Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 284, Ed. 1 Friday, December 14, 2012 Page: 3 of 12
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Sweetwater Reporter
Friday, December 14, 2012 ■ Page 3
'Cliff' crash may clear
way for deal in January
CHARLES RABINGTON
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - To get to "yes"
on a "fiscal cliff accord, Congress and
the White House first might have to get
to "no."
That is, an impasse that sends them
over the cliff by missing their Dec. 31
deadline to pass a major deficit-reduction
plan.
Such a breach would immediately
change the political dynamics, making
it easier for many lawmakers — espe-
cially Republicans — to agree to a second-
chance compromise in the new year.
This scenario strikes a good number
of Washington insiders as irresponsible
and improbable — who knows how the
markets will react? But others argue it
will be easier to round up the congressio-
nal votes needed for a big compromise if
the deadline passes and lawmakers rush
back to Washington next month under a
starkly new political reality.
The new landscape would allow
President Barack Obama to face his lib-
eral base — and, more importantly, let
House Republicans face their conserva-
tive constituents — and say in essence:
"See, I did the best I possibly could, and
it didn't work. The other side didn't blink.
Now everyone's taxes have gone up, and
it's time for compromise."
So long as there is even a day left to
negotiate, some hard-liners in both par-
ties will demand that their leaders hold
fast. Having the Dec. 31 deadline expire
would finally show there's no more time
to negotiate.
A number of lawmakers in both parties
say the fiscal cliff could actually become
a gentle slope, with the economic impact
quickly mitigated under circumstances
easier for Republicans to swallow.
"We can do something on the third of
January which isn't unreasonable," said
Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., a 20-year
House veteran. "And I think it'll pass the
Senate real quickly."
Here's why Kingston and others think
a deadline breach might make it easier to
reach a bipartisan compromise in early
2013:
First, income tax rates on virtually every
American will have risen automatically,
starting Jan. 1. Other levies, including a
payroll tax and estate taxes, also would
rise. And large spending cuts would start
affecting the military and many other
government programs.
The political debate has focused on
income tax rates, which most congres-
sional Republicans have vowed never to
raise. Obama campaigned on a pledge
to raise those rates on the wealthiest
Americans. He won the election, of course,
and new polls show most Americans sup-
port his view.
GOP lawmakers face a difficult choice.
To pass any bill that Obama seems likely
to sign, they must break their pledge by
agreeing to raise tax rates on high incomes
— such as those above $200,000 for indi-
viduals and $250,000 for couples.
If they refuse, and Obama doesn't back
down, the government goes over the cliff,
and everyone's taxes rise.
While negotiations on spending cuts
might be difficult, Obama and his fel-
low Democrats presumably would offer
Republicans the same tax-rate deal as
before: They'd push a bill that removes
the new tax hike on about 98 percent
of Americans — couples making below
$250,000 —while leaving the new
increase on the richest 2 percent.
Suddenly, Republicans would be able
to vote to cut taxes on the vast majority
of Americans. And they would not have
to raise taxes on anyone because the new,
higher rate on the wealthy would already
be the law.
Much has been written about how
this scenario would strengthen Obama's
negotiating hand.
Less remarked upon, however, is the
likelihood that the same scenario would
let scores of Republican lawmakers off
the political hook. They could honestly
tell their constituents they never voted to
raise tax rates on anyone.
John Feehery, who was a top aide to
former House Speaker Dennis Hastert,
R-Ill., said a breach of the Dec. 31 dead-
line is likely and useful. Lawmakers
"should agree to disagree for the rest of
the year, and then agree to agree early
in the new year," Feehery said. "It's far
easier to cut taxes than raise taxes. And if
they wait until next year, they can make
that happen fairly quickly."
Kingston, who has held GOP leadership
posts in the past, said simply allowing the
higher, Clinton-era tax rates to take effect
in Januaiy is not sustainable for either
party politically.
"But it keeps our guys from having to
vote for a tax increase," Kingston said,
and a new tax law cutting most of those
rates back could be enacted quickly.
