Education
Posted August 10th, 2011 by Julie
Ken Mercer Asks for Your Help
In 2012 because of redistricting, all seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be on the ballot. Even though many of us just ran in 2010, we will be required to run again in 2012 if we intend to retain our seats.
I am humbled to request your financial help for my re-election campaign. Your gift today of $5, $10, $25, $50, or more will help to ensure my conservative representation on the State Board of Education (SBOE).
As you know, because of my conservative leadership, I am again a target of the far left. I need your support to defend my seat.
Many supporters do not realize that as an elected State Board of Education member representing 1.8 million constituents in twelve counties, I receive no salary or benefits.
For example, a State Representative, who represents 150,000 constituents, is blessed with an officeholder allowance from the State of Texas of about $160,000 per year. That funding supports an office in Austin, an office in the Representative’s home district, three or more professional staffers, mailers to constituents, several computers, cell phones, furniture, and other equipment.
A State Representative also receives a small monthly salary, health insurance, and is enrolled in the pension plan.
Again, as a Member of the State Board of Education, I do not receive any allowance or salary.
This is not a complaint — just a fact. My intention is to help my constituents to understand why I need your financial help to defend our values.
There are three ways you can financially help our campaign. All information is found at:
www.VoteKenMercer.com
First, you can go online to www.VoteKenMercer.com and contribute using the “DONATE” button. Your contribution is secured using PayPal.
Second, some have expressed a desire to give a “reoccurring” amount of $9.95 or more a month. The “Recurring Donation” button is also found at: www.VoteKenMercer.com.
Finally, you can use the regular U.S. mail and send your gift to:
Friends of Ken Mercer
P.O. Box 781301
San Antonio, Texas 78278-1301
Please make your checks out to: Friends of Ken Mercer
Thank you for allowing me to represent you on the Texas State Board of Education. As always, please remember our 12- year theme of “Family, Faith and Freedom.” We want to strengthen the family, respect our faith, and defend our freedom!
Ken
Ken Mercer (R – Bexar) is a current Member of the State Board of Education and a former State Representative. Mercer now represents 1.85 million constituents in twelve counties including Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Llano and parts of Bell, Bexar and Travis.
Posted August 3rd, 2011 by Konni
By JoAnn Fleming, volunteer Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People, Chair of the TX Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee, jafleming3@juno.com
Due to numerous requests for details and an analysis of the debt ceiling deal, the following represents the basics. It is written to assist constitutional conservative groups in their efforts to educate, empower and motivate their members. My hope is that it will be of some value as we all work to wake up those who still slumber as our nation continues down a destructive path. To each of you, God speed.
House Passes “The Deal”
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Konni
CLEAN (Citizens For Lasting Energy and Affordable Natural Resources) has asked us to alert our members about upcoming hearings regarding clean energy:
“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is hosting public hearings at Arlington City Hall on Thursday, July 14th at 10:00am and 6:30pm. These hearings will allow the public to express their support for clean energy to state regulators. Environmentalists plan to use these hearings as a forum for spreading misinformation about natural gas development in North Texas. It is crucial that we show up and take a stand for this fundamental segment of our economy. The fact is that natural gas development is an economic engine for North Texas that provides safe, clean, and secure energy as well as jobs for thousands of families.”
Please click here: CLEAN – TCEQ Arlington Hearing July 14 for full details.
And for more information on CLEAN, please go to their website: http://www.cleanresources.org/home to learn more.
UPDATE – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Development of domestic natural gas resources is increasingly under attack by the EPA. Because of the many economic benefits that stem from exploration and drilling in the Barnett Shale, we hope that you will help defend our state’s economy against baseless attacks.
On Thursday, July 14, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will host two public hearings in Arlington to discuss amendments to state environmental rules, which could impact the Barnett Shale and the state economy. Please consider attending the meeting to voice your support for the safe & clean development of Texas’ natural resources. The hearings will be held at 10:00am and at 6:30pm, and both hearings will be held in the Arlington City Council Chambers (click for map).
The development of natural gas in the Barnett Shale in North Texas has had a profoundly positive economic impact on the greater DFW region, and the state and nation as a whole.
