Make it RAIN!

JBaylo agrees with an article in the Austin American Statesman, written by David Barer on the new rainwater collection systems that homeowners are now installing around their properties, in order to conserve water. For some people “with no municipal or well-water supply…rainwater is more than just a way to collect extra water…it’s a way of life,” homeowner Billy Kniffen explains. Mr. Kniffen, vice president of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association managed to live off only rainwater they collected which was about 5.5 inches per year.

Over the past years, Texas and many other states dealing with serious droughts are looking towards ways to conserve water, and it looks like with rain water can be that substitute. Not only can you live off rain water, but The City of Austin offers rebates of 50 cents for every gallon of non-pressurized storage and $1 for every gallon of a pressurized system up to $5,000! Being that there is no sales tax on water collection equipment the homeowners associations does not have the authority to ban installations of systems stated by David Barer. With people becoming more engaged in “rainwater harvesting” gain a greater appreciation for a natural resource and understand its true value.

With the size of rainwater collections growing, the Texas Water Development Board has created the outlay for systems that can range from 55-gallon barrel to full-roof systems. The water board runs and oversees states water plans, funds water projects, and collects water data for the public. The state water plan has identified water conservation as one of Texas more important water management strategies for the next 50 years. “Rainwater harvesting is a part of Texas fabric,” Arroyo said.

 In the years to come rainwater conservation is predicted to be 25 percent of Texas water supply, this will likely increase awareness and eventually added into home designs lowering the overall cost. JBaylo is correct in saying that the advertisement is not well enough to the public but as droughts become more frequent, people will be looking for other ways to receive water and this can be the key. If these methods were advertised on rebates and tax breaks more people would invest not only for the benefits, but for the value its worth in the long with natural resource that can eventually run out at any given time.

Planned Parenthood Down the Drain

An article in the Austin Chronicle written by Jordan Smith stated that with Planned Parenthood out of the Texas, the cost of serving patients actually increased while the family planning budget took a tremendous decrease not only in funding but also in patients. According to the Department of StateHealth records, “The state served just 75,160 family planning clients during the 2012 fiscal year,” compared to the 200,000 clients served in 2011. With 63% decrease in clientele, these uninsured women are not able to receive the basic health care from family planning services. The cost of clients increased about 15%, “from an average of roughly $206 per client in year 2011 to nearly $237 per client in 2012,” says Jordan Smith.

The cause of the increase in family planning budget was due to the major decrease in budget done by Texas Lawmakers ironically on April fool’s Day of 2011. Lawmakers decided to take money that was saved for the FederalTitle X money which was dedicated to family planning but now has been abolished. The only money that the family planning budget has now is nearly $18 million in 2012 from a whopping $60 million in 2011 YIKES! The program was designed to exclude Planned Parenthood which happens to provide the largest number of family planning providers for the least amount of money per client but is now debarred.

Due to the new funding matrix that was created, majority of these family planning clinics where shut out from receiving and Title X funding, in favor of first funding “federally qualified health center” that typically cost more because of rank. Spokeswomen Christie Mann stated in an email that cost increase in 2012 is not related to the new funding but rather the “agencies have started to decrease their capacity and/or size due to budget cuts.” Christie Mann feels that this will resolve itself over time and cost should return to previous levels.

I feel that if we keep neglecting a large part of America who needs the health care that is affordable, this will come around and affect health care centers that will not be able make their quota for clients or members. Planned Parenthood was a good thing for the state of Texas and now that it’s taken away, just another entitlement Americans are stripped from due to greediness.