Month: October 2013

Obama’s Plan: Single-Payer | Government Oversight of Life Itself

What is one person’s life worth? Better question: which persons do you think unworthy of life? Should we extinguish the mentally impaired? What about children with Down’s Syndrome?

This is the end of the pro-abortion movement. A devaluation of life itself. Sarah Palin warned of “death panels” and the leftists laughed. “That’ll never happen”, they derisively said.

Really?

Look across the Atlantic for a preview of single-payer ObamaCare where Belgium is actively considering euthanasia for children, mentally impaired and others. This is our future, if we acquiesce to the left.

The Washington Post reports, “Belgium is already a euthanasia pioneer; it legalized the practice for adults in 2002. In the last decade, the number of reported cases per year has risen from 235 deaths in 2003 to 1,432 in 2012, the last year for which statistics are available. Doctors typically give patients a powerful sedative before injecting another drug to stop their heart.”

According to this same article, Belgium is weighing the practicality of euthanizing children. Again, I quote:

“Advocates argue that euthanasia for children, with the consent of their parents, is necessary to give families an option in a desperately painful situation. But opponents have questioned whether children can reasonably decide to end their own lives.”

We have progressed from enslavement of people to eugenics – abortion. In recent years, so-called “partial birth” abortion has become the apple of liberal eyes. It was this sitting president who advocated for partial birth abortion while an Illinois state senator. In recent news reports we learn of abortionists who kill babies that survive the abortion  procedure. Ghastly, indeed. Yes, friends, euthanasia won’t be far behind and you can be sure this leftist president will eagerly sign a bill that makes lawful this horrific, unholy act.  

My fellow Americans, we must resist the so-called Affordable Care Act – aka ObamaCare – with all our strength. This hideous law is worse than an incurable disease. Initially, it bankrupts us as it limits medical treatments for our most vulnerable citizens. It ends with euthanasia, death panels under the authority of the IRS.

A majority of Americans have consistently said we do not want this evil. Let’s remember this is an invention of Democrat liberals and its blueprint was drawn up in hell. Not one single Republican voted for it. My own Congressman Ralph Hall has consistently fought it from day one.

Defeating this assault on our republican form of government must be resisted at all costs and by all means. Keep up pressure on Congress to repeal, defund, castrate, or neutralize this bill that threatens all we hold dear in this country.

Rockwall.Conservative@gmail.com

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Texas: the last bastion of American freedoms

Pragmatism and Proposition 6 – Why I Support It

Proposition 6 – For or Against?

Pictured above: North Texas without water
Pictured above: North Texas without water

Texans who claim to be conservatives emerge more as pragmatists as they almost unanimously oppose Proposition 6, a proposed amendment to our Texas Constitution. Why their opposition to this proposition? They state their opposition solely on the transfer of $2 billion from the “rainy day” fund. Therefore, the reason you are told to oppose this proposition is because they uniformly oppose it. There. That’s that.

The pragmatist tells a man to think what he must think and never mind the Absolute. But precisely one of the things that he must think is the Absolute. This philosophy, indeed, is a kind of verbal paradox. Pragmatism is a matter of human needs; and one of the first of human needs is to be something more than a pragmatist. — G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy 1908

I suggest a different approach: think for yourself. We need to be more than pragmatists. We must be critical, independent thinkers. Let’s not confuse conservatism with pragmatism.

Essentially, Mr. Chesterton was saying, pragmatism doesn’t work in the real world.

Back to the ‘rainy day’ fund. It wasn’t intended for rainy days. Approved by voters in 1988, it’s official moniker is “The Economic Stabilization Fund”, a response to a severe state economic crisis of the 80’s. Chiefly, this fund provides economic stability between biennial legislative sessions to overcome shortfalls in state revenue. Viewed from a historical perspective, while Texas has been a state for 168 years, the fund has been in existence only 25 years. Somehow, we survived 143 years without it.

On to the matter of water, a special fund created under authority of this amendment provides a means of financing urgently needed water projects all across the state.

