Blog 8: Response to the Extreme DWI Law

This blog is in response to a fellow student (Lone Star Showdown).  It details a new law that has gone into effect in Texas called the Extreme DWI Law.  This article gives some facts about the law as does my fellow student.

Basically, the new law states that anyone that takes a breathalyzer and blows a .15 or higher, will be subjected to the terms of the new law.  The punishment for an individual convicted could be a year in jail and a $4,000 fine -- double the penalty for a regular DWI.

I agree with my classmate that this is really a no-brainer to support.  I don't see any negative consequences for the new law.  However, my question is, will this actually impact the number of intoxicated drivers on our roads?  Does the new law provide any disincentive to intoxicated drivers over what current laws already provide?  Probably not.  If someone is okay with driving drunk at a level of .14, another 100th of a percent won't stop them.

I do think this is a good form of punishment if the person is caught driving this intoxicated.  But I'm assuming the law was meant to be a deterrent.  One problem with that is, how many people actually know about this law?  I can tell you that I didn't before reading this blog.  How effective can the law be if 50% of the population doesn't know about it?

In summary, I'll just say I agree with my classmate that anyone driving at a level of .15 does deserve an extra penalty so that hopefully it will keep them from repeating in the future.  I just wish there was a better method to spread the word and hopefully discourage people from getting behind the wheel if they are EXTREMEly drunk (or of course just a little drunk).

I'll take that bet!

I found an article on Austin American Statesman's website that I agree with.  The author of the article is Tim Eaton who's duties are to write about The House, gambling, insurance, agriculture, and health care reform.  This article was about the possibilities of expanding the legality of gambling in Texas.  He goes to explain that in the upcoming Legislative session, the topic is thought to have some merit due to the increasing budget shortfalls in Texas.  We are thought to be looking at a $18 billion shortcoming.

I completely agree that Texas is past due for legalizing gambling.  The article above talks mainly about just allowing race track owners to have slot machines onsite.  But if you look at the long term, I really think Texas should look at allowing full scale casinos to be permitted.  Currently, adults travel to either Louisiana or Oklahoma by car, or even Las Vegas to spend their hard earned money.  That means we are allowing other states to capitalize on the taxes from this money.  Texans are spending billions of dollars in states other than Texas.  What a shame, what a waste.  Pennsylvania approved slot machines at race tracks to lure gamblers back from West Virginia who allowed the machines.  But a short time after that, lawmakers voted to allow table games.  This really speaks to the idea that if you're going to allow any gambling, I feel that you should just allow full casinos.  I don't understand the idea that morally it's ok to play a slot machine, but it's not ok to play a hand of blackjack.

While there may be some social costs to the out of control gamblers, I think it's still a winning proposition. 

 

Jack Pratt who works for the Texas Gaming Association is requesting that Texas add 12 "world-class destination resort casinos" across the state.  I love the idea. For a change, lets get our neighboring states to come to Texas and contribute to our revenues! 

    

I guess this topic resonates with me because my wife and I actually enjoy going to the casinos in Louisiana.  My parents go there often.  While I don't love losing my money at a casino, I'd still rather lose it in Texas and benefit my state, my children's education and my taxes.

Blog 6: Comments about Red State, Blue City

     I took the time to read through each of my classmates blogs and knew immediately that the blog posted by Red State, Blue City was the one I needed to comment on.  The blog concerns the problems and frustrations with education system in Texas in relation to performance and budgeting.

     I agree wholeheartedly with the author, who is a mother of two who have gone through the school system.  The attachment I have to this article is my two young children that are both in the public Texas education system.
     I really can appreciate the facts laid out in my classmates blog as she does a really good job of painting the grim picture that is the reality of our education in Texas.
     We are growing faster than most every state, while we are being forced to cut school district budgets severely. I, again also agree with my classmate that improving the education budget and performance should be a priority no matter the cost. I agree that legalized gambling could bring in SO much more revenue for the state of Texas.  Money that is currently pouring across the borders into Louisiana and Oklahoma.
     It's very sobering to see the facts as to where Texas ranks nationally on the test scores. With the resources that Texas has available, the education system should NOT be suffering the way that it is!

Texas Legislature - Get to work!

There are three branches in the Texas Government.  The judicial branch, the executive branch, and the legislative branch.  The executive branch executes the laws made by the Legislature; the judicial branch interprets the laws made by the Legislature; and the Legislature sets the policies that affect all of our lives and the future of Texas.  So, what's the issue?
   My issue is that while the judicial branch and executive branch are hard at work 365 days a year, the Legislature can only meet in regular sessions for a maximum of 140 calendar days every two years.  I believe strongly that we need all branches of our government working full time to support the needs of our ever growing state. 

