BREAKING NEWS! Immigration Activists Set To "Surround The Whitehouse" On May 19th
Special Report And Commentary By Joe Solis/South Texas Republicans PAC

Here is the interesting part. The activists have said on television that they plan to “surround” the White House as part of their rally. How do I know this?  I follow Azteca America, a cable channel in Spanish. The ownership of this station is from Mexico. Only South Texas Republicans has correctly reported these immigration rallies weeks in advance.

What do I think?  Go for it!!!

(Conservatives: Hear me out before you blast me via e-mail.)

Message to Activists and leftist LULAC organizers:

Please surround the White House with your flags from El Salvador and Mexico. (Bring the really big ones for the cameras.)

Sing OUR national anthem in Spanish when you bombard the White House gates. (Go ahead and bring your sound system.)

Tell the media that you want full amnesty right now.  (No lines. No waiting.)

Why should the liberals do this?

The liberal activists are firing up our conservative political base like you would not believe. Our grassroots folks are NOW passionate about illegal immigration. This is something very new for us. This is the new “SOCIAL” issue for conservatives this November.

Red states are turning blood red over this issue. You are moving us to the right on border security issues.  Keep it going.

Liberal activists are giving us a solid reason to be united this November. The silent majority is watching and taking notes. 

All I can say is thank you!!!  Thanks to all the lefties at  LULAC!!!  God bless you.

Conservatives, hold tight. Keep sending your hand-written letters to our Republican representatives. Make those phone calls to our local contacts. Get ready for November. Keep supporting strong conservatives in the House including Congressman Lamar Smith. (All of us need to help him this November. Sign up now!)

Encourage Senator John Cornyn as he battles Ted Kennedy in the Senate. We are proud of how the Senator is conducting himself under these challenging circumstances. Let there be no doubt that he is doing his level best to balance the concerns of his conservative base and the rest of the citizens of Texas. God knows it is not easy keeping us conservatives happy.
 

On May 5, 2006, the SVREP formally announced that it is going to spend $1,000,000 to launch the Youth Campaign. “The Youth Campaign will register and mobilize 100,000 new young Latino voters – the sons of daughters of many disenfranchised voters in the U.S,” according to the formal announcement.

Is that incredible? When did Illegal immigrants become “disenfranchised voters”? Who are they kidding? Friends, the immigration movement is all about liberal and union leaders registering 12,000,000 new voters. You don’t believe this? Why are they spending $1,000,000 to register the children of illegal immigrants? Wake up. It is political and it is focused on defeating Republicans. THIS NOVEMBER we must get motivated and WIN at the grassroots level. This is serious stuff.

Here is a final line from this “nonpartisan” organization.

“Using strategies geared toward them, and combining it with modern technology, SVREP will register and mobilize 100,000 Latino youth in preparation for the 2006 general election,” said Lydia Camarillo, SVREP Vice President.

South Texas Republicans continues to be the leading source of information on these immigration movement activities in Texas. PLEASE FORWARD this e-mail to your friends and business associates. Encourage them to sign up for this free newsletter at SouthTexasRepublicans.com

For more information: Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (Check out these links right now.)

 http://www.svrep.org/

SVREP Latino Academy
 

11:00 a.m. Networking

11:30 a.m.  Speakers

Ocean Star Seafood Grill Restaurant

1039 NE Loop 410

For reservations, contact Dee Brame at 210-493-5512 or email deeb@satx.rr.com
 

CORPUS CHRISTI – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the sentencing of a Nueces County woman who illegally handled mail-in ballots in the May 2005 Robstown ISD elections.

Josefina Marinas Suarez, 44, was sentenced in Nueces County Court of Law No. 1 to one year deferred adjudication probation and a $500 fine after she pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an official ballot or carrier envelope of another. During the probation, Suarez will be prohibited from assisting any person in filling out or completing an application for an early ballot by mail, and she may not fill out, assist, complete or possess any other person’s official ballot or official carrier envelope provided to another person.

“As a democratic society, we must do all we can to protect the integrity of our election process,” said Attorney General Abbott. “I will make certain that anyone who takes advantage of Texas voters is held accountable.”

During the Robstown school district election, Suarez personally handled or mailed ballots for persons unrelated to her. She targeted elderly voters, going door-to-door soliciting votes and then taking ballots and carrier envelopes to the post office for mailing. She was indicted Dec. 19 for violations of Chapter 86 of the Texas Election Code, which addresses the officials who may handle and process mail-in ballots.

