It's been years since federal agencies have screamed this loudly about fiscal discipline being imposed on them.

 GOP Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina have decided to take a stand against overspending by objecting to the nearly 10,000 earmarks, or member-sponsored pork projects, larded throughout the spending bills Congress is currently considering.

Their obstinacy has convinced the leadership of the departing Republican Congress that they probably won't be able to pass spending bills in next month's short lame-duck session.

Instead, they are likely to pass a stopgap "continuing resolution," which will continue funding all programs at last year's level until the new Democratic Congress passes its own versions of the funding bills.

Mr. Coburn says the decision not to pass earmark-stuffed catchall spending bills could save taxpayers a cool $17 billion.

All 10,000 earmarks in the pending bills will expire if they aren't passed by the end of the year.

Mr. Coburn says the decision of the congressional leadership to instead go for a continuing resolution is a sign Republicans are learning some lessons from their stinging loss of Congress three weeks ago.

"By either staying home or not voting Republican, many voters were sending a message that they don't want to give the spending favor factory that Congress had become their stamp of approval," Mr. Coburn says. "It's time that message was heeded."

Nonetheless, the cries of pain are mounting now that it looks as if many federal agencies will have to get by until late January or even later with the same amount of money they got last year.

Of the 11 spending bills covering the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, only those governing defense and homeland security have become law.  Appropriators are beside themselves that a continuing resolution that restrains spending is on the table.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, who is ending his stint as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, calls it a "catastrophe." A spokeswoman for Mr. Lewis's Senate counterpart, Thad Cochran, says it is "irresponsible."

Overall federal spending has gone up by 49% since 2001, but you wouldn't know it from the anguished cries of those who regard ever-higher spending as some sort of birthright.

 A Congress Daily headline reads, "Agencies Say Long-Term CR Would Devastate Programs." The New York Times warns of "cuts in school breakfasts and shelter for the poor." 

Sen. Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican who became a symbol of earmark excess in 2005 when he championed the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," laments that several "very important" projects in his state stalled. "Some of it is money to help West Coast villages continue to recover from that bad storm they had in 2005 and earlier this year," he told reporters.

Nonsense, say Messrs. Coburn and DeMint.

"Any agency that can't figure out how to function under a one-year CR is incompetent," a Coburn spokesman tells Congress Daily. "If appropriators took this seriously they wouldn't be wasting time earmarking and putting stoplights in their districts. The hypocrisy is astounding."

Some supporters of the Senate status quo may try to roll over objections to new spending bills and try to pass them anyway when Congress reconvenes on Dec. 4. If they do, Mr. Coburn and his allies already have over 40 amendments ready that would force senators to vote on authorizing individual pork barrel projects. "With Christmas around the corner, no senator wants to sit through that," says Andy Roth of the free-market Club for Growth.

That would leave the new Democratic Congress to decide if it is serious about its claims that it wants to reform the broken federal budget process.

 Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the political maestro behind the Democratic takeover of the House, has a bill pending that would expose the earmark process to serious political sunlight but is already encountering resistance to it from Democratic spending barons.

On the Senate side, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois joined Mr. Coburn last year in successfully sponsoring a bill that created a publicly accessible database that will soon put information on every proposed earmark on the Internet. Mr. Obama recognizes that with the growth of entitlement spending, liberals will soon not have any money available to them for new federal programs unless they either pass politically risky tax increases or start curbing wasteful spending.

Some Republicans remain convinced the voters weren't rebelling against higher spending at all in this month's election.

Rep. Don Young, the outgoing chairman of the House Transportation Committee and Sen. Stevens's Alaskan pork-barrel sidekick, told reporters this month that he thinks Mr. Coburn's criticisms of the Bridge to Nowhere and other infrastructure projects were one reason Republicans lost their majority. "He's been a spoiler from the get-go," said Mr. Young, who has been in Congress since 1973.

But Republicans would be wise to take any observations from Mr. Young with a shaker of salt.

Last month he appeared to be the only political observer on the planet who didn't think Republicans were in trouble. An Associated Press story of Oct. 31 quoted Mr. Young as saying, "I'm predicting we're not going to lose any seats."

He even bet pollster and KBYR talk radio host Ivan Moore a dinner on the outcome of the election. "We will not lose control of the House," the Anchorage Daily News quoted Mr. Young as saying. "It is not going to happen. . . . I'm going to be very happy election night."

Republicans wound up surrendering at least 30 House seats to Democrats, the greatest loss of any party since Democrats were swept out of power in 1994.

