Austin Energy has said that if today's federal carbon legislation goes into effect, it will double our coal plant's costs of operation. PACE, the City's energy consultant, estimates costs incurred would be even higher. Meanwhile, President Obama spoke last Friday: it's his intention to make dirty coal more expensive, ASAP. (video below)
Under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, passed by Congress in 1945, the Insurance Industry became one of the few industries to be exempt from federal antitrust laws. Other industries that have similar exemptions include railroads, major league baseball, agricultural and fishing cooperatives, and maritime shipping.
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...
In 2009, "It is a literally a matter of one or two parts per billion..." County Commissioner Karen Hubner, recently mapped out ozone nonattainment's economic impacts to Austinites, saying: "The implications are huge and will cost taxpayers a lot of money."
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."
(John Limpscombe is a Democratic candidate for Travis County Court at Law 3. For disclosure, Matt is running his campaign. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
You may not have heard about my race. County Court at Law #3 isn't one of the sexy top ballot races, but it is one of the elected offices woven into the fabric of our community.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Replacing Austin's coal plant means installing everything from solar panels to caulk seal. Local jobs will need to be filled, from teenagers to engineers. Millions of dollars will stream into Austin instead of its clunker coal plant -- rated #7th worst polluter in the state by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
AUSTIN -- Two days ago the Pace consultancy reported financial projections on a "Quit Coal by 2014" scenario. In my view, Pace grossly underestimated financial risks associated with the current "keep coal" plan. Risks, which could send Austin's coal costs skyrocketing. Nevertheless, even according to their estimates -- getting out of coal completely by 2014 will cost ratepayers about 5% more per month...
Today students from across the city of Austin came together in support of Austin moving forward in the direction of clean, renewable energy. University Democrats from the University of Texas, Campus Democrats from St. Edward's University, the ReEnergize Texas Coalition, the University of Texas Campus Environmental Center and student Sierra Club members, among others, held a press conference to announce their support for a clean energy future for Austin.
Students also announced an exciting new development: The Student Government of the University of Texas has officially endorsed the call by environmental groups and citizens from across the city to divest from the Fayette Coal Plant and invest more in renewable energy sources.
Students spoke to points featured in Austin Energy's PACE proposals and proposals submitted by a coalition of partners including the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Environment Texas, and Power Smack.
Students also discuss how divesting from the Fayette Coal Plant benefits students and the community at large.
Featured speakers included Brittany Dawn McAllister, Austin Student Outreach Director for the Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter, Andy Jones, Vice-President of University Democrats and President of Texas College Democrats, and Jimmy Talarico, UT Student Government University-Wide Representative and Legislative Policy Committee Vice-Chair.
Want more? Check out this video from the press conference, and don't forget to join the Facebook group "Austin has a dirty secret".
And an interview from ReEnergize Texas' own Jacob Bintliff:
The other day I posted in full a reply from Austin Councilmember Chris Riley on his preliminaty vote to approve a zoning case with regard to development along the southeast shore of Lady Bird Lake and Riverside. Today, I'd like to post remarks from Councilman Bill Spelman on the same issue, as he and Riley were specifically targeted as 'swing votes' on the issue. I certainly invite any of the other 4 members of the council and the Mayor to send me a similar posting if they wish to.
Last Thursday, I had a difficult decision to make on the Grayco/South Shore Planned Unit Development (PUD) request. I had to weigh the public benefit of the proposed development against its potential infringement on our treasured Lady Bird Lake waterfront. I spent hours considering campaign declarations, environmental impacts, affordable housing, and tangible positive outcomes. After that deliberation, I feel I have made the best choice for Austin.
During my campaign, I wrote in one of the candidate questionnaires that I would vote against any request that would supersede the Waterfront Overlay because of my desire to uphold the spirit of the Waterfront Overlay. By offering my tentative support to a project that can protect and enhance the natural values offered by this portion of the waterfront, I believe I retained my commitment to the spirit of the Waterfront Overlay. While the project does pose an infringement on the Waterfront Overlay’s height limits, I felt it was necessary to consider more than that one metric to guide me to a decision which best protects the interests of Austin.
The PUD developers own the land and have entitlements to develop the property. Consequently, the decision before us was not a vote to allow development or not to allow development; it was a vote on whether to develop the land with community benefits, for which the developer was requesting additional height, or to develop the property without any community benefits and without the additional height. With that in mind, I examined the community benefits to determine whether they were a good deal for the City, compared to what we might be giving up.
In exchange for the additional height, the PUD developers have offered to provide the following considerable public benefits, plus others:
Affordable Housing. My strongest single concern was for affordable housing. I pushed hard for the developers to help mitigate the loss of affordable housing stock, and they proposed to provide a significant amount of money to the City to buy affordable housing or provide it onsite, as well as a program to help relocate the existing tenants to other appropriate units nearby.
Water Quality. The developers are providing a drainage pond that will not only be a great environmental benefit to clean currently untreated runoff from neighboring properties, but which will also be an attractive natural-looking area as well. The runoff from the developers’ site will also all be treated before it is returned into Lady Bird Lake.
Community Benefits. There will be onsite space for a daycare and a police substation, and the development will preserve many important trees. The trail and Lady Bird Lake will be preserved through a significant setback from the Lake and tree cover, which will make it nearly impossible to see the development when enjoying the trail or the Lake.
In sum, these community benefits are significant. I anticipate that the impact of this development on the Waterfront can be managed and minimized, and I believe that this version of development compares much more favorably to having a development with no community benefits. I am still committed to the Waterfront Overlay and to our crown jewelLady Bird Lake, and I believe that this development will not impinge upon that treasure. I do appreciate your feedback, and look forward to our on-going conversation about these issues and others.
