Perry's database of Texans concerns lawmakers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Houston Chronicle

April 14, 2007, 12:19AM
Perry's database of Texans concerns lawmakers


By POLLY ROSS HUGHES and R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — If you've had a traffic ticket recently, you likely are in the privately run database of criminals and potential terrorists being kept by Gov. Rick Perry's office.

The database is intended to centralize information for police agencies, but some state lawmakers are afraid it can be misused for political purposes if the governor's office controls it instead of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, who has introduced legislation to take the database away from the governor, called it "invasive."

"The public's apprehensive about a political office with the ability to access so much information ... about millions of people."



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4714334.html

[The Sushi Bandit]

1. Fuck Rick Perry

nuff said!!!

[salin]

2. this should be an interesting fight to watch.

My sense of many Texans - is that there is a libertarian streak (about things like privacy) that runs pretty deep. Placing people into a 'potential terrorist' database, controlled by a political office, for a traffic ticket? I can't see how that would be easily accepted.

[youngdem]

3. Disgusting Mafia tactics by a first class asshole.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Does Texas law allow their governor to maintain such a database?

[AnneD]

6. NO...

and as word reaches most folks-it will be taken over by law enforcement, the Texas Rangers would be a good candidate. This is a power grab by the governor. The Texas Constitution grants governors very few powers-for a reason. This was one of the things I laughed about when the GOP touted Bush's record as Gov.of Texas.

The legislature does all the work and hold most of the power. That's why folks were so upset when Tom DeLay redrew the district lines. Not only did it hurt the US House of Reps, it really hurt Texas Dems in already restructured districts. But the good news is we turned some of those districts and the remainder of the GOP has started to wise up-because folks are losing patience. It was an election-not a coronation. The tone has been a lot different for us and our lobbyist. Perry won the election with less than a third of the vote. The legislature will make him sit down and shut up. And if he is smart, and wants an easy last term-he'll put that little magic wand back in his pants and stop dicking with things. This is not the same group of folks he is use to dealing with in his first terms and he had less than zero political capital.

Yes there is a wide libertarian streak that runs through Texas. The state motto should be I'll kick your ass, because Perry has pissed too many folks off and they will kick his ass if he keeps up this foolishness.

[LiberalFighter]

7. I would think that the Rangers already have a database setup

with the information they need and tied in with the counties.

This database I believe goes beyond what is necessary for good law enforcement.

Why would they lump speeding violations with terrorists? Doesn't make sense.

How are they going to define terrorists? It shouldn't be too difficult to identify terrorists in Texas... anyone that is a Republicon should do it.:eyes:

[AnneD]

8. The data base goes above and beyond

what is need both for good law enforcement and terrorist deterrent. Data can be pulled from a computer data base now through the department of motor vehicles (tickets-last know address, etc). So my guess it is a LOT more than just recording speeding tickets. And if that is the case, I would rather have the Rangers guard it than the governor.

I have never been to a school for terrorism, but I would bet the teachers would pound it into their heads to blend in, obey all laws, don't even get so much as a traffic ticket. Did the 9-11 guys have so much as a speeding ticket....NO

And how was Timothy McVeigh captured...stopped for a traffic violation. So unless they are using it to capture our home grown terrorist-it is a waste of time.

[LiberalFighter]

9. And rather than protect it they should destroy it.

[marshall]

5. What does "private database" mean?

I assume the state keeps track of tickets, but who exactly outside of the state troopers gets the information? It's passed out to insurance companies, or those companies have access to part of the information. I don't understand why the governor has to have a separate database. Exactly how many parties are getting these names?

[havocmom]

10. My guess is GOP would use it to challenge voters in DEM districts

and blackmail anybody & everybody they might ever need to do something for them.