Commentary of The Rail

I agree with the article written by Texas bureaucracy, Austin does need to expand the rail system as the population continues to increase and as our roads become more congested.  The main problem that made the proposition 1 not pass is that we have seen how the rail that has been established by capital metro has not meet the expectations promised and the cost was over the proposed amount. 

In the current proposal that we saw on the ballet the section would basically connect ACC’s Highland and Riverside campuses and this would only help a limited amount of commuters, whom already have access to the current rail and bussing system.  The rail system should be expanded to accommodate those who are more in the suburbs to the east and north of Austin.  Cedar Park and Leander have the Metrorail currently in place so adding more trains will help with the wait times at the stops and with overcrowding when special events occur downtown.   

The cost of the rail is also an issue and making it cost efficient would get more people to ride.   What is the sense in spending Billions of dollars if a few thousands are proposed to ride it?  That is not logical or practical to do this.  The more people that are proposed to ride then the less it would be per person. 

So yes I do think that Austin needs a rail system to help with the congestion and over use of our roads, but spending money frivolously is not what we need.  We need something that will connect the suburbs with the city, since most live in the outlying areas of Austin. 

Dukes for district 46

On November 4, 2014 those who didn’t vote in the early election will be casting their ballots.  In District 46 Dawnna Dukes a democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, she won her first election in 1996 and since has won each election.    

Dukes is a strong believer in expanding Medicaid, because Texas is the most uninsured state in America.  With more people being covered by Medicaid it will help improve our economy because more will be going to the doctor for illnesses.  Expanding Medicaid for the uninsured will help enormously, many of the people that live under the poverty wage guidelines are denied Medicaid and can’t afford healthcare even through the healthcare act.  Even in the higher education programs for those going into the healthcare field you are now required to have health insurance before you can do clinicals.  This is a problem for many because they are full time students, have families, and only work part-time; so expanding Medicaid would help individuals in these circumstances too.

Dukes also disagrees with the Texas voters ID law saying it is the strictest in the nation and that early voting should be longer, along with registration. If the voter ID law was not in affect more people would be able to vote, so the voices of the minority and under privileged could have their voices heard.  Also, if early voting was extended then more would be able to cast their votes, because not everyone can take time off from work to vote on Election Day. 

When it comes to redistricting Dukes thinks that the responsibility should be given to an independent citizens redistricting commission as long as it fair.  With the districts maps be drawn the way they have been gerrymandering has taken place.  Dukes believes that it would need a certain criteria when drawing these maps.