The charge against her was a Class B misdemeanor. Assistant Attorney General Lance Kutnick presented the case to the grand jury and handled court proceedings.

The case represents the Attorney General’s fifth case since mid-2005 against individuals for voter fraud in Texas. All were investigated and prosecuted on referral from the Texas Secretary of State.

In February 2006, a Texarkana City Council member and two other women were indicted for illegally handling mail-in ballots for seniors and other voters during the November 2004 general elections. In January 2006, the mother of a March 2004 primary candidate for Reeves County sheriff and another woman were indicted for illegally possessing and transporting election ballots of several voters.

In November 2005, Attorney General Abbott obtained a guilty plea from a Hardeman County Commissioner for collecting mail-in ballots while he was a candidate in the 2004 primary and general elections. In July 2005, a Bee County woman pleaded guilty to charge of mailing an absentee ballot in the name of her deceased mother.
 

May 4, 2006
 

Dear Friends,

RE:  June 24, 2006, Bexar County Barbecue Invitation – NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR At the home of AnaPaula & Mark Watson III at 550 Ivy Lane, San Antonio, TX 78209.

I’m looking forward to visiting with friends at our annual Bexar County Barbecue. This year’s barbecue promises to be the largest yet and, just as in years past, the BBQ is a wonderful family event.

The BBQ always provides a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and so I hope I can count on seeing you this year.

Meanwhile, I wanted to bring you up-to-date on the campaign. I have a serious campaign this year. My Democratic opponent, who is campaigning full time, ran against me before and was well-funded, but the demographics of the 21st Congressional District have changed: there are 100,000 new constituents in Travis County and the district is less Republican. I need your support to ensure we have every available resource to conduct a strong campaign throughout the 21st District.  

I hope you will serve on the 2006 Barbecue Host Committee. The event will be held at a new location this year at the home of AnaPaula & Mark Watson III located at 550 Ivy Lane in San Antonio.  The BBQ will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Your response on the enclosed form by Monday, June 5, will ensure that your name will appear on our invitation.

I look forward to seeing you on June 24, if not before.

Sincerely,                                                                                                   

Lamar Smith

Member of Congress

Saturday, June 24, 2006 ~ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Home of AnaPaula & Mark Watson III

(New Location for BBQ This Year)

550 Ivy Lane ~ San Antonio, Texas 78209

=====================================================

Please list me at the following level:

                        $1,000 Cowboy*                                                $500 Trailblazer*

                        $250 Ranch Hand*                                            $100 Posse*

Please make checks payable to Texans for Lamar Smith and mail to

Post Office Box 691422, San Antonio, Texas 78269.

The favor of a reply is requested by Monday, June 5, by phone to Susan Lilly at 866-789-9223 or Janelle McArthur at (210) 699-1925, or by Fax to 800-433-1387, or by email to susan@lillyandcompany.com.
 

Chairman and CEO of Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, Paul M. Weyrich
and Schuylar Challenging Each Other To A Wheelchair Race At CPAC 2006

Schuylar with President of the Media Research Center, Parents Television Council,
and the Conservative Communications Center L. Brent Bozell, III at CPAC 2006

It is because of loyal supporters like you that I was able to attend CPAC 2006 in Washington, D.C., last February. I want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for that opportunity. I have included a few new photos as some have requested to see more.

Now, because of your overwhelming support, I have also been able to go BACK to DC and attend the Jesse Helms School of Foreign Policy Communication!

I will be attending this training May 17-21. On our very first day, we will all be admitted to the State Department for an inside look at Foreign Policy. Currently, the full itinerary and the list of speakers are still being worked out. I do, however, understand that on the final day there will be mock television interviews that all participants will go through to hone their communication skills on these matters. There apparently is a television studio set up at the campus.

While there, of course, I intend to take full advantage of the opportunities to expand our readership and involvement of other like-minded conservative individuals and organizations in addition to learning a great deal about Foreign Policy.

Thank you all again for your tremendous support! I could not do what I do without your help.

Sincerely,

Schuylar Crist.

IT/Media Director, South Texas Republicans P.A.C.
 

Most citizens do not realize that State Statue limits the growth of government and that if a government entity exceeds a carefully defined tax rate rollback limit, that local registered voters have the opportunity to circulate a petition calling for a special election. 

If the county maintenance and operations budget exceeds $5 million, then the law says seven percent of the registered voters have to sign a petition (10% if the M&O is less than $5 million). 

