$165,000 of taxpayer money spent on trying to keep videos out of the public

The Department of Public safety is fighting to keep video tapes taken in a part of the state capitol out of public view. Attorney fees are being paid by the taxpayers money as this battle is being fought for 2 years now. The attorney general and state district judge both have ruled in favor of releasing the tapes. The DPS however feels that by releasing the tapes it will compermise the capitols security.
Senator Carona stated that this is a clear misuse of public funds. Homeland security is being used to as the reason to keep the tapes out of the public. According to the DPS, the tape shows to much sensitive information on the secutity and operating systems of the capitol. The whole argument started when a nonprofit newspaper asked for the tapes through the freedom of information act for a specific date in 2005. The case will go to the court of appeals in late October to decide.
This is a classic case of freedom of speech and freedom of the press againt the government security. The fact that we as taxpayers are paying for this fight for privacy between two government agencies seems wrong. Whether you support the right to know or the right to privacy for the government, it should make you think why are we paying for their fight?

Hispanics could change future election outcomes

Currently in the state of Texas the hispanic population is growing at a rapid pace. They will soon have a chance in determing politics of Texas as their numbers could sway the future direction of the state. It is up to the political parties to take action now in order to benifit from this growth. This was a focus of a confrence held at UT this past week.
The confrence bought together community leaders, political leaders, students and teachers to discuss ways to influence the Hispanic voters. Both republicans and democrats are trying to figure out the best way to reach this new resource of voters without insulting them and driving them away. Hispanics accounted for over half of all the growth in Texas but only one-tenth of them voted.
This article represents an important change that will effect everybody in the state. Currently most hispanics vote Democratic and if the population keeps this trend as it grows Texas could become a Democratic state in the future. Republicans, however, are also seeing this trend and will put more money and effort into getting vote as well. It will depend on whos message will appeal the most to hispanics that might be the deciding factor of the future of Texas politics.
In the near future Texas should expect to see more hispanics in state offices and eventually as Governer. They are an important part of Texas and a viable part of the community, the fact that this is being talked about now shows just how important they will be in politics of the future.