In May 2007, the Texas Senate tried to get HB 218 to a floor vote for
passage.  HB 218 was a bill that required a Texas voter to present a valid
ID card with a photograph when that person wanted to cast a ballot in an
election.  The bill was an attempt to combat voter fraud in Texas elections.
The bill was defeated by the Democrats in the Texas Senate where it died
when the Texas Senate adjourned.

Earlier this month the Democrats held their state convention in Austin.  It
is ironic that Democratic delegates to their own state convention had to
produce a valid photo identification card to get their credentials for the
floor and caucuses.  Was this procedure put in place to assure only elected
delegates from their county conventions attended?

It would appear the Democrats wanted their convention fraud-free from
unauthorized attendees but when it comes down to a general election by Texas
voters the same standards to assure a fraud-free election does not apply.



David D. Andrews Sr.
Merkel, Texas

Voter Fraud in Texas is alive and well. Here are some numbers as published by the Texas Conservative Coalition http://www.txccri.org .

In 2007, a former Port Lavaca city councilwoman was convicted for assisting non-citizens in registering to vote.

Since 1992, Harris County has cancelled 3,742 registered voters because they were not citizens; 683 of those non-citizenship cancellations have occurred in the past seven years.

Between 2003 and 2005, 303 people were removed from the voter rolls in Bexar County because they were not citizens. Forty-one of these non-citizens voted in local, state, and federal elections.

From September 1999 to March 21, 2007, Dallas County cancelled the voter registration of 1,889 individuals because of non-citizenship. Before being deleted from the voter rolls, 356 of those individuals had voted in Dallas County.

In El Paso County, 213 non-citizens were removed from the voter rolls between January and October 2006.

In Tarrant County, 584 non-citizens have been removed from the voter rolls since 1999.

At least 6,731 non-citizens have registered to vote in Texas, and at least 391 non-citizens have illegally voted.

In 2007, the State Auditor identified 49,049 registered voters who may be ineligible to vote, including 23,114 possible felons and 23,576 who may be deceased.

In Texas, the legal system selects its jury members from the Texas Department of Public Safety (Drivers License) and the voter rolls. When a jury notice is sent to people who have registered to vote or who have driver’s license and those people go before the judge to be excused because they are not citizens then they are identified as being illegal aliens.

Some races in local communities are won or lost by the narrowest of margins. As you can see, Voter Fraud is indeed a real issue in Texas and other states.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Merkel, Texas 

I attended a meeting in Abilene, Texas, to listen to a member of the Texas House of Representatives. I asked a question to the representative on what is up and coming in regards to illegal immigration in the next legislative year in 2009. I was disappointed in this person’s response to immigration. We as a group were told that if a member of the house introduces legislation in the Texas House of Representatives on combating illegal aliens then that person is labeled a racist. It was explained that to the group in attendance that it comes down to two camps in Austin. One camp will stand up in support of the illegal immigrants and call them “My People” and the other camp will stand against the illegal immigrants voicing the Rule of Law.

It is ironic that some Texan legislators turn a blind eye to illegal aliens. Many Texans have voiced their concerns that school taxes which pay for free education of children are being diluted by educating children of illegal immigrants. Money spent on just one illegal immigrant’s child takes away from a Texas Citizen. One child of an illegal immigrant who receives a free lunch by the Department of the Agriculture takes food from a child citizen of Texas. How can this be racist?

Laws are written to protect its citizens. These laws are supposed to be blind as to race. In the case of legal immigration, there is nothing racists about how someone from another country can become a citizen or naturalized citizen or legal immigrant to our wonderful nation. But to simply violate the law of the land and come to this country and expect all the rights and privileges that are afforded to its citizens is absolutely wrong.

Is Texas and the United States becoming a state of tribes or ethnic groups like those in Southwest Asia? Are we going to divide up Texas and have a place for one race to live and another race to reside? It seems to me that some laws simply do not pertain to one group of people and another group has there own laws they abide by. We have a set of laws that everyone American citizen lives by but if you are an illegal alien then some think you are exempt from those laws and that they can make their own laws or modify those laws to suit their status in the United States.

It is time for our elected officials to stand up for the citizens of Texas and the United States. That means propose legislation that goes against the special interest groups regardless if they call that legislation racist. It is time for someone to take the initiative and show some intestinal fortitude and stand by the majority of Americans that are tired of paying taxes for people that are not citizens of Texas of the United States.

It is amazing what you can find on the DNC web site regarding “Energy Independence.” Here is a cut and paste from the web site:

Energy independence is something that both sides talk about, but it's an issue where the old Republican Congress simply failed to lead. Now the Democratic Congress is taking up the issue, offering bold ideas to reduce our nation's dependence on oil by significantly reducing our oil consumption.

