tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74214905086924227292024-03-14T05:46:11.948-05:00Texas Trash TalkExposing Federal State and Local government corruption eliminating waste and taking out the corrupt bureaucratic trash.PolitiJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06942218396616503094noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-33761371493466919372022-12-19T23:41:00.001-06:002022-12-19T23:49:04.983-06:00The Numbers Don't Add UpI keep getting calls asking if it is true that the “numbers” for the Nov. 8, 2022 election being <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Election-Results/Election-Reports" target="_blank">reported</a> by the <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/About" target="_blank">Harris County Elections Administrator (EA)</a> don’t add up. It is very hard to explain over the phone, so I am posting some of the numbers to show that yes, it is true, some of the numbers in this election simply don’t add up.<div><br /><div>I have used the numbers posted online by the Harris County EA to explain some of the problems with the numbers he has reported. I am giving you the link to each document posted by the Harris County EA so you can check the numbers out for yourself. I have <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">bolded in blue the numbers</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">from the EA’s own reports</span></b>. I have <b><span style="color: red;">bolded in red my mathematical calculations</span></b> so you can see what I found. I urge you to go to the original documents and check the math for yourself. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Registered Voters</u> </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Let’s start with a very simple number….the number of registered voters in Harris County for this election. That should be easy. Right? </div><div><br /></div><div>Let’s compare that number as reported by the Harris County EA on various “official” <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.com/Election-Results/Election-Reports" target="_blank">documents</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">11/10/2022 Preliminary Reconciliation Report</span></b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/docs/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Preliminary%20Election%20Reconciliation%20-%20Unofficial%20Totals%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">(upper left)</a> </span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>2,547,825</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>11/18/2022 Election Reconciliation Official Totals</b></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">(upper left)</a> </span> <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2,549,262</span></b> </div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">11/19/2022 Official Results - Cumulative Results Report</span></b> <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(upper right)</span> </a> <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">2,543,162 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">The difference in the number of registered voters for this election as reported by the Harris County EA from 11/18/2022 to 11/19/2022 was - 6,100. </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Who were those 6,100 registered voters and how did they disappear in that 24-hour period?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Mailed Ballots </u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Now let’s look at the ballot by mail numbers reported in the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">“Election Reconciliation - Official Totals.”</a>
Look at Box #6 in the bottom left-hand corner: Line “R’ gives the number of ballots sent to voters by mail. Line “S” gives the number of voters who chose not to return their mailed ballot to be counted. Line “T” gives the number of voters who surrendered their mailed ballot in order to vote in person.
If you subtract the ballots not returned and the ballots surrendered, you should have the number of mailed ballots returned for this election. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQbscwa4RVwKlCMaOa1A3RZP8ukL-JXwcCu4uKG4qbX6AizbsKM_CjyKmXxT_B_Gc1mh81bwLAIY72Mv-9LPx6saKitoBMEWzDpMo2SpVx9tKp2Mh6t8wATGZDG0Gq3yuCXhB5f82Vx_C7JlPpBbhqYeMziuDsoKA7i_2UoboUB8rPPLgQGpvrORZeLQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQbscwa4RVwKlCMaOa1A3RZP8ukL-JXwcCu4uKG4qbX6AizbsKM_CjyKmXxT_B_Gc1mh81bwLAIY72Mv-9LPx6saKitoBMEWzDpMo2SpVx9tKp2Mh6t8wATGZDG0Gq3yuCXhB5f82Vx_C7JlPpBbhqYeMziuDsoKA7i_2UoboUB8rPPLgQGpvrORZeLQ=w330-h400" width="330" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><div>See my equation below: </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> (R) Mailed ballots sent to voters 80,995 </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> (S) Mailed ballots NOT retuned by voter - 19,486 </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> (T) Mailed ballots surrendered - 6,557 </u></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> Mailed ballots retuned this election 54,952 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s just basic math. No big deal…. until you look at Box #1 in the upper left-hand corner of the same “official” report. Line “C” in this box gives the total number of “mail ballots voters.” That number should match the number of voters who returned a ballot by mail for this election. But the numbers don’t match…they aren’t even close. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #1</a> (C) Mail ballot voters 64,259 </span></b></div><div><b><u><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> Mailed ballots retuned this election - 54,952 </span></u></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">More mail ballots to count than reported mailed + 9,307 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>In other words…..the Harris County EA reported that there were <b>9,307 MORE MAILED BALLOTS TO COUNT</b> in this election than they reported<b> MAILED AND RETURNED BY VOTERS</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is a serious discrepancy! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Provisional Ballots </u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Now take a look at the Provisional ballot numbers reported on the “<a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Election Reconciliation Official Totals”</a> report posted on 11/18/2022. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #1</a> (D) Provisional ballots submitted 6,302 </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #2</a> (G) Provisional ballots rejected - 1,764 </span></b></div><div><u><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #7</a> (U) Provisional Ballots deemed incomplete - 0 </span></b></u></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Provisional ballots to be counted 4,538 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #3 </a>(L) Provisional ballots counted - 4,333 </span></u></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Fewer Provisional ballots counted than available 205 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>If you subtract the Provisional ballots which were “rejected” and those which were “incomplete,” you should have the number of Provisional ballots “counted.” But you don’t. Instead, you have the Harris County EA reporting that he counted<b><span style="color: red;"> 205 FEWER</span></b>. So…if those Provisional ballots were not rejected, incomplete, or counted, where did those 205 ballots go? </div><div><br /></div><div>But even more interesting in Harris County’s reporting of Provisional ballots in this election, is a comparison of the number of Provisional ballots reported on the first <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/docs/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Preliminary%20Election%20Reconciliation%20-%20Unofficial%20Totals%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">Reconciliation Report</a> posted on 11/10/2022 to the final <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Election Reconciliation report</a> posted in 11/18/2022. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/docs/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Preliminary%20Election%20Reconciliation%20-%20Unofficial%20Totals%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">Box #6</a> (O) <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/docs/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Preliminary%20Election%20Reconciliation%20-%20Unofficial%20Totals%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">11/10/2022 Report </a>- Estimated provisional ballots 3,828 </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u><a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #1</a> (D) <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">11/18/2022 Report</a> - Provisional ballots submitted 6,302 </u></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Difference in number of Provisional ballots following election night + 2,474 </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>So…after finishing counting the Election Night results, and compiling the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/docs/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Preliminary%20Election%20Reconciliation%20-%20Unofficial%20Totals%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">Reconciliation Report</a> on 11/10/2022, the Harris County EA reported having<b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> approximately 3,828 Provisional ballots</span></b> to be processed. By the time the final <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">official results</a> were posted eight days later, the Harris County EA <b><span style="color: red;">had found approximately 2,474 additional Provisional ballots to add to his count</span></b>. That’s very interesting. Where were those additional 2,474 Provisional ballots found? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Cumulative Results Report – Official Results </u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>But perhaps the most notable numbers which don’t add up in this election can be found by digging into the vote count <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">“Official Results”</a> which the Harris County Elections Administrator posted on 11/19/2022. </div><div><br /></div><div>To fully understand this report, you must first understand what is in it. First, in the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">upper right-hand corner</a> is the number <b>1,107,390.</b> That is the number of “cast vote records” counted, or you could say the number of voters who cast a ballot. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then the voters’ choices are given for each race. The number of votes cast for each candidate in columns by the type of vote cast: Ballot by Mail, Early Voting In Person, Election Day In Person, Early Voting Provisional Ballot, and Election Day Provisional Ballot. The far right-hand column gives the total votes cast for each candidate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Below the votes cast for each candidate is the number of “undervotes” or voters who chose not to vote in that race, followed by the number of “overvotes” or the voters who voted for too many candidates in that race. Finally, the total number of “write-in” votes not included in the list of candidates.
In order to get the total number of votes cast in a particular race, you must add the votes cast for candidates to the undervotes, overvotes, and write ins. </div><div><br /></div><div>As an example, let’s look at the race for Governor of Texas on Page 5 of the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">Cumulative Results Report.</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmYW9F7OP9evSy03p5fQpZhjf0YH_LjrCxSBwJBEj6mSr5Ug81gq8AkTJKJImVKaKBAoOP_Q1MPJ8X6yJ-J5zipx9hiZJGJuH63lLf6cPaqd0bLAZo4y2HKcrl2MFNA9_fiM0mwTZ2KuAoM1YVb2QUpmmbfqj9gFvlwpfhYqp_6-aAxVGJe5qwRzn_qw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="2988" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmYW9F7OP9evSy03p5fQpZhjf0YH_LjrCxSBwJBEj6mSr5Ug81gq8AkTJKJImVKaKBAoOP_Q1MPJ8X6yJ-J5zipx9hiZJGJuH63lLf6cPaqd0bLAZo4y2HKcrl2MFNA9_fiM0mwTZ2KuAoM1YVb2QUpmmbfqj9gFvlwpfhYqp_6-aAxVGJe5qwRzn_qw=w400-h284" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the far right-hand column, the number of cast votes for Governor candidates, plus the number of overvotes and undervotes, equals <b>1,107,390</b>. That is the same number of cast vote records counted in this election reported in the upper right-hand corner of the <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">“Official Results.”</a> That’s all good. That’s what you expect to find in this report. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMNkc_-u3WfowTfegqlwNyrsJ47eji3jpxjgiYKdsIV_XlVerqFA6kZi8ffTFrBL6AXhLhtsBIUw3bfvj1ReYmj74IgysrbNDk2lYOXXn0XRMiU5dJFJRX5vEzbUolvZAZ6-8N0lB-ISAyyZiVag6WzLy0GFnxbxXK1UgmsLeEWag32m2zorbt9It9DA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMNkc_-u3WfowTfegqlwNyrsJ47eji3jpxjgiYKdsIV_XlVerqFA6kZi8ffTFrBL6AXhLhtsBIUw3bfvj1ReYmj74IgysrbNDk2lYOXXn0XRMiU5dJFJRX5vEzbUolvZAZ6-8N0lB-ISAyyZiVag6WzLy0GFnxbxXK1UgmsLeEWag32m2zorbt9It9DA=w265-h320" width="265" /></a></div></div><div>Additionally, if you go back to the 11/18/2022 <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">“Election Reconciliation – Official Totals” </a>report, you will find that the number of “Counted Ballots” in <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/Election%20Reconciliation-%20Official%20Totals_Updated.pdf" target="_blank">Box #3</a>, match up perfectly with each type of ballot cast. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can’t total every race and expect the total cast ballots to be the same because many races are Precinct or District races such as US Representative, State Senator, County Commissioner, School Boards, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>But the races every voter in Harris County gets to vote in, from District Judge, 55th Judicial District on Page 20 down to County Treasurer on Page 42, should all total to the same number of cast votes – <b>1,107,390</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you start reviewing the total votes cast in the countywide races on <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">page 20</a>…everything looks good…that is…until you get to <a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank">Page 26</a>. That’s when the cast vote records for Ballot by Mail start to show discrepancies. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZw8eT2Fxjpo1jqAOQ9ke3D5dqnT7qTqxWbX4vf-I1s8RYqpVsGkowdcmXyDEZuL1Ze7iYlqZ4mq7GvXWSFY6TAGyoWHkBrVqcdGntoZQywIZ6oSABpbtO_8Kc-G7QPXvjWhy1fSxnJmhV5uQ1RBwR1uvCWHFVfOQDcg5DVxUN1gZpegFwhqjclLmX2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3061" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZw8eT2Fxjpo1jqAOQ9ke3D5dqnT7qTqxWbX4vf-I1s8RYqpVsGkowdcmXyDEZuL1Ze7iYlqZ4mq7GvXWSFY6TAGyoWHkBrVqcdGntoZQywIZ6oSABpbtO_8Kc-G7QPXvjWhy1fSxnJmhV5uQ1RBwR1uvCWHFVfOQDcg5DVxUN1gZpegFwhqjclLmX2A=w400-h306" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can see below that more cast votes are missing from each race as you go down the page. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some will say that is because voters get tired and leave more races blank as they go down the ballot. That is true, but remember, <b>when the voter leaves a blank, the tabulation computer counts that blank as an “undervote.” The total number of votes cast should be the same for every countywide race.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>And it gets worse….by the time you get to<a href="https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf" target="_blank"> Page 40</a>, the discrepancies are in <b>EVERY TYPE OF VOTE CAST, and the total is over 1,000 votes per race.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuL_8UWTnCG_2bPikmZgl5NeQs6IAqb0Rmq3-AIQ0gdN4elMLqRlEo8w7XXF0xYrrjCaWj0DKy4t_2-ejU7_q4SrtShdSDY3Vyg9hiH1kkMHo_SlIxvnA8FW3cvdyBBIzx17h4dvKll_XtXU9o6fSUVkjjOl17U8jn5zNQy5EamEQ8jxJZKCUkLOsiiw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2839" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuL_8UWTnCG_2bPikmZgl5NeQs6IAqb0Rmq3-AIQ0gdN4elMLqRlEo8w7XXF0xYrrjCaWj0DKy4t_2-ejU7_q4SrtShdSDY3Vyg9hiH1kkMHo_SlIxvnA8FW3cvdyBBIzx17h4dvKll_XtXU9o6fSUVkjjOl17U8jn5zNQy5EamEQ8jxJZKCUkLOsiiw=w400-h317" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>So....it's not just that the numbers don't add up...we also have to ask the question...</div><div><br /></div><div>Whose votes did NOT get counted???...Mine???... Maybe <b>YOURS??? </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div></div>texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-21083147275064269622021-09-08T15:56:00.017-05:002021-09-14T14:18:35.123-05:00Filibuster for Fraud???<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=49&clip_id=16486" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="725" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynUj2wTbsBdZDyQm4lN3B0wwcS8ieqbuP9emH47j5hioQrDhLQ7QccghlsWavTmpzfb6m0zBb5zJnCcokG7b6WUm_W-QLMjcQFyMruv0gJEtT4-8yC_nm_8WTlPa1cL4aD2ypVbJxh7Oa/w200-h139/fil+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2021-08-12/texas-sen-carol-alvarado-ends-her-filibuster-against-gop-elections-bill-after-15-hours" target="_blank">When Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado gained the national media spotlight by wearing a back brace and catheter to stall the Texas Election Integrity bill</a>, I thought it odd. Why would she go to all that trouble to stop legislation
that makes it <b>HARDER</b> <b>to harvest mailed ballots?</b></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So I decided to dig through my “<i>needs further research
someday</i>” file – documents I’ve come across over the years that stood out as
obviously different from the norm, but didn’t fit into the investigation at
the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I didn’t have to dig very deep to find a batch of ballot by
mail applications I had clipped together a few years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What made these applications fishy?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">These were not the typical handwritten applications mailed
in by individual voters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Instead, these were pre-printed, sent in boxes containing
multiple completed applications, and delivered by courier to the Harris County
Clerk on February 15th and 19th of 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOHMsIz0VijWTgh85JHx-eoKKVhIKJg0XO6PkIZx4kc1LFo3ZLQMDA9D26DcDlc7u-oCuphnh7WVZgy4CvfdUbVsXb40utJxNGxkUZBW9kEOnZFquDyEbbEBgkZ2yF9iJjskyxyZLy0Yz/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="689" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOHMsIz0VijWTgh85JHx-eoKKVhIKJg0XO6PkIZx4kc1LFo3ZLQMDA9D26DcDlc7u-oCuphnh7WVZgy4CvfdUbVsXb40utJxNGxkUZBW9kEOnZFquDyEbbEBgkZ2yF9iJjskyxyZLy0Yz/" width="184" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJYwK-Um8S9RErFDHaeyWFHwIkulZWchXfwIKN5-mhznmd0VDulWneSCcwsXdf-UmEvk0wEE9YtcA-ZJ5xNTnwstLB4J5kuICSoxF3U2Y98h9uMEmtwLRJbCDiqhpJmn7oPNpfEQjw8dH/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="689" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJYwK-Um8S9RErFDHaeyWFHwIkulZWchXfwIKN5-mhznmd0VDulWneSCcwsXdf-UmEvk0wEE9YtcA-ZJ5xNTnwstLB4J5kuICSoxF3U2Y98h9uMEmtwLRJbCDiqhpJmn7oPNpfEQjw8dH/" width="182" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Who sent both boxes of completed ballot by mail applications?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.yellowpages.com/houston-tx/mip/carol-alvarados-campaign-475028724" target="_blank">Carol Alvarado’s Campaign Office</a> !</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj250m4Uw8T9WGYmVgzg_q8v0OetkAJWwQiqL52_9lQlYlL8j42lZXbAVqQX3melmF-DIdE0sFY7xESw-eneOPT35b14LJ9Rv1HilgTp7ropZvTt-LwTqMI54cE4ozRDA4MaRfbG26eTeYT/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="720" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj250m4Uw8T9WGYmVgzg_q8v0OetkAJWwQiqL52_9lQlYlL8j42lZXbAVqQX3melmF-DIdE0sFY7xESw-eneOPT35b14LJ9Rv1HilgTp7ropZvTt-LwTqMI54cE4ozRDA4MaRfbG26eTeYT/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd37ZOyJuHtGeoLzeBUIHvTiN_A56IjPnpvUznOt0Iw_8PlOGd6y710004JHNKqv5cMKRHAAprBy5YUfYBSqb0XkOjHUFWHyDTtcdgJ89J4SNJBQFqmm89EZXtqIEjeQjA20VlDyrPPK7/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="720" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd37ZOyJuHtGeoLzeBUIHvTiN_A56IjPnpvUznOt0Iw_8PlOGd6y710004JHNKqv5cMKRHAAprBy5YUfYBSqb0XkOjHUFWHyDTtcdgJ89J4SNJBQFqmm89EZXtqIEjeQjA20VlDyrPPK7/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That’s odd … because Carol Alvarado’s <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/564609.pdf" target="_blank">campaign financial reports</a> do not show any payments to “<a href="https://www.bizapedia.com/tx/transnet-delivery-solutions-llc.html" target="_blank">Transnet Delivery Solutions</a>,” the courier
service used. Could that have been a simple oversight? TWICE? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So….what election was being held in Harris County at that
time?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> March 2, 2013 <a href="https://www.harrisvotes.org/ElectionResults?lang=en-US#ElectionArchives" target="_blank">Special Runoff Election for State Senate District 6.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Which two candidates were involved in that runoff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I bet you can guess ONE….</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://www.harrisvotes.org/HISTORY/20130302/cumulative/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Carol Alvarado and </span></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.harrisvotes.org/HISTORY/20130302/cumulative/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Sylvia R. Garcia.</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Well….knowing this….do you think Senator Carol Alvarado
filibustered to PROTECT voters or BALLOT HARVESTERS?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;">Note:</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> The statute of limitations has passed on every possible violation mentioned above.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colleen Vera</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-86554789765063768132021-06-12T00:19:00.007-05:002021-06-12T16:18:43.470-05:00Breaking News: Harris County Voter Applied for a Ballot by Mail - 29 Years After Her Death<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjspnaCryhfgVSqAbzh2u8g2lDVlIoRNkGnvryOHljJusd_Lp9H6L9H6ssoAPI6739j_PwEM6ywN0AgXoTtLNlyBSUeVLntjw4PjiJESO6iDVnTZPGytVhYDj5B8cvoHdQs36l7yvWvtSW/s807/K+Hooey+app.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjspnaCryhfgVSqAbzh2u8g2lDVlIoRNkGnvryOHljJusd_Lp9H6L9H6ssoAPI6739j_PwEM6ywN0AgXoTtLNlyBSUeVLntjw4PjiJESO6iDVnTZPGytVhYDj5B8cvoHdQs36l7yvWvtSW/s320/K+Hooey+app.png" /></a></div>On Feb. 10, 2020, the Harris County Clerk’s Office received an annual application for Ballot by Mail, including the Democratic Party Primary, from voter Kathleen Hooey who is <a href="https://voterregistration.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Search">registered</a> to vote at 7014 Jay Street in Houston. At first glance, all appears normal. The voter was born in 1919 so she qualifies to vote by mail under Texas Law. She signed the form and mailed it in on time, so nothing seems concerning.</span><div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But, Kathleen Hooey passed away in 1991 – 29 years BEFORE this application was signed and mailed. <br /><br />And, she was not the only one.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb42P7q20reVHBFWVgBA0gxNV1o7sP2vw6Dky6JwI3ML-49ED8kIZKHyB81Vk0UKgPgc9Usyd-5FA6e44gI1h86Q1Zn5T7zHAX_Hx34enKRQR2WIKNwjXFjphLQq_ZWIMGttba9wcSg9Y/s793/g+chambers+app.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb42P7q20reVHBFWVgBA0gxNV1o7sP2vw6Dky6JwI3ML-49ED8kIZKHyB81Vk0UKgPgc9Usyd-5FA6e44gI1h86Q1Zn5T7zHAX_Hx34enKRQR2WIKNwjXFjphLQq_ZWIMGttba9wcSg9Y/s320/g+chambers+app.png" /></a></div>That same day, the County Clerk’s Office received another annual application for ballot by mail, including the Democratic Primary, from voter Gloria Chambers who is <a href="https://voterregistration.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Search">registered</a> to vote at 10525 Barnham Street in Houston. The voter was born in 1946 so she qualifies to vote by mail in Texas. Her application was signed and mailed on time - and was even signed by an assistant/witness named Tomar Bishop. So all looks good. <br /><br /><br />Except Gloria Chambers passed away in 2010 – 10 years BEFORE this application was signed and mailed. <br /><br />And these two were not alone.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWANVNcwkYR5rFCpO1DjZ75owssi7_vGrhUKy_d0BVuSH0-tBPEgW-arbRtyjnI1mOocO9Mlw8SPtNgWrdcsFpZWbDR0tqd_kPgO9ZV63wyhXLDS3ehBpBw47zayYrU9JMDSmBsVqpXVW/s779/j+burks+app.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWANVNcwkYR5rFCpO1DjZ75owssi7_vGrhUKy_d0BVuSH0-tBPEgW-arbRtyjnI1mOocO9Mlw8SPtNgWrdcsFpZWbDR0tqd_kPgO9ZV63wyhXLDS3ehBpBw47zayYrU9JMDSmBsVqpXVW/s320/j+burks+app.png" /></a></div>That same day, the County Clerk’s Office received yet another annual application for ballot by mail, including the Democratic Primary, from voter Jessie Burks who was registered to vote at 10514 Barnham Street in Houston. The voter was born in 1937 so he qualifies to vote by mail in Texas. The application was signed and mailed on time - and was again signed by an assistant/witness named Tomar Bishop. All appears to be fine. <br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But Jessie Burks passed away in 2015 – 5 years BEFORE this application was signed and mailed. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRm8LICw6Rrazk5qXqM09VE6uKWxZ4AOPzGZ0e0ENBeUzf9gMavx88C5SzxlBT05i8iLO5oQUH4YbCXvMg-to7ayoQrV89bzpwm1KhONRtLCuVczTDIuZELV4s8m69Hvo42JB5TBSm0Ok/s795/T+Bookman+app.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="623" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRm8LICw6Rrazk5qXqM09VE6uKWxZ4AOPzGZ0e0ENBeUzf9gMavx88C5SzxlBT05i8iLO5oQUH4YbCXvMg-to7ayoQrV89bzpwm1KhONRtLCuVczTDIuZELV4s8m69Hvo42JB5TBSm0Ok/s320/T+Bookman+app.png" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Again that same day, the County Clerk’s Office received another annual application for ballot by mail, including the Democratic Primary, from voter Tommie Bookman who is <a href="https://voterregistration.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Search">registered</a> to vote at 5102 Noldale Drive in Houston. The voter was born in 1932 so he qualifies to vote by mail in Texas. The application was signed and mailed on time so all looks good. <br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Except Tommie Bookman, a US Army Veteran who served his country in the Korean War, was laid to rest in the Houston National Cemetery in 2016 – 4 years BEFORE this application was signed and mailed. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUGyJEyRDebXwqjKQesTi9n7LvdnsAHyJXFZ8IA_h7ccBo-gpGCRqdmzGhBYbp2bRobO66X2tq49DqwkM3WkNfT6HtpqWtgOO8fvAMcHYbf-lda04k8Wku_Va_zMGEbtKG0RGiv33dNLj/s799/s+thomas+app.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="617" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUGyJEyRDebXwqjKQesTi9n7LvdnsAHyJXFZ8IA_h7ccBo-gpGCRqdmzGhBYbp2bRobO66X2tq49DqwkM3WkNfT6HtpqWtgOO8fvAMcHYbf-lda04k8Wku_Va_zMGEbtKG0RGiv33dNLj/s320/s+thomas+app.png" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Also, that same day, the County Clerk’s Office received another annual application for ballot by mail, including the Democratic Primary, from voter Sylvia Thomas who is registered to vote at 10441 Barnham Street in Houston. The voter was born in 1940 so she qualifies to vote by mail in Texas. The application was signed and mailed on time - and was again signed by an assistant/witness named Tomar Bishop. All appears to be fine. <br /><br /><br />But Sylvia Thomas lives and votes in New Orleans, LA. She claims that she hasn’t lived in Houston in over 20 years and did not apply for a ballot by mail in Texas in 2020. <br /><br /><b>What do these five applications have in common?</b><br /><br />1. All five voters who had their identities stolen are voters of color. <br /><br />2. All were mailed to the County Clerk in <b>ONE</b> large package containing over 100 annual applications for ballot by mail, all including the Democratic Primary, with the following name on the return address: <br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Js7xPx30beBAfxCxmZX-rhoePwavZqJgE_56wGYcXEmlnO0cZjoDQxEo7yih2O_CDWjZ5g3JY0ru2kgR56grGPGFsRMwa6tFw-xe8ycvOxhNXkxsiCK9tcwm0TVqzXWe0KsAjzBsfavn/s813/gloria+palmer+return+address.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="813" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Js7xPx30beBAfxCxmZX-rhoePwavZqJgE_56wGYcXEmlnO0cZjoDQxEo7yih2O_CDWjZ5g3JY0ru2kgR56grGPGFsRMwa6tFw-xe8ycvOxhNXkxsiCK9tcwm0TVqzXWe0KsAjzBsfavn/w320-h255/gloria+palmer+return+address.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gloria Palmer</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">7413 Parker Rd</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Houston, TX 77016</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLNpw2Kx6MlkIwP8p3vO72H0zi0muCyFyZIoRBEwG7hPvzT_jCfda62kBWmefaBs8A2OhN7pn1D5hHFyRGPiS5C-rtvSUjeXFOfS1oM6Hho34n5U2J9Ji3WbtClzNu9s_o-lXpEkkQvUL/s1002/g+palmer+history.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="1002" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLNpw2Kx6MlkIwP8p3vO72H0zi0muCyFyZIoRBEwG7hPvzT_jCfda62kBWmefaBs8A2OhN7pn1D5hHFyRGPiS5C-rtvSUjeXFOfS1oM6Hho34n5U2J9Ji3WbtClzNu9s_o-lXpEkkQvUL/w200-h59/g+palmer+history.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Who is Gloria Palmer? </b><br /><br />Gloria Palmer is a <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">convicted FORGER</a> named in <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2020/04/vote-harvesting-in-harris-county-beyond.html" target="_blank">research concerning ballot harvesting </a>in Harris County from both the 2016 and 2018 Primaries. She admitted on tape that she works to get elderly voters to submit ballots by mail supporting the candidates she works for. She also admitted on tape that she works as a nurse which gives her access to elderly voters. She claims the voters she approaches are on a list supplied to her. You can listen to her on tape: <a href="https://youtu.be/C57zKCClqGM" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br /><b>Who is Tomar Bishop? </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Vi29UDfui2rt6pUmVsT31fSDFLe5uej7xegCVB5p6cZEXxjZruJL4af_nxGIJoy9wbZ1FGzsttWNVRJ4zgRgQkJzdySl7mn1FDxPecKUmPtMm4vjPX1cL-FhrFcy4zYdEH0afiUsHya0/s1007/t+bishop+history.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1007" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Vi29UDfui2rt6pUmVsT31fSDFLe5uej7xegCVB5p6cZEXxjZruJL4af_nxGIJoy9wbZ1FGzsttWNVRJ4zgRgQkJzdySl7mn1FDxPecKUmPtMm4vjPX1cL-FhrFcy4zYdEH0afiUsHya0/w200-h180/t+bishop+history.png" width="200" /></a></div>Tomar Joann LaBlanc Bishop is also a <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">convicted felon</a>. Recently, Tomar Bishop filed a lawsuit concerning injuries she claimed to have sustained from a motor vehicle accident. In those documents she claims to work for a home health agency named <a href="https://www.healthcare4ppl.com/home-health/texas/houston/springwell-healthcare-services-inc-747623.html" target="_blank">Springwell</a>. Within those <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">documents</a> are samples of her signature. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;">You can decide if you think it matches the witness/assistant signatures on the ballot by mail applications. </span><br /><br /><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Signatures on </b><b>Court Documents</b></span></p>
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</tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-size: large;">Why are these ladies sending in applications for deceased voters?</b></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Could it be that they assumed the list of voters supplied to them was safe to use because the Voter Registrar always removes deceased voters from the rolls? <br /><br />OOPS – REALLY BAD assumption. <br /><br />Each application submitted without the voter’s knowledge and approval is a <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.84.htm">State Jail Felony</a>…and…the punishment gets bumped up to the next higher level if the voter is over 65 and/or more than one offense occurred in the same election. <br /><br />Gloria Palmar submitted over 100 applications for ballot by mail in that <b>ONE package</b>. Tomar Bishop witnessed/assisted 14 of them. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAMFqlGryHH6kp9F3DDzxlcONyfZdR_wW2OeR7oM4M2nM2ZBndlxVK3RxeSEspohJzxSb18PcRvAsKNVkfI9AlFoXtDanP8iAPeeF5P_POIXKRRMEvJpjaTbNook3EkGDetVJn-TTm0ql/s789/A+Jones+app.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="597" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAMFqlGryHH6kp9F3DDzxlcONyfZdR_wW2OeR7oM4M2nM2ZBndlxVK3RxeSEspohJzxSb18PcRvAsKNVkfI9AlFoXtDanP8iAPeeF5P_POIXKRRMEvJpjaTbNook3EkGDetVJn-TTm0ql/s320/A+Jones+app.png" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Another individual who signed as an assistant/witness for multiple applications was Ray Jones, but only one of those voters is deceased. She appears to have passed away the same day Gloria Palmer mailed the package. <br /><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Who is Ray Jones? </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I9px7FKyvLuFuuL4d41cOseZbQKEe-OmYWPjaJAc-ZzGqQdsnT7oPo6XdAjW6pvAfAAHC2QQEEI4zsvMxitUVqo8kZBi_0lvu0aHHr16XZkQ6j8_E-rfIyopqzgdlXRsXeqrqwNDAIkK/s983/r+jones+history.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="983" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I9px7FKyvLuFuuL4d41cOseZbQKEe-OmYWPjaJAc-ZzGqQdsnT7oPo6XdAjW6pvAfAAHC2QQEEI4zsvMxitUVqo8kZBi_0lvu0aHHr16XZkQ6j8_E-rfIyopqzgdlXRsXeqrqwNDAIkK/w200-h113/r+jones+history.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />Ray Jones is yet another <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">convicted felon</a>. Samples of his signature can be found in<a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx"> court records</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You can decide if you think it matches the assistant/witness signatures on the ballot by mail applications. <br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Signature on
Applications</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVL0BVodZy2Nc_SUh1g3OIXdbVtVeeBO7N4oGo9A5wEey0CEfO5sa95i_1Mw62xAn78m3CYBtQ1zYdUbE9-nKJk09iTguvxjpHOW38qwIlxGmw0xygTTVq6IWTsqr_6AsThDWlNvFiYz2/s254/A+Jones+sig+on+app.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="254" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVL0BVodZy2Nc_SUh1g3OIXdbVtVeeBO7N4oGo9A5wEey0CEfO5sa95i_1Mw62xAn78m3CYBtQ1zYdUbE9-nKJk09iTguvxjpHOW38qwIlxGmw0xygTTVq6IWTsqr_6AsThDWlNvFiYz2/w200-h124/A+Jones+sig+on+app.png" width="200" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm6WhKEYzVDxH9e8eRcFixmexdjGW_907tTh1Bn9mWMhAdcYl3d2FpMmAIlAmPwFqVl8zBK4VVhaWhune7ubjJXW8cL0Y9UE4ng7v-IgWJ-ztGwZ-hFa2r45ixiF8pBUdnvFy4eRTtMlF/s463/r+jones+sig+1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm6WhKEYzVDxH9e8eRcFixmexdjGW_907tTh1Bn9mWMhAdcYl3d2FpMmAIlAmPwFqVl8zBK4VVhaWhune7ubjJXW8cL0Y9UE4ng7v-IgWJ-ztGwZ-hFa2r45ixiF8pBUdnvFy4eRTtMlF/s320/r+jones+sig+1.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67F5XJCCKSVfngJ3Bq28ImMpu8I49n_Qhe3ZnmB7CYn1Ganrw6u0SEwOg3K-uDralJ3n1ZaqNPZxPOUZ_7ltyadqFNGbL0t1FhXp8SDSSXocXzNQcxuB4DpDi7w_C43IuvxBzOar_kHcv/s352/r+jones+sig+3.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67F5XJCCKSVfngJ3Bq28ImMpu8I49n_Qhe3ZnmB7CYn1Ganrw6u0SEwOg3K-uDralJ3n1ZaqNPZxPOUZ_7ltyadqFNGbL0t1FhXp8SDSSXocXzNQcxuB4DpDi7w_C43IuvxBzOar_kHcv/s320/r+jones+sig+3.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
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</tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QFk5sbyU7aqPhNtb4krp8mUJTT7LkplC9DsmpiC5koxADYYVn4cJnVr1lNYA41yzUAydd9HlSp31-WyAR1E1pWH648SEz5OwM0ANORWx3Y9_J0fcLuMxkZMIyuvhUw9O60J-gsSX_yH-/s343/raj+jones+Hou+printing+cropped.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="343" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QFk5sbyU7aqPhNtb4krp8mUJTT7LkplC9DsmpiC5koxADYYVn4cJnVr1lNYA41yzUAydd9HlSp31-WyAR1E1pWH648SEz5OwM0ANORWx3Y9_J0fcLuMxkZMIyuvhUw9O60J-gsSX_yH-/w200-h89/raj+jones+Hou+printing+cropped.png" width="200" /></a></div>On his <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">court documents</a> and <a href="https://voterregistration.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Search">voter registration</a>, Ray Jones claims his address is <i>6019 Mohawk</i>. On these ballot by mail applications, Ray Jones claims his address is <i>12210 Wild Pine Dr Apt B. </i>There is only one person registered to vote at that address, a woman named <a href="https://voterregistration.harrisvotes.com/Voter/Search">Lisa Powell.</a><br /><br />Look whose signatures are on <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx">bail bonds</a> for Ray Jones... </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsXpGYqpmM2HGLOjStnSAml2hjDnzJqNWiCXl_GrzpXy2K_fo836GjatYMfAcaNRKQvD6mTTtsPWNxuriautMDdkbGbdaNzxaDMmZ-8U2HTAmopZRaBCqesyoMkGZ6rEeT4YTdvIXO9S/s2048/T+Bishop+for+Ray+Jones.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1413" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tsXpGYqpmM2HGLOjStnSAml2hjDnzJqNWiCXl_GrzpXy2K_fo836GjatYMfAcaNRKQvD6mTTtsPWNxuriautMDdkbGbdaNzxaDMmZ-8U2HTAmopZRaBCqesyoMkGZ6rEeT4YTdvIXO9S/s320/T+Bishop+for+Ray+Jones.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Tomar Bishop....</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> ... and...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo8mCM871Hyr1_886ltxlNnzezPUiH5Aia-3Zcf_szmPU-s9Mkrf23g0x5Llilc74v150b2qeKOLtlFbn9eprzfhy48GdqSJ-IZj3aLgvknDjBqllkwkWHp0Xe5FHwSMD5WBBifCPNHMB/s2048/l+powell+for+ray+jones.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo8mCM871Hyr1_886ltxlNnzezPUiH5Aia-3Zcf_szmPU-s9Mkrf23g0x5Llilc74v150b2qeKOLtlFbn9eprzfhy48GdqSJ-IZj3aLgvknDjBqllkwkWHp0Xe5FHwSMD5WBBifCPNHMB/s320/l+powell+for+ray+jones.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> L. Powell.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What a small world!</b></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b style="font-size: large;">What do Gloria Palmer, Ray Jones and Lisa Powell all have in common?</b></span></div><div><span><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy12xTEViiGk6Q9pKCjHQMauXsTOkEzgI3ztV0IXwu90ddiNeFF3aOscdmoSvc0T8BYtvb0RUBNTVGJs-4V8X2auwccWucpIrUAxd0d5r0wSj7leg5F7J6tXWZ5Rkn5f_nmkOqHR8_9bxJ/s2048/SJL+payments+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1981" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy12xTEViiGk6Q9pKCjHQMauXsTOkEzgI3ztV0IXwu90ddiNeFF3aOscdmoSvc0T8BYtvb0RUBNTVGJs-4V8X2auwccWucpIrUAxd0d5r0wSj7leg5F7J6tXWZ5Rkn5f_nmkOqHR8_9bxJ/s320/SJL+payments+2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;">They were all paid by <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&two_year_transaction_period=2022&min_date=01%2F01%2F2021&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022">US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee’s Campaign</a> in the 2020 Democratic Primary as:</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;">"campaign assistant" </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> "polling assistant" or</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> "temp worker."</span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ALL 3 PAID BY AND WORKING FOR THE SAME CAMPAIGN…</span></b></div><div><span><b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">ANOTHER REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE.</span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5Psii3hyphenhyphenAprDbjPQPuiGg1DJDXg61DdiVAtRO5KsBlGTCDsOF0snC5tHskkupbw_fXI7IsE_dw2DyT11c9mf4g2_gouhmzG8tDT-DNvG1RZc8eNq1tFKaxStJ7Pv07JryvDk1h1sI2m4/s2048/powell+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5Psii3hyphenhyphenAprDbjPQPuiGg1DJDXg61DdiVAtRO5KsBlGTCDsOF0snC5tHskkupbw_fXI7IsE_dw2DyT11c9mf4g2_gouhmzG8tDT-DNvG1RZc8eNq1tFKaxStJ7Pv07JryvDk1h1sI2m4/s320/powell+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>And even more remarkable…</div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">for the work she did for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s campaign…<a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202102159427791758">Lisa Powell’s address</a> was listed as <i>6019 Mohawk</i> – the same address where Ray Jones is registered to vote.</span></div><div><span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">TRULY A SMALL WORLD !</span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Democrats in the Texas Legislature fought hard to stop all bills which would help to clean up our voter rolls and tighten security in ballot by mail. They and their allies, the <a href="https://my.lwv.org/texas/article/anti-voter-elections-legislation-stalls-house-league-women-voters-texas-responds">League of Women Voters</a>, <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/05/naacp-pledges-immediate-lawsuit-over-texas-voter-suppression-bill/">NAACP</a>, <a href="https://txcivilrights.org/2020/09/10/civil-rights-organizations-file-brief-in-support-of-harris-county-vote-by-mail-application-efforts/">Texas Civil Rights Project</a>, etc. screamed loud and clear that voter fraud DOES NOT EXIST. Anyone who wants to remove dead persons from the voter rolls or require any form of ID for mailed ballots is a crazy, nut-job, <a href="https://harrisjimcrowcrew.com/" target="_blank">Jim Crow 2.0</a> racist. The<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/texas-democrats-walk-out-of-house-chamber-to-stop-debate-on-sweeping-gop-backed-elections-bill/ar-AAKy5I9?ocid=uxbndlbing"> Democrats even walked out of the Texas House</a> to break quorum to prevent election bills from passing. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The four Harris County Democratic leaders who have been all over the media sabotaging Texas Republicans who are pushing to clean up the voter rolls and require some type of ID to vote by mail are:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1. US Rep.<a href="https://www.houstonpress.com/news/local-democrats-lash-out-against-gop-push-to-restrict-voting-11552320"> Sheila Jackson Lee</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">2. State Senator <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7421490508692422729/8655478976506376813#">Borris Miles</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">3. State Rep. <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/01/texas-voting-bill-democrats/" target="_blank">Senfronia Thompson</a>…. and….</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">4. County Commissioner <a href="https://www.houstonpress.com/news/local-democrats-lash-out-against-gop-push-to-restrict-voting-11552320" target="_blank">Rodney Ellis</a></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What is the biggest coincidence in all this fraud?</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Guess which US Rep. represents <b>ALL FIVE VOTERS</b> whose identities were stolen?</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/Rf8d7912989c8433b4943bc2a45d706d5?rik=UVYewvnvQcwzgA&pid=ImgRaw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/Rf8d7912989c8433b4943bc2a45d706d5?rik=UVYewvnvQcwzgA&pid=ImgRaw" width="161" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Congresswoman</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sheila Jackson Lee</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Guess which State Senator represents </span><b style="font-size: large;">ALL FIVE VOTERS</b><span style="font-size: large;"> whose identities were stolen?