01.06.09
Posted in Democratic Events, Good Stuff, HD-52, Take Action, Williamson County at 4:38 pm by wcnews
Those are the words of Braden Frame in this report from News 8, Wilco Democrats win a House seat and open doors, (there’s video too).
When the Texas Legislature convenes next week, Williamson County will have a new advocate and county Democrats will have their own headquarters.
Rep.-elect Diana Maldonado is the first Democrat to win the District 52 House seat in 16 years, and her victory will help keep theWilliamson County Democratic Partyoffice open.
The Round Rock office first opened back in July, hopeful to make some changes in a traditionally Republican county. They were able to stay open due to the growth of the local party and the money it continues to receive since the November elections.
They speak with Leanna Terrell, she was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Williamson County in August:
Leanna Terrell took three months off before elections to volunteer at the campaign office.
“I had gotten the bug. I had gotten the enthusiasm,” Terrell said.
She said she had never been a vocal voter, but saw the need for change and found plenty of others who agreed.
“I was surprised during this campaign, and walking my precinct to see how many Democrats there were and how happy others were to see how many there were,” Terrell said
Rep. Elect Diana Maldonado:
“As far as being the first Democrat in 16, 18 years, I think that resonates a change is coming,” Maldonado said. “But also my experience and the work I’ve done — people will see I’m about the issues and I will prioritize what makes our community strong.
And Braden Frame who was Democratic County Attorney Jaime Lynn’s campaign manager:
Part of keeping her presence strong in the community includes
keeping the doors to the county Democratic headquarters open, a permanent presence Democrats haven’t had for more than a decade.
“It’s lit a fire under Democrats in Williamson County and they are
rallying around her, and we’ll continue to do so for the next few
years. So I expect our successes are not over,” Democrat Braden Frame said.
Come join in turning Williamson County blue this Thursday.
Permalink
Posted in Around The State, Privatization, Road Issues, Transportation at 2:19 pm by wcnews
Gov. Rick Perry makes that very clear, Perry says TTC name dead, but not public/private partnerships and toll roads, (there’s a podcast, listen for yourself). As Amadeo Saenz says:
The Trans-Texas Corridor, as a name and as a guiding concept of the state’s transportation future, is dead, TxDOT executive director Amadeo Saenz told an audience of more than a thousand this morning at an Austin hotel.
In typical Orwellian fashion they’ll probably just rename it. How does the Traverse-Texas Thoroughfare sound? Feel free to add yours in the comments.
[UPDATE]: The new name is Innovative Connectivity in Texas, no joke.
Permalink
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, HD-20, Right Wing Lies, Speakers Race, Williamson County at 11:16 am by wcnews
Implications for Williamson County as well
The last several days of the speakers race is likely a microcosm of what to expect in the GOP primary for governor in 2010 if Kay Bailey Hutchison does indeed run. Nasty attacks from the radical right of the Texas GOP in support of their candidate Rick Perry.
There will be repercussions in the Texas GOP now that it’s almost guaranteed that Joe Straus, III a more moderate, liberal, or libertarian - whichever one prefers - Republican will be taking the gavel of the Texas House of Representatives. It’s also likely there will be repercussions here in Williamson County too. While Straus has deep roots in the Texas GOP, it’s not the same kind of roots that were instrumental in taking power in Texas since the 1990’s, or here in Williamson County. They agree on low taxes and their “so called free market”, but that’s pretty much where the agreement ends. Straus’ kind of social conservative pedigree, or lack there of, isn’t what’s needed for a candidate in Williamson County, or most rural counties in Texas, to win a GOP primary.
He’s from a pro-gambling family, his father clashed with Texas Baptists in the 70’s over gambling. His family has close relations with the Bush family - other than Dubya most of the Bush family isn’t down with the “far right” of the party - harkening back to the more moderate/elite/Rockefeller style GOP.