Given how spectacularly wrong Mr. Young was, Republicans should now be leery when Mr. Young urges them to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
 

“YouthBuild is an innovative program that allows students to develop practical skills while completing their high school education,” Sen. Hutchison said. “I am proud to announce the success of Texas communities in securing these grants.”

The following community groups have been awarded grants:

$700,000 to San Antonio Youth Centers

$700,000 to American Youthworks in Austin

$700,000 to the Alameda Heights Outreach Foundation in Dallas

$400,000 to the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville

$400,000 to the La Fe Community Development Center in El Paso

Commentary by Joe Solis:  If we are running massive deficits why are we still doling out these slabs of PORK? Our Republican leadership still does not get it.
 

Thursday, December 14th at 11:30 AM

San Antonio Country Club, 4100 North New Braunfels Ave

Lunch will be $17.00

Please RSVP to Dee Brame at deeb@satx.rr.com or call 21-493-5512.
 

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

November 27th, 2006

To an economist, the findings from the Seattle experiment in rush hour road tolls confirm the obvious. Price matters! Urban ‘free’-ways have to be huge to stay ahead of rush hour shortages (i.e. gridlock). But I’m still excited. Now, along with the data from London and Stockholm, we have hard U.S. data to help us avoid an imminent urban planning disaster. Unless San Antonio quickly commits to correctly harnessing road tolls, we’re going to suffer increasing gridlock, pay for huge roads (Atlanta – 15 lanes going on 23), or have congested free lanes next to expensive toll lanes that stand empty ~18 hours per day.  All growing cities eventually reach the point where a freeway-only urban road system goes from appropriate to foolish.

In the Seattle experiment, 275 households were given the estimated cost [based on their driving habits] of tolls as a lump-sum payment. If they adjusted their habits to the toll schedule, they kept what was left in their toll account. Their habits changed; enough to earn the average participating household $700. Incentives matter!!! There was slightly less driving overall, but a lot less during the rush hours when the toll was [appropriately] especially high. That’s the beauty of a price system. People are free to respond, or not, in exactly the way they wish. They can consolidate trips, change when they travel, carpool, change routes, or use public transit. The drivers that pay the rush hour toll benefit from the absence of would-be travelers that avoided the toll. The toll payments fund road maintenance and expansion of the roads they use the most.

The resistance to using tolls on roads built from gasoline taxes imagines that roads are fully paid for at some point. Road maintenance costs never end, and some-one has to fund the expansion of congested roads. What better way to pay for road maintenance and expansion than to better manage their use through pricing, and thus reduce both congestion and new construction? Less construction (and less gridlock) means a lower total cost. Don’t be fooled into believing otherwise by the more visible nature of tolls. Rush hour tolling will save you money, pollution, and time in traffic jams.

It will take leadership to use rush hour road tolls to avoid an urban planning disaster. The 30-second campaign commercial is not up to the task of clearing up serious misconceptions about tolling as a management tool, and the user-pays method of funding road maintenance and expansion. Too many people confuse ”public service" with the lazy practice of living by polls and representing and exploiting public misconceptions. Leadership isn’t easy, but it matters a lot.
 

Governor Rick Perry Addresses hundreds of attendees of the Homeland Security Conference In San Antonio

The first day of the event, during the general session, we were graced with the presence of Governor Rick Perry and U.S. Representative Michael McCall of the 10th District of Texas. Even Mayor Hardberger was in attendance for the purpose of introducing the Governor. Police Chief William McManus also took the time to speak to the hundreds of people who attended that day. All three of these fine speakers spoke with one voice when it came to securing our borders and implementing REAL homeland security measures! They recognize it is time to put an end to the day when a man convicted of  a violent crime, can re-enter this country and kill a police officer. I was personally very impressed with all the speakers. Unfortunately, I was working security (glorified badge checker here!) during the second morning's general session when U.S. Senator John Cornyn came to address the attendees. I was checking badges every morning as a member of the San Antonio Police Department's Volunteers In Policing program. The attendees ranged from city and state emergency management officials, to local fire and policemen to HAM Radio operators like myself.


Schuylar and US Representative Michael McCall of the 10th Texas District

The last 2 days of the event, I spent taking classes to increase my knowledge of disaster radio communications and interoperability issues primarily. I also learned a little in the way of satellite communications. The classes were wonderful! There were other classes in areas such as Mass Care (shelter and food operations in disaster), Fire Department/EMS, Emergency Management, Public Health, Law Enforcement and School-Centered Emergency Management. I also took a four part certificate course in Emergency Operations Center Management at the City/State level. I was very impressed with the number of classes offered in every track. As the old adage goes: 'So many classes, so little time!' One of the interesting tidbits I learned in class, was that on October 4th, 2006, President Bush signed a law that put HAM Radio operators in the First Responder classification along with fire and policemen and similar folks.