</span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/AMMS_0430d381268152dd5e3da338e89fdf12?pid=ImgDet&w=1960&h=2674&rs=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="605" height="200" src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/AMMS_0430d381268152dd5e3da338e89fdf12?pid=ImgDet&w=1960&h=2674&rs=1" width="151" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"> Senator</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"> Borris Miles</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Guess which TX Rep. represents <b>ALL FIVE VOTERS</b> whose identities were stolen?</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/Ref806517873e09db1339fc2aa7bec4e8?rik=W2UNlljNg79inw&riu=http%3a%2f%2fepmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com%2fimg%2fphotos%2f2015%2f05%2f25%2fSenfronia_Thompson.jpg&ehk=zqWmwjh8qgOwW7ZiIvYe8usSlgHoNUOPQgrQ4qaXal8%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="620" height="200" src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/Ref806517873e09db1339fc2aa7bec4e8?rik=W2UNlljNg79inw&riu=http%3a%2f%2fepmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com%2fimg%2fphotos%2f2015%2f05%2f25%2fSenfronia_Thompson.jpg&ehk=zqWmwjh8qgOwW7ZiIvYe8usSlgHoNUOPQgrQ4qaXal8%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw" width="200" /></a><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/Ref806517873e09db1339fc2aa7bec4e8?rik=W2UNlljNg79inw&riu=http%3a%2f%2fepmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com%2fimg%2fphotos%2f2015%2f05%2f25%2fSenfronia_Thompson.jpg&ehk=zqWmwjh8qgOwW7ZiIvYe8usSlgHoNUOPQgrQ4qaXal8%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">State Representative </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Senfronia Thompson</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Guess which County Commissioner represents <b>ALL FIVE VOTERS</b> whose identities were stolen?</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Commissioner_Rodney_Ellis_OCT_2020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Commissioner_Rodney_Ellis_OCT_2020.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> Commissioner</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Rodney Ellis</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now that is TRULY REMARKABLE.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The fraudulent documents have been turned over to the Texas Secretary of State and Attorney General for prosecution.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> But stay tuned…because there is more to come.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />If you have any information, you can contact:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Charles Marler @ 281-687-5015</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Colleen Vera</span></div></div>texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-81499210186350181922021-05-30T17:53:00.001-05:002021-09-14T15:03:34.205-05:00Pastor Miller, Where is the Money?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">To help keep elections in Texas open and transparent, every campaign and political action committee (PAC) must publicly report all donations and expenditures at least twice a year. When actively involved in an election, the number of required public reports increases to help the voters stay informed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But these political financial reports are based on the honor system. Unless an opponent or concerned citizen files a complaint with the <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Texas Ethics Commission</a>, no one in our government checks to see if any of the reports are even remotely accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few weeks ago, I was researching a current office holder and went scrolling through her campaign financial reports to see how she spent her campaign funds. I came across a PAC she routinely donated to named the <i><b>Baptist Ministers’ Association of Houston & Vicinity PAC.</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I had never heard of this PAC, so I looked it up on the <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Texas Ethics Commission site</a>. I found that the PAC has been around since Jan. 15, 1997….but…something <b>REALLY</b> <b>FISHY</b> has been going on since <b>Dr. Max A Miller, Jr. took over the position of PAC Treasurer on Aug. 13, 2009.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">With him in charge of the books, since 2010 the PAC has reported over:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">...<b><u>$187,000.00</u></b> in donations …</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>...ZERO</u></b> expenditures…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">...and only <b><u>$500.00</u></b> <b>left in the bank.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">That can’t be brushed off as simple mathematical calculation errors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I doubt I am the only person who wants to </span><span style="font-size: large;">ask the question:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span>"Pastor Miller, </span></b></i><i><b><span>where did all </span></b></i><i><b>that money go?"</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I found such a huge discrepancy, <b>I filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics</b> <b>Commission.</b> Because of the 24 month statute of limitations on campaign finance reports, <b>I could only question Dr. Miller’s lack of reporting on the funds donated since mid- 2019 - about $33,000.00.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It appears Texas law will never make him go back and report what he did with the $154,000.00 donated before 2019.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But at least the <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Texas Ethics Commission (TEC)</a> responded to my complaint. According to the copy of the letter I received via email, <b>TEC has given Dr. Miller 10 days to respond.</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dLHU2aux1EIk287lkTU-XLBXMEwQzhFaguHo44qt2im9uLNmfUWJ6o7E8fFI7VQ1HwDaBzkM8j920_255vO0llsNasi62uJogHr6iWDvcmXCtiqLb8KS3JSaN5_u61P767qrFeY5A6UQ/s2048/IMG_4353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dLHU2aux1EIk287lkTU-XLBXMEwQzhFaguHo44qt2im9uLNmfUWJ6o7E8fFI7VQ1HwDaBzkM8j920_255vO0llsNasi62uJogHr6iWDvcmXCtiqLb8KS3JSaN5_u61P767qrFeY5A6UQ/w460-h612/IMG_4353.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">You can view the PAC’s financial reports yourself online at: </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FCFS%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100001753&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">Jaspersoft: By_Filer_Name (state.tx.us)</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have trouble maneuvering the website, the PAC’s Filer ID is #00018745 – use this link and cut and paste their ID #:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/cf/SimpleSearch.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Texas Ethics Commission Search CF (state.tx.us)</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Colleen Vera</span></p>texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-50988809680153229662020-04-22T00:41:00.000-05:002020-04-22T00:41:04.590-05:00Vote Harvesting in Harris County? Beyond Coincidence ?<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Disclaimer:</u> All
persons mentioned in this post are innocent until proven guilty in a court of
law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Texas
Democratic Party has filed lawsuits to use COVID 19 to force Texas to allow
everyone to vote-by-mail. A <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/texas-democrats-ask-federal-judge-to-expand-mail-in-voting/" target="_blank">quote</a> from the <span style="background: white; color: #181818;">Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa,</span> <span style="background: white; color: #181818;">“<i>Republicans have opposed vote-by-mail
without providing any credible justification.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the past two years, I’ve been researching vote harvesting
in Harris County. My reply to Mr. Hinojosa, “<i>How’s this for </i></span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>credible
justification?</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the
2016 Democratic Primary, a candidate for Harris County Constable (Pct 3), Jasen
Rabalais, <a href="http://baytownsun.com/news/article_7f47007e-ee3f-11e5-963a-fb40e09f2e11.html" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit claiming </a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">that
a campaign worker for another candidate,</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Michel Pappillion,</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> “<i>deliberately
falsified, illegally completed or unlawfully influenced the ballots and early
voting applications of elderly residents in Harris County</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://baytownsun.com/news/article_95d82972-f163-11e5-b64c-837913f1c3f7.html" target="_blank">The lawsuit was dismissed</a>. But the following audio tapes had
been made by the </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabalais<span style="background: white; color: #181818;"> campaign <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after he found out that
an “alleged harvester” was working for an opponent’s campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Link to Audio #1: <a href="https://youtu.be/bmkHHIdNQaA" target="_blank">Gives name of “alleged harvester” </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Link to Audio #2: <a href="https://youtu.be/C57zKCClqGM" target="_blank"> “Alleged harvester” explains the services provided</a> (phone # redacted)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then during
the 2018 Primary, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhQ7ngFqLSc" target="_blank">following video</a> was posted by <a href="http://directactiontx.com/" target="_blank">Direct Action Texas</a>. It
appeared to show a campaign worker for <a href="https://www.house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=142" target="_blank">Texas State Rep Harold Dutton Jr</a> harvesting
ballots of 400 elderly voters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xhQ7ngFqLSc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xhQ7ngFqLSc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After
viewing the video, I decided to do some research. I figured, if there was any
evidence of mailed ballot voter fraud to be found in Harris County, the more
recent one - Dutton’s race - was the best place to start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I filed a
request for public information covering the 1359 voters who voted by mail in
Harold Dutton’s race. I requested electronic copies of the voters’:</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">applications for ballots by mail and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">returned ballot carrier envelopes.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My first
thought was to match each voter’s mailed ballot application with the voter’s
ballot envelope and compare signatures to find those which may not match. But
as I reviewed the documents, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">something
else jumped off the page</b>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>32 hand
written applications for mailed ballots – all from different voters – but all
written in the exact same handwriting.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWmvK1BUiasvrEeYLhyw9Vak4D3vdM-y9S0Bh4nLUSMbYC-cuNl0DKCY76SnHcEY9ZMFxJ5H5VhEfebOcAUlOVn09rM4LwcJQamfvbS1pzkJMqW-1UFhmn1GS_EnvdNuZWEIZVm_Chkar/s1600/pic+1+for+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWmvK1BUiasvrEeYLhyw9Vak4D3vdM-y9S0Bh4nLUSMbYC-cuNl0DKCY76SnHcEY9ZMFxJ5H5VhEfebOcAUlOVn09rM4LwcJQamfvbS1pzkJMqW-1UFhmn1GS_EnvdNuZWEIZVm_Chkar/s400/pic+1+for+post.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking
closer, something else jumped off the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All 32
returned their application for a ballot by mail in the same pre-printed envelope
with the same style stamp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1RAU7Kielet370rQwYF82_6EIS1tcVw6NPw33S3OrnoRHgCkWuE8731JZbKqD7Vk7_zq0FoLUEoGUygDh26rX8KwXAI657EhmlAMYDjT3B9DVhgBuSgqIFsfqmsJT7ytZenPgQ0VB4yk/s1600/blog+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1RAU7Kielet370rQwYF82_6EIS1tcVw6NPw33S3OrnoRHgCkWuE8731JZbKqD7Vk7_zq0FoLUEoGUygDh26rX8KwXAI657EhmlAMYDjT3B9DVhgBuSgqIFsfqmsJT7ytZenPgQ0VB4yk/s400/blog+pic+2.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So I counted
the stamps used by all the applications for ballot by mail returned by voters in
this race. Could it be just a coincidence that only 7% of all voters used this
stamp to return their ballot by mail applications but 100% of the 32 voters
with this same handwriting on their applications used the same stamp? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I printed out the envelopes which
carried their returned ballots and the <b>BIGGEST COINCIDENCE of ALL</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jumped off the page…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKLT60GmaeniGSSRcPxypi66nCS91ZmbGcecq4JcRfkRU0Q4icBHnxvNSWARKwkglQoCb_QPSxbqQSWG4EllCaR7MyR_5CLN_0qWZ2M7CKxIL2en5M8G7e_aG6jaYtt8UyyKEmO-ClkSO/s1600/blog+pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="869" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKLT60GmaeniGSSRcPxypi66nCS91ZmbGcecq4JcRfkRU0Q4icBHnxvNSWARKwkglQoCb_QPSxbqQSWG4EllCaR7MyR_5CLN_0qWZ2M7CKxIL2en5M8G7e_aG6jaYtt8UyyKEmO-ClkSO/s320/blog+pic+3.jpg" width="172" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></span></b></div>
<b style="font-size: 12pt;">ALL THESE
VOTERS LIVED</b><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"> IN THE SAME PRECINCT! </b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"> </b><b>Precinct </b><b style="font-size: 12pt;">#259</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And 90% <span style="color: red;">used</span> two of the same stamps</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">used</span> on the application.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Only 23% of total ballots
returned for</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> this race used that stamp combination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> Additional</o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> research showed this same handwriting on multiple ballot by mail
applications from precinct #259 every year going back to 2008.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMwcGvIntdOjHsqb_p6-HN8zrVyOXZ3MF0_nZi582RIDBgu-Zn2E6BjWHUvtuxRG6i090qz4rheudenzshP7sOFQFXzPzZLzl2CR8kAzacX821xVjahpnPFSLQAZIj2wfBbfBoy9CQ8Ak/s1600/blog+pic+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMwcGvIntdOjHsqb_p6-HN8zrVyOXZ3MF0_nZi582RIDBgu-Zn2E6BjWHUvtuxRG6i090qz4rheudenzshP7sOFQFXzPzZLzl2CR8kAzacX821xVjahpnPFSLQAZIj2wfBbfBoy9CQ8Ak/s640/blog+pic+4.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If that wasn’t enough to cause concern, I had to title this set of
applications “Alleged Harvester A” because I found two more sets of multiple applications
with similar handwriting, envelopes and stamps from varying precincts. I titled
those “Alleged Harvester B” and “Alleged Harvester C.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><b>Samples from Alleged Harvester B</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p>Applications</div>
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<o:p> </o:p> Envelopes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieT3kT4SdvKWJ64LhIrIN-ZoAcDJm1EYRbNHLl6fzh8ZjDf5pzypK48gdnM4au6HgqYSDt2izqIVxBCjv6FZEENoyieTGE59CPi9ReUjuWyUlyCCAqKxcaQed7DqjIogESBZAKq4M3I9G/s1600/blog+pic+b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieT3kT4SdvKWJ64LhIrIN-ZoAcDJm1EYRbNHLl6fzh8ZjDf5pzypK48gdnM4au6HgqYSDt2izqIVxBCjv6FZEENoyieTGE59CPi9ReUjuWyUlyCCAqKxcaQed7DqjIogESBZAKq4M3I9G/s320/blog+pic+b1.jpg" width="245" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.0in;" valign="top" width="288">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonn-LWCwd0ZJN_kuoKo2eJ25-TX5XmzrCwcwKNOFEKrxmY9UqHhOkSSynSNFcnNM8CMmCl7yNKKrEXq92pymaOJLEnj1X2iIR7NsEo5_IpBRM05uFatv-Cj7gROKZjGz3EhJOmvzSx8pP/s1600/blog+pic+b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="921" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonn-LWCwd0ZJN_kuoKo2eJ25-TX5XmzrCwcwKNOFEKrxmY9UqHhOkSSynSNFcnNM8CMmCl7yNKKrEXq92pymaOJLEnj1X2iIR7NsEo5_IpBRM05uFatv-Cj7gROKZjGz3EhJOmvzSx8pP/s320/blog+pic+b2.jpg" width="184" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br />Samples
from Alleged Harvester C </u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: .5in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 19.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 192.05pt;" valign="top" width="256">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span> Applications</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 19.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 192.05pt;" valign="top" width="256">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>Envelopes</div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 19.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 19.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 192.05pt;" valign="top" width="256">
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04F9NtlBeZH1YmHNLE8nxFNugCjIWxHWBvEFUGDJKeZgIS67C-aX2jseUnapqbSrekV8cYhqvVfatda72ygMCokNhXdXEQnnkQE7x31Rg3PW8jhtMZYZUVfpGRN80qoyrepYlySdjFWky/s1600/blog+pic+c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04F9NtlBeZH1YmHNLE8nxFNugCjIWxHWBvEFUGDJKeZgIS67C-aX2jseUnapqbSrekV8cYhqvVfatda72ygMCokNhXdXEQnnkQE7x31Rg3PW8jhtMZYZUVfpGRN80qoyrepYlySdjFWky/s320/blog+pic+c1.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE83EolO5baBGInBxfOJ7cSvoK8baL9GL9VDy7nWwIHTicGNm3dPgfnCHe4EQgJAf_H53cIkZFZFM_T0e4SDenIL3EUS383TszFPcGdQJS8pq0fMVaDvvHZIEevXwJnI0f4k7m0XzR8fAW/s1600/blog+pic+c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="902" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE83EolO5baBGInBxfOJ7cSvoK8baL9GL9VDy7nWwIHTicGNm3dPgfnCHe4EQgJAf_H53cIkZFZFM_T0e4SDenIL3EUS383TszFPcGdQJS8pq0fMVaDvvHZIEevXwJnI0f4k7m0XzR8fAW/s320/blog+pic+c2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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</td>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some Democrats say the applications don’t matter. All that
matters are the ballots themselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, my next step was to file a public information request to
view the actual ballots from Dutton’s race. I had to wait until the “22 months after the election”
retention policy had expired in order to gain access to the ballots, which was
January of 2020.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The cost to copy all the mail ballots was astronomical, so I
had to settle on copying the mail ballots from just 11 precincts - the precincts
covering the multiple applications I had found along with some surrounding precincts
for comparison.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harris County has the longest ballot in the country. There
were over 90 races on the<a href="https://www.harrisvotes.org/HISTORY/20180306/cumulative/Dem/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank"> 2018 Democratic Primary covering about 150 candidates.</a> A small team of patriots
spent days comparing the ballots. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our shocking find:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>30 ballots from Precinct #259 – in which the voters voted
for ALL the same candidates - and they ALL used the same style “X” to mark
their ballots.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3HXsBJeCbm2OFj5j-hWsHZFgSc3MbYrKPnkmz27yQH21o6arCV1OujWr67sNWbtMDyjEXWH1CXbOKQtjj_a6FYD_aIwzndT78FcsI2GRBYaOIKVBZJHsF2HjuI6ZJitLDD2NSTdgj_BA/s1600/blog+pic+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3HXsBJeCbm2OFj5j-hWsHZFgSc3MbYrKPnkmz27yQH21o6arCV1OujWr67sNWbtMDyjEXWH1CXbOKQtjj_a6FYD_aIwzndT78FcsI2GRBYaOIKVBZJHsF2HjuI6ZJitLDD2NSTdgj_BA/s400/blog+pic+30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We compared that voting pattern to all the ballots we copied
and could not find that pattern repeated even one time in another precinct.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So, 32 ballot applications from one precinct - all in the
same handwriting - and 30 ballots from
that same precinct all voting for the same candidates using the same “X”…can
that really be just a coincidence?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AND…We also found…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Three
ballots with votes for<b> only 2 </b>of the 150+ candidates:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> <b>TX Rep.
Harold Dutton, Jr</b> and <b> US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDdWfl52YMy2N0Xz8QRLRmukBScQHwkWgS05CSIlhEI4Ih5Aq3rRVOfUdNBmtzS7nZBHb5QOf0LpbUCPRNbnn2R9Wd-mZMeiIvbWlt4yNYBX2HgQKESSKMev5Bhmuvv37HySILJPnqn1m/s1600/3+for+dutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDdWfl52YMy2N0Xz8QRLRmukBScQHwkWgS05CSIlhEI4Ih5Aq3rRVOfUdNBmtzS7nZBHb5QOf0LpbUCPRNbnn2R9Wd-mZMeiIvbWlt4yNYBX2HgQKESSKMev5Bhmuvv37HySILJPnqn1m/s400/3+for+dutton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Another
remarkable coincidence?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next obvious question – was there any way to track the
persons who had acquired multiple mail ballot applications and pre-printed
return envelopes from the County Clerk’s office? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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I filed another public information request and received a
handwritten sign out sheet for persons who had picked up packages of 50 or more
applications for mailed ballots in 2018.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O_F4Q0T-O0axEAWk8uN2ATb334MkHjBAPvKgygbz_DNoVbN-YWewvQVdO2UXn5p85J0htGqWSXHL4m7-CxKmF6NKEhC_zJ_VbIZBcXxw-raJy4KeJZ_y9YPUzt1-EbKrw50o4_GRSnph/s1600/blog+50+list.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="835" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O_F4Q0T-O0axEAWk8uN2ATb334MkHjBAPvKgygbz_DNoVbN-YWewvQVdO2UXn5p85J0htGqWSXHL4m7-CxKmF6NKEhC_zJ_VbIZBcXxw-raJy4KeJZ_y9YPUzt1-EbKrw50o4_GRSnph/s400/blog+50+list.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two concerning issues from that list.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The FIRST PERSON to pick up multiple
applications for ballots by mail in 2018 is the SAME WOMAN from the <a href="https://youtu.be/C57zKCClqGM" target="_blank">2016 audio tape</a> who explained how she accesses nursing homes to acquire mailed ballots for
candidates.</span></li>
<li>TWO of the first three persons who picked up multiple
applications for ballots by mail in 2018 have <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx" target="_blank">FORGERY convictions</a>.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QK-HlULPZvkOi9VCh31qcXF3hedWvtI0LZ-4HesCs62b011ejvExve2f5MrE8ptvNCPVfjwlw3VhPA2bElOrwcE3nniqklnxFQu4JIP3G2djKCI6iD0AlIhSsIm0D9_3xSklJNQ4AOLg/s1600/1+and+3+records.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QK-HlULPZvkOi9VCh31qcXF3hedWvtI0LZ-4HesCs62b011ejvExve2f5MrE8ptvNCPVfjwlw3VhPA2bElOrwcE3nniqklnxFQu4JIP3G2djKCI6iD0AlIhSsIm0D9_3xSklJNQ4AOLg/s400/1+and+3+records.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Does anyone really think it is
just a coincidence that TWO convicted FORGERS are some of the FIRST persons to
pick up packages of 50 or more ballot by mail applications during the first
weeks of an election year?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</b><div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next step was to see if the candidates these two convicted
forgers claimed to represent, actually paid them for services.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&two_year_transaction_period=2020&min_date=01%2F01%2F2019&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020" target="_blank">Federal Election Commission records</a> show that US Rep. Sheila
Jackson Lee did make multiple payments to convicted forger Gloria Palmer in
2016:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ejaw4tXx_my1nVTnkHQknqtS_9YaSMyACIEusmjC0MKIDeGjQ3K8jBPoF2NuMSOdh3eZ76N7EtwzhLtE38Gt8H90t2YeRqolafdXhhzRujvsd0PklsrAceP8EvY4eX9XhQfsYZNycNG8/s1600/blog+pic+pal+by+sjl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1417" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ejaw4tXx_my1nVTnkHQknqtS_9YaSMyACIEusmjC0MKIDeGjQ3K8jBPoF2NuMSOdh3eZ76N7EtwzhLtE38Gt8H90t2YeRqolafdXhhzRujvsd0PklsrAceP8EvY4eX9XhQfsYZNycNG8/s400/blog+pic+pal+by+sjl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/COR.aspx" target="_blank">Harris County Election records</a> also show that Justice of the
Peace Sharon Burney<span style="color: red;"> </span>made multiple payments to
convicted forger Sheree Harris Fisher in 2016:<o:p></o:p></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.45in;" valign="top" width="235">
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDenT0vYLuliekGez6cmkdQf5kWljWvHs_2fcHQu2oGBgRLApr8kxVWlnwkuiFe3EIlwvMk4zU1vWXXsqCyuz-tgASsXi4cufco2SQDbrEbsu4WC3odD396uir36IIuoYGk2Pjh9qKY6F/s1600/blog+pic+fisher+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1173" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDenT0vYLuliekGez6cmkdQf5kWljWvHs_2fcHQu2oGBgRLApr8kxVWlnwkuiFe3EIlwvMk4zU1vWXXsqCyuz-tgASsXi4cufco2SQDbrEbsu4WC3odD396uir36IIuoYGk2Pjh9qKY6F/s200/blog+pic+fisher+1.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OdQ59Jye9Xil38v781m7dnl0z0hhVHHwGE8FKc1UOSTAtQ_TqPctzrGnYSvRrXV0Xl8Znw1_Sfx_Ffq5jj9gGTT0zMC_iAP1gTGPLvCMnx8zf5ykzXE7Nypi-QEFeVZmYfR0cx5wAdl8/s1600/right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OdQ59Jye9Xil38v781m7dnl0z0hhVHHwGE8FKc1UOSTAtQ_TqPctzrGnYSvRrXV0Xl8Znw1_Sfx_Ffq5jj9gGTT0zMC_iAP1gTGPLvCMnx8zf5ykzXE7Nypi-QEFeVZmYfR0cx5wAdl8/s200/right.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and Justice of the Peace Sharon
Burney did pay convicted forgers who picked up multiple applications for ballots
by mail in the names of their campaigns.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, while reviewing Sharon<span style="color: red;"> </span>Burney’s
campaign finance reports, I found something out of the ordinary. Multiple
payments by the campaign to persons whose address was listed as “<i>AB Canvassing.”</i></div>
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Not being able to find any information on “<i>AB Canvassing</i>,” I researched the
persons paid. (Because no real address was provided, I had to search by name
only.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BCO_rtsxjyyhr6YkGYn-39nkx21rDIv0ET7XWCN-hPRQbR-8Cvf3zBMDaYWwsd_QGhkhCp8RFWz6CgLXav4O9zzSxXZhCn24BVpGnKbHUt6SgLGOloLIPvOXaIvdAlkkJrfLSCzXNwx-/s1600/blog+ab+records.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BCO_rtsxjyyhr6YkGYn-39nkx21rDIv0ET7XWCN-hPRQbR-8Cvf3zBMDaYWwsd_QGhkhCp8RFWz6CgLXav4O9zzSxXZhCn24BVpGnKbHUt6SgLGOloLIPvOXaIvdAlkkJrfLSCzXNwx-/s400/blog+ab+records.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Research showed that through <i>“AB Canvassing,</i>” Burney’s campaign paid a SECOND person with the same name as a convicted FORGER as well as other persons with the same names as persons with numerous criminal convictions ranging
from Assault with a Deadly Weapon to Possession of Cocaine.<o:p></o:p><br />
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That made me very curious. Is it common for Democrat campaigns
in Harris County to hire convicted criminals?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So a small team of patriots searched campaign financial reports
online from the <a href="https://cohweb.houstontx.gov/CampaignFinanceWeb/CFRwebsiteSimpleSearch.aspx" target="_blank">City of Houston</a>, <a href="https://cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/COR.aspx" target="_blank">Harris County</a>, <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/cf/" target="_blank">Texas Ethics Commission</a>, and the <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&two_year_transaction_period=2020&min_date=01%2F01%2F2019&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020" target="_blank">Federal Election Commission</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We found a variety local campaigns which paid <a href="https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/eDocs/Public/Search.aspx?Tab=tabCriminal" target="_blank">convicted</a>
<b>FORGERS DIRECTLY.</b></div>
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Some examples: (*<b>BOLD = Currently holding office)</b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: red;">Gloria Palmer: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sheila
Jackson Lee – Congress*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Richard
Cantu – Harris County School Trustee (HCDE)*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Rebeea
Sultan Collier – District Judge 113*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sandra J
Peake – District Judge 257*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Christine
Weems – District Judge 281*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Michel Pappillion – Constable (Pct 3)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uUm1LyugKMAwWVVReg5283GQTQ0j2QAa26JoFYh25RJDRliOHHzIZ9vCsMndgnpGPrM_eE2ETucVCk3ZI8Ejx4GMWAX_pE6sbH_8zAxHUgG2inIv1sbJhdxXyj5qhGQ-xyieOiHZIkb0/s1600/tec2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uUm1LyugKMAwWVVReg5283GQTQ0j2QAa26JoFYh25RJDRliOHHzIZ9vCsMndgnpGPrM_eE2ETucVCk3ZI8Ejx4GMWAX_pE6sbH_8zAxHUgG2inIv1sbJhdxXyj5qhGQ-xyieOiHZIkb0/s200/tec2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: red;">Sheree (Harris)
Fisher:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sheila
Jackson Lee – Congress*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sharon M
Burney – Justice of the Peace (Pct 7, Place 2)*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: red;">Tarasha Hollis:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Michel Pappillion - – Constable (Pct 3)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="color: red;">Cynthia Bailey:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sylvester
Turner – Mayor*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Diane
Trautman – Harris County Clerk*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Borris
Miles – Texas State Senate*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Audia Jones - Harris County District Attorney<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Jolanda Jones – Harris County Tax Assessor<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Cheryl Elliott Thornton – Justice of the Peace (Pct 7, Place 2)<o:p></o:p></div>
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We also found a backdoor way convicted criminals work for
campaigns in Harris County - --</div>
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--- via organizations and/or PACs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An example of an organization is “<i>AB Canvassing</i>” which we found
in Burney’s campaign financial reports. There we found five persons paid via AB Canvassing
with the same names as persons with criminal records from Harris County. (Again, because no real addresses are given,
the actual persons cannot be confirmed.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sample of Harris County campaigns which have reported
payments to "<i>AB Canvassing</i>":<o:p></o:p></div>
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( <b>*BOLD: Currently holding office)</b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sheila
Jackson Lee – Congress*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sharon M
Burney – Justice of the Peace*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Shawn
Nicole Thierry – State Representative District 146*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Rabeea
Sultan Collier - District Judge 113*<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Charles Leonard Collins -
District Judge District 246*<o:p></o:p></div>
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Following some of the convicted forgers we’d already identified
as having been paid by campaigns and/or "<i>AB Canvassing</i>," we were led directly to
<i>TOP PAC – Texas Organizing Project PAC.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We reviewed the<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&standAlone=true&_flowId=viewReportFlow&ParentFolderUri=/public/publicData&reportUnit=/public/publicData/datasource/CFS/By_Acronym&decorate=no&Acronym=top%20pac&CorrFlag=N&tec-pp=u=PUBLIC2&7CexpireTime=Wed%20Apr%2022%202020%2000:43:18%20GMT-0500%20(Central%20Daylight%20Time)" target="_blank"> names of persons paid by TOP PAC in 2016,</a> the
last Presidential election year, and found over 100 with the same names as persons with criminal records
ranging from “<i>Theft</i>” to “<i>Participating in Organized Criminal Activity</i>” - <b>19 of
those included FORGERY convictions.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>An example:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4aa7LLCzX84eq2XStLqkyKS0CBrWvf_OnLPCClWmewO9GRHaNaXUjRHtwt1r6WQFacw6ocvv-r7m1vevBrF1SEK6OkIqmyetbVdy0PBNZlAmVjb_3Un_U8JYwQybzDHIPnhQJtUVd64L/s1600/blog+turk+record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4aa7LLCzX84eq2XStLqkyKS0CBrWvf_OnLPCClWmewO9GRHaNaXUjRHtwt1r6WQFacw6ocvv-r7m1vevBrF1SEK6OkIqmyetbVdy0PBNZlAmVjb_3Un_U8JYwQybzDHIPnhQJtUVd64L/s200/blog+turk+record.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Like "<i>AB Canvassing,</i>" it is difficult to identify
actual persons paid because most all persons paid by TOP PAC in each city have
the same address listed.<br />
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In Houston the address given is: </div>
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<i><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100631493.pdf" target="_blank">2404Caroline, Houston, TX 77004.</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Sample of Harris County campaigns TOP reports
supporting with personnel:</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> (*BOLD: Currently holding office)</b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Sylvia
Garcia – Congress*</b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100720883.pdf" target="_blank">(pg4)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Lizzie
Fletcher – Congress*</b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100720883.pdf" target="_blank">(pg3)</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>EdGonzales – Harris County Sheriff* </b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100777204.pdf" target="_blank">(pg 4)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Lina Hidalgo</b><b> –Harris County Judge*</b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100720883.pdf" target="_blank">(pg3)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Rodney
Ellis – Harris County Commissioner (Pct. 1)* </b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100777204.pdf" target="_blank">(pg5)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Adrian
Garcia - Harris County Commissioner (Pct. 2)*</b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100720883.pdf" target="_blank">(pg3)</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Kim Ogg –
Harris County District Attorney*</b><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100645165.pdf" target="_blank">(pg3)</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Ann Harris Bennett - </b></span></span><b>County Tax Assessor-Collector&Voter Registrar</b>*<a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100645165.pdf" target="_blank">(pg3)</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Christian Menefee – Harris County Attorney <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100777204.pdf" target="_blank">(pg5)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Morris Overstreet – Harris County Commissioner (Pct.3) <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100777204.pdf" target="_blank">(pg5)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Back to
the Beginning</span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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My original plan had been to compare the voter’s
signature on the ballot by mail application to the voter’s signature on the
ballot envelope to see if any may not have been signed by the same person. But I
found so many other issues that I got sidetracked from the signatures.</div>
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Unlike some other states, Texas does not require
photo copies of ID to accompany the ballot by mail application. The only “security” Texas
statute has in place for ballots by mail is a comparison of the voter’s signature
on the application to the voter’s signature on the ballot envelope. Previous signatures going back 6 years may be compared if needed. If the signatures could have been written by the same person, the ballot is approved. </div>
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After reviewing all the applications from Dutton’s race, I have concerns that Texas needs much more ACTUAL SECURITY for our mail
ballot system. Signature comparison isn't enough. - especially now that voters over 65
are receiving pre-printed applications for ballots by mail from the
parties, candidates, and PACs. The only information the voter supplies is a
signature - so that is all that can be compared.</div>
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In reviewing the pre-printed postcard applications from Dutton's race, we found numerous voters whose first or last names were the same as another voter, and their signatures were remarkably similar.</div>
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Some examples of signatures on applications for ballots by mail from TWO or MORE DIFFERENT VOTERS:</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">What can
citizens do?</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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As a citizen there isn’t much we can do. Texas
does not allow us to challenge other voter’s signatures or ballots. All we can do is:</div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Send a complaint to the Secretary of State and
hope she sends it on to the Attorney General for investigation. (Which I’ve
already done with this research.)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Contact our legislators and insist they tighten
security for ballot by mail.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Pray the Democrats don’t succeed in using the
courts to expand our currently flawed vote by mail system.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-38575569695178070292019-08-13T18:25:00.000-05:002019-08-13T18:31:14.968-05:00Now HCDE Hiding Foundation Problems<br />
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Most Texas school districts benefit from the added support
of a local Education Foundation. Operated by local business and community
leaders, their Foundations raise money to bring added financial support to their
local teachers and students.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The funds flow <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FROM</b>
the foundation <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TO</b> the ISD.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh-heG7gSvZIcwhyphenhyphenPpGQ95Tdy-1E-50SzpBAbFz6sJFJib_sfw8rg-prpQpV27Zez48RTKhZ9e0HRp4YC4ZL-d5xcXIjbiPld6-mGy_S68YSgnv7NAfpk1PaTpWLOyvZ3lj0IS6yTeGF0/s1600/inc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh-heG7gSvZIcwhyphenhyphenPpGQ95Tdy-1E-50SzpBAbFz6sJFJib_sfw8rg-prpQpV27Zez48RTKhZ9e0HRp4YC4ZL-d5xcXIjbiPld6-mGy_S68YSgnv7NAfpk1PaTpWLOyvZ3lj0IS6yTeGF0/s320/inc.png" width="283" /></a></div>
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But that’s not how it works at the Harris County Department
of Education (HCDE)– the ONLY remaining County School Board in Texas.<o:p></o:p><br />
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In 1993 HCDE’s Superintendent, Dr. Shirley E. Rose, filed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Articles of Incorporation</i> for HCDE to
have its own foundation called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Education
Foundation of Harris County. (EFHC</i>)<u> <o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br />
<br />
Instead of volunteer community leaders operating EFHC, HCDE
used education property tax dollars ($200,000+) to pay for EFHC’s “staff.” The “staff”
made sure the basics were done - meetings held, officers elected, website maintained,
IRS 990s filed, etc.</div>
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HCDE even had a separate budget code for tax funds going TO
EFHC.</div>
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During Texas Senate hearings on bills to close HCDE in
previous legislative sessions, Senator Bettencourt discovered that property tax
dollars were flowing<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> TO</b> EFHC instead
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FROM</b> it, and in response, HCDE’s current
Superintendent, James Colbert, implied that the practice would stop. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGCglJ8vXSbzHcOEqZpA82yuKqzUFujOt8AvF7-RAIS8G51aMabdSrLoW6Y5q9Ohujo0v2CpMvWCQBpklD84Vw6Z-pLFizYZPCZpL-sEJD3IJ496ispabMrpQEgg6U1532HEfH3bRZVvs/s1600/no+funds.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="637" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGCglJ8vXSbzHcOEqZpA82yuKqzUFujOt8AvF7-RAIS8G51aMabdSrLoW6Y5q9Ohujo0v2CpMvWCQBpklD84Vw6Z-pLFizYZPCZpL-sEJD3IJ496ispabMrpQEgg6U1532HEfH3bRZVvs/s320/no+funds.png" width="254" /></a></div>
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The following year, HCDE’s budget showed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NO</b> funds going <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TO</b> EFHC. It appeared all was well.<o:p></o:p><br />
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But documents acquired through open records show something
different. </div>
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After EFHC lost its HCDE funded “staff” - EFHC fell apart. <o:p></o:p></div>
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EFHC has not held a meeting since 2017.<o:p></o:p></div>
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EFHC hasn’t filed an IRS 990 form since 2017.</div>
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EFHC’s 2018-2019 budget shows $500,000 – the majority of its revenue –
coming FROM HCDE, even though HCDE’s published budget
no longer includes a page for EFHC. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zbV6JhMzomVarufJyKOIm8PSQ5x1dYRJViuLx5FjeDL-kJWdXmKCRPmVgrq3JERXRoh3MDp4D8eo80gyfW8rSSLDiNYqm7zqviCzOI84n0blkZ3P9bIKM4_obMjW5zM9eNWwOqG4fy74/s1600/2018+budget.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1174" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zbV6JhMzomVarufJyKOIm8PSQ5x1dYRJViuLx5FjeDL-kJWdXmKCRPmVgrq3JERXRoh3MDp4D8eo80gyfW8rSSLDiNYqm7zqviCzOI84n0blkZ3P9bIKM4_obMjW5zM9eNWwOqG4fy74/s400/2018+budget.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfWlRUF1x8KCLDgYc7Cf5GytMBkQcVsNIB-wNxyKlIpsslQPDRGG7w40kTdKoZYitj0hkMHSJDPxe4YYoxCwvSb1P_BjPSecuopuUj6FRbfOqFURitcwzAaZmf8BNNAKv4kXv_KgeAgKb/s1600/efhc.org+website.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1600" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfWlRUF1x8KCLDgYc7Cf5GytMBkQcVsNIB-wNxyKlIpsslQPDRGG7w40kTdKoZYitj0hkMHSJDPxe4YYoxCwvSb1P_BjPSecuopuUj6FRbfOqFURitcwzAaZmf8BNNAKv4kXv_KgeAgKb/s320/efhc.org+website.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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EFHC’s website address <a href="http://www.efhc.org/">www.efhc.org</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hasn’t been active in the last year.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Further digging shows that EFHC has become an HCDE “SHELL
CORPORATION.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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There is no “Foundation.”