On Sept. 15, 2005, Comal County Commissioners exceeded the rollback limit, so for 62 days after that (the law allows 90 days), local citizens set out to gather the necessary signatures.  They needed 4,533 and they were met with tremendous resistance from the County Judge, from various Republican leaders, from the press, and from land developers who didn't want anybody "rocking the boat." The county judge went negative, calling the petition organizer an "instigator," and saying that the rollback was a "stigma" on his county. 

But, by the deadline, volunteers were able to secure 5,894 signatures and despite consternation by elected officials, a rollback election was set for May 13, 2006.

With the help of the County Judge, the County Sheriff, the County Clerk, the County Treasurer and County Commissioners, one Commissioner then formed a political action committee to oppose the rollback effort.

Meanwhile, citizen activists campaigned for limiting government, speaking on the stump about "enough is enough," and "we are the owners of government."

The political machine responsible for the election of most, if not all, of the current elected officials, set out to muster endorsements for higher taxes. The party chairs of both the Republican and Democrat parties signed on to oppose the tax rollback, as did a member of the State Republican Executive Committee. Two chambers of commerce came out with public statements opposing the rollback, as did the local realtors association. The major newspaper endorsed higher taxes as well.

The battle lines are clearly drawn. Those who are paying the bills, the taxpayers and the working people of Comal County, are in favor of reducing the tax rate to the legal limit. Those who are recipients of the government spending are on the side of higher taxes and more spending.

On May 13, the issue comes down to this: Can the owners of government limit its growth, or, can the employees of that government, and the recipients of the money they spend overcome the will of the people at the ballot box? Government has gotten so large and so many people now work for the government that the government can vote itself excessive taxes and back that up with sheer numbers of people who personally benefit.

Anyone with friends in Comal County is urged to call or email those friends and alert them to this fight. If the government succeeds in excessive taxation here, the word will surely get out and other Government entities will be doing the same thing -- maybe in your area.

Douglas Kirk, the publisher of the Bulverde Standard and Canyon Lake

Week newspapers, organized the tax rollback effort in order to give people a choice in limiting their own government. His newspaper can be accessed at www.smalltownpapers.com (click Bulverde Standard) and he can be reached at dougkirk@moment.net. In the last 10 years, there have only been four rollback elections against counties in Texas.
 

By John Merrifield,
Professor of Economics
Director, Entrepreneurial Conservatism Institute

April 24th

I use the term ‘fiasco’ because it is almost laughable that mature adults created a system that makes people wish their property was worth less, and allows people with greater wealth to make your property unaffordable. In other words, rising property values can and do tax people out of their property. The property tax rate only affects the degree to which the policies of Texas and most other states promote perverse outcomes like the two just cited.

The key to the perverse outcomes cited above, and others that I will describe below, is periodic reassessment to keep the property on the tax rolls at full market value. It means that if you live in a suddenly popular neighborhood, state law forces your county tax assessor to raise the taxable value of your home, perhaps to the point where you have to move because you can no longer pay your property taxes.  Periodic reassessment also taxes and therefore reduces home improvement. In other words, renovation will increase your property taxes, especially if you renovate the exterior where the changes are readily visible to the tax assessor, and where it would also raise property values throughout the neighborhood. Since interior home improvements are less likely to increase the property tax you owe, it is not surprising or uncommon to see homes that are palatial on the inside, but dilapidated on the outside. Periodic reassessment also fosters two-faced, dishonest behavior; talking down the value of your home at a tax protest hearing and then talking it up when trying to sell it.

California and Florida (CA-FL) have renounced periodic reassessment and, contrary to the warnings of periodic reassessment proponents, the taxable value of residential property continued to rise rapidly. Purchase price, plus an annual inflation adjustment, is each home’s taxable value. That eliminates the threat of being taxed out of your property, and exterior renovation no longer raises a homeowner’s property taxes. Since the reduced cost of home improvement, and the resulting boost in property values throughout the neighborhood, increases property values, there is no guarantee that ending periodic reassessment will necessitate a rate increase to recoup lost revenues. The opposite may be the case. It could be a wash. It’s an issue for empirical research to resolve.

A clear political advantage of periodic reassessment is seemingly equal taxation of seemingly equal properties. ‘Seemingly’ is a key word because many key property characteristics are unknown to the county tax assessor. The CA-FL approach will yield some apparent inequities. In popular neighborhoods, recently sold properties will have higher values for tax purposes than similar homes that haven’t been on the market for awhile. But that’s an inequity only to the extent that you believe that similar market value means similar ability to pay taxes; something that is definitely not true. Income and property value are correlated, but not strongly so. And the ‘price’ of equal taxation of seemingly equal properties is the administrative cost of periodic reassessment, the resulting home improvement disincentive, and possible forced sale because neighborhood popularity has sharply increased property taxes. It’s a trade-off that needs to be recognized, debated, and addressed by our leaders.

