Opinion

Jobs in Texas

n for president largely on the claim he was a job creator, saying he had created more jobs in Texas than any other state. He seemed to think somehow that alone should have qualified him to lead the United States of America as a world power.

It is true Texas has in fact enjoyed a large expansion of jobs during the past decade, but as radio and TV commentator Paul Harvey used to say, “And now for the rest of the story.”

shadow

Playing with home field advantage

For several years of my Christian life, I wrestled with what God would have me to do concerning reaching others. I had heard sermons and read material teaching that I should be a witness for Him, and that if I really loved Him as I should, I would be eager to talk to folks about their eternal souls. I wasn’t. I was chicken. I was downright petrified. I was fearful that I would offend and possibly lose a friendship that I valued. Because of my work, I knew many different kinds of people, and my family members were pretty much like me and not into church things.

shadow

Letters to the Editor

Editor:

I had to choke back tears when I read that because State Farm considered its customers “highest priority” it was dropping their homeowners coverage. All 11,000 of us who live on the Texas Gulf Coast.

My, oh my, I could feel State Farm’s acute pain: “These changes will help ensure we are there for all Texas insurers.” How many attorneys and PR specialists were needed to craft such a press release?

shadow

Vote your own interests

It is a complete mystery to me why people who earn an hourly wage or practice law for a living would even think about being members of the Republican Party. Why would anyone want to support a party that is hell bent on eliminating their livelihood? George Bush, when governor, stated his ambition was for trial lawyers to consider him their worst nightmare. He and Rick Perry have made most of that come true. They have effectively closed the doors of the courthouse to many abused workers and injured people.

shadow

This thing stinks

Something stinks at City Hall, and it’s emanating from the third floor – Beaumont City Attorney Tyrone Cooper’s office.What is it?

Ironically, it’s not a plea deal that let Kendrick Perkins walk away with only a slap on the wrist, if anything, after being charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Sure, Perkins got a deal that few, if any, in Beaumont would have been able to get unless, they too were an NBA star.

But what really stinks is the way City Attorney Tyrone Cooper and his office handled the case.

shadow

God’s grace: Right on time, every time

Today’s column is lovingly and prayerfully dedicated to a fine young Christian woman in our community, Valerie Clara Sallee, daughter of Pastor Richard Sallee of First Baptist Church of High Island. I am impressed with Valerie as a person, as a church leader, as a daughter, and most of all, as a Christian who wants to serve God and her fellow man. She reminds me a bit of Corrie ten Boom, whom I have long admired.

shadow

Letter To The Editor

This week, the State Department denied TransCanada’s permit to develop a proposed 1,700-mile pipeline that crosses the American-Canadian border. This pipeline, know as Keystone XL, would transport crude oil and bitumen, a tarry pre-oil material mined in Canada’s tar sands, from Alberta, Canada, to the Texas Gulf Coast.

shadow

Who’s in charge, anyway?

The news media reported recently the federal government had passed out $30 million to various law enforcement agencies throughout Texas. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson proudly announced she had seen to it the checks went out promptly and were distributed throughout Texas. This $30 million represents proceeds gleaned by seizing contraband while prosecuting the war on drugs. While I appreciate as a taxpaying citizen of Texas the fact that $30 million will be infused into Texas, I have serious misgivings about making our law enforcement personnel bounty hunters.

shadow

Voter suppression: It may be legal, but it ain’t right

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice this week trying to force enforcement of the state’s new voter ID law requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification before voting. Although the Voter ID bill was declared an “emergency” by Gov. Rick Perry before the last legislative session, it cannot be enforced until it is “precleared” by the DOJ.

shadow

Political chicken

When the Republican governor of Nebraska raised objections last fall to the Keystone XL pipeline because it crossed the Ogallala Aquifer – that state’s major source of fresh water for drinking and agriculture – you’d think it might have blunted talk that President Obama was a job-killer who hated the internal combustion engine and the fuel that makes it go.

shadow