September 1, 2010

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Re: Request for Transfer of Operational Control of MC-12 Aircraft to the Texas Air National Guard

Dear Mr. President:

With the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the corresponding reduction in military forces and assets in Iraq, the group of undersigned members of the Texas House of Representatives respectfully request that all available military assets be utilized to help better secure the border. The level of violence and bloodshed on the Mexican side of the border is tragic. Texas does not have the resources needed to address this public safety and humanitarian crisis.

Specifically, we ask that as MC-12 aircraft are no longer needed in Iraq, that one to two of those aircraft be transferred to the operational control of the Texas Air National Guard along with related support and maintenance resources. The MC-12 is a military version of the King Air that is packed with electronic surveillance equipment. That surveillance platform, built by L-3 Communications in Greenville, Texas, has tremendous capability on the U.S.-Mexico Border. It has the potential to be a “virtual” wall and a force multiplier to assist in interdiction operations.

Assuming an OPCON transfer is not a possibility now, we alternatively ask that crew training for MC-12 be transferred to the Texas Air National Guard. Current crew training is conducted by the Mississippi Air National Guard. We believe it is a better use of resources for those crews to use the Texas-Mexico border to train for their overseas counter-insurgency surveillance and interdiction operations.

We appreciate the steps taken to date by your Administration to help Texas secure the border. If we may answer any questions, please contact Representative Allen Vaught, below, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Health and School Centered Emergencies or Representative Veronica Gonzales, who chairs the House Border & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.

Respectfully,

Representative Allen Vaught
Representative Veronica Gonzales
Representative Donna Howard
Representative Jose Menendez
Representative Allan Ritter
Representative Valinda Bolton
Representative Jim McReynolds
Representative Eric Johnson
Representative Stephen Frost
Representative Ellen Cohen
Representative Mark Homer
Representative Paula Pierson
Representative Diana Maldonado
Representative Chris Turner
Representative Robert Miklos
Representative Kirk England
Representative Kristi Thibaut
Representative Carol Kent

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Houston accountant Alma Gomez was in the downtown Macy’s on Monday checking out merchandise as she prepared for the sales tax-free holiday weekend that starts later this week.

“I do it every year,” Gomez said of the tax holiday. “It’s very important for parents trying to save some money.”

The sales tax holiday weekend is from Friday until Sunday . Texas shoppers will save about $8 on every $100 they spend on tax-exempt items.

During the weekend there is no sales tax on most clothing, footwear and student backpacks under $100. Last year, school supplies were added to the list.

State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, the author of the bill creating the sales tax holiday in Texas, touted the weekend event at a news conference Monday at the downtown Macy’s. He was accompanied by state Rep. Kristi Thibaut, D-Houston.

Ellis said he would like to see the state increase the number of days for the holiday, and he wants more items, including computers, added to the tax-exempt list.

Many retailers are holding their own promotions during the sales tax holiday to lure shoppers. Macy’s, for example, is having “One Day” sales on Friday and Saturday.

Sales tax holidays are successful at bringing shoppers to stores, National Retail Federation spokesman Craig Shearman said, although they are typically most effective when they are new to a state. This weekend will mark the 12th sales tax holiday in Texas.

Sales tax holidays have a psychological appeal in that people don’t like paying taxes, Shearman said, and there is a greater practical benefit this year: “So many families are struggling and trying to stretch their dollar.”

Nineteen states have announced sales tax holidays this year, according to the NRF, a record number. Most state sales tax holidays are back-to-school related.

“The tax holiday means real tax relief for hardworking Texas families who need to see their dollars go farther in order to provide the necessities for their children,” said Senator Ellis. “I will continue to fight for expansion of the list of tax exempt items to help Texans in these hard economic times.”

In 1999, Senator Ellis passed Senate Bill 441, a $506 million tax relief package which created the 3-day sales tax holiday, eliminated the sales tax on over-the-counter medicines and cut business taxes. The tax holiday is designed to give hard-working Texans a tax break on necessities such as back-to-school clothing.

This weekend marks the twelfth annual sales tax holiday in Texas. This past legislative session, Senator Ellis co-sponsored a bill that expanded the list of tax exempt item to include most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.

“The Sales Tax Holiday will provide much needed relief for families across Texas as we prepare for the upcoming school year. This weekend is a great way to stimulate the local economy and give parents a well-deserved break,” added Rep. Thibaut.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs predicts shoppers will save $59.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the Sales Tax Holiday, which takes place each year on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August. A complete list of the tax exempt items can be found at the Texas State Comptroller’s website: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html.

