Perry throws Duncan under the bus; Senate GOP caucus pulls him out
After Governor Perry blamed Senator Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, for the failure of the sanctuary cities bill, the Senate Republican caucus issued a statement of solidarity dated June 28 (yesterday). The text of the statement follows:
On Saturday, June 25, the Senate Republican Caucus convened to discuss the issue of possibly merging sanctuary cities issues into S.B. 1. After a lengthy discussion of the issues, the caucus encouraged Senator Duncan and the Republican Senate conferees on S.B. 1 to keep the issues separate, as combining them would put them both at risk of not passing. S.B. 9 was a strong bill that would have delivered significant reform to Texas citizens. Senate Republicans unanimously supported and passed S.B. 9 nearly two weeks ago on the Senate floor.
* * * *
And so, at the very end, somebody stood up to the governor. Perry was unwise to push for sanctuary cities. It ran into problems during the regular session and there was substantial opposition to it in the
Senate, including Perry allies. House members, ever groveling to the Tea partiers, wanted the bill so they could have an immigration vote in their quiver, even though they got one during the regular session.
Could the fate of sanctuary cities legislation come back to haunt Duncan? It is possible that one of the House members in the Lubbock area–Landtroop? Charles Perry?–might be able to make an issue of sanctuary cities in an area of the state where tea party strength is robust. Duncan could also be vulnerable as a spender, for coming up with money for the budget.
A different scenario is that the Tea parties may be too busy focusing on defeating Obama (or electing Rick Perry, perhaps) to get involved in state races. This is one of the unknown factors of the 2012 cycle.
Tagged: rick perry, robert duncan, sanctuary cities
Sour Six Teen says:
Duncan is one of the top 10 worst TX State Senators, notwithstanding your ridiculous list.
Reply »
paulburka says:
If naming Duncan a best makes the list ridiculous, I’m proud to have a ridiculous list.
Reply »
Anonymous Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
And I’m proud to read your “ridiculous” list, Burka.
Reply »
Anonymous says:
Frullo has made it clear he’s running for Senate. Perry and Landtroop should run for the seats they worked hard to protect in the redistricting battle. Duncan should have an easy reelection against Frullo. The reality is, the House and Joe Straus killed the the sanctuary cities bill. Frullo is not senate material. I’ve yet to see him say anything that wasn’t written on a notecard. I can’t tell if he’s just unsure of himself or truly clueless. Probably the latter. Either way, keep him away from our side of the building.
Reply »
hooah! Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
How’s Frullo going to run against Duncan when he’s living in Salado?
Reply »
paulburka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Anonymous clearly has an agenda in saying that Straus and the House killed the sanctuary cities bill. The reality is that nobody wanted it except Perry and the far right. How does Anonymous justify blaming Straus when Perry is blaming Duncan?
Reply »
Edie I. Mean says:
Anonymous above = Perry or Landtroop staffers. And John Frullo is not running for the Senate.
Reply »
allrighty Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Who is John Frullo?
Reply »
TDL says:
Duncan killed Sanc Cities to protect his party from its own foolishness, just as he shut down Birdwell’s attempt to repeal in-state tuition for undocumented high school grads.
Reply »
Blue Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Yep. Duncan is solid, he’s not going anywhere.
Reply »
hooah! says:
Robert Duncan is the guard rail that keeps the Republican party in Texas from driving off a cliff.
Reply »
The House is Not a Home says:
Certain lobbyists who give lots of money to the GOP killed sanctuary cities.
Reply »
Mystery Man says:
Oh stop the foolishness about who killed this bill. We all know it was Charles Butt, Bob Perry, TAB, chambers of commerce and many other employers who depend on cheap labor.
Also to you Liptonites, if it was such a great bill why did it not apply to DPS or other state law enforcement?
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat says:
How long has Duncan been in the State Senate ?
Perry’s 2012 presidential aspirations will end up just like Dan Morales’s horrible gubernatorial campaign back in 2002: UP IN SMOKE.
Just wait and see, Perry will FALL FLAT ON HIS FACE.
