- 2,000 lives may help balance state budget – Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Memo to liberal columnists: When you resort to calling the Texas GOP Nazis who favor a “final solution” to kill thousands of Texans, you’ve lost both the argument and your senses. - Electricity deregulation paying off for Texans – Mitchell Schnurman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Job Loss Report Splits Lawmakers, Lobbyists – Thanh Tan, Texas Tribune
Generally, the split is between those who believe government can tax, spend, and borrow us to prosperity — and those who understand economics. - Texas Voter ID Law's Unlikely Supporter – Ryan Holeywell, Governing
- Pre-filed amendments to budget bills set the stage for culture wars on spending – R.G. Ratcliffe, BurkaBlog
- “Moderate” Republican Supports Texas Social Studies/History Standards, Gail Lowe For SBOE Chair – Texas Legislative Update
- Texas Debates Plastic Bag Recycling – Kate Galbraith, Texas Tribune
Obviously, all the state’s problems have been solved and we’ve turned to other matters! - More boondoggle than bonanza: Southbound checkpoints face Fourth Amendment challenges – Grits for Breakfast
- House Republicans will hold firm on budget – David Jennings, Big Jolly Politics
- Moderate-liberal 2012 primary strategy counter play -Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- Assessing New Taxes – MQSullivan, Empower Texans
- If UT values basic research, why isn't its news office promoting the hard sciences? – Eric Berger, SciGuy/Chron.com
I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that academic research is not valuable, and there’s no question of its economic benefits and the importance of training a new generation of researchers. For that reason I’m glad [Rick] O’Donnell is no longer a special adviser to the regents.
There’s nothing here to substantiate the simplistic and draconian view Berger ascribes to O’Donnell, and like too many Texas journalists, Berger apparently didn’t bother to interview O’Donnell for his perspective before attacking him editorially. That’s unfair and unprofessional, but it happens all the time.
Texas politics news and links (30 March 2011)
- Continuing fight to undo Texas Open Meetings Act is nonsensical – Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Fiscal expert says LBB jobs analysis 'not a valid comparison' – Jason Embry, First Reading
- Perry aides explore privatizing prisoner health care – Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman
- Bills to curb mail-in ballot fraud get hearing; absentee ballot fraud 'largest growing fraud' in Texas: Rep. Aaron Peña – Steve Miller, Texas Watchdog
- Grand jury issues indictment in Dallas voter fraud case – Brett Shipp, WFAA.com
- Voter fraud indictment: Mesquite woman lied about address to cast ballot for her uncle, JP Carlos Medrano – Steve Miller, Watchdog
- Chairman: The Trans-Texas Corridor Isn't Back – Nolan Hicks, Chron Texas Politics
- Zerwas: Texas Health Insurance Exchange May Be Dead – Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune
- Rep seeking to raise taxes on smokes – Garry Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News
The headline should have said, “Democratic rep…” - Tax Break for Natural Gas Producers Under Fire – Greg Groogan, KRIV-26 News
Between 2004 and 2009 this tax break cost the state $7.5 billion all of which, incidentally, would have gone into the Rainy day fund,” [Democrat Bill] Hobby said in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee.
So now we have moved from questioning the wisdom of the permanence of a tax incentive to promote difficult natural gas exploration to boost our energy security to typical Dem punitive taxation policies for spending purposes? Interesting. - Republican leaders soften tone on state budget proposal – Peggy Fikac, Houston Chronicle
GOP going wobbly or state’s political media trying to drive the agenda? Sometimes hard to tell. - You saw this coming right? – Harris County Almanac
- Study Ranks Texas Counties by Health – Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune
- Doctor sanctioned for unnecessary procedures practicing in South Texas – Mark Lisheron, Texas Watchdog
- House committee comes under fire for voting to ease new student tests – Terrence Stutz, Dallas Morning News
How did that get past the paywall? - Anti-abortion Obama billboard in Chicago, for now – Sofia Resnick, Texas Independent
The group has gotten away with such billboards in Jacksonville, Fla., and cities in Texas, but when a Life Always billboard popped up in New York City last month… incessant protesting cause the billboard to come down after less than 24 hours….
