Politics & Policy
December 10, 2012
Simpson, Eh?
Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) files to run for Speaker of the House, displacing Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) as the conservative challlenger to Joe Straus (R-San Antonio).
Joe Straus
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Politics & Policy
June 13, 2012
Takeaways From the GOP Convention
In reading the last couple of days of convention coverage, I found two key takeaways that have been overlooked:(1) Rick Perry is still very strong with the base of his party. He still connects with the rank and file when he makes a rousing speech, as he did at the convention
Politics & Policy
August 29, 2011
More on Paddie vs. Christian, HD 9
This is an analysis of the race that was developed by the Paddie camp. It is published as it was sent to me. Quoting the analysis: Basically the district can be divided into 3 parts: 1). Christian base. This is Shelby and Sabine [counties] that are currently in Christian’s District.
Politics & Policy
March 24, 2011
Help! Help! There’s a pig in this room! Quick, get the lipstick!
You have to feel sorry for the Legislative Budget Board. The LBB came out with a required report titled "Dynamic Economic Impact Statement" on the effect of the House budget, and you have never heard such squealing in the pink building. Among those seeking to apply the Maybelline were David
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2011
An odd moment in the sonogram debate
I was sitting in the Senate gallery yesterday, listening to the debate over the sonogram bill, when Dan Patrick said something that got my attention. He said that he had asked Speaker Straus to recommend someone to carry the sonogram bill, and Straus had recommended Geanie Morrison. He repeated this
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2011
MVP: Most vulnerable player (in redistricting)
[I have recovered some material I lost from the original post] It’s Jim Landtroop. 1. He’s a freshman. 2. He supported Paxton for speaker. 3. He cast one of the fifteen votes against Straus for speaker 4. He represents a part of the state that is hemorrhaging population. 5. He
Politics & Policy
February 10, 2011
House committee assignments, at long last
The Joe Straus who put together these committee assignments was a different Joe Straus from the one who made the appointments in 2009. Straus 2.0 is a much more skilled politician. For those who had labeled him a RINO, he spiked that attack by appointing 27 Republican chairs to only 11
Politics & Policy
February 1, 2011
Who’s the Boss?
The Speaker’s race in the Texas House wasn’t just about Joe Straus. It was about two competing visions of democracy.
Politics & Policy
November 9, 2010
Meeting today could clarify speaker’s race
A meeting is scheduled this afternoon at the building occupied by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. It is probably taking place as I write. My information is that representatives of Straus and some of his adversaries, including Michael Quinn Sullivan, are having discussions that could result in the shaping of
Politics & Policy
April 14, 2010
Storm warnings for Democrats
The message sent by voters in the Republican primary is that they have little use for establishment politicians. Mabrie Jackson, Delwin Jones, and Mark Griffin all fit that profile. Jones and Griffin were endorsed by establishment types and those endorsements were albatrosses around their necks. Jackson got the same percentage
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2010
Bad day for conservatives: the anger that wasn’t there
This was supposed to be an unpredictable election due to the tea parties and the Medina candidacy. It was supposed to be an election in which angry conservatives rose up and smote incumbents. Nothing remotely like that occurred. Republican congressional candidates, who might have been tainted by Washingtonitis, won with
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2010
The race within the race
The reference is to the speaker’s race. What speaker’s race? The story that is going around is that Chisum has been inviting members to his ranch. He has emerged as the most likely candidate of the hardline conservatives, if they decide to put up a fight, but the problem is
Politics & Policy
June 9, 2009
Straus adds another pledge … and four more
It’s Betty Brown. and (update) Doc Anderson Susan King Debbie Riddle Diana Maldonado The total number of pledges is now 111. I hope Straus understand that these are not written in stone.