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPUDDjrVNlDlHFo4tj4MX9yeP8r04d1sXlRPjGoztDA2nJq7zOlknOjkdJ7InkJiK0hpdcinrJYY-kp2ONYuFYnAR8g3fgJCC_IwxE0aDvqqs45k-FXCRkCORqDtRxl1_DY6ipvBiqWLP/s1600/grant+ap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="699" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPUDDjrVNlDlHFo4tj4MX9yeP8r04d1sXlRPjGoztDA2nJq7zOlknOjkdJ7InkJiK0hpdcinrJYY-kp2ONYuFYnAR8g3fgJCC_IwxE0aDvqqs45k-FXCRkCORqDtRxl1_DY6ipvBiqWLP/s200/grant+ap.png" width="155" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3_pjFozPMeqOUUQpZybYQCkxcz1S65TFQ2sLCvMGHd2K3O5RA1nPFpurGH8EiZVtMWhc54BUQPjNMZ9S4qQkYHAMb_i6DExcpcUjOKR44Ny0Pm0i8S8avFkkox9sdVTSH86nXE4rDsua/s1600/waether.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1015" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3_pjFozPMeqOUUQpZybYQCkxcz1S65TFQ2sLCvMGHd2K3O5RA1nPFpurGH8EiZVtMWhc54BUQPjNMZ9S4qQkYHAMb_i6DExcpcUjOKR44Ny0Pm0i8S8avFkkox9sdVTSH86nXE4rDsua/s200/waether.png" width="200" /></a>It is simply HCDE employees using the Foundation name – without any written authorization - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to acquire grants from outside sources.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_uCic3cJot0ii8PuLXRVkFcmua3rjNKHVs4pGEBTxozkJ96G1R1_vpsk5VB-6XAQauiy70z8eeLclhYpgc7VnwJU5xpSk8kGQBXGqWEtHvNVxZuLICEpovSQ5GNNO0-mthFJaM9jjkQR/s1600/better+1%2525.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_uCic3cJot0ii8PuLXRVkFcmua3rjNKHVs4pGEBTxozkJ96G1R1_vpsk5VB-6XAQauiy70z8eeLclhYpgc7VnwJU5xpSk8kGQBXGqWEtHvNVxZuLICEpovSQ5GNNO0-mthFJaM9jjkQR/s320/better+1%2525.png" width="217" /></a></div>
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Then HCDE employees invoicing EFHC to transfer the grant funds to HCDE – minus a 1% cut for “administrative costs.”<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"></table>
<br /></div>
Is that even legal?<br />
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Well, legal or not, whatever is going on is apparently <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SO IRREGULAR </b>that a simple public
information request – the communications between two HCDE employees and EFHC – compelled
the HCDE attorney to get the Texas Attorney General to block the information
from public release claiming “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">attorney
client privilege</b>.”<br />
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpJ8IfqUXoUD5VZTGOJhOrOZevefeMe0g8D2y6xgZwMLInmABoQmXdjLFof6KA8iePc85RxXdG0WBxmyYEiuZjIS62Q8Xfr2zbss5wxJfrR8q_DmPRdJsCAs9EIzDiUZ7QCkyuFZ2rVYy/s1600/ag+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="701" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpJ8IfqUXoUD5VZTGOJhOrOZevefeMe0g8D2y6xgZwMLInmABoQmXdjLFof6KA8iePc85RxXdG0WBxmyYEiuZjIS62Q8Xfr2zbss5wxJfrR8q_DmPRdJsCAs9EIzDiUZ7QCkyuFZ2rVYy/s200/ag+1.png" width="157" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh87J0iBp2Lpf6kY3yet4p3J1_ZILNAas1gYlF5D-jTF3Ht2Zm0d683F1l5tgDD482d9Xd4coYU2nggpWUd1oERsTpU3g6gCBsIlEQ0oekxwUKQtSGV91ELahWf63KkhOCFHWhteBqXCmq/s1600/ag+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="703" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh87J0iBp2Lpf6kY3yet4p3J1_ZILNAas1gYlF5D-jTF3Ht2Zm0d683F1l5tgDD482d9Xd4coYU2nggpWUd1oERsTpU3g6gCBsIlEQ0oekxwUKQtSGV91ELahWf63KkhOCFHWhteBqXCmq/s200/ag+2.png" width="156" /></a></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdxCzMjpim3_oVHgvfrHaPqZdcaOy8x9OG_COhfNpHr_QEqUpwMpAjEZquTi0THzqybAviiaoz7GGumMOgMljQ_-FlHCQlVHDNcL2XsmnXeVazleu6qHAqZdM_GMjT437Ks0pmiiN1V79/s1600/ag+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="699" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdxCzMjpim3_oVHgvfrHaPqZdcaOy8x9OG_COhfNpHr_QEqUpwMpAjEZquTi0THzqybAviiaoz7GGumMOgMljQ_-FlHCQlVHDNcL2XsmnXeVazleu6qHAqZdM_GMjT437Ks0pmiiN1V79/s200/ag+3.png" width="154" /></a></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
</table>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Interesting that the two HCDE employees hiding behind “attorney-client
privilege” are the same two HCDE employees who have been signing EFHC’s “</span><b style="text-align: center;">payment authorization</b><span style="text-align: center;">” forms – Danielle
Bartz and Jesus Amezcua. Coincidence???</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuLXh1leGCt3VRtb8vfmoNmqEQg9WX0PFz0HGNPaWWbwTq1S0O5iyrVZNKGA0Qg69CBgsptzO7QuLzyFLglcXuyja92Q7bAU1p4m4iQGAChsVUQEjZnvMM-e08MGad5FI2KfCLlKfq9h9/s1600/both+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="695" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuLXh1leGCt3VRtb8vfmoNmqEQg9WX0PFz0HGNPaWWbwTq1S0O5iyrVZNKGA0Qg69CBgsptzO7QuLzyFLglcXuyja92Q7bAU1p4m4iQGAChsVUQEjZnvMM-e08MGad5FI2KfCLlKfq9h9/s400/both+sign.png" width="307" /></a></div>
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Other irregularities found through public information:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q5jVD8Z06xenYsGA97WrdrUvAO8WsG5T7n1Jc6jaOlts9Voj33DH7xwQ5zoFFeHVAmWOIiG8pBlz6pvCJA_5Ld87rLvDavifQY8Ixg-EV5GkNeAt872twVoRj81qjyUP3jPRNfhUooo3/s1600/colbert+check.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="644" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q5jVD8Z06xenYsGA97WrdrUvAO8WsG5T7n1Jc6jaOlts9Voj33DH7xwQ5zoFFeHVAmWOIiG8pBlz6pvCJA_5Ld87rLvDavifQY8Ixg-EV5GkNeAt872twVoRj81qjyUP3jPRNfhUooo3/s320/colbert+check.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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With no documentation showing a vote or appointment to
office, HCDE’s superintend, James Colbert, somehow became an officer of EFHC
and co-signs checks from EFHC to HCDE.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Without any documentation naming HCDE employee Danielle
Bartz as the “Registered Agent” for EFHC, records show Danielle Bartz used her
HCDE credit card online to file EFHC’s non-profit corporation documents with
the Texas Secretary of State on 4/16/19. The funds used were from HCDE’s “<i>Department Wide – Misc. Operating Cost</i>”
budget.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 144.9pt;" valign="top" width="193"><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTE40uH6DNBZtou0ew8OMfkDGAZdk4hrJ4zJZqW-KUIGzVRIt1JThQ9o4pGu0pUvpqk9dsOAoeku5esVUx2_ALwcMDhQz128CQZm6ysw8CrONorb1_JqZffEcQx1K21VoIppdM5P4zx0U/s1600/agent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="661" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTE40uH6DNBZtou0ew8OMfkDGAZdk4hrJ4zJZqW-KUIGzVRIt1JThQ9o4pGu0pUvpqk9dsOAoeku5esVUx2_ALwcMDhQz128CQZm6ysw8CrONorb1_JqZffEcQx1K21VoIppdM5P4zx0U/s200/agent.png" width="147" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9zSMshUDE6hU8lTLif1Ix4nFClBdbSsuDYybwTf4-vdEznryilyOHnNhNp6H4RiuM6bjPT4D8xIB2_JY3GGXjrP6Luti3WEa_1XkdmVOun6k5w_2FE-JNlHzLVvzocZKwKFtz5KYepRN/s1600/agent+page+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9zSMshUDE6hU8lTLif1Ix4nFClBdbSsuDYybwTf4-vdEznryilyOHnNhNp6H4RiuM6bjPT4D8xIB2_JY3GGXjrP6Luti3WEa_1XkdmVOun6k5w_2FE-JNlHzLVvzocZKwKFtz5KYepRN/s200/agent+page+2.png" width="168" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IOsCiXGxl78w5vyaBpLtSB0M-uRWC_rQb75RnF9xk4tgCYBWAQJ4mgrKI4UghgK0US4kR6NG5WZS8_-8EDsjHxtkxjLxfixCEPiZ2iGAcLSRoa3R5XwPV1_x0dsEu-E3fJy8yWMHZVK7/s1600/sos+charge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IOsCiXGxl78w5vyaBpLtSB0M-uRWC_rQb75RnF9xk4tgCYBWAQJ4mgrKI4UghgK0US4kR6NG5WZS8_-8EDsjHxtkxjLxfixCEPiZ2iGAcLSRoa3R5XwPV1_x0dsEu-E3fJy8yWMHZVK7/s200/sos+charge.png" width="163" /></a></div>
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</tbody></table>
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Without any documentation proving his election to the position,
HCDE employee Danielle Bartz reported James Colbert as the Secretary of EFHC on
official documents with the Texas Secretary of State on 4/16/19.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiUJf7XfBCXNP4Cy2Kz6T2CtR-rGv9x87yv9SC8K2-QDsod16T6By-ZtbvzyTO_ki8HhqJs3fDOsRqzW0Lh0EB1vMP3XDKwVghIZ7Rlc9igYVo7GkkCXz-Qvw4EHXxeXmrw3rHRyZrtvx/s1600/sos+officer+list.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1115" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiUJf7XfBCXNP4Cy2Kz6T2CtR-rGv9x87yv9SC8K2-QDsod16T6By-ZtbvzyTO_ki8HhqJs3fDOsRqzW0Lh0EB1vMP3XDKwVghIZ7Rlc9igYVo7GkkCXz-Qvw4EHXxeXmrw3rHRyZrtvx/s400/sos+officer+list.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Notice the discrepancy between the officer list Danielle
Bartz officially reported to the Secretary of State on 4/16/19 and the 2018-2019
officer list included in recent EFHC grant applications.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9zh_GtqHWPWB3m2mkONX0nax9Ip6wDcI_bILfYI8p5yJE3gI4JLBeHnnESU-bbMd2oz-cFSY2xAyRh1Usbx3jeQCu_67d6HibKOzWpQcKEvEBs_akmghdIo2P3dPH2qFvaLaKjaTe-tV/s1600/2018+officers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1047" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9zh_GtqHWPWB3m2mkONX0nax9Ip6wDcI_bILfYI8p5yJE3gI4JLBeHnnESU-bbMd2oz-cFSY2xAyRh1Usbx3jeQCu_67d6HibKOzWpQcKEvEBs_akmghdIo2P3dPH2qFvaLaKjaTe-tV/s320/2018+officers.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBExD3A3QEsBapmy8QVC1rOAn5gIOklnhnnOnsLMxIL8dMwzgkdzEgkv60GwVzFuuXI1qtmoRWk0rAT8KXf_txqR5AlSFBIZpaxQ1jRPHPH6Ibbca94ACYXkn0cPDbY2bdBbsFYQPw-38c/s1600/agent+page+2+cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="614" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBExD3A3QEsBapmy8QVC1rOAn5gIOklnhnnOnsLMxIL8dMwzgkdzEgkv60GwVzFuuXI1qtmoRWk0rAT8KXf_txqR5AlSFBIZpaxQ1jRPHPH6Ibbca94ACYXkn0cPDbY2bdBbsFYQPw-38c/s320/agent+page+2+cropped.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also note the “<i>under penalty
of perjury</i>” statement at the bottom of the document. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2018 without any documentation proving permission from
EFHC to use their name, and without EFHC holding any EFHC meetings to vote on approval,
multiple HCDE employees filed grant applications and received funds in the name
of EFHC. Some examples are shown in the chart below:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HCDE Employee<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif";">Grant Application Recipient</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Application Date<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sharvon Pipkins </span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stewart J
Rahr Foundation</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2/28/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sharvon Pipkins</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Aetna
Foundation</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4/18/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gayla Rawlinson</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brown
Foundation</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4/23/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Danielle Bartz &<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Joyce Akins</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wells
Fargo</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8/2/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sharvon Pipkins</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Whataburger</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8/27/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sharvon Pipkins Kamaya</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Linde
Engineering North America, Inc</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8/31/18</span></i><i><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
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</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Andrea Segraves &<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vida Avery</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">HEB</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">9/11/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Trina Finley</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Henderson
Foundation</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">11/15/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 119.7pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lisa Felske</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 164.7pt;" valign="top" width="220"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">WATER</span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.25in;" valign="top" width="120"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">11/28/18</span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjrqwmc0DCoTO_s3T2w3pKe4Hj2q9w14veqtkq8ez_nuQ-8ITGFUes5h3_9E0TBA3NROuhnMeoCf93qhNBMgiVhEkIHf4-2DTpZhaRFmC7H8IDBDYjgqEt7gEukXKwgAgqA2aFEwmvddB/s1600/domain+pay.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="907" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjrqwmc0DCoTO_s3T2w3pKe4Hj2q9w14veqtkq8ez_nuQ-8ITGFUes5h3_9E0TBA3NROuhnMeoCf93qhNBMgiVhEkIHf4-2DTpZhaRFmC7H8IDBDYjgqEt7gEukXKwgAgqA2aFEwmvddB/s320/domain+pay.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Records also show that HCDE employees:</div>
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- assisted in producing EFHC’s IRS 990 filings and IRS extension
letter<o:p></o:p></div>
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- are serving as EFHC’s bookkeeper/accountant<o:p></o:p></div>
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- are making payments on behalf of EFHC<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For example:</div>
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<br /></div>
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On 4/10/19 HCDE employee, Simone Llorens, used HCDE’s credit
card to renew EFHC’s domain name <i><a href="http://www.efhc.org/">www.efhc.org</a>. </i>The funds used were from HCDE’s<i> “</i>Technology Support Services – <i>Contracted M&r Networks</i>” budget.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most concerning to me is the Texas Attorney General allowing
HCDE to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>block release of communications
between EFHC and HCDE employees…<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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because of the parallels with the </div>
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<a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/Lawsuit-Alleges-Racketeering-in-Downfall-of-Dallas-County-Schools-489578211.html" target="_blank">Dallas County Schools (DCS) scandal</a>.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I knew something was highly irregular in 2016 when DCS used
their attorney to try to block release of their stop-arm camera contracts in
order to “protect” the business interests of Force Multiplier Solutions owned
by Bob Leonard.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7KhhDUHAyQWNc7kZBnG16V34K33k_H-rb3eXMxTBgGH6bFKsd9uULtUhzqdT_d4Y0kl9dTo8eA9X_N0Lfj9D46AP5-TIs9sQC6K4C4-I4tDtxzNQayxIyEI8Es7JYrKuuBsJuvkA18tt/s1600/dcs+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="687" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7KhhDUHAyQWNc7kZBnG16V34K33k_H-rb3eXMxTBgGH6bFKsd9uULtUhzqdT_d4Y0kl9dTo8eA9X_N0Lfj9D46AP5-TIs9sQC6K4C4-I4tDtxzNQayxIyEI8Es7JYrKuuBsJuvkA18tt/s200/dcs+1.png" width="157" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yPsNI99tqxjWD6U0K-6hdKrPoEmIbPHIYe0jOCyVyu05KzqTbOmDC347Q_ymimXdENoCKpiBRKf8y1GPX4L7s1EZJNolKzu13PxvsfHSdRNvya6OeGZhUUhsZZ7RRLoAV-XXHfPF1ZfB/s1600/dcs+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="881" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yPsNI99tqxjWD6U0K-6hdKrPoEmIbPHIYe0jOCyVyu05KzqTbOmDC347Q_ymimXdENoCKpiBRKf8y1GPX4L7s1EZJNolKzu13PxvsfHSdRNvya6OeGZhUUhsZZ7RRLoAV-XXHfPF1ZfB/s200/dcs+3.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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But I NEVER imagined the secrets they were attempting to hide
would land both the <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/Former-Dallas-County-Schools-Superintendent-Rick-Sorrells-To-Be-Sentenced-for-Federal-Wire-Fraud-523357041.html" target="_blank">Dallas County Superintendent</a> and <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/Dallas-County-Schools-Scandal-Ringleader-Behind-Bars-513152481.html" target="_blank">Bob Leonard</a> in federal prison for
7 years each for what prosecutors said may be<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "arimo" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/Real-Estate-Broker-Slater-Swartwood-Sr-Sentenced-to-Federal-Prison-for-Money-Laundering-in-Dallas-County-School-Scandal-512480062.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"the largest domestic public corruption case in history."</span></a></span></div>
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Makes me wonder just how deep the deception may be at HCDE
and why the Texas Attorney General is helping them hide it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><b>Note: Supporting Documentation</b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>I requested the following information from HCDE. HCDE claims there are no records responsive to my request.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "new"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">Any document(s) showing (1) the date Danielle Bartz consented to be the registered agent for the Education Foundation of Harris County and (2) the person(s) assigning her that responsibility.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2.All communications received by Danielle Bartz instructing her to electronically file the April 15, 2019 Periodic Report for the Education Foundation of Harris County with the Texas Secretary of State.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. All communications received by Danielle Bartz giving her the names and addresses of all directors and officers she listed in the April 15, 2019 Periodic Report for the Education Foundation of Harris County with the Texas Secretary of State.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. Any document(s) showing (1) the date James Colbert became an officer of the Education Foundation of Harris County and (2) the title of his office with the Education Foundation of Harris County</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">5. Any document(s) showing authorization from the Education Foundation of Harris County(EFHC) to the following HCDE employees allowing the HCDE employee’s to represent EFHC in the grant applications below:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">HCDE Employee</span></b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">EFHC Grant Application Recipient</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Date</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharvon Pipkins</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stewart J Rahr Foundation</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2/28/18</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharvon Pipkins</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Aetna Foundation</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4/18/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Gayla Rawlinson</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Brown Foundation</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4/23/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Danielle Bartz and</span></div>
<div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Joyce Akins</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wells Fargo</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8/2/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharvon Pipkins</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Whataburger</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8/27/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharvon Pipkins Kamaya</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Linde Engineering North America, Inc</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8/31/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Andrea Segraves and</span></div>
<div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vida Avery</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">HEB</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">9/11/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Trina Finley</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Henderson Foundation</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11/15/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: 1pt solid windowtext; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lisa Felske</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.25in;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">WATER</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div class="yiv7975041462ydp64238d45MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11/28/18</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></div>
<br />texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-1651181634907586622019-02-10T15:22:00.003-06:002021-09-14T15:07:19.990-05:00Who's on First at HCDE?<br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Tomorrow
(2/11/19) at a <a href="https://hcde-texas.org/media/uploads/2019/02/02-11-2019-Special-Board-Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">special HCDE Board Meeting,</a> we’ll learn whether the new Board
has the backbone to clean up the mess at HCDE or if the only solution is to
shut down this dinosaur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
following seems like an Abbot & Costello routine. But it’s a summary of
what’s actually happened. There are three organizations tangled up in this
sequence: </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1) the elected Board of HCDE</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">2) the appointed Board of the Public
Facilities Corporation (PFC) and </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">3) the outside law firm paid by both Boards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Try
to follow this: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">By
law HCDE cannot issue bonds.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">To get around that, <a href="https://youtu.be/nMpLXwOYaqg?t=174" target="_blank">HCDE formed the Public Facilities Corporation (PFC) in 1999.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">PFC
sells bonds for HCDE WITHOUT any taxpayer vote or taxpayer notice.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
Board of the PFC has historically included the superintendent, two HCDE employees, and three elected HCDE Board members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Not
much attention is paid to PFC, except by the outside law firm, paid to keep
things in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Last
month the new HCDE Board asked the law firm which handles both organizations for a
report on the status of the PFC, including an explanation of how the PFC Board
is elected/appointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It appears that in preparing the report, the law firm found some embarrassing problems in PFC
governance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The PFC Board has not been following its bylaws.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Therefore contracts related to the $8.9 million to build a new ABS Campus have not been properly approved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Payments have been made to
these vendors without approved contracts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">PFC Board member(s) at the time(s) the
contracts were engaged were apparently NO LONGER on the PFC Board and no longer even employed by HCDE. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">OOPS!</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
HCDE superintendent called <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/media/uploads/2019/02/02-08-2019-PFC-Board-of-Directors-Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">a meeting of the PFC Board</a>, inviting FORMER members
from different years to attend and vote at the meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It appears the
superintendent wanted this patched-together “Board” to retroactively remedy the
governance issues that had been discovered by the law firm - the SAME law firm that was paid to PREVENT these kinds of problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
ELECTED President of the HCDE Board tried to call an EMERGENCY meeting of the
HCDE Board to address the superintendent’s unusual actions. The law firm
involved ruled that the HCDE Board President’s call for an emergency meeting
was “illegal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
law firm, however, was present at the hastily called meeting of the PFC Board,
including a patchwork of former members because, apparently, the law firm saw
no problems with that meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
ELECTED President of the HCDE Board drafted a detailed letter to everyone
attending the PFC Board meeting, pointing out the serious problems with that meeting.
You can see his letter below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_erTQzOcVl_wmaIMTKNHaRDN40-c1DJ1C1I-jL9YUV_WKx4kM6IJzl9YQxXB4BBcmxUfQHwdOZgCQMfakPnGZBsoNXnpW0QBvugI4ncYWjDImOeYwwI3zslawiqs0AFdDSnJBg0hnZsg/s1600/Flynn+letter+on+PFC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_erTQzOcVl_wmaIMTKNHaRDN40-c1DJ1C1I-jL9YUV_WKx4kM6IJzl9YQxXB4BBcmxUfQHwdOZgCQMfakPnGZBsoNXnpW0QBvugI4ncYWjDImOeYwwI3zslawiqs0AFdDSnJBg0hnZsg/s400/Flynn+letter+on+PFC.jpg" width="308" /></span></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Despite
the objections and warnings from the ELECTED HCDE Board President, the unusual
meeting of the patchwork PFC Board was called to order at noon on Friday, 2/8/19.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
2 CURRENTLY ELECTED HCDE Board members serving on the PFC Board made a motion
to table all matters on the PFC Board meeting agenda until the ELECTED HCDE
Board could meet to remedy the credibility of all PFC Board appointments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
superintendent, another current HCDE employee, and two former PFC Board members shuttled
in for this meeting (including a retired HCDE employee and a FORMER elected HCDE Board Member) voted down that motion from the CURRENTLY ELECTED HCDE/PFC Board
members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">You can view the meeting:</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3OaUGWLnHGs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3OaUGWLnHGs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
unapproved contracts and disbursements, dating back at least 2 years, were
approved retroactively by the patchwork PFC Board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The
outside law firm said everything about this meeting was legal and proper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>WHO’S
ON FIRST AT HCDE?</b> <b>Does anybody really know?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Tomorrow
(2/11/19) the ELECTED Board of HCDE will meet to attempt to clean up this mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="https://hcde-texas.org/media/uploads/2019/02/02-11-2019-Special-Board-Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Agenda </a>item #5 is approval of a new law firm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Well, that's a NO-BRAINER !!!!</b></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I will be asking the HCDE Board to insist on a refund of all tax dollars paid to the original law firm for time billed related to PFC, especially time billed to compile the report about their OWN errors.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><u>NOTE:</u> </b>In reviewing video I have taken of PFC meetings, I found another major error by the law firm. You can view the attorney stating that the PFC Board does not have to follow the <i>Open Meetings Act</i> and told me I had to leave the PFC meeting because a quorum of the HCDE Board was not present: <a href="https://youtu.be/nMpLXwOYaqg?t=535" target="_blank"> Here</a></span></div>
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">But, </span><a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.303.htm" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Section 303.044</a><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> of the statute covering PFCs states that a PFC </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"and its board of directors are considered to be governmental bodies under Chapters <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">551</a> and <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm" target="_blank">552</a>, Government Code."</i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> In other words they have to follow both the </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Open Meetings Act</i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> and the </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Public Information Act. </i></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A quorum of the PFC Board WAS present, therefore <i>The Open Meetings Act</i> applied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>Another OOPS !!! </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-78917758912477644812019-01-19T00:57:00.002-06:002021-09-14T15:07:58.667-05:00HCDE Takes a RIGHT Turn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">While most of Harris County turned “<i>left</i>” in the 2018
November election, one countywide board actually took a sharp turn to the “<i>right</i>.” </span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">HCDE, the only school board in Texas elected by political party, replaced its
two Democrat board members with two more Democrats as expected. </span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">But one of the
RINOs, Louis Evans, was replaced by the STRONG conservative Republican, Josh
Flynn. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">That seemingly minor change made a HUGE difference during their first
board meeting on 1/16/19.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">First, Josh Flynn was elected Board President, the first
pleasant surprise at HCDE for Harris County conservatives in decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Then, in total surprise for Harris County taxpayers, the
Board voted to cancel their $220,000 a year lobbying contract with HillCo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The discussion on the lobbying contract went as expected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY9E2TfXjaYjS-vy_3AeQvICOihoNGXtHhRppyTN0TLDSAVuzNxHdnldr64bm-L7hugffBxnScsbdWypykbqrI059fno3yKxMGdVA2jUmD9T2iKVuHbxk9uTOGQzBtQxL7F5EgrSdZ9cy/s1600/golf+image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY9E2TfXjaYjS-vy_3AeQvICOihoNGXtHhRppyTN0TLDSAVuzNxHdnldr64bm-L7hugffBxnScsbdWypykbqrI059fno3yKxMGdVA2jUmD9T2iKVuHbxk9uTOGQzBtQxL7F5EgrSdZ9cy/s320/golf+image.png" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Superintendent argued that the lobbying contract was
necessary because he is too busy with his job at HCDE to pay attention to the
Legislature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Maybe he should stop playing golf on school time with $1,500
of taxpayer money ...or stop taking other
HCDE administrators out to Perry’s Steakhouse with $741.92 of taxpayer money.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinal6U-XKPM8AZJT5Fo88DRb_RMma99QrheoixQNgLU0GlZTK7TgXplLpVpiQU0KlgFlU3CoUAakmILZMUk1MKOOe4PBG8hlS_0j_zvGotdi9JCQ5kSHA_B9yiOGe-0tZfAe73pGciG-vT/s1600/perry%2527s+image+2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinal6U-XKPM8AZJT5Fo88DRb_RMma99QrheoixQNgLU0GlZTK7TgXplLpVpiQU0KlgFlU3CoUAakmILZMUk1MKOOe4PBG8hlS_0j_zvGotdi9JCQ5kSHA_B9yiOGe-0tZfAe73pGciG-vT/s320/perry%2527s+image+2.png" width="144" /></a></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Superintendent also argued that HCDE needs the “armor”
provided by lobbyists to protect HCDE from the Legislature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Is he afraid the Legislature will find out that HCDE opened
and operated a high school last year with a FULL STAFF and <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/local/harris-county-taxpayers-paying-for-an-empty-school/" target="_blank">ZERO </a>students?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Or is he afraid the Legislature will find out that <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/local/public-funds-used-to-send-at-risk-students-to-unaccredited-schools/" target="_blank">NONE</a> of
the four alternative schools HCDE operates are </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">ACCREDITED b</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">y the State of Texas?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPChbGQsyk-J-aAGdebZ1IrZFqZrkgm3P-0kN1vXbagEgZI1wZCc5yQgEHeNlaVd6iOJLri3arnKT_UtldcyKjhvTik2M7Ue_Z9Y58IPXRrpSn_FQvjhR9ixXt2neEOEHoZOoBEe3KEhX/s1600/perry%2527s+image+1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="805" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPChbGQsyk-J-aAGdebZ1IrZFqZrkgm3P-0kN1vXbagEgZI1wZCc5yQgEHeNlaVd6iOJLri3arnKT_UtldcyKjhvTik2M7Ue_Z9Y58IPXRrpSn_FQvjhR9ixXt2neEOEHoZOoBEe3KEhX/s320/perry%2527s+image+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The best quote from the Superintendent came when asked by
Trustee Danny Norris – one of the new Democrat Trustees - exactly what HillCo
does for HCDE. The Superintendent answered,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I don’t like to share the playbook with the public because it defeats
the purpose of the lobbyists.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></blockquote>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">At least the Superintendent <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>admitted in an open meeting that he has been
using HillCo to fight AGAINST the “public” – in other words – to fight against the
taxpayers who pay his salary and all his expensive travel and credit card
charges.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The lobbying contract discussion ended with a rant against Republicans
and even Senator Ted Cruz by the biggest phony Republican in Harris County –
Trustee Eric Dick. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">He made it clear that he does not understand the difference
between hiring lobbyists with private funds and hiring lobbyists with taxpayer
dollars.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Guess they didn’t teach that in
law school.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">If the first meeting of the new HCDE Board is any indication of what is to come, buckle your seat belts. This could be a great ride for Harris County taxpayers.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You can view the lobbying contact discussion: <a href="https://youtu.be/Sz3N5aZfoWw" target="_blank">here</a></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://youtu.be/Sz3N5aZfoWw" target="_blank"> </a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">or view the full meeting: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm7XYKBprv8" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></span></div>
<br />texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-37454170135707290472018-10-04T12:49:00.003-05:002018-10-04T12:55:26.753-05:00Cy-Fair Taxpayer Alert – Proposed Property Tax Increase by ESD#9<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPlJTBLjR1QQdCLOk0bTlNTPSR-N7zyowyaEck01034EGIump-Bq0HgIVP5xjcUfXKXgUP9GFEb0iaOixCYlZ9QAx5XaIVS0u45AoJe27GFfaAnjpnZYUl4sd__5UbE3F2j1g_4kPZ1OO/s1600/esd+9+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1139" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPlJTBLjR1QQdCLOk0bTlNTPSR-N7zyowyaEck01034EGIump-Bq0HgIVP5xjcUfXKXgUP9GFEb0iaOixCYlZ9QAx5XaIVS0u45AoJe27GFfaAnjpnZYUl4sd__5UbE3F2j1g_4kPZ1OO/s200/esd+9+map.png" width="200" /></a><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/about-us" target="_blank">Emergency Services District #9</a> (ESD9) collects taxes to fund fire and ambulance
service provided by <a href="https://www.cyfairvfd.org/index.php" target="_blank">Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department</a> (CFVFD.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">See the <a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/district-map" target="_blank">map</a> to know if you pay taxes to ESD9.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">When ESD9 was established, the voters approved a maximum
Property Tax rate of $.06. For years ESD9
and CFVFD were doing great, providing quality services staying </span><span style="background: white;">within the $.06
tax cap.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">In 2013 ESD9
asked voters to approve an ADDITIONAL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">$.01 <span style="color: black;">SALES TAX in order to
prevent the City of Houston from getting it. Commissioners who spoke to
conservative groups at the time gave the clear impression that passing the
sales tax would reduce our property tax burden.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The additional sales tax was approved by voters…but…it didn’t
reduce anything. Instead ESD9 contracted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"E</span></span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: large;">xcessive </span><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: large;">pending </span><b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: large;">isorder </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#9</b></span></span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span></span></i><span style="background: white; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The
chart below shows ESD9’s tax collection since 2012 along with the proposed
increase.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkkxjTX-qeWjbalpxxV7D3SS6Ax68i1xutH-RMUpkb69ZeISm-2N_noInOtJri4EnTbzBpFMP5AAIxOWRG0Ce2T8_qjos5nodRA6hYIlN7JYsbZv8LdJpyqEgWVUnLcvyjJVL5GfgQdlg/s1600/esd+chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="991" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkkxjTX-qeWjbalpxxV7D3SS6Ax68i1xutH-RMUpkb69ZeISm-2N_noInOtJri4EnTbzBpFMP5AAIxOWRG0Ce2T8_qjos5nodRA6hYIlN7JYsbZv8LdJpyqEgWVUnLcvyjJVL5GfgQdlg/s400/esd+chart.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">In 2012, ESD9’s total tax
collection was $15.4 million. By </span><span style="background: white;">2017 their total tax collection had increased to
$47.3 million.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ESD9 <b>TRIPLED</b> their tax collection in just 5
years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That’s a<b> tax increase of over
200% </b>in those 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">A Standard benchmark for public service budgets is
population + inflation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background: white;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DW_cKohg-uRfGsE7Sgfau2i6qSNm4S08C9yE0frpxygKwXYiZAJEcj7LzpSpmzMz8MRddCHEkj8HfhhyG0SY8KhHiKc00UOMU8-93wu4kSOpLMMb0wGN7OSpKFzwrut5-zE5jqXpJrHN/s1600/ESD+9+2017+pop+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1257" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DW_cKohg-uRfGsE7Sgfau2i6qSNm4S08C9yE0frpxygKwXYiZAJEcj7LzpSpmzMz8MRddCHEkj8HfhhyG0SY8KhHiKc00UOMU8-93wu4kSOpLMMb0wGN7OSpKFzwrut5-zE5jqXpJrHN/s320/ESD+9+2017+pop+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ESD9’s own
records show the population of their service area to be 464,808 in 2017.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A1jdQEB9Kjt_eX__VrFs-zCUO2XL4FSjWCTQBy_3HnotvFlnIoV8tESYPbH4pJndP2hNgnyaH7UyLWY9-K9OiZvWzMfGJKhUtUhQ-Dxv2n-XoR6htmkjJWPngNEsnLAWTOEX5y6Glr94/s1600/esd+9+2013+pop+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="1445" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A1jdQEB9Kjt_eX__VrFs-zCUO2XL4FSjWCTQBy_3HnotvFlnIoV8tESYPbH4pJndP2hNgnyaH7UyLWY9-K9OiZvWzMfGJKhUtUhQ-Dxv2n-XoR6htmkjJWPngNEsnLAWTOEX5y6Glr94/s320/esd+9+2013+pop+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That’s
an increase of 43,238 since 2013. An increase of approximately 10%.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The </span><a href="https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Consumer Price Index</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> since 2012 shows the total inflation rate to be about 8%.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, a generous expected increase
of total tax collection by ESD9 could be 18 - 20%. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Instead...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>ESD9 has increased its total
tax collection by 10X that amount!!!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ronald Reagan said it
best,</span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Government does not tax to get the money it
needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The chart below shows
ESD9’s budgets since 2014 when the sales tax kicked in - plus the proposed 2019
budget with the currently proposed tax increase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rG13VWT8yBkSVWgzNz6myVCbjOcNpuat0gqOwYzx6msKosVPxod5QINPlfYPDIF09eGNLjgocUJRSNwu02jFYD7uFhlsHBaTX3oTh4tfogov2FIJwL21wrLqSwahFxI0p6aO_PRg5QJb/s1600/82+million.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="593" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rG13VWT8yBkSVWgzNz6myVCbjOcNpuat0gqOwYzx6msKosVPxod5QINPlfYPDIF09eGNLjgocUJRSNwu02jFYD7uFhlsHBaTX3oTh4tfogov2FIJwL21wrLqSwahFxI0p6aO_PRg5QJb/s640/82+million.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ESD9’s budget
increased from <b>$26 million in 2014</b> to a proposed <b>$82 million in 2019.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That’s a <b>spending
increase of $55 million in just 5 years !!!!<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ESD9 is proving Reagan’s
point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background: white;">If you agree that 200% increases
in 5 years is totally insane government growth...</span><span style="background-color: white;">let ESD9 know you oppose their proposed
property tax increase.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You can voice your opinion in person at the<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/monthly-meetings/meeting-agendas/2018-meeting-agendas/282-october-8-2018-special-meeting/file" target="_blank">public hearing</a> set for <b>1:00 pm on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 </b>at </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">9630 Telge Road Houston, TX 77095 <a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/about-us" target="_blank">(map)</a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You can contact the five ESD9 Commissioners by <a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/about-us/commissioners" target="_blank">email</a>:</span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Commissioner Tommy Balez:</b> tommy.balez@hcesd9.org</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Commissioner Bob Janusaitis:</b> bob.janusaitis@hcesd9.org </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Commissioner Jessica Rivas:</b> jessica.rivas@hcesd9.org</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Commissioner David Langenberg: </b> david.langenberg@hcesd9.org</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Commissioner Scott DeBoer:</b> Scott.Deboer@hcesd9.org</span></li>
</ul>
<ul><br /></ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can leave a message </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">for the ESD Commissioners by phone: <b>281-550-9649</b></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>The ESD9 proposed tax increase vote is set for 6:00pm
on Thursday,<a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/monthly-meetings/meeting-agendas/2018-meeting-agendas" target="_blank"> Oct. 18, 2018.</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-32747493446903867302018-07-10T22:50:00.001-05:002018-07-10T23:09:52.518-05:00HCDE Breaks Texas Open Meetings Act... Again!<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Today, the HCDE Board held a <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/5349/07-10-2018-special-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Special Board Meeting</a> to discuss one <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/5349/07-10-2018-special-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">agenda item</a> in closed session: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A. Discuss and obtain legal advice regarding incident between student and teacher </span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But 2 minutes into the meeting, AFTER the Board President has already read all the required statements and adjourned to closed session, the Board’s attorney said they didn’t have a quorum, because only three of the seven members were present in person. The fourth, attending via video conference, could not be counted for the quorum because <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">Texas statute reads: </a></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">Sec. 551.127.</a> VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL. (b) A meeting may be held by video conference call only if a <b>quorum of the governmental body is physically present at one location</b> of the meeting,…</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So six minutes in, the meeting was adjourned for lack of quorum.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2YbSmkQOqdo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YbSmkQOqdo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">BUT ... just 2 weeks ago, on June 27, 2018, the HCDE Board held another <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/5337/06-27-2018-special-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Special Board Meeting</a> for one <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/5337/06-27-2018-special-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">agenda item</a>. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A. Employment<br /> Principal, AB School East</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Just like the meeting today, <b>only three of the seven board members were physically present</b>. A fourth, Erica Lee-Carter, was present via video conference. <b>So legally, they did not have the quorum required by law. </b><br /><br />But that didn’t stop them. Not only did they hold the meeting, they went into closed session, and later voted to approve a Principal at AB School East.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hhJCuF801Ws/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hhJCuF801Ws?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">OOPS … There are at least three conflicts with the <a href="https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">Texas Open Meetings Act</a>: <br /><br />1. First, HCDE did not have a quorum physically present, so no board meeting could take place. <br /><br />2. Second, HCDE could not hold a closed session for private discussion among four board members without first convening in a legal open session. <br /><br />3. Third, they approved an employment position in an illegal meeting, so the vote is voidable.</span></div>
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Colleen Vera</div>
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colleenmvera@yahoo.com</div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-6793915940512577352018-07-09T12:08:00.001-05:002018-07-09T12:08:22.184-05:00HCDE Caught in a Lie<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fox 26 has been reporting on abuse allegations from one of
HCDE’s alternative schools for special needs students. Mainly, a specific incident
in the Fall of 2017 involving the alleged physical abuse of a special needs student from Cy-Fair ISD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="989" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnqmPLOHzIXcrdrRZoOVqKZGuKEI_BtqOsBk98O-_SW1kR-llj4CYiXv2Pv2XFQssgzK6V8OyndhkEzDk1jGAYqySa-JyvoDV5y2uxG-b8b46bFJBnidc8NBXUo7RwGQ7lbH4b8VQ7ODy/s200/fox+link+1.png" width="200" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">View Video:<a href="http://www.fox26houston.com/news/harris-county-department-of-education-facing-student-abuse-allegations" target="_blank"> Here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Further, a former teacher was interviewed claiming HCDE does not have