Using the bureaucratic word for deep
spending cuts, Kingston added: "We also
get sequestration, which I don't think our
side is fearful about. The military gets the
brunt of it," he said, but its budgets have
grown dramatically in recent years.
A substantial number of GOP lawmak-
ers, however, strongly oppose deep mili-
tary spending cuts.
Republicans' continued stand against
higher tax rates for the wealthy bewilders
some Democrats, who say last month's
presidential election should have settled
the matter. But most House Republicans
come from districts where they won re-
election easily, and Obama lost to Mitt
Romney.
The only realistic way these GOP law-
makers can lose future elections is by
being ousted in a Republican primary by
a hard-right challenger who vows to be
even less compromising with Democrats.
Their instincts for sell preservation are
stronger than their inclinations to protect
the Republican Party's overall image.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Georgia
Republican who was among the first to
join the tea party caucus in 2010, said the
idea that reaching a compromise will be
easier after Jan. 1 is "certainly being dis-
cussed over breakfasts and lunches and
dinners" in Washington.
"Some people don't believe the fiscal
cliff is going to be as bad as what they
say," he said, referring to economists and
administration officials.
Westmoreland said he opposes any tax
increase "until we stop spending." He
said he might support higher government
revenues if they are packaged with seri-
ous spending cuts.
"That's a lot to ask for" between now
and Dec. 31, he said.
Amarillo orthodontist
admits to Medicaid scheme
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A West Texas
orthodontist has pleaded guilty to improp-
erly billing the state Medicaid program for
millions of dollars.
The Amarillo Globe-News reports that
Michael David Goodwin pleaded guilty
Thursday to one count of health care fraud.
The 63-year-old Goodwin faces up to 10
years.
An investigation by authorities showed
that Goodwin was billing Medicaid for
work done by dental assistants and booking
patients at 10-minute increments, pushing
them to rush treatments. He also billed
for work he supposedly did at his Amarillo
office on days that flight records showed he
was in Indiana.
Goodwin admitted filing $2.6 million in
billings, some of which were not medically
necessary, for at least four years starting in
2008.
Prosecutors have moved to dismiss relat-
ed charges against Goodwin’s wife and
office manager.
Feds: Four Texas officers
guarded cocaine shipments
CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
Associated Press
MCALLEN, Texas (AP) - Three South
Texas lawmen, including the son of a
prominent county sheriff, were due in
court Friday on charges alleging that
they and another officer accepted thou-
sands of dollars in bribes to guard ship-
ments of cocaine.
Mission police officer Alexis Rigoberto
Espinoza, the fourth alleged conspirator
who is himself the 29-year-old son of a
police chief, made an initial appearance
in federal court in McAllen on Thursday
on two counts of cocaine possession with
intent to distribute.
His fellow Mission officer, 29-year-
old Jonathan Trevino, whose father is
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino, was
due in court Friday along with two of his
father’s deputies, Fabian Rodriguez, 28,
and Gerardo Duran, 30. All three were
taken into custody Thursday, when fed-
eral prosecutors announced the charges
that have sent shockwaves through the
area’s law enforcement community.
Prosecutors say the four were mem-
bers of the “Panama Unit,” a task force
comprised of officers from their two
departments tasked with fighting drug
trafficking. Instead of combatting the
drug trade, prosecutors say the four pro-
vided protection for it.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos
set Espinoza’s bail at $100,000 during
Thursday’s hearing and ordered him to
remain under house arrest with elec-
tronic monitoring if he should make
bail. She denied his request for a court-
appointed attorney.
Espinoza’s father, Hidalgo Police
Chief Rodolfo “Rudy” Espinoza, did
not respond to phone messages seeking
comment. Nobody from his department
is accused of wrongdoing.
Jonathan Trevino’s attorney did not
immediately respond to a call for com-
ment and it wasn’t known if the other
two had lawyers.
Lupe Trevino said he is cooperating
fully with the federal investigation and
conducting his own internal review, but
he added that he also has responsibili-
ties as a father.
“It’s been devastating to our family,
devastating to the organization,” said
Lupe Trevino, who as sheriff has accused
certain state officials of making Texas’
border region sound like a war zone.
