Commentary by Joe Solis/South Texas Republicans

There is absolutely no enthusiasm for the 23rd district congressional run on the part of grassroots Republicans. Many of us have “Bonilla fatigue” after the recent rendezvous with the Supreme Court and his 14 years in office. Congressman Bonilla has a unique opportunity to change that in the next few months.

This is what he needs to do:                                                                     

The Congressman needs to give a speech on why we should send him back to D.C. for 2 more years. He needs to engage his own political base right now. Why? He will lose without us working the district in a very aggressive manner. Endless direct mail will not save the day for Mr. Bonilla and he knows that.

I pray to God the Congressman does not repeat his tired old line, “I’m the only Hispanic Republican in Congress” and “the Democrats want to take me down.” Okay, we’ve heard that over the past 14 years. Give us some solid reasons why the grassroots of the party should block walk for you. Why should we care about re-electing YOU?

Here are the big themes he should focus on:

1.  Immigration, immigration, immigration

2. Government waste and pork barrel spending

3. The global war on terrorism

4. Narco-Terrorism along the border

In the past few weeks, I have seen no effort on his part to engage his base. He works for us. We are the ones who have elected him year after year. His unwillingness to genuinely motivate his core voters could equal doom in November.

Mr. Bonilla: The grassroots of the party is waiting to hear from you.

My humble prediction: Give a good speech and they will come.
 

A Call To Arms!!

Evidence: Story #1-These quotes appeared in the following article:

Bruce Davidson: Court hopefuls tap gender issue

Court Hopefuls Tap Gender Issue

“At least two candidates for the 4th Court of Appeals believe too many women are on the court. “

“Democratic contender Richard Garcia Jr. said that if he wins, "I am putting some testosterone into the court."

 “But Garcia and fellow Democratic candidate Lauro Bustamante say women have too much representation on the court.”

“He added that if a jury were packed with women in a driving while intoxicated case, the defendant would have a difficult time.”

Evidence:  Story #2- Peter Sakai takes the low road and launches a negative campaign against Marialyn Barnard. Mr. Sakai is distributing a campaign flyer accusing Mrs. Barnard of not having community service experience. This is a complete falsehood cooked up by Mr. Sakai and he knows it. Click here to see her community service.

I call upon Bexar County Democratic Chair Carla Vela to reign in these candidates who are partaking in gender-based warfare against our Republican Women.

Why are these men so threatened by strong women?

Why is it necessary to go negative against good women who have a track record of serving this community?

Try to understand the logic of these men:

Justice Phylis Speedlin served in the U.S. Military as a nurse several years ago. She can wear the uniform of her country and serve in war zones, but she should be voted off the 4th Court of Appeals because these men believe there should be “testosterone” on the court.” What an insult!!

What are these men thinking? (Are they thinking?)

PLEASE SHOW your support for our strong women by condemning the reckless and insulting behavior of these Bexar County Democratic men who are obviously threatened by our candidates on the ballot.

ATTEND one of our receptions in support of these strong TEXAS Women. 

Take a STAND and just say no to these insecure Democratic men on the ballot.
 

A Message and Invitation from Joe Solis:

Marialyn Barnard is an experienced attorney with “stellar credentials,” as noted in the San Antonio Express-News!

Marialyn is an experienced civil litigator. She was an attorney to state and federal judges at both the trial and appellate levels before she became an Assistant United States Attorney in civil litigation.  She has been a corporate attorney, as well as having worked on family law cases and probate matters. She has the broad base of legal experience needed for the 225th District Court. 

Marialyn is truly dedicated to public service in all areas of her life. She was a high school teacher and social worker before becoming an attorney. She has volunteered extensively through many charitable organizations, including San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (SAMM), Habitat for Humanity, the Children’s Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Community Justice Program, and much more, all for disadvantaged individuals and families. 

I am hosting this special dinner for individuals who have never met Marialyn. This is not a fundraiser or campaign rally. It is classic “meet and greet” that includes a fabulous dinner by Chef Paul Arrendondo. There are only 40 seats available. Please contact me today if you would like to attend this special event.

