Free Republic

BEAUMONT - by Scott Lawrence - Jack Brooks, who served more than 40 years in Congress as a member of the Democratic Party representing Southeast Texas, and who helped author the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, has died after a sudden illness, according to a statement released by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. His funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Montagne Center on the campus of Lamar University, according to a family member.

Ex-GOP Rep. Stockman Seeks DeLay Seat by John Gizzi Posted Jan 5, 2006 05:08 PM "Nervous that the ongoing web of scandal surrounding disgraced Washington “superlobbyist” Jack Abramoff will cost Republicans enough seats to lose control of the House and convinced that Rep. Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.) might well lose his Houston-area district to a Democrat, former one-term Rep. Steve Stockman has decided to run for the seat as an independent. The surprise announcement by conservative stalwart Stockman, who represented about one-third of what is now the 22nd District from 1994-96, was coupled by the decision of the former lawmaker to...

There currently is much discussion about the state of the Social Security System. Some are advocating radical change such as privatization of the system. These calls are met with concern that nothing like that has ever been done. Even if we ignore the success of other countries that have privatized this remnant of paternalist government, we need to look no further than the Texas coast for an example of successful privatization. In the late 1970's it was becoming clear that Social Security was in financial trouble and that Congress was not dealing with it. What was less known was that...