a behavior management specialist on campus, leading to the repeated use of
physical force to restrain students.</span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJGvkrPAxiVFalNrzT2xi-bpXqwAeiR90ka91FL4puoZhHQ1AetHyNbDXCvK6X-E5bdLWz9irRwH59jNq7OMNBPflXGnCVhxlFPadI9Ina_lk2Q3a7kacTFhWkeRaOUZNKgPNNr_C7dB3/s1600/fox+link+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1401" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJGvkrPAxiVFalNrzT2xi-bpXqwAeiR90ka91FL4puoZhHQ1AetHyNbDXCvK6X-E5bdLWz9irRwH59jNq7OMNBPflXGnCVhxlFPadI9Ina_lk2Q3a7kacTFhWkeRaOUZNKgPNNr_C7dB3/s200/fox+link+2.png" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> View Video: <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/344848368-video" target="_blank">Here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">HCDE's comment to the report reads:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuCFNnLfAR9ZUwtjyU9DAM3jumziC9jZayJpK-AX9VzPvPd8fC6srEzTaRAAx8nA_oQXLgru3Nte4QpNX-2j_cw7LukaFHIMX6WJLcxQ22cxxUnOwvAHtQyadGl7WllKVhZdyzYVRyuso/s1600/fox+report.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1415" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuCFNnLfAR9ZUwtjyU9DAM3jumziC9jZayJpK-AX9VzPvPd8fC6srEzTaRAAx8nA_oQXLgru3Nte4QpNX-2j_cw7LukaFHIMX6WJLcxQ22cxxUnOwvAHtQyadGl7WllKVhZdyzYVRyuso/s320/fox+report.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> View Full Report: <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/344848368-video" target="_blank">Here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oops…HCDE
should have never put that in writing because their own records show that
statement to be FALSE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Last year I filed the following request for public information with HCDE:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFULquZhNeMWmZn7n8lWHm0MNTTSlG_dxY6OAXwDSQSM3hTYE2LN3KQcsMMYohAiBOaRDArESQOIRJtCYfYN9HrlnVE52n66FgY3tVbclqMmU0zNE2QFq0RdNbuFWlXlnAYzOrIhKUnwS9/s1600/orr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="999" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFULquZhNeMWmZn7n8lWHm0MNTTSlG_dxY6OAXwDSQSM3hTYE2LN3KQcsMMYohAiBOaRDArESQOIRJtCYfYN9HrlnVE52n66FgY3tVbclqMmU0zNE2QFq0RdNbuFWlXlnAYzOrIhKUnwS9/s400/orr.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">HCDE sent me the following reply:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWokBmy_adcqE-pQIPVLbhWl9vRvWXLIcnyoGGYyT5htpGbf8lzQ-VTVDXCw7lBioz41c-Gwb0YErpAhvpyui-c1d5FDK8TBwdp251e_vG7RHVoqEkgo0uTHtA63Lrj2McHe1o1FyE5pwr/s1600/pir+reply+crop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="1083" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWokBmy_adcqE-pQIPVLbhWl9vRvWXLIcnyoGGYyT5htpGbf8lzQ-VTVDXCw7lBioz41c-Gwb0YErpAhvpyui-c1d5FDK8TBwdp251e_vG7RHVoqEkgo0uTHtA63Lrj2McHe1o1FyE5pwr/s400/pir+reply+crop.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">HCDE’s own records show the behavior management position HCDE claims has been serving HCDE's Special Schools for the past 9 years has:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>NO Job Description</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>NO contract</b> for a person holding that position </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>NO work schedule</b> documents, and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">HCDE made <b>NO payments</b> to a person holding that
position from 12/1/16 through 2/1/17</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Senator Bettencourt even showed HCDE's claim to be FALSE at a Texas Senate
Education Committee hearing on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>April 11 of last year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVldy71ueCuW7IxGMqFuMICSDOmTCT_IaEiXbLr2rZUVOAblgWT_tGxQvqS3J4wjrCji8hX8SatbRm0mfBY8QfKeAURlwHAXzS-UM7Vt95067YTdRJgkrTAnHp0VSstbpGHndnZi9D8hyphenhyphenI/s1600/ed+com+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="739" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVldy71ueCuW7IxGMqFuMICSDOmTCT_IaEiXbLr2rZUVOAblgWT_tGxQvqS3J4wjrCji8hX8SatbRm0mfBY8QfKeAURlwHAXzS-UM7Vt95067YTdRJgkrTAnHp0VSstbpGHndnZi9D8hyphenhyphenI/s320/ed+com+2.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Forward to 3:19:48 - <a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=42&clip_id=12173" target="_blank">Here</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Emails I obtained through open records show that the former
teacher interviewed by FOX 26, Ron Angeletti, asked the HCDE administration for the name and
contact information of HCDE's behavior management specialist so he could get
help for his students.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can read for
yourself the run around the teacher received when he asked the Principal for the name and </span>contact<span style="font-family: inherit;"> information of HCDE's campus behavior management specialist …. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><u><b>Principal:</b></u> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Mr. Angeletti we have the same Behavior Specialist as the ABS-East campus.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><u><b>Teacher:</b></u> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Who are you referring to... It is my understanding that ABS East does not have a Behavior Specialist. Would you please specifically state the name and contact information of your campus (ABS West) Behavior Specialist.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><u><b>Principal:</b></u> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">We do not have a campus behavior Specialist at this time. We share a BCBA.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><u><b>Teacher to Superintendent:</b></u> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Are you aware that your </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Behavior Centers </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">(ABS East, ABS West) do not have </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Behavior Specialist </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">on staff? If so, how do you suppose that the needs of the students are being meet as it pertains to behavior?</span></blockquote>
View full email chain: <a href="file:///C:/Users/Colleen/Documents/RE%20Staff%20Member.htm" target="_blank">Here</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The HCDE teacher never did get the name of any behavior management specialist available for his students</span>.<br />
<br />
Instead, two weeks after sending his email to the Superintendent, HCDE not only suspended the teacher without pay, they did not renew his contract.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3RLzgRqozfRXs4L_wsCeMy8po7Pfz3aNU3z6LDmg99FVoD8ilky1f9lsrBmyIKZe4Ku_0jh86nJjAflXxAbHOIIPnh9t_7evcVS5x117qfuxP-67hyphenhyphenvrUf6TldvjKuhwPfPh3ATFv3oh/s1600/RA+susp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="729" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3RLzgRqozfRXs4L_wsCeMy8po7Pfz3aNU3z6LDmg99FVoD8ilky1f9lsrBmyIKZe4Ku_0jh86nJjAflXxAbHOIIPnh9t_7evcVS5x117qfuxP-67hyphenhyphenvrUf6TldvjKuhwPfPh3ATFv3oh/s320/RA+susp.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Read Full Board Meeting Minutes 2/28/17: <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/4684/02-28-2017-board-meeting-minutes.pdf" target="_blank">Here</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Even
the list of positions recently approved for HCDE’s Special Schools at the May 16, 2018 HCDE board meeting shows
no position related to behavior management.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4gurLg6Z44rnwDlrc0ieaLwSBB01cD1TBnYuBRVmN4HOlbVENmpITaHfD0ZUXXrPJ4bU8md2qhtr8Lg1iDws2xpcDtOMsUNunRPkVLUz05uoPWqO5dkKJWlMdcd1hzNkQGimkiGOQkr6/s1600/posistions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4gurLg6Z44rnwDlrc0ieaLwSBB01cD1TBnYuBRVmN4HOlbVENmpITaHfD0ZUXXrPJ4bU8md2qhtr8Lg1iDws2xpcDtOMsUNunRPkVLUz05uoPWqO5dkKJWlMdcd1hzNkQGimkiGOQkr6/s320/posistions.png" width="192" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">View Full Agenda : <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/5295/05-16-2018-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank"> Here</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, HCDE’s administration has been caught in a BIG LIE
that is hurting the special needs students whom the ISDs have placed in HCDE's care. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This time the Board can’t claim “they didn’t know” that HCDE doesn't have a behavior management specialist on staff in their special schools because…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Senator Bettencourt read it into the Legislative
record on <a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=42&clip_id=12173" target="_blank">April 11, 2017</a> with Board members present and</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Former HCDE teacher Ron Angeletti gave copies of his emails to the entire Board when he spoke passionately about his concerns at the Board meeting on April 18, 2018. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11DIHCNzThI" target="_blank">(8:00-12:45)</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who is going to stop HCDE's lies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, here’s the problem:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">HCDE is a stand-alone Political Subdivision of the
State of Texas. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It answers to no one but
the Texas Legislature because</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">HCDE is the only remaining County School Board in
Texas, left over from the early 1900s and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The laws governing HCDE were so antiquated that
the Legislature repealed them in the 1990s.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That means there is no one for the people to call to force
HCDE to tell the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Texas Legislature doesn’t meet again until 2019, so currently
<b>the best protection the students have is from the ISDs to which they are zoned.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ISDs contract with HCDE to place special needs students in HCDE's alternative schools at a cost of $20,000+ per year per slot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It is the responsibility of the ISDs to step up to protect their own students.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The ISDs must:</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Insist on documented proof
the students are receiving the support and services HCDE has been contracted to
provide and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Start sending SURPRISE inspectors on a regular basis to guarantee that their special needs students are receiving ALL the services the ISDs are paying HCDE to provide. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">If
you are a taxpayer in any of the following districts, you should contact your Superintendent’s
Office to insist that your ISD: </span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Require documented
proof that your student(s) attending HCDE’s Special Schools are receiving ALL
the services HCDE is being paid to provide and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Send SURPRISE inspection teams to ensure HCDE is delivering the quality service your children
deserve:</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<o:p></o:p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ISD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Phone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Email<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Aldine ISD <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt;">Dr. LaTonya Goffney</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(281)
985-6200</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alief ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #3e3e3f; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">HD
Chambers </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(</span><span style="background: white; color: #3e3e3f; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">281) 498-8110 ext 29219</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">barbarajessika.leal@aliefisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alvin ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Buck
Gilcrease, Ed.D.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 388-1130<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">bgilcrease@alvinisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Barbers Hill ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Greg Poole<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 576-2221<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">gpoole@bhisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Bellville ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Michael Coker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(979) 865-3133
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">mcoker@bellvilleisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Channelview ISD
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Greg Ollis
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 452-8008
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Clear Creek ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt;">Dr. Greg Smith </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt;">(281) 284-0002 </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .25pt;">grsmith@ccisd.net</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Conroe ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr Curtis Null
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(936) 709-7702
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">lgodfrey@conroeisd.net <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Crosby ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Scott Davis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 328-9200 ext
1202 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">sdavis@crosbyisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cypress Fairbanks
ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Mark Henry <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(281) 897-4077 </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">mark.henry@cfisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Deer Park ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Victor White<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(832) 668-7080<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">white@dpisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dayton ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Jessica
Johnson <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(936) 258-2667</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">jessica.johnson@daytonisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dickinson ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Vicki Mims<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 229-6000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">vmims@dickinsonisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fort Bend ISD
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Charles E. Dupre, Ed.D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(281) 634-1000</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">charles.dupre@fortbendisd.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Friendswood ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thad Roher<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 482-1267<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">troher@fisdk12.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Galena Park ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Angi Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(832) 386-1000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">awilliams@galenaparkisd.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Galveston ISD
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Kelli Moulton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(409) 766-5121<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">kellimoulton@gisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Goose Creek CISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Randal O'Brien <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(281) 707-3220<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hitchcock ISD <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carla Vickroy
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(409) 316-6545 </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">cvickroy@hitchcockisd.org <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Houston ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Grenita Lathan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(713) 556-6300<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">HISDSuperintendent@Houstonisd.org
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Huffman ISD <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Benny
Soileau<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 324-7606<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Humble ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Elizabeth
Fagen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 641-1000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">elizabeth.fagen@humbleisd.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Katy ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Lance Hindt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 396-2304<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">La Porte ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Lloyd Graham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 604)-7000 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">supt-secretary@lpisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Magnolia ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Todd
Stephens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 356-3571<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">tstephens@magnoliaisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pasadena ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. DeeAnn
Powell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(713) 740-0242
Ext 70244<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pearland ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. John Kelly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #4c4a42; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(281) 485-3203</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">kellyj@pearlandisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Santa Fe ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Leigh Wall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(409) 925-3526<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">leigh.wall@sfisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sheldon ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">King R. Davis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 727-2006<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Spring ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Rodney E.
Watson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 891-6025<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="151">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Spring Branch ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Scott R. Muri,
Ed.D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 132.95pt;" valign="top" width="177">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(713) 464-1511<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 182.95pt;" valign="top" width="244">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">superintendent@springbranchisd.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Stafford MSD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Robert
Bostic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 261-9202<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">supt@staffordmsd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Texas City ISD<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Rodney
Cavness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(409) 916-0100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">RCavness@tcisd.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tomball ISD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dr. Martha
Salazar-Zamora<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">(281) 357-3100
ext 2005<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Colleen Vera<br />
colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com<br />
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-69971226908210622442017-11-28T10:29:00.001-06:002021-09-14T15:09:37.211-05:00Democrats Want HCDE to Encourage Students to Sit for the Pledge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Harris County is home to the only school board in Texas elected by political party – The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE.) </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br />At their October meeting, Democrat Trustee Erica Lee-Carter (daughter of Democrat US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee) refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /><br />Later in the meeting, Trustee Lee-Carter spoke on the issue requesting that an item be placed on the November agenda for HCDE to vote to affirm the right of all students and staff to remain seated during the Pledge of Allegiance.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Diane Trautman, the only other Democrat Trustee, stated her “support” for Trustee Lee-Carter in her comments.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Note:</b> You can view the full meeting video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ6vl3wYfj4&t=576s" target="_blank">here</a>. Lee-Carter at 54:23; Trautman at 57:20 </span></span></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But, Texas statute already confirms a <a href="https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Procedures_for_the_start_of_the_day/" target="_blank">parent’s right to excuse his/her child during the Pledge of Allegiance</a>. Every school district has a policy in place for parents to sign a waiver. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Why are these Democrat HCDE Trustees who have served on this board for <b>FIVE YEARS</b>, suddenly interested in sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance? </span></span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Why do they want HCDE to go “<i>on the record</i>” supporting disrespect for our flag and the soldiers who died for it?<br /><br />HCDE already uses our property taxes to push every liberal federally funded “education” program the Democrats crave, from <i><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/divisions-and-leadership/head-start/" target="_blank">Head Start</a></i> to <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/divisions-and-leadership/case-for-kids/" target="_blank"><i>21st Century Community Learning Centers</i>.</a><br /><br />Now the Democrats want to use HCDE to train students and staff to protest in support of the liberal Democrat agenda during school hours!<br /><br />The next HCDE meeting will be <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/Media/5073/11-29-2017-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Wed., Nov 29, 2017 at 1:00 pm.</a><br /><br />If you would like to let the HCDE Trustees know how you feel about elected <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/" target="_blank">County School Trustees</a> refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance, and encouraging students and teachers to do the same, their contact info is below:</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">(1) You can leave a message by phone: </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">713-694-6300</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> ...ask to speak to the Board Secretary ...or... </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />(2) You can email the Trustees individually:<br /><br /><u><b>Democrats</b></u></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/erica-lee-carter/" target="_blank"><b>Eric Lee-Carter</b></a> <a href="mailto:elee@hcde-texas.org">elee@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/diane-trautman/" target="_blank"><b>Diane Trautman</b></a> <a href="mailto:dtrautman@hcde-texas.org">dtrautman@hcde-texas.org</a><br /><br /><u><b>Republicans </b></u></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><u><b></b></u><b><u><br /></u></b>Board President: <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/louis-evans/" target="_blank"><b>Louis D. Evans</b></a> <a href="mailto:levans@hcde-texas.org">levans@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br />Vice President: <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/eric-dick/" target="_blank"><b>Eric Dick</b></a> <a href="mailto:edick@hcde-texas.org">edick@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/mike-wolfe/" target="_blank"><b>Michael Wolfe</b></a> <a href="mailto:mwolfe@hcde-texas.org">mwolfe@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/don-sumners/" target="_blank"><b>Don Sumners</b></a> <a href="mailto:dsumners@hcde-texas.org">dsumners@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/george-moore/" target="_blank"><b>George Moore</b></a> <a href="mailto:gmoore@hcde-texas.org">gmoore@hcde-texas.org</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">11/28/2017</span><br /><br /><br /> </span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-78029340175172001422017-01-30T21:51:00.001-06:002021-09-14T15:10:41.338-05:00HCDE & The Open Meetings Act<div>
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<a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/files/og/openmeeting_hb.pdf" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Greg Abbott</a><span style="font-size: large;"> said...</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"The <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">Texas Open Meetings Act </a>represents a commitment to the people of Texas that the public’s business will be conducted in the open. It is a <b>legal guarantee</b> of a transparent government..."</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/files/og/OMA_handbook_2016.pdf" target="_blank">Ken Paxton's Handbook</a> reads...</span></div>
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<i>“The provisions of [<a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">the Act</a>] are<b> mandatory</b> and are to be liberally construed in favor of <b>open government</b>.”</i></blockquote>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">What is the point of these promises if elected officials aren't really required to follow <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">The Texas Open Meetings Act?</a></span></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">So today I mailed the following letter to the <a href="https://app.dao.hctx.net/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Harris County DA's Public Integrity Division </a>requesting an investigation into possible violations of the <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm" target="_blank">Texas Open Meetings Act</a> by <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/board-agendas-2016/" target="_blank">HCDE's Board of Trustees</a> on <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/4425/01-26-17-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Jan. 26, 2017.</a></span><div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The facts:</span></u></b><br /><br />1. <span style="font-size: large;">The T<a href="https://www.tasb.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">exas Association of School Boards</a> (<a href="https://www.tasb.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">TASB</a>) legal services <a href="https://www.tasb.org/Services/Legal-Services/TASB-School-Law-eSource/Governance/documents/working_with_sch_atty_aug14.pdf" target="_blank">document</a> reads as follows:</span><b><br /></b></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><b><i>How does a school district hire a school attorney?</i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><i><b><u>The board votes</u>.</b> The board, acting as a body corporate, selects and retains the district’s attorney. While the superintendent’s recommendation is valuable, the board is the “client” which ultimately makes this critical decision.</i></span> </blockquote>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><i><u><b>Discuss in open session.</b></u> Discussions and deliberations regarding the retention of an attorney, interviews with prospective counsel or discussions of their qualifications, and discussions or negotiations of the contract between the district and its attorney <b>may not be conducted in closed meetings</b>. All such discussions must be conducted in properly posted open meetings. An outside attorney or law firm is an independent contractor; therefore, the personnel exception in the Open Meetings Act does not apply. Of course, if the district is employing an attorney to serve as a member of its staff, then the attorney will be an employee of the district and his or her employment may be discussed in closed session pursuant to the personnel exception. </i></span></blockquote>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">2. <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/board-agendas-2016/" target="_blank">HCDE </a>currently contracts with the law firm of <i><a href="http://www.rmgllp.com/" target="_blank">Rogers, Morris, & Grover, L.L.P.</a></i> to serve as their board attorney. An attorney from the firm is present at every HCDE Board meeting to provide legal advice because HCDE does not employ a staff attorney. <br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/board-agendas-2016/" target="_blank">HCDE</a> held its regular monthly board meeting on <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/4425/01-26-17-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Jan. 26, 2017</a>. <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/4425/01-26-17-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Agenda item 8W</a> would have hired new general counsel for HCDE and changed <a href="http://www.rmgllp.com/" target="_blank">Rogers, Morris, & Grover's</a> role at HCDE. </span></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">It read:</span></span></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">“<i>Consider hiring Chris Carmona as the HCDE’s board attorney and general counsel of HCDE. Rogers, Morris, & Grover, L.L.P. will be treated as “of counsel” and will be utilized at Chris Carmona’s discretion." </i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">4. HCDE Trustees held all of the discussions on this agenda item in closed session with the attorney from </span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"> <a href="http://www.rmgllp.com/" target="_blank">Rogers, Morris, & Grover, L.L.P,</a> even though the law firm is an independent contractor and a change in the firm’s contract was part of the agenda item.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">While <a href="http://www.rmgllp.com/" target="_blank">Rogers, Morris, & Grover, L.L.P. </a>was behind closed doors with the Trustees, the other attorney being considered for general counsel remained in the public meeting room and was not invited into closed session.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">You can view the Board's actions for yourself...</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXt-ZvoCDLM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXt-ZvoCDLM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><br /> View the video of the full meeting: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5K2UQo0fM&index=12&list=PL-CN0rWxB8ApfSKnR-OSyXyTXttauh_cY" target="_blank">here</a> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">5. After the closed session, HCDE’s Trustees still held no public discussion of the agenda item. Instead, the agenda item was amended to issue a <i>Request for Qualifications</i> and <a href="http://www.rmgllp.com/" target="_blank">Rogers, Morris, & Grover, L.L.P.’s</a> contract with HCDE remained unchanged with all discussions happening behind closed doors.</span><br /><br /></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Test</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those were the facts. Now for the test. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now is when the citizens of Harris County find out if the Texas Open Meetings Act really is "mandatory." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If it really is<i> </i>a<i> "legal guarantee of a transparent government..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or if it's all just more empty political promises. </span></div>
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Colleen Vera</div>
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colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-70464605393457270382017-01-10T23:18:00.001-06:002017-01-10T23:18:37.032-06:00HCDE...New Year...Old Challenges<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While so much of Harris County turned “blue” last November, the Harris County Department of Education (<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/" target="_blank">HCDE</a>) – the only school board in Texas elected by political party – added two new Republicans. Republicans who ran on conservative platforms.<br /><br />So, I attended their first “special” board meeting on <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/media/4404/01-09-17-special-board-meeting.pdf" target="_blank">1/9/17</a> with hopes the taxpayers might begin to see some positive change.<br /><br />For those who could not attend, I made a video of the meeting with my cell phone. You can view it below. I apologize for the poor sound quality. It seems that HCDE, who <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/divisions-and-leadership/technology/" target="_blank">markets itself</a> as a leader in technology support, couldn’t get their own microphones to work, so they passed around portable mics – sometimes.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />The highlights include some good news and some bad news.<br /><br /><b><u>I will start with the good.</u></b><br /><br />#1 . In his first board meeting, George Moore, the Republican representing Precinct 2, proved to be a taxpayer advocate. He made use of his career experience in project management to question such things as HCDE’s 15-20% contingencies in their building costs and cast his votes to end all tax-funded lobbying.<br /><br />#2. The Board approved two conservatives to the board of their <a href="https://hcde-texas.org/media/4352/2016_oct_investment_report.pdf" target="_blank">Public Facilities Corporation</a> – the “separate” corporation controlled by HCDE EMPLOYEES which HCDE uses to issue taxpayer backed bond debt WITHOUT ELECTIONS.<br /><br />#3. The Board terminated ONE </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKaSNs9PSEASlnC-GeqdMjvyrEyfFBIJjCJc4UjzVckjOSCRP0bSR0L_hk1gRdDCVxCg8dQL5EPj90pihvEB2SMpZJTYj-UN16rUekfD1USn16vwbEoPn065fBMuH7Lmh_T_DS-ri7zad/s1600/ps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKaSNs9PSEASlnC-GeqdMjvyrEyfFBIJjCJc4UjzVckjOSCRP0bSR0L_hk1gRdDCVxCg8dQL5EPj90pihvEB2SMpZJTYj-UN16rUekfD1USn16vwbEoPn065fBMuH7Lmh_T_DS-ri7zad/s200/ps.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> tax-funded lobbyist contract - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://strongstrategies.com/" target="_blank">Pat Strong</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">#4. After much he-said-she-said bickering, the board approved requiring full plans, including BUDGETS, for both new schools BEFORE spending any more funds. That is a given in most places, but it is a HUGE step forward for HCDE. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />Maybe with enough pressure, HCDE will even let the taxpayers review the full plans and budgets online BEFORE the Board votes to spend the bond debt they got us into without an election…but that will have to be another story.<br /><br /><b><u>Now, for the not so good news.</u></b><br /><br />#1 - In his FIRST EVER Board meeting, Eric Dick, the Republican representing Precinct 4, used the Joe Straus method to get himself elected Vice President. The two Democrats quickly motioned to nominate and second the unelected RINO<b>*</b> for President and the newbie Dick for VP. After a 2 ½ minute delay, the Board’s attorney ruled that no substitute motion could be made, and Dick proceeded to vote with Sheila Jackson Lee’s daughter to keep the conservatives from the top 2 Board positions. <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*appointed by the previous board to fill Kay Smith’s position after she resigned to run for State Rep</i></span><br /><br />#2 – Later, Dick voted with the Democrats again to keep in place their $10,000 per moth tax-funded lobbying contract with Hill Co.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnFxxNex13An6s9OQjEiC7m7_trEJclrpZSe0a6lqhyphenhyphenjmV_0AwIRzhXhOPBR5teDoE1W3WUEAFj8xRlirlAx4-MUcJCPms1j_J0xdJ2h2kAcZ9de0THlXI6sSFYhBDqSBimWANYxhyLw5/s1600/hill+co.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnFxxNex13An6s9OQjEiC7m7_trEJclrpZSe0a6lqhyphenhyphenjmV_0AwIRzhXhOPBR5teDoE1W3WUEAFj8xRlirlAx4-MUcJCPms1j_J0xdJ2h2kAcZ9de0THlXI6sSFYhBDqSBimWANYxhyLw5/s400/hill+co.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br />Positives</u></b><br /><br />Even though this first meeting was disappointing for conservatives, it still was the MOST PRODUCTIVE HCDE meeting EVER for the conservative cause!<br /><br />#1 – We got rid of ONE totally wasteful lobbying contract saving taxpayers $82,000 per year. May not seem like much considering the $21+ million HCDE collects in property taxes per year, but it is a start.<br /><br />#2 – For the first time EVER, two conservatives have a voice in <a href="https://hcde-texas.org/media/4352/2016_oct_investment_report.pdf" target="_blank">PFC</a> - the ”<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_corporation" target="_blank">shell</a>” corporation run by HCDE employees which HCDE uses to issue taxpayer backed bond debt WITHOUT ELECTIONS.<br /><br />#3 – For the first time, taxpayers may have an opportunity to view FULL plans and budgets for HCDE’s building projects without having to file requests for public information. Maybe even online BEFORE a meeting so the public can comment BEFORE the board votes.<br /><br />#4 – The taxpayers have a new fiscally responsible advocate on the board in Trustee Moore. One who can use his professional experience in project management to rein in spending lacking adequate planning and detail. <br /><br />#5 – In this first meeting, Trustee Dick did vote WITH the conservatives MORE times than he voted with the Democrats.<br /><br /><b><u>Action Plan</u></b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b>Normally I suggest you contact the two new Trustees with your own comments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, two months after the election, HCDE's <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/" target="_blank">website</a> is still showing the names and contact information for their old Trustees. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYd4eB3PkpipomFZ3R6uHLgVE_20NG2BXWA5DbXNTlsS3KSMnlwaacwtDnpdNGqpSrMxz8jEPJBKkFf9-EuVpxxkZ7dJv_TJSacb1Jg6K3963-IsYwjp_8gxg4QuyLspD9MEvvVkrySQ9/s1600/trustees.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYd4eB3PkpipomFZ3R6uHLgVE_20NG2BXWA5DbXNTlsS3KSMnlwaacwtDnpdNGqpSrMxz8jEPJBKkFf9-EuVpxxkZ7dJv_TJSacb1Jg6K3963-IsYwjp_8gxg4QuyLspD9MEvvVkrySQ9/s320/trustees.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I guess they have been too busy working on their microphones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-35795757750962373672016-10-18T10:31:00.002-05:002021-09-14T15:11:15.398-05:00Texas Ethics Commission - Time to Reboot?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
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<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/about.htm" target="_blank">The Texas Ethics Commission</a> (TEC) was established in <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/StrategicPlan_2011-2015.pdf" target="_blank">1992</a> to <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">ensure</a></div>
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“<i>fair, consistent, and tough enforcement of campaign finance, lobby, and other ethics laws.</i>”</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">TEC’s<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank"> Key objectives</a> are outlined in <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.571.htm" target="_blank">Chapter 571</a> of the Texas Government Code:</span></div>
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<ol><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
<li>Control and reduce the cost of elections.</li>
<li>Eliminate opportunities for undue influence over elections and government actions.</li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;">Disclose fully information related to expenditures and contributions for elections </span>and for petitioning the government.</li>
<li>Enhance the potential for individual participation in electoral and governmental processes and</li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;">Ensure the public’s confidence and trust in the government.</span> </li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
