Two-thirds of Texans oppose the construction of new proposed coal-fired power plants, with 47% strongly opposing, while an overwhelming 81% reject Governor Perry’s executive order to fast-track the plants’ permits, according to a survey of 600 randomly selected Texas residents released Dec. 6 by the Environmental Integrity Project. The survey, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, a global polling organization, even addressed factors such as political party affiliation – finding that only 22% of Republicans favored Perry’s fast-tracking tactics. While 82% of respondents voiced concern about the increased health risks associated with the plants, 47% said they are “not aware at all” of Governor Perry’s fast-track orders. Additionally, 74% of Texans would prefer to see major conservation efforts undertaken to offset a significant portion of the electricity that’s required from the new coal plants, according to the study. “Texans do not want to see the state shortchange the deliberate review that should take place to determine what would be very serious environmental and health downsides of these needlessly dirty power sources,” said EIP Counsel Ilan Levin. Former EPA Regulatory Enforcement Director Eric Schaeffer founded the EIP in 2002 after he resigned in protest of Bush Administration efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws. “To say that Governor Perry has no mandate from the public for his plan to rubber stamp these dirty power plants may be the understatement of the year,” Levin said.

I'll admit I'd gotten burned out on my Dallas Cowboys blog. It seemed like I've been making the same lame jokes and obvious observations all season.

But last night, just like Ebenezer Scrooge, I was visited by three ghosts, but these spirits weren't concerned with the Christmas spirit. They were here to give me enough one-liners to fulfill the word count for my blog entry this week.

The following interview taught me two meaningful lessons: 1) Making obvious observations and lame jokes is what sports writing is all about and 2) They put the expiration date on cough syrup for a very good reason.

In her nearly forgotten capacity as state comptroller, Carole Keeton Strayhorn just released "Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Financial Analysis of the Impact to the State Budget and Economy." Strayhorn says it's the "first time any state has done a comprehensive financial analysis of the impact of undocumented immigrants on a state's budget and economy, looking at gross state product, revenues generated, taxes paid and the cost of state services."

Cutting to the juicy stuff, her statement continues: "The absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion. Undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, which exceeded the $1.16 billion in state services they received. However, local governments bore the burden of $1.44 billion in uncompensated health care costs and local law enforcement costs not paid for by the state."

The report is available at the comptroller's Web site here.

What? Another Inauguration?
Rick got elected,
Now he wants to have a ball.
Aw, do we have to?

Reality Bites
Unfortunately,
The date is already set.
There's no turning back.

Don't Forget Ice
This is all for Rick.
We mustn't disappoint him.
Pretend to have fun.

Xanax at Work
Who is Rick, anyway?
Just some guy in jeans and chaps.
He has pretty hair.

Our Future Governor?
Pretty much like Dewhurst.
Except Dewhurst is nicer.
And has more money.

Save the Date
Oh, about that ball.
It's January 16.
Why do I feel blue?

The Texas Country Reporter has been at it for a while; I remember seeing his down-home dispatches covering the state ever since I was a child. Well the show isn't resting on its laurels; they've got a pretty sizable YouTube presence, which is where we found this alternately alluring and terrifying video: a restaurant in Snook, Texas which serves chicken-fried bacon.

We repeat: Chicken. Fried. Bacon.

Citizen's communications today brought a bit of disheartening news: it sounded like perennial local candidate and homeless advocate Jennifer Gale announced she was moving to Dallas to run for mayor. With the Dem wave washing over Big D, hopefully her political fortunes will rise faster there. Probably not, but you never know. Hopefully she'll keep us apprised on her campaign Web site.

Here's another interesting bit of Galeanalia, from the world's most accurate encyclopedia (so take it with a grain of salt): In 2004, Leslie Cochran challenged Gale "to a debate at the University of Texas student union on the topic of who should best represent the homeless. Gale declined to participate unless given $50 of food from the Wendy's restaurant inside the union. The event organizers declined."

UPDATE: A reliable source emails that Gale moved here from the Big D, and has made her mayoral intentions known there before. It still doesn't make it any easier...

This year's Tiger achieves EA Sports' goals like no game before it. When I say this, however, I'm assuming that EA Sports' ultimate goal is to destroy my marriage.

In a brilliant move to trick me into playing this game with my wife, this year's model includes more multiplayer options than ever before. In addition to the usual tournaments, skins games, and Tiger Challenges you find in online and single-player modes, Tiger 07 offers several home-wrecking games apparently designed by divorce lawyers. The new One Ball mode requires you and your life partner to alternate shots on the same ball, pitting you in a hateful struggle to land the love of your life in a sand trap, so you can be the first to sink the putt.

For those of you jonesin' for more Mart, yours truly has a run-down of the council debate last week in Beside the Point, while Katherine Gregor traces the history and future of the controversial project in Developing Stories.

With Futrell recusing herself from the Wal-Mart case, due to "rumor" of a conflict of interest (some rumor), we hearken back to a quote from her earlier this year. Astute readers may remember that Bill Moriarty, former head of the Austin Clean Water Program, was ousted by Futrell over what she characterized as perception of a conflict of interest.

The offending passage, from the pages of the Chronicle (It should be noted this ran in Michael King's column less than a week after submission of the Northcross site plan, and Futrell's COI filing):

"Whatever the contractual details, Futrell said, it would appear to the public that "under the program that he manages, he was in a position to influence the hiring of the person that he was living with.

"To me," the city manager continued, "that raises a judgment issue, that raises a conflict of interest issue, and that raises a realm of influence issue. ... These are high-level principles with a whole host of ramifications." Faced with that apparent situation, says Futrell, the city had no choice but to go to Earth Tech and request that it replace Moriarty."

Familiar, no?

Pound Deuce McAllister between the tackles 26 times for 136 yards. Sprint Reggie Bush around the ends for 168 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns. Allow Drew Brees to relax into an efficient passing groove. Limit one of the league's top rushers, Frank Gore, to 40 ground yards and no touchdowns. Force an opposing quarterback into ill-advised throws, two of which are picked off by cornerback Mike McKenzie. Kick long and accurately, rack up return yards, and eat clock like popcorn shrimp in a runaway 34-10 victory against the San Francisco 49ers. It might be difficult for the New Orleans Saints to best the Dallas Cowboys this coming Sunday short the injured WR Joe Horn and the suspended DT Hollis Thomas, but best believe that all hired hands available will be gunning for that damned blue star.