Big Brother is a Big Bully

I wrote the below column last week for the Georgetown Advocate, Hill Country News, and Jarrell Star Ledger, but this story just keeps growing, and none of the news is encouraging.  

Original Column:  

“They'll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices.”
-Barack Obama, May 5, 2013

There is no shortage of news stories on government overreach these days.  Allegedly the IRS has harassed conservative applicants for tax exempt status and targeted a significant number of Republican donors for audits.  Attorney General Eric Holder is facing questions about secret warrants targeting Fox News reporters and possible perjury in Congressional testimony.  The EPA is under fire for giving preferential treatment to liberal groups while hampering conservatives seeking open records.   Even the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has harassed and intimidated Republican-owned Gibson Guitars. 

 

One of the most disturbing stories to date takes place right here in the Texas, where multiple government entities have harassed True the Vote founder Catherine Engelbrecht.  Not only did the IRS demand excessive and unreasonable information for Englebrecht’s organization, but her business was audited, and both she and her husband faced personal IRS audits.  Furthermore, the Engelbrecht’s were subject to repeated investigations by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol and Firearms, OSHA, and the EPA.  It is hard to believe any of this is a coincidence. 

 

Clearly the administration has many tools at its disposal for the harassment and intimidation of political enemies.  Now, however, technological advances are enabling our government to collect unprecedented amounts of personal data, a factor that will vastly increase federal power. 

 

For example, in the name of ‘free health care,” bureaucrats will soon have access to our medical records, and it seems that those medical records will include more detailed information than ever before.   Some health questionnaires now ask about gun ownership and other personal habits, and there is really no limit to what information could be included in the national Electronic Medical Record database mandated by the Affordable Care Act.  Such information will be in the hands of…IRS agents. 

 

Public Schools are also collecting extensive data on our children.  President Obama’s Common Core initiative not only imposes questionable curriculum standards, but implements a national electronic database of students.  While Texas has at least nominally rejected Common Core, the state is in the process of creating its own Texas Student Data System (TSDS).  Under this system, every student at a Texas public or charter school will have a “Unique ID.”   Although the systems are purportedly to track academic progress, it isn’t a stretch to see that much more information can be included in these student databases.  Schools often offer health screenings, and some academic ‘assessment tools’ involve asking students to write very personal essays about family life and experiences.  Will those details be added to these electronic records?  Who will have access and what will be done with the collected data 10, 20, or 30 years later?

Now also the Supreme Court has approved the taking of DNA without a warrant.  Unlike fingerprints, DNA samples contain the entire blueprint for individual human beings.  Since some scientists believe they can predict behavior and outcomes based on DNA analysis, how might such information be used in the future?

While the naïve will dismiss such concerns as so much paranoia, a review of last week’s top news stories shows that abuse of government power is happening right now and we are often unaware.  Government entities are not only monitoring our phone activity, but every move we make on the Internet.  Obviously there are more than a few individuals in government who are willing to abuse this power.  I fear that in the quest to create a utopia, we have delivered ourselves into the hands of a very powerful bully. 

 

Our founding fathers sought to craft a government that could never tyrannize the people.  If we are to stop these government abuses, we must first enforce constitutional protections, and bureaucrats who abuse power should be punished within the full extent of the law.  Secondly, we must find ways to check government power in the electronic age.  Without new protections for privacy and liberty, any government, current or future, could easily impose tyranny.  And contrary to the President’s assurances, the threat of tyranny is a clear and present danger. 

Williamson County Commissioner's Court: "What Would Voters Ask?"

KLBJ Radio is reporting that the Texas Civil Rights Project has filed a lawsuit against Williamson County government on behalf of a former candidate for Constable, Precinct 3.  The candidate,  Robert Lloyd, alleges that members of the Wilco Commissioners Court asked him "inappropriate" questions during the interview process. 

