubling the
occupation fees paid by
licensed professionals (including doctors, dentists, accountants, architects,
engineers, lawyers,
etc.).

What this means to you as a licensed engineer is that your license renewal fee
is going to go up.
The current renewal fee of $235 includes a $200 occupation fee that goes to the
state (which means
it is not used to regulate your agency). In Perry's plan this fee would be
doubled to $400, which
would raise your total renewal license fee to at least $435.

It is imperative that you contact your state senator and representative
immediately to express
your opposition to this tax increase on your engineering license fee renewal. Be
sure to put your
name and address on the bottom of your email or it will most likely be discarded
or deleted. Phone
calls and faxes are even more effective, and you can find all contact
information at the websites
listed below.

Contact information for state senators: www.senate.state.tx.us

Contact information for state representatives: www.house.state.tx.us



____________________________________________________
Yahoo! Sports
Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football
http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

Bumper stickers! Get yer bumper stickers!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/patriotboy/670075

Overview of OPERATION YELLOW ELEPHANT

The objective of OPERATION YELLOW ELEPHANT is to recruit College Republicans and
Young Republicans
to serve as infantry. They demanded this war and now viciously support it. It's
only right that
they also experience it.

The 56th College Republican National Convention is the setting for many of the
proposed ops. It
begins on Friday, June 24.

The General encourages his readers to take the initiative to create materials
and to plan and
conduct special operations. Please let him know what you've done and he'll try
to post it.

"Subject: GOP volunteers

Attention young Republicans!
Military recruitment levels are at an all time low.
The Military needs enlistees to continue to support your President.
Please enlist asap! You are Patriotic, Brave and Republican. You voted, now it's
time to back up
that vote!

"If you are not able to enlist, perhaps you could use your formidable Young
Republican operation
to help out - please consider the levity of the situation in Iraq and see what
you can do.
GOP Recruiting is a volunteer group founded in 2002 dedicated to helping the
military bring military recruitment up to sustainable levels."

http://www.cafepress.com/patriotboy/670075
http://www.cafepress.com/patriotboy/670075

- - - - - - -
Brings a tear to yer eye, don't it?




____________________________________________________
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--- john mcconnell <johnmc@...> wrote:

> To: "John McConnell" <johnmc@...>
> From: "john mcconnell" <johnmc@...>
> Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 10:47:03 -0500
> Subject: [texasppc] SDEC Meeting
>
> Fellow Democrats,
>
> I have received word from Yellowdog  on 6/01/05 that "The SDEC meeting is
scheduled for July 9th
> at the Radisson. We will send the information out in the mail next week." I
look forward to
> receiving the "information" this week.
>
> I  urge all Democrats to attend the meeting of the SDEC in July. At a recent
Democratic
> gathering, I listened to one of our more effective state representatives give
his evaluation of
> the 79th Legislative Session. He gave it a D+. I asked him what effect The
Texas Democratic
> Party had on the Legislature. He said that the Texas Democratic Party was a
"nonentity" or words
> to that effect. Another person heard him say that the Texas Democratic Party
was an "annoyance"
> in the view of the House Democratic Caucus. Another listener asked if an
organized Texas
> Democratic Party could influence the Legislature. His answer to that was yes.
>
> The only way that The Texas Democratic Party is going to get organized quickly
enough to effect
> the outcome of the rapidly approaching 2006 Election Cycle (or anything else)
is for the SDEC to
> assume the responsibilities assigned it by the Election Code and Party Rules.
>
> Party Rules state that " The State Democratic Executive Committee (the"SDEC")
shall carry on the
> activities of the Party between State Conventions in compliance with the law
and with the
> directives of the Convention."  The SDEC has not done its duty.
>
> Nothing will encourage SDEC members to do their duty more quickly than their
constituents
> watching them in action. Based on my past experience, I believe that the SDEC
does not welcome
> visitors at their meetings. The last SDEC meeting I attended was held in a
small room without an
> adequate public address system. There was seating for only about thirty
visitors. Party Rules
> state "The time and place of all meetings of the Texas Democratic Party at all
levels shall be
> publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all
interested persons. Such
> meetings shall be held in places accessible to all Party members and large
enough to accommodate
> all interested persons."
>
> "The meeting was not conducted in accordance with parliamentary procedures
(See Robert's Rules,
> page 433 ff.) For a brief review of how to conduct yourself in a meeting, see
Party Rules pp.,
> 36-37.
>
> Will you be welcome if you go? That should not be a consideration; you have
the right to be
> there. Party Rules say " Any qualified Texas voter 18 years of age or older
who supports the
> foregoing  "Statement of Principles" of the Democratic Party may participate
fully in any Party
> meetings and may be elected to any Party Office, except where specifically
prohibited by law or
> by Party Rules.  Any other persons who support the foregoing "Statement of
Principles" of the
> Democratic Party are encouraged to participate in Party activities but may not
vote."
>
> We just elected a new Mayor, Phil Hardberger, here in San Antonio. The voter
turnout was
> considered by some as a positive surprise (19%). This means that 81% of the
registered voters
> didn't think that who was to be the mayor for the next 2-4 years was important
enough to get out
> and vote. We Democrats are where we are today because we can't turn out our
prospective voters.
> How can we change that. We must look to the SDEC to lead us.
>
> See you in Austin on July 9 if the creeks don't rise.
>
> John McConnell, Democratic Precinct Chair
> Precinct 3047
> Bexar County, Texas
>
>


