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press Archive for: August 2006
Not All Hat
posted by snarko on August 28 2006
by Jeff :: Aransas County Democratic Clubhouse
Underneath the hat and vest is a true Texan. David Van Os says rural, small town Texas is being left behind in the political process, which is why he plans on visiting all 254 county courthouses in Texas in his bid for Attorney General of Texas. On August 9th, Van Os made the Aransas County courthouse the 124th visit in his whistle-stop tour of Texas.
According to David, political consultants and pundits measure success according to how much fundraising a candidate can do instead of their values. "And the greed for money is a poison that has corrupted our entire political system," says Van Os. In his mind, the large corporate donors are buying protection from the candidates who then ignore their sworn duty to meet the people's needs.
David promises to investigate the major oil companies for violations of the Texas anti-trust statutes, which are even older than the federal anti-trust laws. Other states are filing suits against these oil companies and Van Os believes that Texas should lead the way to protect citizens from high energy prices caused by mergers that have reduced competition. "There is a difference between reasonable profit in a healthy free enterprise system and greed gone crazy," says David, "and that's the monopoly power we're under now. Everybody knows this."
David vows to go after the big oil companies on behalf of the people of Texas after he is sworn in. Counties are struggling to make their budgets in the face of rising energy costs. These high costs are causing reductions in police patrols, EMS, and other services. It is a real threat to our public safety and economic wellbeing.
David points out that the same anti-trust statutes can be used to go after the large insurance companies to ensure that Texans pay a fair price for their homeowners insurance. "We have the power to fight back," he says. He also claims that the incumbent has done nothing on the big picture issue of monopoly power because he is bought and paid for by corporate donations. "People all over this state know that government has been stolen," says Van Os.
Now David's opponent is way ahead of him on fundraising, but he says the most important thing he needs is our votes. Yes he needs our votes but I'm not going to be shy. If you can spare a few bills, please go to [http://vanosfortexasag.com/cont/] for David and make a donation to his campaign so he can get the word out to more citizens. You'll feel better for it.
ORIGINAL POST >>
Federal judge orders Abbott to explain X-ray evidence seizure
posted by snarko on August 24 2006
AG's office says grand juries subpoenaed it
by Terrence Stutz :: The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – A federal judge has ordered Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to explain why his office seized thousands of X-rays that are evidence in a federal investigation of potentially fraudulent silicosis lawsuits filed by alleged victims of the lung disease.
David Van Os, the Democratic nominee for attorney general challenging Mr. Abbott this year, said the records dispute is a very serious matter. He noted that armed agents for the attorney general threatened the depository supervisor with arrest if he didn't turn over the records.
"Greg Abbott is a lawyer and officer of the courts," Mr. Van Os said. "Seizing court records from the court's storage facility without consulting the presiding judge demonstrated a shocking level of arrogance and disrespect."
FULL STORY >>
Federal judge blasts Texas attorney general for seizing X-rays
posted by snarko on August 22 2006
The Associated Press
A federal judge scolded Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott when she found out important evidence in the investigation into potentially fraudulent diagnoses of the lung disease silicosis had disappeared after he seized documents from a Corpus Christi storage facility, a newspaper reported Friday.
U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack rebuked Abbott on Aug. 11 for sending four armed agents to take thousands of X-rays from a private company storing the records for the federal court, The New York Sun reported.
"The arrogance of taking those documents from a federal court-supervised depository is astounding," the newspaper quoted Jack as saying during a conference call with lawyers involved in the case. "The attorney general of the state of Texas has exhibited a total disregard for the rule of law by doing this."
Jack, based in Corpus Christi, made national news last year when she recommended throwing out all but one of about 10,000 silicosis lawsuits because the diagnoses appeared "manufactured for money" to help plaintiffs. Her findings spawned investigations by a congressional committee, federal prosecutors in New York and Abbott.
Court records show Abbott's aides went to the Corpus Christi facility on June 23 and used a grand jury subpoena to seize all the original X-rays gathered by Jack's court.
Jack learned of the seizure on July 5 and ordered Abbott's office to return the documents by noon the following day, according to the court records. The state returned about 40 boxes, but the custodian of the records said last week that 152 X-rays had disappeared.
"All I can say is I can vouch to the court that this office does not have those X-rays," Assistant Attorney General Lance Kutnick told Jack, according to an audio recording of the session.
He added that he had concerns about taking the records but said the decision "was made way above my level." He said he did not know who made the decision.