Reply »
Chuck Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Just for grins – PPP poll of Texas
Obama 47% Perry 45%
Romney 50% Obama 42%
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_TX_629513.pdf
Reply »
Truman Sparks Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 12:19 am
Yeah before Perry has entered the race. And BTW same group that showed KBH winning.
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 1:58 am
Correct. Perry will fall FLAT on his face in his non presidential campaign. Michele Bachmann is running for VP and she will beat the all-hat, no cattle conservative running for Prez.
That will make me happy.
Reply »
Steve Bresnen says:
A little longer term perspective might be useful. Speaker Craddick over three sessions did not pass any immigration legislation, although more than 20 bills were filed. David Swinford said Greg Abbott told him they were unconstitutional.
Bob Perry, the Weeklys, Texas Association of Business opposed them all. Bill Hammond took credit on KUT for the bill killing.
Personally, I agree with these results.
Reply »
birdiejoe says:
While one can debate why sanctuary cities failed to pass during the special session, no one should question the integrity and intelligence of Sen. Duncan. I wish we had 30 more of him in the Senate.
Reply »
Dean Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
You can have all of Sen. Duncan that you want. He is the worst enemy that public education in Texas has ever had. He talks one game, but plays another. He will probably end up following his hero, Kent Hance, as Chancellor of TxTech, and will immediately run it into the ground. I would hate to see that happen as TT has two (2) really good teaching professors who would have to find new jobs elsewhere.
Reply »
birdiejoe Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Some comments don’t justify a reply..
Reply »
Robert says:
Duncan has done similar in each and every session and such hasn’t created an opponent yet. He wants to be TTU chancellor and will hang on until then.
Reply »
Ben Quick Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
TTU could do a lot worse – I would rather see him at the law school he is a great lawyer!!
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat says:
Robert, so I guess Duncan doesn’t have the statewide office bug unlike folks like Chisum (who is rumored to replace EAJ on the Railroad Commission in 2012) ?
Reply »
The Ghost of Sam Houston says:
Senator Duncan is someone who studies each issue closely, forms his position on the merits, and keeps his eye on the long-term interests of our state.
Reply »
Poolshark says:
Immigration reform such as “Sanctuary Cities” is not supported by the left of center Democrats, or high-dollar Republican donors.
It’s been handled perfectly, where the Senate can claim the House killed it, and the House can claim the Senate killed it. Same with TSA groping, or any other populist, tea-party mantra.
By tea-party, I mean the uncontrolled loosely formed, original anti-TARP bailout tea party, not the newer, slicker Tea Party groups controlled by Dick Armey’s crew, the Koch Brothers team, or Glenn Beck/Dan Patrick front groups.
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 1:59 am
I am with the Ron Paul teaparty. That is the group that wants to actually cut government rather than just hate Obama to replace him with another Republican statist.
Reply »
817 says:
Rule 8, Section 15 of the House rules says suspending the 3-day rule requires 4/5 of the members present and voting. Why did the speaker rule that it requires 4/5 of the members elected to the House?
Reply »
No Le Hace Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 12:25 am
Constitution says 4/5 of it’s membership.
Reply »
Tellnitlikeitis Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Article III, Sec 32 of the Texas Constitution requires a hard 4/5ths.
Sec. 32. READING ON THREE SEVERAL DAYS; SUSPENSION OF RULE. No bill shall have the force of a law, until it has been read on three several days in each House, and free discussion allowed thereon; but four-fifths of the House, in which the bill may be pending, may suspend this rule, the yeas and nays being taken on the question of suspension, and entered upon the journals.
Reply »
Texun says:
Duncan is one of the few Republicans in the lege I’d even consider voting for. I disagree with him 2/3rds of the time, but his policy positions are at least intelligent, unlike the Tea Party pack, and he has lots of integrity, unlike the Lite Gov., who, once again, won the Lili Marlene Award.
Reply »
Judith Zaffirini says:
In no way is Duncan responsible for killing the sanctuary cities bill. The Senate Republicans had numerous opportunities to pass it, and some of its most avid supporters agreed that amending it into SB 1, a “must pass” bill, would have endangered both.
Although I’m delighted that the sanctuary cities legislation died, I am disappointed that Duncan unfairly is being blamed for its demise. No one needs to worry about him, however: He’s a strong senator, can defend himself, can withstand the pressure–and will be re-elected.
