A Referendum on Incumbents

by: Lainey Melnick

Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:28 PM CST

These election results offer hope and inspiration to those of us challenging long-time sitting Republican incumbents with their own large war chests, such as Lamar Smith. Americans are ready for a change, ready for Representatives who will take action and represent their interests, not the special interests. It is time for Representatives to find solutions to our most critical issues, create and grow jobs, and put our country back on the right track. That is precisely what I will do when I am elected in 2010.

If you feel that your voice isn't being heard, if you are tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith, and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then please join me in taking action to win in 2010. Go to my website, http://www.laineyforcongress.com, and contribute to my campaign, join our team, add your endorsement and spread the word that we have a winnable race in Texas Congressional District 21.

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Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee

Austin's Energy Plan -- Ignores Huge Financial Risks

by: chris_searles

Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:56 AM CST

Alarming Financial Risks associated with: ozone nonattainment, greenhouse gas regulation, coal ash regulation, health injury costs, exposure to litigation, and highly volatile maintenance costs -- are all left out of the analysis used to guide our City's energy plan, 2010 to 2020. Thus, City managers are recommending a coal-centric strategy. Risks omitted all target Austin's coal plant, located in La Grange and responsible for providing 1/3 of your electricity...

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014 scenario" --- #5. Lower Health Costs

by: chris_searles

Fri Oct 30, 2009 at 09:37 AM CDT

Capital Metro Should Exempt Seniors and Disabled Citizens from Fare Increase

by: Margaret Gomez

Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 03:29 PM CDT

Being chosen by my peers to chair the the Capital Metro Board has been an honor and a privilege.  It has also been one of the toughest volunteer jobs I have ever had.  We have dealt with accounting errors, a union strike and continuing delays in the opening of Metro Rail.  However, despite problems with agency's leadership, I never lost sight of my responsibility as chair of the board: to help Capital Metro provide an efficient and affordable system of public transportation that the people of Travis County can depend on and take pride in.

As chair, I have had to make many tough votes.  I stand by my vote against using one-time stimulus money to delay an inevitable fare increase.  As an avid supporter of rail, I believe the money is better spent investing in long-term improvements to our rail lines. 

As difficult as it is, a fare increase is needed to continue providing current level of service to the transit dependent. I am proud to say that Cap Metro's fares will remain among the most affordable in the nation.

I have expressed to leadership that I believe Capital Metro would benefit from an aggressive nationwide search for a new CEO with executive leadership experience.  We need someone who can run an agency successful, rather than someone who only has experience in transportation. 

Capital Metro has made mistakes, but this should not be one of them. There is no good reason not to exempt seniors and disabled citizens from a fare increase. My constituents in Precinct 4 and people from across the county understand this, too. Government should be there to help those who need it most, not increase their burden. In tough economic times, little things add up. For my constituents who receive Social Security and disability benefits, this is even more true.

There is a lot of work ahead at Capital Metro. To start, they should launch an aggressive nationwide search to insure we find the most qualified individual. Most importantly to the many people who rely on Capital Metro everyday, they can agree to exempt seniors and disabled citizens from a fare increase.

I look forward to hearing back from you all on this issue. Please leave your comments below or connect with me on Facebook, Twitter or on my website.

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014" scenario --- 4. 70% LESS C02

by: chris_searles

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 10:55 AM CDT

Lamar Smith Votes No on Repeal of Insurance Antitrust Exemption

by: Lainey Melnick

Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 01:54 PM CDT

To ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers, the House Judiciary Committee has voted on HR 3596, the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009. The House Judiciary Committee's vote (20-9) to send H.R. 3596 to the floor provides a significant spur to competition in health insurance.

But while House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith states that he supports health care reform that brings greater competition through purchasing insurance across state lines, he is one of the 9 opposed to repealing this federal antitrust exemption. His contradictory reasoning is that the states should retain their status as the regulators of the insurance industry without "inviting federal intervention."

Could the real reason for his inconsistency be that the insurance industry is among the top 5 industries to contribute to his political campaign, according to opensecrets.org?