Abbott spokesman Jerry Strickland said the records were seized through valid subpoenas issued by two Texas grand juries as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
"All records were returned to the document repository," he said.
Jack said she knew about the state's probe but nobody told her about plans to seize records. She ordered that the Justice Department and appropriate lawmakers be told about the situation, saying "it may be a criminal matter."
New York University law professor Stephen Gillers said a basic principal of American law is that federal courts have supremacy over state government actions.
Abbott's actions were "unprecedented in my experience or memory because no one would think to do something like it," Gillers said. "It gives whole new meaning to the phrase 'Wild West.'"
The X-rays are crucial to the fraud investigations because some doctors diagnosed the same person with both silicosis, which is caused by exposure to airborne particles of finely ground sand, and asbestosis, a disease the stems from exposure to asbestos fibers.
Jack and some of the defendants in the lawsuits argue that the so-called dual diagnoses are evidence of fraud because the conditions are rarely found together. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said many of the diagnoses could be legitimate.
Silicosis Judge Erupts in Fury In Case of the Missing X-Rays
posted by snarko on August 22 2006
by Josh Gerstein :: The New York Sun
Evidence key to ongoing investigations of alleged fraud in silicosis-related litigation has gone missing from a repository in Texas, fueling a bitter row between a federal judge and the state's attorney general.
Judge Janis Jack excoriated the office of Texas's top lawman, Greg Abbott, for sending four armed agents to seize thousands of X-rays last month from a private company in Corpus Christi holding the records on behalf of the federal court, The New York Sun has learned.
"The arrogance of taking those documents from a federal court-supervised depository is astounding," an audibly seething Judge Jack said during a conference call last Friday with lawyers involved in the case. "The attorney general of the state of Texas has exhibited a total disregard for the rule of law by doing this."
Last year, Judge Jack drew national attention when she issued an opinion saying the vast majority of the more than 10,000 silicosis lawsuits consolidated before her were "manufactured for money." She noted that the same dozen doctors diagnosed 9,000 cases of the serious lung ailment. In many cases, the physicians had not seen the patients and relied solely on reading X-rays. Trial lawyers had hoped that silicosis cases would yield billion-dollar paydays like those in asbestos litigation.
The judge's findings triggered investigations by a congressional committee, federal prosecutors in New York, and the Texas attorney general.
According to court records, Mr. Abbott's aides appeared at the Corpus Christi depository on June 23 and used a grand jury subpoena to seize all of the original X-rays gathered by Judge Jack's court.
Silicosis case X-rays are missing
posted by snarko on August 21 2006
Judge, AG's office battle over seizure, inventory results
by Jaime Powell :: Caller-Times
U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack is incensed at Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for seizing X-rays, some of which are now missing, that are key to federal and state investigations into potentially fraudulent diagnoses of the lung disease silicosis.
Jack made national headlines last year when she issued an opinion that the majority of more than 10,000 silicosis lawsuits before her were about litigation rather than medical care and that the "diagnoses were driven neither by health nor justice: they were manufactured for money."
Abbott's office, along with a congressional committee and the U.S. Attorney's Office, have been investigating since.
Four armed agents from Abbott's office visited the storage facility where thousands of X-rays related to the case were being housed on behalf of the federal court with a subpoena June 23, threatening to arrest the storage supervisor if he did not turn them over.
When Jack learned July 5 that the state attorney general's office had removed the X-rays, she ordered the office to return them by noon the following day, according to court records.
Forty boxes of X-rays came back, but an inventory by records custodian Gary Cosgrove showed that 152 X-rays are missing.
"Let me tell you that real, real clearly. It may be a criminal matter, and we're going to have to turn this over to the appropriate people," Jack said during an Aug. 11 telephone hearing that included representatives from Abbott's office. "The arrogance of taking those documents from a federal court supervised depository is astounding. You all took documents that did not belong to you, under - with armed guards."
The state attorney general's office says it had a right to the records and that there was not enough of a system in place to track the documents or to tell when something was missing, according to transcripts of the Aug. 11 hearing.
While in state custody, the X-rays were kept under lock and key, said Jerry Strickland, the attorney general's spokesman.
"The office of the attorney general is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation," he said. "Two Texas grand juries issued criminal subpoenas ordering that records be turned over to investigators from the office of the attorney general. Relevant records were produced pursuant to valid grand jury subpoenas, and all records were returned to the document repository."
