It's Friday! I know this photo has made the rounds already, but we have not had the opportunity to have fun with it, yet. So, here we go...We unleash you to create your own caption in the comments section.
We have an update
What do you get when you have one Hispanic driving and SUV, some racial-profiling Kingsville Drug Task Force Agents, and video released to the media? Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa says you get retaliation for filing good sensical legislation by an out-of-control agency with no checks and balances.
That's right, folks. Sen Hinojosa, a longtime advocate to create meaningful legislation as it relates to reforming the agency and its drug stings.
Ah, the Kingsville Drug Task Force. Corrupt, ineffective, and retalitory. Unfortunately, in Texas that seems just about right, doesn't it?
We're behind you Hinojosa, give 'em hell. Or hell, just make them get fixed. We've learned a lot about the government and the agencies of the State this year. Every time we learn something it should not make us want to throw up.
Question: What agency governs the Kingsville Drug Task Force anyway? Rogue nowhere county without oversight??
Today is Earth Day (the 35th one, in fact). There are many events planned around the Austin area for the Earth Day weekend, such as park cleanups. We're not sure if the Lege has any plans set for Earth Day, but we can hope that at least it will get some lame mention on the floor sometime today.
Here are a list of events we found around Texas: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio. If you have other events in your city tell us in the comments.
Sen. Jane Nelson has said that she strongly objects to the Talton amendment in the CPS bill. "They are not going to kill my bill," she told the AP (FWST, bugmenot):
Nelson said part of her concern about the amendment was that a judge in Arkansas had declared that state's prohibition of gay foster parents unconstitutional.Rep. Hupp is considering a re-write of the amendment that would kill the Talton addition. We are so glad these legislators see the real error and stupidity of the Talton amendment. That's at least a step in the right direction. . . .
Rep. Carter Casteel likes ants and gorillas. During the discussion on HB1006 and the amendments thereof, she has referred to the "gorilla" that is school finance, and just stated, "We're stepping on ants, A-U, A-n-t-s!" It just about killed us. Then she went and mentioned Aunt Susie. So maybe she did mean to step on aunts.
The House is currently discussing HB1006. We'd be paying more attention, but we are just not in the right mindset this afternoon. A tipster tells us this bill "has some feathers ruffled". Here's a segment of it, and let us know if you can translate it:
ROLLBACK RATE = ANY RATE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN (EFFECTIVESee what we mean? It's just like algebra, which we barely passed. Where X = why the hell are we even trying to make sense out of this bill?
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE x 1.03 [1.08]) + CURRENT DEBT RATE
- SALES TAX GAIN RATE BUT NOT TO EXCEED (EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS RATE x 1.05) + CURRENT DEBT RATE - SALES TAX GAIN RATEwhere "sales tax gain rate" means a number expressed in dollars per
$100 of taxable value, calculated by dividing the revenue that will
be generated by the additional sales and use tax in the following
year as calculated under Subsection (d) [of this section] by the
current total value
But the House Public Health Committee is meeting right now. Talking about minors and abortion. Fun, fun!
This bill they are discussing states that it "may be cited as the Woman's Health Protection Act." Ha!
What does a story in the New York Times about a U.N. nominee and an Ohio Senator have to do with Texas Politics? Stick with us and we'll make a great segue.
Yesterday Republican Ohio Senator George Voinivich, in a move to delay the vote on John Bolton for Ambassador to the UN sided with Democrats to put off a confirmation vote. Bolton's reputation as a bully, rageholic and serial abuser, not to mention a career enemy of the UN may come to be his undoing finally, due to Voinivich finding some cajones. What does this have to do with Texas politics? Come on, Texas Republicans (and shamefully a few of you fake Democrats). You CAN get a spine and stand up for what's right. Education, gay families, election reform.
Pick a topic and get a conscience.
It was February 10 when we first posted this photo of Mary "Mary Quite Contrary" Denny. She continues to live under the thumb of Craddick and keeps the campaign finance reform bill bottled up in the House Elections Committee.(DMN)
93 Reps have signed up to support the bill, hell why hasn't every one of them - because it obviously doesn't matter.
Well, it's up to the Senate now to strip the amendment out of the full bill. Otherwise, Child Protective Services is going to have to hire some full-time HomoInvestigators. Where can we apply? See how your favorite adulterer, hatemonger, idealogue esteemed legislator voted here.
