Rick Perry Skips Scheduled Wildfire News Conference—Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up

Here is the most recent Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas. TPA members are citizen-bloggers who are working everyday for a better Texas.

With the round-up this week is news that Texas Governor Rick Perry did not show up at a scheduled news conference to address the Texas wildfires. This despite the fact that Mr. Perry had been able in recent days to go to California to campaign for President.

It could be that Governor Perry did not want to reply to questions about how some Texas firefighters have to pay for proper equipment, and how short-sighted budget cuts have impeded the ability to fight  wildfires in Texas.

As Rick Perry runs for President, it is up to each individual to decide how they will respond.

Every Texan and every American has the ability to attend a public meeting, attend or organize a protest, write or call an elected official, talk to friends and family, start a blog, donate money, write a letter to the editor, volunteer for candidates and causes, engage in acts of civil disobedience, and to run for public office.

The work of democracy and freedom is up to each of us.

Here is the round-up—

Off the Kuff looks at a movement to end pensions for public employees.

Amy Price is one of just a few progressives running for Houston City Council in 2011, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs is helping her campaign.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson shows that the Texas GOP’s next trick will be to come after pubic employee pensions to protect their wealthy campaign contributors:“Wisconsin-style” pension scheme coming to Texas.

My favorite Rick Perry costume is “tough cowboy who shoots coyote with laser pistol”. Libby Shaw has some of the others at TexasKaos. Read all about it in her piece: Rick Perry’s Colorful Costumes.

This week, McBlogger considers The Audacity of Hopelessness.

Neil at Texas Liberal noted the absence of Tea Party-sponsored highway rest stops between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Government plays a role in our everyday lives that some of us may only consider when they are constant attack.

With the beginning of the college football season this weekend, Citizen Andy asks “Why does Rice play Texas?” And how does it relate to the wildfires, Obama’s cave-in on the EPA’s smog rules, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline protests, Hurricane Irene, drought and economic malaise, clean air, climate change, and a switch to a clean energy economy? Read up at TexasVox.