Football Pride: Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell Proposes Wager to College Station Mayor Ben White

by: Matt Glazer

Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 10:30 AM CST

All that's on the line, is a little green for the winning season.

On Thanksgiving Day, however, a wager between the mayors of College Station and Austin means some extra green is on the line: The city of the losing team must present trees to be planted in the winning team's city.

"This is an easy opportunity for Austin to win some new trees," said Mayor Lee Leffingwell of Austin. "This will provide a shady spot for Austinites to lay underneath our winning trees and celebrate our 12-0 season."

College Station Mayor Ben White has a different take on today's possible results.

"I can't tell you how excited I am at the thought of having some of Austin's finest oak trees planted in the heart of Aggieland," said College Station Mayor Ben White, whose grandfather was the former Austin city councilman for whom Ben White Boulevard is named.

This will be the 116th meeting of these two teams, but the first time that plant life has ever been at stake.  Arrangements for the ceremonial presentation - wherever it may occur - will be arranged by the mayors' offices for the earliest date possible.

The Longhorns are heavy favorites in today's game.  

BCS Chamber of Conference Health Care Resolution: What It Says, and What It Means

by: liberaltexan

Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 05:08 PM CDT

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce express its opposition to any legislation that develops National Healthcare in the United States, and

Whereas, what we say is in italics, but what we mean is in bold

Whereas, the health care plan as proposed creates huge inequities among all hard-working wage earners in America, and

Whereas, the current health care system in America has created huge inequities among hardworking wage earners in America, and a universal health care system would create huge inequities in the insurance companies' profit margins

Whereas, this proposal will require huge tax increases in order to subsidize the planned program, and

Whereas, under the current system Americans spend more money on health care than in any other country and receive health care that is only adequate for those that can afford health care

Whereas, the Federal Government should not be in the business of controlling and manipulating the health care system, and

Whereas, the insurance companies would like to maintain their control over manipulating the health care system

Whereas, the enactment of a government-run, health care insurance program is not sustainable.  No confidence exists in the Federal Government's ability to deliver the cost containments necessary to expand coverage of the uninsured, and

Whereas, the government run health care system could not work efficiently, but it would work too efficiently and private health insurance companies could not compete

Whereas, the private health care insurance industry has the existing tools to contain costs and the incentives necessary to improve quality and affordability for their customers, and

Whereas, the private health care insurance industry has the existing tools to contain the costs and the incentives necessary to improve quality and affordability for their customers, but will continue to exploit their customers in order to increase their profit margin

Whereas, under the health care reform bill, access to health care will become unreasonable to the highest degree.  The rationing of health care in countries with socialized medicine has led to patients dying because they were forced to wait too long to receive treatment, and

Whereas, under the current health care system there are patients dying because they do not have access to affordable health care because the insurance companies have either denied them coverage or denied their claims, or patients are forced into bankruptcy because the cost of life saving treatments are so expensive

Whereas, the solution in health care reform lies in improving the quality and affordability of health care through market-based changes, and

Whereas, the solution in health care reform lies in improving the quality and affordability of health care through market-based changes: see the housing market, the automobile industry, and the banking industry

Whereas,  the focus on health care reforms should be directed in finding ways to make private health care coverage more affordable and to provide fair and adequate reimbursements for care.

Whereas, the focus on health care reforms should be directed in keeping private health care coverage affordable only for the affluent and to providing unfair and inadequate reimbursements for care to the poor

Therefore, be it resolved that: The Board of Directors of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce representing 1400 businesses in our community states through this resolution its strong opposition to the proposed changes in our country's health system through government interference and control that negatively impacts businesses, and

Therefore, be it resolved that: The Board of Directors of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce representing 1400 businesses in our community states through this resolution its strong support of the status quo, and strong opposition to proposed changes in our country's health care system that could positively impact the health of Americans

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded immediately to our elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be returned to the Republican National Committee and the health insurance lobbyists that oppose universal health care.

Political and Social Thought...
to the Left of College Station