Speaking of rainy days, how many have you seen lately? Yes, lake levels are low and getting lower. Our long-range weather forecast isn’t promising an abundance of rain that will pop up to save the day.

As I write this, the North Texas Municipal Water District has under construction a $300+ million pipeline between Lake Texoma and our water treatment plant in Wylie. This project is due to complete around January of 2014. It will be very helpful, but insufficient to fill the gap between low rainfall and a growing population.

I encourage you to be forward looking. Don’t be blindsided by the negative voices who decry use of money from the “rainy day” fund. The fund was created for us; we were not created for it.

I will cast my vote FOR Proposition 6.

Extending the conversation…

Here is the official analysis: Amendment No. 6 (S.J.R. 1) – Analysis by Texas Legislative Council

Do we need to expand our North Texas water resources? Yes. 

When should we take action? About 10 years ago.

What’s the immediate outlook on this current drought? North Texas Municipal Water District to continue Stage 3 water restrictions

Learn more from Texas legislative website: FAQs about the Economic Stabilization (“Rainy Day”) Fund

We can live without electricity. Life will go on without natural gas. But, we cannot survive without life-giving, life-preserving water.

Rockwall.Conservative@gmail.com

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Tranquility Base – Buzz Aldrin The Man, The Rapper

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin with friends Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin with friends Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli

It has been my privilege to meet and visit with a number of NASA astronauts through relationship with Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX CD4), former Chairman, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

While all astronauts are fascinating people, one stands out: Buzz Aldrin. Yes, Buzz is his legal name.

My neighbor Les Rubin and I watched in rapt attention as the Eagle landed on the moon, July 20, 1969. Our eyes were “glued to the tube” that evening.

Recently, I learned more about Astronaut Aldrin who says he has only two passions: Space Exploration and Hip Hop music.

Enjoy Buzz’s performance in a music video produced by Snoop Dogg three years ago.

Amendment No. 6 (S.J.R. 1) – Analysis by Texas Legislative Council

Amendment No. 6 (S.J.R. 1)

Wording of Ballot Proposition

The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State
Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources.

Analysis of Proposed Amendment

S.J.R. 1 proposes to amend the Texas Constitution by creating the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas as special funds in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund to be administered, without further appropriation, by the Texas Water Development Board and used for the purpose of implementing the state water plan adopted by the board. The proposed amendment authorizes the transfer or deposit of state revenue into each fund but does not itself make a transfer or deposit of money into either fund.

The proposed amendment permits the legislature to authorize the Texas Water Development Board to enter into bond enhancement agreements payable from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to provide additional security for bonds used to finance state water plan projects. Repayment of an amount paid under a bond enhancement agreement may not cause general obligation bonds to be no longer self-supporting. The proposed amendment also permits the legislature to authorize the board to use the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to finance water projects by direct loan. A bond enhancement or loan agreement is subject to the approval of the Legislative Budget Board.

The proposed amendment also permits the legislature to authorize the Texas Water Development Board, with the approval of the Legislative Budget Board, to issue bonds and enter into related credit agreements that are payable from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas.

The proposed amendment requires the Texas Water Development Board to annually set aside from each fund amounts sufficient to make bond or bond enhancement agreement payments that become due from those funds during that year. It prohibits any dedication or appropriation of amounts in a fund from being modified in a way that would impair any outstanding obligation under a bond enhancement agreement secured by a pledge of those amounts unless provisions have been made for a full discharge of the bond or bond enhancement agreement.

The proposed amendment also provides that obligations payable from either fund are not considered general obligations of the state. The proposed amendment provides that money in the funds is dedicated by the Texas Constitution for purposes of the limit on spending from undedicated state tax revenues established under Section 22, Article VIII, of the constitution, and also provides that an appropriation from the economic stabilization fund (also known as the rainy day fund) to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas is an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by the constitution for the purposes of that section.

