According to, The Fort Worth’s Star Telegram’s website students in 2008 will incur yet another raise in tuition and fees cost starting the fall of 2008 and continue over the next 2 years. The increases will be set aside for fees, like transportation, athletics, and upgrades on buildings. The average increase for Texas public university will increase from 4 to 13 percent. As a student myself, I find this disheartening. School now is already expensive and adding to bill is not something I want to look forward to in the fall. Though it looks like UT Austin will be upholding the cap that was set back in 2003 and not increasing at this time, I do feel that by fall 2009 we will incur yet another hefty hike. I know that prices are rising everywhere. I see it every time I go to fill gas up in my car, and buy groceries. I am a older second time student and it is strange for me to see how prices have changed over the past ten years. I know understand where the older people were coming from when they would say, “Remember when gas was 15 cents?” I can remember when gas was 89 cents a gallon. Now we are over three times that most everywhere. Education is very important and a necessity there is no arguing with that. But how much am I willing to pay to obtain that document that will give me the job that I want? I want to be an elementary public school teacher and I am aware that this position is not a cash cow money maker; I just want to make a difference. So if the school needs money for more athletic equipment then I will pay the price. I just hope that I can hurry and finish my degree before I accrue a hefty school loan bill that I won’t be able to pay on my teaching salary.

Old Fashioned Mudslinging

I am writing this to reply to the blog that was submitted from blog Vaqueros & Wonkeros at the El Paso Times. On February 27 2008 this was written about the press release that was issued from State Rep. Pat Haggerty asking his challenger Dee Margo, in the upcoming elections to answer questions in regards to an FBI public corruption scandal from El Paso. Rep. Haggerty requested at the end of the letter to submit a response by noon on Thursday that week. According to Brandi Grissom, by the end of the business day that Thurs, there was no response. The seven questions are as follows.
“1) Did you use arrested child pornographer Fernando Parra in one of your online campaign advertisements in your losing Senate campaign? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO2) Did you and Randy McGraw, as principals with Crest, a health advisory firm you own, each provide a $500.00 political contribution to at least one County Official with the purpose to influence their decision on a contract to provide services regarding review and evaluation of health plans for county employees? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO3) As a principal for Crest, were you responsible for making recommendations to the city, county, and school district to hire ACCESS as their third party administrator? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO4) Is it true that ACCESS provided payments for trip and expenses to Randy McGraw as an exchange for Crest making recommendations for ACCESS contracts? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO5) When Holmes and Murphy out of Dallas underbid Crest for a county contract by $50,000, three times lower than the bid by Crest, did you sabotage their opportunity for winning the contract by requesting that the item be tabled behind closed doors? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO6) Did you boast about your relationship with and contributions to Judge Anthony Cobos in an El Diario article published 11/06/06? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO7) Do you feel the Public Integrity Unit should investigate Speaker Tom Craddick for felony bribery under the Texas Speakers Statute when he punished the El Paso legislative delegation by taking money intended for the El Paso medical school and using it instead for a pork project in Midland? Dee’s Answer: YES or NO”
Ok these questions are pretty heavy. I mean I am not sure but I think Rep. Haggerty should be listed in all government books as an example of modern day mudslinging. Not to say that these questions aren’t of great importance. These events that Rep. Haggerty do have a lot of merit. This is something that will need to come to light and needs to be taken seriously. But at this time and so close to a big election, why are you bringing things up that you before have never question? This FBI investigation goes way back, and now all of a sudden you want to bring it up to try and win some votes. This just to me looks like drama. I hope that others see what I see when it comes down to right before an election how our Politian’s act how they really are. As for he not responding I am not sure how to feel about that. It is such a critical time and people are really trying to figure out who they want to vote for. I just hope her not responding is only because she felt that not responding is taking the higher road.