Earmarks decried then sanctioned in Our View
The piece contrasts Obama criticism of earmarks with signing a 410 billion spending bill containing at least 8,500 earmarks costing over 7.7 billion. It argues earmarks are a small share of spending yet symbolize profligacy and potential corruption. Reform proposals require disclosures and competitive bidding, but real change hinges on public demand for smaller government.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Augustine
Obama
Citizens Against Government Waste
Congress
Appropriations Committees
Washington
Lawmakers and federal officials contact details listed
A directory-style item lists U S Rep Mike Conaway in Midland and offices in Odessa and Midland, U S Sen John Cornyn and Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison in Washington with phone and email links, plus state official Rep Tryon Lewis in Austin.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Mike Conaway
Midland
Cannon House
Washington
D.C
Fox
W. Eighth St
Odessa
Desta Drive
Conaway
House
John Cornyn
Hart Senate
Washington, D.C
Cornyn
Senate
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Russell Senate
Hutchison.senate
Tryon Lewis
P.O
Austin
Tryon.lewis
State.tx
Let peace begin with me editorial stance
Publisher Ken Brodnax and Editorial Page Editor Patrick Cant urge readers to seek freedom through selfcontrol and moral guides. They frame freedom as a divine gift and selfgovernment aligned with moral laws, coveting avoidance, the Golden Rule, and the Declaration of Independence.
Dashboard cameras for police cars could curb misconduct
A DUI arrest in Chicago highlighted a dashboard video showing the suspect as balanced and coherent, leading prosecutors to drop charges. The piece argues for widespread squad car cameras, noting cost comparisons with police lawsuits and contrasting slow adoption in Chicago with broader city surveillance efforts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raymond Bell
Chicago
Joe D. Parker
Bell
Parker
Chicago Sun- Times
America
CPD
Illinois
Los Angeles Police Department
Federal
Los Angeles Times
LAPD
Richard Daley
Daley
Texas should keep teacher performance pay
Brooke Collens Terry argues for maintaining performance pay in Texas, citing TEED and DATE programs that reward high-poverty, high-performing campuses and districts for large gains. She notes incentives boost morale, reduce turnover, and target shortages in math and science, urging continued funding and local flexibility despite unions’ opposition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brooke Collens
Terry
Texas
Barack Obama
U.S
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Obama
Houston
Collens Terry
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Austin
Thumbs Up for Spring Break Student Activities
A caller advocates acknowledging groups staging spring break activities for students. The letter invites ideas for positive and negative comments on current topics and asks readers to email onletters oapa com, noting a thumbs nomination.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oapa
Also Mentioned on This Page
BOM
Whine Paar
Faye Wee
Cktac
Er Aly
Utley
Patrick Cant
Ken Brodnax
Laura Dennis
Stephen Chapman
Aclu.org
Chapman
Gary Brookins
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