San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus Addresses Attendees of Homeland Security Conference in San Antonio

There were sooooo many exhibits down in Exhibit Hall D, it made my poor little head spin! Several vendors came to town to sell everything from commercial radio equipment to gas detection devices for every kind of gas under the sun. There were even test kits for biological and chemical agents. One of my favorite booths was the Austin Amateur Radio Emergency Services group. They had all of their HAM Radio equipment set up and running. They also had Packet (e-mail via computer even WITHOUT using standard internet!) Communications set up. Of course I had my own mobile antenna with telescoping pole and radio with me to demonstrate mobile communications from my wheelchair. I also had the opportunity take part in testing the HAM Radio equipment on a San Antonio Fire Department Communications Vehicle.

All in all, the experience was wonderful! I enjoyed everything about the conference and learned a great deal. It is so important that we all do our part in protecting our great state of Texas...and ultimately the very nation we call HOME!
 

For the past several weeks Plaintalk from the Texas Hill Country has been focused on the Congressional District 23 Runoff Election. On Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, Plaintalk published the following newsletter to its email distribution list:

Upon reading today's San Antonio Express-News, I was struck by two instances of political demagoguery. Let me explain.

Carlos Guerra, in his current article, states: "If Republicans seem to be working to keep the Latino vote low in Texas' 23rd Congressional District — by rushing the election, setting it on a Catholic feast day and keeping the early voting period short — it isn't the first time."

The dictionary defines a demagogue as a "leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.”

Well, Carlos's statement, as quoted above, is demagoguery at its worst. Partisan politics aside, what needs to be understood is that the "political playing field" for this runoff election has been set and the "political rules of the game" are in place. Republican and Democrat voters alike will be "inconvenienced" by the rules of the game -- including thousands of Catholic Republicans (Hispanics and non-Hispanics) who, somehow, will find time to cast their votes.

In another article, written by Greg Jefferson, Express-News Staff Writer, concerning the setting of the Runoff Election Date, Ciro Rodriguez is quoted as saying: "By preventing Bexar County from conducting weekend early voting, the secretary of state has made it clear that the needs of working families are not a priority."

Ciro's demagoguery implies that "the needs of working families are not a priority of the Republican Party". Ciro further implies that Republicans do not work for a living and therefore have an unlimited amount of time to vote. Well, suffice it to say, all my Republican friends have families and all work for a living. Somehow, these working families, in spite of hardships imposed by their work schedules, will find time to vote!

Finally, please read my post on the inappropriate action taken by the Bexar County Commissioners' Court regarding its recommendation to allow Early Voting to start two days early.

Immediately upon publication of the newsletter, Jim McGrody, Publisher of Plaintalk, received the following two emails from Carlos Guerra:

1.  "And what you're sending out, uninvited, is certainly not demagoguery, is it? Let's see who gets his stuff read amd (sic) who is taken seriously."

2.  "And for the record, I have the goods on Mr. B that will show that he has betrayed his constituency, benefited personally from his public post and violated the public trust. It is all in federal recoids (sic) and I will probably sit on them until after the election but when they are revealed, I suspect that it will cause a major stir.

And by the way, when was the last time you went to a funeral or visited a family of someone in our military who was felled in the service of national security? I have personally seen Ciro at five funerals for young men from South Texas. Never saw Bonilla or you at any.

And just how did Bonilla become a member of a very exclusive, and pricy, West Texas private club to which was built a federally subsidized road?

Careful who you support. I'm keeping copies of all your writings so I can quote them later."

I am not sure what to make of all of this. Is this appropriate behavior from a columnist of the San Antonio Express-News in response to reader comments on his/her work? Is this a threat? Carlos continuously criticizes those of us on the “right” but can’t seem to take criticism in return.  From my perspective, Carlos seems like a very angry man! 

Interestingly, the “scowling” picture of himself that he uses for his column appropriately fits these angry emails.

Please click here if you would like to be added to the Plaintalk from the Texas Hill Country email distribution list.
 

Investigation targets businesses for defrauding state healthcare program

Mugshot: Ededem Edem

Edem Arrested

HOUSTON - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced multiple indictments and arrests in connection with a six-month investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) into a fraudulent scheme that allegedly cost taxpayers more than $7.7 million. Prosecutors with Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal’s office presented information to a Harris County grand jury, which handed down indictments against 28 men and five women for felony theft.

