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- Senate Finance Draws $3 Billion from Rainy Day Fund – Kate Alexander, Statesman
The Senate spends $12 Billion more than the House. - Simpson derails dog breeder bill – Tim Eaton, Austin American-Statesman
Seemingly well-intentioned government regulation is frequently a bigger hindrance to economic growth than taxes. Should the state of Texas be in the position of creating red tape to decide who can breed dogs? Jim Keffer thinks so. - Democrats target Farenthold and Canseco for supporting GOP budget – Gabriella Ferrari, Houston Chronicle
Journalists beware. It looks likely that the Houston Chronicle got duped. - Q1 fundraising numbers for the Senate candidates – Evan, Texas Iconoclast
- TribCast (Episode 76) – Texas Tribune
Evan Smith argues that the pro-reform forces did a terrible job making the case for O’Donnell. Fair point — but aren’t reporters obligated to present both sides fairly? At times, the Tribune did attempt to present the other side, but most other media outlets didn’t even try. See Dr. Kevin Whited’s provocative post on the higher ed establishment claiming O’Donnell’s scalp.
Did you know: O’Donnell’s replacement earns $240k? More than O’Donnell’s salary, which was widely criticized.
Recommended
- Joe Barton is the lone GOP Congressman against proposed map – Maria Recio, FWST
Recio has been breaking stories recently. Kudos to her. - Texas second best biz-friendly taxes, report says – Jeff Clabaugh, Houston Business Journal
- Cornyn Won't Take "Nickel Tour" of Planned Parenthood – Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune
Planned Parenthood reported treating 3 million patients in 2008-09; of the services it provided, 3 percent were abortions, 36 percent were contraception-related, 31 percent were STD tests or treatment and 17 percent were cancer screenings.
Alternative statistic: 97+% of Planned Parenthood services to pregnant women are abortions.
- On the Lege video: John Whitmire – BurkaBlog
- Texas Senate budget plan is short by $3 billion – Peggy Fikac, Houston Chronicle
What, a Fikac story not dominated by quotes from the Dem minority? Then again, it did feature new Austin media hero Sen. Ogden. - Senate budget plan is still bad business – R.G. Ratcliffe, BurkaBlog
If you think of the two-year budget passed by the Texas House as a bankruptcy filing for the State of Texas….
We don’t, but what a revealing lede!
- Deja Straus all over again – David Jennings, Big Jolly Politics
- Bill Hammond’s Liberal Budget Ideas – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- Texas Exes Back UT President Bill Powers – Patricia Kilday Hart, Chron Texas Politics
Has anyone seen a semblance of the other side in Kilday Hart’s reporting/opinion on this? - House Gives Initial OK To Craft Beer Bill – Christopher Smith Gonzalez, The Texas Tribune
- Ron Paul’s son declines to run for Senate – Anna Tinsley, FWST
- It’s beginning to look like the President doesn’t like us – Bill King, Houston Chronicle
** Texas Exes Back UT President Bill Powers – Patricia Kilday Hart, Chron Texas Politics
Has anyone seen a semblance of the other side in Kilday Hart’s reporting/opinion on this? **
The Texas Exes were a nice way either to pile on (now that the story’s run its course) or to keep the manufactured controversy alive, since an alumni group SO invested in the notion that their University is the BEST school on earth (and perhaps even one of the best THINGS on earth) was certainly going to vigorously defend their institution once it was portrayed by media as under assault by Perry/Sandefer/TPPF and “Shadow Chancellor” O’Donnell.
Too often lately, Hearst Austin seems to have a story they are determined to tell (instead of taking a more balanced approach).