October 18, 2018 500 AM
Dear editor, I don’t know what the answer is but it ain’t a wall.
Joe Cole Fort Worth
• • •
Dear editor, Is Will Hurd bi-partisan? If you think Will Hurd is not in lock-step with far-right conservatives, just check his voting record. A report from the League of Conservation Voters “2017 National Environmental Scorecard” reveals that of 35 House Resolutions on environmental and natural resources issues, Will Hurd voted against pro-environmental bills 35 out of 35 times. Here are 12, all 35 are listed and explained online at SCORECARD.lcv.org HR 5, HR 21 Public Protections; HR 26, HR 998 Environmental Safeguards; HJR 38 Streams Protection; HJR 44 Local Input about Public Lands; HJR 69 Wildlife Protection in Alaska; HJR 953 Pesticides Pollution; HR 1654 Environmental Review on Water Projects; HR 2883 Pipeline Review; Amendment to HR 3354 Transferring Public Lands to Private Owners; and Amendment to HR 3354 EPA Funding. People who believe Will Hurd reaches across the political isle and is bi-partisan can compare his statements and rhetoric with his actual voting record.
Genie Mitchell Fort Davis
• • •
Dear editor, Please consider as you vote in the upcoming General Election that one of the vital functions of Congress (both the House and Senate) is to act as a check on the power of the President and the Executive branch. Republican Representative Will Hurd has not fulfilled his responsibility in that regard. He is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, an investigative oversight committee. In investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, Devin Nunes, the Chair of that committee limited the testimony and actively cooperated with and covered for the White House. The committee came to the really unavoidable conclusion that Russia did interfere in that election. However, Nunes stopped the committee work before they examined the now overwhelming evidence that the Trump campaign cooperated with Russia. He talks a good line, but while voting over 90% of the time in support of Trump’s agenda, as a member of the Committee Will Hurd also voted to release the committee majority report covering for the White House, and he voted not to release at the same time the minority report that disagreed. If Hurd is so skilled in these matters (he touts his work in the CIA) he must have known the truth millions can plainly see. It’s dangerous to our democracy and for us personally when members of Congress knowingly fail to perform their proper oversight role, especially while voting in line with the most corrupt, dishonest and hateful administration in our nation’s history. Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones has experience in national security intelligence that arguably exceeds Hurd’s. She will follow the facts and seek truth. And she will vote for policies that protect our health, our environment and the wellbeing of the people. Early voting starts October 22 and Election Day is November 6. Thanks,
Mary Bell Lockhart, chairwoman Brewster County Democratic Party Alpine