When:  August 29, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Chef's Farmers Market, 7034 San Pedro (210) 320-3442, (210) 683-1082

We hope that you all enjoy this sensational food. It is also a pleasure to have you all at Chef's Farmers Market.

RSVP to Joe Solis (210) 582-5857 E-mail: SolisJoe@sbcglobal.net
 

Where:  The Omni Hotel, 9821 Colonnade Blvd., San Antonio, Texas 78230 (210-699-0073)

Time:  6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Remarks: 6:45 p.m.)

Cost:  FREE

Please join us for this special “Meet and Greet” style reception. Bring your friends, business associates and family members so they can have an opportunity to meet one of our most respected jurists in Bexar County. For further information, call Joe Solis at 725-0479.

We encourage you to send this invitation to your personal network via e-mail. You have our permission to post this online invitation on local electronic bulletin boards. Help us get the word out about this FREE networking opportunity.
 

BREAKING NEWS: Join South Bexar Republicans for PATRIOT DAY On September 11th

When: September 11th (Monday)

Where:  Grady's Bar-B-Q, 6510 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216

Phone: (210) 805-8036

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Remarks at 6:45 p.m.)

Cost: FREE 

Buffet Dinner Courtesy of Joe Solis/South Texas Republicans

Note from Joe Solis: Friends, it is time to rally around Steve Hilbig for the 4th Court of Appeals. He needs our support in this very important race. We are hosting this dinner for his campaign. Please bring your friends, family members, business associates and neighbors to this dinner. 

Donations to the Steve Hilbig campaign will be accepted:  $10, $20, $50 and $100 donations can make a difference at this point.  We encourage you to donate.

http://www.stevehilbig.com/

The Fourth Court of Appeals is one of 14 intermediate appellate courts in Texas court system. As an “intermediate appellate court,” each court receives appeals from the trial courts located within the court’s geographical jurisdiction.  The decision of the Court of Appeals may be further appealed to a higher court although most decisions are not accepted for review by the higher courts.

The Courts of Appeals review both civil and criminal cases.  If one side wants the decision from the Court of Appeals reviewed by a higher court, that review is conducted by a court that specializes in either civil or criminal law.  For cases involving civil law, the appeal is made to the Texas Supreme Court.  If the case concerns a criminal question, the case is appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
 

Time: 6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. (Remarks at 6:45p.m.)

Cost: FREE

Hosted by Alamo City Republican Women, South Texas Republicans, & Quico Canseco.

Saturday, September 16, 2006 –

Location:  San Antonio Country Club

Time: 10:30 a.m.  (11:30 a.m. Luncheon) 

Silent Auction (benefiting the Center for the Intrepid)   

RSVP to:  Betty Hill at 210-681-9468
 

August 21, 2006

Travel demand is cyclical. It varies seasonally, and for some forms it varies significantly during the course of a single day. We know that for privately provided travel, when you travel affects the price, and appropriately so. You can get some great off-season travel deals, and pay big time for peak season travel. Those price differences even out usage and provide the incentive and wherewithal to deliver costly temporary increases in supply.

The basic principles and benefits are the same for public services. Where it is technically feasible, we should employ peak-off-peak pricing to even out usage and pay for additional capacity needed only during the peak periods. Highway capacity is one such public service.  Readers of this column know that I’ve been urging the use of congestion tolls to reduce rush hour traffic and pay for the lanes needed only during peak usage periods. On August 13, the Express-News spread that message to a broader audience through a really nice View section presentation of my plea to consider congestion tolling as an alternative to higher taxes and separate toll and free lanes. On August 15, KAHL-1310’s Eliza Sonneland and Carl Wiglesworth spread the message to its radio listeners.

My point today is that congestion tolling is just one wise application of a well-established economic principle that is in widespread use in the private sector, and also for some public services. Economic analysis always points to price change as a tool to spread out usage and meet growing demand. Then it is just a matter of technical feasibility; can we levy changing prices without creating bigger problems than we solve.  Separate toll and ‘free’ lanes does not emerge from economic analysis of urban traffic.

