Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Commissioners vote no on saving taxpayers money on health program
After further presentations this morning from both Brinson Benefits and the county's current health care provider Health First, Titus Co Commissioners voted no to saving taxpayers money and voted 3-2 to retain Health First in 2012. The vote came after a motion from Commissioner Hockaday, seconded by Mike Fields. Commissioner Hinton also voted yes to retain Health First. The no votes were cast by Judge Brian Lee and Commissioner Boggs. I am attaching a copy of the recommendations made today by Brinson Benefits.
One interesting observation from the meeting is that it was noted that Titus taxpayers spend $1 million yearly for county employee health benefits. Consultants are used for other county insurance but when the county entertained the idea of using Brinson Benefits as a consultant for health insurance, Health First threatened to terminate all services to the county. The majority of our commissioners voted today to continue doing business with this company instead of voting to do the best thing for the taxpayers-fire them and save money!!! Take the time to read the attached and forward to every taxpayer you know in Titus county.
Barbara Bruechner, Mt. Pleasant Tea Party
Monday, November 7, 2011
Public Service
Guide to reading newspapers and campaign flyers.
Translations of Common Euphemisms
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." Samuel Adams
Bacon & Bull Nov. 12
Mark your calendars now!
The Bacon & Bull Club
will meet on
Saturday, November 12
at the
Varsity Restaurant
(across from IHOP)
at 8:30 AM.
The Breakfast of Champions for Politically Conservative Thinkers.
The breakfast buffet is "All You Can Eat" for $7.99.
Nigel Christopher will bring our 'Hot Topic' for discussion,
but the floor will be open for dialogue on any issue that you bring.
Please email me an RSVP reply so I can have enough tables set up for us.
See all y'all there!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wages
Salary of retired US Presidents .............$450,000 FOR LIFESalary of House/Senate members ..........$174,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House .............$223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders .....$193,400 FOR LIFE
Average salary of a soldier DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN - $38,000Average income for seniors on SOCIAL SECURITY - $12,000I think we found where the cuts can be made! If you agree. Pass it on!
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This email transmission may contain confidential or legally privileged information that is intended only for the individual or entity named in the e-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so that arrangements can be made for proper delivery, and then please delete the message from your inbox. Thank you!
GOP Veterans Day celebration
This year will be the 12th annual Veterans Day celebration hosted be the Republican Women of Northeast Texas. It is a wonderful evening that will inspire and bless you. It is patriotic to the core, with all the moving stories and songs you love to hear.
This year a man from Talco will be honored for his service, and the recipient of the Jake Simmons freedom Award. Our keynote speaker will be retired Colonel Mark Olinger from Mt. Vernon. Col. Olibnger served in a number of command and staff positions in the U.S, Panama, the Republican iof Korea, the Middle East and Germany.
This is an evening that you won't want to miss.
You are cordially invited to come!
The Jake Simmons Freedom Award Dinner
Friday, November 11, 2011
Mt. Pleasant County Club
6:30 PM
Early Bird reservations - $25.00
Deadline is Tuesday, November 8
Tickets at the door - $30.00
Call 903-577-0400 to make reservations
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Titus Commissioners fail to act on saving taxpayers money
The Titus Co Commissioners met this morning and after recently raising our taxes, refusing a pay cut and passing an unbalanced budget, they today failed to take action on attending a workshop to reduce the taxpayer funded cost of county health care benefits. Linda Hooper, Benefit Strategist with Brinson Benefits, Inc. talked with the commissioners about her evaluation of the counties health care program and stated that after initial review there were four potential areas of improvement that could save the county (ie the taxpayers) $228,509.00 yearly. Her initial proposals would have minimal or no detrimental impact on employees.
She continued to state that a workshop with commissioners would be very beneficial to explore further savings.
I am attaching a copy of her complete statements and her closing conclusion was "There is sufficient savings potential to warrant a more in depth review review of the County's employee benefit program and to allocate the court's time in a working session to evaulate these findings in more detail". Judge Brian Lee proposed holding a workshop on October 28th. There was little discussion and no motion was made by any of the commissioners on holding the workshop. The county's health care package comes up for renewal on Jan 1, 2012 so this is a timely issue.