Duncan long has been respectful of and loyal to Gov. Rick Perry and has honored his legislative priorities. His payback? To quote Burka, the governor threw him “under the bus.” How Sad!
Reply »
Tellnitlikeitis Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Perry also threw Mike McKinney under the bus.
It’s what Perry does.
Reply »
South Texan Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Fully Agree.
Reply »
Texun Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Hey! That’s part of Perry’s work-out routine: a dozen squat jumps, a dozen reclined presses, and half a dozen under-the-bus pushes. And in the background, his super-rich backers are chanting: “give us two more!”
Reply »
Don Foard says:
I don’t think it will hurt Duncan here in his district. The tea partiers and other extreme right don’t much care for him, anyway. He is too moderate for their blood. (or too sensible).
Reply »
Red Raider Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
…or too rational.
Reply »
jpt51 says:
I still wonder if Straus was really responsible for killing the sanctuary bill. It’s classic Perry to divert attention away from himself, knowing well he ducked a bill that would destroy his chances should he seek the presidency.
Why can’t our current and last governor can’t admit mistakes? Hasn’t Perry figured out by now that shooting strait with Texans is the honorable thing to do? Making Duncan the bad guy is showing how insecure Perry is. Didn’t he learn anything form Bush’s mistakes?
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 2:03 am
No, Perry did not. He is too chicken to be honest with the voters. A perfect example of this is his toll road policy, motivated by a fear of raising the gas tax.
He should have said a) we need to cut spending in other areas to pay for raids b) or perhaps said combined with a) let’s raise the gas tax. And build roads “pay as you go.”
Instead he dove head first into a swimming pool of crackpipes, debt, and fiscal insanity.
All because he was chicken to deal with reality.
Reply »
Anonymous says:
No. No he did not.
Reply »
Multitasker says:
Senator Duncan is an honorable man. He is well spoken and thoughtful. He seems to want to do what is right for the state of Texas and not what is best for his re-election. Lord knows we need more like him!!
Reply »
allrighty says:
Duncan is a class act. When he rose up to speak against Birdwell’s tuition amendment, he secured (again) his place in the company of Senate greats. It had less to do with the issue itself, but speaking up to a member of his own party on something driven more by emotion than reason.
Reply »
John Johnson says:
Here’s my take …the Dem’s got what they wanted-the status quo; Bob Perry, Dick Weekley, and the rest of the Repub business owners got what they wanted…the status quo. Perry got what he wanted… a chance to say he was for it, but didn’t get any help, knowing full well that it was going to die because he was the architect who put the plan together outlining its death. He looks good in the eyes of the far right and his good friends, who depend on the cheap labor, are happy with him. The whole scenario has been politics at its worst…or best, if you are looking at it from a slimy gov’s perspective.
Reply »
Kenneth D. Franks Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 9:10 am
Exactly, he can claim he tried, pass the blame on to others, satisfy his big donors desire for cheap labor, and the far right will accept his story one more time.
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat says:
Has Dewhurst made a decision on his political future now that the special session is over ?
Reply »
Everybody Loves Ramen says:
Perry cheap-shots Duncan and immediately loses between 19 and 31 votes he may need, not in his Presidential bid, but next session…
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
You also notice that Perry is NOT running for governor again in 2014 and his presidential campaign will implode like Fred Thompson.
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 2:06 am
Briscoe, you are so right. Perry’s presidential campaign is going to get absolutely annihilated.
He does not want to raise money himself. He wants to be appointed GOP nominee. He does not want to be “vetted.” Does not want to work for votes.
He just does not want to do it – others are pushing him and that is not a good predictor of success.
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat says:
Burka, Dewhurst with a message to his supporters:
http://www.daviddewhurst.com/
Reply »
Tom Green says:
Duncan will be fine in a re-election. His two biggest cities are Lubbock, where he is revered, and San Angelo, where Perry fared worse in the GOP primary against KBH than in any other urban (?) county in the state. Duncan is loved in Lubbock and Perry is not liked in San Angelo so Perry’s smackdown of Duncan will not have any effect on Duncan’s re-election besides giving some numbskull hope of winning and making some so called election guru some money off said numbskull.