The amendment that was heard round the world is mentioned and affectionately referred to as a big stinking pile of shit at BOR, 100 Monkeys Typing, Appalachia Alumni, Austin American Statesman, AAS Lasso, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chron, Grits For Breakfast and the LGRL Blog (if we left you out, add your link in the comments)...starting to get the idea that both the media and the fake media (see? we're self-depreciating!) think this amendment is a bad idea? It takes children out of loving homes, it has a huge fiscal note, it's a violation of the right to privacy, probably unconstitutional, and oh yeah...homophobic. Way to go!
update from Bluebonnet: Lasso is posting some e-mails he's gotten about the amendment. Good stuff.
The new "I Keep Safe" campaign to educate children about the dangerous Internet uses the governor's pussy in a story about Internet predators.
Rep. King received emergency consideration to introduce HB 3563 to mandate testing high school athletes for steroid use. Only trouble is, when the University Interscholastic League (the group that oversees high school sports) looked into the same thing, they quickly found out that the cost would exceed $60 million dollars.
Where did Phil get an extra $60 million dollars to dole out to the school districts? Oh, he didn't - he has no idea where the money will come from, he's just talking out of his enormous ass. Awesome.
Rep. Harold Dutton has a fetish for spanking children. He's introduced a bill to permit you to spank, too! (DMN)
Insomnia makes PinkDome smarter. Otherwise, we would have never seen the PBS Show on science. A segment on the show, NOVA, explained embryonic stem cell research and cloning. You can watch the segment online (click, 'Watch the segment'). You can take the survey online about your beliefs on stem cell research (click Should we allow cloning for stem cell research). Now, before you click on your answer, PinkDome would suggest you choose the decision opposite from the current belief. Why? Because each step of the survey requires you to read the opposing position before you proceed through the survey. Tricky PBS bastards!
Rep. Hupp had to stand up in opposition to Amendment 60(.pdf) that would prohibit homosexual or bisexual couples from being foster parents, even if they are a relative. Hupp said it, "pained her" to oppose Talton's amendment. She opposed the amendment because it has a HUGE packagefiscal note. This single provision would add about $8million in state expenses to investigate homosexual couples and would take kids out of 1,200 homes where they are now. This would also mean that if an employee of a group home center was gay or bisexual, potentially the entire group home would be closed and the children moved. (Uhm, there aren't enough foster parents to care for the children in the system today, without this amendment)
You can watch the 4/19/05 archived debate. It begins at 4:25 in the archived broadcast.
Villareal proposed an amendment that basically would include a 'don't as, don't tell' provision to prevent the CPS becoming the sexual orientation police. (Amendment to the Amendment FAILED, d'uh)
So, just so we are clear...Texas legislature does not care about what is best for a child, they care about making sure no faggot can be a selfless Texan citizen. So far: Hate 2, Good Legislation 0--Yes, we are keeping score.
Update: LGRL Statement in the comments.
SB 6 is on the House Floor. Rep. Hupp offered an amendment to increase the marriage license fee by $15. Senfronia Thompson just walked up and said, "So, you're raising the cost on marriage licenses by $15?" and Hupp replied "Yes." Senfronia looks at her dead in the eye and goes, "Tax Bill." and walked from the back mic.
A Little Pollyanna led us over to this quiz to determine what global religion category our belief system was most aligned with. (One in which ending your sentences with a preposition is encouraged...obviously)
Anyway, we're totally Christian y'all. Proving that hatemongers like Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, Jerry Falwell, and the rest of the Republicans do not own God.
 |
Rock on, Jesus. We got you.
While we totally respect all the other fake religions, we really only condemn the ones that think politics and Jesus have anything to do with one another.
Rep. Charlie Howard's "Ode to Censorship" bill HB 220 is scheduled for a hearing today at 2 p.m. in the Public Ed Committee.
Chris Bell alerted us with this excerpt from a press release:
HB 220 would effectively repeal legislation passed in 1995 to prevent the State Board of Education from censoring content in Texas textbooks. This bill would permit SBOE members to insert their own political agenda into our kidsâ?? textbooks.
What exactly have the textbook censors objected to here in Texas?