I spoke with Judge Lee after the meeting and he is planning a workshop with Brinson Benefits on October 28th despite the total lack of interest displayed today by our Commissioners. I have a real problem comprehending their reluctance to explore ideas about saving the taxpayers money when they just passed a budget that is still unbalanced, raised our taxes and refused to take a pay cut with the exception of Commissioner Boggs who faces reelection in 2012 and agreed to a 4% cut.
It's time to voice your opinion again folks. I know that workday morning meetings are next to impossible for lots of you, but take the time to call your commissioner or e mail the commissioners in care of Judge Lee, titusjudge@gmail.com. Ask them why they are not making a diligent effort, or for that matter any effort at all, to save taxpayers money.
Barbara Bruechner, Mt. Pleasant Tea Party
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Bean Poll results
Here are the Bean Poll results from the Fair.
1513 Beans were cast
Global Warming - 69 Beans / 4.5%
Economy - 436 Beans / 28.8%
Education - 283 Beans / 18.8%
Healthcare - 284 / 18.8%
Jobs - 441 / 29.1%
Signs on I-5 near Seattle
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Dewhurst continued to rewrite his record
Dewhurst continued to rewrite his record
Voices EmpowerAlice LinahanJust in case you missed it yesterday……..
But the facts tell a different story:Dewhurst continued to rewrite his record to make it more palatable to Republican primary voters. In the interview, he said: "In the last 10 years, if you count this next biennium, I have the most fiscally conservative record in probably the country." (http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Inside-Texas-Politics-102-130935503.html)
On Income Tax
Dewhurst In 2006: "I'd Rather See A Tax A Based On Income." "'I think I'd rather see a tax that's based on income – you earn money, you pay something, you don't earn money, you don't pay anything,' Dewhurst said." (April Castro, "Businesses Studying Proposed Tax Structure," The Associated Press, 3/30/06)
On The Job-Killing Dewhurst "Wage Tax"
In May 2005, A Lead Editorial In The Wall Street Journal Slammed David Dewhurst's Tax & Budget Plan. "Everything's big in Texas, and, if powerful Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst has his way, that will soon include the state budget." (Editorial, "Deep In The Heart Of Taxes," The Wall Street Journal, 5/10/05)
On The Job-Killing Dewhurst "Wage Tax"
The Dewhurst Wage Tax Would Cost Texas 40,000 Jobs. "A wage tax is a toll on employers for hiring workers, and according to one study the latest Senate plan would cost about 40,000 jobs, or the equivalent of eight auto factories." (Editorial, "Deep In The Heart Of Taxes," The Wall Street Journal, 5/10/05)
On Tax Hikes
Dewhurst Told Business Groups In 2005: "It's Time To Start Paying Your Fair Share." "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst angrily accused some top business groups of spreading false information about the Senate's tax plan Tuesday, and he issued them a stern warning: It's time to start paying your fair share. 'There are a lot of lobbyists running around the Capitol today that are interested in protecting special interests and loopholes in the [tax] law,' Mr. Dewhurst said. Noting that five of six businesses don't pay the state's current franchise tax, he added, 'That is called a loophole.'" (Terrence Stutz, "Dewhurst Blasts Tax Plan Foes Lieutenant Governor Tells Businesses: Pay Your Share," Dallas Morning News, 5/4/05)
David Dewhurst, August 2003: "We Think We Can Shift Into A Montage Of Different Smaller Tax Increases In Different Areas And Also Put One Or Two Non-Tax Revenue Proposals Into The Mix." "Regarding the funding of schools, the Republican said Senate leaders were committed to reducing school property taxes by at least 50 percent about $ 7.7 billion a year and replacing the money with a variety of tax increases and some new non-tax sources, including some savings. 'We think we can shift into a montage of different smaller tax increases in different areas and also put one or two non-tax revenue proposals into the mix,' he said." (Terrence Stutz, "Panel To Weigh Tax Hikes In Texas School-Funding Overhaul," Dallas Morning News, 8/1/03)
On The Rainy-Day Fund
Don't miss the opportunity to hear what Grassroots and Tea Party people think about the job David Dewhurst and the Texas Leadership have done. Watch this video and get the real story on the Texas Budget.
