Letters to the editor: Oct. 2, 2022

Dismissing lawsuit against Paxton deputy

defies reason and historical precedent

Re: Sept. 21 article, "Judge dismisses State Bar lawsuit against Paxton deputy over 2020 election claims."

District Judge John Youngblood’s ruling preventing the State Bar of Texas from disciplining Brent Webster, Ken Paxton’s underling, for lying in a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election defies reason and a unanimous line of cases.

Youngblood claimed subjecting the attorney general’s lawyers to the Bar ethics rules would impose an undue limitation on the attorney general. Those lawyers, however, have no right to lie in lawsuits. The judicial system has the right to enforce rules to promote reaching just results with efficiency. Would Youngblood permit lying in his courtroom?

In addition, Youngblood’s conclusory ruling omitted any discussion of a unanimous line of cases holding that executive branch lawyers were subject to Bar disciplinary rules. He relied instead on cases which prohibited interference with the filing of cases by the executive branch. But there’s a distinction between interference with choosing which lawsuits to file and requiring compliance with ethics rules.

Neil Cohen, Austin

Is there obfuscation behind Texas'

record number of registered voters?

Re: Sept 21 article, "Mayors voice criticism of new voting restrictions."

Texas Secretary of State John Scott denies voter suppression in Texas by pointing out that Texas has more registered voters than ever (almost 18 million).

But a lot can be hidden in big numbers.

For example, how much of that "record high" can be attributed to population growth?

And might that number be even higher if our GOP-led Texas government weren't actively trying to neutralize and/or limit the voting power of people of color, the disabled, and others through gerrymandering and, yes, voter suppression.

Indeed, for those inclined to obfuscate, misleading statistics and big numbers can come in very handy.

Stephen Shackelford, Austin

To help tackle climate change,

use outdoor lighting responsibly

Re: Sept. 26 article, "5 ways you can help tackle climate change in Austin right now,"

May I suggest a sixth way? Learn how to use outdoor lighting responsibly.

The International Dark Sky Association estimates that 120-terrawatt hours of energy are used in an average year for outdoor lighting in the U.S. alone, much of it needlessly.

Light pollution not only obscures the view of the night sky, it harms wildlife, plants and human health. Many resources are available to explain how to use light responsibly, such as shielding, pointing it downward, and using it when and where it is needed. Check txnsf.org/ida-texas-chapter, darksky.org, and the many Friends of the Night Sky groups throughout the Hill Country.

Soll Sussman, Driftwood

City's proposal would effectively

penalize low users of electricity

A proposal that is set to go before the Austin City Council in November would increase electric rates disproportionately upon low users of electricity and increase the flat monthly fee by 150%.

This is a cruel proposal, designed to penalize low electricity consumers.

Low electricity users are either very frugal, often due to economic necessity, or have made significant personal expenditures to make their homes energy efficient, as is my case. Irrespective, in this day where electricity consumption is discouraged, the rate structure should reward, rather than punish, these electricity efficient users.

A far better approach would be to raise the charge on the residential consumers of large volumes of electricity, who are almost always individuals of high net worth with large, comfortable homes. This can be done by implementing a graduated cost on electricity, similar to the graduated federal income tax.

Jack M. Wilhelm, Austin

Rubio underplays the danger behind

Trump storing top secret documents

Some folks consider Trump's storage of top secret documents at Mar-a-Lago a serious security breach. But Republican senator Marco Rubio of Florida said that it was nothing more than a "storage" problem. I kinda think he underplays the danger.

There was one time during his presidency when aides unsuccessfully tried to stop Trump from tweeting a photo of an Iranian facility until they could remove classified details. He refused because that was the "sexy part."

Supporters may find the remark clever or cute. I find it dangerous.

Carl Lloyd, San Antonio

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman letters to the editor: Oct. 2, 2022