CAPITOL LETTERS

Comedy Central's late-night "conservative" lampoon artist Stephen Colbert will host special guest and First Lady Hopeful Michelle Obama tomorrow night on his show, The Colbert Report.

This is a smart move, people.

If you wanna seal up the Witty Vote, late-night's the way to go. I've heard she has a good sense of humor, but this will be the first time she gets to show potentian voters her ability to Be Funny past everyone's bed time.

It takes a certain something.

In the past few months, Hillary Clinton mocked her own laugh on SNL, Barack Obama promised David Letterman that he'd name Mitt Romney the Secretary of Lookin Good, and Mike Huckabee told Stephen Colbert he'd need every superdelegate he could get - before "realizing" (jokingly, of course) that only Dems have super delegates. D'oh!

Pricelesss moments, all of them. I never miss this stuff, and you shouldn't either. But if you do, no worries - we'll post the segment right here on Trailblazers, because the folks at Comedy Central so totally love us.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sort of.

All right, ya'll. I know we've been pretty quiet around Capitol Letters lately - only because we've been trying to get over our session hangover.

And I use the term "hangover" loosely, for all you amateurs out there.

Meanwhile, CL won't be active again until the Texas Lege resumes in 2009 - but we've got a whole new party kickin off over on Trailblazers - where all of us same DMN writer types, rockstars and rabblerousers will be doing the same exact thing, only different.

And not really that different - we'll just be taking in national politics as well as local and state, so it'll be your One-Stop-Shop-for-Madness.

So those of you with RSS feeds, if you still have them, move em on over to Trailblazers and stay with us for next 15-18 months.

Trust me. The party's just gettin started.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For what it's worth, here are the names of the Legislative Council attorneys who went to work this past weekend for the Craddick parliamentarian team: Mark Brown, Gary Kansteimer, Jeff Archer.

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Lon Burnam has introduced the potentially combustible House Resolution 2963. It commends Denise Davis and Chris Griesel, the former House parliamentarian and her assistant who resigned Friday night, reportedly after Speaker Tom Craddick rejected their legal opinion that he'd have to allow the House a vote on whether to remove him from the chair.

"Denise Davis and Chris Griesel stood up to autocratic control of a democratic institution by resigning their posts," the resolution says.

Rep. David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio, just demanded to know the names of the three Legislative Council attorneys now working for Craddick rules mavens Terry Keel and Ron Wilson.

"Everybody wants to know who they are," Mr. Leibowitz said.

"And what they look like," yelled Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, from his seat.

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 7:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The governor has finally weighed in, kind of, on the steel cage deathmatch that is the Texas House. Rick Perry, a former House member himself, has understandably been reluctant to take political sides over the fate of Tom Craddick.

After all, if he chooses the wrong (i.e., losing) side, he's got to try to get his agenda past a House speaker with an ax to grind. In fact, Mr. Perry's spokesman, Robert Black, took pains to tell Austin bureau chief Christy Hoppe yesterday that the guv has no dog in this fight.

But the walkout last night imperiled legislation the governor cares deeply about, including the massive water bill so important to North Texas. So he's telling them, in so many words: Get your act together. The full statement after the jump:

Continue reading "The reluctant Mr. Perry" »

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee's statement, responding to the Pitts-Talton-Delwin Jones presser alleging big time pork in the two-year budget, and last minute budget shenanigans by the speaker to save his political skin:

"The budget is a strong one -- supported by members on both sides of the aisle. The process that has taken place to put it together is the same as every session in the past. It reflects the various needs of the state."

In addition, Team Craddick arranged for Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, the House's negotiator on the higher education budget, to respond to the dissidents' pork allegations -- one of which was that the speaker loves Dallas' UT Southwestern Medical Center, so much that he inserted two "special items" to give it $19 million.

Continue reading "Team Craddick defends budget in war of words" »

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, and two GOP colleagues, Lubbock's Delwin Jones and Pasadena's Robert Talton, just held a presser to denounce the $152.5 billion budget that is before lawmakers today -- and Republican Speaker Tom Craddick's use of it for his own political ends.

