Declarations

No Fund at All

“The Legislature was wise in setting up the disaster fund, but we were cheap in not funding it. … A fund that doesn’t have any money in it is pretty much like no fund at all.”

—Democratic Rep. Craig Eiland of Galveston. Funding of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is expected to be on state lawmakers’ agenda during the legislative session that began Jan. 13. Claims from Hurricane Ike, which hit Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008, forced TWIA to assess property insurers in Texas $430 million, on top of $100 million in assessments from July’s Hurricane Dolly. Insurance companies can seek state tax credits for $230 million of those assessments. AP

Behind the Science

“We try to provide emergency shelter, and we’re doing that to the best of our ability.”

—Andrew Thomas, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA said it will allow mobile homes for hurricane victims in areas that new maps indicate are at risk of future flooding in Cameron Parish, La. The occupants must be out of the units by June 1, 2009, however. Thomas said FEMA stands behind the science that went into creating the maps but said circumstances in Cameron Parish are unusual. State officials had urged FEMA to allow the temporary housing to remain in place. About 150 households are affected. AP

Part of the Solution?

“Voters seem to be saying that government is the solution, or at least a big part of it.”

—Mark McKinnon, vice chairman of Austin, Texas-based Public Strategies Inc. A poll conducted by Public Strategies and the Politico news organization found that more than seven in 10 Americans think U.S. business is on the wrong track, and 67 percent think federal regulation of businesses should be increased. McKinnon said the results of the poll showed a clear change from nearly 30 years ago when Republican President Ronald Reagan was swept to power by disparaging government as the problem, not the solution, according to a Reuters report.

Now on Notice

“This settlement of $350,000 on behalf of 609 females and non-Hispanics should put all federal contractors on notice that the Labor Department is serious about eliminating systemic discrimination.”

—Deputy Assistant Secretary Charles E. James Sr. of the Contract Compliance Programs for the U.S. Department of Labor. The DOL reached a settlement with Stuttgart, Ark.-based Producers Rice Mill Inc. over allegations that the company discriminated against 246 female and 363 non-Hispanic job applicants who sought work as machine operators or laborers. Producers Rice Mill agreed to pay the applicants $350,000 in back pay and interest, but admitted no wrongdoing. The company also will fill 41 machine operator and laborer positions from among those who were discriminated against, the Associated Press reported.