__________________________________________________
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This also means that we could have Clinton back. For all his foibles, he
could at least spell foibles.

-- Jim


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- S Gonzales <macdoggie02@...> wrote:

> From: S Gonzales <macdoggie02@...>
> To: Kucinich List <Kucinich-Houston-Discuss@...>
> Subject: [Kucinich-Hou-Core] Bush for Life: GOP introduces new bill to
Congress
> Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 09:27:40 -0700 (PDT)
>
> I am crying as I read this, please pass it along as
> far and as wide as you are able. It's official folks -
> the resolution below is from the Library of Congress -
> this is not liberal heresay.
>
> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.J.RES.24.IH:
>
> Republicans have officially started the the campaign
> to amend the Constitution by repealing the 22nd
> Amendment - the one that confines the President to two
> terms. If the Republicans hold their current strength,
> or increase it, in the 2006 Congressional elections,
> expect this measure to pass allowing Bush to remain
> President...
>
> 109th CONGRESS
> 1st Session
> H. J. RES. 24
>
> Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
> United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the
> Constitution.
>
> IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
>
> February 17, 2005
>
> Mr. HOYER (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SENSENBRENNER,
> Mr. SABO, and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following
> joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee
> on the Judiciary
>
>  JOINT RESOLUTION
>
> Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
> United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the
> Constitution.
>
> Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
> the United States of America in Congress assembled
> (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That
> the following article is proposed as an amendment to
> the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
> valid to all intents and purposes as part of the
> Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of
> three-fourths of the several States within seven years
> after the date of its submission for ratification:
>
> `Article --
>
>  `The twenty-second article of amendment to the
> Constitution of the United States is repealed.'.
>
> Sarah Gonzales
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Precinct Chair #395 - Democracy NOW! Use it or lose it
> Farenheit 911: The temperature at which regimes change.
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Discover Yahoo!
> Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing and more. Check it out!
> http://discover.yahoo.com/stayintouch.html
> _______________________________________________
> To reply only to the person posting this note, use "Reply".
> To reply so that everyone on this list receives your note, use "Reply All".
> Check the "To:" field in your message, before sending, to ensure it goes to
the correct address.
>
> Progressive Action Alliance  http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
> Kucinich-Houston-Discuss mailing list
> Kucinich-Houston-Discuss@...
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, access the archives, or change your options on this
list, go to:
> http://lists.chandrakantha.com/mailman/listinfo/kucinich-houston-discuss
>




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I'm glad that our Republican-owned Senate actually had enough "Christian values"
to publicly
condemn the innately evil practice of lynching. However, we can see by this list
that 'some' of
our Senators are either too cowardly to stand up to the KKK in their districts,
or are simply
unaware that this is the 21st century and such behavior is as primitive as
slavery.

Say what we will about Hutchison, at least her name doesn't appear on this list;
but that Cornyn
guy needs a baseball bat used on him. And what's the deal with Conrad? Didn't he
get the memo?