The three dissidents assailed $100 million of late additions to the budget, college "special items" that they said Mr. Craddick used to shore up support so he could face down efforts to remove him. Mr. Pitts also outlined tens of millions of pork projects inserted for the Midland-Odessa, Permian Basin area, which Mr. Craddick represents.

"We can and must do better," Mr. Pitts said. "This budget is bloated and fiscally irresponsible."

While Mr. Pitts said he thinks fiscally conservative Republicans should oppose the budget and force a special session on the subject, he dodged a question about whether anti-Craddick forces have the votes to blow up the budget.

Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee said she would respond -- but is too busy right now listening to dissidents' attempt to get Mr. Craddick on record for every aspect of the vast power he's been claiming since Friday afternoon.

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, a Craddick opponent, just had this raw exchange with the speaker about events earlier this evening.

Geren: "And you just recessed ... and walked off the floor of the House?"

Craddick: "It's the speaker's prerogative to do that, unless there's objection, Mr. Geren."

Geren: "There was objection, Mr. Speaker. There was objection all over the floor of the House. We know that you don't have a hearing problem that's that bad!"

And on it went, descending to hard slams against Mr. Craddick's new team of parliamentarians, Terry Keel and Ron Wilson.

Mr. Craddick sought to shut down the inquisition. "Some members would like to go on with the state's business," he said.

As anti-Craddick members peppered him with queries, the speaker's loyalists have started shouting, "Work! Work!"

Meanwhile, state GOP Chairwoman Tina Benkiser issued an appeal for House dissidents to "save politics for the election cycle.” She said Democrats "and even a few confused Republicans" have obstructed progress, "putting their political ambitions ahead of the work which they were sent to Austin to accomplish. This must cease."

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said he is “pretty much a solid ‘no’” on the budget if, as expected, it reaches the Senate floor tomorrow.

Mr. Patrick said he would reconsider his opposition if assured that Mr. Perry would empanel a commission to carefully review state spending while the Legislature is not in session.

The radio talk show host and anti-tax crusader says he thinks at least 5 percent of the budget is wasteful spending.

Mr. Patrick was asked if he would filibuster the budget, which probably would force the governor to call lawmakers back to Austin this summer. He replied, “You never know.”

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dallas lawmakers got quite a scare this morning when they learned some staffers in Gov. Rick Perry's office were actively opposing a measure to create a University of North Texas law school in downtown Dallas.
Lawmakers said at least one of the governor's staffers was circulating, trying to find someone to raise a point of order on an eminent domain bill that has the law school tacked on as an amendment. Another staffer apparently called Rep. Dan Branch's office and told his staff the governor didn't support the law school because "Texas doesn't need another law school," Mr. Branch said.
Dallas lawmakers had mini panic attacks -- they surmised the governor had been begged by Texas Tech or A&M not to give Dallas a law school. By mid afternoon, UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson had raced down from Dallas. He just got out of a meeting with Gov. Perry, and Robert Black, the governor's spokesman, said everything is back on track.
"Something like this isn't a small step. You don't just create a law school out of thin air," Mr. Black said. "But the governor supports the law school for North Texas."
The bill the law school is tacked onto comes up for a vote in the House this evening -- and will most likely go to conference committee to get the details worked out.

Posted by Emily Ramshaw at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has skillfully splintered the advocates of fully undoing the 2003 cuts to the Children's Health Insurance Program.

After collecting kudos Tuesday from the Texas Network of IAF Organizations (Dallas Area Interfaith, Valley Interfaith and so on), Mr. Dewhurst named Senate negotiators who are expected to strongly defend his pet idea of electronic eligibility verification.

Senate conferees include the only two senators who voted against the House's partial CHIP restoration bill: Republicans Steve Ogden, who voted "nay" in committee, and Jane Nelson, who opposed the bill on the floor. The team's leader is Waco Republican Kip Averitt, who favors a bigger CHIP but is unlikely to betray Mr. Dewhurst, even though the lieutenant governor dumped him as a budget negotiator this session to appease the right wing of the Senate's GOP caucus.

Most CHIP advocates, physician groups and hospital execs who prefer the House-passed version believe Mr. Dewhurst has made income verification almost a fetish -- and is going to give us another Accenture-like fiasco, albeit much smaller in scope than the call centers that do eligibility screening for the major social programs.