In the transcript of the Aug. 11 hearing, Cosgrove explained that the inventory was conducted by comparing the X-rays returned by the attorney general's office with an Excel spreadsheet prepared jointly by plaintiffs and defendants. He says 152 of them are missing.
Lance Kutnick, an attorney for the state, said during the same hearing that while he signed the subpoena for the X-rays, he did not know who initiated the order.
Kutnick also said the attorney general's office does not have the X-rays.
"Well, I imagine they don't," Judge Jack replied. "But in the meantime, because of what you've done, they're gone. And these are people's personal X-rays that are absolutely vital to investigations of this case, vital to the people involved in the case. And because of the Attorney General of the State of Texas' malfeasance they're gone."
[snarko! poster note: bold mine; not author's]
Van Os campaigning against big oil 'robber barons'
posted by snarko on August 20 2006
by Alyson Henigan :: Boerne Star
Kendall County was stop No. 127 for Democratic candidate for Attorney General David Van Os.
The Kilgore native, with his cowboy hat and vest, plans to visit all 254 Texas counties before the November election in what he is calling a "whistle-stop tour".
A small crowd gathered in front of the courthouse Thursday morning to hear Van Os' plans for the Attorney General's office.
Van Os stood on the courthouse steps and spoke in a booming voice about his disgust with big oil companies whom he called "modern day robber barons and power grabbers."
"There is no middle class Texan who likes being pillaged and preyed on by big oil companies," he said.
"Yes," said some members of the crowd as they clapped.
"In my first month in office, I am going to issue investigative subpoenas to the CEOs of the big oil companies," he said, as the crowd cheered louder. "We are living under a reign of greed. The Attorney General is the person who is supposed to step on toes no matter how big they are. Get ready because I am coming after you, big oil."
Van Os, who owns and manages David Van Os & Associates, P.C., in San Antonio, promised the crowd that, if elected, he will also take on big insurance companies and keep the Trans-Texas Corridor from “tearing up hundreds of thousands of acres of Texas farmland.”
"I'm not going to let a bunch of arrogant politicians and bureaucrats tear up our farmland so they can cater to the greed of fat cats who gave huge campaign contributions," he said. "As Attorney General, I'll fight this land grab 'til hell freezes over, then I'll fight it on the ice."
Van Os said incumbent and AG Greg Abbott is "nothing but a partisan Rick Perry mouthpiece."
"I want to be the people of Texas' lawyer," he said. "I am going to fight tooth and nail on behalf of the people of this state, and when I am done, Texas will not be a safe place for them (oil companies and arrogant politicians) and their kind. Time is overdue for justice for the people of this state."
Van Os has practiced law for 29 specializing in labor law. He is married to Rachel Barrios-Van Os and they have four children.
AG candidate to visit Sweetwater
posted by snarko on August 15 2006
Sweetwater Reporter
Texas Attorney General candidate David Van Os will speak at the Nolan County Courthouse at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17.
Van Os, who is the Democratic Party nominee for the state post, is traveling across Texas and plans to speak at each county courthouse. The stop in Nolan County will be his 146th of the trip.
He was born and raised in Kilgore, and attended the University of Texas on a scholarship, and received his law degree from UT in 1976. He was named a Texas "Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He now owns his own law firm in San Antonio, where he champions constitutional law, labor and civil rights.
Van Os is in the midst of his 254 county "Whistle-Stop" tour of Texas, and it is his desire to take his message to small town, rural Texas where he believes the roots of populism still survive.
Attorney General candidate visits Brazoria county
posted by snarko on August 14 2006
by Velda Hunter :: The Facts
ANGLETON - The campaign trail led a man in a cowboy hat and a pair of shades to the steps of the Brazoria County Courthouse to tout his plan to stand up to the big oil companies.
David Van Os, the Democrat challenger trying to unseat Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, spoke before a small crowd Friday.
The Kilgore native met a few new faces and shook hands as he rallied to gain support on a quest to become the state's attorney general.
Calling himself the "people's lawyer," Van Os spoke about the "special mystique" of Texas and its historic plight for constitutional democracy and system of checks and balances.
The people of Texas have always said no to monopoly power, but "we are living under a reign of greed," Van Os said before speaking about oil companies and gas prices that are reaching $3 a gallon.
At Exxon Mobil, net profits for the second quarter of 2006 were $10.7 billion, Van Os said. Oil companies are profiting while Texans are struggling to figure out how to make their paychecks stretch to cover rising gasoline costs, he said.
