Government: June to August 2005

Attorney General Abbott Files Suit to Halt Deceptive Business Masquerading As State Agency

Similar ‘Corporate Compliance’ scam already kicked out of Florida

By Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

August 26, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas—Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced his office has filed a lawsuit to halt a deceptive operation masquerading as an official arm of state government. The fraudulent business sends correspondence warning Texas businesses they may be in violation of the law if they have not filed annual minutes of their official meetings.

Government: More ‘Corporate Minutes’ scam

The Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005

From the Office of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

July 16, 2005

Cornyn introduces legislation to clarify government's exercise of its power of eminent domain to be limited only for public use

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights subcommittee, introduced legislation Monday in response to a controversial ruling by the United States Supreme Court in Kelo v. City of New London. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that government may seize the home, small business, or other private property of one owner and transfer that same property to another private owner, simply by concluding that such a transfer would benefit the community through increased economic development.

The Cornyn legislation would prohibit such transfers of private property, without the owner's consent, if federal funds were used, and if the transfer was for purposes of economic development rather than public use.

Government: More Property Rights

Attorney General Abbott's Fugitive Unit Nets 200th Arrest With Roundup of 14 Child Sex Predators - 12 of the 14 Arrests Occurred in Harris County

By Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

July 16, 2005

Sting operation nabs woman who victimized
5-year-old, 7-year-old girls

AUSTIN, Texas —Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced his Fugitive Unit has arrested 14 convicted child sex predators in a sting operation, bringing the unit’s total arrests to 200. The roundup was conducted primarily in Harris County.

“The harm child predators do to young Texans makes all our communities unsafe,” Attorney General Abbott said. “I am committed to getting these convicted sex offenders off the streets, and I am pleased my Fugitive Unit has put 200 of them back behind bars.”

Among the 14 arrested was Patricia Ann White, 43, who was arrested in Houston on June 24 for violating her parole. In 1994, White was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted in Harris County on two counts of indecency with child by sexual contact. The victims were a 5-year-old female and a 7-year-old female. She is currently in the Harris County Jail.

Government: Names of Those Arrested

Tip Helps Attorney General Abbott Track Down El Paso Child Sex Predator In Colorado

By Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

July 13, 2005

Fugitive Unit received tip after caller saw Abel Alvarado on Attorney General’s Web site.

AUSTIN—Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the arrest of a convicted child sex offender from El Paso following a tip that he was living in Greeley, Colo. An anonymous caller contacted the El Paso Crime Stoppers office after seeing Abel Alvarado’s photo on the Attorney General’s Web site. Crime Stoppers passed along the tip to the Attorney General’s Fugitive Unit, which then contacted the sheriff’s office in Colorado.

“This arrest shows the power of an alert public and a cooperative spirit in tracking down potentially dangerous sex offenders,”Attorney General Abbott said. “I am very grateful to the person who provided this crucial tip, as well as to Crime Stoppers and the Colorado officers who helped arrest this man. Texans and others across America are fed up with those who endanger our children, and sex offenders should take note that we will track them down wherever they run.”

Source: Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General

Cornyn Comments On Terrorist Attacks In London

July 13, 2005

HOUSTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, made the following statement Thursday regarding the terrorist attacks in London:
 
“The terrorist attacks in London are a reminder that, although it’s been four years since America was hit on 9/11, terrorists are looking for ways to attack innocent civilians around the world in an attempt to advance their jihadist aims. Unfortunately, this is a new and different kind of enemy that we find very hard to understand, but we should not let the passage of time break our resolve in taking the battle on the offensive to where the terrorists, live, work and train. So we must maintain our resolve and stay the course. We know that this is still a very dangerous world and we’ve got to stay vigilant in the ongoing global war against terror.”
 
Sen. Cornyn is also chairman of the Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship subcommittee. He is working, along with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), to introduce legislation that will dramatically bolster the nation’s border security, strengthen interior enforcement, and comprehensively reform our immigration laws