According to Lloyd, Commissioners asked him about his views on abortion, gay marriage, his party affiliation, and his voting record.  He believes these questions were illegal for a prospective "employee."   

The only problem is that Lloyd was not "applying for a job" in the traditional sense; he was asking for an appointment to a politically elected position.  County constables are chosen by voters via partisan elections- in other words, candidates file for the office as either Democrats or Republicans and then run a lengthy campaign in which voters thoroughly vet them. 

If Commissioners did ask about Mr. Lloyd's partisan views, they would merely be asking about the issues primary election voters care about.  The reality is that Williamson County voters continue to choose pro-life, pro-marriage, & pro-family Republicans.  Since the voters will not be able to approve a new constable for some time, it is the duty of the Commissioners Court to stand in the gap for primary voters.  And it looks like the winning candidate was eminently qualified.

And just to note:  contrary to Lloyd's assertions, voting records are not private.  Public records available to anyone include data on whether or not you vote, when you vote, and which party primary you prefer.  The only thing that is supposedly private is which candidate you voted for (although with the recent NSA snooping revelations, one has to wonder.)

If Mr. Lloyd thought he could participate in a Williamson County primary election without having to answer questions about his political philosophy, he is very naive indeed.  While the Texas Civil Rights Project would probably like to stop anyone from asking candidates about social issues, (and are trying to dismiss such issues as just "religious" concerns,) the reality is that voters here do care and they will go on asking.  If you want to run for elected office, be prepared to share your political views. 

"Gun Control" Town Hall Meeting in Georgetown Tonight, Updated: Doors Open at 4:30

KEYE TV is hosting a town hall meeting in Georgetown, Texas tonight (June 13, 2013).  There looks to be an interesting lineup of speakers and my guess is the discussion could be lively.

If you would like to attend, it looks like KEYE is asking for an RSVP at this website.  You may also submit questions at the site, or use the Twitter hashtag #KEYETVTownhall.

The event will take place at the Williamson County Courthouse 710 S. Main in Georgetown at 6:00 pm.

Panelists are Nina Butts (Texans Against Gun Violence,) Michael Cargill (Central Texas Gun Works & former Democrat candidate for Travis County Constable,) Sam Cox of KLBJ (& former APD Officer,) Nelson Linder (President of Austin NAACP,) Howard Ray (Survivors of Gun Violence Against Gun Control,) and John Woods (Texas Gun Sense).

Update:  Audience members may arrive as early as 4:30, and final seating is at 5:40.  Attendees are strongly encouraged to arrive early.  

Video of the event is available here.  

Panelists Nina Butts Butts is a long-time Austinite who co-founded Texans Against Gun Violence. She is a volunteer citizen lobbyist with the Brady Campaign and Texans Against Gun Violence. Michael Cargill Cargill owns Central Texas Gun Works, a South Austin business specializing in firearms sales, personal protection training, beginning handgun classes and concealed handgun license training. Cargill has more than 20 years of firearms experience. Sam Cox Cox is a former Austin Police officer. He retired in 1995 after 31 years on the force. He was President of the Austin Police Association from 1990 to 1993. Sgt. Sam now devotes all his attention to the KLBJ AM morning show. Nelson Linder Linder is the President of the Austin chapter of the NAACP. He is an Army veteran and long-time Austinite. Linder has been an activist on issues ranging from police brutality to housing discrimination. Howard Ray SGT. (Ret.) Howard Ray is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was present during the Fort Hood mass shooting on Nov. 5, 2009. Ray encounter the shooter but he did not have his gun due to regulations prohibiting it. He founded the organization, Survivors of Gun Violence Against Gun Control. John Woods Woods was at Virginia Tech in April 2007 when 32 people, including girlfriend, were shot to death. He is a board member for Texas Gun Sense, an organization that believes there exists an individual right to bear arms, but that with all rights come responsibilities.

