Indicted Texas AG Ken Paxton, 2020 election denier, wants voting ‘integrity’ powers? | Opinion

Dangers of ‘election integrity’

Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote in his May 6 Star-Telegram guest commentary, “A rogue DA who has demonstrated indifference to violent crime by selectively enforcing the law may do the same to encourage election results he or she favors by protecting criminal interference in elections.” (6A, “DAs could let election fraud go, unless Texas fixes court ruling”)

As we have seen in Tarrant County, a rogue “election integrity“ district attorney could do the same by prosecuting voters with an intent to interfere with an election to get the results he favors — especially if he was entrusted with that power for that reason.

- Reed K. Bilz, Fort Worth

Fix society before new gun laws

Public comments about mass shootings all use similar language: We are a caring nation. So where is our humanity when asking for better laws?

What I see in the news are road rage incidents, assaults on officials at games, teachers attacked by students and police officers mobbed. Clerks at restaurants get assaulted because an item isn’t available or an order is messed up. I hear elected officials using language and saying things about their peers that were unheard of when I grew up.

No, America is not a compassionate, caring country. She is a nation filled with demanding people who believe they are privileged. People who are selfish and intolerant.

Fix those problems, and I might back stricter gun laws.

- Bob Schultz, Haslet

Woodard pushes the big bucks

After reading the May 4 front-page story on campaign donor Don Woodard Jr., (“One man spending over $250K in two council races”) now I know who financed the disgraceful campaign against former Mayor Betsy Price when she ran for county judge — and over bike lanes, yet.

- Arthur Miller, Fort Worth

Leadership first, politicking last

Yes, the causes of the mass killings our nation endures far too regularly are multifaceted: mental health problems, loners, attachment to hate groups and access to high-powered weapons. Our state and federal senators and representatives have the power to control one of the issues right now by banning the sale or purchase of assault rifles.

Stop worrying about being reelected and be statesmen and stateswomen. Protect us.

- Johanne C. Timpson, Aledo

US two-party system’s failure

Is this where our two-major-party system has led us? One party is likely to begrudgingly renominate a mediocre octogenarian because its leaders fear that in a open primary, their core voters would nominate a candidate too liberal to gain the majority of Electoral College votes.

The other party’s base, doubling down on misguided loyalty, is likely to renominate a person who has no chance to win a general election unless he subverts our democratic process and rule of law.

I pray the better angels of our nature come to the fore and the parties nominate different candidates.

- Paul Park, Fort Worth

Tarrant property taxes need a fix

With the recent steep rises in property appraisals, local Texas taxing authorities are reaping windfall gains in property tax revenues. They can reduce tax rates and still enjoy a substantial gain in tax revenues. (April 18, 1A, “How to decode your Tarrant County property value notice”) But landlords still face dramatic increases in their taxes and must raise rents. Tenants suffer the most.

The Tarrant Appraisal District’s current 10% cap on the annual rise in appraisal values of homestead properties must be extended to all properties. Investment properties are not eligible for this cap now, so landlords must raise rents to pay dramatically increased property taxes.

This situation benefits those who can afford to own their homes but hurts renters.

- James Lee, Fort Worth

A better ballgame for everyone

My thoughts after going to a recent Rangers game at Globe Life Field:

• One, provide seating or tabletops in the concourses.

• Two, create a Texas beer garden selling only local beers.

• Three, offer more healthy food options.

I think a whole stadium for the common man, not just the high-priced lower level, could be so much more.

- David Jones, Arlington

Concealed gun permit worked

I applied for a concealed handgun permit when they were first issued. I completed a background check, formal gun training and fingerprints. My Second Amendment rights were not infringed by this process.

How did the governor, lieutenant governor and Legislature come to the conclusion that the permit process was not a good idea?

- Wes Shannon, Fort Worth