H.B. 4, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, is the enabling legislation for S.J.R. 1. The bill addresses in more detail the manner in which the proposed water funds are administered, including the manner in which projects are prioritized for funding and the portion of the money disbursed from the fund that is to be applied for various purposes. In addition, H.B. 1025, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, appropriates $2 billion out of the economic stabilization fund to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to be used by the Texas Water Development Board to finance projects in the state water plan in accordance with H.B. 4. Because S.J.R. 1 provides that an appropriation from the economic stabilization fund to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas is an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by the constitution, the $2 billion appropriation would not to be counted against the biennial state spending cap that is established under Chapter 316, Government Code, to ensure that the rate of growth of certain appropriations does not exceed the rate of growth of the state’s economy, as Section 22, Article VIII, of the constitution prohibits. The relevant provisions of H.B. 4 and H.B. 1025 are contingent on the approval by the voters of the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 1.

Background

The Texas Water Development Board is required to adopt a state water plan that provides for the orderly development, management, and conservation of water resources and preparation for and response to drought conditions in order that sufficient water will be available at
a reasonable cost to ensure public health, safety, and welfare, further economic development, and protect the agricultural and natural resources of the state. According to the 2012 plan, 8.3 million acre-feet of additional water supply will be needed by 2060. The plan recommends 562 water management strategies and projects that, if implemented, would provide 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply. The cost of implementing the recommended water management strategies and projects is $53 billion. Municipal water providers are expected to need nearly $27 billion in state financial assistance to implement the strategies recommended in the plan. Among the recommendations of the plan is that the legislature develop a long-term, affordable, and sustainable method to provide financial assistance for the implementation of the plan. S.J.R. 1, together with H.B. 4 and H.B. 1025, seeks to accomplish that purpose by creating the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water
Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to provide support for financial assistance provided by the board for projects included in the state water plan and by capitalizing the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas with money appropriated out of the economic stabilization fund.

Summary of Comments

The following paragraphs are based on comments made about the amendment during the legislative process and generally summarize the main arguments supporting or opposing the amendment.

Comments by Supporters

Ensuring an adequate water supply is vital to the public health and continued economic well-being of the state. The current ongoing drought, coupled with the water needs of the state’s
growing population, has raised the specter of critical shortages in the state’s water supply, making it of paramount importance that the state invest in water infrastructure to ensure Texas’ continued prosperity. If the state’s growing water needs are not addressed, the state stands to suffer from the loss of over a million jobs, billions of dollars in lost income, reduced economic activity, and decreased tax revenues in the coming years.

The proposed amendment establishes the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, which are to be capitalized by a one-time appropriation of $2 billion from the economic stabilization fund, for the purpose of financing water projects included in the state water plan. Using money from the economic stabilization fund for water infrastructure is an appropriate use of the fund, which was created as a savings account from which the legislature can appropriate funds as necessary to respond to emergencies such as the current drought, and will provide a better return on investment than if the money were left in the fund. Such a use of money from the fund will neither harm the state’s credit rating nor hinder the state’s ability to respond to an emergency.

Comments by Opponents

The economic stabilization fund should not be used to capitalize the two funds to be created by the proposed amendment. Instead, such funding should come from the general revenue fund. Drawing down funds from the economic stabilization fund to capitalize the two funds may negatively affect the state’s credit rating and leave the state inadequately equipped to respond to future emergencies.

Furthermore, constitutionally dedicating the money used to capitalize the funds is merely an accounting gimmick designed to enable the legislature to avoid the constitutional limit on spending of undedicated state revenue.

These two new funds are unnecessary as there already exist two constitutionally dedicated water development funds as well as several financial assistance programs for water infrastructure administered by the Texas Water Development Board. Through the two new funds, the state would act like an investment bank, and it is not the state’s role to be in the commercial investment banking business. Financing for local water projects should be provided not by the state but by the users benefitting from those projects. Instead of funding new projects and initiatives, the state should ease regulatory burdens that currently hinder the development of an adequate available water supply in the state.

Back to Texas Water

Important Information for Texas Constitutional Amendment Election

 texas-senate-seal

                                                        

Robert F. Deuell, m.d.

