http://www.redstate.com/2013/05/21/governor-perry-please-veto-sb-346/
Ted Cruz Speaks for Me!
I don’t trust the Republicans, either!
MUST WATCH – worth the time to see Rubio, Lee, And Cruz take on Kaine, Durbin, and McCain. Just found this posted by Sen. Ted Cruz. 33 minute video putting the Debt Ceiling Debate in the Senate in context. John McCain is old, out of touch, and no longer thinking clearly. He is working with the democrats. Should he be reelected, it should be as democrat.
Thank you, Ted! It seems I’m saying that a lot these days, but having Sen. Cruz run on promising to fight for this Nation’s principles and our TEA. Party core values and then doing it, brilliantly and articulately is something to be grateful for. I add my prayers that he be strengthened, protected, and enlightened every step of the way and for his precious family as well. Robin
By KYLE SCOTT
Lone Star College Board of Trustees
When privacy is threatened so too is our freedom of speech. The government is capable of grotesque abuses of power as recent events at the IRS attest. The government can be turned into a bully pulpit. If gone unchecked, bureaucratic agents can be agents of abuse in which those groups that challenge the current regime can be singled out by the government. As James Madison wrote, “I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” If you don’t believe Madison, just ask the Associated Press whose phone records were placed under subpoena by the Justice Department in hopes of finding out who the anonymous sources were to stories that shed an unfavorable light on the White House.
Fortunately public attention has been directed to the abuses of power by the Justice Department and the IRS. But there are instances in our own state government where “the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments” is occurring in this current legislative session.
Senate Bill 346 which passed the Senate and House is being sent to the Governor. SB 346 would require non-profit groups that contribute more than $25,000 to political campaigns in a six month period to disclose the names of donors who contributed $1,000 or more to that organization in the same period. Labor unions would be exempt from this disclosure requirement. The exemption of labor unions explains why this bill has received almost unanimous support from Democrats in the state legislature. Support from Democrats was paramount for this bill to pass as most Republicans who receive support from grassroots organizations such as Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Tea Parties oppose this bill. State Representative Charlie Geren (R) and State Senator Ken Seliger (R) have been challenged by the same grassroots organizations this bill targets.
By disclosing the names of contributors, SB 346 would allow donors to these organizations to be targeted by politicians they oppose. In NAACP v. Alabama (1958) the Supreme Court ruled that the right of political groups to keep their membership private was essential for protecting First Amendment rights. If privacy is not protected then those who speak out can come under attack from those whom they speak out against.
The threat to privacy as relevant to First Amendment rights is at the heart of the current AP scandal. The Justice Department wanted to know who was leaking stories to the Associated Press, stories that were damaging to the current administration. This information, if given to the Justice Department, would expose the identity of anonymous sources which could potentially put them at risk. If privacy is not protected there will be fewer people willing to come forward and speak out against the government.
Privacy permits people to speak out against impropriety and to challenge the status quo without risk of political backlash. We need to encourage Governor Perry to veto SB 346 just was we need to encourage our elected officials in Washington to oppose any measures that would quell political dissent. If there is any doubt about the government’s willingness to squash opposition once they know who the opposition is we need not look any further than the IRS office in Cincinnati.
Kyle Scott, PhD, is the author of Federalist Papers: A Reader’s Guide, teaches at the University of Houston, and has just been elected to the Lone Star College Board of Trustees. The views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the Lone Star College District, its board or any other officer or employee of those institutions.
Originally posted in the Kingwood Observer, Thursday, May 16, 2013
Kyle Scott’s Blog
According to the Manhattan Institute’s report, the fracking moratorium is blocking New York counties from seeing a potential $8 billion in added income over four years. The report zeroes in on 28 New York counties that sit above the Marcellus and compares jobs and income growth in 50 Pennsylvania counties that produce gas.
Congratulations to Heath Rushing and Angela Conrad, our two new Trustees as well as to the great incumbents we also supported: Charles Cunningham, Robert Sitton, Keith Lapeze, and Brent Engelage. We are looking forward to working with you to make Humble ISD schools even better!
Thank you to all who supported our efforts in electing 100% of of the Kingwood TEA Party Board’s recommendations. This includes our members who helped us block-walk and donated to our mail outs and emails as well as to all those who accepted our recommendations and helped us elect this fine group to continue improving our schools for our children! It was expensive, but worth it. Donations in preparation for our participation in the Houston mayor’s and city council races, as well as 2014 elections are gratefully welcomed.
And a HUGE thank you to all who worked so hard to get the truth about the Lone Star Bond issue out and especially to all who voted with us to make its rejection a reality.
Kingwood TEA Party congratulates and thanks every one of you who voted with us in this important election and to all of our great candidates, new and incumbent, who have stepped up to help make our local schools and community colleges even better!
This 12minute video needs to go viral.
Every American needs to know what these un-American people are going in the White House, Legislature, State Department, and Department of “Justice.”
According to the Manhattan Institute’s report, the fracking moratorium is blocking New York counties from seeing a potential $8 billion in added income over four years. The report zeroes in on 28 New York counties that sit above the Marcellus and compares jobs and income growth in 50 Pennsylvania counties that produce gas.
Above the entrance to America’s Supreme Court four words are carved: “Equal justice under law”. The court is pondering whether affirmative action breaks that promise. The justices recently accepted a case concerning a vote in Michigan that banned it, and will soon rule on whether the University of Texas’s race-conscious admissions policies are lawful. The question in both cases is as simple as it is divisive: should government be colour-blind?
Universities that want to improve their selection procedures by identifying talented people (of any colour or creed) from disadvantaged backgrounds should be encouraged. But selection on the basis of race is neither a fair nor an efficient way of doing so. Affirmative action replaced old injustices with new ones: it divides society rather than unites it. Governments should tackle disadvantage directly, without reference to race. If a school is bad, fix it. If there are barriers to opportunity, remove them. And if Barack Obama’s daughters apply to a university, judge them on their academic prowess, not the colour of their skin.