Liberal Colorado-model “newsish”/political group laments that pro-life group has “gotten away with” exercising its free speech rights via billboard advertising? Seriously? - Fateful decision for kids in 1995 – Lisa Falkenberg, Houston Chronicle
In a better world, somebody would have checked up on Jessica Tata’s West Houston child care operation at least a couple times a quarter, instead of once every two years, like state inspectors do now.
In an even BETTER world, columnists writing about politics would have some understanding that it is unrealistic for government to be a 24-hour nanny for all people in all places. Having kids is a BIG responsibility. A columnist who once lamented the difficulties of Houston government even getting the traffic signals timed correctly downtown ought to realize that government probably isn’t an adequate substitute for parents in vetting their daycare arrangements. - Conservatives Being Played? – Daniel Greer, AgendaWise Reports
Texas politics news and links (29 March 2011)
- Legislative process reveals hard truths – Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman
The growing public concern about the state budget is not simply a collection of exaggerated sob stories manufactured by activists and operatives on the left.
True — many of the state’s lackluster political journos have played a role too. Opinions from them or “nonpolitical analysts” notwithstanding, if we could tax, spend, and borrow our way to full employment, there would be negative unemployment nationally right now! We can’t, and thankfully we’re not going to try in Texas. - The Welfare Queens of Texas – Wick Allison, D Magazine
The Legislature has increased spending 36 percent since Republicans took over in 2003, while not raising revenue to pay for it. This house of cards had to collapse someday. - What the Lean House Budget Bill Means for State Employees – R.G. Ratcliffe, BurkaBlog
Unshackled from the need to feign fairness or objectivity for a newspaper, Ratcliffe’s first BurkaBlog opinion post spreads the tale of woe of all the state bureaucrats who used to be his sources for stories. UPDATE: Speaking of which, be sure to read this comment. - Premature budgets, rant – On the South Steps
- Texas Association of Counties is at it again – denying taxpayer protections – AFP Texas
- Tougher penalties for mail-in ballot fraud up for debate Monday in Texas House committee – Steve Miller, Texas Watchdog
- Calls for University "Entrepreneurship" at UT – Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune
Texas Tribune’s effort at “balance” on this topic? - Former Lt. Gov. Hobby calls for end to tax break for high-cost gas production – Dave Montgomery, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- More scrutiny for longtime tax breaks proposed – Laylan Copelin, Postcards
- Jack Pratt: The TT Interview – Texas Tribune
- Texas casinos face long odds from one key senator – Patricia Kilday Hart and Patrick Danner, Houston Chronicle
- State lawmakers grapple with online sales tax issues – Barry Harrell, Austin American-Statesman
- Preservation Board seeks more leeway – Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman
- Retired Gen. Tommy Franks backs Michael Williams for Senate – Todd J. Gillman, Trail Blazers Blog
- Demos may try to oust Rep. Joe Pickett – Zahira Torres, El Paso Times
That wasn’t hard to see coming. - PPP: Republican frontrunners lose ground; could Perry be the beneficiary? – Paul Burka, BurkaBlog
Only in the minds of some Texas political journos who remain whimsically attached to the notion.
Texas politics news and links (28 March 2011)
- Are the state’s biggest universities open to change? – Bill Murchison, Dallas Blog
Entrenched education bureaucracies generally are not. See Burka’s rejoinder (such as it is). - Bill Ames defends history standards – Chron Texas Politics
- An Unexpectedly Important Bloc on Budget: Freshmen – Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune
Those freshmen might be resolute, but they’re also inexperienced. And with almost half of the legislative session to go and the final votes on the budget two months away, they’ll soon be learning much about lobbying, both from professionals and from civilians. Their opposition to new spending has made them targets, both for those who want to change their positions and those who want them to hang tough.