Politics & Policy
May 22, 2009
Watching paint dry
How else to describe the pace of House debate? I can’t recall another session when the default option was for both parties to chub every bill. The debate over the unemployment insurance bill was particularly dilatory. Why is this bill even being debated? Rick Perry has drawn his line in
Politics & Policy
April 27, 2009
Tuition caps get Senate committee approval
An intensive, month-long working group in the Texas Senate has produced a bill combining the best elements of the myriad of tuition freeze/tuition reregulation bills. The resulting SB 1443 by Zaffirini unanimously passed out of the Higher Education Committee and had the additional support of Sens. Tommy Williams, Florence Shapiro,
Politics & Policy
April 14, 2009
Conference call
Speaker Straus will face one of his most difficult decisions this week: Who will be the conference committee for SB1? The members who know the budget inside out--Turner, Kolkhorst, Gattis--aren't on Appropriations, and the members who are, well, let's just say that this isn't the strongest appropriations committee ever assembled.
Politics & Policy
April 5, 2009
The Vacuum: Who will run the GOP races in 2010?
The conventional wisdom is that Republicans will pick up House seats in 2010, for two reasons. One is that the president's party seldom does well in the first off-year election (George W. Bush in 2002 being a notable exception). Another reason is that Democrats have to defend their recent gains
Politics & Policy
March 30, 2009
Straus faces ruling on Brown Voter I.D. amendment
The vehicle is HB 71 by Corte. The crucial question is whether a Voter I.D. amendment is germane. The caption and the text of the bill are quite specific. In a rational world, a point of order would have to be upheld, but since when is the Texas House a
Politics & Policy
February 20, 2009
Is Straus more powerful than Craddick?
This may have been the point that Dutton was trying to make: that the logic of the new rules makes the speaker virtually invulnerable to removal. Craddick’s critics argued that the congressional precedents and other authorities (such as Mason’s) empowered the members to remove the speaker at any time by
Politics & Policy
February 20, 2009
Sunrise, Sunset
I just want to raise a question, based on Carl Isett’s decision, announced yesterday, that he would handle the TxDOT and Texas Department of Insurance Sunset bills on the floor: Should the Sunset bills be carried by the appointees to the Sunset Commission, or by the committee chairs of the
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2009
Did the Democrats make a mistake? (revisited)
I posted this item, under the same headline, on January 8, five days before the start of the regular session. I am republishing it now because of the discussion that followed my post from earlier today: “Why are the Democrats Complaining?” I wonder if any Democrats are having second thoughts
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2009
PROPOSED NEW HOUSE RULES
The highlights: 1. A process is established for removal of the speaker following the refusal to recognize a member for a question of privilege. (The Tom Craddick Rule) This had to be done. The Craddick/Keel/Wilson ruling that the speaker was an officer of the state and could not be removed
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2009
House rules will address removing the speaker
The rules debate will probably take place on Wednesday, one day after the governor’s State of the State address. Last session it took 8 hours and 48 minutes for the House to adopt its rules. Democrats raised legitimate concerns about confidentiality and attorney-client privilege, due to former Republican operative Milton
Politics & Policy
January 14, 2009
Day One: Free at Last
The first day of a legislative session always has the festive atmosphere of a high school reunion, but this one had something extra. It was also Bastille Day—the moment that the masses stormed the battlements and freed the prisoners. I have never seen so many members look so happy. Charlie
Politics & Policy
January 11, 2009
Can Craddick come back?
