Although we’ve been receiving campaign contribution requests for months, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is “formally” announcing her run for Texas Governor this week. Today, she started out in La Marque, goes to Houston and San Antonio today before arriving in the Capitol city. If you’re curious about what she has to say, fear not - she released a video last night that touches on the points she plans to make.
Those points include:
-Better schools
-Lower property taxes
-Toll road “land grabs”
-TX unemployment rate
Not to be outdone, Gov. Perry’s campaign spokesperson, Mark Miner has already responded to Hutchison’s claims and her political history.
If you’re looking for a lighter side to Tom Delay, check out ABC’s next season of “Dancing with the Stars.” Apparently, the fallen Texas lawmaker has a penchant for two-stepping and doesn’t mind proving it to the nation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “The Texan, who built a reputation out of twisting arms, joins Donny Osmond, actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar, model Kathy Ireland, reality TV star Kelly Osbourne and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, among others.”
Tom Delay’s “cast picture” on the Dancing with the Stars website.
Perry revealed his t.v. watching habits during a press conference on the legislative session. When asked if he thinks Senators were forcing a special session by not taking up a HCR that would provide a safety net for state agencies, he said he had no idea what their strategy was. “I felt like I was watching an episode of Lost,” he said.
As far as the possibility of a special session, he gave the predictable answer: he won’t know if he needs to call one until the dust settles, he goes through the bills passed and talks to the agencies involved in the safety net bill. He did not, however, rule out the possibility of bringing the voter ID bill back to life if he does indeed call lawmakers back to Austin.
It looks like Session ‘09 In-Depth made some alliances…namely my two frequent guest panel members: Republican consultant Ted Delisi and Democratic consultant Harold Cook.
They put out a list of the 10 best legislators…and spiced it up a bit. Delisi rated the best Democrats and Cook rated the best Republicans.
The reason:
This cross-partisan ten best legislators list started as a conversation between Republican consultant Ted Delisi and me - we wondered what would happen, in choosing legislative standouts, if a Republican judged the Democrats, and a Democrat judged the Republicans. Plus, why the hell should Texas Monthly have all the fun?
Rep. Edmund Kuempel made an appearance for Sine Die at the State Capitol today. He looks a lot thinner but in good spirits. When asked how much weight he has lost, he said about 18 pounds…”but I wouldn’t recommend this as a diet to anyone.”
He says he’s been watching some of the House activity from his hospital room, but with all the “ugliness” of the past few days - he figured physical therapy is a better use of his time.
He seemed as cheerful as ever though, happily greeted his colleagues, cracked a few jokes and said he misses his friends. “There’s nothing that matters more in life than your friends.”
Good news for lawmakers: the governor seems confident there will not be a special session. Today, he said if members would get to work, they can accomplish the “work of the people.”
As for his schedule over the next four days: he’s heading to a fundraiser with Rush Limbaugh tonight and he called this weekend his “baseball weekend.”
When asked if this was the right time for travel, he said four days is plenty of time to get the work of the people done.
It looks like the showdown in the House didn’t deter Straus for looking at another run for Speaker. After several meetings House members last night and pow-wows in the back room, Straus filed the papers for Speaker this morning. In an impromptu interview, Straus said he believes he’ll be elected Speaker again or he wouldn’t have filed. As far as his characterization of the his term as leader of the House, he said “it’s not over yet.”
I was just handed a pamphlet of information that relates the history of the legislature’s actions when it comes voting requirements. According the text, the Legislature passed a law in 1997 requiring voters show an alternative form of identification at the polls if they don’t have their registration card (before that, there was no such requirement).
The points highlighted in this document:
It was co-authored by a Democrat
No one testified against the bill in committee
The TX Democratic Party testified in favor of the bill
On Thursday the House passed no bills on second reading. Today, they aren’t even finished with the local and consent calendar (which usually takes about an hour to get through). The Dems weren’t joking when they said they would do everything in their power to make sure voter ID doesn’t make it to the floor for debate. The voter ID bill (already passed by the Senate) is scheduled for debate tomorrow. However, at this rate, there will be so many other bills that have been put on hold they may not get to it until its too late.
Rep. Castro told me we would see all types of strategic moves today, otherwise known as “chubbing,” and apparently he wasn’t exaggerating.
Rep. Berman has said it before, but he told me the other day that he plans to announce his candidacy for Governor after session - in the first week of June. The reason for this: no bills have been passed that deal with illegal immigration. I know one group that won’t vote for him, but another one that likely will.
Tom Delay’s “cast picture” on the Dancing with the Stars website.