They’ve already been targeted by the state’s political media in the form of their infatuation with the “faces-of-budget-cuts” horror-story reporting. So far, they seem to be holding up fine. - Texas' top business lobbyist becomes crucial voice in debate about school funding cuts – Laylan Copelin, Austin American-Statesman
- Tax cut comes at 'high cost' – Patricia Kilday Hart, Houston Chronicle
There is certainly a rationale for the state to promote natural-gas exploration, given our reliance on gas for electricity generation. We agree with Hart that there seems to be less justification for making the incentive permanent. We think that’s true of most government programs (but would bet Hart doesn’t). - The eyes of Texas are sparkling in the 2010 census – Michael Barone, DC Examiner
Will the state’s political media jump on this article as quickly as they seem to jump on anything that portrays Texas negatively? - King Street Patriots aim to recruit 1 million volunteers to monitor 2012 elections; Speakers condemn liberals at True the Vote summit despite group's disavowal of partisanship – Mary Tuma, Texas Independent
The second part of that headline is rich coming from Texas Independent, also technically a nonpartisan group but in reality a liberal, Colorado-model “newsish” organization aimed at influencing the political narrative. Nonpartisan nonprofits frequently have ideological orientations, which is perfectly permissible under the law. - PoliTex: Perry gets more ink with magazine cover story – Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Startlegram arrives to this about a week later than other MSM outlets. - Dewhurst’s leading senators, then might become one – Joe Holley, San Antonio Express-News
- Can Fox be as Fair to Obama as I am to Governor Perry? – Scott Braddock
- Republican lawmakers from Texas praise state's air pollution permit program – Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Capitol Digest: Speed limit change proposed – Austin American-Statesman
- Texas State Rep. Past Due On School Taxes After Receiving Over $1.4 Million From Houston Independent School District – Yvonne Larsen, Big Jolly Politics
Texas politics news and links (26/27 March 2011)
- Leo Linbeck III: The TT Interview – Texas Tribune
- Following outcry, UT 'adviser' is reassigned – Patricia Kilday Hart, Houston Chronicle
Too bad. Higher education is in dire need of rethinking and reform that won’t come from within. - UT Establishment: allergic to light – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- UT reassigns special adviser; TPPF influence at UT and A&M still apparent – Patrick Brendel, Texas Independent
Liberal Colorado-model “newsish” organization continues trying to frame the narrative, drive the agenda. - Stray-bison bill gets OK – Mike Ward, Postcards
Obviously, all of the problems in Texas are solved and the lege now has solutions to non-problems. - Texas bill may ban texts by officials on the clock – AP
See above. - Pickett says he voted his conscience, not the party line, on voter ID – Robert T. Garrett, Trail Blazers
Will Matt Angle find him a primary opponent? - Worst newspaper column ever – Paul Burka, BurkaBlog
Someone should tell Burka this sort of Fisking effort has been passé for a while. Surely there are better uses of his time. - Gingrich-Perry? – Paul Burka, Burkablog
By the way, the guy responsible for the Fisking above wrote this silly post, in which he seems to suggest that vice presidential candidates might be chosen because of shared relationships among campaign staffers. Seriously! - The Economist says Texas model showing cracks – Christy Hoppe, Trail Blazers
And (some of) the state’s political media cheer (or at least it seems that way quite often)! - Texas budget may cost up to 600k jobs, study says – Houston Business Journal
It would be nice if a business journal would at least present the perspective that government spending is a DRAIN on the private economy, rather than a jobs engine. Also see below. - Report: Budget cuts could mean thousands of jobs to disappear from Texas – Barry Harrell & Tim Eaton, Postcards
It’s hardly surprising that the state’s political media love this meme. Not many seem to have much of an economics background. - Restore Parental Rights in Texas – Right In Texas
Texas politics news and links (25 March 2011)
There is no linkpost today. Please check back for the next linkpost.