Texas Senate, District 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact: Don Forse

October 23, 2013                                                                       (512) 463-0102

 

Important Information for Constitutional Amendment Election

 

Austin, Texas —  This week marked the beginning of early voting for the November Constitutional Amendment Election, in which Texans will be asked to consider nine proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

Early voting runs through Friday, November 1 and voters may cast a ballot at any early voting location in the same county as their voter registration.  Those wishing to vote by mail should be aware that the last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Friday, October 25.  Information on mail ballots can be obtained through the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml.

In addition, the Secretary also maintains an “Online Voter Central” site which includes information on voter registration, polling place locations, voting systems, lists of county election administrators and information on the new voter identification requirements.  The site is located at https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp.

The Texas Legislative Council has issued an analysis of the amendments which contains  ballot language, summaries of the proposals, and a summary of the arguments for and against each measure.  I have included the summary of Proposition Six below as an example and the entire document can be viewed online or printed at http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses13/analyses13.pdf.

Amendment No. 6  (S.J.R. 1)

   The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources.

      Summary of Proposed Amendment. S.J.R. 1 proposes to amend the Texas Constitution by creating the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas as special funds in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund to be administered, without further appropriation, by the Texas Water Development Board and used for the purpose of implementing the state water plan adopted by the board.  The proposed amendment authorizes the transfer or deposit of state revenue into each fund, but does not itself make a transfer or deposit of money into either fund.

The proposed amendment permits the legislature to authorize the Texas Water Development Board to enter into bond enhancement agreements payable from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to provide additional security for bonds used to finance state water plan projects.  Repayment of an amount paid under a bond enhancement agreement may not cause general obligation bonds to be no longer self-supporting. The proposed amendment also permits the legislature to authorize the board to use the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to finance water projects by direct loan.  A bond enhancement or loan agreement is subject to the approval of the Legislative Budget Board.

The proposed amendment also permits the legislature to authorize the Texas Water Development Board, with the approval of the Legislative Budget Board, to issue bonds and enter into related credit agreements that are payable from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas.

The proposed amendment requires the Texas Water Development Board to annually set aside from each fund amounts sufficient to make bond or bond enhancement agreement payments that become due from those funds during that year.  It prohibits any dedication or appropriation of amounts in a fund from being modified in a way that would impair any outstanding bond or obligation under a bond enhancement agreement secured by a pledge of those amounts unless provisions have been made for a full discharge of the bond or bond enhancement agreement.  The proposed amendment also provides that obligations payable from either fund are not considered general obligations of the state. The proposed amendment provides that money in the funds is dedicated by the Texas Constitution for purposes of the limit on spending from undedicated state tax revenues established under Section 22, Article VIII, of the constitution, and also provides that an appropriation from the economic stabilization fund (also known as the rainy day fund) to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas is an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by the constitution for the purposes of that section.

H.B. 4, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, is the enabling legislation for S.J.R. 1.  The bill addresses in more detail the manner in which the proposed water funds are administered, including the manner in which projects are prioritized for funding and the portion of the money disbursed that is to be applied for various purposes.  In addition, H.B. 1025, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, appropriates $2 billion out of the economic stabilization fund to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to be used by the Texas Water Development Board to finance projects in the state water plan in accordance with H.B. 4.  Because S.J.R. 1 provides that an appropriation from the economic stabilization fund to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas is an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by the constitution, the $2 billion appropriation would not to be counted against the biennial state spending cap that is established under Chapter 316, Government Code, to ensure that the rate of growth of certain appropriations does not exceed the rate of growth of the state’s economy, as Section 22, Article VIII, of the constitution prohibits.  The relevant provisions of H.B. 4 and H.B. 1025 are contingent on the approval by the voters of the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 1.

I encourage you to research all of the proposed amendments and ask that you please take time to go vote in this important election.  If you need any additional information on any of the proposals, or about the voting process in general, please do not hesitate to contact any of my offices.

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Moral Slippery Slope Triggers Moral Avalanche – Watchout Below!

