Texas taxpayers paid $16.5 million for Big Screen TVs in Houston, Dallas sports arenas

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's no question All-Star weekend will bring in millions of tax dollars. But huge chunks of that money will never end up in your schools, parks or hospitals. In fact, it's going back to the people who put on the party, and that's not sitting well with a couple of lawmakers.

This weekend, the eyes of the basketball world turn to Houston. Thousands of fans, with cash in hand, are arriving in the Bayou City, hoping to catch a glimpse of basketball royalty. And the team behind this basketball bash says it will bring in millions to the local economy.

So what is it we found about this All-Star extravaganza that's made a lawmaker say this:

"I love sports, but sports owners and the leagues are some of the greediest people you will find. And they will take and take and take and take," Houston State Sen. Dan Patrick said.

More at http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/in_focus&id=8993572 .

[font color=green]The two legislators mentioned in the story are state senators Dan Patrick (R) and Kirk Watson (D).[/font]

The SEC Says a Dallas Investor Screwed Over Her Church in a $2.3 Million Ponzi Scheme

The way she tells it on her website, Delsa Thomas decided to launch her own investment firm after Citi Smith Barney, where she worked, merged with Morgan Stanley. She left in February 2011, taking a decade's worth of experience as a stockbroker and financial advisor to her new outfit, The D. Christopher Capital Management Group, and its flagship Solomon Fund.

The Securities and Exchange Commission gives a slightly different version of events. While at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Thomas had been steering clients toward certain high-yield investment vehicles that were, in the SEC's estimation, fraudulent. Investors lost a lot of money. Several sued. Thomas jumped ship before MSSB could fire her.

At D. Christopher Capital Management, Thomas promised large returns extremely quickly. She told a San Antonio real estate investor that she could turn his $1 million into $7.5 million in 35 business days. To a couple of Canadians, she promised a 10-percent return in 10 days. Another, from the European principality of Andorra, was promised his investment would double in 35 days.

She also convinced leaders at Irving's DFW New Beginnings Church, where Thomas is a member, to entrust her with $725,000.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/02/the_sec_says_a_dallas_investor.php .

Office of Public Insurance update: Insurance PACs donated $112,000 to Hancock’s campaign in 2012

[font color=green]This story is an update on an earlier thread posted this morning.[/font]

Sen. Kelly Hancock (R) files SB 548 to abolish Office of Public Insurance Counsel
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10786198

[font color=green]The update:[/font]

A Dallas-area senator carrying a bill that would abolish the state’s consumer advocate for insurance received nearly $112,000 from insurance political action committees in his 2012 campaign, a political watchdog group reported Friday. Texans for Public Justice, which monitors spending by political candidates in Texas, said Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, received 8 percent of his campaign donations from insurance interests last year. Hancock, who represents parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties, received a total of $1.3 million in contributions for his senate race.

Texans for Public Justice reported on the campaign donations a day after Hancock filed a bill that would eliminate the Office of Public Insurance Council, an action that occurred just days after OPIC moved to block a 20 percent increase in home insurance rates by State Farm. Public Insurance Counsel Deeia Beck, an appointee of Gov. Rick Perry, contends that the higher State Farm rates are excessive and unfairly discriminatory. Beck has also sought refunds by State Farm for alleged overcharges by the company dating back to 2003.

The Texas State Farm Agents PAC was the second largest insurance-related contributor to Hancock’s campaign, donating $10,000. The largest contributor was the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas PAC, which gave $12,000. Hancock contends that OPIC responsibilities can be absorbed by the Texas Department of Insurance and that eliminating the agency would save money. Consumer groups, on the other hand, argue that OPIC is the only voice for homeowners and small businesses on insurance rate matters. OPIC was renewed as a state agency by the Legislature two years ago.

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/insurance-pacs-donated-112000-to-dallas-area-senators-campaign-in-2012.html/



[font color=green]Can we borrow Elizabeth Warren for awhile?[/font]

Tenaris announces $1.5B Eagle Ford pipe plant

Tenaris, an international company with 4,000 employees in the United States, announced Friday it will build a $1.5 billion pipe mill in Matagorda County to serve drillers in the Eagle Ford and other unconventional shale plays.