"The oil companies are killing us," Van Os said, later adding there is a difference between healthy, free enterprise and greed run wild.
"They want us to think there is nothing anybody can do about it," he said. But he referred to Article 1, Section 26, of the Texas Constitution, "that monopolies are contrary to the genius of free government and shall never be allowed."
He spoke of states initiating antitrust investigations of oil companies before holding one of his campaign posters that gave a notice to Big Oil, "I’m coming after you."
Osgood briefly spoke before Friday's sunny skies threatened to drop rain on everyone standing outdoors. The stop was No. 130 on his Whistlestop Tour of the state's 254 counties.
Currently, Van Os is owner and senior attorney of a San Antonio law firm of four attorneys specializing in constitutional law, labor law and civil rights.
Kay Mudd, who stepped down Saturday as chair of the Brazoria County Democratic Party, said she agreed with Van Os, who also briefly spoke about high insurance premiums. "The oil companies are just bleeding us dry," Mudd said. "I think he'll be an excellent attorney general."
Alvin resident Dick Tyson also was among the group gathered at the south steps of the courthouse. Tyson called Van Os very knowledgeable, and he looked at what the job entails.
"The campaigning traditionally starts on Labor Day, but people are getting into position now," Tyson said.
Other planned stops Friday for Van Os included courthouses in Matagorda and Jackson counties, according to his itinerary.
Public and politicians blast corridor project
posted by snarko on August 11 2006
by Sally Long :: Victoria Advocate
The candidate for attorney general commended the TxDOT staff for the professional and courteous way they handled their responsibilities during the meeting knowing they are dealing with something very unpopular with the public.
Then he blasted the project itself.
"This project, if followed through and completed as planned, will be one of the biggest single exercises of forcible eminent domain in the history of the entire United States," said Van Os. "We are talking about 1/2 million acres of private property, mostly good farm and ranch land. If this huge thing goes through, no eminent domain project will be off limits. It will be a big green light. Private property will lose its sovereignty. This forcible eminent domain will destroy the proper balance between the individual and government with respect to the individual's ability to control his or her own property." Van Os urged those in attendance to fight against the proposal, which he called the "first leg of a NAFTA highway."
"There is no legislation that can't be repealed, and no politician that can't be fired at election time," said Van Os. "This thing has got to be stopped. It will destroy many things that are precious to us. We're going to stop this. I know we're going to stop it. I urge you my fellow citizens to fight this dad gum thing till hell freezes over if you have to. Fight it and beat it."
Van Os' wife, Rachel, gave perhaps the most dramatic display of the possible affect of the proposed corridor as she ripped a Texas map along the proposed route.
"I urge y'all to stand and fight for your rights and save beautiful Texas," she said.
FULL STORY >>
Dem Rumbles into East Texas
posted by snarko on August 6 2006
by Adam J. Holland :: East Texas Review
"This century has become a new age of robber barons," referring to large oil companies such as Exxon and Mobil that have conjoined. "We, in Texas, don't put up with monopolies from corporate robber barons." ~ Van Os, the Democrat contender for Texas attorney general.
If David Van Os was exhausted from the searing heat and his constant travel up and down the Texas highways last week, he certainly didn't show it during a campaign stop in Longview late Thursday afternoon.
Van Os, the Democrat contender for Texas attorney general - and an unconcealed quotesmith - offered a small Gregg County Courthouse crowd a monologue reminiscent of some unforgettable political orators, such as H. Ross Perot or Ann Richards. And like his glad-handing predecessors, Van Os didn't mince his words.
"This century has become a new age of robber barons," Van Os said, referring to large oil companies such as Exxon and Mobil that have conjoined. "We, in Texas, don't put up with monopolies from corporate robber barons."
On his choice of words, Van Os said "I don't know what else you can call it when millions of Texans are struggling to pay three dollars (per gallon) for gasoline."
Claiming that Exxon-Mobil is recording $3 billion in monthly net profits for the past year because of an illegal monopoly, Van Os surmised that most people "can hardly comprehend" that amount of money. "Just one billion minutes ago, George Washington was president. But if you go back 36 billion minutes, no city had ever been built."
Van Os, who calls himself "the people's lawyer," pledged that a fight for lower gas prices would immediately ensue, should Texans elect him as their next state attorney. He also promised to "go after" insurance companies.
