Congressional ‘fools,’ ‘spoiled tots’
What, who and why in the world have we elected those we title as representatives to the Congress of our country? It appears that much of who we have selected is a group of dissociated and disconcerted 5-year-old children who prefer acting like uneducated, spoiled tots rather than get down to the business of running the most powerful nation on Earth. A class example was shown on TV during the congressional hearing in which Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions testified and he made them look like fools.
Attitudes and other antics by our so-called “representatives” are sanctioned and supported by our unprincipled and unconcerned TV media. If our president is not one’s choice, why not act like Americans? These congressional individuals should be tasked with making laws — not simply applying leverage in order to remove someone else’s choice.
Ben Raiche, Pharr
Scorned FBI director ‘strikes back’
Washington Times reporter Charles Hurt summarized the important results of former FBI Director James Comey’s lengthy testimony before Congress as: “The swamp strikes back.”
I believe Comey let Hillary Clinton off the hook for her sending and receiving messages, many of which were classified, from her private email server and Blackberry. As a result, I presume Comey has been very biased and influenced in a liberal way in his actions between Democrat and GOP power structures to favor the Democrats, of course. He is quite intelligent and articulate. Good traits for his prominence.
When I was in the Pentagon and elsewhere in the Navy, I had a top-secret clearance and was constantly reminded and on the alert to not expose classified information to those not similarly cleared or face severe consequences — not even to my now deceased wife, who was a Navy nurse.
Capt. Paul M. Allen, retired, Mission
Texas property tax relief
Recently I filed a tax protest on a $10,000 increase on the appraisal value of my home in Hidalgo County. I then had a hearing before three members of the Texas Appraisal Review Board. As expected, the board members voted in favor of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District’s assessment. This left me feeling that some state reform is needed on this matter to correct some inequalities that are quite evident against taxpayers, especially with regards as to how the appraisal boards are set up. Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott called a 30-day special legislative session, to begin on July 18, and his agenda includes property tax legislation.
During the 85th Legislature, which ended May 29, SB 669 dealing with property tax relief was not passed. Hopefully the special session will pass legislation that will improve notification requirements and how appraisal boards are set up. I also hope it will make reductions in property taxes statewide and put a plan in place that would require local governments to put proposals for hefty tax increases to the voters for their approval.
Silvestre Moreno Jr., Mercedes