Gas production in the Barnett Shale accounts for 25 percent of Texas’ annual natural gas production. Texas is the nation’s leading gas producing state, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all domestic production. The Energy Information Administration announced in late 2009 that the United States has become the leading producer of natural gas in the world, surpassing Russia. As the cleanest-burning fossil fuel with low emissions and established technology, natural gas is playing an increasingly important role as a clean vehicular fuel, and continues to play a central role in Texas’ electric generating industry. According to Comptroller Susan Combs, the oil and gas industry accounted for more than 365,000 Texas jobs and 16.5 percent of the annual Gross State Product in 2008 (for more information, see Generating Growth, a report by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute; pages 29 & 30)
A recent article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram highlights the benefits that accrue from developing natural gas in the Barnett Shale:
Before 2005, shale gas accounted for 4 percent of natural gas production nationwide. Through May of this year, it accounted for more than 30 percent, according to the Energy Information Administration, which likes to say that its guiding principle is, “Look at the data.”
That extra gas helps consumers by lowering electric rates. The production is a boon for local economies, and shifting energy supply from abroad to home also helps national security. And for mineral rights holders, including farmers, governments, school districts and homeowners, the royalties represent real money.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/02/3195706/shale-gas-is-anything-but-a-disappointment.html#ixzz1RRyLvHyt
Supporters of clean energy need to be on hand at the two TCEQ hearings to respectfully and civilly voice support for drilling in the Barnett Shale. Despite the claims of some environmental activists, evidence suggests that TCEQ is diligently using its regulatory authority and ably performing its duty to protect Texas’s environment. This evidence differs sharply from the claims of activists who attack the Barnett shale as an environmental disaster.
Please attend the TCEQ hearings in Arlington on Thursday, July 14. The future of the state’s economy is dependent, in part, on keeping our state’s energy sector strong and growing. And when Texas is strong, America is strong.
Sincerely,
Brent Connett
Texas Conservative Coalition
Posted June 19th, 2011 by Fred
A Plan comes together! by Tim Cannon
On May 16, the KISD School Board voted 7-0 to call for an election aimed at increasing your property taxes. The School Board set the date of the election to occur just 5 weeks later, June 18th. Early voting began on June 6th.
If passed, it would increase the KISD portion of your property taxes over 12%. KISD’s motto: “Whatever It Takes.”
Voting AGAINST this new tax would force KISD to do what millions of Americans across the country have had to do: live within their means. KISD has not done everything it can to lower expenses – a review of the latest check registers confirms that. In addition, KISD has a sizable Fund Balance (effectively a savings account built up by your past tax payments). Voting for this tax increase postpones the tough decisions necessary.
The average cost of this new tax for a KISD resident is hundreds of dollars per year. While that may not be much for some people, others in our community are struggling. In fact, over 200 homes in Keller ISD enter foreclosure proceedings each month. Realtors are already steering new home buyers away from the KISD area. The Board provides plenty of excuses as to why they have to raise more money, but that won’t sway potential home buyers.
The FACT is that KISD would have had one of the highest tax rates in the DFW metroplex if this increase passed. Even more worrisome: the school acknowledged that this tax increase was just a short term solution.
Several individual Keller residents affiliated with two different Tea Party groups, The Keller Boiling Point and the NE Tarrant Tea Party, decided enough is enough. We contacted others for organizational help and direction. Giovani Capriglione gave very graciously of his time and expertise. He set up the Facebook page and a website for coordination in getting out real information. He also organized call lists for phone banks and robo calls. I cannot begin to express how much help he has been in this effort. Also Doug Miller in Keller’s city council runoff gave much assistance.
Posted June 17th, 2011 by Fred
By MQSullivan
For sheer brashness, Keller ISD gets high marks. For fiscal responsibility, they fail miserably. The Metroplex-area school district has put a knife to the throat of every classroom teacher (and therefore school-age child), demanding taxpayers pay up, or else.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial board, in supporting this thuggish behavior, notes that the district is demanding voters agree to a massive tax hike… or it “would eliminate 93 teaching jobs, 16 librarian positions and other staff. Fine arts programs would lose 34 positions…”
Of course, the FWST doesn’t mention that this is a school district spending more than $10,900 per child – with only $4,550 going to the classroom. Or that the superintendent makes a $225,000 annual salary. Or that they have their own natatorium. Or that they have a 1-to-1 ratio between teachers and non-teachers.