“I have to support my son because he
is my son. But I will make sure that the
right thing is being done and I’m meet-
ing my obligations,” Lupe Trevino said.
“Nothing is being covered up. I’m being
very open with eveiything.”
The sheriff said the FBI came to his
office around 3 p.m. Wednesday to tell
him two of his deputies were targets of
an investigation and that his son was,
as well. He said the Panama Unit was
formed more than three years ago to
help Mission clean up its street-level
drug crime, and that he couldn’t com-
ment on the specifics of the case because
it wasn’t his investigation.
Federal prosecutors say the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
department that conducts internal
reviews received a tip in August about
Espinoza and another task force mem-
ber stealing drugs. Local police are often
assigned to multiagency task forces
focusing on drug interdiction. Federal
investigators set up a sting.
According to prosecutors, a confiden-
tial source working for the government
told Duran in September that the drug
trafficking organization he was work-
ing for needed corrupt law enforcement
officers to escort drug loads. On Oct. 19,
Duran and another individual escort-
ed a load of 20 kilograms of cocaine
north from McAllen to the Border Patrol
checkpoint in Falfurrias about an hour
away. Duran was allegedly paid $4,000,
they said.
The officers earned thousands of dol-
lars more for allegedly escorting four
more cocaine shipments in November
that were part of the sting operation,
prosecutors contend.
The complaint said all four “utilized
their positions as law enforcement per-
sonnel to escort and protect loads of
narcotics.” Nothing in the charging doc-
uments accuses them of stealing drugs,
which was the original tip.
Mission Police Chief Martin Garza
said Thursday that Jonathan Trevino
was the only officer from his depart-
ment assigned to the Panama Unit and
that Espinoza was assigned to an ICE
task force that had its own supervisor.
The prosecutor’s office didn’t immedi-
ately respond to an after-hours message
Thursday seeking clarification on the
matter.
Garza said both officers were fired
Thursday. The FBI visited his office late
Wednesday afternoon to advise him of
their investigation and to collect docu-
ments related to it. Garza said he coop-
erated fully and his department would
conduct its own investigation.
If the allegations against his officers
are proven, Garza said cases they worked
on would have to be reviewed with the
district attorney. “There’s going to be a
domino effect,” he said.
Associated Press writer Nomaan
Merchant in Dallas contributed to this
report.
Texas teen inmate
eludes guards
during transfer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)
— Authorities are search-
ing for a 16-year-old state
inmate who — while shack-
led — eluded guards by
wriggling through a fence
hole and jumping onto a
passing train.
The Austin American-
Statesman reports that the
teen was serving time for a
robbery and being taken to
a maximum-security facility
near Waco. Texas Juvenile
Justice Department spokes-
man Jim Hurley says the
teen told the guards he was
feeling sick, so the guards
stopped the van in San
Antonio and let him out so
he could vomit.
The teenager snuck
through a hole in the fence
and fled. He jumped onto
a slow-moving work train
passing by.
By the time authorities
stopped the train, the teen
had disappeared.
He remained at large
Thursday night.
FBC, continued from Page 1
will be performed by Jaden Doggett. Other special
soloists in the program include Mollie Bedgood, Jenny
Doggett, Dr. Robert Eaker, and Susan Woods.
Glen Bedgood is in charge of the drama and has been
working with the actors, and since late September,
Woods has been working with the choir on the music.
Some traditional music is included, but most of the
songs featured in the program are new for Christmas.
"My desire [for the event] is that people will be
encouraged to remember that there are moments in life
where another chance is warranted and granted," said
Woods, "if we will but give God and others a chance."
The program is free of charge, and all are invited
to come and enjoy this Christmas event. First Baptist
Church is located at 213 E. Third Street in Sweetwater.
RPMH, continued from Page 1
the chance to meet Santa and walk away with a photo to
cherish the afternoon,” said Donna Boatright, admin-
istrator at RPMH. “Our volunteers and team members
have been very appreciative of the local community, and
this is just another of example of our outreach initia-
tives as a way to express our gratitude for having such
outstanding support.”