I’ll close with two other public service examples, sewage treatment and water reservoirs. We could save millions of dollars on sewage pipes and holding tanks if we could use pricing to reduce the peak demand, which is probably at half time of the Super Bowl. Yes!  If we could meter exactly when ‘stuff’ flows down each building’s sewage pipes, we could levy a small fee for flushing (and other uses) around half time. Because that would reduce the peak demand, we could get by with smaller sewage pipes, and fewer holding tanks at the Sewage Treatment Plants. But such metering and billing may not be technically feasible. The meters may cost more than they save. In contrast, it is technically feasible to price water usage seasonally to reduce the demand for reservoir capacity. That’s something, which like congestion tolling for highways needs to be done more often. Both save money (smaller highways and reservoirs are cheaper) by shifting how we pay for something. The peak period users pay for the capacity needed only during the peak periods.
 

State law allows only a wacky approach to tolls. It needs to be changed.

Merrifield Commentary
 

This event will feature national speakers like Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family; Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center; Reverend Don Wildmon of the American Family Association; Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council; Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation and many more! As part of the entertainment, “Mr. President” Steve Bridges will be on hand doing his impersonation of President George W. Bush.

The costs to attend the ‘Washington Briefing’ in D.C. will be about $1,800. The package to attend all 3 conference days and gain admittance to the exhibit halls/book signings will cost $550. The hotel room on location (Omni Shoreham in D.C.) will cost $550 for 3 nights (needed by August 15th!!). Roundtrip airfare is expected to run about $400-600 (plus tax).

Ideally, to get whatever price breaks I can for travel, and the conference, I need the funds available by September 5th, 2006. This would allow for plenty of time planning arrival and transportation while in our nation’s capitol.

Checks/Money Orders can be made out to me, and mailed to:

Schuylar Crist

9570 Autumn Shade

San Antonio, Texas

78254

You may also reach me by phone at (210) 663-6093 or via e-mail at skyskyrider@hotmail.com

You can also check out conference information at www.frcaction.org

Thank you in advance for your prayerful and thoughtful consideration.
 

When: Friday, September 22, 2006

Where: Aggie Park Banquet Hall 6205 West Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78213

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $32.50 per person

(Hors d’oeuvres, libations/beverages and $1000 play money included)

Contact: Mary Fox 210-341-8262, mafox2@aol.com OR Carolyn McCollister 210-493-6210

Limited 200 guests - reserve your tickets early - dressy casual.

DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

Ace’s Table:  10 Tickets - $750

King’s Table:  8 Tickets – $500

Queen’s Table:  5 Tickets -$250

Jack’s Table:  2 Tickets - $100

(The Ace’s Table, King’s Table, Queen’s Table and Jack’s Table will be listed as sponsors.)

All proceeds go to our local candidates.

Political ad paid for by Sharon Kemp, ACRW/PAC Treasurer
 

Reception Sponsor: Quico Canseco

Cost:  FREE  (Campaign donations are welcome.)

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Remarks at 6:45 p.m.)

Location: Luciano’s By The Strand, 11255 Huebner Rd, #200 (210-561-9700)

We encourage you to attend this important networking event on August 31st. Come and meet Diane Rivera, Candidate for Judge of the 45th District Court, and Ted Terrazas, CEO of the “Fastest Growing Company” in the United States, according to Hispanic Business Magazine. 

From Hispanic Business Magazine: TerraHealth No.1 on Fastest-Growing Companies List

July 31, 2006, Scott Williams

2006 Fastest-Growing 100® Companies

”Mr. Terrazas, CEO of TerraHealth, Inc., the No. 1 ranked company on the 2006 Hispanic Business 100 Fastest-Growing Companies directory…”

”Much of TerraHealth's 8,338 percent five-year growth rate is due to the specialized knowledge Mr. Terrazas gained working as a Medical Service Corps officer while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force. His knowledge of the Department of Defense procurement systems and military healthcare missions drove TerraHealth’s gross sales figures from $180,000 in 2001 to $15.19 million in 2005.”

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=42727

This event is being organized and sponsored by Alamo City Republican Women and South Texas Republicans. 

Sponsorships are available:  Please contact Joe Solis for more information at SolisJoe@sbcglobal.net

Bio of Diane Rivera
 

Joe Krier is with Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation and with the San Antonio mobility Coalition. Both are primarily funded by and representing highway interests around the State.