Read More at: http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/town-hall/

#KEYETVTownHall

Read More at: http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/town-hall/

#KEYETVTownHall

Read More at: http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/town-hall/

Leander ISD: Employment & Budget Growth Outpaces Enrollment, Update: Citizens Launch Petition

LISD Proposed Budget Growth

A few weeks ago, the Austin American Statesman reported that the number of $100,000 plus earners at Central Texas school districts had jumped by 78%.  The story drew a good deal of deserved criticism of bloated superintendent/administrator salaries.  (Although the story only reported base salaries; when we include benefits, Round Rock ISD Superintendent Jesus Chavez’ total compensation jumps from $260,000 to over $304,000 annually.)
 
While troubling, the increased number of highly compensated employees wasn’t the most shocking statistic in the report.  At the very end of the story, the Statesman reported that in the Leander Independent School District, student enrollment growth has increased by 30% over the past five years, but during that same period employee growth was 82% and budget growth came in at 78%.
 
This is a stunning admission, especially considering that the LISD administration has just proposed $25 million in spending increases.  The district continues to struggle with mind-boggling $2.7 billion debt obligation, downgraded bond ratings, and ever-climbing property tax rates.

Sadly, the only tune we ever seem to hear from the public school community is “just give us more money.”  At what point will we require fiscal efficiency from these school districts?

Update:  Some local LISD citizens have launched an online petition asking for public discussion of the debt/finance issues.  The petition site states that the LISD Board President has refused to even permit discussion of anything other than "the good things happening in LISD."  Wow.

The petition can be found here.  

The Rise of the Unelected Bureaucrat

My "All In Perspective" Column for the Georgetown Advocate, Hill Country News, and Jarrell Star-Ledger.  Since my editor's deadlines, it has become even more apparent that no-one will be held accountable for the IRS scandals.  One aspect I did not include in the original column is the part played by the NTEU- the National Treasury Employees' Union.  Most Americans are unaware that the IRS is largely controlled by the NTEU, and that the union's leaders have a cozy relationship with President Barack Obama.  Once again, the 'unholy alliance' between public sector unions and government is thwarting the democratic process.  (Read more.)

Original Column:

In his classic work Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens mocked the inefficiencies of government with references to the “Office of Circumlocution.”  This fictional government office had “its finger in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.”  Those seeking justice for matters large and small were utterly at the mercy of bureaucrats who insisted on endless paper submissions and re-submissions, and who created a “sea of obfuscation that could not be navigated.”  Neither the elected Members of Parliament, nor even the Prime Minister could overcome the power of the Office of Circumlocution.

It doesn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to compare today’s IRS with the Office of Circumlocution.  Most Americans took a dim view of IRS machinations prior to the recent scandals and now only the most partisan of partisan hacks express any confidence in the office.  In the past few weeks the public has been inundated with stories of delayed applications, lengthy and inappropriate questionnaires, and targeted tax audits.  Certainly members of the various Tea Party groups, pro-life organizations, and any group critical of the Obama administration would readily agree with the Dickensian comparison.

While the U.S. Constitution provided for a limited government that protected individual freedoms, the truth is that unelected bureaucrats wield an inordinate level of power over American lives.  Yes, we elect the members of Congress, city councils, and school boards to theoretically create policy.  However, those policies are heavily influenced and completely implemented by appointees and employees.  As in the case of the Affordable Care Act, countless unelected government employees crafted the 2,700-page bill, and many congressmen and women voted for the measure without even reading it.  Likewise, appointees and employees in the Department of Health and Human Services have already released 700 pages of new regulations related to ACA.

Although the recent IRS and Department of Justice scandals have at least temporarily restrained some bureaucratic power, it appears that once again the buck stops nowhere.  The President and his top men and women plead ignorance and merely feign benign disgust over the ‘incompetence’ of low-level employees.  A few of those employees have been reassigned, and one department head has resigned a few weeks ahead of schedule.  Once the dust settles, in all likelihood the IRS will be back to business as usual.
 