Continue reading "CHIP: The endgame" »

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Senate leaders say a final deal on the state's two-year budget has been delayed.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, told reporters a few minutes before noon that Gov. Rick Perry "is involved in the discussion" -- much of it about higher education.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said late Friday that House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, has intervened in the talks about university funding. "The speaker's taken a real interest ... particularly [in] the higher education budget and some special items," Mr. Dewhurst said.

Asked if the special college funding items were for Midland, the lieutenant governor responded, "For different [House] members' districts."

Wrapping up the budget now seems unlikely before House members decide whether they're deposing Mr. Craddick or not in the session's last seven days.

Continue reading "Budget talks slow, anxiety rises" »

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Talk about your tight spots. Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, was torn between House loyalty and partisan allegiance yesterday. Very reluctantly, and even painfully, he sided with his chamber.

The scene: House Appropriations room, Capitol extension, 2:18 p.m.

The action: As the budget conference committee convenes to ratify decisions on health and welfare programs, all five Senate negotiators are present. But two from the House are missing -- Democrat Sylvester Turner and Republican Lois Kolkhorst.

Unexpectedly, Warren Chisum, the House's chief negotiator, brings up a politically supercharged matter left over from the otherwise-finished judiciary section of the budget: Whether to give Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle's Public Integrity Unit 6.5 percent more than the $6.8 million, two-year "baseline" budget it was given by the Legislative Budget Board back in January. Uh oh. It's crunch time.

Continue reading "Tales of the budget conference: Guillen's dilemma" »

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 9:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Advocates for the Children's Health Insurance Program were livid at Senate GOP leaders for rushing to move the session's big CHIP bill out of committee tonight, some 14 hours before a scheduled Capitol rally featuring uninsured children.

Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, main author of the bill, said between 250 and 300 uninsured children had been scheduled to attend the rally.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, told this reporter late this afternoon, "We'll hear that bill tomorrow."

But after a flurry of media advisories about the planned rally flew far and wide, lo and behold, the Senate suspended its rules to add the CHIP bill to this evening's Finance Committee meeting -- at which a scaled-down version of the bill passed.

Said Barbara Best of the Children's Defense Fund, one of the organizers of the rally: "It is outrageous that the Senate Finance Committee would deliberately exclude the input of families, health care providers and advocates from criticial decisions about the future of the CHIP program. The Texas Senate should have the courage to look into the eyes of the children who have lost coverage and to take responsibility for the drastic cuts that they have imposed on the CHIP program."

Mr. Ogden was unavailable for comment.

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm posting this Senate development and you can't stop me.

I'll let the dean of the Senate Press Corps give you the low-down, but here's the best line from Dewhurst's mea culpa letter.

(I guess technically it was a someone else's culpa, since Dewhurst says he didn't write it.)

"While I stand by what I, the Secretary of the Senate, the Parliamentarian, and some press observed yesterday, the Senator is a personal friend of mine and goes hunting with me each fall. We were planning on letting him use a rifle this year, so I'm especially interested in Whitmire being real friendly with me before our hunting trip in October."

Yeah, those two have a special bond. Remember it was Whitmire who came back from Albuquerque to reinstate the quorum, save Dewhurst from having to break the 2/3 rule (which he appears ready to do today) and pass a redistricting plan - risking his friendship with Mario.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rep. Beverly Woolley, in the speaker's chair while the speaker is politicking on the floor, just cut the mics when Anchia and Berman got into a heated argument over a bill. The two were raising their voices, and talking over each other, but it was nowhere NEAR the irritating yelling and interrupting that has happened TIME AND TIME AGAIN on the House floor.

It's raised my blood pressure more than once, try several times a week, several sessions running. Rarely does the chair tell them to quieten down and use your inside voices.

(After all, this ain't the Senate).

And yet twice during this relatively calm debate, Woolley in the chair has smacked her gavel.

The second time, she cut the mics and said, "One at a time, members."

WHAT?!! Is she lost? Does she know where she is?? Does she feel like a teacher up there, is she getting tired of doing what the parliamentarian tells her to do?

The House started whooping and mocking when she did that. I mean, really. Berman and Anchia is a match-up that NOBODY should be stopping.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Karen Brooks at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

It's 10:30 a.m., and the Senate sleeps.

