Time and time again Ralph Hall tells voters that American soldiers will have to "fight a war and take some energy away from someone." Does this represent your values? It doesn't represent mine. I believe it's time to stop talking about stealing and to start investing in America.
My campaign has produced a short video using Hall's own words to expose his values. Please circulate it to your family and friends.
We have twelve days left to spread the word and fight for change in Texas. Donate today and help put this commercial on the air: https://secure.actblue.com/con...
A competitive energy market is the key to driving down consumer prices. Right now big oil has a monopoly. We can take steps now to fix this problem. That's why I welcome the new bipartisan energy compromise. The New Energy Reform Act of 2008 includes significant investments in alternative-fuel vehicles; repeals tax breaks for big oil, and opens new areas to offshore drilling. We have to break the gridlock in Congress. American families and small businesses need an energy policy that works for us.
Yesterday, the Texas Republican Party tried to distract voters by offering jokes instead of solutions to our energy crisis.
On August 1st, Republicans from across the country joined together to break the law and rules of Congress to stage a political stunt on the House floor. Instead of offering solutions to our problems, Republicans failed to compromised on any issue before the House recessed for August.
While electric bills are on the rise and oil and gas companies are seeing windfall profits they have come up with the solution of fundraising to send "gift baskets" to 11 members of the House of Representatives:
The Republican Party of Texas is sending "gift baskets" to 11... members of Congress from Texas including Al Green (D-Houston ), Gene Green (D-Houston), Hinojosa (D-Mercedes), Jackson-Lee (D-Houston), Johnson (D-Dallas), Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi), Reyes (D-El Paso), Rodriguez (D-San Antonio), Cuellar (D-Laredo), Doggett (D-Austin), Edwards (D-Waco), and Gonzalez (D-San Antonio) with items they may need on their taxpayer funded vacation.
While Democrats have been doing their jobs in Washington, Republicans have been visiting Las Vegas strip clubs, text messaging people from the House floor during important debates, and refusing to debate Democratic challengers.
All Texans are asking for as an end to the culture of corruption, but the TRP and Republican leaders refuse. Instead they are actively fundraising to buy "gifts" for Democrats in Congress. What kind of gifts?
It's time to change fundamentally the dynamics of the energy industry. America's future depends on clean, affordable energy from a variety of sources. In the 1970s America faced a similar challenge to today's energy crisis. A small group of countries had threatened the prosperity of the entire world. The United States Congress led the way to reducing our nation's reliance on foreign oil, requiring new technologies to reduce home and automobile energy use. Instead of the disaster the doomsayers predicted, consumption fell and the economy bounced back. A wise energy policy makes a stronger America.
According to a recent poll, by Belden, Russonello & Stewart, more Americans support investing in new energy technology rather than expanding oil exploration and drilling.
The concept is simple; use flyers to get the word out about John Cornyn's record. I thought about how John Cornyn is one of Big Oil's favorite Senators because he votes in their interests, not ours. The people I talk to in my neighborhood are upset about high gas prices, but aren't aware of how politics impacts those prices. So I thought it would be a good idea to do a little research and spread the word. I figured people are upset when they have to pump their gas nowadays and if they found a flyer or fact-sheet at the pump (in the little ad container or slot) while they were filling up, they might read it and get thinking about how they could send a message to Cornyn this November. I came up with this: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=...
Anyone could print out 50 copies and place them around their local community. Cornyn has all that money from Big Oil and other corporate donors to advertise all over the state. I say we use our computers, printers and energy to get out the other side of the story. I will stress that a flyer effort should stick only to facts and show respect for property, but I think it's a traditional grass-roots way to inform people about their elected officials.
If my fellow Texans out there spread the word about this tactic, it can have a big impact. Also if y'all have other ideas for Guerrilla flyers, feel free to use the format I used above or improve upon it as you see fit.
In a opinion piece that appeared in the San Antonio Express-News and was posted on Burka Blog, former Comptroller and two-time candidate for Lieutenant Governor John Sharp laid out his vision for how to solve America's energy crisis.
