June 2002

Texas Eagle Forum News & Notes

TEXAS EAGLE FORUM BANQUET
On Thursday, June 6th, the evening prior to the Texas State Republican Convention, TEF hosted a banquet at the Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel honoring U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay. Special guest speakers included Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly, conservative columnist David Limbaugh, Governor Rick Perry, and Congressmen Pete Sessions, and Joe Barton. Over 500 guests attended the star-spangled event!

PAUL RETURNS $120,000 TO TREASURY
For the fifth year in a row, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) returned unused funds from his office budget to the federal treasury. The House Finance office reports that Paul's office did not spend more than $120,000 of its annual budget allowance for 2001. That's about 10% of his total budget. Paul said some of the savings resulted from replacing mail with email after the Anthrax scare slowed down the postal system in Washington, D.C. "I don't believe federal offices, including congressional offices, have to spend every penny of their yearly budgets," said Paul. "I would like to see all of our federal agencies commit to spending 5-10% less than the previous year to save the taxpayers some money."
Source: Rep. Ron Paul fax, 5/16/02

SBOE EMBROILED IN "POLITICS OF PARENTAL DESTRUCTION"
Liberal State Board of Education (SBOE) members and their ally Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff (R-Mt. Pleasant) declared that some of their conservative colleagues should not be on the Board because they either home school their children or send them to a private school. Those remarks followed a court decision on February 20 upholding the denial of an assistant principal position at a public school in Greenville to a candidate solely because her children attend a private school. SBOE member Rosie Sorrells (D-Dallas) stated, "I can't understand why you'd want to dictate what happens if you don't have any kids in there (public school)." Cynthia Thornton (R-Round Top) complained, "I wonder why they are on the board." Lt. Gov. Ratliff grumbled, "People who don't send their kids to public schools don't need to be on the State Board of Education."

The mission of government is to represent ALL taxpayers whose money it is spending. Thus, all Texans have a stake in state government decisions. And since no parent is exempt from paying property taxes, ALL parents are eligible as candidates to the SBOE.
Source: Marc Levin, "State Board Embroiled in Obtuse Politics of Parental Destruction," 5/5/02

TEXAS LOTTERY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
The Texas Lottery celebrates 10 years of existence and has added hundreds of millionaires to Texas and racked up billions in sales. However, last year's sales fell nearly $1 billion short of the lottery's best year in 1997. Since 1997, lottery profits have benefited the Foundation School Fund, which has received $4.3 billion through April 15. A spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency said the profits from the lottery make up less than 4% of the $26 billion the agency spends each year on public schools. Lottery officials say profits also go to a gambler addiction group and to fund indigent health care.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, 5/28/02

SENATE HOPEFULS: JOHN CORNYN & RON KIRK
Here are some of the differences between Attorney General John Cornyn (R) and former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk (D) in their race for the U.S. Senate:

• TAXES: Cornyn supports President Bush in lowering taxes; Kirk said it would be "irresponsible" to make permanent tax cuts.
• ENERGY: Cornyn supports drilling for oil in Alaska, while Kirk called Bush's plan to open Alaska's Arctic Refuge to oil drilling "goofy."
• DEATH TAX: Cornyn supports elimination of death tax; Kirk calls it irresponsible."
• JUDICIAL NOMINEES: Cornyn "wholeheartedly" supports President Bush's conservative nominees to the bench; Kirk opposes Bush's nominees and says, "We run the risk of allowing Republicans to pack the federal courts with conservative judges."
• CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Cornyn campaigns in rural Texas; Kirk has traveled repeatedly to Washington, D.C. to raise special interest money and attend a dinner honoring Bill Clinton.

Source: Cornyn fax, 5/21/02

DALLAS CITY COUNCIL OKAYS HOMOSEXUAL BENEFITS
On May 8, Dallas City Council approved an ordinance aimed at protecting homosexuals, saying that the anti-discrimination is long overdue. The council voted 13-2 to adopt the ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on housing, employment and in such public places as hotels and restaurants. Among those speaking in support of the ordinance was Don Carty, CEO of American Airlines, who spoke of American's anti-discrimination policies, and Council member John Loza, who said, "As a gay man, today I am especially proud of my city." But Flip Benham, director of the Dallas-based Operation Save America, countered, "It is a direct attack on the Word of God." Fort Worth, Houston and Austin have approved similar measures.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, 5/9/02

DALLAS POLICE WARN OF LEWD ACTIVITY AT LAKE
Three days before the City of Dallas passed their anti-family discrimination ordinance, Dallas Police warned parents visiting parks at White Rock Lake: Do not let your children go into the public restrooms alone. In addition to families and recreational enthusiasts, the area attracts homosexuals and pedophiles cruising for anonymous sex. Police have made 153 arrests for public lewdness and sexual activity at the lake since January 2001, including 32 in December alone. Although the crimes are misdemeanors, the threat of arrest can be a deterrent because many of those caught would be embarrassed if their activities were known, police say.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, 5/6/02
Editor's Note: Cathie Adams, president of TEF, says, "It is contradictory that inside City Hall, sexual deviation is awarded special protections, yet outside City Hall, parents must take care less their children fall victim to sexual predators."

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