So, the legislature needs to do more than lower property tax rates. They need eliminate periodic reassessment, and change the basis of a home’s taxable value to the purchase price adjusted for inflation. A reduction in the appraisal cap from the current 10 percent to anything significantly above likely inflation, while helpful, is a second-best approach to the problem of rising property tax liabilities.
 

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION VOLUNTEERS

Name: _____________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________

City: ____________________ State: ____   Zip: ___________

Phone: (      )_______________  Fax: (     ) ________________

E-Mail: ____________________________________________

Senate District # or Senator: __________________________

Do you plan to be a delegate or alternate? _______________

How did you hear about volunteering? __________________

Do you have any special needs? ________________________
 

PLEASE MARK YOUR PREFERENCE TO VOLUNTEER:

(You may select more than one shift.)

Thursday, June 1, 2006                                    Friday, June 2, 2006    

______ Noon – 3 p.m.                           ______ 8 am – 11 a.m.             

______ 3 pm – 7 p.m.                           ______ 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.                                                                                                            ______ 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 3, 2006

_____ 6:45 a.m. – 10 a.m.

_____ 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Volunteer training will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, at the San Antonio Convention Center Room 003 (Volunteer Break room).

Please return form to:

Freida Wright, Chairman of Registration Committee

By mail: 15703 Blue Creek St., San Antonio, TX 78232

By email: registrationvolunteers@earthlink.net

 By fax: (512) 480-0709

Registration Volunteer Questions only to (210) 494-6393.
 

TXDOT’S TOLLS NOT FREE MARKET NOR A USER TAX

Let’s compare a genuine free market experience with TxDOT’s NEW version of tolling existing highways and right of way:

BUYING A CAR: (Free Market)

Freely choose when, where to buy among competitors

Price shop

Choice of models, makes, options

PAYMENTS END ONCE CAR PAID FOR!

TxDOT’S TOLL ROADS: (MONOPOLIES)

No choice, tolling existing freeway with no other alternate non-toll expressway

Toll rates dictated to you.

No competition; 50-year monopoly

TOLLS NEVER END EVEN ONCE ROAD PAID FOR!

Here’s what the National Motorists Association says about toll road privatization:

“Privatizing highways grants a monopoly over publicly owned infrastructure, it’s market principles figuratively at the end of a gun barrel, and ‘private’ toll roads use the state’s exclusive eminent domain powers to grant a monopoly to the toll road operator.” Read more here:

http://satollparty.com/post/?p=80.

Now, about this claim that tolls are a user tax…Traditional toll roads that are completely new roads (new right of way) using no other taxes to build or maintain it could perhaps call the toll a user tax. However, TxDOT’s NEW version of tolling existing highways uses GAS TAXES to build toll projects, hence it’s NOT a user tax. US 281 improvements and all the current toll projects in Bexar County will be using YOUR GAS TAXES to build them. So you’ve already paid a tax to help build it, but you won’t be able to drive on it without paying a lifetime toll tax, too.

See what Commissioner Larson said about TxDOT’s deception: “TxDOT is playing games with how these projects are going to be paid for. They’re saying it’s going to be paid by the tolls. That’s not an accurate assessment. There are going to be a lot (of taxpayer dollars) involved. They can’t make it work otherwise” (to WOAI TV, August 3, 2005). In fact, our MPO Transportation Policy Board (which Commissioner Larson is a member) has set aside more than $500 million in YOUR gas taxes for toll projects.

Julie Brown of TxDOT admitted on camera to WOAI July 29, 2005, that toll revenues from 281 users will be used as leverage to build more toll lanes on 1604. My friends, TxDOT’s tolls are not a user tax (in their own words)! Also, the improvements to 281 were 100% funded in 2003 & 2004 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144 and are still funded Express-News Article because they officially let a contract to Zachry in November of 2005 to build the tollway before it was halted due to a lawsuit and the feds giving TxDOT a spankin’. There is NO JUSTIFICATION to charge us a toll tax on an existing freeway especially when even the improvements are already paid for! It’s a money grab, pure and simple.

Even Fitch Ratings Special Report on Toll Road Privatization (March 22, 06) claims the DOUBLE TAX (gas tax plus tolls) is a HUGE problem for pro-tollers, “The public views tolls synonymously with taxes and a form of DOUBLE TAXATION…a backlash could be problematic for both governmental entities and concession holders.”

