Reminder: tomorrow, Nov. 5, is a statewide election day. Im not one for using FB to vent my political tendencies, but tomorrow Im going with the unanimous decision of the Save Our Springs Alliance on Proposition 6 – VOTE “NO!” Unless theres a “HELL, NO!” that counts as two! Why? Because this one stinks! (WARNING: This is a VERY LONG read, and if you already know how youre voting AND WHY, then dont bother with it but DO remember to go out and vote.) (sources linked at the end of this post) 1. Follow the money: Most of the money behind the vote-yes-or-or-your-babies-will-die-of-thirst ads is from The Texas Oil & Gas Association, Dow Chemical, Energy Future Holdings Co./Luminant (a large, nearly bankrupt utility company) and contractors who will obviously profit from construction projects. So yeah, lots of people who want to make sure THEY have easy access to lots of water, and the people they will pay handsomely to make sure of it. 2. Big Red Flags: The same legislation bringing this to the ballot suddenly politicized the Texas Water Development Board, making its members gubernatorial appointees. That part is done and not un-doable and not affected by tomorrows vote. Surprise! Surprise! Just 2 months ago Lame Duck Governor Rick Perry ditched the existing board members and replaced all three with three of his cronies, including the owner of MKS Natural Gas (a company Perry has invested in) and all with term expirations well into Perrys post-gubernatorial future. And, just to be sure theyre on the up-and-up, on Oct. 1 attorney Kevin Patteson, “ethics advisor” for Perry 2002-2008, was named TWDB Executive Administrator. Isnt it good to know that Rick Perry ethics will be used to decide how to use the $2 billion? 3. Deceptive ads: The supporting PAC hired likeable and believable Nolan Ryan, among others, as spokespersons for the ads which are scripted almost is if they are PSAs, implying that without passing Prop 6, Texas will supposedly be unable to implement a manageable plan for future water needs. I like YOU and believe YOU, Nolan, but not the words they put in your mouth. Youve been hoodwinked as have much of the voting public (with your help.) Prop 6 is just an unnecessary $2 billion drain on the “Rainy Day Fund” to set up two new funds: the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT,) the control of which is still unclear but with obvious heavy influence from Perrys restructured board. No one has mentioned that there is already $6 billion available in unused voter-approved bond authorizations from 2011 and that two below-market interest rate funds already exist: the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for “planning, design and construction of projects to upgrade or replace water supply infrastructure” as well as “to consolidate water supplies and to purchase capacity in water system,” and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for “costs associated with the planning, design, construction, expansion or improvement of wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater recycling and reuse facilities, collection systems, stormwater pollution control projects.” Both funds also include federal grant money! Why the redundancy of the two new funds or the need for $2 billion more? Folks, there is nothing – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - related to prop 6 preventing Texas from proceeding with and improving on water management programs. 4. MORE slight of hand and fork-ed tongue: The drafters of the bill got the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club on board by promising at least 20% of the $2 billion would be dedicated to conservation projects, but the final wording of the amendment is ambiguous, only saying that the board “shall undertake to apply” it as such. That looks like plenty of wiggle-room to renege on their not-quite-a-promise promise if necessary to placate more politically appeasing offers when need be. In conclusion, had I not researched this, I probably would have voted “Yes,” buying into the fear-mongering supported by the proponents exploitation of the drought and the Stage 4 or 5 or Code Red or whatever water restrictions throughout most of Texas. I am now totally convinced that there is significantly more danger in passing Prop 6 than in defeating it. Im not tagging it, like some, as an all-out Rick Perry “slush fund” but I find it highly suspicious and have no doubt his actions and those of the big-money PAC behind it have more to do with personal gain than than with any interest in whats good for Texans, and I also firmly believe that we have the ability to secure our future water needs with the resources available: conservation, recycling and reuse, smart building codes, more individual education and participation, and the funding already available. Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance for voting tomorrow. David Dunn Quiet, conscientious voter and political non-activist (usually) Sources: (mix of fact and opinion – choose to believe what you will) Un-opinionated FAQ lcra.org/water/Facts-on-Proposition-6.html Texas Water Development Board twdb.state.tx.us/about/index.asp Articles texasobserver.org/prop-6-slush-fund-solution-texas-water-woes/ and fwweekly/2013/10/30/prop-6/
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 20:10:59 +0000
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