"I'm giving fair notice (to big oil and insurance companies), because I don't want to surprise anybody," Van Os declared. "In my first week in office, the investigative subpoenas are going to be served on oil and insurance company executives."
To the joy of the small group of backers on the courthouse steps, Van Os went on to say "If I have to, I'll fight them until hell freezes over, and then I'll fight them on ice."
Van Os was also quite vocal about the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor; a 4,000 mile network of superhighways which proponents hope will increase trade with Mexico.
"I'm not going to put up with a bunch of arrogant politicians and bureaucrats tearing up hundreds and thousands of acres of good Texas farmland so they can cater to the greed of fat cats who gave huge campaign contributions."
Van Os' visit to Longview did not consist entirely of politics. In fact, the Kilgore native introduced onlookers to Tim Propes, a high school classmate with whom he paired to win the 1968 district tennis doubles championship.
Gregg County was Van Os' 99th stop on his 254-county "Whistle Stop Tour" through Texas.
Van Os campaigns in Angelina County
posted by snarko on August 6 2006
by Billy Longino :: Diboll Free Press
As the morning sun rises and glistens between the trees around the Angelina County Courthouse on June 22 people gather and wait. They wait for a man with big ideas: David Van Os, Democrat running for Texas Attorney General.
Van Os arrives with wife, Rachel, and two daughters in tow, wearing a cowboy hat and a smile as he greets the people who stand waiting. Immediately upon arrival he confronts every person with a handshake and words of kindness. At this point one could not guess at the passion that lay behind his eyes.
As Van Os mounts the courthouse steps his demeanor changes from the friendliness to a fiery passion for his views and ideas. He opens with an appropriate quote from Abraham Lincoln, "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country… Corporations have been enthroned, an era of
corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
Van Os's ideas and views reflect this quote. He travels from courthouse to courthouse in an old-fashioned grass roots campaign to get his message across to the people of Texas.
According to Van Os, that message is "I am the people's lawyer." Van Os claims to fight for the working class against big oil, big insurance and other "corporate and political elites who are rampaging against democracy." Van Os says he is on a 254 county campaign with the goal of "taking back Texas by taking it to the people." His supporters wave signs and applaud his every statement.
In November Van Os will face Republican incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott. While some political experts give Van Os little chance of winning against the Republican Abbott, it seems that nothing can dissuade Van Os when his sights are set on a goal.
As Van Os continued to speak on the courthouse steps more people began to gather to hear his words. The crowd was lively and attentive. Van Os's campaign seeks to reach out the working people of the state. With no major television advertisements to attempt to persuade the people with timeless rhetoric and mudslinging, Van Os prefers to meet the
voters one-on-one. A welcome change in today's political arena that could ring a bell with many voters in November.
Van Os focuses on people's needs in state attorney general race
posted by snarko on August 2 2006
by Tricia Cortez :: Laredo Morning Times
Like David going up against Goliath, David Van Os is taking on Big Oil, Big Insurance and a well-funded Republican opponent in his quest to become attorney general."I'm delivering a message of hope and want to bring Texas politics back to the people," Van Os said at a Tuesday morning stop in Laredo.
"I've got a message for Big Oil," he said in front of the Webb County Courthouse. "I'm coming after you on behalf of the people in this state."
Van Os also talked about the need to put a stop to escalating gasoline prices, "overpriced" health insurance and homeowners insurance, a chaotic child support system, and the influence of big money in the proposed Trans Texas Corridor.
Webb County was the 104th stop on his statewide "Whistle Stop" tour. He plans to visit all 254 counties before the November general election.
It will be his second showdown against Greg Abbott. They both ran for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court in 1998, and Abbott emerged the victor.
"The pollsters and political consultants say I can't win, but they live in an ivory tower," said Van Os, who wore cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a black vest with a bolo tie.
"They and their candidates spend most of the campaign season in a conference room, calling people all day begging for money, and in the last six to eight weeks, they bombard the public with slick TV commercials," he said.
"I don't believe in that. That's bad for democracy," said the 56-year-old attorney, who has worked for nearly 30 years in labor and civil rights law.
Age of greed
"Our government's being run by self-servers and self-promoters," Van Os said. "This century has turned into an age of greed."
Oil companies are making huge profits off consumers who continue to pay higher prices at the pump, making daily living more difficult for working families and people on fixed incomes, he said.
Insurance companies, with the blessing of top elected officials, have kept health and homeowners insurance premiums beyond the reach of many Texans, he added.
