Activist presses lawmakers on fiscal discipline

Sullivan, the president of a group called Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, sets up a loyal Republican during a speech in Canton. He spoke of the Republican reign in Texas and a loyal Republican praised his acknowledgement, but Sullivan’s comments were insight of their pitfalls. Sullivan preached that since the Republicans have been the majority in the House and Senate of Texas that they have misused funds and did nothing in terms of property tax cuts. Sullivan isn’t mudslinging Republicans, he offers his support to any party that is in line with his beliefs. Perry promised a $2000 tax cut to homeowners over a three year period that is yet to be seen. Sullivan goes after issues that have been poorly addresses by lawmakers and for which they were given praise for such as CHIP eligibility, a bill against expanding pre-kindergarten programs, and discounting tuition for students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Sullivan makes valid observations, but he doesn’t provide adequate accounts of numbers. He looks at the cup half empty. Regardless of party affiliation, lawmakers are going to agree on bills that we don’t necessarily agree with. Instead of doing anything about it we accept defeat in this world we call a democracy, where the many is represented by a few. Sullivan’s ambitions are a step in the right direction of addressing policy that we don’t agree on. The next thing that we need to do is get more people involve. Sullivan and his group’s initiatives definitely have my praises.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/09/24/0924sullivan.html?COXnetJSessionIDbuild59_prod=N2BTHZ4VWbrqQPDQJHbl3FRlWpMhvQQXFxXYyRwkdZp14XvkphQ2!-532306383&UrAuth=aNaNUObN]UbTTUWUXUVUZTYU_UWU]UWUZUcU]UcTYWYWZV&urcm=y

Ruling could halt Texas executions

Lethal Injection Challenges
Executions in Texas have come to a stand still due to a pending Supreme Court case bearing it unconstitutional. Lethal injection is the method of execution used by Texas and three other states. It has been argued that this method of execution is deemed as cruel and usual punishment, which is a liberty spelled out in the Bill of Rights. Heliberto Chi was scheduled to die in Texas by lethal injection, but was instead granted a reprieve. He was the second man on death row in Texas to be granted a reprieve. Carton Turner Jr. was the first to be granted a reprieve with the ongoing Supreme court case. The Chi case shed much needed light on the negligence of the Texas Court on an appeal for death row inmate Michael Richard. The court refused to stay open past 5 pm for the appeal of the later executed man. It was a case of miscommunication, the judge who should have heard the case was “supposedly” unaware that she was suppose to. Judges also said that they weren’t properly informed on why they needed to stay late. Counsel for Richards argued that the judges knew that they were having computer trouble and needed extra time.
Although it started out rough, I think the courts have taken a turn in the right direction. Lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment in my opinion. The death penalty as a whole is immoral. /on the contrary felons shouldn’t be let off the hook for their crime. Their life sentence in jail should be as unpleasant as possible, so that they know that they have committed heinous crimes.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/10/03/1003court.html