--- Murvin R Auzenne <lightseeker2@...> wrote:

> Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 12:44:50 -0500
> From: Murvin R Auzenne <lightseeker2@...>
> To: undisclosed-recipients:;
> Subject: Cornyn and the lynching resolution
>
> This form Dailykos:
>
> /by/ kos <http://www.dailykos.com/user/kos>
> /Tue Jun 14th, 2005 at 09:09:49 PDT/
>
> Here are the 20 Senators who 1) refused to co-sponsor the anti-lynching
> resolution passed yesterday, and 2) refused a roll-call vote so they'd
> have to put their name on the resolution.
>
>     Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
>     Robert Bennett (R-UT)
>     Christopher Bond (R-MO)
>     Jim Bunning (R-KY)
>     Conrad Burns (R-MT)
>     Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
>     Thad Cochran (R-MS)
>     Kent Conrad (D-ND)
>     John Cornyn (R-TX)
>     Michael Crapo (R-ID)
>     Michael Enzi (R-WY)
>     Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
>     Judd Gregg (R-NH)
>     Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
>     Trent Lott (R-MS)
>     Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
>     Richard Shelby (R-AL)
>     John Sununu (R-NH)
>     Craig Thomas (R-WY)
>     George Voinovich (R-OH)
>
> 19 Republicans and 1 Democrat, a real wall of shame.
>
> http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/6/14/12949/6428
>
> I call the senator, since he "has no email". An assistant give me the
> run around:
>
> "He voted for it"  lie one - it was by unanimous consent - he never
> voted for anything.
>
> "He spoke for in it on the floor" - so why did he not co-sponsor? - This
> was the question that they had no answer for. The aide said it was for
> "technical reasons" . The other aide simply said he did not know.  The
> "technical reasons" are a lie. I teach government and politics. I told
> her I knew better than that.
>
>
> I am sending the following letter to the Chronicle, and to the Senator's
> office in Washington.
>
********************************************************************************\
***
> Senator Cornyn:
>
> The historic resolution apologizing for the historic evil of lynching
> passed without your signature or apparent support. Why?
>
> I am angry, I am embarrassed . This was not a hard call. This was not a
> controversial or ideological issue. It was a gesture of simple justice ,
> a gesture of healing for a litany of wrongs of which lynching was simply
> the most blatant and obviously evil.
>
> You sir, have shown yourself in this matter to be either without ethical
> compass or crassly in love with power. So much so, that you won't
> support a simple gesture of justice for fear of losing votes.
>
> You should be ashame.
>
> Murvin R. Auzenne
>
> ******************************************************************
>
> Do what you deem appropriate....
>
> Murvin......
>
>
>




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meeting will be added to PAA events list & OPD blog as soon as I get a chance

--- Stephanie Hrabar <shrabar@...> wrote:

> From: "Stephanie Hrabar" <shrabar@...>
> To: "d EI Members" <shrabar@...>
> CC: "d Sheryl Roppolo" <Sheryl_Roppolo@...>,
>         "d scott tillinghast505" <scott5js@...>,
>         "d s gates" <sgates@...>
> Subject: June 27 environmental meeting
> Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 09:09:49 -0500
>
> Next meeting of the Environmental Initiative of the Houston Region
> Democrats will be
> Monday 27  June 2005
> Time: 6-8 pm
> Place: Room 110
> Harris County Democratic Party HQ 1445 W. Loop  [Ella Exit]
>
> Open parking up front and covered parking at the rear of the building
>
> Stephanie Hrabar, Ph.D.
>
> PS: RESOLUTIONS RECEIVED COMMITTEE APPROVAL
> The entire Resolution Committee voted to approve the a 'safer air to breathe'
and 'water
> management' resolutions after a brief discussion.
>
> These and other resolutions will be forwarded to the Steering Committee and
placed on the agenda
> for the June 30 Executive Committee meeting for a vote of approval  by the
600+ precinct chairs.
>
>


* + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * +
http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/  Progressive Action Alliance
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OPDems/  OilPatch Democrats
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasppc/  Progressive Populist Caucus
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasdemocraticvets/ Texas Democratic Veterans
Assoc








__________________________________
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Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

In case some of us are busy Thursday night, like hearing Robert Jensen speak at
Pavani's
http://oilpatchdemocrats.blogspot.com/

you can download Wally's "Progressive Forum" from KPFT's archives
http://www.kpftx.org/archives/kpftsignal/
(if you have access to a fast internet conn) and listen to it as an mp3
audio-file.