This week, the Senate begins debating legislation to "increase the fuel economy of cars and trucks and boosting the use of non-petroleum fuels like ethanol." According to ABC News, the legislation currently being considered would:

• Require that vehicles get 35 miles on the gallon by 2020. This would increase by 4 percent every year.
• Authorize the Energy Department "to make loan guarantees for fuel-efficient vehicle manufacturers and related parts suppliers."
• Increase the use of renewable fuels to 8.5 billion gallons in 2008, and to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
• Give the federal government "more authority to go after oil companies that manipulate gasoline supplies and overcharge consumers at the pump."

I am not a geologists, I am just a simple accountant with, in my opinion, a good sense of “Good Ole Common Sense.” The majority of nations in the world are Energy Dependant on Middle East Oil. So how does one become Energy Independent? Well, no pun intended, if you have oil in your nation then go after the oil. The United States has enough oil in the ground – Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and Texas still has a whole-lotta-oil left. Securing this oil would make us Energy Independent. But it is a finite resource. 

Let’s say we do reach the moment of Energy Independence. Then and only then can we aggressively require vehicles that get 35 miles per gallon. We can make those loans for fuel-efficient vehicle manufactures and increase renewable fuel usage.

It does not make a bit of sense to have a goal of Energy Independence from Middle East oil when we have the required amount of oil within our reach and under our feet and in the United States.

The Democrats idea of leadership is to have the American people continue to pay a high price at the pump hoping in 10 to 20 years the vehicle manufactures will make a car capable of 35 miles per gallon and everyone buys one. Also, the Democrats want you to wait until the technology to develop renewable fuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS WAITING UNDER OUR FEET!!!!!!!!!  

American taxpayers wait patiently for the federal government to enforce the current immigration laws on illegal aliens. Also, we have been told a comprehensive immigration package is in the works to update the current laws regarding illegal immigration. States such as Oklahoma and Arizona have passed model immigration statutes which have caused uproar in the illegal immigration community. 

The legislature in the State of Texas meets every other year and 2009 is a legislative year. I am a concerned tax payer that believes my taxes used by Washington, the State of Texas, the local taxing authorities, and school districts be utilized for and by American Citizens. I do not believe my taxes should be used for people that enter the United States illegally and that do not respect the Rule of Law of our nation. Therefore, I am going to propose to my House District 85 Representative, Joe Heflin – Democrat, the following proposal to introduce in the Texas House of Representatives regarding illegal immigration. I am going to give Representative Heflin the benefit of the doubt regarding his party affiliation.

A BILLTO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to enrolling a “qualifying child” in school districts in the State of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Admission, Transfer, and Attendance, is amended by adding Section 25.0012 to read as follows:

SECTION 25.0012 DEFINITIONS


Sec. 25.0012 Definitions. In this title:

(1.) “Qualifying child” means a child that can provide a valid birth certificate issued by a governmental agency of the United States or state agency showing identification and birthplace location in the United States of America or its territories.

- If a child can not validate as to the paragraph above, then a parent or other person with legal control of a child under a court order must present either one of the following documents:

(a.) A valid birth certificate of the parent or other person with legal control of the child showing identification and birthplace location in the United States of America or its territories or,

(b.) A valid permanent residency card issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Note: Change child to “Qualifying child” throughout the statue.

Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the constitutionality of mandating voters to show a valid state or federal ID photo when going to the polls is a win for the American people. The number one right for all Americans is the right to vote and have a representative type government of the people and its will. Opponents against the requirement of a photo ID card did not like the court’s opinion that voter integrity is key to a free election and reduces voter fraud. Americans can be assured that when a vote is cast in the states that require a photo ID a free and fair election is being held. The argument that the poor and elderly will be left out of the voting process is misguided. Anyone can obtain an acceptable photo ID in any state at a nominal charge. People who drive an automobile already have a photo ID. Those that do not drive can get an Identification Card issued by the state.