In a recent speech, Joe Krier claims there are only 3 choices:

1) Endless gridlock

2) 56% increase in property taxes

3) $1.40 gallon increase in gas taxes

Look at this photo. The Governor’s version of toll roads on existing freeways will NOT solve gridlock, it'll make PERMANENT gridlock on the free lanes and put the free lanes under the control of a private corporation for 50 years with NO oversight by elected officials and NO accountability to the taxpayers. 

Then see the host of non-toll alternatives available to TxDOT and a factual analysis of gas tax versus tolls. Pro-tollers are flat out using SCARE tactics to make toll roads more appealing than a gas tax increase. His claim that there’s no political will to raise the gas tax is bogus considering the legislature just raised a WHOLE NEW TAX ON BUSINESS when there is an $8.2 billion surplus (and growing!). AND, none of our politicians have given us a vote to decide what we want, or a vote, with a side-by-side choice of a TRUTHFUL gas tax increase versus tolls.

Also, this Carlos Guerra column confirms we're paying 1 cent per mile (on average) in STATE gas tax now. According to pro-tollers, they "need" 7 cents MORE per mile (a 600% increase) in order to relieve gridlock? It's total nonsense! According to one MPO spokesperson, San Antonio alone "needs" $16 billion MORE dollars over the next 20 years...that's $10,000 from every man, woman, and child in San Antonio! All of their claims are totally absurd and desperate.

However, to put THEIR solution into perspective, the toll rates found in TxDOT’s own studies of 44 cents up to a $1 a mile (affirmed in this study study), you can see that 1-cent per mile escalate out of control real quick. Tolls at even 25 cents per mile would be like adding $5.00 more to every gallon of gas (if a car gets 20 MPG). Tolls are THE most expensive, least efficient (25-35% administration cost, plus 12-19% profit to the private firm) option no matter how you slice it.

Plus, here are a couple more FACTS...

DON’T NEED MORE ROADS, NEED BETTER PLANNING

San Antonio ranks number 5 in the NATION for lanes miles per person. We don't lack roads. We also have to drive 19% more than the average resident of other big cities. What we lack is proper planning. Don’t take my word for it, read the words of former San Antonio City Planner, Dave Pasley, in this editorial. 

Then, from 1990 to 2000 we added more lane miles of road, but our commute times actually went UP, not down. The pro-tollers’ "solution" of endlessly adding more lanes isn't a solution. We’ve done that for decades and only end up with more gridlock and a cycle of trying to build our way out it. Proper land use planning, reining in development that promotes ever increasing sprawl away from employment centers (and thereby reducing the amount of travel), along with having developers pay impact fees for the infrastructure their development necessitates are what will ultimately mitigate congestion. We also need to be asking if they claim the State doesn't have the money to maintain our current system of roads, then why on earth is building more roads the answer?

STOP THE EARMARKS AND GET OUR MONEY BACK IN SAN ANTONIO!

Then, San Antonio sends away $100 million more in gas taxes than we get back EVERY YEAR! We do have the money that we're already taxed but it’s NOT getting back to San Antonio, the second most populated city in Texas! When last year's federal highway bill had over 6,000 earmarks, including a parking garage for a PRIVATE university (Univ. of the Incarnate Word), even Republicans are apologizing for its excesses!

Henry Munoz even stated publicly at an RMA meeting in February that," there's money everywhere." To act as if the sky is falling and we're out of money for roads is hyperbole. Sounds like the endless refrain we hear from public schools. TxDOT's budget went up over $1 BILLION from 2004 to 2005 without raising taxes. Comptroller Strayhorn can demonstrate we have bonds in the amount EQUAL TO DOUBLING TXDOT'S CURRENT BUDGET available RIGHT NOW to build all of our road needs as FREEways, but they're choosing to withhold it to build toll roads instead.

IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY FUNDED WITH GAS TAXES!

Lastly, the ORIGINAL 10 lane improvements and overpasses for 281 all the way to the county line are already PAID FOR. We have TxDOT’s District Engineer David Casteel on CAMERA admitting it, and we have TxDOT's own documents that PROVE IT. These claims that we're out of money are DEFINITELY NOT TRUE for 281. No one can answer why they're trying to charge us a toll for a road we've already built and paid for AND for improvements that are already PAID FOR except, of course, unless it’s to line the pockets of San Antonio’s number one highwayman, Zachry.