I like to do this at the office on Friday morn, after another ubiquitous
Thursday night meeting.
As far as I'm concerned THIS is the reason I give money to KPFT: the privilege
of downloading the
Wally show.

Randy


--- ChasMauch@... wrote:

> I have just returned from hearing Robert Kennedy Jr speak at the Hobby
> Center and want to report that the speech was inspirational, a  real
barnburner.
> They announced that Wally James was recording it and would play  it on his
> program (Progressive Forum) Thursday evening. If you did not attend  the
> performance tonight, I very highly recommend that you make a point to  tune in
to
> Wally's program which used to come on at 9pm but I see from the KPFT  website
it is
> now on from 7 to 9pm Thursday evening.
>
> It was a great performance that tied environmentalism in to history,
> economics, religion, politics, and a variety of other concerns. And of  course
he
> points out how incredibly bad Bush is in every aspect imaginable.  He speaks
fast
> with total mastery of his subject, with humor that makes you  want to laugh
> and cry at the same time. Everyone needs to hear this message.  Make it a
point
> to tune in Thursday.
>
> Charlie Mauch
>




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Dear Randy:


To correct the record, the DNC funded a phone bank here in Houston last
election cycle.

I have found the DNC very responsive to constructive well-planned  activities
where the benefits are readily apparent and not open-ended.  In  short, they
help those who help themselves to win.  The DNC is not some  form of welfare
agency -- their mission is to win elections, and winning  takes much more than
cash.

When we stop snipping and attacking other Dems, we too will start winning
more elections.

-- Jim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a message dated 6/9/2005 11:12:25 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
rscott77070@... writes:

OK, I'm  going to apologize for not first checking out the webpage mentioned
before  assuming that
other Dems will want to know about this event. I failed to  recognize a
cash-cow.

Charles Soechting, TDP chair, has warned us about  (what Stan desribed as)
"...drive-through money
trolling in Texas for  National candidates and the DNC with no sharing of the
tens of millions  of
Texas dollars ...badly needed by cash-starved State and County Party
organizations who are left
with mounting an un-funded ground war in the  precincts and neighborhoods
where the gritty work has
to be done to win  elections." [could NOT have said it better myself]

So, apparently this  little trip is a repeat of DNC's business-as-usual?

SM also wrote: "We  join Chair Soechting in urging...donors in Texas to
understand that  campaigns
begin and end on the ground here in Texas and fund their Party  first ...."

How about we send an open letter to Howard asking him to  set aside some
flesh-pressing, Q&A
face-time with grassroots  boots-on-the-ground grunt-workers who can't spare
an extra $100  BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS & THE FREAKIN FEDS  CUT OFF
UNEMPLOYMENT BENIES & NOW
THEY'RE GOING AFTER OUR  RETIREMENT!!!!!!!!!!


Randy



--- ChasMauch@...  wrote:

> I am a big fan of Howard Dean and was kind of excited when  I received my
> copy of the this notice that he is coming to  Houston. He keeps saying
> undiplomatic but totally true things  and the bigfoot Dems are oh so
scandalized and
> want to distance  themselves from him. I say that's just  what is needed.
Enough
>  of being nice while they keep kicking us  in the teeth. He is the only
one
> saying what needs to be said.
>
> But then I  went to the website shown and found that this is a  fundraiser
and
> a pretty high stakes one at that. Tickets are as  follows:$100:  Guest,
$500:
> Sponsor, $5,000: Host all of which is a bit rich  for  my blood. I realize
the
> need to raise funds, but would hope  that at some time  during his visit he
> would make a talk that is  more available to us less affluent  types.
>
> Charlie  Mauch
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Randy:


To correct the record, the DNC funded a phone bank here in Houston last
election cycle.

I have found the DNC very responsive to constructive well-planned  activities
where the benefits are readily apparent and not open-ended.  In  short, they
help those who help themselves to win.  The DNC is not some  form of welfare
agency -- their mission is to win elections, and winning  takes much more than
cash.

When we stop snipping and attacking other Dems, we too will start winning
more elections.

-- Jim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a message dated 6/9/2005 11:12:25 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
rscott77070@... writes:

OK, I'm  going to apologize for not first checking out the webpage mentioned
before  assuming that
other Dems will want to know about this event. I failed to  recognize a
cash-cow.