Nope, taxpayers need to fork over more cash or the teachers feel the axe and kids get left in an empty classroom.
This is just one more disgusting example of how the out-of-touch the edu-administration establishment really is. They clearly feel no sense of fiduciary responsibility to their bosses (the taxpayers), shame for their behavior to the teachers in their employ, or concern for the children in their care.
The over-spending ISD, and their cheerleaders at the FWST, lay the district’s fiscal problems at a legislature not giving them as much money as they demand. They inexplicably chastise Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for suggesting that there is adequate dollars available to pay for education.
Remember, 60 percent of the state’s General Revenues are now going toward education. And that public education saw an increase in spending at the same time the state budget is being cut $15 billion.
No, the Keller ISD leviathan demands more money.
Keller ISD – and many others like it – are clearly not interested in adequately funding education, despite their claims to the contrary. They regularly under-fund classrooms; how else does one explain that less than 40% of Keller ISD’s expenditures are devoted to the instructional expenses?
No, the bureaucrats in the administration buildings are interested in padding their pockets and pushing programs, while doing the bare minimum to educate Texas’ kids and reward our teachers.
There is simply never enough money for those who recklessly spend it, no matter how much fear and crisis they may try to manufacture.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Posted June 12th, 2011 by Konni
UPDATE TO NOTICE WE SENT OUT ABOUT THE TAXPAYER SAVINGS GRANTS
Patriots,
Yesterday I sent you the information below and was immediately inundated with emails wondering why we would support this bill. The arguments against it seemed pretty solid, so I did some more research and have decided that even I, myself, am AGAINST it and can no longer support it. I took it back to our steering committee and asked them to look at the arguments as well and let me know if they still thought it was a bill we should get behind. It will take a few days for them to all get back to me. If the majority of our steering committee wants to stick with it, we will leave our tea party name on the state grant website. If the majority of our steering committee decides we do not want to stick with it, we will ask to be removed from the list of endorsements.
In the meantime, I would ask that each of you do research on your own (as you always should) to determine where you stand. And then make your opinion known to the contacts provided in my original message.
If you would like to know what the arguments are, please read through the attached Word document. It is a copy of a facebook conversation I had with some other strong conservative patriots on this topic last night. Some were for it; some were against so it’s a pretty fair range of concerns and opinions.I think when an issue is this controversial amongst conservatives, the tea party leadership needs to stay neutral and not throw our support one way or another. But it is up to our steering committee to vote and decide.
Thank you to all those who wrote to me about their concerns. I love that our members are on top of things and not just following the herd!
Respectfully,
Julie McCarty
NE Tarrant Tea Party
Patriots,
We have recently been made aware of a proposal called the Taxpayer Savings Grants that will give Texas taxpayers huge savings and will give thousands of Texas children school choice. This statewide school choice proposal is currently being considered by the Texas legislature and may well be the biggest public-sector reform idea yet. House Bill 33, sponsored by State Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, is similar to school vouchers — with money following students to private schools. Parents with children in public school will have the option of receiving a grant worth 60% of the state average maintenance and operations cost. The other 40% is a savings to taxpayers and will be directed to public schools through state funding formulas. This proposal will actually increase money for public schools while giving parents choice. A policy brief done by the Heartland Institute shows the net savings to the state would be approximately $2 billion in the first two years of the program: http://www.taxpayersavingsgrants.org/sites/taxpayersavingsgrants.org/files/TSG_Savings_Study.pdf.
The NE Tarrant Tea Party steering committee has looked at this proposal and fully supports it. Not only because of the cost savings to taxpayers, but also because of the choice that it will give parents when deciding on their child’s education. Because of this, we have signed on as a coalition partner along with other conservative organizations and tea party groups. You can find all the coalition partners here. Please click here to find out all the facts about this Taxpayers Savings Grants proposal.