In 2014 the Legislature <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">increased TEC’s funding</a> in order to roll out a new electronic filing system that was <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">described as</a> an</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> “intuitive …system that will provide feedback for clearly wrong entries to help <b>reduce filing errors</b>…result in more <b>accurate information for the public</b>. The new electronic filing system will contain comprehensive management tools, including a robust database that will allow the <b>Commission to verify the completeness and accuracy</b> of disclosure information.”</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And of course, the new system required new tax-funded <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">staff positions</a> to provide more robust training and enforcement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />It sounded good at the time. The TEC using advanced technology to keep track of electronic filings by candidates made sense. After all, computers are great at mundane tasks such as making sure reports are filed on time and checking basic math.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />But, a closer look…a look at an actual candidate in 2016…shows <b>TEC’s expensive new technology and staff are NOT catching even the most basic noncompliance issues.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Thus, the <b>TEC is NOT ensuring full disclosure of campaign finances.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><u><b>Example: Judge Elaine Palmer – Harris County 215th Civil District Court </b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b><a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">Elaine Palmer</a> was elected Judge of the Harris Count 215th Civil District Court in<a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/20121106/cumulative/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank"> 2012.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />She is currently running for re-election. She was on the ballot in both the <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/20160301/cumulative/Dem/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank">2016 Democrat Primary</a> and the <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/20160524/cumulative/Dem/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank">Democrat Primary Run-off.</a> She won the run-off and is now on the <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/SampleBallot/SampleBallot.pdf" target="_blank">2016 General Election ballot.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />As a current office holder, and a currently opposed candidate, she is required by law to file numerous campaign financial reports by <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/schedule/s16state.pdf" target="_blank">specific dates</a> throughout the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />But….</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">July of 2015</a>, Judge Palmer did not file her semi-annual report with the TEC. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What did TEC do about it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> ...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">January of 2016</a>, Judge Palmer did not file another semi-annual report with the TEC. What did TEC do about it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> ...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">February of 2016</a>, Judge Palmer failed to file her “<i>30 days before the Primary Election</i>” report. What did TEC do about it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> ...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">February of 2016</a>, Judge Palmer failed to file her “<i>8 days before the Primary Election</i>” report. What did TEC do about it?</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> ...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank"> May of 2016</a>, Judge Palmer failed to file her “<i>Run-off Election</i>” report. What did TEC do about it? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> ...<b>ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">July of 2016</a>, Judge Palmer failed to file yet another semi-annual report. What did TEC do about it? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> ...<b> ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>In short – a current office holder and candidate did not report anything about her campaign finances for over a year before the election, during her primary election, or during her primary run-off....</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b>And the TEC, the government agency whose duty is to ensure FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE of candidate expenditures and contributions did NOTHING…</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> ...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Judge Palmer’s reporting issues don’t end there.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />In <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">September of 2016</a>, six months after the primary election, Judge Palmer finally filed late reports going back to 2015.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />That same day <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100644871.pdf" target="_blank">she filed</a> a “<i>FINAL REPORT</i>.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TvkWNIzdUS6WbzNdmTDg3yPi0lb7bbpMUo7RpzqGLeva-0GzxXckO9g7TRicL3BNb_UFnTPgSvWZN1PD-Nql-ZhNmPaEQRz7g8IdZ7BbWh3Vv7esbHaZzvFU5mHm6XdhAhf6ZFofd1pF/s1600/eth6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TvkWNIzdUS6WbzNdmTDg3yPi0lb7bbpMUo7RpzqGLeva-0GzxXckO9g7TRicL3BNb_UFnTPgSvWZN1PD-Nql-ZhNmPaEQRz7g8IdZ7BbWh3Vv7esbHaZzvFU5mHm6XdhAhf6ZFofd1pF/s400/eth6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That’s right….a current officeholder…and currently opposed candidate…filed a “<i>FINAL REPORT</i>” ending her campaign reporting right in the middle of the General Election!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100644871.pdf" target="_blank">She signed the following statement</a>:</span></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>“I do <b>not expect any further political contributions</b> or political expenditures <b>in connection with my candidacy. </b>I understand that designating a report as a final report <b>terminates my campaign treasurer appointment.</b> I also understand that <b>I may not accept any campaign contributions</b> or make any campaign expenditures <b>without a campaign treasurer appointment on file</b>.”</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC0MW3RPnjsFz8CvOFNoOEtMxX1C3NHeSVY8JCoHGIYimHdJmHs3jycj_QswcB2VROqRoWSWBOQdLlp9xdgo_kQXjvwxITwV5KOxwbNWtcve58byQfK5x1ZeWjlRDvYRzF6f3qQuDfSVK/s1600/eth7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC0MW3RPnjsFz8CvOFNoOEtMxX1C3NHeSVY8JCoHGIYimHdJmHs3jycj_QswcB2VROqRoWSWBOQdLlp9xdgo_kQXjvwxITwV5KOxwbNWtcve58byQfK5x1ZeWjlRDvYRzF6f3qQuDfSVK/s400/eth7.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">According to TEC records, since terminating her campaign treasurer on 5/14/16, Judge Palmer has still not filed a new treasurer appointment ….</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEd89Pn5Sel5uVCvkNRaN_37Sng8cNDjAFS0j8xyLC9c9AyfjKHSTSoJtcndF-IGhCYycVxJjqJalQiDNWwVsKlJbvLULNYwW5M7T4-MeNKMtu8N8_GH9ISRZHvCY1uswW6YHHKjmJNVv/s1600/tec+email+palmer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEd89Pn5Sel5uVCvkNRaN_37Sng8cNDjAFS0j8xyLC9c9AyfjKHSTSoJtcndF-IGhCYycVxJjqJalQiDNWwVsKlJbvLULNYwW5M7T4-MeNKMtu8N8_GH9ISRZHvCY1uswW6YHHKjmJNVv/s320/tec+email+palmer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and yet…</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />She has claimed over $26,000 in <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">new campaign contributions</a>, while continuing to list her terminated treasurer on her reports, and not having a current campaign treasurer appointment on file with the TEC.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />And that’s still not the end of Judge Palmer’s reporting issues.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Two PACs reported <i>Judge Elaine Palmer Campaign</i> contributions to the TEC that Judge Palmer did NOT report.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7sKSPTI2h4Bfq-nRX9XLN7IDfU-i78ElMeNQA1TyREW-nWKbjTHHpl5LwCUxlD5ax4OmYNKx5uPqAvkfuF_8rpCN9PSsgpHoIbVPbygczWEQ0nnCWn7QnijHesDH8xWtw5yECMCp44fh/s1600/tec8.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7sKSPTI2h4Bfq-nRX9XLN7IDfU-i78ElMeNQA1TyREW-nWKbjTHHpl5LwCUxlD5ax4OmYNKx5uPqAvkfuF_8rpCN9PSsgpHoIbVPbygczWEQ0nnCWn7QnijHesDH8xWtw5yECMCp44fh/s200/tec8.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">The </span><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100647135.pdf" target="_blank">Harris County Democrat Party</a></i><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> reported receiving $1,000 from </span><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The Elaine Palmer Campaign</i><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> on </span><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100647135.pdf" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">August 3, 2016</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">. But Judge Palmer </span><a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">did not report</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> that contribution on her </span><a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100646987.pdf" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">campaign financial report. </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_p6pWnHqchg_eHssZZhEez_R7SXUQ9BYOqzpZyzGbDTS4zm0tBjIlMLbKe8LFTrd_aLxY_N2CwuYbgqXXCjQ0LC0WY3iurg5tbAa_yHzZrxawqugXCA31izYxVtso4uPMFJOKNP7uPmy/s1600/tec9.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_p6pWnHqchg_eHssZZhEez_R7SXUQ9BYOqzpZyzGbDTS4zm0tBjIlMLbKe8LFTrd_aLxY_N2CwuYbgqXXCjQ0LC0WY3iurg5tbAa_yHzZrxawqugXCA31izYxVtso4uPMFJOKNP7uPmy/s200/tec9.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100006889&reportLocale=en_US" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><i>The Texans for Good Leaders PAC</i><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>reported</a><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> making the following contributions to the </span><i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Elaine Palmer Campaign</i><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">$5,000 on <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100624256.pdf" target="_blank">2/18/16</a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> $10,000 on <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100628768.pdf" target="_blank">2/25/16</a><br /> $1,000 on <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100645235.pdf" target="_blank">7/18/16</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But Judge Palmer <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/jasperserver-pro/flow.html?_flowId=viewReportFlow&decorate=no&reportUnit=%2Fpublic%2FpublicData%2Fdatasource%2FAll_Reports&CorrFlag=N&FilerInfoId=100013181&reportLocale=en_US" target="_blank">did not report</a> receiving these three </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">contributions totaling $16,000 on her campaign </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">reports.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And the math Judge Palmer used in <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100644871.pdf" target="_blank">her report </a> covering 2/21/16 thru 5/14/16 doesn’t add up either.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 36.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Palmer’s<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Campaign<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Math</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Normal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Voter’s<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Math</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Starting
cash on hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$ 8,233.17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$ 8,233.17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Monetary
Contributions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> + 9,350.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> + 9,350.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Total
Expenditures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> - 34,055.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> - 34,055.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="top" width="218"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ending
Cash on Hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$ <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100644871.pdf" target="_blank"> 964.92</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="135"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">$ (16,471.83)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">A discrepancy of over $16,000…yet again…no red flags by the TEC’s new electronic reporting system and expert staff? The ones the Legislature was told <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">would</a> “<i>allow the Commission to <b>verify the completeness and accuracy of disclosure information</b>?</i>”</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />As a taxpayer, I find the lack of public disclosure being allowed by the TEC very disturbing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b><u>In Summary</u></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2om5OVu6amBhIrfp22I2XZXgF4T63gDn0NOrBU3bdj7XiAvyjfyIwaDhda2IpIdZJOJzt85N1CCzYqDEV4hdBvPi60wMZP2VLTUGOytjhV8rlpFZMWqjXP8zIPEt53ivNK3i-Xn7mLeX/s1600/tec.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2om5OVu6amBhIrfp22I2XZXgF4T63gDn0NOrBU3bdj7XiAvyjfyIwaDhda2IpIdZJOJzt85N1CCzYqDEV4hdBvPi60wMZP2VLTUGOytjhV8rlpFZMWqjXP8zIPEt53ivNK3i-Xn7mLeX/s400/tec.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The TEC has been <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">entrusted</a> to ensure the public’s confidence in our government by ensuring full disclosure by candidates in Texas elections. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />The TEC <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LegReports.htm" target="_blank">“self- reported”</a> to the Legislature that the TEC works hard to <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">ensure</a> “<i>fair, consistent, and tough enforcement of campaign finance, lobby, and other ethics laws.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />The TEC purchased a state of the art <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">technology system</a> that they <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/LAR_FY16-17.pdf" target="_blank">claimed</a> would "<i>allow the Commission to verify the completeness and accuracy of disclosure information.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Yet, one candidate breaks multiple compliance rules:</span></div>
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<ol><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
<li>Fails to file campaign reports for over a year </li>
<li>Fails to file any reports during a Primary Election</li>
<li>Fails to file any reports during a Run-off Election</li>
<li>Files a FINAL REPORT during a General Election and then continues to receive campaign donations</li>
<li>Accepts over $26,000 without a current treasurer on file</li>
<li>Fails to report $17,000 in donations reported to the TEC by PACs</li>
<li>Math errors totaling over $16,000</li>
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And the TEC does <b>NOTHING…</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">.......<b>ABSOLUTELY NOTHING</b>…. to inform the voters.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYjhjMty_Wfo-IeihkEGLBB8vZBlY3kIi7ijWmwvdZSFvJT95cmD9lK38R9mwGx-Vhm6V_BK23MNakj7mWQWmEqOigSdar3dGZiIADb53KPMK1VwSf_nIL6qV-8Wa9i4vdmVXnpvd8mWG/s1600/eth3.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYjhjMty_Wfo-IeihkEGLBB8vZBlY3kIi7ijWmwvdZSFvJT95cmD9lK38R9mwGx-Vhm6V_BK23MNakj7mWQWmEqOigSdar3dGZiIADb53KPMK1VwSf_nIL6qV-8Wa9i4vdmVXnpvd8mWG/s320/eth3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />The TEC did not place Judge Palmer on their “<a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/dfs/delinquent/coh/" target="_blank"><i>delinquent filer</i>”</a> list in 2015 or 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The TEC did not have Judge Palmer’s campaign report issues on any <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/tec/meetings.htm" target="_blank">meeting agenda</a> during 2015 or 2016…and...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLyR13hSRnE0Sv-H5j3wfkqSYgMZ3sML1H6M4DufVHpf-Ypu3vDuWldqrmDih0NhoiqMD-PMJaxjmC6iPQkNzzMoHdEGFC9rWjEJtm0A-XerzbhN0qtv6lT8h76amMFUkPPlldpnCKagH/s1600/eth4.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLyR13hSRnE0Sv-H5j3wfkqSYgMZ3sML1H6M4DufVHpf-Ypu3vDuWldqrmDih0NhoiqMD-PMJaxjmC6iPQkNzzMoHdEGFC9rWjEJtm0A-XerzbhN0qtv6lT8h76amMFUkPPlldpnCKagH/s320/eth4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The TEC do not have Judge Palmer on their <a href="https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/orderlst_issued.html" target="_blank">sworn complaint</a> order list for 2015 or 2016...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXwS5DhDf6u_1k4mfzLaHp80C0T6HMsqwI4u42RNSHljen2vbPZ3e4pRyWTIpQWNBrdd6fi-lIaI3tU_0BfAQx-wV3Tvav8W4UYsbv2bLBF1daC7rOshfWKb28UxImVnglymGWNDZkqGZ/s1600/tec5.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXwS5DhDf6u_1k4mfzLaHp80C0T6HMsqwI4u42RNSHljen2vbPZ3e4pRyWTIpQWNBrdd6fi-lIaI3tU_0BfAQx-wV3Tvav8W4UYsbv2bLBF1daC7rOshfWKb28UxImVnglymGWNDZkqGZ/s200/tec5.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />...even after I personally filed sworn complaints concerning Judge Palmer's lack of campaign reporting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/EarlyVoting/EarlyVotingLocationsScheduleNonIE.pdf" target="_blank">next week</a>, Harris County voters will go to the polls not knowing a very important fact... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">...the fact that a <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/SampleBallot/SampleBallot.pdf" target="_blank">candidate for the 215th District Civil Judge</a>….a position which imposes penalties on others who do not live up to their responsibilities….completely ignores her own legal responsibilities in campaign reporting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">They will not have the facts because the Texas Ethics Commission is incapable of detecting simple, basic violations of campaign finance reporting laws….even with the newest technology and additional staff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />As a taxpayer, it makes no sense to me for Texans to continue <a href="http://docs.lbb.state.tx.us/display.aspx?DocType=LAR&agy=356&fy=2018" target="_blank">funding the TEC</a>. We should cut our losses, admit the TEC is a complete failure, and turn the responsibility of ensuring complete and accurate campaign reporting over to someone who IS capable of doing this important job for Texas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Preferably a commission elected by the people of Texas. A commission which answers directly to us. So when they don't do their job, we can vote them out of office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></div>
texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-17876200164934864472016-09-09T23:28:00.002-05:002021-09-14T15:12:48.805-05:004th Grade Propaganda in Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60NVtkRqn_fJDr7H_8JiCSP-At4l_Iox4sQk-aYJA4y7a5cNwdndHL6xcj5KlI3TEu5ZbfYFgHJHayUwgXwHaHObIUP173YItWRS1qzYTzh54wVICb6XQTbsi1iqFJvjIOnU1ccGKtLe3/s1600/assignment.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why should Texas parents read their child’s homework assignments?<br /><br />Just ask <a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php" target="_blank">Harris County ESD9 </a>Commissioner, <a href="http://www.hcesd9.org/index.php/commissioners/item/5-commissioner-scott-deboer" target="_blank">Scott Debour.</a><br /><br />His 4th grade son, who attends <a href="http://moore.cfisd.net/en/" target="_blank">Moore Elementary</a> in <a href="http://www.cfisd.net/en/" target="_blank">Cy-Fair ISD</a>, brought home <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWFlsUjdLZFp3VVk/view" target="_blank">this</a> “writing” assignment yesterday.<br /><br />Simple enough…read a passage and find the errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling and grammar. <br /><br />No problem, until his dad read the passage…</span><div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />…and found “writing” being used to push the liberal animal rights agenda on his 4th grade son.<br /><br />You can read the full passage <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWFlsUjdLZFp3VVk/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Or <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWFlsUjdLZFp3VVk/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">read</a> just a few lines…and you will get the idea…</span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
<li>“<i>If you ask me, I believe zoos should close…</i></li>
<li><i>“Another example of mistreatment at zoos is the chimps…”</i></li>
<li><i>“Another chimp named Mimi knows over 300 words in sign language. She’s as smart as a 2 year old. So if chimps are kept in zoos, why aren’t toddlers…”</i></li>
<li><i>“That’s why I believe all zoos are not animal friendly and should be closed down.</i>”</li>
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Does <a href="http://www.cfisd.net/en/" target="_blank">Cy-Fair ISD</a> really think the <a href="http://www.houstonzoo.org/" target="_blank">Houston Zoo</a>, the closest zoo to Moore Elementary, is a horrible place for animals?<br /><br />Because most Houstonians would describe it as a wonderful zoo. <br /><br />Not only are the animals living in <a href="http://www.houstonzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/NE_Meerkat_Exhibit.jpg" target="_blank">natural habitats</a>…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">…the zoo keepers work hard to keep the animals stimulated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Watch the clever way the <a href="http://www.houstonzoo.org/animals/african-lion/" target="_blank">African lions are fed at the Houston Zoo</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.houstonzoo.org/" target="_blank">Houston Zoo</a> also offer a variety of hands-on animal encounters for kids…</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.houstonzoo.org/exhibits/natural-encounters/" target="_blank">Animal encounters</a> which could never be matched with just a picture or film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>What can Texas parents do?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />First, make an appointment with your child’s teacher to preview the materials which will be used this school year. If you find assignments you feel are inappropriate for you child, request an “alternate assignment.” One in which your child learns the same skills, without the left wing bias.<br /><br />Second, read the assignments your child brings home. If you still find issues, you can work your way up the chain of command – the school principal, curriculum director, superintendent, school board – but that could take months.<br /><br />If you want faster results, read the problematic lessons to the school board during public testimony at their monthly meetings. Then send the lessons to your State Representative and State Senator so they have examples of the left wing lessons being taught in Texas public schools.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you would like to voice your opinion on this anti-zoo lesson to the Cy-Fair ISD leadership, contact information is below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Board President, Darcy Mingoia: <a href="mailto:board@cfisd.net">board@cfisd.net</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Superintendent, Mark Henry: <a href="mailto:mark.henry@cfisd.net">mark.henry@cfisd.net</a><br />Phone: 281-897-4077</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</a></span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-72633185638444694822016-08-23T17:09:00.001-05:002021-09-14T15:13:34.236-05:00HCDE Declares War on Texas Taxpayers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Since the <a href="http://www.empowertexans.com/around-texas/superintendent-discusses-battle-plan-against-legislature/" target="_blank">video surfaced</a> of HCDE’s superintendent outlining his battle plan AGAINST the taxpayers, Texans deserve to know exactly who declared war on them….</span><br />
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It is the two <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2011/09/obsolete-bureaucracy-waste-in-harris.html" target="_blank">obsolete </a>county school boards left over from 100 years ago when counties operated Texas public schools:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">1. <a href="http://www.dcschools.com/board/board-of-trustees/" target="_blank">Dallas County School Trustees</a>–</span><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">dba</span></i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">-<a href="http://www.dcschools.com/about-us/history/" target="_blank">DCS</a>,<a href="http://www.texserve.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Texserve</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">2. <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/" target="_blank">Harris County School Trustees</a>–</span><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">dba</span></i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">-<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/" target="_blank">HCDE</a>,<a href="http://www.choicepartners.org/about-choice-partners" target="_blank">Choice Partners</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">All other counties in Texas quit electing County School Trustees after all their students moved to Independent School Districts. </span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">But these two dinosaurs have <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-decades-of-corruption-continue.html" target="_blank">refused to close</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG86nspQbZ3glJW6zMWcz3EgQ9xk0bxI0kOjMgyb2nOm8Styg5GH17GUL36MVbTO8nFdz05TBs_v1Qy9G6UV-hUHhsPl9aYM8igmMgFu3NdJJp2o3D7AT4Sanx1zCdxBt6C2fKKeh8MG6m/s1600/11.301.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG86nspQbZ3glJW6zMWcz3EgQ9xk0bxI0kOjMgyb2nOm8Styg5GH17GUL36MVbTO8nFdz05TBs_v1Qy9G6UV-hUHhsPl9aYM8igmMgFu3NdJJp2o3D7AT4Sanx1zCdxBt6C2fKKeh8MG6m/s200/11.301.png" width="200" /></a><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">They continue to operate and tax under a loophole (<a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html" target="_blank">TEC 11.301</a>) even after the laws governing county schools were repealed in 1995.</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The archaic 1930s county school property tax they still collect is called the “<a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html" target="_blank">equalization tax</a>.“ It was supposed to be used for the public schools in the county. Instead, they use most of it for themselves.</span><br /><br /><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Why should the average Texan care?</b></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Becasue in recent years, these two have developed a new </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujuHaonWQwMCNuk7_wbQFMkIlPvPVTDxZh5LKnZSzAh1Y5iKi1b_zxVE6ZMtoJBHFCiZ6V8cnif79dvs9RDgMVWOBhwC28T9zxS_p_zmH74aS0cIZWEdPzCQPVgLDphcVLeCio_Jb4lkS/s1600/purchase.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujuHaonWQwMCNuk7_wbQFMkIlPvPVTDxZh5LKnZSzAh1Y5iKi1b_zxVE6ZMtoJBHFCiZ6V8cnif79dvs9RDgMVWOBhwC28T9zxS_p_zmH74aS0cIZWEdPzCQPVgLDphcVLeCio_Jb4lkS/s400/purchase.png" width="350" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDvBiWdSOdzx-i1S44Da3TurglNexpS3QPpyhY-f-37h0LgpEWs5bkHkmlZe0GZS54hDRl3u6vvfLi0OZg5Zxhyphenhyphenc33Tuu8NAEHefoVjJU1ML_aLNnHkr2m0j4qsxzPBQbVIAL1ylQvK0B/s1600/cloud.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDvBiWdSOdzx-i1S44Da3TurglNexpS3QPpyhY-f-37h0LgpEWs5bkHkmlZe0GZS54hDRl3u6vvfLi0OZg5Zxhyphenhyphenc33Tuu8NAEHefoVjJU1ML_aLNnHkr2m0j4qsxzPBQbVIAL1ylQvK0B/s200/cloud.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">They use public funds from property <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2011/09/for-profit-biz-waste-in-harris-county.html" target="_blank">taxes</a>, <a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=40&clip_id=11235" target="_blank">f</a><a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=40&clip_id=11235" target="_blank">ees and bonds</a> to <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2011/09/for-profit-biz-waste-in-harris-county.html" target="_blank">start-up</a>, <a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=40&clip_id=11235" target="_blank">purchase</a>, and/or operate business enterprises – </span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">everything from cloud computing to <a href="http://www.dcschools.com/services/charter-bus-transportation-services/" target="_blank">charter bus services</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYccn8vlyczc7VZ2hU_jkxnd8F9aw2ktGxQY00_DRKl8lVDr-y4X4Qw1l6qXBzX7hr2AZXetiOAynEdpdGhCaHnnNiNg2NdTrhiUoweMt2KlqJGE3fs6-CyuAt9av_i37i3XipHVpsMcna/s1600/florida.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYccn8vlyczc7VZ2hU_jkxnd8F9aw2ktGxQY00_DRKl8lVDr-y4X4Qw1l6qXBzX7hr2AZXetiOAynEdpdGhCaHnnNiNg2NdTrhiUoweMt2KlqJGE3fs6-CyuAt9av_i37i3XipHVpsMcna/s200/florida.png" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">They aren’t limiting these business enterprises to their own counties. They are selling “services” <a href="http://www.choicepartners.org/choice-partners-members" target="_blank">across the US</a>. </span></div>
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<div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br />And…</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">because both are actually leftover “county school districts”…. </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">their 3000+ employees qualify for the Texas Teacher Retirement System. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircvejDJ4dX777ng_tAE49ju7mt2R1JQd5czXiI1xhhPOVLtnoLkaLs6WtHWmFhrABeZQjNa0oQoQLloP436gJfgBx6xK7RmdTfjZ62lQwqIS5i3AOLXQMrit294ffLuTrjq3u2-GsEqbW/s1600/church.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircvejDJ4dX777ng_tAE49ju7mt2R1JQd5czXiI1xhhPOVLtnoLkaLs6WtHWmFhrABeZQjNa0oQoQLloP436gJfgBx6xK7RmdTfjZ62lQwqIS5i3AOLXQMrit294ffLuTrjq3u2-GsEqbW/s200/church.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">That means the State taxpayers are responsible for providing their employees <b>LIFETIME </b>benefits, as if they were teachers, even when their work has nothing to do with public education – like <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/who-we-are/divisions-and-leadership/records-management/" target="_blank">storing records</a> for the City of Houston or <a href="http://www.dcschools.com/services/charter-bus-transportation-services/" target="_blank">chartering buses</a> for church trips.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5__9OuwhaUefsWem1k1kTNfS_o0vqiXzcxQu6XYIW8LnsfsTLWuTPWqrEInGvtKEWxUX9BrMi95H8LastXmnkA-GqxOMyVV93THocunx9i0-xlYtVQIJKTkK23VHhFzA7GY0NWfN_7ikf/s1600/tax.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">If the Legislature allows these tax exempt subsidized business operations to continue, they will be sanctioning public debt to purchase private companies, and using public funds to supplement government owned businesses.</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Government businesses which can put private sector companies out of business, and their private sector employees out of work. </span><br />
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In other words, taxpayers are at war with subsidized public sector, socialistic businesses that are working to undermine our capitalist system.<br /><br />If you want to join in the battle, you can contact your Texas State Representative and Senator and let them know you expect them to <b>support a bill to close the two remaining county school boards.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">You can find who represents you: <a href="http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx" target="_blank">here </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">You can view the <a href="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/commit/c530/c530.htm" target="_blank">Texas Senate Education Committee </a>Hearing held on 8/3/16 when some of their business practices are discussed <a href="http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=40&clip_id=11235" target="_blank">here</a>. It was a long hearing, but very informative. </span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">(</span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">start at 4:28:57</i><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">)</span></span></div>
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Colleen Vera</div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-61310822771058095942016-07-06T18:11:00.002-05:002021-09-14T15:14:56.232-05:00Fact Checking Dr Laura Pressley’s Texas Electronic Voting Corruption Case<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr. Laura Pressley has been <a href="https://vimeo.com/152613242" target="_blank">making the rounds</a> speaking to Texas conservative political clubs about her legal case against her opponent in the Austin City Council 2014 Runoff - <a href="https://vimeo.com/147641654" target="_blank">claiming</a> electronic voting corruption. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a former volunteer for True the Vote, an election worker, currently a Republican member of Harris County Early Voting Ballot Board, and an active citizen at the Texas Legislature working to improve our Texas Election Code, I went to hear her presentation, ready to take notes on improvements needed in our election processes.<br /><br /><br /><br />As I listened to her story and viewed her “evidence,” I realized that many of the claims and accusations she made were not consistent with my own experience working elections. So I explored a little deeper when I got home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />I found so much evidence to refute her implications and allegations that I would need to write a book to cover it all. Because she changed her pleadings at least six times, it is too confusing to cover all her points. So I chose just five of her claims to offer a brief summary. I am not an attorney so I am including links to documents from her lawsuit so you can read all the details for yourself to make up your own mind. <br /><br />I am also including a very concerning “coincidence” that I found doing research on this case, because Texas conservatives deserve to know the WHOLE TRUTH.<br /><br /><u><b>Claim #1 – Dr. Pressley is a strong, active Republican </b></u><br /><br />When I heard her speak, Pressley claimed to be a Republican Precinct Chair and Delegate to the 2016 Texas State GOP Convention. Both are TRUE. <br /><br />The Travis County GOP confirmed that she was appointed <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/travisgop/precinct-chairs-directory" target="_blank">Chair of Precinct 140</a> to fill a vacancy on Feb. 9. She was a delegate at the 2016 Texas GOP Convention in Dallas.<br /><br />But……</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwgC0fxhtNz-tySXN81QZ63K0Hm-xlj9M8uyec4c_lxDD2XaOyRyi_cUYi_dOi3DxwYYPganQaLEHArxim9Z478AlfRBZXWO_BL7f-G1mu4_ATGn8AMpM35ZCerkfuGWieguU1IcdMevW/s1600/pressley+voting+record+cropped.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwgC0fxhtNz-tySXN81QZ63K0Hm-xlj9M8uyec4c_lxDD2XaOyRyi_cUYi_dOi3DxwYYPganQaLEHArxim9Z478AlfRBZXWO_BL7f-G1mu4_ATGn8AMpM35ZCerkfuGWieguU1IcdMevW/s320/pressley+voting+record+cropped.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pressley has a Democrat voting history. </div>
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She voted in the Democrat Primary in both 2012 and 2014.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the </span><a href="http://www.theaustinbulldog.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=196:background-investigation-laura-pressley&catid=3:main-articles" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Austin Bulldog</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley said she does not identify with any particular party, saying, “I’m not a Libertarian, I’m not a Democrat and <b>I’m not a Republican.</b> I’m an Independent, and I vote that way.”</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley’s campaign treasurer,</span><a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=246601" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"> Fidel Acevedo</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, is a strong Democrat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuUzEMj7Lgf3-n2XL1tAY6LjSqY5hKR2EjFH_PMZr7aAJXUOSTHm-HqKGTrfhlpP0j-4XhqjW_J0GFoaykU-MMTRsfzmszmHOS5RXL1UaYZsoGvi8QDX7eVCcM4Wddmv8213Gg7Yo-tLi/s1600/fa+for+state+chair.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuUzEMj7Lgf3-n2XL1tAY6LjSqY5hKR2EjFH_PMZr7aAJXUOSTHm-HqKGTrfhlpP0j-4XhqjW_J0GFoaykU-MMTRsfzmszmHOS5RXL1UaYZsoGvi8QDX7eVCcM4Wddmv8213Gg7Yo-tLi/s320/fa+for+state+chair.png" width="269" /></a></span></div>
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Not only did he run for </span></div>
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<a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/538350.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>State Chair of the </b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Texas Democrat Party,</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72pSwFppET58zOEB1rMgDLcgY9mfQhjI6BwqhyphenhyphenVkeMUg7hOB7Rg5I7yGRUDfz3hThEDugPiklJ9jjhYReSZsVTGyJ8ME9cwCR3aQwhyphenhyphenwVhyphenhyphen543v9Ut4Y-t-nbjsOgemsJs2EYbFkJKCcV/s1600/dem+national.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72pSwFppET58zOEB1rMgDLcgY9mfQhjI6BwqhyphenhyphenVkeMUg7hOB7Rg5I7yGRUDfz3hThEDugPiklJ9jjhYReSZsVTGyJ8ME9cwCR3aQwhyphenhyphenwVhyphenhyphen543v9Ut4Y-t-nbjsOgemsJs2EYbFkJKCcV/s320/dem+national.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> he is a <a href="http://texasdemocraticconvention.com/convention-results/" target="_blank">delegate </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">to the 2016 </span></div>
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National Democratic Convention.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley has made political donations to Democrats in both State and <a href="http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml" target="_blank">Federal elections</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Examples: John Kerry, Hillary Clinton,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUHsGCKyBv5t1Jm5QID_rhtLy_kL3hHJEA5L4oQrduZvPEm131bh7Dl3nmg9CwbekNObVNu9wd9u00NvPHhl_pM_AwwzxkNk-fAdcex9xMmdl-QLG9Y2S6C0Sgxpvog5JUmyhkKhTJIbg/s1600/pressely+fed+donations.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUHsGCKyBv5t1Jm5QID_rhtLy_kL3hHJEA5L4oQrduZvPEm131bh7Dl3nmg9CwbekNObVNu9wd9u00NvPHhl_pM_AwwzxkNk-fAdcex9xMmdl-QLG9Y2S6C0Sgxpvog5JUmyhkKhTJIbg/s400/pressely+fed+donations.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ActBlue Texas, and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capital Area Democrat Women.</span></div>
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<o:p> Full report: <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/526410.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></o:p></div>
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<o:p> Full report: <a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/621894.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintnnmpeLgrdNitjanqnodmPY64sZBdKJAl4QJOo_kq5w9SSGPqTXwmO5yQ0ncCKd3AVn6Ppt5CK3Xj7lwm6WRHWE-wCE3SkhpWDpoGWI6ID-wMS9-WfSG__LgBLDEkHPnD8GluKkgj525/s1600/pressley+donation+to+dems+1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintnnmpeLgrdNitjanqnodmPY64sZBdKJAl4QJOo_kq5w9SSGPqTXwmO5yQ0ncCKd3AVn6Ppt5CK3Xj7lwm6WRHWE-wCE3SkhpWDpoGWI6ID-wMS9-WfSG__LgBLDEkHPnD8GluKkgj525/s200/pressley+donation+to+dems+1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Claim #2 – Pressley claims electronic ballot images are not stored according to Texas Law </u></b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Texas Election Code</a> (TEC) is divided into chapters, each covering a different election topic.<br /><br />In her talk, Pressley quotes <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.52.htm" target="_blank">Chapter 52</a> covering paper ballots and then applies the same requirements to electronic ballots. <br /><br />Pressley does not quote <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.124.htm" target="_blank">Chapter 124</a> covering electronic Voting System ballots or <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/EL/htm/EL.129.htm" target="_blank">Chapter 129 </a>covering Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Voting Machines – the machines used in Harris and Travis Counties. <br /><br />She also does not quote the <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml" target="_blank">Texas Secretary of State</a> (SOS), the chief election officer of the State of Texas, who is responsible for legal interpretations of election law.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/electronic-voting-system-procedures.shtml" target="_blank">SOS defines</a> an electronic “<i>ballot image</i>” stored by our electronic voting system as “<i>Electronically produced record of all votes cast by a single voter.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley doesn’t argue that the machines are not recording votes cast. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">She argues</a> that the printout of the voter record is not a legal “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">ballot image</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">” because basically it doesn’t look the same as a paper ballot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b><u>Claim #3 – Pressley claims a legal recount in Texas can’t be done in counties using electronic voting </u></b><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/electronic-voting-system-procedures.shtml#Section7" target="_blank">Texas SOS outlines the procedure</a> for a recount from votes cast on electronic voting machines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />Cast Vote Records (CVR), also called “<i>ballot images</i>,” are printed on paper – one per voter - then counted by hand.<br /><br />Court records show <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">Pressley admitted</a> she was present at her runoff re-count. She personally observed all (aprox. 4000) CVRs printed, sorted and re-counted. She also admitted that she had poll watchers present. She even admitted that the Secretary of State’s Office had an observer present. <br /><br />She also <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">admitted</a> that the Texas Secretary of State’s Office sent her a letter confirming their representative was present and that a legal recount did take place. <br /><br />Yet, Pressley still claims a legal recount did NOT take place because of the same argument she used in #2. She doesn’t feel the CVR is a legal “<i>ballot image</i>,” therefore the recount was not legal. <br /><br />She uses the same argument to claim in her talks that “<a href="https://secure.piryx.com/donate/wWQzRLfC/Laura-Pressley/saveourvote" target="_blank">4000 ballots are missing,</a>” even though she witnessed about 4000 CVRs printed and re-counted.<br /><br />Pressley<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank"> argues </a>the electronic “<i>ballot images</i>” as defined by the SOS don’t qualify as ballots, therefore about 4000 ballots are actually “<a href="https://secure.piryx.com/donate/wWQzRLfC/Laura-Pressley/saveourvote" target="_blank">missing</a>.”<br /><br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">Court records</a> also show Pressley refused to agree that she had received letters from the Texas Secretary of State, even when the letters were on Texas Secretary of State letterhead, because, as Pressley argued, the Texas Secretary of State didn’t actually write the letters herself. <br /><br /><br /><u><b>Claim #4 – Pressley claims Early Voting in Texas is corrupt because Zero Tapes are not printed </b></u><br /><br />During elections, before the poll opens, “ZERO TAPES” are printed to show, by INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT, “0” votes for each candidate on the ballot. <br /><br />At the end of voting, Result Tapes are printed listing, by INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT, each candidate’s name and the number of votes each received. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1FOvT7VJKxjO49RqW-wvLMmEGu70RXh7BKgndMnX3Q5rX8paiQu16o6gLahK_D-uRcxda6IJq8oo4Is-4dwgRh4Xjev2uf0u4HWxx3k-UzqZ4Sy2xwXpaKu-Msejud2pdTrilTvHNtoP/s1600/jbc+tape.tif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1FOvT7VJKxjO49RqW-wvLMmEGu70RXh7BKgndMnX3Q5rX8paiQu16o6gLahK_D-uRcxda6IJq8oo4Is-4dwgRh4Xjev2uf0u4HWxx3k-UzqZ4Sy2xwXpaKu-Msejud2pdTrilTvHNtoP/s320/jbc+tape.tif" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The image on the left shows the type of machine used in Harris and Travis Counties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The tape is similar to adding machine paper, only not as wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In her talk, Pressley shows a copy of a notice given to Travis County election workers stating, “DO NOT PRINT TAPES.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She implies in her talk that this is “corruption” and </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">argues</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in her court case that it was illegal…even though the Texas </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">SOS issued a waiver</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> allowing a modified printing for Early Voting and countywide voting locations. (pilot program)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Why a waiver? Because when voters are allowed to vote at any polling location, and all candidate totals are printed by INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT, it would take so long to print, it would <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">not be a feasible process.</a><br /><br /> I will use <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/20141104/cumulative/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank">Harris County’s 2014 General Election</a> as an example….<br /><br />There were <b>200+ different races</b> or propositions on our ballot and we had <b>1,069 precincts</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Estimating just 1 inch of tape to print the results per race…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y_esKI_ALwiUctaVg2roqg7JCvG0Ls6OVQZFIqMno3bWL9teSUFI2nxF9fBjbyeqWgCynmDqrBjzuYkKxnaFHSHxmo4HbkYbByeJbQeb8MSAJKs-9RaozVvlp250jMW_NJftufSGzKxZ/s1600/time.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y_esKI_ALwiUctaVg2roqg7JCvG0Ls6OVQZFIqMno3bWL9teSUFI2nxF9fBjbyeqWgCynmDqrBjzuYkKxnaFHSHxmo4HbkYbByeJbQeb8MSAJKs-9RaozVvlp250jMW_NJftufSGzKxZ/s400/time.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />How much time would that take? Estimating 1 second per inch:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jx4HQAPK9Fylh101klTbhqh51gwcT2tBuwGI6BbVgUHUEMZhyphenhyphenji19gTg5WmYtxCMUyEI07cu9TmLcEYevjvaE816nwUkAOyYRlEZx2YAtcS84XOrtE8pilj7cF7IWjgQmtDwpRDMM-U_/s1600/length.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jx4HQAPK9Fylh101klTbhqh51gwcT2tBuwGI6BbVgUHUEMZhyphenhyphenji19gTg5WmYtxCMUyEI07cu9TmLcEYevjvaE816nwUkAOyYRlEZx2YAtcS84XOrtE8pilj7cF7IWjgQmtDwpRDMM-U_/s400/length.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />That is one reason WHY the <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/hb758.shtml" target="_blank">SOS gives a waiver </a>for printing full tapes ON SITE during Early Voting or when countywide polling locations (pilot program) are used.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, a limited tape is printed on site and the numbers are reconciled with the other election records.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa2ymcbzLB9igm-n5Mz-8TXksAi95PADhxI5iGHMODxrl6jb79fVr38OtLQzIarzPAGVa05kiIWQYAXbz7qa06lsPBC4shlDeOIzrkCZhIVkZW_b0UuNlnEOAVftjO43sNYw4nwRZ6iMw/s1600/pilot+program+zero+tapes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa2ymcbzLB9igm-n5Mz-8TXksAi95PADhxI5iGHMODxrl6jb79fVr38OtLQzIarzPAGVa05kiIWQYAXbz7qa06lsPBC4shlDeOIzrkCZhIVkZW_b0UuNlnEOAVftjO43sNYw4nwRZ6iMw/s400/pilot+program+zero+tapes.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zero and Result Tapes ARE produced, just in a different format and process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">Court records show</a> Travis County did produce Zero Tapes during Pressley's election. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Claim #5 – Pressley claims her charts prove mathematically that corruption occurred in her election</u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In her talk, Pressley <a href="https://vimeo.com/147641654" target="_blank">showed the chart</a> below on a large screen – as proof of corruption in her election. It charts the results of the general and runoff elections by candidate. Pressley implies the straight line formed by her </span>election<span style="font-family: inherit;"> results shows, mathematically, that <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">someone tampered with her election.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fyJM4KIOrtSiK_jzRWhlh54U8gro7L0Js0qmuexndlshR8q2liYf3OHxF1WUoJd3zYvJPIqsStq_S79_G-uS9qW3TCE9jVRRf8yLg4qntjVo0s206SOdjboVI-0hB-H5cHci_1ewySnj/s1600/pressley+charts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fyJM4KIOrtSiK_jzRWhlh54U8gro7L0Js0qmuexndlshR8q2liYf3OHxF1WUoJd3zYvJPIqsStq_S79_G-uS9qW3TCE9jVRRf8yLg4qntjVo0s206SOdjboVI-0hB-H5cHci_1ewySnj/s320/pressley+charts.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, look at the chart more closely.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU1GiZH63ICiFisrUnNtTquINA6uiY7D4ZfD7hjFWWGB5rulx9mueIlyCgDGvSjWAVj1Al8yTTOor_xgg1QaFEb5sthlINJ9WWM5Gc33zK56eHk9vAsly-yWxE4GGXPII2lTo7r5TjwWH/s1600/pressley+charts+questioned.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU1GiZH63ICiFisrUnNtTquINA6uiY7D4ZfD7hjFWWGB5rulx9mueIlyCgDGvSjWAVj1Al8yTTOor_xgg1QaFEb5sthlINJ9WWM5Gc33zK56eHk9vAsly-yWxE4GGXPII2lTo7r5TjwWH/s400/pressley+charts+questioned.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> There were 18 precincts which voted in Pressley’s District 4 City Council race. Pressley chose to use only <b>HALF</b> in her chart – just 9 precincts - to chart a straight line. Yet, she used </span>different<span style="font-family: inherit;"> amounts in the other charts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImTjFG32H_QPYBhhnTwAOJrNiRIHRCmf9AlV3x15ugcde8WMRRLuIGPKkhH5n4VQfPGcOo9yTGor2s7hx6uqBNHvyyzpynMlPPXjTsPvzD7_bcIcCZRBOyS8Gh-e_rxXG-ez0vVTfN60e/s1600/challenge+1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImTjFG32H_QPYBhhnTwAOJrNiRIHRCmf9AlV3x15ugcde8WMRRLuIGPKkhH5n4VQfPGcOo9yTGor2s7hx6uqBNHvyyzpynMlPPXjTsPvzD7_bcIcCZRBOyS8Gh-e_rxXG-ez0vVTfN60e/s320/challenge+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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But, I can do the same with the District 6 chart Pressley shows above. The one in the upper left hand side. If I remove some precincts, I can make a straight line with those results, too </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUACZcMiiCdKGSHpMlTS9xMxfBC7j8BrRmpvUQMy_3Gcz3BDzFi5k4mVQvd9DWIsQouysl2C-ZWqDUYkXBPuKBIhPrxNo-me6nQrNVsvJrPmyvci1FPvJz0NkjU2KpGWZblm5CL-lO-60Q/s1600/lp+all+line.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUACZcMiiCdKGSHpMlTS9xMxfBC7j8BrRmpvUQMy_3Gcz3BDzFi5k4mVQvd9DWIsQouysl2C-ZWqDUYkXBPuKBIhPrxNo-me6nQrNVsvJrPmyvci1FPvJz0NkjU2KpGWZblm5CL-lO-60Q/s320/lp+all+line.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For <b>REAL FACTS</b>, to the left is the chart showing the results of <b>ALL 18 precincts in Pressley’s race. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As an extra test, I plotted Ted Cruz’s Republican Primary and runoff races in 2012, using results from </span>Pressley’s same 18 precincts.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I chose just 9 precincts (as Pressley had done) and was able to chart a straight line. It seems to indicate a voting pattern from the voters in those precincts rather than fraud. </span></div>
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<o:p> Ted Cruz Results in Pressley's 18 Precincts</o:p></div>
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<o:p> Ted Cruz Results Using Only 9 Precincts</o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
On the left, is my final test. </div>
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I charted the results of all of 18 precincts which voted in Pressley's race in a different format.</div>
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The top represents Pressley’s races in 2014. </div>
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The bottom shows the same 18 precincts in Ted Cruz’s Races in 2012.</div>
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Both display a consistent pattern with a couple of expected variations. No extreme variations.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(Note: One precinct had from 0-5 voters per election. That is why the percentages are from 0-100.)</span></div>