   The Legislature are underpaid at just $600 per month.  When comparing this to the rate in 1961 of $400 per month, it's clear that with inflation the members are making far less.  Based on inflation from 1961 to now, they should be earning $2800 per month. 

   Another reason I don't like the idea of sessions of lawmaking is that they have endings and deadlines that either force quick decisions or the idea of stalling.  There is great incentive for members and lobbyists to do all they can to slow down the legislative process so a bill they oppose will not come up for consideration before the session ends.

   In conclusion, to me it's very clear that the idea of a part time Legislature needs to be one of the past.  Texas is the 2nd most populous state and needs a full time dedicated Legislature in place that will have the best interests of our state in mind.  We need to put an end to citizen legislatures where it's nearly impossible to hold a full time job and meet the time requirements necessary for the 140 days every 2 years.  Lets try 365 days per year!

Need a job? Move to Texas!

According to the BLOG I read, if you want to just look at pure job numbers then yes, Texas is right up at the top of the list of states with significant payroll increases since the end of the recession.  Texas comes in at 2.9% new job growth.  Several factors come in to play to help this number.  Economists point to an array of factors, including high energy prices that set off an oil-drilling frenzy, rising exports and a conservative banking industry that helped the state sidestep the housing crash.

Some other reasons listed for the states job growth are the energy boom.  With such high oil prices that is creating more jobs for exploration and natural gas work.  Also listed are exports and the fact that Texas didn't experience near the impact with the housing boom.  The two other factors are population growth and the lack of a corporate state tax in Texas which drives companies to Texas.

But one would be lazy and irresponsible to stop there.  If you dig a bit deeper, you see that maybe things are quite as rosy as the first two paragraphs have you believe.  The ugly truth is that "Texas ranks 44th in the USA in per-student expenditures and 43rd in high school graduation rates, McCown says. Seventeen percent of Texans lived below the poverty level in 2009, compared with 14% for the nation. The state leads in the percentage of the population with no health insurance and was ninth in income inequality in the mid-2000s".

I think the authors intended audience for this blog is anyone who wants a quick fair overview.  I don't see it as leaning strongly either to the right or left.  Yet, a fair balance view of the good and bad that comes along with the Texas job reality.  I was happy that not only did he give a factual representation of the growth numbers, but also the reality that education and other areas certainly have suffered.  I would recommend this to anyone in the class to read.

Blog stage 3: Death Penalty Doubts??

I found this article by Austin American Statesman.  It's listed as being written by the Editorial Board in the Opinion section.   The article is based on the controversial subject of capital punishment.  The author of the article gives a clear indication of Governor Rick Perry's view on the death penalty, and even quotes his answers from a recent debate at the Reagan Presidential Library.  He's quoted as saying "I think Americans understand justice.  I think Americans are clearly, in the vast majority of cases, support of capital punishment". 
However, the argument that he's presenting in this article is, no matter how the public feels about the death penalty or how Perry feels about it is that there still remains some doubt as to whether any innocent people are put to death.  He questions whether death penalty supports believe there is an acceptable margin of error when it comes to capital punishment.
His intended audience I believe is those that support that death penalty, in order to gently suggest that they take a look at their stance on the matter.  He gives examples such as DNA evidence which as later found inmates to be innocent rather than guilty.   I believe that what he's saying is that we have proven that in the past to have wrongly convicted and terminated life...so we can not suggest that it will not happen again.  I do think he makes a very credible argument.  It's hard to deny that the process could be flawed by human fallibility.
I do believe in the death penalty as it pertains to heinous crimes.  I don't believe that someone who murders  rapes a child should deserve to rot their life away in prison.  Save the states money and serve justice.  However, I absolutely understand his argument.  If you support the death penalty, I think you should read this article!

School districts can use course materials of their choice

I found this article and was immediately drawn to the content of it.  The overall subject is a new bill by Sen. Florence Sharpio (R-Plano) which allows individual school districts to use state funds to buy textbooks and course materials, regardless of if the board of  Texas SBOE (State Board of Education) has approved the materials.  This has in return greatly weakened the SBOE's power to dictate which materials the classrooms use across the state.

The Texas Freedom Network was extremely happy with the passage of the bill.  They felt that school districts were being held hostage to politicians agendas.  Some of the controversial topics of the past have been censoring information on sex education, evolution, slavery and civil rights. 

There is also thought that this will help improve turn around time on new textbooks.  Local decision making can certainly speed up the process.  Decade-old textbooks can be a thing of the past once the local districts are able to make their own decisions based directly on their present needs.

I highly recommend taking the time to read this article!

Senate Bill 6 helps school districts