If anyone has a beef about Identification is people who have credit cards. More fraud is associated with credit cards than with a voting election. But the credit card companies do not care about credit card fraud because they pass the loss to the credit card consumer in the form of interest rates. Businesses that accept credit cards also pay a fee for the transactions when the credit card holder makes a purchase. When credit card fraud occurs the business gets paid but the credit card holder gets their money back. The bank that underwrites the credit card is stuck with the charge but the bank just passes the loss to the credit card holders in the form of fees and interest charges. So in essence, credit card holders get burnt even if it was not your card that was used fraudulently. An easy fix to reduce credit card abuse in most transactions is to have a photo of the card holder on the credit card. The convenience store clerk can look at the picture before he processes the card and if the picture shows an attractive blonde with baby-blue eyes and the person passing the card is an over-weight non-shaven and brown eye person with an Adams apple then the store clerk may ask for a second ID…………..Hmmmm, it’s not rocket science on this one.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Yesterday afternoon while I was doing some campaign strategy for Jones County Texas, I just happen to leave the television on FOX. I was in my study when I noticed that FOX was broadcasting the NAACP convention with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as the keynote speaker.  Well I continued to plan for our county strategy but could not help but listen to Wright’s words of hate and bigotry. In Rev Wright’s own words, he indicated that the criticism directed at him was an assault or attack on the Black church. All I could do is shake my head in disbelief. The racial hatred of the 1950’s and 60’s and 70’s would have all but disappeared if it was not for the irresponsible words of hatred that continues from leaders such as Rev. Wright, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Today, many Americans, regardless of race, have an opportunity to make a life of prosperity and wealth as long as they strive and persevere to a goal they set for themselves. Sometimes obstacles get in our way in trying to reach those goals, but that is life. Some of those obstacles are very real and very unfair but to overcome those obstacle your have to circumnavigate the obstacles and then press forward. Unfortunately, some people that cannot or will not circumnavigate an obstacle will play the race card and then blame others because they will not try a different avenue. That’s when people like Rev. Wright, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson get involved.

Bill Cosby, a self-made, respected actor and educator, did not play the race card but just put his nose to the grindstone and made prudent and intelligent decisions to achieve success. General Colin Powell is another respected American that never played the race card to achieve success – he earned it by going up the ranks in the military and probably faced several racial issues while as a military member but preserved and adapted and overcame. It is time all Americans to stop blaming others for their own shortcomings. If you cannot achieve the goals that you have set then do not give up and don’t throw in the race card expecting others to feel sorry for you. Ignore those that are true bigots and race hating. They cannot help you and they won’t. Leave them in the sad world they created for themselves and press on. 

David D. Andrews Sr.

Not many things really burn my fanny, except a flame knee-high, but the treasonous actions of former President Jimmy Carter meeting with a terrorist organization is just as bad as a flame knee-high. Carter’s meeting face to face with Hamas is the same as the communist-pinko-bed-wetter Jane Fonda had done during the Viet Nam war. Both of these actions are totally inexcusable. Former President Carter used American tax payer money for secret service protection and that protection was used to meet the terrorist leaders in Syria. Our money was used!!!! Carter took it upon himself to ignore the current policy of non-negotiation with terrorist organizations. In effect what Carter has done is to give Hamas recognition rather than isolation that the rest of the free world has demonstrated.

Secretary of State Rice even warned Carter that his meeting would send mixed signals throughout the world that the US has soften its stance on terrorism. As you well know, Hamas continually bombards Israel from Lebanon and from the Gaza strip. This organization wants nothing to do with a peace effort but to totally wipe out all non Islamic people that live in the region. This group is insane. They have no value for human life. What makes Jimmy Carter think he can find a solution to a hatred that has gone on for centuries? Even the Palestinian people have come to realize that terrorist actions are not the way to peace. They certainly want peace but it is the few religious zealots in the Muslim world that have continued to stir up hatred and further flame death and murder of innocent people on both sides.

President Carter should be immediately dressed-down for his inexcusable actions. His pass port should be revoked and the Democratic Party should immediately condemn his actions as irresponsible and misguided.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Rep. Barney Franks (D-Mass) has proposed a bailout for individuals who are facing foreclosure on their homes.  Some of these homeowners have purchased more home than their income can afford.  Others, through no fault of their own, have come on hard times as a result of loosing their job or through no fault of their own can no longer afford their homes.  In either case, life sometimes is not fair on one has to move on and pick up the pieces and start fresh.  Even Franks said, "It would be very nice if we didn't have to do this at all, some people who made irresponsible decisions to borrow more than they should have are going to be helped by this. The alternative is to do nothing and have greater damage to neighborhoods and the economy."

Housing prices have gone through the roof in a majority of the United States.  These inflated prices are due to speculators and "house flippers."  What's wrong with allowing homes to set on the open market after foreclosure and let the free market determine what the Fair Market Value of a home should be?  Sure the neighborhood will suffer but the free market will adjust itself and let the home sell for the appropriate price rather than at an artificial price which can not be justified.  We in America have been living on the edge of an economic disaster for the past 10 years.  We overspend to a point that credit cards are at the limit, we have taken out home equity loans to fund extravagant vacations and expensive possessions with no forethought on how to pay off those debts.