I know that because I'm in the House every day at 10 a.m. (or thereabouts) and the Senate doesn't go in until 11 a.m.

The House is working hard already. Seriously. They're memorializing and resoluting so powerfully that I may have to go get a breakfast taco to calm my nerves.

Terry, it's mid-morning. Do you know where your senators are?

Posted by Karen Brooks at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Gov. Perry was on the House floor Wednesday, and one of the reps he talked to was none other than Senfronia Thompson. Let your creativity flow in the comments...

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The Lege has until about May 16 to get the toll moratorium to Gov. Rick Perry's desk in time for him to veto it, in time for them to turn around and override it.

The clock is ticking. The players are playing.

On Friday, Rep. Wayne Smith tried to send his HB 1892 - the big transportation bill that had the nearly-unanimous tollway moratorium amendment - to the governor on Friday. Here's what happened.

At 2:38 p.m. he called Perry's office to tell them it was on the way.

At 3:30 p.m. he sent an email.

At 4:15 p.m. he called and left a message.

At 4:20 p.m. he (or his office) tried to go ahead and deliver it to Perry's office anyway, for a time stamp. You know - to get the clock ticking.

The admin assistant rejected his attempt to deliver it, saying the man who was supposed to time stamp it was out sick.

So technically, it's been passed for several days but can't seem to land on the governor's desk, no matter how hard they try.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Given former Speaker Laney's return, can't resist letting you legeheads take a swing at this one. You write, we'll post. Remember, keep it clean(ish):

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 5:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

One of our DMN brothers, editorial writer Bill McKenzie, has an interesting take on the Patrick-Whitmire showdown.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So while the House is locked down on electricity rates, the Senate is long gone, having passed the budget. There were the usual squabbles over CHIP and tax cuts, but nothing like the throwdown between Sens. Whitmire and Patrick. Our man Bob Garrett witnessed it all. For a sneak peak at his story on the Houstonians imbroglio, read on the jump:

Continue reading "Budget warriors" »

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 8:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Word is that some heavy-duty Democrats dining Monday at the Four Season in Austin had GOP Sen. John Cornyn on their mind. In particular, whether they could make the state's junior Senator an ex-Senator when he runs for re-election next year. Mr. Cornyn's a big supporter of the war in Iraq and is closely aligned with President Bush, whose poll numbers have dropped even here in the home state.

But who might challenge him?

How about Ben Barnes, the former lieutenant governor and Democratic fundraiser extraordinare, who just happened to be right there at the table? Why not, they asked? Mr. Barnes, who has dismissed such speculation in the past, agreed to leave the door open. But don't print the ballots yet.

Mr. Barnes says it was more chit-chat than campaign planning.

"They're friends and they're Democrats and I what I said was that I wasn't going to issue a flat-out denial," Mr. Barnes said afterwards. "But I'm not making any calls. And I'm not doing anything. I'm just listening, OK?"

OK. Trial balloon, going up.

Posted by Wayne Slater at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A vote to eliminate the nation's largest teacher merit pay program, and instead give school professionals an across the board pay raise, was definitely the shocker in the House's marathon budget debate today.

All Democrats supported the move, except for Reps. Norma Chavez of El Paso and Sylvester Turner of Houston.

But 23 Republicans broke ranks to back the gut merit pay amendment of Houston Democrat Rick Noriega, including key Craddick allies Will Hartnett of Dallas, Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville, Mike Krusee of Round Rock, David Swinford of Dumas and Corbin Van Arsdale of Houston.

Continue reading "Breakaway GOP members kill teacher merit pay" »

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Let's see ...
A president accused of politicizing the White House. An unpopular war. A nation polarized. Karl Rove on TV. Sound familiar?