The MFCU’s investigation focused on 32 businesses in Harris County that billed Medicaid for adult diapers, wheelchairs, and other medical supplies. According to the indictments, the suspects accepted reimbursements, based on those billings, for supplies that were never delivered to Medicaid patients. The case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which received complaints against the providers.

 “Texas will not tolerate criminals who defraud taxpayers,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Medicaid program is designed to help the neediest Texans, including children and seniors, with basic health care services. Thanks to an outstanding joint effort by officers from our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department, a scam that harmed Medicaid recipients and wasted taxpayer dollars has been shut down.”

Attorney General Abbott added: “We commend the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for bringing this case to our attention, and we are grateful to Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal for vigorously prosecuting these criminals.”

Last July, the Attorney General’s office deployed 27 MFCU investigators and eight investigative auditors to the Houston area to investigate these fraud allegations. Personnel from the Office of Attorney General conducted more than 1,200 interviews and prepared numerous investigative reports that supported the district attorney’s appearance before the grand jury Monday. (The names of those arrested, as well as their businesses, are included as a separate attachment.)

In 2005 alone, the costs of the Medicaid program in Texas totaled more than $17 billion. As the state’s chief law enforcement official, Attorney General Abbott has dramatically expanded the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to save more taxpayer dollars and increase protection for Texas seniors. The Unit has established field offices in Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, San Antonio and Tyler through authorization and funding from the 77th Texas Legislature. Attorney General Abbott’s MFCU works with state and local agencies across the state to identify and prosecute those who defraud Medicaid.

Attorney General Abbott’s MFCU was honored in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the Inspector General’s State Fraud Award for effectiveness and efficiency during federal fiscal year 2003 in combating fraud, patient abuse and neglect in the Medicaid program.

To obtain more information about the Attorney General’s efforts to fight Medicaid fraud, access the agency’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.
 

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. 

By the time you receive this newsletter, you will have either already voted this past weekend or you are getting ready to head to the polls today. I hope that you will have voted on Saturday and be able to sit back and watch others make their way to the early polling sites. 

Based on those calculations we have until next Tuesday to do the right thing and send Henry the “Horrible,” packing. Have you seen his commercials claiming he single-handedly created Homeland Security? He even implies that Zero supports terrorism. That is low even for him.

It appears that Zero is making some headway with the voters. He hosted an open house this past week on the Northside in Shavano Park. Talk about out of his element. Surprisingly a good crowd showed up including me for a quick visit. Sure looks different than his Southside office. Of course, there are a lot more Anglos living in the vicinity of De Zavala than Harding.

Word is that there is more turmoil within the Democratic Party in Bexar County. I haven’t gotten all the details yet but it sounds like it is about to blow up in the Chair’s face.

All I have been told so far is that Party Chair Carla Vela is once again shooting herself in the foot trusting the wrong people and surrounding herself with some shady characters. So what else is new? Once again, many of the party faithful are questioning her leadership abilities. Her problem seems to be serious this time. 

I hear she is once again acting like a dictator and constantly reminds everyone that she is the chair. Sounds like a severe character flaw or extremely low self-esteem or perhaps a low I.Q.

On the Republican side of the coin, I am hearing that George Antuna is in denial that his nasty political ad cost him the election. Word is he is blaming a bad year for Republicans. That is flawed logic. A bad year for Republicans didn’t seem to hurt Gerry or Tom Rickoff, or any of the Republican Judges who retained their benches. Odd logic if you ask me.   

On a sadder note, the passing of Frank Madla was a shock to everyone on the Southside. How devastating is it to lose your husband, mother and only grandchild at one time?  Never having been pregnant, I can’t fathom the thought.

I did brave the weather and attend part of his memorial service in Helotes. The church was so full that it was standing room only all the way out to the front doors of the church. I had to stand in the back through out the service.  Like many others, I wasn’t able to stay for the whole service. I saw large numbers of elected officials there in the church. I believe I nearly bumped into the Lt. Governor at one point. 

Of course, the one official I did not see was the current State Senator Carlos Uresti. I guess it would have seemed inappropriate had he attended. I spotted County Judge Nelson Wolff and Mayor Phil Hardberger there as well as some San Antonio City Council members.

Believe it or not, I also spotted Henry the “Horrible” and Zero. You can bet they didn’t sit close to each other. The media camped out across from the church.  None of them came close. I can only assume they limited the media’s access.

Other than surviving Thanksgiving, this week’s political news is scant and there is not much juicy stuff to titillate the political appetite. However, next week the gossip should be much better.

And that’s the moderate view; I AM the Republicrat.