Comment on: "Should Texas Adopt Immigration Laws Similiar to Arizona's??? "

I agree with you James, we do need to beef up our security on illegal immigrants. They should be accountable to pay taxes, carry insurance and speak our language (would be nice). The only way an illegal immigrant would be able to receive Medicaid, government housing or other programs of that nature, is to falsify government documents to receive them and granted that does happen. I could not agree with you more, if you want to come to America you should do it the right way. There are some flaws like #5 under the Enforcement section of proposition SB1070:

“Allows a law enforcement officer, without a warrant, to arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the U.S”

Of course this document is nothing but a play on words, “reasonable attempt” to determine the status of a person citizenship. I have to contend that the document is only trying to make it harder for those who are here illegally to live in Arizona. Now, those people will only else were to different parts of the country. I do hope that Texas will follow through with something of this nature, to make it more difficult for those who are here illegally to gain employment.

Illegal Immigrants, Good or Bad for Texas

How much of a burden are undocumented immigrants for Texas? Well, I found an interesting study by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2006, Carole Strayhorn (One tough Grandma). In 2006 Carole Strayhorn conducted a research of undocumented immigrants and how they affect our economy. It is an interesting study that will surprise some and correct some myths on illegal immigrants.
According to this research in '06, Texas had approximately 1.4 million illegal immigrants residing in the state. Now, some common misconception about illegal immigrants is, they're entitled to Welfare programs such as; Medicare, Medicaid, CHIPS, Food stamps and Public Housing Assistance. All of these are unavailable for undocumented immigrants. We will provide emergency medical services, schooling, mental health services and Public health services. From this study, the costs that Texas occurred from undocumented immigrants was 1.156 billion dollars through health care, incarcerations and education programs. The revenue gained from undocumented immigrants was 1.581 billion dollars through state revenue and property taxes. The difference is approximately 425 million dollars in revenue a year for the State of Texas.
Be against them or for them, there is a positive side to having illegal immigrants in Texas. With an estimated $11 billion dollar short fall in the upcoming budget, right now our state needs all of the revenue it can get. Or we can expect to see more cigarette tax, even a tan tax, property taxes will raise and whatever else they want to tax us on. I still do not agree on allowing illegal immigrants to reside in Texas illegally. It is against the law, either it needs to be amended or we need to enforce it to the full extent. Though, there will always be people trying to come to America, any way they can. We live in a great country, that is the reason why so many people want to come here. No were else in the WORLD do we have such a mix of nationalities that live amongst each other.

A review of "How long before the Elephant gets loose?

In my colleges blog on abortion, I found the initial subject was strong and interesting. Abortion is a major issue on both sides of the political lines, whether you are for it or against it, it is still legal. Abortion was passed in 1973 because of a Dallas woman, Jane roe or Norma L. McCorvery (real name) sued the Dallas District Attorney Henry Wade in 1970. The case was won and Justice Harry Blackmun decided it was the "right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnan cy". Now with that brief history, the second part of my colleges blog over Erlyndon J. Lo or “Joey”, I was left hanging on what happened to him. Was he arrested? Was he being investigated on his threat? Did they allow him to just simply be?

I did a little more research and found that on April 2, 2010 at 8:13am (according to the complaint) Jo walked into the U.S. District Clerk’s Office in Plano, Texas and filed a document entitled “Erlyndon J. Lo v. Roberts” (Chief Justice John Roberts of the United State Supreme Court) seeking a “Motion for an Immediate Temporary Restraining Order Seeking a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction” for abortion to be made illegal. In the Motion he stated:

“My life is at stake. I could be MURDERED AND KILLED as early as Friday, April 2, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. NOON in Dallas, Texas (“TX”) if you do not IMMEDIATELY GRANT MY REQUEST for in the very least a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER!!!”

“I plan on saving at least one human life in Dallas, Texas at 12:00 p.m. at the Southwestern late-term abortion facility, 8616 Greenville Ave. at Royal Ln. (NE corner), Dallas 75243.”

“My religious beliefs include the beliefs that an individual is alive at the moment of conception, abortion is murder and is the worst murder of all murders possible because these babies are completely defenseless, and I am entitled under my religious beliefs to use deadly force if necessary to save the innocent life of another.”