As Paul Burka wrote after reading the piece, which calls for the repeal of all corporate income taxes on new domestic energy production and a cut in capital gains taxes, "I wouldn't count on [John Sharp] being Secretary of Energy in the Obama Administration."
Sharp's entire editorial is after the jump, but I wanted to take a closer look at a few sections. While I do agree with Sharp's general premise that "one of the problems with American energy policy is the government," I am not sure about some of his proposed remedies.
An energy policy that would produce more domestic energy should include the repeal of all corporate income taxes for all new domestic energy production from this day forward. That would include: new solar plants, new wind turbines, new geothermal plants, new nuclear plants, new oil and gas wells, or fields that move to secondary and tertiary recovery, and any other type of saleable energy. This will not affect the existing energy tax base, as it only exempts new domestic energy production
Encouraging investment in renewable energy is a great idea but I question the wisdom of repealing all corporate income taxes on new oil and gas wells.
Please! If you really want to speed the transition to alternatives, leave the taxes on oil companies in place and use those incentives for alternative energy. That will spur the right investment, not just more of the same.
At a time when oil prices are over $130 a barrel, do oil companies really need any further incentives?
Secondly, cut the capital gains tax from 15 percent to 7.5 percent for investments in new domestic energy. History has shown that capital gains cuts produce more revenue for government, not less. These two actions would unleash the economic power of America towards solving our energy crisis by allowing Americans to do what they do best ... produce. This country has never conserved its way to greatness, but many times we have produced our way to greatness.
I have been unable to find any history that shows that "capital gains cuts produces more revenue for government." In fact, the evidence seems pretty clear that the opposite is true.
Even Bush economic advisor Gregory Mankiw has conceded that in the long run, capital gains cuts are lucky to "generate enough extra growth to pay for half of the lost revenue."
Read the rest of the editorial from John Sharp, who is said to be considering another run for statewide office, after the jump.
Just like in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, a local TV station is pushing Republican propaganda on energy. How many times do Ralph Hall and his corporate cronies have to be wrong before the media question their judgment? Is Tokyo Rose a professor in American journalism schools?
A perfect case in point is this KXII's story, "Texas-born petition supports fight against high gas prices in Washington." Reporter Emi FitzGerald simply repeated Hall's false assertions without ever reading the details of his proposal. FitzGerald also neglected to report any counter arguments or explain how this plan offers more of Hall's same tired proposals. During a heated national election you would think FitzGerald might call Hall's opponent. You would be wrong.
HOUSTON,WE HAVE A RACE! Michael Skelly is running for Congress against Culberson in congregational district 7 in Houston. District 7 was held by Pres. Bush Sr. and is now held by John Culberson. In recent elections, the Democrats were unable to take down this powerful Republican but in 2008, Michael Skelly is going to do it. Skelly has already raised over $800,000, more than any Democrat or Republican running for congress in the nation. Michael Skelly started Horizon Wind Energy which today is a multi-billion dollar corporation. Michael is committed to brining new energy to congress and will fight hard to win this district. For more information on Skelly or to contribute, you can goto his website www.skellyforcongress.com. To volunteer email brad@skellyforcongress.com. The campaign will be blockwalking the in district all summer and needs volunteers to help out. The campaign office is located on Kirby in between Richmond and West Alabama (above Cafe Express). Michael Skelly can win this but only with the support of volunteers. We cant let Culberson represent the district for another 2 years
Beginning today, April 24th, leaders in the solar industry will meet at the Texas Solar Forum taking place at the State Capitol in Austin. You can hear what's happening via the Texas House of Representatives media site.
Thursday April 24, 2008
Noon - Texas Solar Forum.
Internet on Livestream 7; House TV on Channel 24; In Auditorium.
Friday April 25, 2008
8:00am - Texas Solar Forum.
Internet on Livestream 7; House TV on Channel 24; In Auditorium.