The plant, announced during a crowded news conference in Bay City attended by Gov. Rick Perry and dozens of area politicians and economic development officials, is scheduled to open in 2016. The company said it will produce 600,000 tons of tubular goods, primarily casing and tubing used in drilling.

According to the announcement, the plant will employ 600 people in direct manufacturing jobs, at an average salary of $66,000.

“With this investment, we will strengthen our local production and service capabilities to address the growing demands of the energy industry,” German Cura, president of Tenaris' North American division, said in a statement.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Tenaris-announces-1-5B-Eagle-Ford-pipe-plant-4282058.php .

Texas Supreme Court says Houston cannot nullify state permits

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Houston may not prohibit what is allowed under state rules intended to protect air quality.

The justices agreed with Southern Crushed Concrete that Houston's 2007 law restricting the location of concrete-crushing facilities violates a state statute by nullifying a permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

In reversing an appeals court decision, Justice Debra Lehrmann said the state's Health and Safety Code is clear.

The law "compels us to give effect to the Legislature's clear intent that a city may not pass an ordinance that effectively moots a Commission decision," Lehrmann wrote.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-Supreme-Court-says-Houston-cannot-nullify-4282323.php .

[font color=green]Is there a Website where the residents of Houston can sign a petition to secede from the state?[/font]

Sen. Kelly Hancock (R) files SB 548 to abolish Office of Public Insurance Counsel

Rep. Lon Burnam Files HB 1300 Providing for the Freedom to Marry in Texas

Indicted Kingsville ISD Board Member Not Willing to Resign

A Kingsville Independent School District board member who was indicted for indecency with a child and aggravated sexual assault, announced that he is not willing to resign from his position on Thursday.

41-year old Rudy Macareno, who reportedly turned himself in to authorities Monday, attended a specially called Kingsville ISD board meeting that began at 11:30 a.m.

After a private executive session, the board announced that Rudy Macareno is not willing to resign from his position as a board trustee at this time.

Macareno has been a school board trustee since May of 2012 when he was elected. He is also well known in the community for his two businesses, Pure Platinum Gym and Fitness, and Macareno Signs.

More at http://www.kiiitv.com/story/21197915/indicted-kingsville-isd-board-member-attends-special-meeting .

$1 billion Riesel coal plant to go online after lawsuit, damage

The Sandy Creek coal power plant is being fired up sporadically for testing and is set to go online full-time in April, more than a year later than planned.

During the testing phase, the $1 billion plant is selling electricity into Texas’ power grid, but its contracts with wholesalers won’t go into effect until the plant is ready to run 24 hours a day, project officials said.

The plant’s boiler was badly damaged when it overheated during testing in late 2011, but that damage has now been repaired, said Mike Vogt, project manager for LS Power, which owns the plant.

In the meantime, the testing has given Riesel residents a preview of the plant’s operations. When it’s fired up, residents can see the smokestacks putting out billows of steam.

More at http://www.wacotrib.com/news/191152751.html .

Rush Limbaugh ridicules Sheila Jackson Lee’s ‘freed slave’ comment, saying ‘she’s got to be over 110

Rush Limbaugh is no Ted Nugent.

Two days ago, Nugent, a conservative gun-rights activist, made headlines when he hugged liberal Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, the only Texas lawmaker who has received contributions from gun-control interests, after the State of the Union address.

Today, Limbaugh showed no such generosity. A day after the outspoken Texas congresswoman praised Abraham Lincoln’s efforts that resulted in her being a “freed slave,” the outspoken conservative radio personality mocked her.

“We will keep looking to try to find out who owned her, who sold her, and what they got,” the Excellence in Broadcasting founder declared on his radio show. “I have to tell you, though, in all candor, I think she looks pretty good for her age. She’s got to be over 110. You’d never know it.”

More at http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/02/rush-limbaugh-ridicules-sheila-jackson-lees-freed-slave-comment-saying-shes-got-to-be-over-110-years-old/ .

[font color=green]Rants from a stupid drug addict.[/font]