Charles Soechting, TDP chair, has warned us about  (what Stan desribed as)
"...drive-through money
trolling in Texas for  National candidates and the DNC with no sharing of the
tens of millions  of
Texas dollars ...badly needed by cash-starved State and County Party
organizations who are left
with mounting an un-funded ground war in the  precincts and neighborhoods
where the gritty work has
to be done to win  elections." [could NOT have said it better myself]

So, apparently this  little trip is a repeat of DNC's business-as-usual?

SM also wrote: "We  join Chair Soechting in urging...donors in Texas to
understand that  campaigns
begin and end on the ground here in Texas and fund their Party  first ...."

How about we send an open letter to Howard asking him to  set aside some
flesh-pressing, Q&A
face-time with grassroots  boots-on-the-ground grunt-workers who can't spare
an extra $100  BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS & THE FREAKIN FEDS  CUT OFF
UNEMPLOYMENT BENIES & NOW
THEY'RE GOING AFTER OUR  RETIREMENT!!!!!!!!!!


Randy



--- ChasMauch@...  wrote:

> I am a big fan of Howard Dean and was kind of excited when  I received my
> copy of the this notice that he is coming to  Houston. He keeps saying
> undiplomatic but totally true things  and the bigfoot Dems are oh so
scandalized and
> want to distance  themselves from him. I say that's just  what is needed.
Enough
>  of being nice while they keep kicking us  in the teeth. He is the only
one
> saying what needs to be said.
>
> But then I  went to the website shown and found that this is a  fundraiser
and
> a pretty high stakes one at that. Tickets are as  follows:$100:  Guest,
$500:
> Sponsor, $5,000: Host all of which is a bit rich  for  my blood. I realize
the
> need to raise funds, but would hope  that at some time  during his visit he
> would make a talk that is  more available to us less affluent  types.
>
> Charlie  Mauch
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

OK, I'm going to apologize for not first checking out the webpage mentioned
before assuming that
other Dems will want to know about this event. I failed to recognize a cash-cow.

Charles Soechting, TDP chair, has warned us about (what Stan desribed as)
"...drive-through money
trolling in Texas for National candidates and the DNC with no sharing of the
tens of millions of
Texas dollars ...badly needed by cash-starved State and County Party
organizations who are left
with mounting an un-funded ground war in the precincts and neighborhoods where
the gritty work has
to be done to win elections." [could NOT have said it better myself]

So, apparently this little trip is a repeat of DNC's business-as-usual?

SM also wrote: "We join Chair Soechting in urging...donors in Texas to
understand that campaigns
begin and end on the ground here in Texas and fund their Party first ...."

How about we send an open letter to Howard asking him to set aside some
flesh-pressing, Q&A
face-time with grassroots boots-on-the-ground grunt-workers who can't spare an
extra $100 BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS & THE FREAKIN FEDS CUT OFF
UNEMPLOYMENT BENIES & NOW
THEY'RE GOING AFTER OUR RETIREMENT!!!!!!!!!!


Randy



--- ChasMauch@... wrote:

> I am a big fan of Howard Dean and was kind of excited when I received my
> copy of the this notice that he is coming to Houston. He keeps saying
> undiplomatic but totally true things and the bigfoot Dems are oh so 
scandalized and
> want to distance themselves from him. I say that's just  what is needed.
Enough
> of being nice while they keep kicking us  in the teeth. He is the only one
> saying what needs to be said.
>
> But then I went to the website shown and found that this is a  fundraiser and
> a pretty high stakes one at that. Tickets are as  follows:$100: Guest, $500:
> Sponsor, $5,000: Host all of which is a bit rich for  my blood. I realize the
> need to raise funds, but would hope that at some time  during his visit he
> would make a talk that is more available to us less affluent  types.
>
> Charlie Mauch
>


* + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * +
http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/  Progressive Action Alliance
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OPDems/  OilPatch Democrats
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasppc/  Progressive Populist Caucus
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasdemocraticvets/ Texas Democratic Veterans
Assoc







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--- Democratic Party <democraticparty@...> wrote:

