Speeding through Texas

            What do toll roads and speed limits really have to do with each other? I am not sure but according to the article Texas House Oks 85 the reason that Texas is considering raising the speed limit to 85-mph is to eliminate funding from building a toll road. My opinion is that no one really needs to drive that fast, but they do and they will so why should we pay extra money for a special road to drive just to do so.

            Texas currently has a speed limit of 80-mph on more than 500 miles of highway. 85-mph would be the highest in the nation; currently Texas and Utah are the only two states that have 80-mph speed limits. If we go to 85-mph we would be the highest in the nation and the second in the world according to the article some parts of Poland have a posted speed limit of 140 kilometers per hour (86-mph). 

            According to the article Gary Biller, executive director of the Wisconsin based Nation Motorist Association and Jerry John, President of the Southwest Insurance Information Institute have very different opinions and I have to agree with the latter. Gary Biller agrees with the raise in the speed limit because of the “good quality of today’s highways construction” he also stated that “In Utah, after they adjusted the speed limit from 75 to 80, nothing happened to the accident rate”. Jerry Johns says that it is a bad idea “two things contribute to most traffic accidents are speed and alcohol”. I agree that we should hold off on adding toll roads. I think it may be less expensive just repair the roads we have, we do need to cut budget costs in as many areas as possible. Why don’t we just wake up a few minutes earlier to get there on time instead of driving so fast and being in such a hurry?



Budget Cuts.... where should we really be cutting back?

    Listening to all the reports lately about budget cuts in education had me questioning where all of our money is going. I started questioning the state lottery and thought that with the 18 billion dollars we have gambled with since the Texas Lottery started where is it all going? Then I thought why not legalize all gambling in Texas and open casino's and tax them into paying for our education budget. I know that some say gambling is terrible and addictive, some even call it a disease, but I think adding somewhere rather than taking away from education would be more beneficial to the youth in Texas. Grown ups can take care of themselves. Education is one areas that we should not cut corners on.
    One area I may catch some heat for speaking up about but could really use some cuts is welfare. If we took a look at all the people who stay on welfare, those who are not disabled and have no excuse except being. I couldn't find any exact numbers online the only numbers I could find were national, out of 350 million people 30 million are receiving welfare. Something is not right here. I understand temporary services for those who have been laid off. Life happens to all of us, Last year the day I filed for divorce my house burned down and believe it or not my radiator cracked, I know needing a little help. Pick your self up! why are so many capable families allowed to live like that. It makes me angry to think of cuts in programs like education when I see families living- and I mean living- off the system in every way from medicaid to food stamps to welfare. Its the families that work but just cant make ends meet that should be receiving the help instead of the people who do not even try to work.
   I am by no means qualified in financial planning, certainly not in anything as large as state budgets but I do know there have to be areas that can be changed with out making cuts where we need the most help, our country will be nothing if our children don't get the support, love and education that they need and deserve.

Fewer inmates is a big problem for McLennan County Jail

Poor McLennan County Jail, literally.  I read this article fewer inmates is a big problem the author shares his point of view on the 816 bed mistake that they "didn't need". With a population of 213,517 that actually doesn't sound like a huge gamble to me considering the county I live in has a population of less than half that and has a jail with 337 beds. The author quotes reporter Regina Dennis that the sudden drop in inmates in jails has perplexed corrections researchers and law enforcement officials across the country. According to the article McLennan County Jail needs to be at 90 percent to generate enough housing revenue to cover operation costs and repay bond debt.
The author also mentioned possible changes to the probation program that would place more people in jail or turn them lose. Since probation seems to be the last stop before actually getting in the system, I hope they come up with a better plan than that to help solve both problems. The last thing any county or family needs is their youth in jail for mistakes that could have been taught a lesion through probation. The county chose to bypass Jail Diversion Programs like behavioral therapy or House Arrest Programs and Electric Monitoring Systems. Debt is the county's problem not the decline in the incarceration rate.

Community vs Coal

    I am not that familiar with the small Texas Town called Eagle Pass, however I can understand the fear of their towns expansion by Dos Republicas coal mine. When I first starting reading this article I selfishly thought GREAT! We need all the resources and jobs we can get right now. Reading on I started thinking about the long term effects or damage that coal mines can cause to communities.  I saw Erin Brockovich, I know it wasn't a coal mine, but it was pollution and I do not know all the effects that it could have on everything down to the water I drink.
The author was clearly speaking to those concerned with pollution and economy in Eagle Pass. The power of the peoples voices are being heard as I read in the links to other articles that the author added. The citizens of Eagle Pass have already considered all the in's and out's of having Dos Republicas in their town and showed their support by voting unanimously to oppose their permit for the first phase of coal mine operations. Obviously Dos Republicas would create jobs, many nee
ded jobs, but for how long and for who? Would the coal mine scare away other opportunities for this community?  Personally I wouldn't ever want to move to a town that was known for or had ever been known for mining.   http://www.texasobserver.org/component/k2/item/17462-david-and-goliath-on-the-border-small-town-vs-big-coalI

Senate Committee Moves Sonogram Bill on with Amendments

Thank goodness that our government will give a voice to those who can not speak for themselves. In the article I read that “The final bill requires physicians to offer pregnant women a sonogram at least 24 hours before an abortion, and the woman must be given the opportunity to see the sonogram image and hear a description of the fetus and its heartbeat, if it is present.” Many women are upset that they are more heavily burdened with the guilt. I have heard women claiming “my body, my choice” or “why should the government be able to control medical choices”,  sorry ladies  I can’t agree more about doing what I want with my body however after becoming pregnant my body is not mine alone.  I have to ask myself the reasons women get abortions, a rape or incest victim or medical reasons are clear to me which were covered in the amendments to the bill however I can not understand the other selfish reasons why women can be allowed to destroy a life just because it interferes with theirs.  I believe that people should take responsibility for their actions.  It is sad that the government has to step in or intrude to show people where their morals have gone and get involved in medical affairs but I know that someone needs to stand up for the unborn. http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/senate-committee-moves-sonogram-bill-on-with-amendments-1244357.html