The same report also clearly states why the Governor and Legislature set-up the Regional Mobility Authorities (tolling authorities) and why the Governor, Mike Krusee, and other politicians insist on the privatization of publicly-owned infrastructure: TO SHIELD THEM FROM THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF TOLLS!

Distance Government from Toll Increases: While this is a double-edged sword from a credit standpoint, the political risk related to toll rate increases could be minimized by transferring the authority within an overall rate-setting framework to the private sector.

The absence of political agendas and the separation from electoral politics should allow for steady, streamlined rate increases over time.

TxDOT’s version of tolling existing freeways and right of way is NOT free market, and is NOT a user tax; it’s a NEW TAX on driving. We already pay a user tax, the gas tax. The more you use, the more you pay. The more our population grows, the more the gas tax revenues grow with it. Alternative fuels will be taxed as well (bills have already been before Congress), so this notion that the gas tax is disappearing due to alternative fuels and better gas mileage is false. Last I checked, we still pay a gas tax every time we fill up, and we can all rest assured politicians will be sure to tax all new energy sources that eventually do replace the gas tax. Send a message to the politicians that this NEW TAX on driving will indeed BACKFIRE.
 

This past week was incurably unexciting and uneventful on the Democratic scene. What was billed as the Democratic Party’s New Day celebration and swearing-in ceremony for Bexar County Democratic Party Chair, Carla Vela, turned into a lackluster event at best.

Although I must admit, there were a few exciting moments during the evening. The problem is that I can’t recall any of them.

A crowd of at least two hundred and fifty or more party activists, elected officials, and November bound candidates paraded around and waved to the adoring and not so adoring Democrats who just showed up to support the Party and eat the free food.

The second order of business was the swearing in of Precinct Chairs by County Judge Nelson Wolff. Unlike the Northwest Democrats, the Party’s first order of business was the pledge of allegiance and an invocation by a female pastor of a church on the Eastside. There is hope for us yet.

The venue was a good choice. The Firefighter’s Union Hall on the access road near Wurzbach adequately served those in attendance. What better place to have a Democratic event than the Firefighter’s Hall? Maybe downtown at the La Villita Assembly Hall would be a great place, except for the fact you need a real crowd that is excited to attend.

In talking with some of those who attended, many expressed mixed feelings on what the future, if any, was in store for the Party.

Apparently, our invited special guest Democratic candidate for Governor, Chris Bell, had more important matters to tend to, since he never showed up. At least Maria Alvarado, the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor found her way back to her native city of San Antonio.

Fortunately for the crowd, she was articulate and very gracious with a good message. She was one of the highlights of the evening. She later mingled and worked the crowd and answered numerous questions. The Party needs more candidates like her.

Carla Vela also spoke articulately of her vision and goals for the Party. She, too, was one of the few highlights of the evening. Her former opponent Dan Ramos sat quietly in the back of the room as she laid out her agenda. Can you say, “Jealous?”

Then there was Defense Attorney Charlie Jones, who introduced every elected official and every candidate for office in attendance. Jones is also considered a long shot candidate for the State Democratic Party Chair in June.

Needless to say, his oratory took quite a bit of time, since he shared a personal story on all of them. While some stories were humorous, still others were insightful. Every official and candidate’s eyes lit up when he spoke affectionately about them. Many officials and candidates drew enthusiastic applause while others didn’t. While Jones waxed eloquent, it took up lots and lots and still more lots of time.  

Surprisingly, judicial candidate Gloria Saldana was spotted in attendance. Considering her recent claim to fame is attending her Republican opponent’s fundraiser, it was a breath of fresh air to see her among Democrats. 

Others female officials or candidates included: Judge Monica Guerrero, judicial candidates Barbara Zeldes and Laura Salinas, District Clerk Margaret Montemayor, and Councilwoman Elena Guajardo

The guys included: Judges Peter Sakai, Michael Mery and Phil Meyer, Fourth Court Justice candidates Dan Pozza and Eddie De La Garza and judicial candidates Larry Noll and the irrepressible Milton Fagin.

Candidates for State Rep. Joe Farias and Larry Stallings, who will face George Antuna and Frank Corte, respectively, were also there.

Those noticeably absent included Southside political consultant JoAnn Ramon, no state representatives, no Congressmen, and no one with deep pockets.

And, finally, there was no media. Apparently it wasn’t an event worth covering, except here.

That’s the moderate viewpoint. I AM the Republicrat.