I for one have no sympathy for those that are irresponsible when it comes to managing their money.  If you bought too much house and now you cannot afford the payments then you should not be rewarded with Barney Franks' proposed legislation.  You should face reality and "suck it up" and learn from your irresponsible behavior rather than have the honest fiscal conservative tax payers bail you out.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Merkel, TX

When my children lied to me and were caught in a lie I made sure that my kids knew that was unacceptable behavior. The consequences to lying to Dad or Mom were a good old spanking. A spanking where after it was over the sniffles was still erratic. Politicians such as Lena Guerrero (Dem) in 1990 as a chairwoman for the Texas Railroad Commission lied to the audience of a graduation commencement on how she remembered the day she graduated from the University of Texas. Later it was found out that she never graduated from the University of Texas or any college or university at all. She resigned in disgrace from her position in the Texas Railroad Commission later in the month.

Our former president, Bill Clinton, stood in front of a camera and waved his finger at the American people and said, “I did not have sex with that woman;” a blatant lie to the face of the American people. Now his wife has lied to the American people by saying she had to run to her awaiting automobile after landing in Bosnia in 1996 because of sniper fire directed at the tarmac. This was nothing but a blatant lie to win votes or show that she was involved in a conflict to gain knowledge of foreign policy and events for her run for the Presidency of the United States.

The news media said Mrs. Clinton’s statement was an embellishment of the facts. Let’s cut through the bull and call it what it was; nothing but a fabricated lie.

Now that being said, I cannot start to imagine that people would support her for falsifying events that simply did not happen. How is she going to gain the trust of the American voters to be the President of the United States? Her credibility is totally lost just as Bill Clinton lost the support of the American people when he lied to us on national television. It is apparent that lying in the Clinton household is a common trait.

By the way, my son as a teenager ran into the side of the cattle trailer and dented the right side of the pickup bed. I asked him if he knew what happened to the truck and he immediately fessed up to the damage. I scolded him for being foolish but did not spank him. He told the truth!

David D. Andrews Sr.

Noodle, Texas

Both parties are missing the boat on the economy. To stimulate the economy Congress has passed legislation for a tax credit that some paying tax payers, as long as they have filed a 2007 tax return, will get no less than $600.00 starting this May. Some legislators have said to reduce capital-gain rates from 15% to zero, but who actually benefits from capital gains? Only those that play in and on Wall Street, then, most people who receive capital gains most likely reinvest those gains back into the market for additional shares of a stock or mutual fund. So how is that going to stimulate the economy? It is not, it will only line the pockets of those that play on Wall Street. Giving money back to tax payers such as the tax rebate will spark the economy but it will be short-lived since most Americans will send the refund to reduce their debt but then when that money is gone the vicious cycle of charging will go on and on. 

What is needed to spark and sustain an economy that will grow is a tax cut for the mom and pop companies. For example, if Jim’s Auto Repair could write off at least half the cost of a $10,000.00 engine analyzer the first year rather than depreciate the value of the analyzer over a five year period then he could purchase something else for $5,000.00 to further help and expand his business. Giving a tax break to small companies that will use the monies for growth of their company will stimulate the economy by purchasing machinery or hiring additional people or creating an environment that will encourage others to start their company. Giving federal monies to large corporations will do nothing, in my opinion, but to line the corporate pockets of CEO’s and CFO’s through unjustified bonuses and options. There is no need to reward those that drive a corporation to the ground and then give them a bonus. If the federal government is going to give away my tax dollar then give it to the guy next door that opens his business at 8:00am and goes home at 9:00pm.

The American tax payer who makes his monthly mortgage payment on-time and is not in any financial difficulty is about to get a slap in the face by Democratic lawmakers. Senator Christopher Dodd, Democrat from Connecticut, and Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, have ordered their staffs to come up with a rescue bill for people that are facing home foreclosures or facing an interest rate increase on their Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loan which they cannot not afford.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/business/22homes.html?_r=1&fta=y&oref=slogin

If the Democrats come up with a federal bailout for these individuals that took ARM’s or that have overextended their financial resources, then Dodd and Frank are going to reward those individuals for their failure to live within their means and slap the faces of those of us that have been disciplined enough not to buy more than we can afford. Even the present administration is opposed to any taxpayer bailout for either people who borrowed more than they could afford or lending institutions that made unwise loans during the height of the housing market bubble (as per NY Times article).

Even today, the lending institutions continue to advertise on the television for home equity mortgages tempting people to purchase their equity in their homes when their value of their home may be going down. Credit card companies are still wooing potential customers with teaser interest rates to entice them to transfer their card balances from other credit cards and then continue to charge on the new card rather than pay them down or pay them off.

The federal government should not bailout those that signed contracts to purchase their homes if they can not afford the payments. The American taxpayer that has effectively managed their finances should not be penalized by providing bailout money for those that are irresponsible and live beyond their means.