Lamar Smith has not only voted to help his contributors, but he is leading the fight against health care reform. He has continued to cite studies from Harvard School of Public Health to support his claim that Tort Reform is the best answer to health care reform. But he ignores the fact that the Harvard study that he cites, concludes the exact opposite.

"Some critics have suggested that the malpractice system is inundated with groundless lawsuits, and that whether a plaintiff recovers money is like a random 'lottery,' virtually unrelated to whether the claim has merit," said lead author David Studdert, associate professor of law and public health at Harvard School of Public Health. "These findings cast doubt on that view by showing that most malpractice claims involve medical error and serious injury, and that claims with merit are far more likely to be paid than claims without merit."

A separate study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Synthesis Project reviewing the effects of the impacts of state tort reforms concluded that the deteriorating liability environment has had only a modest effect on the supply of physician services. Aside from caps on noneconomic damages, most tort reforms adopted by states in response to malpractice crises have not been effective in boosting physician supply or reducing insurance or litigation costs.

Michelle Mello, an associate professor of health policy and law at Harvard School of Public Health further explained that damages caps "help constrain growth in litigation costs and insurance premiums over time, but disproportionately burden the most severely injured patients."

Lamar Smith is using flawed logic to support positions that benefit his big insurance contributors, and is putting politics before people.

If you're concerned that your voice isn't being heard, if you're tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith,  and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then join me, Lainey Melnick, in taking action to win in 2010. Please go to laineyforcongress.com, make a contribution, join our team of volunteers and spread the word that we have a winnable race in the 21st.

Please join us at the Environmentalists for Lainey Melnick House Party, hosted by Robin Rather and Melinda Taylor, Tuesday Oct 27th, 6-7:30 pm at 5018 Shoal Creek Blvd. RSVP at http://www.actblue.com/page/en...

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Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
512-799-0626 cell
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014" scenario --- 3. Less Ozone

by: chris_searles

Thu Oct 22, 2009 at 09:06 AM CDT

Commissioner Huber explains,

"First, going into nonattainment would subject us to a slew of new rules and regulations that could hang over our heads for up to 20 years after we return to air quality compliance. These regulations would create a lag effect on everything, from higher energy bills for households to creation of new businesses, as well as more expensive transportation projects (that you finance).

Second, "Nonattainment would require us to cede local control of transportation projects to state and federal oversight regulations. Conforming to their regulations would create longer construction times and higher construction costs.

Third, "... our businesses could be subject to much harsher oversight than they currently enjoy... Nonattainment regulations would subject power plants to higher emissions standards, resulting in higher electricity bills. Gasoline might have to be reformulated before it can be used to fuel our vehicles, and your car would be required to pass stringent emissions testing."

Austin: Our Race for County Court at Law 3

by: John Lipscombe

Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 08:00 AM CDT

I am running for Judge of County Court #3 not just because of a calling to serve my city and county, but also because together we can make Travis County a better place for all of us to live.

My name is John Lipscombe, and I am running to be your next judge in County Court #3.

A lot of you may know me; many more of you don't know me yet, but I hope you will soon.  So if you don't mind, please let me take a few moments to tell you about myself and why I believe our County Court at Law System is so important.

After over 4 years working at the Texas Court Of Criminal Appeals as an appellate lawyer and almost 19 years as a trial court prosecutor representing the people of Travis County, I have seen what a blind policy of "lock 'em up" looks like and I have seen the difference a thoughtful system of rehabilitation can make in a person's life.  In 23 years I have learned a lot about the practice of criminal and constitutional law, and I have been active in sharing that experience as a teacher , speaker and lecturer with the UT Law School Defense and Prosecutor Clinics; Bar Association CLE Courses; APD, DPS and Travis County Sheriffs Office Law Enforcement Academies; LCRA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Seminars; and University, high school and junior high classes throughout Austin.