"You are not to go to bed with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." Leviticus 18:22 CJB
“You are not to go to bed with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22 CJB

That proverbial ‘slippery slope’ actually started years before Barack Hussein Obama ordered the open practice of homosexuality in military ranks and refused to defend traditional, Biblical marriage.

It was Bill Clinton’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy that started this avalanche of reprobation.

Bryan Fischer Of American Family Association warned over a year ago that permitting open homosexual behavior in the military would increase pedophilia.

The goal of B4U-ACT, a Baltimore organization, is “to increase services and resources for individuals who are sexually attracted to children so that mental help is more readily available; and for society to stop criminalizing “minor-attracted persons” without recognizing needs for mental help.“

According to an article in LifeSiteNews.com, B4U-ACT organized in 2011 “to strategize ways to increase acceptance of pedophilia in society.”

Their plan was based heavily on the legal, institutional and social strategies that led to the decriminalization of sodomy and eventual widespread support for ‘gay rights,’ including same-sex ‘marriage.’”

Learn more:First Things – How to Normalize Pedophilia in 5 Easy Steps

America’s spiritual leaders have warned us for many years that legalizing – legitimizing – homosexual acts would pave the way for societal and government acceptance of all manner of deviant sexual behavior.

Looking at current events in California is to have a preview of things to come all across the fruited plain.

We see policy flips that reverse over 200 years of accepted behaviors and we associate these ‘flips’ with political policies. This is only partially true.

This nation will not escape accountability to God. The good news is while national morality is slipping down that ‘slippery slope’ toward total depravity, there is also a great revival arising throughout the land. 

This growing revival isn’t the property of any one denomination. It’s a move of the Holy Spirit.

CBN TV: The Coming Revival - click on image for video
CBN TV: The Coming Revival – click on image for video

Fellow Christians often know 2 Chronicles 7:14 by heart.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I ask, “Do you know the preceding verse?”

If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people

My paraphrase of 2 Chronicles 7:13: “When your world goes to hell in a handbasket; when your entire family falls ill and you can’t find work“.

The spirit of antiChrist is evident, active and coming for you. Expect very difficult times ahead. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will have ample opportunity to be that overcomer cited by the Apostle John.

“…and every spirit which does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God — in fact, this is the spirit of the Anti-Messiah. You have heard that he is coming. Well, he’s here now, in the world already!”

You, children, are from God and have overcome the false prophets, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world’s viewpoint; and the world listens to them.” 1 John 4:3-5 CJB

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Open Letter to Cong. Ralph M. Hall – Time to Eliminate the EPA

October 18, 2013

Source: EPA official website http://ow.ly/pXBhC Click on image for larger size
Source: EPA official website http://ow.ly/pXBhC
Click on image for larger size

Honorable Ralph M. Hall
104 N San Jacinto Street
Rockwall, TX 75087

Subject: Eliminate fraud, waste and abuse – eliminate the EPA

Congressman,

Back when President Richard Nixon gave birth to the Environmental Protection Agency, it was generally deemed a necessity and, indeed, it served us well for a while, but now threatens economic viability of our beloved United States of America.

Today, every state in the union has its own environmental monitoring agency, as we have the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Reagan famously said in his 1964 ‘Time for Choosing’ speech,

“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.“

And, so it is with the EPA that now directly employs approximately 17,000 who work alongside an unspecified number of ‘contractors’ who exceed the number of direct employees.

When this president shut down the EPA during this recent budget dispute with Congress, only 6.6% were deemed “essential”. That act by a sitting president speaks for itself: the EPA is grossly overstaffed. It’s also infamous for overreaching.

According to the EPA website, its 2013 budget is $8,844,000,000 – $8.8 billion with a ‘B’.

With these facts, I ask you to work with other members of Congress to eliminate the EPA. Two benefits will be (a) reduce expenditures by $8.8 billion and (b) it will reduce the assault by federal government on our vital energy industries.

Let’s deny the EPA ‘eternal life’.

Thank you,

Rockwall.Conservative@gmail.com

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