S3 E4: Special Districts, 2016 Election & Texas Republicans: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

02 Jul 2024 (6 months ago)

Republican Party in Disarray

Donald Trump continues to win primaries, causing prominent Republicans to publicly criticize him.
Trump made a crude reference to his penis during a presidential debate in response to criticism of his hands.

Robert Morrow, who made vulgar and offensive statements, was elected in local elections in Texas.
Mary Lou Brunner, who holds extreme views on global warming and evolution, was also elected.

Lands' End featured an interview with feminist Gloria Steinem in its spring catalog, sparking backlash from both pro-life and pro-choice customers.
The clothing company has since apologized.

Special Districts are small units of government with the power to collect taxes for a specific purpose.
There are about 40,000 Special Districts in the country, accounting for approximately $100 billion in annual spending.
These districts often lack public awareness and understanding, leading to insufficient accountability and oversight.
Some Special Districts have been found to be corrupt or wasteful, resulting in the misuse or theft of taxpayer funds.
The lack of oversight can cause issues such as inconsistent water billing, misspending of funds, and even corruption.

Special Districts are small governments created to provide a specific service and collect taxes for that purpose.
They are often referred to as "ghost governments" due to their lack of oversight.
Special Districts can be easily established, sometimes with only two people voting.
Dissolving these districts is challenging, and they may continue to exist indefinitely.

Some states are working to reform Special Districts to enhance transparency and accountability.
Special Districts can be problematic when they fail to deliver adequate services or are not held responsible for their actions.