A recent Greater Edwards Aquifer seminar summarized which water-related bills passed and did not pass during the Texas Legislature's last session.
We have recently seen two horrendous attacks on innocent Jewish people. The attacks expressed continued hatred of the Jews by many Americans. This coupled with a 360% surge in anti-Jewish hate in the U.S. according to the ADL, and a rise in political violence in the U.S. as evidenced by the assassination of Melissa Hortman, means we must condemn antisemitism and all forms of hatred and bigotry.
In this hurricane season, NOAA has predicted 13-19 named storms with 6-10 as hurricanes and 3-5 of those as major. Musk's DOGE has begun the decimation of NOAA by firing probationary employees and impounding (illegally) Congressional appropriated funds. Many wonder if the U.S. will be able to handle this storm season or if lives will be needlessly lost by the administration's decisions and incompetence. Texas will not fare well with these decisions so contact your reps and senators.
In the 40 years since manufacturing employment peaked, industry has struggled to regain the prominence it once had. Sizeable job losses occurred within durable goods manufacturing. CEO compensation has shot up over 1000% versus a typical worker who has seen only a 24% increase. The current administration’s attacks on workers’ rights and dismantling of critical federal agencies have left workers with fewer rights and have put the U.S. economy on a path toward an economic downturn.
Trump's tariffs constitute an enormous tax on Americans and will result in higher prices, reduced choice, and likely loss of jobs in America. harm every American consumer, but particularly the hourly and middle-class worker, with higher prices. The tariffs harm the average American worker planning for retirement and those already retired, by destroying the value of the very investments relied on by those workers.
The National Park Service has the most favorable rating of any government agency, has bipartisan support, reported their highest visitation in history, and puts billions of dollars back into the economy. Nevertheless, the new administration has conducted massive firings and threatened to close visitor centers. Contact your reps to oppose these cuts.
The Texas Legislature is about a month into its every-other-year session, and they are considering quite a few awful bills, including school vouchers, but also an elimination to countywide voting and the SAVE act which requires all Americans to provide a birth certificate, passport, or one of a few other citizenship documents every time they register or re-register to vote.
The U.S. national debt and climate change require urgent solutions or we will leave our children with a bleak legacy. The national debt exceeds GDP by 20% and grows regardless of the political party in power. Annual spending far exceeds revenue. The Earth is 1.1°C warmer than 150 years ago and greenhouse emissions continue to rise.
Early voting numbers are well over 50% at press time. Your last chance to vote in this critical election for the national contest and the 16 down-ballot races is November 5. If you want freedom, the choice is clear, the Democratic candidates.
Many U.S. Republican presidents in recent history have handed struggling economies to incoming Democratic presidents. Since the end of WWII, the U.S. economy has been better under Democratic leaders. Under Republican leaders, the rich have gotten richer and the poor, poorer. It's time to vote for Harris and choose a president worthy of the position whose policies will reverse income inequality and push high-wage jobs and sustainable manufacturing.