Posted on 10/06/2005 10:18:56 PM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Miers' time on Dallas City Council provides some insight
BY DAVE LEVINTHAL
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS - (KRT) - She may have no judicial record, but Supreme Court justice nominee Harriet Miers took firm stances on issues ranging from taxation to democratic reforms abroad as a one-term member of the Dallas City Council, a Dallas Morning News study of city records indicates.
For example, in 1991, Miers voted in favor of a council resolution reaffirming economic sanctions Dallas had imposed against South Africa, then under a white minority-rule apartheid government. The council adopted the resolution by a 6-2 vote with three absences.
At the time, President George H.W. Bush was considering repealing federal economic sanctions against the country.
A 1989 city ordinance prohibited Dallas government from buying goods that originated in South Africa or conducting business with firms that sold goods or services there for use by the police, military or prison system.
"As she goes through this nomination process, something like that should cheer the liberals and lead to gnashing of teeth among the very conservative social conservative," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, Miers' alma mater. "Hers was the appropriate moderate Republican position of the day, but beating up on South Africa wasn't a way to win friends with conservatives."
It was one of several council votes that will be scrutinized as her court nomination moves forward. She served between June 1989 and November 1991.
Miers was one of 10 Dallas council members to unanimously approve a 1989 agenda item that revised minimum height, weight and vision requirements for Dallas firefighters to facilitate "promotion of certain ranks in the Fire Department," particularly women.
The agenda item's title: "Implementation of Fire Department Affirmative Action Plan."
In one of her first meetings as a council member, Miers sponsored a resolution "recognizing democratic aspirations of students and civilian population in Beijing, China." The council ratified the resolution 10-1.
"It's important for the city to let those people know we realize what they're going through," Miers said at the time, a few weeks after the Chinese government violently quashed pro-democracy rallies centered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Records from council meetings during her tenure also indicate that she:
_Voted for a 1990 resolution requesting that Congress "pass legislation which would prohibit judicial taxation of local governments." The council unanimously adopted the resolution, which came at a time when courts in some places had seized control of floundering school districts and administered taxes. "This is a position that would be almost universally accepted by Republicans," Jillson said.
_Abstained from an otherwise unanimously adopted 1990 resolution urging Congress to pass legislation bolstering AIDS emergency treatment programs and provide funding to local governments for such programs. Before the vote, Miers said she had a conflict of interest, although no record detailing that conflict was available.
_Voted to ratify a 1990 resolution urging the governor to call a special session of the Texas State Legislature and consider a bill that aimed to limit state power and return regulatory jurisdiction over pawnshops to municipalities. The council ratified the resolution by an 8-2-1 vote.
_Voted in 1989 to levy property taxes on "business personal property temporarily located within the state." The agenda item passed 10-1, but the record indicates Miers directed Dallas' city manager to search for alternate revenue streams so that the tax could be repealed in 1991.
_Was absent when the council in 1990 unanimously resolved to install City of Dallas and U.S. flags within all municipal parks.
_Was absent in 1991 when the council formally urged Congress to pass the Brady Bill, which limited gun accessibility. The council adopted the resolution unanimously.
_Voted in 1991 to ratify a resolution urging the Texas State Legislature to observe the Rev. Martin Luther King's birthday as a state holiday. The council unanimously ratified the resolution.
_Voted in 1991 to ratify a resolution supporting passage of the federal North American Free Trade Agreement. The council ratified the resolution by a 7-2-2 vote.
_Voted in 1991 in favor of a resolution urging Congress to approve a presidential request for "fast track" trade negotiation authority. The resolution passed 5-2-3.
_Abstained from voting on a resolution urging Congress to allow toll road development along interstate highway right-of-ways. Records did not indicate why Miers abstained; the resolution passed by a 6-1 vote with three absences and an abstention.
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It's not another red flag. :)
"As she goes through this nomination process, something like that should cheer the liberals and lead to gnashing of teeth among the very conservative social conservative," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, Miers' alma mater. "Hers was the appropriate moderate Republican position of the day, but beating up on South Africa wasn't a way to win friends with conservatives."
Why oh why do most of the people who got all exercised over South Africa, turn a blind eye to China?
If Miers' supports affirmative action in any way, shape, or form--it MOST CERTAINLY IS a red flag! I hope she is not confirmed.
not another red flag.
Should women not be firefighters or have the same opportunities? Why would changing the height and weight requirements to allow women to compete, be wrong?
Another article recounts her testimony under oath that racial preferences should be considered in redrawing voting districts. It's in the same piece that discusses her disdain for the Federalist Society.
This is my first post to FR. The thought of having to be stuck with affirmative action for any longer scares me to death. It is a scar on this nation. When O'Connor retired I believed that affirmative action would be soon following her out. With Miers I am not so sure. Thus, this post.
My son is on the local rescue squad. On a recent call a woman on the squad was unable to lift her end of the stretcher. How would you like it to be you on that stretcher? In the case of a firefighter, how would you like your closest adult male relative to be on the 5th floor of a burning building, overcome by smoke, and a 110 pound female fire(person) his only hope for getting out? Affirmative action in cases like those may kill.
Yes I agree it's not another red flag.
I thought Bush was still President, not Hillary.
It does sound like an awesomely bad idea. If they can only schlep so many people to a fire site they had better be guys or amazons. Even if the firewoman doesn't go in the house, those hoses are not easy to wrestle around either.
If women can meet the minimum standards, then fine. But to lower them so that they are now 'qualified', is capitulation to the liberal, groupthink mindset.
Affirmative action is an outrage. Discrimination is wrong, no matter where it is. It was just as wrong in the past (when it was used to exclude minorities and women) as it is now (when it is used to either lower standards and give racial and/or gender preferences). Two wrongs do NOT make a right.
Affirmative action is when you give someone extra points for being a female or minority.
I have no problem with this ruling because it doesn't give anyone extra benefit. It just evens out the field.
Considering the ruling was unanamious it didn't seem controversial at all.
This is really not affirmative action.
Right. A 6 foot 180 pound person that can run the course in the prescribed time is no more able than a 5 foot 2, 110 pound person (who can run the course) to be able to carry a smoke inhalation victim. Right.
I know an ex navy guy who is trying to meet the requirements for the local fire squad. He hasn't made it yet, and he's in very good shape. We are talking people's lives here, both firefighters and those they save.
Because people die as a result, that's why.
And what did those PC SOBs do. They went after those that smuggle the vidoe out. It was pathetic. 90 pounds of gear etc and they were basically helpless. It was a joke.
Who in the F**k do you want showing up at your home when it's on fire? A 120 pound female, or someone that can do the damn job?
Please kick the plug on this abomination of a nomination.
Bush, withdraw your nomination, and give us another one.
If conservatives don't fight now we'll never be taken seriously again.
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