How about January 1972. Only in this case, Richard Nixon was president and the TV guy was longtime GOP bete noire Dan Rather. In the years since, everyone's gone -- Nixon, his circle of Watergate-indicted White House aides, the Committee to Reelect the President, the Democrats who pursued impeachment (Sam Ervin and Barbara Jordan), even Dan Rather. Only Karl remains ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM0zJl9Bxk8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecrooksandliars%2Ecom%2F

Posted by Wayne Slater at 7:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Kinkster outlines his future -- and an interesting scenario for his opponent last year, Gov. Rick Perry -- in this video interview with the DMN.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gov. Rick Perry popped into the House this afternoon. The impromptu visit lasted about 15 minutes. The guv spent most of his "floor time" sitting in a window sill with Rep. David Swinford, R-Dumas. Both wore cowboy boots.

Mr. Perry said later that he and Mr. Swinford talked about border security. Mr. Swinford has filed a bill granting the governor's wish for $100 million that he could distribute to border law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Swinford said bills and budget items were secondary to some down-home visiting by a couple of West Texas guys.

"We talked about how there's been rain in places," he said. "Crops are looking good. The bull's in the pasture. And some of the fields are greening up. Important stuff that West Texans talk about."

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Wonder what Kinky Friedman's doing these days? Having finished fourth in a five-way race for Texas governor, the Kinkster says he's writing a new book about the ordeal. The working title: "You Can Lead A Politician To Water but You Can't Make Him Think." The gonzo cowboy says the book should be out in the fall.

In the meantime, here's something you can smoke as you wait for the Kinkster's account. He's going to sell cigars -- Kinky's Select.

A box of 25 will set you back $100. While he's partial to Cubans, which are, ah, sort of illegal here, Kinky's Select will be totally legit. According to his website, they will be Honduran cigars "hand rolled by Cubans." (Hey, wasn't that an episode of Seinfeld or something?) Profits go to Friedman's pet project, the Utopian Animal Rescue Ranch.

Posted by Wayne Slater at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Call it tit for tat. Package liquor stores have persuaded Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, to introduce a bill that would outlaw distillers from giving a wholesaler exclusive rights to sell a brand of booze in Texas. The bill, filed on Monday, would deny Glazer's Distributors of Dallas and Republic Beverage Co. of San Antonio their current control of most big-name brands.

The move comes after the two big wholesalers urged lawmakers to break up the monopoly that package stores enjoy in selling liquor to bars and restaurants. The wholesalers backed up their request with nearly $1.7 million in campaign contributions in the weeks leading up to this year's session. Their bill was filed last week by Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso.

Posted by Robert T. Garrett at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These are my grandfather's boots, and they got me all the way from our office at 10th and Congress to the Obama rally. In the rain. Uphill both ways.

Why, you ask, did I have to hoof it the 3 miles to the rally? Because EVERYONE ELSE JUMPED ON THE SHUTTLE BEFORE I DID. And those who left standing on the curb apparently snapped up all the cabs. And I don't know where the busses went - which is odd, because there's about 25 of them blocking traffic on Congress Avenue every morning. It's a mystery where they'd all disappeared to by 2 p.m.

All right. Now, a look on the internet tells me that It's reportedly a 1.27-mile walk from the DMN's Capitol bureau, aaaaall the way down Congress, across the Town Lake bridge (and over the bats) to our Obama Bureau at Auditorium Shores.

1.27 MILES?? Puh-leeze. I'd like to have a chat with those hacks over at Mapquest.

My bureau chief, Christy Hoppe, helpfully suggests that if I really want to garner sympathy for my journey over the river and through the crowds, "you should take a picture of your hair."

Yeah, thanks!

Posted by Karen Brooks at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

More from our Obama bureau: Austin police estimate the crowd at 20,000 strong.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

More from Emily Ramshaw on Obamapalooza (her very clever term, not mine):

Rain is turning the Auditorium Shores into a muddy mess. But the crowd doesn't seem to mind, waiting for the candidate as various rock bands play. The crowd is an interesting mix of suited professionals playing hooky from work and body-pierced types, plus a healthy sprinkling of diehard Kinky Friedman supporters still wearing their campaign T-shirts. She notes that a lot of attendees she talks to are trying to decide between Sen. Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, and women in particular are looking at whether they should back Obama even while there's a woman in the race who could very well win.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Emily Ramshaw sends in this picture. Note the crowd size -- and this was taken an hour before Obama is supposed to start speaking. Then again, it's a Friday afternoon in Austin, the main splash of blue in red-state Texas.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Several thousand people (Obama-maniacs and the Obama-curious) are expected to jam Auditorium Shores in Austin this afternoon to see Democratic sensation Barack Obama. He's in Texas to raise money for his presidential bid. And his mid-afternoon rally looks to be something of a sensation.