Too often we don't value our own personal roles as teachers and educators, and because of that, the lessons we have learned are lost to future generations.  I was not always the law nerd I am today.  I value and use the experiences I have encountered as an oil field hand, truck driver, bartender and bouncer, and Union shuttle bus driver at UT in my everyday dealings with the cases and evidence I must weigh each and every day as a trial court Chief Prosecutor.  Those jobs taught me the value of hard work and helped shape my character and work ethic.  Because of those jobs, I valued even more the education I received at UT and at St. Mary's University Law School.

Things don't always come easy; the most valuable things in life are the ones you have to strive to reach. In 1975 I began volunteering to work on political campaigns, mostly the grunt work of walking and calling and stuffing and making signs, and I have continued working on local, state and national campaigns to this day.  That doesn't make me an exemplary Democrat; it just makes me a proud Travis County Democrat.

I also value the friendships I have forged over the years during my practice of law and participation in Democratic politics.  If you look at the supporter list on our web site, you will agree I am a very lucky man to have such great friends.  You cannot know how grateful, and humble that makes me feel.  This campaign is about embracing old friends and the joy of meeting new friends as I make those "cold" calls.

The biggest joy I have experienced is the last 17 years that my wife Jan Breland and I have been together.  We have been law nerds and progressive Democrats together, and I hope to emulate the ethic and character which has held her in the highest professional esteem in the courthouse.  She is my rock.

As we begin to move into the height of the campaign season, I recall all the people who have helped me before and all the people who are helping me again.

When you run for a County Court at Law position, there are few things closer to the bottom of the ballot, so you need to really want the job.  The support and enthusiasm we have generated from elected officials like State Representatives Mark Strama and Eddie Rodriguez, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Councilmember Mike Martinez, County Commissioner Karen Huber, former Mayors  Frank Cooksey and Bruce Todd, former Councilmembers Bob Binder, Jennifer Kim, Brigid Shea, ACC Trustee Tim Mahoney, former County Attorneys Margaret Moore and Ken Oden and the 700 plus people that have written or called to be put on our supporter list, has been a humbling experience.

Our team is amazing.  Emma Barrientos is our treasure. David Butts is our general consultant. Dean Rindy and Rindy/Miller productions  will make the great TV spots you will see. Matt Glazer, a writer here on Burnt Orange Report, is running my race with UT Student Jasmine Blake running the field.  Eleanor Thompson is in charge of getting me directly into the community. Allyson Holley is doing communication and logistics for the campaign. Of course, RYLO Consulting is doing all our fundraising and making sure we have the funds we need to pay staff and talk to the great people of Austin.

Their passion is amazing and it motivates me to work hard for them and you.

Now that the summer is over and the rain is bringing cool weather, we are already starting to blockwalk and phone bank.  We need your help to win on March 2nd.  

If you are unfamiliar with our race, please go to my website www.JohnforJudge.com.  You will see our full list of supporters, information about me and about the court. Plus, you will also see all the different ways you can get involved.

On the other hand, if you want to help us win, please take a moment to sign up, host a house party, register to vote, or become a volunteer.  We need your help making calls and knocking on doors immediately.  It may seem like March 2nd is waiting in the wings, but you will be surprised how quickly it arrives.  If we wait until January to start doing the hard work, we will not win.

Thank you again so much for your help, support, and just taking the time to read this long note.   It means more than any words I could write or say, so just know how appreciative I am.  

Benefits of the "Quit Coal by 2014" scenario --- 2. Flatter Rates

by: chris_searles

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 09:34 AM CDT

Replacing Austin's coal plant offers the possibility of rate stabilization on a significant portion of your monthly bill. By replacing coal with clean, Austin would eliminate the volatility of coal's market fuel costs from monthly bills. This should appeal to rate payers big and small.  Over the last 10 years, Austin's coal fuel costs are up 138%, (1) while the sun keeps shining, the wind keeps blowing, and our energy efficiency investments keep conserving --- for free.

AIDS Walk Austin - this Sunday

by: BeckyH

Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 00:20 PM CDT

The 22nd annual AIDS Walk Austin is this Sunday, October 18. If you are in the Austin area, you really should ome down to City Hall. Registration opens at 12:30, step-off is at 2. As I write this, I am the top second-highest fundraiser for the Walk, and they've raised 68% of their goal amount.