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You can check the results for yourself at the links below:<br />
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Austin City Election Results 11/4/14: <a href="http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/election_results/2014.11.04/20141104coapct.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><br />
Austin City Runoff Results 12/16/14: <a href="http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/election_results/2014.12.16/20141216coapct.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><br />
Travis County GOP Primary Results 5/29/12: <a href="http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/election_results/2012.05.29/20120529-2-repcanvass.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><br />
Travis County GOP Runoff Results 7/31/12: <a href="http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/election_results/2012.07.31/20120731repcanvass.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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You can save time by using my Excell spreadsheet to produce your own charts: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMU3c0NG1zYmFkM2M" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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The <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMRWdublJCYkFGa0k/view" target="_blank">judge</a> didn't feel that Pressley produced the evidence needed to make her case of election corruption. I agree with the judge. But you can read the court documents below and decide for yourself.<br />
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Read Pressley's Sanction Order signed 7/23/15: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMRWdublJCYkFGa0k" target="_blank">Here</a><br />
Read Pressley's Amended Final Judgement signed 7/23/15: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMWHNSNVhGLWxqXzA" target="_blank">here</a><br />
Read Pressleys 4/16/15 Deposition: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMYlphd2czZVdweEU" target="_blank">here</a><br />
Read Pressley's Motion for Sanction Hearing report (Part 1) held 6/18/15: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Read Pressley's Motion for Sanction Hearing report (Part 2) held 6/24/15: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMQTNoVWJDaTBVTTQ" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something I read on <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMQTNoVWJDaTBVTTQ/view" target="_blank">page 216 </a>of the 6/24/15 sanction hearing got me thinking when h</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">er opponent's attorney, Charles Herring, </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMQTNoVWJDaTBVTTQ/view" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">argued</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "<i>The case is really not about an election contest at all...it's really about that ballot image.</i><i style="font-weight: bold;"> It's really about her </i><b style="font-style: italic;">testimony, 'I prefer to have paper ballots.'</b><i> That's why we are here. There's a place for them to go and it's the legislature. There's another place for them to go, the Secretary of State, and say, 'No, you need to stop this.' They don't do that. <b>They come to court.</b>.."</i></span></blockquote>
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My experience tells me that:</div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Paper ballots + courts = liberal agenda.</span></b></div>
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So I decided to dig a little deeper into Pressley's connections to the hand counted paper ballot people.</div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"></b>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Is Pressley’s push for paper ballots just a coincidence?</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Texas conservatives understand the importance of the November 2016 election. Not only to keep Texas RED, but to stop our runaway federal government. <br /><br />Liberals know it, too. They try to block strong conservative voting laws in the Legislature. When they fail, they go to the courts to block implementation. <br /><br />The current top three Liberal desires are:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">No photo ID to vote </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Online voter registration </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Return to paper ballots </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>
Photo ID for Voting Lawsuits</u></b> <br /><br />Without having to prove one’s identity before casting a vote, it is much easier for persons to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “vote early, vote often.” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That is why the liberals have been trying to get the Federal courts to stop Photo ID for voting in Texas before the 2016 Election. </span></div>
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LULAC even <a href="https://twitter.com/lulac/status/714527789425287169" target="_blank"> tweeted</a> it.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The lawsuit, </span><a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/legal-work/naacp-v-steen" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Texas NAACP v. Steen (consolidated with Veasey v. Perry)</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">was filed by a group led by the NAACP. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can read more about it:</span><a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/legal-work/naacp-v-steen" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"> here.</a></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Online Voter Registration Lawsuit</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Registering to vote online, without any proof of identity, makes it much easier for fraudulent voter registrations to be filed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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A lawsuit was filed in Federal court by the Texas Civil Right Project on 3/14/2016. You can read more about it:<a href="http://www.waterskraus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/NVRA_Complaint_16-cv-00257.pdf" target="_blank"> here.</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you think this is not about using the federal courts to force Texas to move to online voter registration, just read the <a href="http://www.lwvtarrantcounty.org/Documents/LWVTX%20Press%20Release_Motor-Voter_03%2017%2016.pdf" target="_blank">press release from the League of Women Voters</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><i>“Texas adoption of online voter registration will end the confusion.”</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Return to Paper Ballots Lawsuits</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stalin said it best. "<i>It’s not who votes that counts,…it's who counts the votes!</i>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That is why Liberals have had an organized effort to return Texas to paper ballots (hand counted at the precinct level) since 2003.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2005, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">VoteRecue</a></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> was organized in Austin focused on returning to hand-counted paper ballots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2006, the <a href="http://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1106147.html" target="_blank">NAACP filed an unsuccessful lawsuit</a> against our Texas electronic voting machines. The suit traveled through the courts until 2009. </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also in 2006, <i><a href="http://www.voterescue.org/index.htm" target="_blank">VoteRescue</a> </i>members, Abbe Waldman DeLozier and Vickie Karp, wrote the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/HACKED-High-Election-Theft-America/dp/0615132553?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0" target="_blank">"<i>Hacked! High Tech Election Theft In America</i>,”</a> attacking the reliability of electronic voting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2007, <a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">V<i>ote Rescue</i></a> organized a state-wide coalition called, <i><a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">Texans for REAL Elections</a></i>, which included:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CodepinkAustin" target="_blank">Code Pink Austin</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instruments for Peace</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://ut-pnac.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Project for the New American Citizen</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">TruthSeekers Austin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://indytexans.org/" target="_blank">Independent Texans</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.tagtexas.org/" target="_blank">Texans for Accountable Government </a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.tmra2.org/about.shtml" target="_blank">Texas Motorcycle Rights Association</a> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
In 2010, LULAC passed a <a href="http://voterescue.org/National%20LULAC%20Resolution%207-17-10.pdf" target="_blank">resolution</a> calling for hand counted paper ballots in all elections and…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A group in Austin released their own “<a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">election study</a>” calling for hand counted paper ballots. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That group included:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">VoteRecue</a></i> (Karen Renick, Vickie Karp, Abbe Waldman DeLozier and Jenny Clark)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">LULAC District 12 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Travis County Green Party and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://gp-austin.org/" target="_blank">Gray Panthers of Austin</a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
In 2014, Dr. Laura Pressley ran for office in Austin and consequently filed a lawsuit claiming she was harmed by electronic voting corruption in Travis County.</span></div>
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<div>
The <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2015-02-16/laura-pressley-the-beat-goes-on" target="_blank">Austin Chronicle reported</a> that Pressley's attorney, David Rogers, said,</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"... <i>previous challenges of that issue have failed for a lack of standing, and that a challenge by a defeated candidate 'who may have been harmed' by the process stands a better chance of being heard in court</i>."</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Could it be just coincidence that….???</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>VoteRecue</i>’s <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=229036" target="_blank">founder</a> and <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=246601" target="_blank">members</a> not only donated to Pressley’s campaign, they served as <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">poll watchers</a> for her recount.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">Pressley testified</a> that Abbe Waldman Delozier <i>(VoteRecue</i> & <i>Hacked</i>…) is her “<i>friend</i>” and was present at Pressley’s deposition and court hearing.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">Pressley testified</a> that her largest donor, Jenny Clark (V<i>oteRescue</i>), gave her “<i>more than</i> <i>$10,000</i>” for her lawsuit.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">When asked <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSTlRM2pwYXNpUjA/view" target="_blank">in court</a> how long he had known “<i>the VoteRescue people,</i>” Pressley’s attorney, David Rogers, replied, “<i>Since 2006, … at a VoteRescue meeting.</i>”</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Could it be just another coincidence that….???</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two champions of <a href="http://voterescue.org/National%20LULAC%20Resolution%207-17-10.pdf" target="_blank">LULAC’s paper ballot resolution</a>, <a href="http://www.voterescue.org/VRNewsArticles/09-07-10.htm" target="_blank">Marcelo Tafoya and Fidel Acevedo</a>, are <b>BOTH</b> currently serving as <b>TREASURERS for Pressley’s <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=229036" target="_blank">campaign</a></b> and <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=246601" target="_blank">lawsuit funds</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
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<o:p> Full report: <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=229036" target="_blank">here</a></o:p></div>
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<o:p> Full report: <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=246601" target="_blank">here</a><span id="goog_685732973"></span><span id="goog_685732974"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SDzL7aT-YT4hDao6SAI2epHIhCJuLStT4nhk_z2ZYjnVpP4VN08h0jvyFl6EOc0MxGS_XcPwE3L1eHMBUnoF7iU-k4h9eXwg4NlPbM_IKL0sHz9cIhasaKta_ElqzMCm7t77vfhG1D74/s1600/fa.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SDzL7aT-YT4hDao6SAI2epHIhCJuLStT4nhk_z2ZYjnVpP4VN08h0jvyFl6EOc0MxGS_XcPwE3L1eHMBUnoF7iU-k4h9eXwg4NlPbM_IKL0sHz9cIhasaKta_ElqzMCm7t77vfhG1D74/s200/fa.png" width="175" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW1myO7CbYJAT2trnFQDp2FEWzSHTi74upgcaSMlYzhdtL3JxFW1k4bmDNgXpGTFnqmbgT6tJBYg7J9tTFZiGcyoT2Fnd9VLxrKTFlULy74KdFwmHa2Uv5qKgpbYBix1a7Q8W90H0-E5E/s1600/endor.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW1myO7CbYJAT2trnFQDp2FEWzSHTi74upgcaSMlYzhdtL3JxFW1k4bmDNgXpGTFnqmbgT6tJBYg7J9tTFZiGcyoT2Fnd9VLxrKTFlULy74KdFwmHa2Uv5qKgpbYBix1a7Q8W90H0-E5E/s320/endor.png" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Could it be simply more coincidence that….???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nelson Linder, President of the NAACP Austin, who was a <a href="http://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1106147.html" target="_blank">plaintiff in the 2006 lawsuit</a>, was listed by Pressley as a “</span><a href="http://www.pressleyforaustin.com/home/endorsements-and-supporters" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><i>Key Leader</i>”</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> supporting her campaign….and </span>on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapressleyphd" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, <span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley lists herself </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> as a member of Austin NAACP. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley served on a <a href="http://www.theaustinbulldog.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=196:background-investigation-laura-pressley&catid=3:main-articles" target="_blank">steering committee</a> for </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Texans for Accountable Government</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">Texans for REAL Elections</a></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) and they </span><a href="http://www.pressleyforaustin.com/home/endorsements-and-supporters" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">endorsed her campaign</a>.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://gp-austin.org/" target="_blank">Gray Panthers of Austin</a></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (<a href="http://www.voterescue.org/Report%20of%20ALTERNATE%20Findings%20and%20Recomendations.pdf" target="_blank">Austin election study</a>) </span><a href="http://www.pressleyforaustin.com/home/endorsements-and-supporters" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">endorsed Pressley’s campaign</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZYVfbM_RhoIBDDijhDGrogQ-N1s74KBvB6wVy_mRaf7JnEEGYxfsB_qGxfUqjEK89i857xAccypDKs-i8-jT0Blgsi1k3ehEAPYFHa94cVJfDVdorRbvXLzEACbFmxy4sf87duuuDbXt/s1600/texas+eagle+forum.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZYVfbM_RhoIBDDijhDGrogQ-N1s74KBvB6wVy_mRaf7JnEEGYxfsB_qGxfUqjEK89i857xAccypDKs-i8-jT0Blgsi1k3ehEAPYFHa94cVJfDVdorRbvXLzEACbFmxy4sf87duuuDbXt/s320/texas+eagle+forum.png" width="242" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZYVfbM_RhoIBDDijhDGrogQ-N1s74KBvB6wVy_mRaf7JnEEGYxfsB_qGxfUqjEK89i857xAccypDKs-i8-jT0Blgsi1k3ehEAPYFHa94cVJfDVdorRbvXLzEACbFmxy4sf87duuuDbXt/s1600/texas+eagle+forum.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Could it be even more coincidence that …???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pressley <a href="http://dentongop.org/events/ccrc-presents-cracking-the-code-electronic-voting-machine-corruption-in-texas/" target="_blank">claims </a>to have worked with </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.texaseagle.org/" target="_blank">Texas Eagle Forum</a></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the same year they issued a <a href="http://texaseagle.org/media/download/1024" target="_blank">resolution </a>for the Republican Platform stating,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">the Republican Party of Texas urges that that all ballots in future elections be issued on<b> paper ballots only.</b></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>”</b></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78xih_fibIpCwsyfHjTjS3v-hPspPMfAoq51Ha1kZ6AY9ulOBwGgKwJf9TWCJ_ciJvX32hICvg6Jt_o0ZbezRzZ2HQFs297CfjAQ2tV01bxj6HENNoLuJ42HrcvqY4Z9fQCiveuAtLdJD/s1600/gop+conv.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78xih_fibIpCwsyfHjTjS3v-hPspPMfAoq51Ha1kZ6AY9ulOBwGgKwJf9TWCJ_ciJvX32hICvg6Jt_o0ZbezRzZ2HQFs297CfjAQ2tV01bxj6HENNoLuJ42HrcvqY4Z9fQCiveuAtLdJD/s320/gop+conv.png" width="197" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And could it be just a remarkable coincidence that….???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After voting in the Democrat Primary in 2012 and 2014, Pressley voted in the 2016 Republican Primary which qualified her to be a delegate to the Texas GOP Convention, where a good portion of her effort was spent attempting to get a “return to paper ballots” plank into the Texas GOP Platform.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Read full article: <a href="http://www.ragingelephantsradio.com/rerfirst-2016-txgop-platform-takes-on-texas-election-fraud/" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All just </span>coincidence<span style="font-family: inherit;">? You decide.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As for me. I am a fan of Gibbs on NCIS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I tend to agree with his <a href="http://ncis.wikia.com/wiki/Gibbs%27s_Rules" target="_blank">Rule #39 </a>-</span><br />
<i><br />"There is no such thing as coincidence."</i></div>
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Colleen Vera</div>
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colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-34235088029545535692016-02-25T14:26:00.000-06:002016-02-25T14:26:00.058-06:00Let's Take Back Our Texas Land and Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9kyV_Avvui8V30NOUK8Qnz1D7uO4UgnvZzgDbcLPN6geo2JltjlK4h8bQZzC1XT_D_E8BPYlBPzCyEz_DxVbttkA1vDZhUkkN0xLTZx136h2tCHETYdrWMh7Z74QnUQfjaQ9CLFjg3Pk/s1600/pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9kyV_Avvui8V30NOUK8Qnz1D7uO4UgnvZzgDbcLPN6geo2JltjlK4h8bQZzC1XT_D_E8BPYlBPzCyEz_DxVbttkA1vDZhUkkN0xLTZx136h2tCHETYdrWMh7Z74QnUQfjaQ9CLFjg3Pk/s200/pic.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html" target="_blank">US Constitution</a> specifies only two reasons for the federal government to own land within the States:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">10 square miles for our Nation's Capital, and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i>for
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings</i>”</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" target="_blank">10th Amendment</a> leaves the rest to the States or to the People.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But today, the <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf" target="_blank">federal government owns</a> about 28% of the land in the US ... 640 MILLION ACRES ... and only 14.4 million of those are administered by the Department of Defense for military bases, training
ranges, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Did you know the US Government <a href="http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=d1668e5c8156b23795a5abdfb6d2c710&r=PART&n=36y3.0.1.1.3#_top" target="_blank">controls</a> lands and waterways throughout Texas which are NOT military bases?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example: The U.S. Army, through its Corps of Engineers (USACE,) <a href="http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Portals/47/docs/About/Lakes%20and%20Recreations/HuntingGuide_2015-2016.pdf" target="_blank">controls 25 lakes in Texas</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Portals/47/docs/About/Lakes%20and%20Recreations/HuntingGuide_2015-2016.pdf" target="_blank">They claim</a> it's for "<i>flood damage reduction, water supply, outdoor recreation, and
environmental stewardship.</i>.." They even have a "<i><a href="http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Portals/47/docs/About/Lakes%20and%20Recreations/HuntingGuide_2015-2016.pdf" target="_blank">Hunting Program</a></i>" at 23 of the lakes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the <a href="http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Portals/47/docs/About/Lakes%20and%20Recreations/HuntingGuide_2015-2016.pdf" target="_blank">The US Army Corps of Engineers Hunting Guide 2015-2016</a> they claim that "<i>hunting activities are one of
the many tools that the Corps utilizes in the management of our natural resources.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT9-IooWxUVDDOjZcVg-h0e4D5mxb-he-8V8NXoy7hYdUmnVp7kohyphenhypheny_AN6f9sHrGkrcqvzsrRtdSSqpaEtZUrr16jaoscP6gfHLsy-0EakR_G7tG75VesfRL5ojO-ZlD9WYOyQWBS8uB/s1600/lakes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT9-IooWxUVDDOjZcVg-h0e4D5mxb-he-8V8NXoy7hYdUmnVp7kohyphenhypheny_AN6f9sHrGkrcqvzsrRtdSSqpaEtZUrr16jaoscP6gfHLsy-0EakR_G7tG75VesfRL5ojO-ZlD9WYOyQWBS8uB/s320/lakes.png" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.corpsresults.us/docs/environment/VTNEnvironmentBro_lores.pdf" target="_blank">Is it really the role of the US Army to:</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Maintain or improve fish and wildlife
habitats ... </i><i>Protect rare, threatened and endangered
species ..." </i>or<i> </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"... Educate lake visitors about the importance
of environmental stewardship ..."</span></i><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">at NON-MILITARY locations across the United States?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Take a look at this <a href="http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=8047eda3656e4241b75463a5451ba9e2" target="_blank">map of some federal lands</a> in Texas and you'll see a list of federal entities used to control Texas lands and waterways:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoeim1MpuujwapinrCOBJ4h9GgD947bkehYFu_RztVH1i2s-DI3Iqeg30UuhQ5Uu007_i73kpxbYdC_3dkFrnR_Pxw5woYFLlcD_DmLLRZzfUFk7XUnIRRe-yOb9pkKGxlWo1o82ZKywV/s1600/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoeim1MpuujwapinrCOBJ4h9GgD947bkehYFu_RztVH1i2s-DI3Iqeg30UuhQ5Uu007_i73kpxbYdC_3dkFrnR_Pxw5woYFLlcD_DmLLRZzfUFk7XUnIRRe-yOb9pkKGxlWo1o82ZKywV/s400/map.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">US Forest Service</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Department of Defense</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bureau of Land Management</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Fish and Wildlife Service</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">National Park Service</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bureau of Indian Affairs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bureau of Reclamation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">NASA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Department of Energy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Department of Transportation....</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A close look at <a href="http://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable/images/pdf/fedlands/TX.pdf" target="_blank">a map of federal lands</a> shows how strategically located a variety of federal entities are along our Texas waterways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s right—the federal government controls - and can cut off our access
to - some of our important surface water across Texas.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslO0fzIWjmrDhMtrALlj4jmFOsn90SG59qxQ2VM6lBlMZ2IkhvUGm1HkyonxNmLNMCaZIvhnwuRan93xLxZmSo6Kx7Nk0NbQtpvNkbdXmRAbCmPwxHfusfuvPaxFcudZArNUw27IzlnQe/s1600/national+forests.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslO0fzIWjmrDhMtrALlj4jmFOsn90SG59qxQ2VM6lBlMZ2IkhvUGm1HkyonxNmLNMCaZIvhnwuRan93xLxZmSo6Kx7Nk0NbQtpvNkbdXmRAbCmPwxHfusfuvPaxFcudZArNUw27IzlnQe/s400/national+forests.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">National Forests</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">National Preserves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">National Wildlife Reserves and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lakes controlled by USACE</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A search of my county's <a href="http://www.hcad.org/records/Real.asp?search=name" target="_blank">property appraisal district</a> shows page after page of federally owned properties which are too small to show up on these maps - 29 in my 77084 zip code alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Why does the federal
government find it necessary to own so many parcels of land in urban Texas
areas... </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwM-OorSMKEoLKfy0TuCrhmfR1FOKr1UDZ4nhJWMzceVvOnYCmj5cqx-3_51p86C0rkH2F87UQTtgjd257-o7G-V4LMhJGEqNnqC_R1s3GSS2pB7jIp5GkIwTzMlhSUpiqRjVlH68mdhj/s1600/hcad+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwM-OorSMKEoLKfy0TuCrhmfR1FOKr1UDZ4nhJWMzceVvOnYCmj5cqx-3_51p86C0rkH2F87UQTtgjd257-o7G-V4LMhJGEqNnqC_R1s3GSS2pB7jIp5GkIwTzMlhSUpiqRjVlH68mdhj/s400/hcad+1.png" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>...when Texas is capable of controlling and regulating our own lands and waterways. We don't need the federal government to do it for us. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It is time for us to take control of our resources back from the federal government.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What can you do?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take 3 copies of the following resolution with you to your Republican precinct caucus held after the Primary ends on March 1, 2016. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBtWze1fJ2rpqZ0zJNS5pA-t8mmPW5wmnnrhxZPOmLtpgzssMdLvh9yVFyxTwtnWlw6JiFUfC2pYKG2YHaqyhaB93dQfokE051d5SbjHCA-_0abGP4ZT8aOwlSwDpiqh92TgkGK_YYirs/s1600/resolution.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBtWze1fJ2rpqZ0zJNS5pA-t8mmPW5wmnnrhxZPOmLtpgzssMdLvh9yVFyxTwtnWlw6JiFUfC2pYKG2YHaqyhaB93dQfokE051d5SbjHCA-_0abGP4ZT8aOwlSwDpiqh92TgkGK_YYirs/s400/resolution.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Download as a document: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWVBFNGQ1czNkWXc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then <a href="http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx" target="_blank">contact your State Senator and </a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Representative</a> to </span><span style="font-size: large;">ask them to sponsor a bill next session to take control of our Texas lands and waterways away from the federal government, and give it back to the People of Texas.</span><br />
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Colleen Vera<br />
colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com<br />
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<br />texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-43289929965549100212016-01-17T23:00:00.002-06:002021-09-14T15:17:08.609-05:00Kay Smith's Record at HCDE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BiosKSmith" target="_blank">Kay Smith</a>, a former Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Trustee, is now running in the <a href="http://www.harriscountygop.com/2016_primary_candidate_list" target="_blank">Republican Primary</a> for the Texas Legislature - HD 130.<br />
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I am a citizen watchdog over HCDE so I have been receiving numerous requests for a summary of her HCDE voting record.<br />
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I don’t live in HD130 and I have never met her opponent. I don’t have a dog in this fight. But I am a conservative who believes the voters in HD130 deserve the facts so they can decide which candidate best represents their values.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Note:</b> For those who are not familiar with HCDE, you need to understand that Harris County School Trustees are the ONLY school board in the State of Texas elected by political party. They are a <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2011/09/obsolete-bureaucracy-waste-in-harris.html" target="_blank">leftover</a> entity from a past era in Texas education when counties ran the public schools. Every other county in Texas (except Dallas) closed their county board of education when all students moved into our current Independent School District (ISD) system. HCDE collects about $21 million in property taxes every year, over and above what is collected in ISD taxes. There has been a growing effort by conservatives in the past few years to close HCDE.</span><br />
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The top five points I think conservative voters in HD130 need to know about Kay Smith’s record at HCDE:<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">#1. Smith’s Votes Changed from Conservative to Liberal</span></u></b><br />
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For the first two years on the HCDE Board, the majority of Smith’s <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.MinutesArchive" target="_blank">votes</a> were conservative. Many times she was the LONE conservative vote. She often argued eloquently in support of the conservative viewpoint in board discussions.<br />
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But in 2015 - she began to vote with the liberals on many key issues such as:<br />
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<b><u>Obama’s expansion of Federal Pre-K – Children from Birth to 3 years old </u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRuyuZfqq4SG0NDmxgJzoocGlz_4o4BykS6xBKM4bSarkT8_fNdZMONqD7YU-eYHlY3qHzJz7Ue0UrCbmrqLOkgo4vLdut5MrdKORPvxOZ9zk8a9yydch1EJEHPqmAu_1OnyyjRWykaN_/s1600/smith+NO+early+to+rise+6.18.13.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRuyuZfqq4SG0NDmxgJzoocGlz_4o4BykS6xBKM4bSarkT8_fNdZMONqD7YU-eYHlY3qHzJz7Ue0UrCbmrqLOkgo4vLdut5MrdKORPvxOZ9zk8a9yydch1EJEHPqmAu_1OnyyjRWykaN_/s200/smith+NO+early+to+rise+6.18.13.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In 2013, Smith stood alone on the HCDE board <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/docs/97-06-18-13%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST </a>Obama’s pre-K expansion to include children from birth to 3 when liberals tried to fund the program under the name “Early to Rise.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0ceug608sh1UD_eECb9BHz9hq-kJnAsgwHhxEoZX0kq1Z-zUjVrE9PNiZT4DKKfqfLfIJ5uIzQfNwNs7b2uBrpZzRvZz5qdiEFbBZLyz-haaSmkKwutM7WrrbXtDe7BTq5kyRyJ1gpFI/s1600/smith+NO+on+preK+prep+5.20.14.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0ceug608sh1UD_eECb9BHz9hq-kJnAsgwHhxEoZX0kq1Z-zUjVrE9PNiZT4DKKfqfLfIJ5uIzQfNwNs7b2uBrpZzRvZz5qdiEFbBZLyz-haaSmkKwutM7WrrbXtDe7BTq5kyRyJ1gpFI/s200/smith+NO+on+preK+prep+5.20.14.png" width="200" /></a><br />
And Smith stood alone <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202014%20Meeting%20Minutes/05-20-14%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST</a> it again in 2014 when liberals tried to fund it under the name “Preschool Preparedness Initiative Program.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgan2pJE9BlEviofjLNBHejgW9TNJYHUsm6WrZ1QDQOySLI7G_EaKziMcsm-svdzxYRRZ-RnwRKTUFUJ2iu9-VmYDKpdNKqH9J-796cGwHJ_mcfluaJc3elVChHrTgVYVCH1JcD8Z9KOo/s1600/smith+votes+FOR+0+to+3+2.24.15.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgan2pJE9BlEviofjLNBHejgW9TNJYHUsm6WrZ1QDQOySLI7G_EaKziMcsm-svdzxYRRZ-RnwRKTUFUJ2iu9-VmYDKpdNKqH9J-796cGwHJ_mcfluaJc3elVChHrTgVYVCH1JcD8Z9KOo/s200/smith+votes+FOR+0+to+3+2.24.15.png" width="200" /></a></div>
But Smith completely reversed her conservative<br />
stand in 2015 and voted with the liberals <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/02-24-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">FOR</a> Obama’s “birth to 3” pre-k expansion under the name “Early Head Start.”<br />
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And even worse, because two new conservatives had joined her on the board in 2015…had she voted “NO” that day, the vote would have been <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/02-24-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">tied 3-3</a>, and the agenda item would <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/02-24-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">NOT</a> have passed.<br />
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Watch the discussion and vote below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iuclfdUZ2w8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iuclfdUZ2w8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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During the discussion, Smith seemed swayed by fellow board member <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BiosELee" target="_blank">Erica Lee Carter</a> (daughter of <a href="https://jacksonlee.house.gov/about" target="_blank">Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee)</a> who told Smith that Gov. Abbott supported the Federal Head Start expansion to include children from birth. After that, Smith went so far as to say, “..<i>.I think it is wonderful. Anything we can do for our children..." </i><br />
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But Gov. Abbott’s pre-k plan is not from birth, it is for 4 year olds. It is not a Federal program, it is State based. And he is critical of Head Start. A quote from <a href="http://abbotttownhall.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EducatingTexansPreKThird.pdf" target="_blank">Gov. Abbott’s Texas Pre-k Plan</a> reads:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37ixaolW0NzSzx4fvArvMdBqbo1Be8n4lE7UREgzuHRPg85_Daa38pLBvwefthYk0dKYxKwUQRumLViXUJL4WjxydqfURVMQ8oO93veAGOFNLmFk4xvX6OnijjAGF528LrrKhqFWRaeLl/s1600/abbott+not+for+head+start.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37ixaolW0NzSzx4fvArvMdBqbo1Be8n4lE7UREgzuHRPg85_Daa38pLBvwefthYk0dKYxKwUQRumLViXUJL4WjxydqfURVMQ8oO93veAGOFNLmFk4xvX6OnijjAGF528LrrKhqFWRaeLl/s200/abbott+not+for+head+start.png" width="169" /></a>“<u><a href="http://abbotttownhall.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EducatingTexansPreKThird.pdf" target="_blank">Recommendation</a></u>: Given the established deficiencies in the Head Start program, develop a strategic plan to encourage parents of eligible four-year-old children to enroll their children in state-based prekindergarten programs, rather than Head Start.”</blockquote>
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And, the federal <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/02-24-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">grant application</a> Smith approved was to serve 100 children for a 1 YEAR period at a price of $27,687.05 PER CHILD - an amount the conservative Smith would have sternly challenged 2 years earlier.</div>
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<b><u>Taxpayer funded <strike>lobbyists</strike> “political consultants”</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdnbjUV2KWMWIY1aR2Zc3i3hN__RzzGqyrsKbpIRVcLUrsTNDJiyCF2apYd7KyZeO4WX-BGvkhtfS1lqUYHLKI9F7P4rzR2GwbuP-s19iCa7Pr9BolCXKmCzQi_u6MCyaab8RAEFipdce/s1600/smith+votes+NO+on+strong+7.15.14.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdnbjUV2KWMWIY1aR2Zc3i3hN__RzzGqyrsKbpIRVcLUrsTNDJiyCF2apYd7KyZeO4WX-BGvkhtfS1lqUYHLKI9F7P4rzR2GwbuP-s19iCa7Pr9BolCXKmCzQi_u6MCyaab8RAEFipdce/s200/smith+votes+NO+on+strong+7.15.14.png" width="200" /></a><b><u><br /></u></b><br />
During her first two years at HCDE, Smith voted <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202014%20Meeting%20Minutes/07-15-14%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST</a> HCDE hiring lobbyists and/or political consultants to fight against the Legislature working to close HCDE. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNWB7NJ_69zKta9BEYm56I9I-Dsxra1TpeuQbJh8UPKUukjqv8FbLxFgZOXsWglgQQEgNWmAznarmQc7yuyo4ys270MdlGmkd04ZLIEl_oQOAoAP-7m4ELLnn3GJkyFVXPlbejbWTA0Fe/s1600/smith+votes+FOR+strong+9.15.15.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNWB7NJ_69zKta9BEYm56I9I-Dsxra1TpeuQbJh8UPKUukjqv8FbLxFgZOXsWglgQQEgNWmAznarmQc7yuyo4ys270MdlGmkd04ZLIEl_oQOAoAP-7m4ELLnn3GJkyFVXPlbejbWTA0Fe/s200/smith+votes+FOR+strong+9.15.15.png" width="163" /></a></div>
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But in 2015, Smith argued against HCDE's need to renew Pat Strong's contract, before surrendering her conservative stand and voting with the liberals <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/09-15-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">FOR</a> renewing Pat Strong’s contract ...for up to 5 years ... at a cost to Harris County taxpayers of $80,000+ per year.<br />
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View the full board discussion which convinced Smith to surrender below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a-XvGCS-BNY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a-XvGCS-BNY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Who is <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2014/09/hcde-helping-turn-texas-blue.html" target="_blank">Pat Strong</a>? A super liberal <strike>lobbyist</strike> “political consultant” who works for Democrat campaigns such as <a href="http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/ViewECDocs.aspx?ID=pPwMtwdSIGM0DQbwZ5sPsydTqNL4FDDx7+c83wh7hZK7tbdXJZUt0q5FbmUX3yadU9X58ZINatIbCYY0qcKP7FWPLwercr8b4yc8Vt0paVgfJIhTZvKydylbM1VT+hi5" target="_blank">County Attorney Vince Ryan</a> and <a href="http://cohapp.cityofhouston.gov/CampaignFinanceWeb/CFRwebsiteSimpleSearch.aspx" target="_blank">Mayor Sylvester Turner</a>. An example of her work at HCDE in 2014:<br />
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A conference call between the Wendy Davis Campaign and HCDE administrators, board members and “consultants.”</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeaYuwvcCJPcIyq5IqO2nPaLoXSEP4WIpO4o-MbWT-bangaBuRrEJ3OoDjSPWwolWNWdO2BQhc3Z_ugweOWO9XHKzDtbK4WHD2MCv0ilyp_wvCWKRwTUTOJL6IyW3j8vJK0OV9-9783dr/s1600/davis+campaign+conf+call.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeaYuwvcCJPcIyq5IqO2nPaLoXSEP4WIpO4o-MbWT-bangaBuRrEJ3OoDjSPWwolWNWdO2BQhc3Z_ugweOWO9XHKzDtbK4WHD2MCv0ilyp_wvCWKRwTUTOJL6IyW3j8vJK0OV9-9783dr/s400/davis+campaign+conf+call.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Manipulation of Government Contracting</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwO_CY8TUhYroJPmM03fFvk7bKTzboos18aw5_0rh7s9E5aCLk7Su9i-y_CDmiM9EZXANB1gcT5PF0hMvFIKzgxfPx5cj-F1NgunSZeygL7629GcN4akWd7LSCJixPLWB-4klqaBvB1cJ/s1600/smith+No+on+txvsn+2.26.13.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwO_CY8TUhYroJPmM03fFvk7bKTzboos18aw5_0rh7s9E5aCLk7Su9i-y_CDmiM9EZXANB1gcT5PF0hMvFIKzgxfPx5cj-F1NgunSZeygL7629GcN4akWd7LSCJixPLWB-4klqaBvB1cJ/s200/smith+No+on+txvsn+2.26.13.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In 2013, Smith questioned the HCDE administration over its manipulation of government contracting in order to run the statewide Central Operations of the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN.) She was the LONE vote<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/docs/97-02-26-13%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank"> AGAINST</a> continuing the contract. </div>
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Watch the 2013 board discussion and vote <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHKbtK2BX6A" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB54moBTGMoFt-It_8pqIirTZ46Vvue5lbyt8TXFFR-_Ew4TKcxBbvMxWJy7VMza_rJ6b6k0LLp3wJwRr5mGsL7xpz8vvgsy4CXSEgQvYq04nhmhsZFO8-pIZtpC6K8N6rONqGLLQgxmVw/s1600/smith+votes+FOR+strong+9.15.15.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB54moBTGMoFt-It_8pqIirTZ46Vvue5lbyt8TXFFR-_Ew4TKcxBbvMxWJy7VMza_rJ6b6k0LLp3wJwRr5mGsL7xpz8vvgsy4CXSEgQvYq04nhmhsZFO8-pIZtpC6K8N6rONqGLLQgxmVw/s200/smith+votes+FOR+strong+9.15.15.png" width="163" /></a></div>
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But, by 2015, Smith surrendered her conservative stand and voted with the liberals <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/09-15-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">FOR</a> a two year extension of the same contract, as the two new conservative board members voted <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/09-15-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST</a>.</div>
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<b><u>21st Century Community Learning Centers</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH7Oyfl38FvMKhs7A1V6dwpMZca2j3_kmzA86CojJe6T8Sa-LVcX270k1WTZ5gSl_gIJ42oFmiEzjUWchh62Ewd7oIXxGWPOcRkzsPO7UFXYdukYkAvfeTAITSz0AB5vxdBDPbl1Owz3C/s1600/smith+NO+case+9.17.15.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHH7Oyfl38FvMKhs7A1V6dwpMZca2j3_kmzA86CojJe6T8Sa-LVcX270k1WTZ5gSl_gIJ42oFmiEzjUWchh62Ewd7oIXxGWPOcRkzsPO7UFXYdukYkAvfeTAITSz0AB5vxdBDPbl1Owz3C/s200/smith+NO+case+9.17.15.png" width="200" /></a><b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<a href="http://drcarolehhaynes.com/articles/common-core/122-gop-s-christmas-miracle-for-president-obama" target="_blank">21st Century Community Learning Centers</a> is a federal grant program issued through the states, designed to substitute school for family and church as the center of children’s lives.<br />
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In 2013, Smith was the LONE conservative vote <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/docs/97-09-17-13%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST</a> funds for HCDE’s 21st Century Learning Centers division called CASE.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_cjxqVbln6B-Gugw4R3-V2cArsgPBSJm269slgRO0aCRSrR1N8ExVx1-eoKc9hO_4TCyzcMD1Vv_xfZYKjLAlVYoibgJjtwWEcz33EN3lK2wou4x_g7qLDWJ828cVs0jduPJUh4KCZxv/s1600/smith+votes+FOR+21st+century+7.15.14.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_cjxqVbln6B-Gugw4R3-V2cArsgPBSJm269slgRO0aCRSrR1N8ExVx1-eoKc9hO_4TCyzcMD1Vv_xfZYKjLAlVYoibgJjtwWEcz33EN3lK2wou4x_g7qLDWJ828cVs0jduPJUh4KCZxv/s200/smith+votes+FOR+21st+century+7.15.14.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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But by 2014, Smith caved and voted with the liberals <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202014%20Meeting%20Minutes/07-15-14%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">FOR</a> funding CASE - HCDE’s 21st Century Learning Centers division.<br />
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<b><u>Head Start</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22rgLtGUqab1qnHOBsyUJwX9Cxs6WoN-vygKkPwLmwGjT2m3eJi-Urmz7ztKaOg2yCleGOrzg7hWg7eLMcGmg5FZm2nH1yBcuWumqvhhOlmCWwjG-9KkWbGibAhF8G1FDcpxms9lesRlC/s1600/smith+NO+head+start+9.17.13.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22rgLtGUqab1qnHOBsyUJwX9Cxs6WoN-vygKkPwLmwGjT2m3eJi-Urmz7ztKaOg2yCleGOrzg7hWg7eLMcGmg5FZm2nH1yBcuWumqvhhOlmCWwjG-9KkWbGibAhF8G1FDcpxms9lesRlC/s200/smith+NO+head+start+9.17.13.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In 2013, Smith was the LONE conservative vote <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/docs/97-09-17-13%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">AGAINST</a> HCDE continuing as a service provider for the Federal Head Start program.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tNDUd0zIZoY9jDI0UB7oJNxo-vRWy5EqkMTYdjErhiOy4dJZblqoUlvDD3j6ZhSQ2bsu4WuMfKPwacuQGJeN6otLhOob323mGD68mKkJkHG-eobdoqUekooANzR84CFF_6AnaQlLa2nv/s1600/head+start+yes.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tNDUd0zIZoY9jDI0UB7oJNxo-vRWy5EqkMTYdjErhiOy4dJZblqoUlvDD3j6ZhSQ2bsu4WuMfKPwacuQGJeN6otLhOob323mGD68mKkJkHG-eobdoqUekooANzR84CFF_6AnaQlLa2nv/s200/head+start+yes.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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By 2015, Smith was voting with the liberals <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/09-15-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">FOR</a> HCDE to expand their Federal Head Start program.<br />
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<b>Note:</b> These are just a few examples of Smith's HCDE voting record. You can read the entire HCDE board meeting minutes <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.MinutesArchive" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">#2. Smith Stayed Silent</span></u></b><br />
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During her first two years at HCDE, Smith often spoke out on issues of concern to conservatives. But there were also many times when she remained silent. For example:<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><b style="text-decoration: underline;">Family Planning Services provided through schools</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjca1D6HezVW8BOpy9gRLxCjCH8aB8imMpsxYyhbZIOv6lxEgeFPoH7FACEEke6uGkaIpyRK9B5nzv5XE4YJ5JmONIj88wkFCGjhW703vvyehxlEyx5Qz7k0Gs0p7JcN2aNperGTqAi_Gb/s1600/family+planning+9.16.14.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjca1D6HezVW8BOpy9gRLxCjCH8aB8imMpsxYyhbZIOv6lxEgeFPoH7FACEEke6uGkaIpyRK9B5nzv5XE4YJ5JmONIj88wkFCGjhW703vvyehxlEyx5Qz7k0Gs0p7JcN2aNperGTqAi_Gb/s200/family+planning+9.16.14.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b>Smith remained silent when HCDE’s Administration <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/09-16-14%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">informed</a> the Board that medical services, including “family planning,” would be provided through their ten Head Start schools.<br />
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<b><u>Funneling grant funds to liberal organizations</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kXzWLGJo2JD_Rn7mtG_UB4I_trmIAKuRFrZH-ZQvWT5RG7Aqp087LwmmQF5vrFFRIcJ_VHK9WWRq1onnCSs6Uu2004xNZvRxlT1Vk-vOWzY4m0XLvTLU8PttxVWLlgjsVT1eGfv3tkvh/s1600/money+to.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kXzWLGJo2JD_Rn7mtG_UB4I_trmIAKuRFrZH-ZQvWT5RG7Aqp087LwmmQF5vrFFRIcJ_VHK9WWRq1onnCSs6Uu2004xNZvRxlT1Vk-vOWzY4m0XLvTLU8PttxVWLlgjsVT1eGfv3tkvh/s200/money+to.png" width="171" /></a></div>
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Smith remained silent when HCDE’s Administration informed the Board of the funds HCDE was providing to organizations which actively push the liberal agenda such as...<br />