Of course, the power of the bureaucrat is not limited to the federal government, but extends to local actors as well.  In the recent investigations of CSCOPE, it has been difficult to determine which elected body has jurisdiction over the curriculum, and the bureaucrats at Texas Education Service Centers seem to have been using the program to implement the Obama Common Core standards that were firmly rejected by Texas.  In some cases local officials have completely abandoned any pretense of answering to elected representatives, like the Round Rock ISD Superintendent who told the Board of Trustees he had the right to determine what information they could have about the district.
 
An unfortunate number of Americans have unwarranted faith in government to cure all of society’s ills.  As Jonah Goldberg recently stated, people tend to believe in the ‘omnicompetency’ of government officials, and choose to ignore the real nature of mere mortals.  Government bureaucrats at their best will err, but in some cases will be utterly corrupt.  Now the same IRS officials who have allegedly harassed and intimidated American citizens will be in charge of implementing Obamacare and will wield even greater power over our daily lives.  Our big government solutions will always be hampered by inefficiency, incompetence, and at times outright corruption.  It is only by limiting the power of government that we can escape the tyranny of the unelected bureaucrat. 

Governor Perry Vetoes So-Called Disclosure Bill That Exempted Unions

Yesterday Governor Rick Perry vetoed Senate Bill 346, the 'disclosure' bill that exempted unions. 

The Governor's statement:

Freedom of association and freedom of speech are two of our most important rights enshrined in the Constitution. My fear is that SB 346 would have a chilling effect on both of those rights in our democratic political process. While regulation is necessary in the administration of Texas political finance laws, no regulation is tolerable that puts anyone's participation at risk or that can be used by any government, organization or individual to intimidate those who choose to participate in our process through financial means.

At a time when our federal government is assaulting the rights of Americans by using the tools of government to squelch dissent it is unconscionable to expose more Texans to the risk of such harassment, regardless of political, organizational or party affiliation. I therefore veto SB 346.

Nicely done, Governor, nicely done.  

Ask Governor Perry to Veto SB 346

Call Governor Perry's office at (512) 463-2000 to ask for a veto of Senate Bill 346.

In case you are only now tuning in, Senate Bill 346 subjects private non-profit organizations engaging in issue advocacy etc., to new reporting requirements.  Although the IRS is in hot water for illegally releasing the names of donors to such groups, SB 346 would make such disclosures legal and requisite.  To make matters worse, SB 346 specifically exempts unions from the new rules and restrictions.  The bill is so problematic that national voices such as Red State's Erick Erickson and even the Wall Street Journal have piped in to urge a Perry veto. 

In reaction to the strong push to veto SB 346, Representative Charlie Geren has added a revised version of the SB 346 language to the Ethics Commission Sunset bill, SB219.  While Geren's new language removes the explicit union exemption, he indicates that the real goal all along was to hamper conservative input into any future speaker's race.  Furthermore, as political law attorney Jerad Najvar notes on Lex Politico, the SB 219 language seems to include some rather unreasonable compliance requirements.

SB 219 now also includes a requirement that any “electioneering communications” by a nonprofit “disclose in the communication the source of the funds used to pay for the communication.”  See amendment 19 (Johnson).  This is unconstitutionally vague, and is also cumbersome without some serious narrowing and explanation by the Ethics Commission.  Is a nonprofit supposed to list the names of all its contributors “in the communication”? That’s not feasible and it would destroy the ability to send an advertisement at all in certain media.

(Read the full Lex Politico analysis here.)  

Governor Perry must decide by tomorrow whether to veto or sign SB 346.  If he does so, the SB 219 language could be revised or removed.  Call (512) 463-2000.

Update:  Here's a list of those who registered against SB 346 in the House State Affairs Committee.  It includes names from Texas Right to Life, Women's Wellness Coalition of Texas, and Texas Values.  These are the folks who will be hampered by this bill.