On the schedule today before the House: HB137. Inside the Texas Capitol has posted on this bill which will make our Texas welcome signs say, "Drive Friendly--The Texas way"(emphasis added for ridiculousness) and "Welcome to Texas--Proud to be the Home of President George W. Bush." (again, emphasis added). We agree with imasuit when he/she states:
I wish I could propose an amendment to say: "Proud to now be the Home of Connecticut-native [President] George W. Bush," or "Proud to be the Vacation Home of President George W. Bush."We wonder, why not advertise the famous politicians who were actually BORN here, such as President Eisenhower (Republican) or LBJ (Dem)? Why not just make a huge wall stating all the famous people born or now residing in Texas at all the state borders? We like, "Proud to be home of famed "Speed" actress and producer Sandra Bullock", or something to that effect.
Our neighbors in Oklahoma City were ushered violently into a world the rest of us would not come to know until 2001. Do you remember that day? Do you remember not being able to understand? How? Why?
I remember the people's faces, I remember looking at the building and my eyes growing wide in shock and disbelief.
What a long 10 years it has been. Now, every American can imagine bombs in buildings. We may be a country divided on a whole host of issues, but today I am reminded that we are all of the same heart. The American heart, one that can bring us together and heal us and fight for us, and like the dysfunctional family we are, make us madder than anything else.
Like all family, we come together in a crisis.
Today, the message I'd like our leaders to send out to us is the message that instead of working towards selfish political goals, take a second...and think. Remember, we're all in this together.
Ok. Sentimentality break is over. My pill is wearing off so back to bitchy in twenty minutes.
In response to news about Perry lining up lobbyists to launch a campaign against Republicans that voted the wrong way on the tax bill. Why would Perry go after them in their districts?
The DMN does a great job of lining up the Republicans responses and they read like shocked teenage girls expressing their disbelief that their boyfriend has, like, totally ditched them at the dance.
Stranded at the drive in, branded a fool. What will they say Monday in school?
Nice try, Greg. Having staff post glowing reviews on craigslist has to be some sort of ethics violation!
Texas Attorney General does recover child support
Reply to: anon-68596540@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-04-15, 3:22PM CDT
The AG's office did recover my child support for me and I am not on any public assistance. [rambling removed, included after the jump] AND the money now goes through the AG's office so they will take immediate action if he stops paying again.
* this is in or around S. Austin
* no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Jeesh, we come back from lunch and get this email about what you kids have been up to in the House while we were gone.
"This is a bullshit point of a order," "This is a'fuck you Fred Hill 'amendment," "I would appreciate if you would get your hand off of me"
Keel was PISSED OFF and said this to Van Arsdale on the floor today, at his desk, during the lunch recess, after 1) Van Arsdale offered an amendment to Fred Hill's HB 3016 (that was ultimately tabled by just two votes: 68 to 66) and 2) called a point of order on the bill after his amendment failed (the point of order is still pending - the members just broke for lunch until 1:00). Several members were pissed at Fred Hill because he voted against appraisal caps last week and this bill says some drug supplies would not be subject to property taxes. When Hochberg and Hupp are both voting not to table the same amendment, you know some people are pissed!
State employees marched on the Capitol last week to vocalize their oppression, hardships caused by four years without a pay raise.
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen...Not even the lege.
Did Armbrister and Fraser join the mile-high club with TXU lobbyists when they went to the Master's Tournament? We first talked about their trip on April 11, the Statesman goes in-depth to uncover---nothing.
This time we thought we'd offer a plea to all the lobbyists. Would someone please ask Senator Van de Putte to dance?
"I've been here 14 years (as a legislator). And I keep waiting for someone to ask just so I can be indignant," Van de Putte said. "Either I'm not important enough or they think I'm goody-two-shoes. Nobody has ever asked me. And I don't play golf."Van de Putte's turn-ons are: long walks on the beach and kittens, turn-offs: men who don't listen and social injustice.
Chris Bell: Continues his cock-tease on running for governor. AAS reports he's 70% sure. We've received so many press releases we thought the campaign was nearly over.
Holy Shit, Mary Denny's got a gun! The DMN 'outs' the legislators with permits to carry concealed weapons. We thought the list would be longer. But, now that we know who's packin' and who isn't we'll be more careful in our taunts. For example, Yo Grusendorf...way to go on that education stuff, high five!
Houston Chron to House Elections Committee: Piss or Get Off The Pot: Funny how constitutional amendments to legislate hate run through the House faster than Thai food through our intestines, yet campaign finance reform sits like a big block of cheese. Someone send some Correctol, quick.