"The tycoons want you to believe that we are powerless," Van Os said. "Our state leaders do nothing about it because they have been purchased by the oil companies, who keep offices in Dallas and Houston."
In the 2002 election cycle, the energy and natural resources industry gave statewide candidates $3.85 million dollars, according to a November 2003 report by Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit organization that tracks money in Texas politics.
The insurance industry also chipped in $3.18 million during that cycle, according to the report called "Money in PoliTex: A Guide to Money in the 2002 Texas Elections."
"In Texas, we've always stood against monopoly power because it suffocates free enterprise," Van Os said, referring to Article I, Section 26 of the Texas Constitution.
Legal action
If elected attorney general, Van Os said he will take legal action against the oil companies, under the state's antitrust laws, and issue investigative subpoenas to their CEOs.
"We have the tools, but nobody has been using them," he said.
As for insurance, Van Os said many Texans cannot afford health insurance unless it is partially covered by their employer or their pension programs.
The state also has the highest premiums for homeowners insurance in the country, he said.
"After you go through sticker shock and try to do some comparison shopping, there is no competition," Van Os said.
Child support and toll roads
The child support system must be overhauled because the records "are such a mess," he said.
As for the proposed Trans Texas Corridor, a network of 4,000 miles of toll roads and rail lines, it is expected to cost $175 billion and is the centerpiece of Republican Gov. Rick Perry's transportation policy.
Cintra, a Spanish company that is partnering with Zachry Construction, reached a $7.2 billion deal with the state last year to develop the first phase of the corridor, a traffic route running somewhat parallel to Interstate 35.
Cintra-Zachry and state transportation officials went to court to keep parts of the deal secret, according to the Associated Press.
"The Trans Texas Corridor is a monstrosity and is one of the most gigantic eruptions of greed and bureaucratic maneuverings," Van Os said.
"It will tear up thousands of acres of private land and put a foreign company in charge of these toll roads," he said. "The very idea is unacceptable and intolerable."
Two years ago, Van Os ran a second time for the Texas Supreme Court, but lost to the Republican incumbent, Scott Brister.
Born in East Texas, he attended Kilgore High School and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972 and UT Law School in 1976. He has four children and lives in San Antonio with his wife, Rachel Barrios.
Van Os brings campaign to Athens
posted by snarko on August 2 2006
by Cristin Ross :: Athens Review
About 30 people greeted Texas Attorney General candidate David Van Os on the Henderson County Courthouse lawn Wednesday afternoon.
Henderson County was just one stop on Van Os's agenda. The Democrat told the crowd he planned to stop at every county courthouse in Texas during his "Whistle-Stop" campaign.
"One of my favorite political heroes is Harry 'Give 'Em Hell' Truman," Van Os said from the north steps of the courthouse, "because he took his case directly to the people with his whistle-stop tours when the pundits and the naysayers said he'd never win.
"That's what I'm doing today, because I'm in the same boat. The pundits and the naysayers are telling me I can't even begin to hope to win.
"All I have to say to them is, 'The heck with ya!'"
Van Os was born and raised in Kilgore, attended the University of Texas on scholarship, and received his law degree from the University of Texas in 1976. He was named a Texas "Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He now owns his own law firm in San Antonio where he specializes in constitutional law, labor, and civil rights.
And he says he's thoroughly sickened with the state of Texas government today.
"There are people out there who can't make their minimum wage paychecks stretch far enough to cover $3-a-gallon gasoline," he nearly shouted at the crowd, brow furrowed in anger. "It's no laughing matter that while our own hardworking citizens can't afford gas, the huge fuel conglomerates are raking in $36 billion in annual net profit.
"I don't even think the human mind can comprehend that number, but I'll give you a little perspective -- if we went back in time 36 billion seconds, we'd end up in 750 B.C.
"It simply doesn't balance," he continued, punctuating each word with his fist. "I've heard the whining excuses that they have no control over it, but it just doesn't balance.
"Our elected officials keep saying there's nothing they can do. Well, if they can't help, why are they there?" he asked the crowd incredulously.
Van Os said another of his favorite political heroes is Jim Hogg. He promised to follow in Hogg's footsteps to make sure "the people of Texas will finally have representation in the courts," and that "corporations will be held accountable for breaking the law."
"Jim Hogg worked hard to bring down the railroad barons of his time," he said, sardonically pausing as a passing train's whistle sounded over and over. "The monopolies of our time are suffocating free enterprise, and enough is enough is dad-gum enough!
