It’s not conservative for Texas to pick winners and losers. Prop 7 is no energy fix | Opinion
Not conservative to pick winners
I don’t understand the Star-Telegram Editorial Board’s support for Proposition 7. (Oct. 22, 4C, “Our recommendations for Texas ballot propositions”) the Electric Reliability Council of Texas doesn’t need more natural gas-fired generation. It needs to make the generation that we have reliable. Enough generation is available if it doesn’t fail, as many of the gas generators and gas suppliers did during the winter storm of 2021. Consumers can help themselves by getting more efficient, too.
Why do the Editorial Board and our Legislature want to codify in the state constitution such a non-conservative idea as picking winners and losers? Go back to a regulated system and drop the mask if that is how the “market” is going to work.
- Eric Pratte, Fort Worth
Prop 9 for teachers’ COLA
Thank you so much to the editorial board for providing clarity in Sunday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram on the jargon in Texas constitutional amendments on the Nov. 7 ballot. I especially appreciated the comments about Proposition 9, which would provide the first cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers in 20 years.
I am a retired Tarrant County teacher of 30 years, and this COLA would be a tremendous blessing to me and many others I know. Your readers should know that the payment will not increase their taxes. The Legislature has set aside the funds to make it happen.
- Sylvia Underwood, Fort Worth
Let Galveston save some money
I am the Galveston County treasurer. I campaigned and was elected by local voters to eliminate my own office in order to save them money. Nine other counties in Texas have been afforded this opportunity, including Tarrant County.
Please vote yes on Proposition 12 to allow us to become the 10th. Thank you for your support of the wishes of Galveston County voters.
- Hank Dugie, Galveston
Vote yes for university research
Voting for Proposition 5 would boost Texas’ higher education and economy. This constitutional amendment authorizes the funding of research programs at four Texas universities without using taxes. If Proposition 5 passes, a $3.9 billion endowment would establish the Texas University Fund, bringing millions in new research dollars to the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, Texas State University and the University of Houston.
Let’s help these four join the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University among the Top 50 national research institutions (according to collegeconsensus.com). California has nine on that list, so it’s no surprise that more students leave Texas for college elsewhere than matriculate here.
Let’s keep bright young Texans in Texas by helping these universities compete nationally for students, faculty and researchers.
- State Rep. Kronda Thimesch, R-Lewisville
Tarrant County kids deserve more
The Star-Telegram’s Oct. 30 front-page story about a new program to provide high-quality child care for very young children “Child care providers test new funding plan, wage increases”) failed to mention that the Tarrant County Commissioners Court recently voted to divert $10 million in federal funding away from Child Care Associates and its plan to open four child care facilities across the county. Instead, the court decided to use those funds to house county inmates in a private prison 270 miles away.
Tarrant County families need affordable child care and well-trained, well-paid child care workers.
- Dixie Davis, Fort Worth