One Texan paying very close attention to Obamarama is former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, a leader in the Hillary Clinton team. The dustup between Clinton and Obama forces is still hot. Mauro's not shy about where he is in the fight for the party faithful.

Here's his take: "Two years ago, we were not sure a woman could be elected president. The polls clearly show that’s not the case anymore. The same polls don’t show that’s the case for an African-American. What we’re seeing at this point is the process of the American people deciding whether they are ready to elect an African-American president or vice president. And it’s a fascinating thing to watch."

Let the brawl continue.

Posted by Wayne Slater at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Dewhurst:"Bright, compassionate leader and might I add top cutting horse rider in the Senate." (And in the world, right?)

On Craddick: A "partner in the conservative cause for more than 20 years. My long-time friend and fellow West Texan."

(The standing ovation given to Craddick - some Dems remained seated. Including Dallas Rep. Yvonne Davis.

Go to the jump and hit refresh. Updating every few minutes...
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Continue reading "Liveblogging S.O.S.: Hit 'Refresh" button often...." »

Posted by Karen Brooks at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

10:35 a.m. House just came to order. Gallery's packed, and in the front row we have a couple of Railroad Commissioners, the Land Commissioner, our new State Comptroller. A standing O as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst leads the 31 Senators into the House chamber, a field trip of sorts from their chamber across the rotunda.

It's amusing to see Dewhurst admonishing them to use their "inside voices" and hold hands with their buddy at all times.

Guv just walked in. 10:40. I've got the speech in my hot little hands, but I can't tell you what it says bec it's embargoed until after he says it.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gov. Rick Perry delivers his state of the state in five or 10 minutes. We'll be liveblogging it right here - but take a look at this sneak peak before we get started.

We sat right here in this spot three weeks ago when Perry gave his wide-ranging, international inaugural address. It was 28 degrees outside and raining ice. Today, it's 56 degrees and climbing, with sunny skies.

When can we go play outside?

Keep looking here for more updates.

p.s. Fair warning. Speech is 8.5 pages long. Single spaced. Small type.

Posted by Karen Brooks at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gov. Rick Perry has weighed in on criticism of his order requiring the HPV vaccine. Read his full statement on the jump:

Continue reading "Re: Nelson to Guv" »

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Let's mix in a little national-level politics: Should Texas move up its presidential primary to join the crush of states hoping to help decide the 2008 nominees? Several legislators say yes, but the Austin American-Statesman's editorial board says it's a bad idea. Readers of this blog are no doubt highly attuned to campaigns and elections, so what say you?

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Social conservatives are indeed screaming about the order. Deal Hudson, who was an adviser to George W. Bush when he ran for the White House, sees dire national implications. And it's interesting to note that he uses an argument that Perry's regular opponents often cite: that the governor is too close to big business. For the Texas Eagle Forum's take, click on the jump:

Continue reading "Re: Nelson to Guv" »

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Maybe this is a sign I'm waaaay too into the speaker race, but I find this video oddly compelling. For one thing, these lawmakers look as average and unassuming as can be. And there's also the mystery of where this came from: Who posted it and why? A Craddick backer as a show of force? A Pitts backer as a show of weakness? A Democrat calling out the Craddick Ds? (The poster's screen name sounds like a Bart Simpon call to Moe's, so that's no help.)

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The start of the session is less than 48 hours away, and we've got everything you need to keep up:

Wondering how the House speaker's race will affect issues and legislation? Check out this report from Austin bureau chief Christy Hoppe.

Also, if you're looking for tips on how to follow the session, or perhaps even get involved, this may help.

And check back soon for more on the big issues this year, from appraisal caps to immigration and more.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I tried to watch the Brian McCall-Jim Pitts press conference on the Legislature's Web site but couldn't get any sound. On the second attempt, I got the ominious message: "Server has reached its capacity and can serve no more streams. Please try again later."

Perhaps with that fat budget surplus, the lege can upgrade its servers.

Posted by Ryan J. Rusak at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)