Sure, there are circumstances under which he could regain the speakership. He has $3 million and a loyal core of conservative members who support him. He has time on his hands–nothing to do but make oil deals, raise money, and recruit candidates for 2010. The speaker’s statute is no longer
Politics & Policy
January 8, 2009
A Suggestion for Straus
Before election day, when it still seemed as if Tom Craddick might win reelection as speaker, Terral Smith told me about what he hoped to do with committee assignments. Rather than use vice-chairmanships as a reward for loyal team members, Smith wanted to replicate the relationship between Rob Eissler and
Politics & Policy
January 8, 2009
Did the Democrats make a mistake? UPDATE
Note to readers: This original post (scroll down below the asterisks) noting the ironies for both parties surrounding the presumed election of Straus as speaker, has kicked up a bit of a furor. I unwittingly blundered into a fierce debate among Democrats. Party people such as Matt Angle think that
Politics & Policy
January 7, 2009
The Liberation
I have covered the Texas House of Representatives since 1975. What I love about the place is that, traditionally, it is has been an open shop. The culture of the House is that you can do what you are big enough to do, whether you are on the team or
Politics & Policy
January 6, 2009
Sore Winners
The worst mistake that the Straus regime can make is to be sore winners. Doesn’t anybody learn anything around here? Craddick was a sore winner. He rubbed the Democrats’ and the ABCs’ noses in the dirt for three sessions. Laney once said, jokingly, that Craddick had done what he could
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2009
The fight from the right againt Straus
An anonymous commenter posted a list of Straus’s votes that did not sit well with social conservatives as a response to my article of Friday night, “Can Straus hold the votes?” I have researched the issues that Anonymous mentioned and will discuss them below. The comment begins: Unfortunately, Rep. Straus
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2009
Ich bin ein Speaker!
Burka and Eileen discuss probable Speaker Joe Straus, Craddick’s exit, horse racing, and whether bridge qualifies as gambling. Honorably mentioned: John Smithee, Burt Solomons, Dan Gattis, Jim Keffer, and playing the ponies. (And yes, I am wearing a scarf over my turtleneck. My space heater gave out, and I can’t
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2009
Will Craddick stay?
When Tom Craddick became speaker, Pete Laney remained in the Legislature for two sessions. Craddick believed, rightly or wrongly, that Laney orchestrated the Democratic resistance to his leadership, and he deeply resented it. Is history going to repeat itself? Is Craddick going to take his seat on the floor and
Politics & Policy
January 4, 2009
Branch said to be with Straus
Birds of a feather, Alamo Heights and Highland Park, both rooftop districts. School finance will be fun.
Politics & Policy
January 4, 2009
Smithee’s prospects
The frustrating thing about John Smithee is that he has chosen all his career to perform at 60% of his ability. He has never wanted to get out front, or draw upon all the respect he has earned over the years. One “Dear Colleague” letter from him in the past
Politics & Policy
January 4, 2009
Straus vs. Smithee?
Here’s where I think the speaker’s race is headed. I should credit a commenter to my previous post with a similar analysis. If Straus gets to 80+ by Sunday afternoon and lays out the names, he’s going to be the next speaker. If he hasn’t proved up his 76 votes
Politics & Policy
January 3, 2009
Straus in the wind: claims 76 votes
Gary Scharrer has posted a story in the San Antonio Express-News quoting Joe Straus as saying that he has the votes to be speaker. Here are the first three paragraphs: Republican lawmaker Joe Straus said he has collected enough pledges from House colleagues Saturday to oust incumbent House
Politics & Policy
January 2, 2009
Can Straus hold the votes?
I think Straus is an honorable member, and he certainly deserves the credit for being among the first to speak out against Craddick, but speaker seems like a stretch. I’ve said before that it isn’t rocket science to preside in a fair manner, but the ABCs also needed to consider
Politics & Policy
December 7, 2008
Capitol Inside: Straus may run for speaker
I hope this won’t be seen as poaching; a lobbyist sent me the story from Capitol Inside. Here are the first two paragraphs: There’s speculation that State Rep. Joe Straus may be seriously considering a race for the Texas House’s top leadership post if no other candidate catches
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2008
The speaker’s race: Straus goes on the record as a Craddick critic
Gary Scharrer of the Express-News posted a story on the paper’s web site in which several in which, for the first time, a Republican supporter of Craddick says for the record that the speaker is hurting the Republican party. The story quotes two Republican members. One, a chairman,
Politics & Policy
October 31, 2008
Speaker Up
Candidates for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives tell us why they think they should hold the highly coveted gavel.