“An Afternoon with Santa” will take place on Dec. 15,
2012, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., at the east entrance
to RPMH. The event is free to all visitors. For more
information, please call the hospital at 325-235-1701
ext. 220.
Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital provides healthcare
for those in the communities they serve. Founded in
1976, Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital offers a wealth
of medical services including: 24 hour emergency care,
advanced radiology services including CT scanning and
MRIs, outpatient lab, physical therapy, surgical services,
swing bed services, patient education, home health and
assistive services, and more. For additional information,
please visit www.rpmh.net.
Texas DPS opens two
more 'megacenters'
SPRING, Texas (AP) — Two more Department of Public
Safety "megacenters" are open with hopes of shortening
wait times and lessening strain on drivers.
DPS opened facilities Thursday in the Houston-area
cities of Spring and Rosenberg. Both are 24,000 square
feet and equipped to handle hundreds of customers each
day. Self-service kiosks let customers enter their cellphone
numbers and get a text message with their expected wait
times.
The Texas Legislature last year budgeted $63 million for
six "megacenters." One was already open in Pflugerville.
Three more are scheduled to open next month.
Tom Butler of Conroe waited about an hour in Spring for
his son to finish renewing his expired license. Afterward,
he marveled to the Houston Chronicle that his waiting time
"was two minutes, not two months."
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Friend: Texas plane
crash victim won flight
DALLAS (AP) — Family and friends are mourning the
death of a 30-year-old Dallas-area man who won the
chance to fly in a plane that crashed in North Texas.
A family friend of Fisher Floyd tells The Dallas Morning
News that Floyd won at an auction the chance to fly in a
single-engine L-29 Delfin plane with 77-year-old Noell
Rather, an experienced former commercial pilot.
Neither Floyd nor Rather survived the crash Thursday
morning in Kaufman County near Scurry, about 30 miles
southeast of Dallas.
The newspaper reports Floyd attended high school in
Highland Park, an enclave within Dallas’ city limits. He has
two young sons, ages 1 and 2.
A friend of Rather’s says he spent years restoring the
Soviet-era plane he was flying Thursday.
Court rejects appeal of
Texas man in tors death
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — An appeals court has
upheld a Corpus Christi man’s capital murder conviction
for the death of his girlfriend’s toddler son.
The 13th Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas on Thursday
rejected an appeal from 23-year-old J.J. Garza. Garza was
convicted last year of beating 21-month-old Texas Ruiz to
death.
Garza is serving life without parole for the boy’s death.
An autopsy showed the boy was hit in the head and torso.
A Child Protective Services investigator testified at Garza’s
trial that agency workers suspected child abuse before the
boy was killed.
Investigators say the boy’s mother, Lorraine Rodriguez,
called 911 to say that her son had a seizure, then hit his
head. Rodriguez later confessed that she made up the stoiy
to protect her boyfriend.
MIDDAY ON WALL STREET
Today’s Trading
Change
DOW
13,173.20
+2.48
NASDAQ
2,977.15
-14.79
S&P
1,415.59
-3.82
General Motors
25.00
-0.12
Ford Motor Co.
11.24
-0.03
AT&T
34.39
+0.07
Pepsico, Inc.
70.09
-0.12
USG Corp.
25.93
+0.02
Archer-Daniels
27.14
-0.01
GE
21.66
+0.04
Deere & Co.
86.47
+0.92
McDonalds Corp.
89.22
+0.05
Chevron Texaco
108.08
+0.17
Exxon Mobil
88.23
-0.35
Fst. Fin. Bnkshs.
39.70
-0.13
Coca-Cola
37.63
+0.03
Dell
10.53
UNCH
SW Airlines
10.32
+0.18
Microsoft
26.96
-0.15
Sears Holdings Co.
42.62
+0.21
Cisco
19.80
+0.06
Wal-Mart
69.12
+0.08
Johnson & Johnson
70.67
-0.08
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 284, Ed. 1 Friday, December 14, 2012, newspaper, December 14, 2012; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth851164/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.