Texas politics news and links (24 March 2011)
- Emotional voter ID bill debate ends in passage – Tim Eaton, Austin American-Statesman
- Texas House passes voter ID bill – Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Perry fined over ethics reports – Mike Ward, Postcards
- Public Education Chair, Rep. Eissler, on Social Studies Standards, Gail Lowe, and Fordham Institute report – Texas Legislative Update
- Special Report: Widespread Abortion Abuses In Texas Exposed – Operation Rescue
- Evan Smith attacks the UT Board of Regents – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- Progressive Activist/Trib Board Member Ellen Susman – Daniel Greer, AgendaWise Reports
Of course, Tribune founder/moneyman John Thornton was once a liberal activist (but has now put that aside in favor of agenda-driven journalism *wink*). - Top Perry aide takes senior job with Gingrich – Jason Embry, Postcards
Will Texas political media finally give up their obsessive speculation about Gov. Perry’s secret plans to run for President in 2012? - A Murphy/White Tax – Empower Texans
- Vincent Harris on Social Media — Social Media Club
Texas politics news and links (23 March 2011)
- Hispanic students attain majority in Texas schools – Daniel Borunda and Zahira Torres, El Paso Times
- Short of Funds, Texas Eyes School Reserves – Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune
- Media runs cover for higher ed bloat – Daniel Greer, AgendaWise Reports
- Opponents of Medicaid cuts warn of devastating ripple effect – Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman
One journo’s “opponents” are another person’s “special interests.” - Conservatives Subsidizing the Enemy – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
Conservative pols would be wise to consider the advice offered here. Gov. Perry’s last campaign proved conservatives don’t have to play the game on old-media terms any more. - Lawmakers trying to kill driver surcharge program – Gary Scharrer, Chron Texas Politics
- Lawmakers Take Up Brew Bills – Christopher Smith Gonzalez, Texas Tribune
- Senate education budget plan done – Kate Alexander, Postcards from the Lege
- Campus-carry gun bill on verge of passage – Mike Ward, Postcards
- Report Calls on Lawmakers to Boost Stimulus Monitoring – Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune
- Burnam/Berman on the same side? – Anna Tinsley, PoliTex
- Another Texas anti-abortion group targets African Americans in the Northeast – Patrick Brendel, Texas Independent
Nice scare headline from liberal Colorado-model “newsish” nonprofit. - A first look at SBOE redistricting – Paul Burka, BurkaBlog
- Where Texans live – Perry vs World
Afternoon Update
Texas politics news and links (22 March 2011)
- Point of Order Derails Voter ID in Texas House – Julian Aguilar, Texas Tribune
- Voter ID author confident of eventual passage – Gary Scharrer, Chron Texas Politics
- Delay and debate amusing side show for voter ID bill – Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman
- Negotiations continue on sonogram bill – Christy Hoppe, Trail Blazers Blog
- Texas leaders vow to fight EPA regulations – Erin Mulvaney, Trail Blazers Blog
- State of Texas may drop taxpayer support for wineries, which totaled $4.3 million in last two years – Mark Lisheron, Texas Watchdog
- Paul Burka: The TT Interview – Texas Tribune
- State's demands forced school costs to shoot up – Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman
- Trivia Tidbit of the Day: Part 925 — Education – WILLisms
- TEXANS: Circle April 6, 2011 On Your Calendar – Pondering Penguin
- Tom Leppert: Once a Mayor – Brian Bolduc, NRO
- Good Week for Ted Cruz, Bad Week for Tom Leppert – The Right Side of Austin
Afternoon Update
- House Dem thanks colleagues, slams election contest – Karen Brooks, Trail Blazers Blog
Sore winner, much? - Two booze bills, more state revenue – Mike Ward, Postcards
- Anti-bullying bills come before Senate committee – AP
Great news — obviously all the state’s problems have been solved!
Iconoclast roundup (21 March 2011)
- Charter school wait lists spark legislation – Andrew Kaspar, Austin American-Statesman
- House takes up voter ID – Christy Hoppe, Trail Blazers Blog
- Texas lawmakers hope bills yield patch for farm-labor gap – Jared Janes, TheMonitor.com
- Parsing Perry – Paul Burka, BurkaBlog
- Perry drawing little praise in budget battle – Peggy Fikac, Houston Chronicle
The headline editor made a mistake. Insert “from journos who favor higher taxes and spending” after “praise.” - Support building for new minority-dominated state House district in east Tarrant – Dave Montgomery, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Cover for Anglo Democrats in Redistricting? – Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune
- California vs. Texas: Who has the best economy? – Dean Calbreath, SignOnSanDiego.com
Look for many of the state’s political media to run with the anti-Texas angle. - County Agents Change With The Times – Gail Delaughter, KUHF-88.7 News