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<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/07-21-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">Texans Together Education Fund</a>, better known to conservatives as, <a href="http://www.conservapedia.com/Association_of_Community_Organizations_for_Reform_Now" target="_blank">ACORN</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfMWvv3JgjVfz2tNI0T44AeaQ8QqzdeeKNR0knmrcOIKG7XAvEqHgWcab7sbnQYOZTqahXPvtCVKt8z6lT6I1GgWuZDOnQoFxbLWkWKEloBHFI-4gPhZz1pmcDg0T4faOpmZfoCQq8ths/s1600/ties+to+cair.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfMWvv3JgjVfz2tNI0T44AeaQ8QqzdeeKNR0knmrcOIKG7XAvEqHgWcab7sbnQYOZTqahXPvtCVKt8z6lT6I1GgWuZDOnQoFxbLWkWKEloBHFI-4gPhZz1pmcDg0T4faOpmZfoCQq8ths/s200/ties+to+cair.png" width="146" /></a><br />
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And a <a href="http://refugeelink.com/a-team/" target="_blank">Syrian Refugee service provider</a> with ties to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadalaswad" target="_blank">CAIR</a>.<br />
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<b><u>Choice of Attorney</u></b><br />
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Smith has remained silent about HCDE’s selection of their board attorney, <a href="http://www.ogwbl.com/attorneys/slanglois.html" target="_blank">Sarah Weber Langlois</a>, whose claim to fame in her bio is <a href="https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=51+Loy.+L.+Rev.+549&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=ed6e173b58efaa53431a944289127662" target="_blank">her comment</a> published in the Loyola Law Review in 2005 entitled:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">DISMANTLING THE DICTATED MORAL CODE:<br /><br />MODIFYING LOUISIANA'S IN VITRO FERTILIZATION<br />STATUTES TO PROTECT PATIENTS' PROCREATIVE LIBERTY</span></i></blockquote>
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<b><u>Christmas and Easter not named on HCDE work/holiday calendar</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cCmEUrw3ZAxa3hQ0AX7U8JaQe4euQFq2HEPvaPrA7D1gpyUZAZrOZtIBemqWVCmINfoRTqNaU_WY1K0dnZRlEuTJIOjXMoQTA7WzIXFksTXUHI6V3y67h8ruAKVMCvoHX0Vv4hTiLgoy/s1600/smith+abstains+from+christmas+vote+2.24.15.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cCmEUrw3ZAxa3hQ0AX7U8JaQe4euQFq2HEPvaPrA7D1gpyUZAZrOZtIBemqWVCmINfoRTqNaU_WY1K0dnZRlEuTJIOjXMoQTA7WzIXFksTXUHI6V3y67h8ruAKVMCvoHX0Vv4hTiLgoy/s200/smith+abstains+from+christmas+vote+2.24.15.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In 2015, Smith did NOT stand with the two new conservatives to support naming holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, on the HCDE work/holiday calendar. </div>
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Instead she refrained from debate and <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/FY%202015%20Meeting%20Minutes/02-24-15%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">ABSTAINED</a> from the vote.</div>
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Watch the video of the discussion and vote <a href="https://youtu.be/1_Bb6zXtWr4" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Below is the HCDE work calendar WITHOUT holidays named and the Humble ISD calendar WITH school holidays named.<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="399"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> <a href="http://www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib2/TX01001414/Centricity/shared/calendars-dates/2015-16-Calendar-testdatesCX.pdf" target="_blank">Humble ISD Calendar</a></o:p></div>
</td><td style="border: 1pt solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="399"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p> <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0221/docs/2015-16Calendar.pdf" target="_blank">HCDE Calendar</a></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="399"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypbI8mD3FhG8h_VszTpaDk4iAkrWYykO4sPMGQ_WTlxgQTmQUa4_YYCUgfb4HrUwOmwaUICStp5ToDY3wxf3IYyIaryqs9dbbT_G8wk5jm1gOawbbaspdFWFrWw643Gojm44msFMFMO66/s1600/humble+isd+calendar.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypbI8mD3FhG8h_VszTpaDk4iAkrWYykO4sPMGQ_WTlxgQTmQUa4_YYCUgfb4HrUwOmwaUICStp5ToDY3wxf3IYyIaryqs9dbbT_G8wk5jm1gOawbbaspdFWFrWw643Gojm44msFMFMO66/s200/humble+isd+calendar.png" width="154" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC_n3WSmyJUu2WP8PLstvZmySocwLgqA1cnbh8Gl9ektbuPROvG8zRWqoGT_yeuWOkKS5GcN0SCCIm8rirNCRn4E5hPKygt6dTMUrNNHMPdr5her0jJNLMBIH6P2P1ArOYoMm4gcQ4je4/s1600/hcde+calendar.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC_n3WSmyJUu2WP8PLstvZmySocwLgqA1cnbh8Gl9ektbuPROvG8zRWqoGT_yeuWOkKS5GcN0SCCIm8rirNCRn4E5hPKygt6dTMUrNNHMPdr5her0jJNLMBIH6P2P1ArOYoMm4gcQ4je4/s200/hcde+calendar.png" width="155" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">#3. Smith a NO SHOW</span></u></b><br />
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Smith promised many of us in her campaign for HCDE in 2012 that she would work with the Legislature to shut HCDE down. But while she was a Trustee, the Texas Legislative held three hearings on HCDE. </div>
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Smith was a NO SHOW at ALL THREE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXBxZhUxrFSXaizBhNVnXvfTdRf5v_iQxLXqHpsQnsxxuJBiHP6-3Q5XzLiVkdKTzADBfOlI3XogupvqphABndXkIGUjwBeAx3ZMhEGf3wF19QXOj1mYDahSfFf1Gd4iZHcqKm4ctJN-a/s1600/sb1216.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXBxZhUxrFSXaizBhNVnXvfTdRf5v_iQxLXqHpsQnsxxuJBiHP6-3Q5XzLiVkdKTzADBfOlI3XogupvqphABndXkIGUjwBeAx3ZMhEGf3wF19QXOj1mYDahSfFf1Gd4iZHcqKm4ctJN-a/s200/sb1216.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/billtext/pdf/HB00945I.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank">HB 945</a> - Hearing held <a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/witlistmtg/pdf/C4002013041600001.PDF" target="_blank">4/16/2013</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.house.state.tx.us/_media/pdf/interim-charges-83rd.pdf" target="_blank">Interim Study</a> - Hearing held <a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/witlistmtg/pdf/C4002014101610001.PDF" target="_blank">10/16/2014</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/SB01216E.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank">SB 1216</a> - Hearing held <a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/witlistbill/pdf/SB01216S.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank">4/28/2015</a></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">#4. Accepted favors from HCDE’s Administration at taxpayers’ expense. </span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpCGnPCUrb87RgDSIUuEZvz-1CAo92ZehzJBl6PbhbSYvKJG3HSwAjqbX4i8EDIXc5B7o9h2dpYjB6R_y012N78AORzAxEdrOn2FhpdNjTxPyRwOOVARH_38dG5-s8nIX-LPJoED4Rqd8/s1600/hero+friend+board.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpCGnPCUrb87RgDSIUuEZvz-1CAo92ZehzJBl6PbhbSYvKJG3HSwAjqbX4i8EDIXc5B7o9h2dpYjB6R_y012N78AORzAxEdrOn2FhpdNjTxPyRwOOVARH_38dG5-s8nIX-LPJoED4Rqd8/s200/hero+friend+board.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In the summer of 2014, Smith started a 501(c)(3) called <i><a href="http://heroandfriend.com/board.html" target="_blank">Hero and Friend. </a></i><br />
(Note: SOS filing under <a href="http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/index.shtml" target="_blank">Smith Street Corp</a>)</div>
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The <a href="http://www.heroandfriend.org/advisors.html" target="_blank">Board of Advisors</a> includes:</div>
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HCDE Board President,<a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BiosAChesnut" target="_blank"> Angie Chesnut</a><br />
and the wife of HCDE Board Member<br />
<a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BiosMMorris" target="_blank">Marvin Morris</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYikm8Z_77u8rzTEvpUX2yo0liKnMnz6N7C05f70JnZxrjqdvqO_GHC6W22WlkGmo9ThWtWI1LyZUDVP9OYwtEc7GTeF7uNmQKA4N1DDOgPdDsSnXV1WLdwLT6VXoeVA3NrQr-DUsHb18k/s1600/hcde+ciq+2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYikm8Z_77u8rzTEvpUX2yo0liKnMnz6N7C05f70JnZxrjqdvqO_GHC6W22WlkGmo9ThWtWI1LyZUDVP9OYwtEc7GTeF7uNmQKA4N1DDOgPdDsSnXV1WLdwLT6VXoeVA3NrQr-DUsHb18k/s200/hcde+ciq+2.png" width="188" /></a><br />
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On 9/9/14, Hero and Friend filed a <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0226/docs/2015/Hero_and_Friend.pdf" target="_blank">Conflict of Interest Questionnaire</a> in order to do business with <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=PublicInfo.CIQs2015" target="_blank">HCDE</a>.<br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b><u>Hero and Friend hosted a program at HCDE’s Conference Center paid for by the taxpayers</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMF5qowb4DwUtyan4JuZwtsDKcbpspkxzcgS-hzla79a6QFnz2K8pyINxJfH2_hMo3fCmYWG9oVDDxav6FMYlASRimQPB0PltwDWSx11pGroFh1WlW2weXh4yMDv-mq-ufmTxa9cO_4Go/s1600/page.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMF5qowb4DwUtyan4JuZwtsDKcbpspkxzcgS-hzla79a6QFnz2K8pyINxJfH2_hMo3fCmYWG9oVDDxav6FMYlASRimQPB0PltwDWSx11pGroFh1WlW2weXh4yMDv-mq-ufmTxa9cO_4Go/s200/page.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
On 1/16/15 <a href="http://heroandfriend.com/" target="_blank">Hero and Friend</a> hosted a program at the HCDE Conference Center.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvP50xigp_yUZvTsxbIuQZWYwfdmefUJ-wgyDxTGY94ih-le-ATr72CvIFeGZ_zQwGipP0rqQXRL55m_a7oO9VUZ9dlantTO2h0wv0SQ6tdGzkQKo_S6WAWcVgYAtZ-q5hQFYzR0A9USs/s1600/smith+orr.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvP50xigp_yUZvTsxbIuQZWYwfdmefUJ-wgyDxTGY94ih-le-ATr72CvIFeGZ_zQwGipP0rqQXRL55m_a7oO9VUZ9dlantTO2h0wv0SQ6tdGzkQKo_S6WAWcVgYAtZ-q5hQFYzR0A9USs/s200/smith+orr.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
HCDE could not produce any records showing any written agreement or payments made by Smith for use of the space.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b><b>But HCDE did produce records showing how the taxpayers funded the event:</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5oDnVoUxXHcOjYO2FRmdx2FFn4CUvyeahIhUrD9vfkRYGv12HJoQuIEt5YvsAcVHOo8NilOfCphYeTg0ENE50ucOjoCVinfhOF9DSLWpcLdN-C4fRka4krurVpP19TI5jC6Sgh6YX67r/s1600/security+for+smith.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5oDnVoUxXHcOjYO2FRmdx2FFn4CUvyeahIhUrD9vfkRYGv12HJoQuIEt5YvsAcVHOo8NilOfCphYeTg0ENE50ucOjoCVinfhOF9DSLWpcLdN-C4fRka4krurVpP19TI5jC6Sgh6YX67r/s200/security+for+smith.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Security officer paid for 5 hours;<br />
billed to the taxpayers as:<br />
<br />
“<i>after-hours HCDE Board Meeting</i>”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q9yWHtRctLh-T3BWyWAgrUfO6TGlNJefenuRXwfCmtdCRRdPRqtzPaXYnhnJnhPVH0UArdyuAxMF9k1xjWEYrbce2SY4GUwIKKHovZRHZ0fA9j0SKScmTKQjf8hlpaM8mP3ORd1kQx3k/s1600/smith+custodial.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q9yWHtRctLh-T3BWyWAgrUfO6TGlNJefenuRXwfCmtdCRRdPRqtzPaXYnhnJnhPVH0UArdyuAxMF9k1xjWEYrbce2SY4GUwIKKHovZRHZ0fA9j0SKScmTKQjf8hlpaM8mP3ORd1kQx3k/s200/smith+custodial.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Two Custodians, each earning 8.15 overtime hours, paid by the taxpayers; both listing the overtime purpose as:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“<i>Kay Smith” </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
View all documents <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMMnVQSThsQzF0eGs/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJDxwEVi3gO8GEGOjAto-J_xuRZq1yDP89JYASEfEfhnhz6cAP3MCdeY9XfejE6Z3h4WcgpwaCeXvWUUezr2VlhBWYF6CKFkH9eSc5WO3cudKMYwabqmJ8Y1xYyJDw4hVaZCGMholCBhJ/s1600/hcde+maint+for+smith.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJDxwEVi3gO8GEGOjAto-J_xuRZq1yDP89JYASEfEfhnhz6cAP3MCdeY9XfejE6Z3h4WcgpwaCeXvWUUezr2VlhBWYF6CKFkH9eSc5WO3cudKMYwabqmJ8Y1xYyJDw4hVaZCGMholCBhJ/s200/hcde+maint+for+smith.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
6.15 overtime hours for Maintenance paid for by the taxpayers; “<i>for Kay S</i>” scratched out as the overtime purpose.</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
View all documents <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMRFphbUdwbkVVUDQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Technology helpdesk analyst overtime paid for by the taxpayers; no purpose given.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
View all documents <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMVnZEX2RSY0R3RWs/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<div>
<ol></ol>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Taxpayers paid Smith’s Grant Writing Registration Fees</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMUWZkVExIcXBUd1U/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Records show</a> HCDE’s Superintendent used his HCDE credit card to pay Kay Smith’s registration fee for a seminar held by the <i>Center for Grants Development</i> on 4/22/15. The topic was how to create a grants acquisition program.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYtQ9tR572T2RjYHSm5N9CLsNRVhwdCF33EzXqJpRGKinv4r7oM978T7_Y60iHtxljk1bRsTaBOLJlLKLWqm_ljNghqBf4f-fni3rYBA8CnDm3xcBbV7nY0AgX2yPpI-YbUzevkqFUkqc/s1600/hcde+smith+payment.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYtQ9tR572T2RjYHSm5N9CLsNRVhwdCF33EzXqJpRGKinv4r7oM978T7_Y60iHtxljk1bRsTaBOLJlLKLWqm_ljNghqBf4f-fni3rYBA8CnDm3xcBbV7nY0AgX2yPpI-YbUzevkqFUkqc/s200/hcde+smith+payment.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMUWZkVExIcXBUd1U/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Records show</a> her registration was billed to the taxpayers under the budget codes for “<i>Superintendents Office – Workshop registration and fees.”</i><br />
<br />
Had Smith paid as a private citizen the cost would have been $45.00. The Superintendent paid the reduced rate of $25 for Smith’s registration because Smith was listed as an “<i>HCDE Employee.</i>” View all documents <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMUWZkVExIcXBUd1U/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFyX8czDpKkl2Zr0Jzrki0Q0X2CSloC6hNCsGF8p4gaysQ_mna2qaoAQdv6eKY7gl-osImQOKWURemopVH5erpVGDNtn6aNh7QUVBFiG-CTzPzaaGXjEgNrKGzFcV0UIRDVfz7ATboV5q/s1600/smith+orr.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFyX8czDpKkl2Zr0Jzrki0Q0X2CSloC6hNCsGF8p4gaysQ_mna2qaoAQdv6eKY7gl-osImQOKWURemopVH5erpVGDNtn6aNh7QUVBFiG-CTzPzaaGXjEgNrKGzFcV0UIRDVfz7ATboV5q/s320/smith+orr.png" width="320" /></a>I requested documents showing Smith<br />
had reimbursed HCDE,<br />
but HCDE did not have any such documents.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>#5. Resignation</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BiosKSmith" target="_blank">Smith</a> was elected to a 6 year term on HCDE’s board in <a href="http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/20120529/cumulative/Rep/cumulative.pdf" target="_blank">2012</a> and took office <a href="http://hcde-texas.org/docs/97-01-15-13%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf" target="_blank">1/2013</a>.<br />
<br />
She resigned <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/11-30-15%20Special%20Board%20Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">11/30/15</a>, 3 years before her term expired.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpxKTuY2ZGT1Agm-aKOqEr-oKeqYIUsTPzFI6BjcsdKUEUtwWPcHu6BMSRfNMkFhLtz5zdiNh8kFe0wTOmpZ01Y-CU8ckOLhNXjQM18UBwzuYGwDtLK8dQ57qOGVdv9ZJjUMnNDZJdgdQ/s1600/smith+resigns+11.30.15.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpxKTuY2ZGT1Agm-aKOqEr-oKeqYIUsTPzFI6BjcsdKUEUtwWPcHu6BMSRfNMkFhLtz5zdiNh8kFe0wTOmpZ01Y-CU8ckOLhNXjQM18UBwzuYGwDtLK8dQ57qOGVdv9ZJjUMnNDZJdgdQ/s200/smith+resigns+11.30.15.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
In her statement to the Board, she states the reason for her resignation is the amount of time her run for the Legislature is taking. Quote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“…because there are certain people who have worked very hard to see that I don’t get elected…those detractors, on a daily basis, seem to make some sort of effort through either half-truths, innuendos, or out-and-out-lies…I have been combating all of these…”</blockquote>
View her entire statement below:<br />
<br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tTAIg2OdcGs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tTAIg2OdcGs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Questions for the voters of HD 130 :</span></u></b><br />
<ol>
<li>If Smith abandoned her conservative position to vote with the liberals on key issues at HCDE, will she do the same in the Legislature?</li>
<li>If Smith stayed silent on issues at HCDE, will she stay silent in Austin?</li>
<li>If Smith did not show up for ANY of the three Legislative hearings on HCDE, will she show up to fight for your important issues?</li>
<li>If Smith accepted favors from HCDE administrators at taxpayers’ expense, will she accept favors from lobbyists?</li>
<li>If Smith doesn’t have time to attend one meeting per month at HCDE now because she is campaigning for the Legislature, will she have time to fulfill her duties as a State Rep and campaign for re-election? </li>
<li>If Smith is so upset by “detractors” in a campaign for the Legislature, will she be able to handle the CONSTANT bombardment of statewide critics of her every vote and her every statement as a Legislator?</li>
</ol>
<br />
Colleen Vera<br />
<a href="mailto:colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</a><br />
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</div>
texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-90156032026703813902015-10-16T17:30:00.001-05:002021-09-14T15:18:13.982-05:00State Audit shows HCDE needs a Sunset Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2013, <a href="http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=150" target="_blank">Rep. Riddle</a> asked the State Auditor’s Office to audit HCDE. The <a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank">results</a> were released in September of 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank">audit</a> confirms the findings by <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/Questions-about-spending-transparency-persist-at-6283618.php" target="_blank">Susan Carroll of the Houston Chronicle</a> showing HCDE’s administration has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra employee stipends for years. But the employee stipends identified in the audit were even greater than Carroll found - $871,610 from 2012-2014 . Of the stipends tested by the auditors, <b>40% were paid without Board knowledge or approval.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYexAhKe_B6OH9-BEyCSzYfTEyMLFCOkijKoVZlUKDwsYeXmqek_nRIXFQkdz1skYmI7wVSzRMExmU48idzvKxO147k1-51J7l9GustzoPD4xr84_nZxBLnClVsLqnrHkbKoD0_E_ZJV5/s1600/stipends.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYexAhKe_B6OH9-BEyCSzYfTEyMLFCOkijKoVZlUKDwsYeXmqek_nRIXFQkdz1skYmI7wVSzRMExmU48idzvKxO147k1-51J7l9GustzoPD4xr84_nZxBLnClVsLqnrHkbKoD0_E_ZJV5/s400/stipends.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>The <a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank">audit</a> identified multiple issues with HCDE’s contract to run the <i>Central Operations of the Texas Virtual School Network.</i><br /><br />And a quote from the <a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank">audit</a> confirms what conservatives have been saying for years: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“The majority of property tax revenue was allocated for internal expenses related to the Department’s operations and technology support services.”</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">In other words: <b>HCDE collects a property tax to support itself</b>…not Harris County students.<br /><br /><b>But…look a little deeper… and you will see what this audit really confirmed …</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHiIZXeeyGctZxvEMB6Kty5fK5ESV8V6cnKORhKf4uRi3qJLIUK8avnKxVbdwQsF9K8_zzf8c_zh1eiXN9lItSoCYklCVneL6CN48xfrxB8P4dkuQ0zfoobLgbHJJc6tE_fFmxUk-s4dC/s1600/Bettencourt_Action.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHiIZXeeyGctZxvEMB6Kty5fK5ESV8V6cnKORhKf4uRi3qJLIUK8avnKxVbdwQsF9K8_zzf8c_zh1eiXN9lItSoCYklCVneL6CN48xfrxB8P4dkuQ0zfoobLgbHJJc6tE_fFmxUk-s4dC/s200/Bettencourt_Action.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That </span><a href="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist7/dist7.htm" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Sen Bettencourt</a><span style="font-size: large;"> and</span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://www.garcia.senate.state.tx.us/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Sen Garcia</a> <span style="font-size: large;">were right when</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">they sponsored </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1216" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">SB1216</a><span style="font-size: large;"> last session.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ_xf18RWzokpudqvtJoXPygTprcVcG44F_xyrzfvc_O88TI5NgzK_D2IIWGNijquYcccto9enVSXXO5c2l0UIMHDl8YB7BL5orxvA5UxKf1rEbFHJShei_ZtUz4WJC6xs_4iur-4GEp3/s1600/Sen-Sylvia-Garcia-Headshot-May-2014.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ_xf18RWzokpudqvtJoXPygTprcVcG44F_xyrzfvc_O88TI5NgzK_D2IIWGNijquYcccto9enVSXXO5c2l0UIMHDl8YB7BL5orxvA5UxKf1rEbFHJShei_ZtUz4WJC6xs_4iur-4GEp3/s200/Sen-Sylvia-Garcia-Headshot-May-2014.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">A review of HCDE’s programs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and fu</span><span style="font-size: large;">nctions by the <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Sunset</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Commission</a> is clearly needed.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To understand why, I’ll borrow a famous line from Paul Harvey’s old radio show…</span><br />
<div>
<i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i style="font-size: x-large;"><b>"…and now for the rest of the story…”</b></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;">This<a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank"> audit </a>reviewed state funds HCDE received from 2012-2014 to operate three grant programs to make sure the funds were properly used for those programs.<br /><br />1.<b> Early Childhood Intervention <a href="http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/" target="_blank">(ECI)</a></b> – which provides services for local families with children, birth to three years, who have disabilities and/or developmental delays. <br /><br />2. <b>Texas LEARNS </b>– Statewide adult education administered by HCDE for the Texas Education Agency (TEA)<br /><br />3.<b> Central Operations of the Texas Virtual School Network</b> <a href="http://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=4840&menu_id=2147483665" target="_blank">(TXVSN)</a> – Online courses for Texas students across the state.<br /><br /><b><u>First: Audit reported funds for ECI were properly used</u></b><br /><br />But, what did the audit <b>NOT</b> report about ECI that a Sunset Review would?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU1qvo57lzEiZIqgKUDeju1zzsvr6dQ8O1vz_IhIn0KeEjpmRBjs55DaM9E30qVaSYG39ZveLoP0Tr0PGsH_edprxCk0zrHtgGbAKe6y6LxK711bm-YBnsL-fjQnYUU2NNsg9xo6aATlp/s1600/eci+dars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU1qvo57lzEiZIqgKUDeju1zzsvr6dQ8O1vz_IhIn0KeEjpmRBjs55DaM9E30qVaSYG39ZveLoP0Tr0PGsH_edprxCk0zrHtgGbAKe6y6LxK711bm-YBnsL-fjQnYUU2NNsg9xo6aATlp/s400/eci+dars.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CJ5pC_RwBI6GOP9GqCO6dtaR1QYyN-ceG72m23om9ITtXApG5rit-VqYQTxeH0t_cSz5HTXxSySK-Dvj6iZKKvOGufQsk4Ck20aIvNvaDrem_q02HJGjsybxDCxbh0Rh2pE6aCw7kk-h/s1600/eci+hcde.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CJ5pC_RwBI6GOP9GqCO6dtaR1QYyN-ceG72m23om9ITtXApG5rit-VqYQTxeH0t_cSz5HTXxSySK-Dvj6iZKKvOGufQsk4Ck20aIvNvaDrem_q02HJGjsybxDCxbh0Rh2pE6aCw7kk-h/s200/eci+hcde.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>HCDE was so incompetent in the ECI program</b>, that in December 2014, <a href="http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ECIS/20141008.shtml" target="_blank">the State</a><b><a href="http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ECIS/20141008.shtml" target="_blank"> transferred</a> HCDE’s ECI clients to new ECI providers:</b> MHMRA and Easter Seals.<br /><br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMfk1hRnM0Z01YNzFsZ1I5RnMzVFhfUWRGUFBvSnY3SlFEZ2ttR3FNZkNwR2M&usp=sharing" target="_blank">Records show</a> HCDE was first flagged by the State for ECI noncompliance issues in Feb of 2013 and given multiple opportunities to fix their problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For example, <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMfk1hRnM0Z01YNzFsZ1I5RnMzVFhfUWRGUFBvSnY3SlFEZ2ttR3FNZkNwR2M&usp=sharing" target="_blank">in their first review</a>, the State found that <b>49%</b> of individualized plans for HCDE’s ECI clients “<i>did not include measurable outcomes expected to be achieved for the child and family.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After giving HCDE time to fix the problem, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMfk1hRnM0Z01YNzFsZ1I5RnMzVFhfUWRGUFBvSnY3SlFEZ2ttR3FNZkNwR2M&usp=sharing" target="_blank">follow up review</a> by the State showed</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKBIiGj9Vle9Wdhcm9BFecfXdyP8onh9-WVYRdLMiEzVg92v-cUetifJvilCR1Q7dR0N0j6ZnxC3YWL7cMTvMHqKuu2r853kfprQOmbyQ4unr3L0Xi69WWnX-CjsXyiy9DhaWwiFSbrBt/s1600/eci+49%2525.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKBIiGj9Vle9Wdhcm9BFecfXdyP8onh9-WVYRdLMiEzVg92v-cUetifJvilCR1Q7dR0N0j6ZnxC3YWL7cMTvMHqKuu2r853kfprQOmbyQ4unr3L0Xi69WWnX-CjsXyiy9DhaWwiFSbrBt/s200/eci+49%2525.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">HCDE’s noncompliance at 47%</b><span style="font-size: large;"> - only a 2 percentage point improvement.</span><br />
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(Read the series of letters from DARS to HCDE outlining the issues: <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bwjw40FXbTIMfk1hRnM0Z01YNzFsZ1I5RnMzVFhfUWRGUFBvSnY3SlFEZ2ttR3FNZkNwR2M&usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, a financial audit found no problems with state ECI funds in 2012-2014. But, a Sunset Review would have identified HCDE’s inability to provide adequate ECI services in 2012-2014 which led to HCDE no longer serving as an ECI contractor in 2015. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Sunset Review would also evaluate the appropriateness of HCDE charging Harris County taxpayers $132,911 in 2015 to clean up the mess HCDE had made with ECI.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pFU_5EC-Spg-OF29weYGyDVnpEPkLKqc_oVnh4iB24Fmq_LmWqqnnzp5wyeguPs2A54SuTSFuCGZeERE2mQ9ECjSjMN1MJaOHAq2N5mz8AjvYngB1kWV-0ThdD16NZv7uRpst6r_BEYz/s1600/eci+tax+chart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pFU_5EC-Spg-OF29weYGyDVnpEPkLKqc_oVnh4iB24Fmq_LmWqqnnzp5wyeguPs2A54SuTSFuCGZeERE2mQ9ECjSjMN1MJaOHAq2N5mz8AjvYngB1kWV-0ThdD16NZv7uRpst6r_BEYz/s400/eci+tax+chart.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Second: Audit reports funds for Texas LEARNS properly used</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But what did the audit <b>NOT</b> report that a <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/reports/Education%20Agency%20Staff%20Report%202013%2083rd%20Leg.pdf" target="_blank">2013 Sunset Review of the Texas Education Agency</a> (TEA) did? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FMWXG0XuiNknchKJTCuYDhHT2AOH_oHi-5PhirdNw6QMmtwiStqRuAX17c8cI16ywkFLviqW9J1kKSy3gIGqGniSQcqsiAD33tQ0DhMsV6KTHfT8KF1gkd1Ifz1E8gch-Oc1H7UU_d-7/s1600/texas+LEARNS.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FMWXG0XuiNknchKJTCuYDhHT2AOH_oHi-5PhirdNw6QMmtwiStqRuAX17c8cI16ywkFLviqW9J1kKSy3gIGqGniSQcqsiAD33tQ0DhMsV6KTHfT8KF1gkd1Ifz1E8gch-Oc1H7UU_d-7/s200/texas+LEARNS.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 2013 Sunset Commission Report on TEA recommended changes to adult education to make it more productive.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Transfer responsibility for adult education from TEA to the Texas Workforce Commission. This recommendation would ensure more effective oversight and more targeted use of Texas’ adult education funds by requiring TWC to administer the program... TWC should bring the grant administration function in-house as soon as practical <b>after Harris County Department of Education’s contract expires in August 2013.”</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, a financial audit found no problems with HCDE’s use of state Texas LEARNS funds in 2012-2014. But, a Sunset Review did recommend that HCDE no longer contract as the statewide administrator of the program. And the <a href="http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/twcael/index.htm" target="_blank">Legislature followed the Commission’s advice</a>. In 2015, HCDE no longer administers Texas LEARNS for TEA.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ-SB2k683nO04Uwy4JNv2Tx89ds-9gHkbUfpnuD7pSEuBOMi_in4n4EYu2t_U3UPOwoPFhz1LBirVfZ4QGm9IrTw9feyVcHhv0PE518KoHXB8oEasVl-zM-P57A0DeXgdjukxOjV3ArF/s1600/texas+learns+funding+chart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ-SB2k683nO04Uwy4JNv2Tx89ds-9gHkbUfpnuD7pSEuBOMi_in4n4EYu2t_U3UPOwoPFhz1LBirVfZ4QGm9IrTw9feyVcHhv0PE518KoHXB8oEasVl-zM-P57A0DeXgdjukxOjV3ArF/s400/texas+learns+funding+chart.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Read the Full 2013 Sunset Commission Report on TEA (pages 21-27):<a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/reports/Education%20Agency%20Staff%20Report%202013%2083rd%20Leg.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Third: Audit found need for improvement in managing funds for TxVSN </u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/main/16-004.pdf" target="_blank">audit</a> did find problems in 2012-2014 with the program that HCDE still administers across the State today - The Texas Virtual School Network (<a href="http://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=4840&menu_id=2147483665" target="_blank">TxVSN.</a>) Examples from the audit: </span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE could NOT provide documentation for $360,906 charged to TxVSN for IT staff salary expenses </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE could NOT provide documentation for $491,531 charged to TxVSN for maintenance and support by HCDE staff for a server, storage, and an operating system. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE could NOT provide documentation for $86,315 for building improvements to house TxVSN </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE overcharged the TxVSN contract $24,576 in 2013 for space allocated to TxVSN operations </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE charged $2,184 for non-travel-related food to TxVSN even though it is not an allowable expense item </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">HCDE Allocated $90,000 in 2013 specifically to expand an emergency alert system; however, that expansion was not performed. HCDE fully expended that $90,000 for purposes other than the purpose for which that funding was budgeted.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk5fkQUJ1YebnhOaJ7XrKbu5FrJOvrM944B5pQsZ7cXc8wbD1VZdnwAXcJiJY01owXaEoE7ThuNj6KgmyxE7bJVwCQTYaa94jK9-mNQnZZf3OgKZ5jNbXN6P1gbYHsxes7Di9xtd8IQCZ/s1600/txvsn+issues.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk5fkQUJ1YebnhOaJ7XrKbu5FrJOvrM944B5pQsZ7cXc8wbD1VZdnwAXcJiJY01owXaEoE7ThuNj6KgmyxE7bJVwCQTYaa94jK9-mNQnZZf3OgKZ5jNbXN6P1gbYHsxes7Di9xtd8IQCZ/s200/txvsn+issues.png" width="135" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In short: <b>The audit found issues with 25% of the funds HCDE received to run the Central Operations of the TxVSN in 2012 alone.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, what did the audit <b>NOT</b> report that a Sunset Review would?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just as the <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/reports/Education%20Agency%20Staff%20Report%202013%2083rd%20Leg_0.pdf" target="_blank">Sunset Commission did with Texas LEARNS</a>, it would evaluate TxVSN to see if the current subcontracting scheme established by TEA follows the intent of the Legislature as well as provides the best use of funds and manpower to serve the students of Texas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i-QZOmdRXPiKys7eehig94UHCEeTOeryglmxmn4qndGxf-tgcueHFf6Dbc99JkxVrjQq_oRc75ZRU_6XTKUDRdTH9EPlpOFWQPBDSnbKoRNzoGS8kWF69jBwpGvhs5RpCUBarJwEDN7d/s1600/sunset+public+part.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i-QZOmdRXPiKys7eehig94UHCEeTOeryglmxmn4qndGxf-tgcueHFf6Dbc99JkxVrjQq_oRc75ZRU_6XTKUDRdTH9EPlpOFWQPBDSnbKoRNzoGS8kWF69jBwpGvhs5RpCUBarJwEDN7d/s200/sunset+public+part.png" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the State Auditor’s office, <b>the</b> <b><a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/how-sunset-works/how-participate" target="_blank">Sunset Commission is open and transparent</a></b>. <b>The Commission not only asks for public input, it holds public hearings so all issues can be openly discussed.</b></span><b><br /></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why would that matter? Here is an example:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>audit reported that HCDE</b>:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">“<i><b>did not allocate property tax revenue to…the Texas Virtual School Network</b>.</i>”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">charged $2,184 for non-travel-related food to TxVSN even though it is not an allowable expense item</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_21E1wpw5NyaPuz8oLlB1I3yEl3JvjXKV0yi6zBioALZtHoVRq5kCZM-yZMw8_o89XzyQQknrQwQdt4G8hC33V_oSb1oweQXBrshP1I96Bqqx57m795tT7T-8qoUYscdehen8ry481eQ/s1600/schul+travel+for+txvsn.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_21E1wpw5NyaPuz8oLlB1I3yEl3JvjXKV0yi6zBioALZtHoVRq5kCZM-yZMw8_o89XzyQQknrQwQdt4G8hC33V_oSb1oweQXBrshP1I96Bqqx57m795tT7T-8qoUYscdehen8ry481eQ/s200/schul+travel+for+txvsn.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But, with the public’s help, the <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/how-sunset-works/how-participate" target="_blank">Sunset Commission</a> would look deeper and find that <b>HCDE DID</b> (AND STILL DOES)<b> USE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX FUNDS TO SUPPORT</b> <b>TxVSN</b> and to purchase food for TxVSN meetings.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaa9HGhAs-LbouQ8YovqefcQP03MyV6kcECh8Oz8IOBnVoiY9xA4cbFCRRHEejkM4Ol3RlskwN1-ApF3RvEPBTz4ilZoXz6I6411D5AN6Mx3G4tTYf55H2DeL35CyWdwNdzMp82S__5g8/s1600/schul+at+ESC+1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaa9HGhAs-LbouQ8YovqefcQP03MyV6kcECh8Oz8IOBnVoiY9xA4cbFCRRHEejkM4Ol3RlskwN1-ApF3RvEPBTz4ilZoXz6I6411D5AN6Mx3G4tTYf55H2DeL35CyWdwNdzMp82S__5g8/s320/schul+at+ESC+1.png" width="289" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Records show HCDE used tax funds allocated for “<i>General Administration - Chief Information Officer</i>” for Jim Schul (CIO) to travel across the State representing TxVSN... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOPQ0LO4BOOw3ptebLU5rMgZlLkzcOk4zJW2dF8g33WCC290vq7FOhjH704Gt5Qzdz2jjUI7qGaDTufR2nC1mY2rJ6lia_UerqkSfNr5Vw2bwnV1LcC0d55BZOjLVUXhe3FQ76rB8sry8/s1600/txvsn+travel+billed+to+cio.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOPQ0LO4BOOw3ptebLU5rMgZlLkzcOk4zJW2dF8g33WCC290vq7FOhjH704Gt5Qzdz2jjUI7qGaDTufR2nC1mY2rJ6lia_UerqkSfNr5Vw2bwnV1LcC0d55BZOjLVUXhe3FQ76rB8sry8/s400/txvsn+travel+billed+to+cio.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and to purchase food for TxVSN.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_4qHxxaHNCveWc-h0nm7XnN35vBnn-561xyI9bW-J6yT_r-zKMcU_5Zi7PUupYZt5a5rdmph7VkZlap-Vsi_RGFANds6En8Gv8qbS7w4A7MQAxgRKU8I8xWvOqYBuZuh6D0NbKVuDqRd/s1600/txvsn+food+billed+to+cio.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_4qHxxaHNCveWc-h0nm7XnN35vBnn-561xyI9bW-J6yT_r-zKMcU_5Zi7PUupYZt5a5rdmph7VkZlap-Vsi_RGFANds6En8Gv8qbS7w4A7MQAxgRKU8I8xWvOqYBuZuh6D0NbKVuDqRd/s400/txvsn+food+billed+to+cio.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIKsQljjD8cmnPUl32hlXdfDi-aRzhOpHkMl3Dpz1Q0QSdMDxBc-Cuw6VlIoWnwaKaUuNdu55RWArO-gxw0IHTeZydw_gxi0cTAYwFxTE48vIwvdBouVSFOOWyDvimbIIFsUvP0CWCaKb/s1600/cio+2015+tax+funds.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIKsQljjD8cmnPUl32hlXdfDi-aRzhOpHkMl3Dpz1Q0QSdMDxBc-Cuw6VlIoWnwaKaUuNdu55RWArO-gxw0IHTeZydw_gxi0cTAYwFxTE48vIwvdBouVSFOOWyDvimbIIFsUvP0CWCaKb/s320/cio+2015+tax+funds.png" width="196" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jim Schul’s salary and his entire department budget is paid with Harris County property tax funds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, HCDE is using him to work for TxVSN. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6FedARNRPhn_CguxkbQrKElfACqoqsr7b6t_bL_79L5B8QvfKoQc9IHWwylJe0HCwoarldXN1xWPs2rkcsIXCDRFR1ycGovdH4CC5fzwBIMxKi8TJzdmsmOhyw9bJkECBZJdeTJ74K7n/s1600/schul+job+description.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6FedARNRPhn_CguxkbQrKElfACqoqsr7b6t_bL_79L5B8QvfKoQc9IHWwylJe0HCwoarldXN1xWPs2rkcsIXCDRFR1ycGovdH4CC5fzwBIMxKi8TJzdmsmOhyw9bJkECBZJdeTJ74K7n/s320/schul+job+description.png" width="236" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">His<b> HCDE job description</b> even includes: <b>“<i>Provide Leadership and Direction for the Texas Virtual School Network.”</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, a financial audit found HCDE did not "<i>allocate</i>” property tax revenue to the TxVSN, but with public input, <b>a Sunset Review would outline exactly how HCDE “redistributes” property tax funds to support not only TxVSN, but other non-Harris-County-specific programs such as Choice Partners Cooperative and Head Start as well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTQjpoVr5uBEHhwMwi5ni5B8Q7n9RSjAAIW_l6IGhHSFkRco8kTOqpzriQ96DaNczshv1XM52HGCI1g_fQPKPPrwQBqtRpmP1oJIbaquN2t7Sv60KOB_zaNLZ2qKMgp73ai_jKpwnMaEn/s1600/free+research+for+txvsn+etc.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTQjpoVr5uBEHhwMwi5ni5B8Q7n9RSjAAIW_l6IGhHSFkRco8kTOqpzriQ96DaNczshv1XM52HGCI1g_fQPKPPrwQBqtRpmP1oJIbaquN2t7Sv60KOB_zaNLZ2qKMgp73ai_jKpwnMaEn/s320/free+research+for+txvsn+etc.png" width="234" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">HCDE "redistributes" tax funds to these programs by giving "free" services for "research and evaluation" as well as "communications and public information"... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvaCMlJAXSnq4-rLZX5THOkXetLcJfpTMWDBpNIiBUunxpS6mOu6h_H0Q1CxcnDLLsnd7fD7giwhDkKxMbD9ppmuaoZocnSpNLxKfTacU0XzGnTRpfEyQCIWrB_gbGtjbFqoVyUYSHHkD/s1600/free+communications+work+for+txvsn+etc.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvaCMlJAXSnq4-rLZX5THOkXetLcJfpTMWDBpNIiBUunxpS6mOu6h_H0Q1CxcnDLLsnd7fD7giwhDkKxMbD9ppmuaoZocnSpNLxKfTacU0XzGnTRpfEyQCIWrB_gbGtjbFqoVyUYSHHkD/s320/free+communications+work+for+txvsn+etc.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4rTeWKc2jj3o4c9D8vYe_TjqLRUV98uxi-7Sh9d_BDHQd6SLFIN0aMaKZhhpbETYFeblWX04wyxxefOJPc9AQSxcr6c5V6DSf4NPsQ-8CBZ5zZZ2LZVW41_5JmFSAHtA_Pp7hd-UBnOi/s1600/research+budget+2015.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...through two other HCDE departments funded with over</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">$1 MILLION in local property taxes in 2015 alone. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fMt0MeFrGMxX8sYb8DX8TyL9-CvPpeJQWu19OuPjS9b8nucqmmkcmzMkN_B0r7oszi6XIxHB0jPzKxNYWrVIAU07ytYTM2azcha9K9PEbbd_8wzMZbZxKPW0kpPgmjEwkpSp-ONP6c8k/s1600/other+depts+funds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fMt0MeFrGMxX8sYb8DX8TyL9-CvPpeJQWu19OuPjS9b8nucqmmkcmzMkN_B0r7oszi6XIxHB0jPzKxNYWrVIAU07ytYTM2azcha9K9PEbbd_8wzMZbZxKPW0kpPgmjEwkpSp-ONP6c8k/s400/other+depts+funds.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But more importantly for the taxpayers of Harris County, the <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Sunset Commission</a> would evaluate HCDE’s total operation to determine if it operates the way the Legislature intended County School Trustees to function, as well as if the tax they collect is being used the way the Legislature intended – for the “maintenance of Harris County Public Free Schools.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Sunset Commission</a> would take into account Attorney General Opinions issued over the years, such as:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/49cornyn/op/1999/htm/jc0055.htm" target="_blank">#JC-0055</a></b><span style="font-size: large;"> which states: HCDE’s tax funds </span><span style="font-size: large;">“<i>ar</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>e distributed by the county department</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> of education according to the provisions of section 18.14 of the Education Code”</i>-</span><span style="font-size: large;"> which means directly to the ISDs of the Harris County.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/opinions/40daniel/op/1949/pdf/pd0759.pdf" target="_blank">#V-759</a></b><span style="font-size: large;"> which states: </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“The county superintendent's duties are confined by statute to various matters pertaining to the public free school system in his county. "</i> </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">“<i>The Rest of the Story</i>”</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HCDE is so afraid of a <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Sunset Review</a> that they used county education funds to hire lobbyists, political consultants, law firms, PR specialists, and a host of other “consultants” to fight against <a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1216" target="_blank">SB1216</a>. </span><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWDhIT0dRRVBlSHM/view?usp=sharing" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RpB_6t-sw3Ze2byi8seN6fU10TNdxcZsUAW2o2Tj4tw9czCBOLSLI76ui34ASPLuFZyIm8D4Q8mTmeE92V6kqTS_unqRg5eKCIZ25fRjcoLVOJ3M6Ro3hYkSF3-WxXYSzoLzFMRbeCQl/s320/orr+page+1.jpg" width="246" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, HCDE is so afraid of the public knowing what their Board attorney did to earn $21,304.35<span style="color: red;"> </span>fighting against <a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1216" target="_blank">SB1216</a>, HCDE went to the Texas Attorney General to block release of their attorney billing records related to <a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1216" target="_blank">SB1216</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is HCDE fighting so hard to hide from the Sunset Commission? </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/" target="_blank">Sunset Review</a> looks at the entire entity, its original purpose, performance, and duplication of services provided by other entities, etc. - all to evaluate the continued need for the entity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What was HCDE’s<b> Original Purpose</b>?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HCDE was established in 1889 to operate all the public schools in Harris County. But they haven’t had that responsibility in over 50 years…so… they surely don’t want that discussed by the Sunset Commission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What about HCDE’s <b>Performance</b>?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two of the three programs reviewed by the state audit no longer exist at HCDE because of performance issues. .. so…they surely don’t want that discussed by the Sunset Commission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What about HCDE’s <b>Duplication of Services</b>?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some say HCDE uses local tax dollars to duplicate what our state tax dollars are supposed to provide through our regional Education Service Centers (ESC). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Even the third grant program just audited at HCDE, <i>Central Operations of the Texas Virtual School Network</i>, is outlined in <a href="http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.30A.htm" target="_blank">Texas Education Code Sec. 30A.052</a> this way:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“The commissioner shall(2) </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">contract with</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> a regional education service center </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>for the service center to operate the network</b>.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <a href="http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter070/ch070aa.html" target="_blank">Commissioner Rule 70.1001(5)</a> <b>defines TxVSN Central Operations </b>as:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The <b>regional education service center</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>that carries out the day-to-day operations</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>of the TxVSN..."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULAQR_MKmx6PtDbDvv509rGAdtvB3Q6w0wMZ5iUzi4MtW5Ym0ljthl5il7eysQp_PI3Zb70tiNVl_LYBcn-Ep058ZeTBBrdVaKR0KircbrzN553EhOIn3O43QgT4C33DExTWSocNsudQU/s1600/schul+job+description.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULAQR_MKmx6PtDbDvv509rGAdtvB3Q6w0wMZ5iUzi4MtW5Ym0ljthl5il7eysQp_PI3Zb70tiNVl_LYBcn-Ep058ZeTBBrdVaKR0KircbrzN553EhOIn3O43QgT4C33DExTWSocNsudQU/s200/schul+job+description.png" width="147" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Part of the Job Description of HCDE’s Chief Information Officer is to “<i>provide leadership and direction for TxVSN</i>.” </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVst3LxoweNwHx0XyD0-3VhyphenhyphenKY_QbPFMBIkDEnz21REXeC3rYEZgcqluQ6HnmDrFIkOCZ0fS0WsQaz83cA3kkwzfUyPkEf1mTQhxShFeMx217O7h-1KtnlbvKv6uAwor7EQ32fDKOto4p/s1600/director+txvsn.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVst3LxoweNwHx0XyD0-3VhyphenhyphenKY_QbPFMBIkDEnz21REXeC3rYEZgcqluQ6HnmDrFIkOCZ0fS0WsQaz83cA3kkwzfUyPkEf1mTQhxShFeMx217O7h-1KtnlbvKv6uAwor7EQ32fDKOto4p/s320/director+txvsn.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The current job posting for the position of:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>“<i>Director of the TxVSN</i>”</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> is not on an ESC site…</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...it is on HCDE’s website.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Looks like HCDE does duplicate the statewide work of the ESCs, but is supported with local property taxes…so…they surely don’t want that discussed by the Sunset Commission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Makes sense to me now why HCDE fought so hard against <a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB1216" target="_blank">SB1216</a>. They are simply terrified of an objective review of their operations and performance before the Texas Legislature – the people who can close their doors once and for all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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Colleen Vera</div>
<div>
colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-51269310355003120422015-06-27T09:48:00.001-05:002021-09-14T15:19:36.957-05:00School Districts' Needs vs Wants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Later this year, the <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/01/23/texas-supreme-court-to-hear-school-finance-case/" target="_blank">Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments</a> from attorneys representing over 600 Texas school districts who
claim they cannot properly educate Texas school children because the State does
not provide enough money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As a retired teacher who taught in 4 Texas
public school districts over 30 years, I know first-hand that “money” does not
equal “learning.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Yet, Texas School Boards and Superintendents seem to always be screaming
