On Thursday, July 17, the Texas Public Utility Commission approved a plan to install new transmission lines to bring wind power from West Texas to the metro areas in the eastern half of the state. Texas Impact members were among more than 5,000 Texans to sign an online petition started by Representative Mike Villareal of San Antonio urging the PUC to "go big" on wind.

THANK THE PUC

A new report released by a UT Arlington faculty-student group outlines ways that the campus can reduce its carbon emissions to help reduce global warming. The Fort Worth Star Telegram says that "the new report calls for cuts in electricity consumption through energy conservation or buying more green energy; increasing carpooling, walking and biking; converting university vehicles to electric power; and increasing recycling."

According to Jeff Howard, co-chairman of the UT-Arlington President’s Sustainability Committee, the school is among the first universities in Texas to craft a carbon-footprint reduction plan. Three cheers for my alma mater!

On Friday, June 20th, a group of five United Methodist Women from Lockhart UMC visited with Representative Patrick Rose and staff from Senator Glenn Hegar's office. Mary Fay Barnes, Betty Bowers, Doris Dorris, Doris Warner, and her granddaughter Tamra Warner all met with their representatives and expressed their interest in various issues affecting Texas, including the juvenile justice system and public education.

We are all feeling the pinch when it comes to gas prices these days. More people are using public transportation to get around, which is great if you have the option. But not all of us do. And not all of us can run out and buy a hybrid, either. We need strategies, then, to increase our fuel efficiency. Click here for some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency. My favorite myth-breaker? Apparently, idling for 10-30 seconds uses more gas than turning the car off and restarting it... I always thought it was the other way around!

The most recent edition of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society's Faith in Action newsletter is asking you to contact your U.S. Senators to urge them to support America's Climate Security Act (S#2191). Here is the link to the newsletter!

Hey Guys, my name is Leighton Copley and I am a new Intern here at Texas Impact. I just started about 3 weeks ago, and since then I have been working on sworn testimony and its importance in the committee process.

Currently any person wishing to speak before a committee in either the Senate or House are only required to fill out a testimonial card with basic information provided on it. Persons testifying are not sworn

In April an article authored by the new Community Initiatives Director at Texas Impact was released.

The article discusses issues with measurements used by most state and federal correctional agencies to determine the success or failure of re-entry programs.

The article was released in the Spring 2008 Insights Newsletter, published by OPEN, Inc. (Offender Preparation and Education Network, Inc)

In the few weeks the piece has been available, several states have provided Ms. McKinney feedback, and agree that it is time for science and measurement techniques to evolve.

To read the full article: http://www.openinc.org/newsletter.html

See Spring 2008

I am so proud of all of you who have written and called to say that you sponsored Texas Impact's resolutions at your precinct caucuses on March 4! Hundreds of people downloaded the resolutions from our website in the 3 days before the caucuses, and we have had reports from all over the state about what a great experience it's been participating in the caucuses. I was extra-tickled that the first person to report passing the resolutions was Vicki Baggett from Nacogdoches, where I was born.

In mid-December the Senate passed its version of the farm bill. This legislation must now be reconciled with the House version through a conference. Bread for the World will continue to campaign for reform as the House, Senate and administration negotiate the final version of the farm bill next year.

On December 14, the Senate passed a problematic farm bill that:

• fails to make farm support programs fairer
• proposes increases in trade-distorting commodity programs

These programs have a negative impact on prices and earning opportunities for poor farmers in the developing world. Savings from much-needed reforms to these programs could be better used to fund nutrition and conservation programs and help U.S. farm and rural families of modest means.

After a months of successes and stalls, it seems like Congress has finally compromised its way to an Energy Bill that the President will sign before Christmas.

After the first failed attempt to bring the bill up yesterday, bill proponents removed the tax incentives and mandates for renewable energy and secured continued tax breaks for big oil corporations, making the bill more palatable to opponents. What's left is an Energy Bill that not about our use of energy in the broad sense, but is more specifically about transportation fuels.