"I am vowing, here and now, if elected the first thing I will do is issue an investigation subpoena to the oil companies. I've got one message for Big Oil -- I'm comin' after ya, boys," Van Os hollered over the exuberant applause and cheers of the audience.
"We as Texans are not powerless like they'd have us believe.
"In other businesses, when an employee doesn't do the job he's hire to do, he's fired. That's what the responsibility of the Texas voter is, fire the ones who aren't doing the job you want them to, and hire people who will.
"And if I'm elected and I'm not doing the job right, then by all means fire me, too," Van Os exclaimed at the top of his lungs, amid amens and more applause.
Local Democratic candidates Charlie Thompson and Bear Gleason also spoke to the crowd and showed their support of Van Os. The pair are seeking U.S. Representative-Texas District 5 and State Representative-District 4, respectively.
Van Os visits Marshall as part of his state attorney general 'Whistle-Stop' campaign
posted by snarko on August 2 2006
by Bridgette R. Outten :: Marshall News Messenger
Kilgore native David Van Os is a tough-talkin', cowboy hat-wearin' Democrat who has vowed to dethrone Republican state attorney general Greg Abbott and give Texas government "back to the people."
"Rick Perry and his entire executive branch of government in office in Austin, including the attorney general Greg Abbott, are not doing the people's business and the people have got to fire them," said Van Os Thursday afternoon in front of Harrison County Courthouse. "They are not conducting the people's business. They are conducting business for themselves and their cronies."
Van Os has been a labor lawyer for nearly 30 years, specializing in civil and constitutional law. On his Whistle-Stop tour of Texas, he intends to visit all 294 county courthouses in Texas, made his 97th stop in Marshall.
While Thursday afternoon's unexpected downpour sent people fleeing indoors before a crowd could gather to hear him speak, Van Os outlined his primary objectives to the News Messenger : the price of gasoline, insurance monopolies, child support overhaul and bringing a "value system" to the state government.
Where the price of gasoline is concerned, giant oil companies making what Van Os refers to as "pure profit" while American citizen struggles with an average of $3-a-gallon gasoline is unacceptable.
"What's happening is the people in government are just rolling over and they're just sopping up the bureaucratic excuses from the oil tycoons and from the gobbledygook of international finance," Van Os said. "(They say) 'oh, there's nothing we can do about it. We have nothing do with the fact that we're making $3 billion a month in profit. It's out of our control. We're just bystanders to the big profit we're making as we cry all the way to the bank.'"
One of Van Os' first initiatives as state attorney general would be to serve investigative subpoenas to the giant oil companies, which are consolidating and merging to form monopolies, and the massive insurance corporations that make is hard for Americans to get health coverage, he said.
"The attorney general of Texas is supposed to be the one minding the store," Van Os stressed. "The Texas Constitution says the attorney general shall inquire into the activity of private corporations and shall do anything necessary and proper to prevent any private corporation from exercising any power not authorized by law."
Monopoly power is not authorized by law, he pointed out and as the "watchdog of the people," the attorney general has the power to question large corporations that are "gouging Texas," he said.
In his child support overhaul initiative, Van Os said the current child support enforcement program is "a scandal" where records are not kept accurately and it needs to be "be placed in real-live human being ombudsman immediately to resolve the immediate crisis."
Another important item on Van Os' agenda is the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, which will run a highway through 4,000 miles of Texas, which he called "the worst gigantic corruption of greed and corporate arrogance that we have ever had in the history of this state."
Recent public hearings involving people whose land will be affected by initial plans of the corridor have yielded heated reactions, Van Os said.
And Cintra, the Spain-based company that would be in control of the highway network, will make billions of dollars a year from people driving on Texas roads.
"Now, this is so radically wrong," he said, speaking of the thousands of acres of Texas farmland that will be sacrificed and the people who own them.
Van Os' intention is to not only reach Democrats, but Republicans, liberals, independents and anyone else who just wants the government to be for the people.
Despite the "naysayers and the smart alecks and people who think they know everything," Van Os is prepared to work toward his goal.
Candidate for Texas AG taking on 'silk-tied gangsters'
posted by snarko on August 1 2006
by Bob Belcher :: Corsicana Daily Sun
A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered Wednesday for some good, old fashioned political stumping on the steps of the Navarro County Courthouse for an appearance by David Van Os, Democratic candidate for Texas Attorney General.