The committee for Taxpayers Savings Grants has informed us that HB 33 had a strong hearing last week. Because of this and the savings potential for the budget, they are hopeful that this bill will be considered during this special session. And here, Patriots, is where YOU come in! We want to build on this momentum, and because this could be decided in the next few days – we need you to make those calls, once again!
Action Item Details:
Please call the Lt. Governor, Governor, and Speaker and ask them to support of HB 33, Taxpayer Savings Grants, by Rep. Sid Miller.
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst (512) 463-0001
Governor Rick Perry (512) 463-2000
Speaker Joe Straus (512) 463-1000
Then, call your state representative and state senator and tell them you support HB 33, Taxpayer Savings Grants.
Posted June 10th, 2011 by Konni
Patriots, we need your calls TODAY! Shenanigans are, unfortunately, going on in Austin with the state budget in this special session. Yesterday, an amendment was offered to Senate Bill 2 that would require any rainy day fund balance projected in excess of $6.5 billion at the end of the 2012-2013 biennium be directed immediately into the Foundation School Program. If passed, this amendment could siphon as much as $2 billion away from the rainy day fund over the next two years (according to preliminary estimates).
These monies would purportedly go toward funding enrollment growth in Texas school districts. However, the truth is, school districts rate of spending has far outstripped both the rate of enrollment and the rate of inflation; all the while spending only about half of every education dollar in the classroom.
Two years ago, the Legislature propped up the school districts with $2.3 billion in federal stimulus funds, with the understanding that these one-time funds would not be replaced. Yet here we are again, with the legislature bending backward to appease the “we need more money” crowd with this amendment that does the same thing. This irresponsible amendment would essentially spend money the state doesn’t have and would only be a one time funding approach to what is a budgeting problem, not a lack of funds problem! School districts need to be challenged to become more efficient and prudent in how they spend taxpayer dollars, and the time for them to bite the bullet has come.
Please call your House Representative and ask them to REMOVE the provision that uses money from our rainy day fund when Senate Bill 2 comes up TODAY!!
Contact information for your state Representative, can be found here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Posted June 7th, 2011 by Julie
Grapevine and Colleyville residents may be a bit surprised to see this program offered by GCISD. It’s free breakfast and free lunch every day all summer long for anyone under 18! No identification required. And it’s not just kids either, adults get a discount rate of $1.50 for breakfast and $3.00 for lunch. Just last month we had our taxes raised so the school district could afford astroturf. So who’s paying for these “free” meals? The voters should be outraged! Don’t forget… Federal incentives are still your own tax dollars!
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
1. There are 150 members of the House of Representatives elected to serve two-year terms – running for re-election in even-numbered years.
2. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by a majority of House members. The Speaker has the responsibility of appointing chairs and members of all House committees and referring all bills to a committee.
3. The House duties are to:
• Pass all laws and resolutions
• Approve the state budget
• Submit all constitutional amendments to the voters of Texas
• Originate all legislation resulting in increased taxation
4. The House convenes in Austin for a regular legislative session, every two years on odd-numbered years.
5. A regular session of the House is 140 days.
6. Legislators receive a salary of $600 per month, plus $128 per day for expenses while they are in session.
7. Bills are scheduled for consideration on the House floor by the Calendars Committee.
8. The House may only initiate charges of impeachment, which must be tried by the Senate.
9. The Governor may call the legislature into special sessions when necessary. These sessions can convene up to a 30-day maximum and are limited to
Posted May 24th, 2011 by Konni
1. There are 31 members of the Senate elected to serve a four-year term – one-half of the Senate is elected every two years.
2. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor, who is elected by the voters of Texas for a four-year term.
3. The Senate’s duties are to:
• Pass all laws governing Texas
• Approve the state budget
• Submit all constitutional amendments to voters for approval
• Confirm state officials appointed by the governor
4. The Senate convenes in Austin for a regular session every two years on odd-numbered years for no more than 140 days.
5. Senators receive a salary of $600 per month, plus $128 per day for expenses while they are in session.
6. The governor may call additional 30-day sessions as necessary, known as special sessions. During this time, the legislature may consider only the subjects submitted to them by the governor.
Information provided by the Texas Senate Citizen Handbook.