The Texas Association of Realtors today announced its decision to endorse Kristi Thibaut in her re-election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 133. Making the statement last week, Chairman Bill Jones commended Thibaut’s commitment to the interests of Texas homeowners.

“When lawmakers return to work in 2011, they will be faced with many difficult decisions,” said Jones. “That’s why we need lawmakers like Kristi Thibaut who understand the critical role homeowners play in keeping our state’s economy strong, which is why we’ve pledged our full support.”

Currently, Texas ranks 45th out of 50 states in homeownership. Electing lawmakers who understand homeowners’ concerns and act accordingly to bolster homeownership in Texas is the association’s top priority this election season. As a member of the Texas House, Kristi Thibaut has been supportive of policies and initiatives which are in the best interests of property rights and homeownership throughout the state.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Texas Association of Realtors,” Thibaut said. “As small business owners, Texas Realtors make the dream of homeownership more affordable for all Texans and I will strive to help support this important goal.”

As the largest professional membership association in the state, the Texas Association of Realtors expects to be a considerable grassroots force for Kristi Thibaut.

Texas Realtors have championed a number of legislative issues enhancing the lives of Texans, including playing a leading role in the passage of meaningful property tax appraisal reform, ensuring consumer protection in home equity lending laws, and advocating for billions in property tax reductions. To learn more about Texas Realtors’ legislative advocacy on behalf of its members and homeowners, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
The Texas Association of Realtors is the largest professional association in the state and represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas Realtors and private property owners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

“It’s wonderful that these deserving students are being awarded scholarships that will help them further their education,” said State Representative Kristi Thibaut. “And it’s terrific to see Comcast deliver on the commitment to power dreams in the community by investing in the future of these young people.”

A commitment to community service is an essential component in the selection of winners of Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarships. Local winners in Houston have participated in a wide variety of community service activities, such as helping revitalize communities as part of mission work, mentoring and coaching younger students, volunteering at hospitals and participating in local blood, food and clothing drives.

Local community organizations like Reading for the Blind, Star of Hope Mission, American Red Cross, Special Olympics and the Houston Area Women’s Center have benefited from their service.

“We want to motivate young people to achieve their potential, to be involved in their schools, and to be catalysts for positive change in their communities,” said Tony Speller, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston Region. “As the cost of college continues to rise, we’re proud to present each of these young people with the Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship in recognition of their hard work and the leadership they have shown.”

Three lucky students each received an additional $4,000 Comcast Founder Scholarship as part of a random drawing held recently during the scholarship awards ceremony. Since the program’s inception there have been over 13,300 scholarship winners totaling over $13.4 million.

Each year, Comcast works with high school principals, guidance counselors, and school administrators to select the scholarship recipients. The program is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators – an independent, not-for-profit organization that manages corporate and corporate foundation scholarship programs.

For additional information, visit www.comcast.com/scholarships.

About The Comcast Foundation

The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation’s focus areas are volunteerism, literacy, and youth leadership development. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $64 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.

About nine of the fires occurred within a short period of time in late-April and early-May, since then HFD Arson has had a very active investigation that has turned up a video that provides some information of a general description of a person wanted for questioning.

Arson investigators began reviewing cases that occurred earlier than the core grouping of fires and determined that there were other fires that appeared to be similar in origin.

In most cases the damage has been a few thousand dollars worth of property. In about three cases the damage was more severe. There have been no reported injuries as a result of these fires.

“Our investigation has been aggressive and that investigation has netted us important information,” said Chief Investigator Gabe Cortez. “But we also believe the eyes and ears of the public can help us be successful in our effort. So far, property damage has been the extent of the fire. We don’t want this to go any further.”

“This is a case where the power of the public to observe and report any suspicious activity can be key to solving this case,” said Amy Smith, Director of Crime Stoppers of Houston. “We are offering a reward up to $5000 dollars for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for these crimes.

The Houston Fire Department has requested and received the cooperation of the Houston Police Department and Harris County Precinct 5 Constable in efforts to be on the look out for any suspicious person that may be responsible for the fire.

Anyone who believes they may have information on these crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713- 222-T-I-P-S.

Surveillance video can be viewed at http://www.houstontx.gov/fire/videoclips.html.

Read original press release here.