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 | Quote for May 09, 2008 |
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“Regardless what the surplus amount winds up being come January, the two iron-clad priorities for those funds are to fund the continuation of the 2006 property tax cut and to preserve the balance in the Rainy Day Fund. . .”
-- Talmadge Heflin, Director, Center for Fiscal Policy
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 10:11:09 CDT
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 | Charter School Fans Want More |
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By Jeremy P. Meyer - The Denver Post Published: 05-09-08
Schools' success has parents clamoring for the same for their kids
 At top-performing West Denver Preparatory Charter School, curriculum director John Dues talks to students and staff during the meeting held each day before classes begin. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)
A group of angry parents stood before the Denver school board last month, holding up newspaper articles about a high-performing charter school and asking why their children were unable to receive the same education.
"We want this for our kids and our families," said Luci Saenz, mother of a child at Valdez Elementary. "We are ready to fight. We believe in our children, and we believe they deserve it."
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 10:04:31 CDT
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 | Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison on the Ethanol Debacle |
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Published: 05-09-08
Appearance on The Rush Limbaugh Show
 Rush: I'm really excited to have with us for a couple minutes here, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas, and I wish to speak to her about this ethanol problem because she's really on the case and has written an op-ed piece in Investor's Business Daily about this. Senator Hutchinson, welcome to the program. It's always nice to have you here and talk to you.
Sen. Hutchison: It is great to be with you, Rush. We are listeners in our family. We think you have done a great job for kind of changing the thought processes of America.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:47:05 CDT
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 | Thornberry Calls for Bipartisanship on National Security Issues |
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Published: 05-09-08
Says we cannot defeat terrorists with bullets alone, strategic communications needed to help fight the war of ideas
Opening Statement for Subcommittee Markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities marked up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, legislation which authorizes budget authority for the Department of Defense and the national security programs within the Department of Energy. Subcommittee Ranking Republican Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following opening statement:
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:35:00 CDT
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 | The Biofuels Backlash |
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NCPA Published: 05-09-08
All it took for the world to awaken to the folly of subsidized biofuels was a mere global "food crisis," says the Wall Street Journal. Corn ethanol can now join the scare over silicone breast implants and the pesticide Alar as among the greatest scams of the age. But before we move on to the next green miracle cure, it's worth recounting how much damage this ethanol political machine is doing.
For instance:
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:29:52 CDT
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 | Farm Bill Deal Reached in the House |
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Published: 05-09-08
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Farm Bill conferees finished negotiations and unveiled a bipartisan Farm Bill that should be brought to the House Floor next week for a vote. Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) made the following statement after the announcement:
“I am pleased that my colleagues were able to work together to come to a compromise on a Farm Bill that is in the best interest of our country. America’s agriculture community has been waiting too long for productive legislation that is cost-effective for the American taxpayer and will protect our farmers, ranchers, and consumers.”
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:26:49 CDT
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 | Sen. Hutchison Calls on Key Senate Committee to Partner with Her |
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Published: 05-09-08
In Addressing Short-Comings in Cancer Research and Treatment -- Joins Lance Armstrong, Advocates in Renewing Efforts in ‘War on Cancer’
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) participated in a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on legislation she will introduce that is intended to remove barriers currently obstructing progress in cancer research and treatment. At the hearing, Sen. Hutchison called on lawmakers to renew the War on Cancer by continuing efforts to find cures, improve treatments, and better prevent occurrence of the disease.
“This legislation will aim to remove the barriers that we see today,” said Sen. Hutchison. “We know that there could be more progress and coordination in cancer research. That there is so much going on, but it’s not being coordinated well enough to produce the results that we need.”
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:23:52 CDT
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 | Statement by The Honorable Talmadge Heflin, Director, Center for Fiscal Policy |
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Published: 05-09-08
On recent budget surplus estimates
“The recent estimates of a $10.7 billion to $15 billion state budget surplus vindicate the limited government policies Texas has pursued during the last five years.
By holding the line on spending, we have been able to keep taxes low, encouraging businesses to locate and expand here. While other states hemorrhage jobs and red ink, Texas leads the nation in job creation and is one of the few states with an improving revenue picture.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:20:46 CDT
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 | The Impact of Windfall Profits Taxes & a Gas Tax Holiday |
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Published: 05-09-08
This Week at the Tax Foundation
There has been considerable debate in recent weeks over what the federal government should do about the higher price of gasoline.
Each of the three presidential candidates has put forth a proposal.
Both the windfall profits tax and the tax holiday represent poor tax policy, and neither is as simple as it sounds.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:17:41 CDT
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 | Abbott Reaches Agreement to Protect Check 'N Go Customers from Identity Theft |
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Published:05-09-08
Agreed judgment requires Check ‘N Go to improve document disposal process
EL PASO – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today reached an agreement with CNG Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries, Check ‘n Go of Texas, Inc. and Southwestern & Pacific Specialty Finance, Inc., to protect Texas customers from identity theft. The settlement resolves the state’s May 2007 enforcement action, which charged the defendants with violating laws that govern the disposal of customer records containing sensitive personal information.
Under an agreed final judgment obtained by the Attorney General, Check ‘n Go will overhaul its information security program. The program must be fully documented in writing and contain administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information of Check ‘n Go customers.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:06:43 CDT
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 | Rep. Mark Strama Announces 2008 ''Campaign Academy'' |
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Published: 05-09-08
Area High School and College Students Encouraged to Apply for Third Year of Program
State Representative Mark Strama has begun accepting applications from area high school and college students his 2008 Campaign Academy. He announced that this year's program would expand countywide, working in conjunction with the 2008 Travis County Democratic Coordinated Campaign.
This year's Campaign Academy will run daily 10 am – 6 pm, from June 23 – July 25 at the TCDP Coordinated Campaign Headquarters. Daily lunch speakers will include current and former elected officials, political consultants, university professors, and state policy experts.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 09:03:47 CDT
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 | The Michelle Factor |
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By Hugh Hewitt Published: 05-09-08
Forget Jeremiah Wright. What Does Michelle Obama Think About America?
Whether or not the issue of Barack Obama's two decades under the spiritual direction of Jeremiah Wright remains an issue through the next six months, the views of the possible First Lady at his side will be part of this half-year's discussion.
Which is why we have transcribed a major speech she made in North Carolina on the Friday before that state's primary vote, and why we have posted the audio of the speech here.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 08:50:33 CDT
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 | The Ultimate Conservative Nightmare? |
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By Mike Gallagher Published: 05-09-08
I consider it a banner day when I can render my friend Ann Coulter speechless.
The wonderful conservative warrior was a guest on my radio show this week (Ann is one of the best guests in the business) and I hit her with something so wild, so preposterous, and so outrageous, that she just, well, stayed silent for a few seconds.
After a long pause, she laughed and said, “You know, he’s just stupid enough that he might do it!”
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 08:33:04 CDT
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 | Former Lobbyist Holds Obama Fundraiser |
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By Amanda Carpenter Published: 05-09-08
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised he would not accept campaign donations from lobbyists, but apparently former lobbyists don’t fall into his self-imposed ban.
Antill E. Trotter, who lobbied Congress from 2000-2004, is holding an “exclusive” fundraiser for him this evening, just blocks away from his Senate office at Union Station in Washington D.C.
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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 08:30:14 CDT
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 | Cartoon for May 09, 2008 |
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Michael Ramirez Published: 05-09-08

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Posted on Friday, May 09 @ 08:54:49 CDT
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