> From: "Democratic Party" <democraticparty@...>
> To: "Randy Scott" <rscott77070@...>
> Subject: Join Howard Dean in Houston on June 17
> Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2005 18:47:53 -0500
>
>
> Democratic News
> ---------------
> *DON'T MESS WITH DEAN*
>
> Please join
>
> Governor Howard Dean
> New Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
>
> On Friday, June 17, 2005
> 12:00 - 2:00 pm
>
> https://www.democrats.org/support/houston.html?dsc=FNET212
>
> Versailles Room
> Warwick Hotel
> 5701 Main Street
> Houston, TX 77005
>
> https://www.democrats.org/support/houston.html?dsc=FNET212
>
> For more information or to RSVP please contact TK Cenis at (202) 863-7161 or
cenist@....
>
>
> **************************************************************
> Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This
> communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
> **************************************************************
>
> Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible
as charitable
> contributions for federal income tax purposes.
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list, click the link below:
>
>  http://www.democrats.org/unsubscribe/index.html?c=0032e007Zz&h=19c16fbf35
>
> DNC, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington DC 20003
>




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Anyone else have pics? I can make it a temporary link page.

http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/

click the photo


* + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * +
http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/  Progressive Action Alliance
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OPDems/  OilPatch Democrats
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasppc/  Progressive Populist Caucus
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/texasdemocraticvets/ Texas Democratic Veterans
Assoc







__________________________________
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Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out!
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http://www.theksbwchannel.com/money/4560990/detail.html?treets=mty&tid=265292197\
8813&tml=mty_12pm&tmi=mty_12pm_1_02000106022005&ts=H#

U.S. Employers Step Up Job Cuts
Computer Industry Had Most Layoffs

POSTED: 10:44 am PDT June 2, 2005
UPDATED: 10:53 am PDT June 2, 2005

NEW YORK -- The number of job cuts announced by companies in May was up 42
percent from the month
before.
The job-search assistance firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas tracks layoff
numbers.

It said Thursday that the computer industry led the way in May, announcing plans
to slash nearly
18,000 jobs or roughly three times as many as during April.

The transportation sector was second-hardest-hit last month, reflecting the
impact of high fuel
costs.

Challenger, Gray and Christmas CEO John Challenger said it was too soon to worry
about a trend of
rising job cuts.

But he said if it continues during the summer, which is typically a relatively
quiet period for
layoff notices, then it might be time for concern about the economy's strength.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved



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Anyone with questions to pass on to S.Hrabar?

--- Stephanie Hrabar <shrabar@...> wrote:

