Thanks to the members at RGV forum for pointing out that the HEB foodstore chain is planning a trial wind energy project in Weslaco. As far as I can tell the story was first reported in The Monitor in February.
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and Congressman Henry Cuellar addressed the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. It was nice to see bipartisan support for an issue that directly affects our Valley’s economy. (Photos of the event are our photogallery page today). Secretary Gutierrez admitted to the audience that the border fence will not work to solve the problems of illegal immigration but that it has become of symbol of the government’s willingness to do something about illegal immigration. He noted that Texas is now the number one exporting state and that the exports are now responsible for 12 % of real GDP. Congressman Cuellar stated we should be building bridges not fences and is sponsoring a 5 billion dollar program to improve border infrastructure.
At a time when the Federal Government is extremely overburdened, I cannot understand the rush to build the Border Fence. It seems no reasonable person expects it to be of any benefit save perhaps for the lucky construction contractors who get to build it.
Some folks in Congress are flexing their muscles and basically have vetoed the proposed Columbian free trade deal. It does not matter that Columbia is the United States number one friend in South America or that developing their economy is the only way to reduce the influence of the drug cartels. Many Texas companies including some in the Rio Grande Valley are going to be directly negatively affected. When Democratic presidential candidates where in Texas they avoided saying what they are saying in other parts of the country that they want to kill NAFTA. I am afraid this could be the first step.