In January 2011, Dewhurst Was Open To Tapping The State's Rainy-Day Fund. "Dewhurst left open the possibility of tapping the state's $9 billion Rainy Day Fund, but he said the baseline budget proposals will stay within the $72.2 billion the state expects to collect in taxes and fees. He ruled out any new taxes." (Chris Tomlinson, "Lt. Gov. Says 8,000 State Jobs Cut In Draft Budget," The Associated Press, 1/14/11)
JoAnn Fleming, Chair – Advisory Committee to the TEA Party
Where applicable, a political advertisement paid for by the GAWTP PAC, PO Box 130012,Tyler, TX 75713, Jimmie Taylor, PAC Treasurer. www.gawtp.com
Dewhurst Flip Flop On In-State Tuition For Illegal Immigrants
Ted Cruz statement: "This is another Republican primary year conversion by David Dewhurst. He was for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants before he was against it. The next Senator from Texas needs to be a strong conservative who knows what he believes. I strongly oppose in-state tuition for illegal aliens, and categorically oppose amnesty or preferential treatment for illegal immigrants."
In the WFAA interview, Dewhurst Is Criticizing The Texas DREAM Act – But He Won't Say Whether It Should Be Repealed. "Though critical of the law, Dewhurst didn't say whether it should be repealed. 'I would not have signed that law, I if I were Governor Perry,' he said. 'From a perspective of fairness, I don't think it's fair for our fellow American citizens not to have that break.'"
In 2007 Dewhurst Said, "Historically The Senate Has Been In Favor Of Providing In-State Tuition For Everyone Living Here.""'We'd take a look at it, but historically the Senate has been in favor of providing in-state tuition for everyone living here,' he said." (R.A. Dyer, "Migrant Tuition Bill Derailed," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/10/07)
At Least One Bill That Would Have Barred Illegal Immigrants From Receiving In-State Tuition Died In The Texas House. "Legislation that would have barred undocumented immigrants from paying in-state tuition at public universities was derailed Wednesday after Texas House lawmakers raised technical objections. The legislation, House Bill 159 by Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, would have reversed a 2003 law." (R.A. Dyer, "Migrant Tuition Bill Derailed," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/10/07)
Dewhurst Didn't Lift A Finger & Dismissed The Bill; He Said The Chances Of That Bill Passing His Senate Were "Slim." "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican, indicated Wednesday that had the bill survived the House, its chances would have been slim in the Senate." (R.A. Dyer, "Migrant Tuition Bill Derailed," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/10/07)
--
Jon McClellan
Ted Cruz for Senate
Political Director
512-637-8777, office
281-793-4558, cell
www.tedcruz.org
"Like" Ted on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tedcruzpage
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Reminder-Titus Co Commissioners meet Monday, 9 a.m.
Just a reminder that the Titus County Commissioners will meet on Monday, September 26 at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse to take final action on the new tax rate and budget for 2011-2012. I had e-mailed county officials late last week and requested an itemized summary of the $800,000.00 in budget cuts proposed and did not receive a reply. Apparently, according to Judge Brian Lee in today's paper, "the cutbacks come from approximately $30,000 being cut from each precinct's budget as well as other cuts in various areas". It was also stated that $600,000.00 in cuts have been found and the county hopes to make up another $200,000.00 later in the year.
The $30,000 referenced does not mean that Commissioners have accepted the notion of taking a salary or travel allowance cut. It is simply a small decrease in the half million dollar budget for each precinct.
We intend to make the same request that has been made in the attached advertisement from today's newspaper, a 10% salary cut and a 50% travel allowance cut for County Commissioners. We believe that the concerned taxpayers of this county deserve to see a vote on the issue Monday morning. Do our County Commissioners really understand the looming economic crisis in our county with the pending Monticello closure and will they listen to the voice of the people. I hope they will make us all proud tomorrow.
Barbara Bruechner
The attached ad is the same as earlier this week, but has color added and a few additional published sponsors. There were 67 taxpayers who sponsored the advertisements and I know that many of you have also called and e-mailed with your concerns. Although the issue has been ignored by County Commissioners, it's not going away!
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