that the answer to low performing schools </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">is more tax dollars.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some offer complex explanations of how items from testing requirements to unfunded mandates drain the districts’
budgets – so much so - that hiring classroom teachers only occurs if funds are
left over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But could there be a much simpler explanation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something as basic as “<i><a href="http://thehappyhousewife.com/frugal-living/need-vs-wants/" target="_blank">needs vs wants</a></i>”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did Lt Governor Patrick hit the nail on the head when he was <a href="http://lubbockonline.com/texas/2015-05-29/texas-legislature-passes-209-billion-state-budget#.VY6fJ_lVhBd" target="_blank">quoted</a> as
saying:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">I am proud of the Texas Senate for uniting to produce a <b><span style="color: red;">conservative</span></b>,
responsible, state budget that will sufficiently fund our state’s<span style="color: red;"> <b>needs</b> </span>over
the next biennium, while providing $3.8 billion in necessary tax relief to the
businesses and property owners of Texas.” </span></span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">The Texas Senate figured a way to fund the
“needs” of Texans and cut taxes. Why can't 600+ Texas school districts figure it out?</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Look closer at Patrick’s statement. Notice the
two words: </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">conservative</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> and </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">needs.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">The Texas Senate
budgeted for the “needs” of Texans, NOT for the “wants” of every </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Legislator or school superintendent.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is the true <a href="http://www.joshuakennon.com/the-difference-between-fiscal-liberals-and-fiscal-conservatives-on-taxes/" target="_blank">fiscal difference</a> between
liberals and conservatives. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Conservatives believe taxpayer money should only be collected for “needs”
that only government can provide, (roads, schools, military, etc.) while
liberals believe they are ENTITLED to taxpayers </span><span style="line-height: 20.7px;">supplying</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> their “wants” (day
care, health care, cell phones, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But so many education leaders are “liberals” these days, that often student “needs” and district “wants” are purposely mingled. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">To prove the point, I tried a little experiment:
comparing the spending habits of two public officials – a conservative who
believes taxpayers should only fund the “needs” of government vs a liberal who
believes taxpayers should be paying more to provide for “wants.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I selected two public officials from my area who
were both new to their offices –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRGGQ4MXot9IRyWueKpIO69w_amGU_fK1vc6DnqhVDSvn_D061tiaLwx2tSoeSHkKR6y-_FCl6eAJt8kC7frFIQn3o6g6jgmavkUR2tLd38aNRuts0dAOjTx07HkIx3_1dO5AlRCJlDz2/s1600/dan_patrick.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRGGQ4MXot9IRyWueKpIO69w_amGU_fK1vc6DnqhVDSvn_D061tiaLwx2tSoeSHkKR6y-_FCl6eAJt8kC7frFIQn3o6g6jgmavkUR2tLd38aNRuts0dAOjTx07HkIx3_1dO5AlRCJlDz2/s200/dan_patrick.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/" target="_blank"><u>Dan Patrick</u> </a></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Texas Lt Governor</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Took office </b></span></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 20.7px;">1/13/2015 </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=001.news&a=97" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRiX4SAIwm3biaWtU3hnUVEx8JyNYZVCkW0oR3IUEUDjdVU65MSPveQpak7z7h6-9Lyr-MQIg65Ku6HZ7l0tyLCeYmRQh4KSczKPAjn_L9CAYtexhFk25cZyALefseIh9ngUS6hjC1BRs/s200/colbert+2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=001.news&a=91" target="_blank">James Colbert</a></u> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">School</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Superintendent </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Harris County</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Took Office
12/1/14 </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I filed public information requests to find
out how each official had spent public funds on "wants" vs "needs" from 1/1/15 thru
6/1/15. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Was there a significant difference? I will let
you decide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">First – Office Needs</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both men were provided the same fully furnished
office space their predecessors had used. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Conservative (Patrick)</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> – <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMSEJrTzJ3WW1oMzQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">The CapitalBuilding required the office be repainted between occupants. Furniture wasselected from current inventory. Nothing was purchased for redecorating his office.</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Liberal (Colbert) </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">– Hired a decorator and went shopping with the taxpayers’ money. Chose the new, modern style
furnishings complete with a custom refrigerator. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMWDZuRU9mdGgxcWM/edit" target="_blank">Gave the previous furnishingsto his newly hired assistant, Jimmy Wynn, for use in his new office.</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 185.4pt;" valign="top" width="309"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Conservative<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 243pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Liberal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 185.4pt;" valign="top" width="309"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Lt Governor</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 243pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">School Superintendent</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 185.4pt;" valign="top" width="309"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 243pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMd2paMkp5TmdxZ2s/edit" target="_blank">Desk</a> 2,998.21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Serving Cart 2,548.08<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Custom Refrigerator 1,971.74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Conference Table 4,267.82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">End Tables(3) 4,509.31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMOWxiQ20yU2ptSDQ/edit" target="_blank">Executive Chair</a> 966.46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Conference Chairs (6) 3,002.16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Guest Chairs (2) 1,837.29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Sofa 1,857.02<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Board Room Seating(10) 3,823.50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Board Room Buffet 1,697.06<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Board Room Cart 2,423.01<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shutters 6,375.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMY3B4VlpVY1NNQ0k/edit" target="_blank">Picture(1)/Plants(3)</a> 1,500.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Chrome Coat Rack 315.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Freight 1,175.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Installation 2,732.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Design Fee 850.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMZFFsTWlOS1gxWUE/edit" target="_blank">New Wall Paper</a> 2,475.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMQkl0S0xpMUtLQjg/edit" target="_blank">New Lighting</a> 3,193.00</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 185.4pt;" valign="top" width="309"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 20pt;">Total $ 0.00 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 243pt;" valign="top" width="405"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 20pt;"><b style="background-color: magenta;">Total $ 50,517.61</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Second – Salary</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Conservative (Patrick)</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> – 2<sup>nd</sup>
most powerful person</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> in the State.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Liberal (Colbert) – </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oversees
approximately</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 1,000 employees</span><b style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 171.9pt;" valign="top" width="287"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Conservative<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="top" width="330"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Liberal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 171.9pt;" valign="top" width="287"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lt Governor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="top" width="330"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">School Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 171.9pt;" valign="top" width="287"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">$
600 per month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="top" width="330"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">$
16,250 per month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Third – Cell Phone</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Conservative (Patrick) – </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">The Senate does not </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> provide cell phones.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Liberal (Colbert) – </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">New equipment plus </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> monthly allowance.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 167.4pt;" valign="top" width="279"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Conservative<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.5in;" valign="top" width="420"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Liberal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 167.4pt;" valign="top" width="279"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lt Governor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.5in;" valign="top" width="420"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">School Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 167.4pt;" valign="top" width="279"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
0.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 3.5in;" valign="top" width="420"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Equipment 540.91<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Monthly Allowance 75.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Fourth – Gov't Issued Credit Card</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Conservative (Patrick)</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> – The Senate does
not </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> issue credit cards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Liberal (Colbert) – </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">School district
credit card.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"> Charged for travel; taking <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMdVBiMy1ESWxLUU0/edit" target="_blank">board members</a>, district
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMUGZOQms3bGVrWDg/edit" target="_blank">employees</a>, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMTV9RWURLVnVBU3M/edit" target="_blank">consultants</a> and <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMY1NTMlpqLUYzQ3c/edit" target="_blank">vendors</a> out for meals; <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMVzM3djVSQllkdG8/edit" target="_blank">technology supplies</a>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.2in;" valign="top" width="264"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Conservative<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="435"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Liberal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.2in;" valign="top" width="264"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lt Governor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="435"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">School Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.2in;" valign="top" width="264"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">None<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="435"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">School District MasterCard <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Chilosos’s Taco House
20.75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Best Buy 324.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shady Grove 38.48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Schlotzsky’s 12.19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Reale’s Pizza 66.77<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Courtyard by Marriott
769.88<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Champions Restaurant
24.65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shade Houston 56.25 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Laurenzo’s Grille Dello
44.62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Laurenzo’s Grille Dello
53.19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Capital Visitor Parking
8.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Lola Houston 20.52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Maggiano’s Houston
69.26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Chick-Fil-A Houston
10.15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Rudy’s Country Store
8.15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Reale’s Pizza 10.97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Green Mesquite BBQ
16.33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Marriott Austin 26.82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Marriott Austin 25.82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Marriott Austin 553.61<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMQ0JhVG9rUkZfdE0/edit" target="_blank">Babin’s Katy</a> 42.68<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Chick-Fil-A Houston
13.85<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shady Grove 17.56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Schlotzsky’s 12.19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Capital Grill 11.14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shade Houston 44.97<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Shade Houston 37.48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Embassy Suites Austin
20.00<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.2in;" valign="top" width="264"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Total 0.00<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 261pt;" valign="top" width="435"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Total 2,361.23<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is there really a difference in the way liberals and
conservatives spend public dollars?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">This simple experiment seems to show there is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Do taxpayers work hard to pay their school
district taxes because the superintendent “wants” a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMd2paMkp5TmdxZ2s/edit" target="_blank">custom refrigerator</a> for his office?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9trFpt2nrsTJRZA5pOrmU8kDejLT4HSkYcp-zpPh177-6XKHUcVOKq748Jay4SeP2epOsk0hkuTSeQhbUv1jIAM746Y0Sh6hD1IfhaskXR8Yhb_nMlirjG2kDzUHCHgUmbf-XMYHXjg1C/s1600/reflections.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9trFpt2nrsTJRZA5pOrmU8kDejLT4HSkYcp-zpPh177-6XKHUcVOKq748Jay4SeP2epOsk0hkuTSeQhbUv1jIAM746Y0Sh6hD1IfhaskXR8Yhb_nMlirjG2kDzUHCHgUmbf-XMYHXjg1C/s320/reflections.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27.6px;">Do taxpayers work hard to pay their school district taxes</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> because the superintendent “wants” to use his school district credit card to dine out </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">with his assistants?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Is a school superintendent ENTITLED to plush office </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;">furnishings and a tax funded expense account?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That is for you to decide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But the real multi-billion dollar question is:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27.6px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27.6px;">If the 600+ school districts which are suing the taxpayers for more money would budget as the Texas Senate did – fund “needs” and leave out the “wants” – would they have enough money to educate our kids?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;">They won't know unless they try.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><b>Note:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you would like to let <a href="https://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Lt Governor Patrick</a> know how much you appreciate his respect for our hard earned tax dollars, you may contact his comment line at 512-463-5342 or email: </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4e5460; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #4e5460;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="mailto:LTGConstituent.Affairs@ltgov.state.tx.us" target="_blank">LTGConstituent.Affairs@ltgov.state.tx.us</a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If you would like to let </span><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=001.news&a=91" target="_blank">Superintendent</a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=About.Administrationnews&a=97.news&a=91" target="_blank"> Colbert</a> know what you think of his spending habits with public funds, you may </span><span style="line-height: 27.6px;">contact</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> him at 713-696-0715 or email: <a href="mailto:jcolbert@hcde-texas.org" target="_blank">jcolbert@hcde-texas.org</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">Colleen Vera</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://texastrashtalk.com/" target="_blank">TexasTrashTalk.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-29937806154878957972015-04-18T13:14:00.002-05:002021-09-14T15:20:16.309-05:00Notice to Harris County Republicans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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On 3/29/15 I filed a complaint with the <i>Harris County
Department of Education</i> (HCDE) <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BoardMembers" target="_blank">Trustees</a> over their <b>USE OF OUR LOCAL TAX DOLLARS TO
SUPPORT DEMOCRAT CAMPAIGNS. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BoardMembers" target="_blank">HCDE Board</a> will be deliberating the issue at their
board meeting on <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.Agendas_2015" target="_blank">4/21/15</a>.</div>
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Agenda items <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/04-21-15%20Board%20Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">(8A/9A)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>A brief history</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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HCDE established a 501(c)(3) called <i>The Education
Foundation of Harris County </i>(<a href="http://www.efhc.org/learnaboutus/governance.html" target="_blank">EFHC</a>) to “support”
HCDE, and uses Harris County property tax funds to supply
EFHC free:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Office space</li>
<li>Meeting facilities</li>
<li>Six figure salary to their CEO</li>
<li>Website support</li>
<li>IT services</li>
<li>Auditing services</li>
<li>Record storage</li>
<li>Grant writing services</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://www.efhc.org/learnaboutus/governance.html" target="_blank">EFHC</a> Leadership includes:</div>
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<ul>
<li>a CEO paid with HCDE tax funds</li>
<li>HCDE Superintendent serving as Board Secretary</li>
<li>an HCDE Board
Trustee serving as a liaison member</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Problem?</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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EFHC’s Board meets six times per year. Their meeting
minutes are distributed via HCDE’s tax funded email system and stored by HCDE
employees. At three of those meetings
held at HCDE facilities with HCDE Board and Administration participating, the
minutes show <b>Douglas Kleiner (EFHC President/CEO) </b>allowed:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>HCDE Board Member Diane Trautman to report on political
campaigns involving HCDE Trustees and</li>
<li>Support the Democrat candidates for public office</li>
</ul>
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Quotes from EFHC’s official meeting minutes:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u>9/26/13</u>: …We need to make sure we have a competitive
candidate to fill that slot and most importantly one who supports HCDE and its
programs. Also, in 2014, <b>Debbie Kerner is up for re-election, and we need to
support her.</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u>3/27/14</u>: The primary elections are over and the <b>two
candidates for HCDE Trustee positions I would ask you to endorse and vote for
in the upcoming November election are Debbie Kerner, current HCDE board vice
president and Melissa Noriega</b>, former Houston city councilwoman and
administrator at HISD. The opponents for both of these women support the
abolishment of HCDE, Michael Wolfe and Don Sumners.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u>5/22/14</u>: …Trautman also noted that she was elected Board
of Trustees Vice President, taking Debra Kerner’s place. <b>She also reminded the
Board that elections are this fall. Two candidates will be on the ballot for
HCDE Trustee positions that she feels are most supportive of HCDE’s mission:
Melissa Noriega and incumbent, Debra Kerner.</b></blockquote>
View the documents: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMeVZiclBHdXhZaU0/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here </a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Federal Law</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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EFHC has filed with the IRS as a 501(c)(3). The <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501(c)(3)-Tax-Exempt-Organizations" target="_blank">IRSwebsite reads</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3)
organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly
participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in
opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. </b>Contributions to
political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written)
made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any
candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political
campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or
revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.</blockquote>
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Thus, EFHC is not in compliance with the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Texas Law</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Texas Ethics Commission Opinions <a href="http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/opinions/516.html" target="_blank">read</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Section 255.003 of the Election Code states that an
officer or employee of a political subdivision may not knowingly spend or
authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising. “Spending” of
public funds includes the use of political subdivision employees’ work time,
the use of existing political subdivision equipment, and the use of facilities
maintained by a political subdivision. Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 443 (2002)
(EAO 443).</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We also caution that government resources generally may
not be used for campaign purposes. See Penal Code § 39.02.</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.gccisd.net/docs/46-12.B09pad_sch.pdf" target="_blank">A Short Guide To The Prohibition Against Using SchoolDistrict Resources For Political Advertising In Connection With An Election</a></i> pamphlet produced by the Texas Ethics
Commission states:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An officer or employee of a political subdivision may not spend or authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising. </blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"> </span>”Political advertising” is a
communication that advocates a particular outcome
in an election</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The prohibition applies to any “officer
or employee of a political subdivision.” In other
words, if a school district employee
makes a decision to use district resources in violation of the prohibition, the employee could be fined by the Ethics Commission or held criminally liable.
School board members, as “officers”of a school district, are also subject to the prohibition.</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"> </span>A school
district board member or employee would
violate the prohibition<br />by “spending or authorizing the spending of public funds” for political advertising.
</blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Also, it is not permissible
to authorize the use of the paid time of the school district employees to create
or distribute political advertising. For
example, school district staff may not copy, staple, or distribute political advertising on work time. </blockquote>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Another provision of the
Texas Election Code prohibits a school board member for employee from using or authorizing the use of an internal mail system to distribute political advertising. An internal mail system is a system operated by a school district to deliver written documents to its board members or employees. A violation of this prohibition could also lead to the imposition of fines by the Ethics Commission or to criminal prosecution. </blockquote>
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View supporting documents: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMeVZiclBHdXhZaU0/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here </a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMeVZiclBHdXhZaU0/view" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2017060937"></span><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUSj4LqciBrx5bw1C3g2wyJQIJIVRFDlRdU1u1Xi7tHZddwI40IU9qqtrGNXurD_XEe0_Ys-1u0YcidqFYOPT_2reiWffkIo3sTKC_fZb0y3S44j0Xpz2J-omKhEipHIOAa-GleMGk6ur/s1600/efhc+blog.png" width="200" /></a><span id="goog_2017060938"></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Not a Simple Mistake</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A mistake is something happening one time. Someone beginning
to speak in support of a candidate in a local election before being stopped by
the CEO of a 501(c)(3) reminding the board that by law they can’t discuss
candidates or campaigns. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But these minutes show the activity was not only routine,
it is so acceptable at EFHC that it was included in their OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES! Two out of six meetings in 2014 means <b>33% of
their meetings included political campaign activity</b>. That is no simple mistake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Action Needed</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The political activity by the EFHC is a repeated and blatant
violation of both the Internal Revenue Code and Texas Election Code.
<b>Because HCDE is supporting this activity with Harris County taxpayer funds I urge
HCDE to immediately</b>:</div>
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<ul>
<li>sever all ties between HCDE and EFHC including removal of
EFHC and all EFHC documents from HCDE property and servers</li>
<li>initiate legal action to force EFHC to refund all public
funds it received from HCDE since 9/26/2013</li>
<li>approve a public censure of HCDE Trustee Diane Trautman
for using her position as EFHC liaison for political purposes</li>
<li>issue a public apology to the Republican Party of Harris County for
allowing the use of public funds to promote Democrat candidates for County
School Trustee</li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Voice your opinion</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You may
voice your opinion to the <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BoardMembers" target="_blank">HCDE Board</a> via <b>email</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">Republicans</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b style="color: #990000;">Angie Chesnut, </b>President<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:achesnut@hcde-texas.org">achesnut@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Kay Smith, </span>Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:kasmith@hcde-texas.org">kasmith@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Marvin Morris</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:mmorris@hcde-texas.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span>mmorris@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Don Sumners</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:dsumners@hcde-texas.org">dsumners@hcde-texas.org</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Michael Wolfe</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:mwolfe@hcde-texas.org">mwolfe@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Democrats</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Erica Lee Carter</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:elee@hcde-texas.org">elee@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Diane Trautman</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:dtrautman@hcde-texas.org">dtrautman@hcde-texas.org</a></div>
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You may voice your opinion to the <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.BoardMembers" target="_blank">HCDE Board</a> via <b>phone
</b>message: <span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">713-694-6300</span> </div>
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You may also speak <b>in person</b> during the <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/04-21-15%20Board%20Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">Open Forum</a> at the
HCDE Board meeting<o:p></o:p></div>
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on <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.Agendas_2015" target="_blank">Tuesday,April 21, 2015</a> at <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/04-21-15%20Board%20Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">1:00pm.</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Location: <o:p></o:p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">HCDE Administration</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span></div>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Ronald W. Reagan Building </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> 6300 Irvington Blvd. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Houston, TX 77022</span><div>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> <a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=6300+Irvington+Blvd&city=Houston&state=TX&zipcode=77022&redirect=true" target="_blank"> map</a></span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=Board.Agendas_2015" target="_blank">Board Meeting Agenda</a>: Items <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/users/0097/docs/04-21-15%20Board%20Meeting.pdf" target="_blank">8A and 9A</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Colleen Vera<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com"><span style="font-size: x-small;">colleen@TexasTrashTalk.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-78717501785019202902013-09-16T22:00:00.001-05:002013-09-16T22:15:51.755-05:00HCDE–Laws & Courts–Phooey<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">When the </span><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/Case.aspx?cn=14-13-00748-CV" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">14th Court of Appeals</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> refused to step in to overrule <a href="http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/northwest-houston/early-to-rise-lawsuit-dismissed-by-appellate-court/" target="_blank">Judge Emmett’s decision</a> not to put the HCDE tax increase on the ballot this November, many hoped the fight to prevent HCDE from using Equalization Tax dollars to fund child care was over for now. At least until <em><a href="http://www.earlytorisekids.com/index.php" target="_blank">Early to Rise</a></em> comes back with a better worded petition in 2014.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">But not so. It seems HCDE will be doing some of the work themselves. And in their usual M.O., they hid it deep inside their 723 page <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/docs/97-September%2017,%202013%20Board%20Agenda%20General%20Copy.pdf" target="_blank">September 17, 2013 Meeting Agenda</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">On page 632, using the term “transfer”, HCDE is asking the board to approve $550,787 Equalization Tax dollars to be used alongside $340,000 in Houston Endowment donations to match $1,807.943 in federal funds for “direct child care” and “<strong>child care quality improvement</strong>” – the same type of thing the <em><a href="http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/northwest-houston/early-to-rise-lawsuit-dismissed-by-appellate-court/" target="_blank">Early to Rise</a></em> petition wanted a private non-profit to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMYUFMTnpocGRIRGc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img alt="hcde child care quality improvement" border="0" height="308" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1kQxoY8biHU/UjfFqj9BVfI/AAAAAAAABAM/NBN-vIx_zkY/hcde%252520child%252520care%252520quality%252520improvement%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="hcde child care quality improvement" width="380" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">It isn't the $30 million per year <em>Early to Rise</em> wanted, but it is a start using the tax HCDE already collects.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.hcde-texas.org/docs/97-09-17-13%20Board%20Agenda%20Posting.pdf" target="_blank">Agenda</a> item reads:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">6G - Consider approval of a certification contribution agreement between the HCDE CASE Division and the Gulf Coast Workforce Board for the period of 10/01/13 through 9/30/14. HCDE will certify $890,787 to receive matching funds from the Gulf Coast Workforce Board for the CASE Partnership Project in the amount of $1,307,943 (approximately 2,000 students served.)</span></em></blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></em><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwjw40FXbTIMV3ZELUFYSEJWY00/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img alt="hcde 6g" border="0" height="96" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xeyH4vzEFh8/UjfFrTQshCI/AAAAAAAABAU/0t_GpoOzUqU/hcde%2525206g%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="hcde 6g" width="438" /></a><br />
<br />
<em></em>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">But can the Equalization Tax, which is collected for “<em>the maintenance of the public schools (<a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html" target="_blank">TEC 18.01</a>)”</em> in Harris County, be used to improve the quality of child care?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></em></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Just this month in the arguments put before the </span><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=4dd3d34c-10e7-4dd9-9d4c-e49969617925&coa=coa14&DT=Response&MediaID=c67339dd-e106-4958-9556-e662e208f2b2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">14th Court of Appeals</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> in the <em>Early to</em> <em>Rise</em> case, four different attorneys on the <strong>winning side</strong> stated that the law <strong>requires distribution of the Equalization Tax funds to the school districts of the county:</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Found in the </span><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=4dd3d34c-10e7-4dd9-9d4c-e49969617925&coa=coa14&DT=Response&MediaID=c67339dd-e106-4958-9556-e662e208f2b2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Statement of the Case</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> presented by Judge Emmett’s Attorneys, we find:</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">“<em><strong>The board of education shall distribute the moneys collected from the equalization tax according to the express provisions of Section 18.14</strong>, <strong>which requires that any funds collected under Chapter 18</strong> “<strong>be distributed to the common and independent school districts of the county</strong> <strong>on the basis of the average daily attendance for the prior</strong> <strong>year.”</strong> Id. § 18.14-App.”</em></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=4dd3d34c-10e7-4dd9-9d4c-e49969617925&coa=coa14&DT=Response&MediaID=c67339dd-e106-4958-9556-e662e208f2b2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The memorandum brief by Vince Ryan</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">, Harris County Attorney reads:</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">“The Legislature, through the adoption of Section 18.07 of the Texas Education Code, created a mechanism so that every county in the state could collect <strong>a countywide</strong> <strong>equalization tax</strong> <strong>to be divided among the school districts of the county</strong>…</span></em></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">And in an </span><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=4dd3d34c-10e7-4dd9-9d4c-e49969617925&coa=coa14&DT=Response&MediaID=c67339dd-e106-4958-9556-e662e208f2b2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">opinion issued by William C Bednar</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">, a Texas school law specialist, he states:</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> “<strong>The concept embodied in the statute is an "additional countywide school district" funded by a single property tax to be deposited in a single "county equalization fund" to be drawn on and expended by an elected county board of education for a county program of education consisting</strong> <strong>of distribution of funds to eligible school districts for equalization of educational opportunities and the payment of administration expenses</strong>. See, Sections <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html" target="_blank">17.031,18.01, 18.14, 18.26,18.28.</a> “</span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The tax herein provided for shall </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong>constitute a part of the school funds of said counties</strong> and <strong>shall never be levied, assessed, or collected for any</strong> <strong>purpose</strong> other than those herein specified and for the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong>advancement of public <br />free schools in such counties</strong>.. . . [Emphasis added]…</span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">There is <strong>no purpose of early childhood education specified anywhere in Chapter 18</strong>.”</span></em></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The </span><a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=4dd3d34c-10e7-4dd9-9d4c-e49969617925&coa=coa14&DT=Response&MediaID=c67339dd-e106-4958-9556-e662e208f2b2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Texas Conference of Urban Counties brief</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> reads:</span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">“…<strong>equalization tax revenue must be distributed as specified by Section <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html">18.14</a>,</strong> Education Code. Thereafter, the common and independent school districts of the county are free to use the funds in any legally permitted manner…</span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">There is <strong>no basis in statute</strong> for such limitation - either <strong>to permit the Harris County</strong> <strong>Department of Education to impose restrictions on the use of equalization tax revenue</strong>…”</span></em></blockquote>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><strong>Yet, the HCDE board still chooses to ignore Texas Statute TEC <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html">18.14</a>, distributes NO Equalization Tax funds to the ISDs of Harris County and uses the Equalization Tax funds anyway they see fit – like matching federal funds for “child care quality improvement.” </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">They ignore it so much that they were negotiating a contract with the <em>Early to Rise</em> group to hand over control of all new Equalization Tax revenue to a private non-profit – when the ballot initiative was stopped by Judge Emmett and the 14th Court of Appeals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">But talk has already surfaced about how <em><a href="http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/northwest-houston/early-to-rise-lawsuit-dismissed-by-appellate-court/" target="_blank">Early to Rise</a></em> can reword their next petition to force it on the ballot in 2014.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Because HCDE is so obsolete, is its own political subdivision of the state of Texas, and operates under repealed statutes, there is no longer an entity which oversees their activities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">The County Commissioners have no control over HCDE and TEA has no control over the Equalization Tax. The Texas Legislature will not meet again until 2015, and the District Attorney’s Office is currently in flux. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">So the people of Harris County have no other option but to ask the Texas Attorney for a opinion on HCDE’s activities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Texas Statute limits </span><a href="https://www.oag.state.tx.us/opin/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">who may request Attorney General opinions</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> to:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the governor </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the head of a department of state government </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the head or board of a penal institution </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the head or board of an eleemosynary institution </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the head of a state board </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">a regent or trustee of a state educational institution </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong>a committee of a house of the Texas Legislature</strong> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">a county auditor authorized by law </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">the chairman of the governing board of a river authority </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">a district or county attorney</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Our best bet is to ask the most conservative local person from the list above, <strong>Senator Dan Patrick – Chairman of the Senate</strong> <strong>Education Committee</strong>, to come through for us again and ask the Attorney General three questions:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">May the citizens of Harris County petition under repealed TEC Chapter 18 to increase the county equalization tax, and if so, can the petition require the increase be used only for a specific purpose?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Must the County School Trustees distribute the Equalization Tax funds to the ISDs according to <a href="http://www.texastrashtalk.com/2012/01/hcde-former-laws.html" target="_blank">TEC 18.14</a>, or may they use the funds anyway they see fit?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Are the Harris County School Trustees limited to providing services to Harris County public schools or may they provide goods and services to anyone they see fit across Texas?</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">The citizens of Harris County need these questions answered BEFORE the next ballot petition is initiated and BEFORE HCDE spends all the Equalization Tax revenue this school year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: red;">You can help get this done by contacting Senator Patrick and asking him to request an opinion from the Attorney General on these three questions.</span></strong> The more citizens who ask for his leadership in this matter, the sooner he will file the request, and the sooner our questions will be answered. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><strong><u>District Office:</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">The Honorable Dan Patrick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">11451 Katy Freeway, Suite 209 <br />Houston, Texas 77079 <br />(713) 464-0282 <br />(713) 461-0108 (Fax)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong><u>Email:</u></strong> </span><a href="mailto:dan.patrick@senate.state.tx.us" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">dan.patrick@senate.state.tx.us</span></a></span><br />
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Colleen Vera texastrashtalkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946148645912001054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7421490508692422729.post-19093840800097882672012-01-21T09:55:00.004-06:002012-01-22T15:48:40.071-06:00HCDE#12 - Harris County Election Documents<span style="font-size: large;">The following are documents copied from Harris County record books concerning Harris County Department of Education elections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1 From Harris County Poll Tax Book</span><br />
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#2 From Harris County Clerk's Office<br />
Election Record Books<br />
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