Letters to the Editor: No problem finding money for the border

Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read

Texas finds big money for border,

but can't adequately fund services

Re: May 2 article, "Troopers at border make big money."

I was appalled upon reading the details of the Texas Department of Public Safety's engagement at the border.

It troubles me that our elected officials seem to find the means for nefarious enterprises at the border that the governor, et al., champion, but can’t adequately fund more essential services such as education, health services or child care.

Delving deeper into the details, in addition to 10,000 Texas National Guard troops, Texas has committed 1,600 out of 4,200 officers to the border detail. What about the neglect due to the absence of these same officers around the rest of the state? What about the rationality of having troopers working 12 to 14 hours on 9-day shifts? This seems inhuman and calculated to increase errant behavior.

And as to the overtime pay: $164,000 in overtime for a 6-figure salaried captain! What agency director can sanction close to $200 million in DPS overtime from March 2021 through February 2022 without incurring the wrath of the taxpayer?

Peter Ellis, Austin

Congress must codify Roe v. Wade,

requiring Dems to erase the filibuster

A minority-controlled government is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating the legal right to an abortion and undermining the well-accepted principle of stare decisis, or legal precedent. Democrats must make this the No. 1 issue in 2022.

This likely will lead to a national law banning abortion, as well as more draconian laws stripping the rights of the minority previously protected by stare decisis. A recent poll found 69% of Americans support Roe v. Wade, believing a woman has the right to choose. Make no mistake: Abortion now has become a political question. The current House and Senate must codify Roe v. Wade — something that will require Senate Democrats to eliminate the filibuster.

Richard Cherwitz, Austin

The court leak wasn't a surprise;

Texas put the writing on the wall

I'm not surprised there was a Supreme Court leak regarding Roe v. Wade. I hope the leaker is found, outed and fired.

That being said, the Supreme Court had decided not to challenge Texas' rather restrictive abortion legislation, so an observant person could conclude that Roe v. Wade was soon to be in jeopardy. Like it or not, Texas put the writing on the wall.

Let me quote the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Personally, I'm too old to be directly involved in the abortion issue. The Constitution is another matter. Point is, we're all going to die some day. The Constitution is supposed to outlive us for a long, long time.

Kenneth K. Ebmeier, Round Rock

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: May 7, 2022