Friday, November 24, 2006

Texas ~~a whole other country~~

verticle horizon~Rules and Regulations
Creation of Agency Councils

Under House Bill 2292, the governor will appoint nine-member councils for HHSC and each of the departments being created under the legislation. The councils, which must meet at least quarterly, are:

* The Health and Human Services Council
* The Aging and Disability Services Council
* The Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Council
* The Family and Protective Services Council
* The State Health Services Council

Sunday, July 09, 2006

does anybody pay their electric bill over eight years?

verticle horizon









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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2006
CONTACT: Melissa del Bosque (512) 463-0120, cell 947-4046

AEP Should Pay South Texans the $231 Million in Overcharges in the Next Year, Says Senator Hinojosa

AUSTIN -- Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa is urging South Texans to contact the Texas Public Utility Commission to ask for their $231 million owed by American Electric Power (AEP).

The utility company filed its rebate rate case Friday with the Public Utility Commission. The company owes South Texans $231 million that it overcharged consumers on their electric bills since 2001.

AEP, a $13-billion company based in Columbus, Ohio has proposed returning the $231 million to consumers over the next 8 years.

Senator Hinojosa is urging the company to return the money in less than one year. "AEP has given no logical reason why they cannot pay back this money to consumers in the next year," Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa said. "This money belongs to the ratepayers, not AEP."

Senator Hinojosa said the rebate would make the most impact during the hot summer months when electricity bills are at their highest.

"Paying the money back over 8 years will amount to pennies for consumers instead of dollars, which could make a real difference for working families right now."

Senator Hinojosa is asking South Texans to let the PUC know how they feel about AEP's 8-year proposal. Mayor Richard Cortez of McAllen and Mayor J. Wesley Jacobs of Falfurrias have already submitted letters to the PUC in favor of Senator Hinojosa's position that the company pay back the $231 million in the next year. The Senator has asked the PUC to track all calls, emails and letters for the next two weeks from his constituents.

To contact the Public Utility Commission by mail:
1701 N. Congress Avenue
P.O. Box 13326
Austin, Texas 78711-3326

To contact the PUC toll-free: (888) 782-8477 (English or Spanish)

To contact by email: customer@puc.state.tx.us

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Foothills HS Valedictorian Brittney McComb asserts her 1st Amendment right

Speaking of God
6/20/2006 9:56 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a news story about the valedictorian of a Las Vegas High School speech that was cut short.


News 3 Las Vegas Politics Daily

Valedictorian's speech cut short by school district

June 19, 2006 05:43 PM CDT

Valedictorian's speech cut short by school district


A local high school graduation ended with roars of protest after school officials turned the microphone off right in the middle of one of the valedictorian's speeches. The microphone cut out after the valedictorian at Foothill High made reference to God.

The family says the District's decision isn't fair. Brittney McComb says she's a straight A student, number one in her class, and is headed to Biola University in the fall.

Brittney attributes all of her success to God. Trouble is, she tried to explain that during her speech which the school district said they told her beforehand was a no-no.

"God's love is so great."

This was part of the speech that Brittney McComb says she so wanted to give on graduation night. But because it did have numerous references to God and Jesus Christ, the school district cut off the mic, leaving her practically silent. That's when many people stood up and booed, showing their support.

Now, the day after, McComb says she got nothing but support from her fellow students. "All of my classmates came up to me and were so happy. They told me they loved me and I said God's awesome because I couldn't have done it without him."

McComb says the district reviewed her speech beforehand, just like everyone else. But she says they sent it back with the last half chopped off.

"They said it was offensive, it identifies a particular religion," explains McComb. "I really think it's free speech; we're American, we should be able to handle that."

We asked her father about that.

Rob McMillan: We have freedom of speech, but what about separation of church and state?

Michael McComb: They brought that up, and they say they were going to give us some documentation to prove why she could say that in her speech.

They said the documentation was ambiguous. That was when Brittney said she took it upon herself to go ahead and give her speech as written, no matter what the consequences might be.

The district tells News 3 there are guidelines for what valedictorians can and can't say, but they didn't get back to us on our request for an interview. A district spokesperson told us they were not trying to avoid interviews on this subject and that multiple graduation ceremonies prevented top administrators from giving us an interview.

The school district maintains it was simply following procedure at the Foothill Graduation.

We're told students are required to submit their speeches in writing ahead of time and they're told if they deviate from the script at all, their microphones will be cut off. The district maintains that's exactly what happened in this case.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

"watch it and see'

For so long
You and me been finding each other
for so long
And the feeling that I feel for you
is more then strong,
girl
Take it from me
If you give a little more
then you're asking for
Your love will turn the key
Darling mine
I would wait forever
for those lips of wine
Build my world around you,
darling
This love will shine
girl
Watch it and see
If you give a little more
then you're asking for
Your love will turn the key
I,
I ,
ijust want to be your everything
Open up the heaven in your heart and let me be
The things you are to me
and
not some puppet on a string
Oh, if I stay here without you, darling,
I will die
I want you laying in the love I have to bring
I'd do anything
to be your everything
Darling for so long You and me been finding each other for so long And the feeling that I feel for you is more then strong girl Take it from me If you give a little more then you're asking for Your love will turn the key