Reply »
patriotone says:
Duncan is likely stronger in San Angelo than Lubbock if that is possible. He could get an opponent out of this but it would be a lamb to the slaughter. We are not as stupid in West Texas as we look. We understand his value to the Senate and more importantly our part of the State. I have no idea what part he played in this issue and don’t care. He is a fine Senator.
Reply »
anonymous from FTW says:
Interesting that Perry was minus 5 in San Angelo and plus 20 statewide. What did he do to piss them off? A 26 point swing in an otherwise conservative county is a little strange.
Reply »
DeZavala says:
Can someone answer “anonymous from FTW”‘s question? That is a huge margin!
(Anon, can you clarify? Was that a swing from the previous Perry election, general-to-primary?)
Reply »
anonymous from FTW Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 10:00 pm
@ DeZavala – Look at the texastribune.org map showing the county by county results for the 2010 primary. I probably misspoke by saying a 26 point swing. What I meant was that Perry carried the state by almost 21% overall but lost San Angelo by 5%. I didn’t mean a swing from one election to the other, just a difference between the local and statewide results. Anyway, I would say about half the counties KBH carried were all in west central Texas in and around San Angelo according to the Tribune map. It’s just interesting that Perry did so poorly in that area of the state.
Reply »
donuthin Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:22 am
Speaks well of the people in San Angelo
Reply »
Kenneth D. Franks says:
Speaking of Perry, he threw the whole state under the bus for his future political ambitions. So one senator was pulled out, I’m happy for him but what about the rest of us. My family most of them, which is scores of people, for three generations now, since my parents left the farms they grew up on and went to college, have been teachers. We /they
certainly feel thrown under the bus.
Reply »
patriotone says:
I think I can answer the -5 Perry question in San Angelo. We are not that far from Haskell and Paint Creek. Those who know him best, like him least. Look at the money from Tom Green County. It ALL went to kay bailey. No one is more conservative than San Angelo but apparently a lot of folks are not as bright.
Reply »
victoria_29 says:
LOL I love all the Ron Paul Trolls on here & yes y’all stand out, or are u just pissed off KBH supporters still bitter over her getting stomped. And NO DUNCAN we will NOT be too busy to remember you, trust me think you are in for the primary fight you dread. Oh & Kenneth glad you are so proud of your senator, I am proud of mine for not giving into illegals demands.
Reply »
Ted Baxter says:
“trust me think you are in for the primary fight you dread”
Is this English?
Reply »
DeZavala says:
Thanks Anon from FTW.
Reply »
JohnBernardBooks says:
Texas Tribune calls it right
<a href=Perry Throws His Weight Around Lege and Comes Out a Winner
Reply »
Garner's Bucket Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Just because it seems like bad form to fluff a competing site on a blog, JBB…
http://fortbenddemocrats.org/
Reply »
JohnBernardBooks says:
you mean the competing site that Burka writes for?
A serious question for democrats, do democrats ever get anything right?
Reply »
Garner's Bucket Reply:
July 4th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Wow, I was not aware that Burka had a byline at the Texas Tribune. (Not sure he was either.) You must know everything, JBB.
Reply »
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 7:47 am
“You must know everything, JBB”
What is it with democrats? They tear anyone and everyone down constantly and when you poke a little fun at them they somehow get offended?
Reply »
Julie says:
Do Democrats ever get anything right? Answer: it’s up to the voters to decide that question.
Of the most recent 12 presidents, voters chose a Democrat six times and a Republican six times.
So it looks like it’s a split decision on whether voters think Democrats get anything right.
Reply »
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 7:48 am
@ Julie the republican
you just can’t help defending republicans, can you?
Reply »
Rog says:
JBB, a very wise person once told me that when you go through life and you’re the only one that’s right, and everyone else is wrong, you probably need to rethink your positions.
Reply »
JohnBernardBooks says:
@Rog
do you suppose President Obama has gotten that message?
Reply »
Briscoe Democrat says:
BREAKING NEWS: Dewhurst expected to enter the US Senate race on July 18th or perhaps sooner, according to Politico.
Reply »