> From: "Stephanie Hrabar" <shrabar@...>
> To: "d EI Members" <shrabar@...>
> CC: "d Randall Morton" <rrmorton@...>, "d s gates" <sgates@...>,
>         "d scott tillinghast505" <scott5js@...>,
>         "d SD 15" <john.whitmire@...>,
>         "d Sheryl Roppolo" <Sheryl_Roppolo@...>
> Subject: Fw: RF Kennedy Event -questions anyone?
> Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 12:06:57 -0500
>
> Ladies & Gentlemen; Please accept this opportunity to prepare and send to me
1-2 questions on
> environmental issues that can be asked of Mayor White or Mr. Kennedy.
>
> Be specific about what the issue is and how it affects to you and your
business, you and your
> family and community, or your democratic club [two to three sentences
background information per
> question is okay]. The questions I receive will be clustered by general topic
and forwarded to
> Mr. Morton. Be assured that the Environmental Initiative will retain a copy of
the questions and
> use them as part of the local environmental political agenda in 2005-06.
>
> For this special event your local environmental topic may or may not be
related to the two
> pending resolutions (Safer to Breathe and Regional Water Management Plan). 
Appropriate topics
> include but are not restricted to: industrial air emissions and human health,
urban toxic
> emissions resulting from proposed highway expansions, greenspace for
recreation and flood water
> management, and "Brownfield" and other chemical waste sites (local jobs),
regulatory
> environmental assessments that have no provision to protect individual and
community human
> health based on human health sciences and standards, etc.
>
> Sincerely, Stephanie Hrabar, Ph.D., Environmental Initiative of the Houston
Region Democrats, In
> it together--to great to hate    713-683-0638/ pct 505, State SD 15
>
> ---Original Message 2--
>
> Stephanie,
>
> I'm asking informed people for questions for Mr. Kennedy and Mayor White
during the
> question-answer session after the speeches. Can you or your associates offer a
couple for each?
>
> Randall Morton
>
> RRMorton@...
>
> 713-664-0020 office
>
> 713-664-2231 fax
>
> 4826 Palmetto
>
> Bellaire, Texas 77401
>
> -----Original Message 1-----
> From: Randall R Morton <rrmorton@...>
> To: shrabar@... <shrabar@...>
> Date: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 4:46 PM
> Subject: RF Kennedy Event
>
>
> Stephanie,
>     We're just a few days away from this event, I would appreciate it you
would reforward this
> flyer to your network.  If you're coming, please say hello.  Thanks for all
your help.
>
> Randall Morton
>
>              Click HERE for tickets, or call 713.315.2525, option 1 for single
tickets, option 2
> for groups.
>
>
>
>                                 Robert F.
>                                 Kennedy, Jr.
>
>
>                                 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is one of Time
Magazine’s “Heroes for
> the Planet.”
>
>
>                                 Kennedy will autograph his book, Crimes
Against Nature, after
> his speech. Brazos Bookstore will provide books for sale in the foyer.
>
>
>                                 Monday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.
>                                 Hobby Center, Sarofim Hall
>
>                                 Tickets are $35, $25 and $10
>                                 Discounts for seniors,
>                                 students, groups
>
>
>                                 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., wrote Crimes Against
Nature, whose first
> chapter is entitled “The Mess in Texas.” His speech, “A Contract with Our
Future,” explains how
> our natural surroundings are linked to our work, health, and identity as
Americans, how good
> environmental policy is good for business. Kennedy is senior attorney for the
Natural Resources
> Defense Council, president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and co-host of Ring of
Fire on Air
> America Radio.
>
>
>                                 Mayor Bill White
>
>
>
>
>                                 “It’s unacceptable that we would have high
level carcinogens in
> the air.” Mayor Bill White
>
>
>                                 Music by Mood Indigo, voted Houston’s best
vocal ensemble.
> Hosted by Randall R. Morton, Founder of the Progressive Forum.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>                         For more information, call 713-664-0020,
>                         or email info@....
>
>                         THE PROGRESSIVE FORUM IS A TEXAS NONPROFIT 501(C)(3)
ORGANIZATION.
>
>
>
>
>
>




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June 16, 2005 ~ OilPatch Democrats present Prof ROBERT JENSEN

(Thurs) 6:30PM @ Pavani Indian Cuisine 10554 Southwest Freeway tween
Bisonnet & Beltway 8 [713.272.8259]
  <a href="http://tinyurl.com/87m3g" target="_blank">Map</a>

"Beyond Bush/Beyond Iraq: Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy" by
Associate prof, School of Journalism, UT-Austin, author of
<i>Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity</i>;
and <i>Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to
the Mainstream</i>

Suggested donation $10 for venue, snacks & softdrinks, none turned
away.
FYI Dr. Roopa Gir roopa1@...


- - - - - - - - - - -

Good Lord willin & the creek don't rise; this might be the event that
puts OilPatch Democrats on the map as a real PAC - We got Bob Jensen!
Yee Haw!

Randy
web-worker for:
= * = * = * = * = * = * =
Progressive Populist Caucus - Texas Democratic Veterans
OilPatch Democrats - Progressive Action Alliance

June 16, 2005 ~ OilPatch Democrats present Prof ROBERT JENSEN

(Thurs) 6:30PM @ Pavani Indian Cuisine 10554 Southwest Freeway tween Bisonnet &
Beltway 8
[713.272.8259] <a href="http://tinyurl.com/87m3g" target="_blank">Map</a>

"Beyond Bush/Beyond Iraq: Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy" by Associate prof,
School of
Journalism, UT-Austin, author of <i>Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to
Claim Our
Humanity</i>; and <i>Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to
the Mainstream</i>

Suggested donation $10 for venue, snacks & softdrinks, none turned away.
  FYI Dr. Roopa Gir roopa1@...


- - - - - - - - - - -

Good Lord willin & the creek don't rise; this might be the event that puts
OilPatch Democrats on
the map as a real PAC - We got Bob Jensen! Yee Haw!

Randy
web-worker for:

= + = + = + = + = + = + =
Progressive Populist Caucus - Texas Democratic Veterans
OilPatch Democrats - Progressive Action Alliance





__________________________________
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Check out the Montgomery County Dems.  Their Credo is awesome.

http://www.lonestardemocraticclub.com/