Obviously, his motion was denied and Erlyndon J. Lo was arrested on April 3rd 2010, while he clearly stated he intended to carry out his assault on the 2nd of April. I found this information shocking. How, was he not arrested within hours of filling his motion? Thankfully no one was hurt. Unfortunately, I could not find anything on this story after April 9th and it was still the initial story. Erlyndon was supposed to appeare before a detention hearing on April 15th 2010, I was unable to find a follow up story on this. Erlyndon also posted on his website going into extreme detail over his views on abortion, hypothetical situations involving Michelle Obama, his motion, and is intentions for April 2nd 2010.

Healthcare reform and abortion

Republican John Carter is a Congressman over the 31st district in Texas. This district stretches all the way up to Stephenville and all the way down to Round Rock, were it barely catches me in its grips. Congressman Carter is a strong opposer of the Healthcare reform, or the "ObamaCare" as he likes to call it. In this article I will try and deduce Congressman Carters claim that abortions will be funded in the Healthcare reform.

John Carter continues to claim that the national healthcare reform will fund abortions, through federal fundsd. On April 1st John Carter was quoted on his website "As much as the left is trying to obscure the truth on this issue of federal funding abortion, it cannot be denied." Though as CNN reported on March 22 2010, President Obama was quoted saying "Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services, as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language," the order said. "Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds of Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions." The Hyde Amendment was passed in 1976 and was named after Henry Hyde a Rep. from Illinois, this amendment restricts the use of federal funds to be spent on abortions. Yet, our Republican representatives will try stop the Healthcare reform at all cost.

A Misleading Blog "A Bad Week for Bill White"

From this short blog on UrbanGrounds, obviously, the author Robbie Cooper is a right wing conservative, writing to a select group of people who agree with his views. In his blog "A Bad Week for Bill White", I only find truth too a few parts of his information; Bill White is running for Governor and he refuses to release his PERSONAL income tax information.

I do not see how his personal income tax is anyone’s business, besides, Bill and Andrea White. After watching the whole video on the Texas Tribune website, Bill White stated he could not promise that he would not raise taxes, stating he had to "look under the hood" to assess the Texas current situation. Though, that certainly does not mean he will, his statement might scare some Texans from voting for him. I found nothing wrong with his (Bill White) statement. How could he answer this question honestly?  Without knowing what is going to happen, in his term as Governor, assuming he wins. I respect his answer, he was honest. He could have lied and stated he would not raise taxes, like the rest.

Since, the author Robbie Cooper, is merely one sided in his blog and only includes part of the video, I would not consider this a creditable source. There are no facts to back-up his statements. He only used part of a video he found on Texas Tribune website and as Bill White said at the end of the interview “They will mislead people anyway”.

My Opinion over "Get out and vote"

     In this blog I will attempt to critique an article that I found on the Austin Statesman website. The author, who does not supply us with their name, wrote a rather amusing article entitled "Our stump: Get out and vote". By the indication of their writing we can assume that he or she is a Democrat, writing for people of similar views. Or she or he really does not like Gov. Rick Perry.  

     The author uses humor and a little aggravation towards our current Governor Rick Perry.  This is an indication that it is going to be a little one sided view. Having said that, the author does not make a statement, that is not general knowledge. They are just making observations that any general person should know. Like the fact that Rick Perry has been serving as Governor for 13 years, that he is leading the Republican primary as candidate, Bill White is ahead as the Democratic candidate, and that we are a single party state. All of this is knowledge that any Texan knows or should know.  

     The author also shows a lack of faith of the average voter, to make an informed decision on electing candidates. A lack of faith in which, I would have to agree with.  As he or she states “Do your homework”, it is important to know who you are voting for and why. I also like the fact that he points out to thank the poll workers. Without them we would not be able to take part in our right to vote.  

Thanks for reading,
Alan

Rick Perry Ahead in Polls

This is a great article that I found on the Austin's Statesman website. It lets you know where your candidate stands in the recent random public poll. This was conducted from a selection of 1,508 Texans and it will give some of their opinions about the candidates. As of this poll, it shows Rick Perry ahead for the Republican nomination and Bill White who is surprisingly close behind him for the Democratic seat. With 53% of the public satisfied that Governor Rick Perry has Texas on the right track, it could be a long shot for someone to beat him.