Van Os, who owns a law firm in San Antonio, has a 30 year law career behind him, and his campaign calls him "the people's lawyer."
Van Os greeted his supporters, which included his parents and local Democratic officials, with excitement and a message of change in the way Texas government works.
"They don't think your votes count," Van Os challenged the group as he began his attack on incumbent Greg Abbott, who he hopes to unseat in November. "They think that re-election is a done deal."
"I wrote a letter to Greg Abbott and invited him to meet me on this tour of Texas," Van Os said. "But, he's a part of the Rick Perry team of arrogance."
Van Os echoed a familiar theme in this year's campaigns - an attack on the Trans-Texas Corridor project proposed by Governor Perry.
"They have already decided what to do. It was done in secrecy," Van Os claimed, saying that according to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general has an obligation to block it and hasn't done so.
Van Os clearly voiced his dislike of the current administration in Austin, blaming the Perry administration for everything from gas prices to school finance to health care.
"In the mid-90's, it looked like we were in for good times," Van Os said, "then a bunch of silk-tied gangsters stole the election in 2000 and turned into a bunch of power brokers ... then left the junior gangsters in charge in Austin."
Van Os displayed a poster he is distributing on his campaign targeting "the big oil companies" he says are to blame for oil and gas prices.
"The price of gas is not a laughing matter. People are struggling like dogs to make paychecks to afford $3 a gallon gas. There is no worse 'catch 22' - you can't afford the gas to go to work, and you can't afford not to go," Van Os said.
"I'm giving notice to big oil ... I'm coming after you, and I mean it. What they are doing to us is a crime, a sin and a travesty," Van Os added.
Van Os also touched on other political hot topics such as utility rates, health and homeowners insurance premiums, and how the cost of essential services affects not only consumers, but business and government as well, all translating into higher costs to Texans.
"Nobody is minding the store for Texans. Our message to them is those that haven't been doing their jobs need to be fired," Van Os said, urging Democratic supporters to reach out to Republican neighbors to share his message.
Also addressing the crowd gathered to meet Van Os were Hank Gilbert, a candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, and Sharon Davis, who is taking on State Rep. Byron Cook in the November election.
Attorney general hopeful's grass-roots tour hits Hays
posted by snarko on August 1 2006
Democrat challenging Abbott says many Texans can no longer afford to buy gas
by Virgil Dickson :: American-Statesman
SAN MARCOS - David Van Os, the Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, made the Hays County Courthouse the latest stop on his 254-county grass-roots tour across Texas on Tuesday. He dedicated his talk primarily to consolidation of the oil and insurance industries in Texas.
Van Os compared himself to one of the most well-known political underdogs - Harry S. Truman.
David Van Os, the Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, speaks Tuesday on oil prices, homeowners insurance and other issues at the Hays County Courthouse.
"The naysayers, including some in my party, I'm sorry to say, say I cannot win, and I say to heck with that. I'm taking my case directly to the people," said Van Os, who is running against incumbent Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Van Os said that as the business interests give more money to political campaigns, politicians have developed a culture of greed and corruption.
He talked about the rising cost of gas in Texas, attributing the increase to the recent mergers of some of the major fuel companies such as Chevron and Shell, He said many elderly and low-income residents can no longer afford gas.
"Working people are having to choose not being able to afford not going to work or not being able to afford going to work," Van Os said.
After his speech ended, Van Os' wife Rachel Barrios-Van Os told a story about an elderly man who came to Van Os in Caldwell County, crying because he and others in his community couldn't afford gas.
"He said to David, 'Will you fight for us,'" Barrios-Van Os said. "People are crying, democracy is being stolen in front of our very eyes and they see it," she added.
Van Os also lamented that many victims of Hurricane Rita could not afford homeowners insurance and have not been able to fix their damaged homes.
Van Os said that Texans pay the highest premiums on homeowners insurance in the country because of what he called corporate control over those who set the premium rates. Texas Department of Insurance spokesperson Jim Hurley confirmed that Texans pay higher rates but said it is because Texans file more claims than people in any other state because of hurricanes, hail, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
The attorney general's office has the authority to protect consumers and can sue gasoline, insurance and other types of companies.
Van Os added that Abbott receives money for his campaign from corporate interests, citing Houston home builder Bob Perry, who has contributed $1.1 million. Van Os said home building is another industry in Texas with too few companies for consumers to choose from.
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