Since some are asking the question, the Toll party’s leadership and supporters are chock-full of highly educated, well-informed civil engineers, transportation planners, lawyers, former Alamo Area Council of Government members and other civic leaders, elected officials, environmental experts, business owners, former TxDOT employees, folks of every political persuasion, and ORDINARY citizens who have two eyes and a brain and know a raw deal when they see one!
 

This is a series by an anonymous political insider in Bexar County. The views of this author do not represent the views of South Texas Republicans. 

And the erratic saga of the two parties continues to amaze one and all on either side. Now we hear where Henry “The Horrible” Bonilla has dug up some Democrats to endorse him in the District 23 congressional race.

Since a good chunk of Hispanic voters have been placed into the 23rd, and Henry’s mama lives in the Southside, “hijo” thinks he is assured of victory in November.

Since former Southside Council Woman and Bexar County Commissioner Helen Dutmer has jumped on Republican State Rep District 118th candidate George Antuna’s bandwagon, she has now set sail with Henry “The Horrible” on his apparent cruise to re-election. 

Meanwhile, Ciro “The Persistent” Rodriguez jumped into the political shark-infested waters for a third time and filed again. Not a bride, but perennial bridesmaid for the past two election cycles, he is giving it one more shot at the congressional ring. Like a prizefighter who has retired, he hopes for one more last hurrah and return as champion of the 23rd Congressional District.

He may not make it through to the second round, if there is one. But as a Southsider, what do I know?

Then there is the Rick “Band of Blunders” Bolanos kamikaze campaign, which has no fuel or spark to excite the voters of the 23rd. Like Chris Bell who is running for Governor, no one in San Antonio knows who he is or what he stands for, if anything.

At press time, we await more candidates to jump into the free for all. We are still waiting for the university professor, Dr. Richard Gambitta, to leap in the fray as well.

The 21st Congressional District is also quickly becoming a political circus. Bring in the clowns. I am sorry, it is too late. They are already here. You have the progressive candidate John Courage, the dead dancer Gene Kelly, some unknown attorney, political neophyte Tommy Calvert from the Eastside and rumors of a few also-rans in the wings. It never ends.

I read on the Democratic website that John Courage showed up at a Tommy Calvert’s meeting and was seen passing out his campaign flyers. Does this remind you of a previous Democratic candidate that showed up to her Republican opponent’s fundraiser?

Let me refresh your memory. Judicial candidate Gloria Saldana crashed Judge Rene Diaz’s fundraiser months ago. I certainly hope this is not a trend. I am waiting to see if a Republican candidate or elected official shows up at a Democratic meeting. But wait! I spoke too soon. Judge Diaz recently crashed a Tejano Democrats meeting.

Just when you thought it was safe to go to a partisan gathering, somebody from the other side of the aisle shows up. Who knew?

Speaking of judicial candidates I see where some of those races are heating up. Judge Barbara Nellermoe vs. Diana Rivera is catching on as the two fight it out for money for their judicial match.

Marialyn Barnard and Peter Sakai haven’t really started yet, but with Editor Joe Solis hosting an event for Bernard coming up, that should take off very soon. Then there is Judge Monica Guerrero vs. the Republican street fighter Genie Wright that has faded into oblivion for now. I feel confident that grudge match will light up the boards before too long. I can hardly wait for that one.

Finally there is the rematch of Republican Judge Janet Littlejohn vs. former Democratic Judge Carleton Spears. That goes back 12 years when Spears was declared the winner only to be reversed and the Judgeship was awarded to Littlejohn.

It is coming soon to an election-voting booth near you. I will be thrilled when it is all said and done. But that is just me.

In one last comment, I see where Republican Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff has been recognized for collecting, protecting and preserving archives that have saved taxpayers lots of money.

At least one Rickoff brother is doing something good for the community. We still haven’t heard word from DA Susan Reed on the status of Judge Tom Rickhoff’s boys who were arrested for their recent street racing incident. No surprise.

That is the moderate viewpoint. I AM the "Republicrat"!