This new speaker would also seem to have negative implications on Rep. Dan Gattis, Jr.’s career in the house. Since he didn’t join with Straus and the ABC’s early on, he’s likely to lose his seat on the House Appropriations Committee and it’s also unlikely he’ll chair a committee in the upcoming legislative session. He’ll likely begin looking ahead to a state Senate run next if Sen Steve Ogden does indeed retire and doesn’t run in 2010.
This likely is not an isolated case or a flash-in-the-pan. This has likely been boiling inside the Texas GOP for some time and the post-election GOP poll, Beyond Bush, results played into this as well. It will now become “safer” for more moderate Republicans in Texas to step forward, especially in urban areas, Straus: Well-liked except by far right.
Straus, a pro-business, fiscal conservative who held minor posts in the Reagan and the first Bush administrations, quickly gained a reputation in the Legislature for reaching across the aisle – unusual for a freshman. In one instance, he broke with his party and with Gov. Rick Perry to vote against a hotly contested measure to lower school property taxes by increasing sales and cigarette taxes. Conservative think tanks say his votes were pro-taxpayer more than 70 percent of the time.
Straus, who is vice chairman of the House Economic Development Committee, also serves on the Committee on Regulated Industries – he’s an advocate for energy efficiency – and the influential Local and Consent Calendars Committee, which determines when bills come up for a vote. He was named Freshman of the Year by the Texas Association of District and County Attorneys, and has been honored by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Along with the moderate vs. radicals fight in the Texas GOP, the other fault line is the rural vs. urban Republicans. It’ll be hard fro the far right to attack Straus on criminal justice issues since WCDA John Bradley’s TDCAA awarded him “Freshman of the Year” in 2005 saying he had a “strong first session”, (see page 10) [.pdf].
Straus being from San Antonio and being a moderate means one of the reasons he was likely chosen was so that he can help them get back some of the Hispanic vote they’ve been losing lately. Which will likely enrage the anti-immigration fanatics in the radical right of the party. It will be like this on many issues as the Texas GOP fights it’s internal battles over the next sevearl years.
But the Texas GOP’s most glaring problem has been their inability to govern. While some don’t see any “major issues” facing Texas in the upcoming legislature, there is a massive clean up that needes to be done regarding the neglect the Texas GOP has allowed to happen to our state in the recent past. (For in depth on that check out this ongoing DMN series State of Neglect, link via South Texas Chisme). And most believe school funding and budget issues will soon be major issues again.
While the Texas GOP fights it’s internal battle it’s key for Texas Democrats to show Texans the way out of this morass. Because history is showing that tax cuts and privatization are not the panacea the Texas GOP led many to believe they were. What Texas needs is leadership, not another sales pitch about how much we can have without having to pay for it. Whichever party and/ or politician(s) that can provide that will have a bright future in Texas.
Permalink
01.05.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:45 pm by dembones
KXAN named Karen Brooks as “Executive Producer of Digital Media”. Brooks had formerly served as an Austin bureau reporter for the Dallas Morning News and developed a reputation for fair, thorough and accurate reporting. EyeOnWilliamson congratulates Brooks on the new job and hopes she will find time to write and report in between her other duties.
Permalink
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Privatization, Road Issues, Transportation at 3:18 pm by wcnews
The release of the interim report on public-private partnerships (PPP’s or P3’s) reminds us that our state is still facing the same serious dilemma it has been for a while when it come to our transportation infrastructure - new roads, repairs, rail, etc.
With Rep. Mike Krusee retiring that means there will be a new chair of the House Transportation Committee and with a new Speaker coming in the speculation has already begun. While Lois Kolkhorst or Joe Pickett would be good picks we’ll have to wait and see how likely. Kolkhorst while a Republican, could be caugth up in the urban vs. rural melee, and Pickett is a Democrat.
The interim report has done nothing to settle the issue of how to fund our infrastructure in Texas, Report fuels toll road debate.
There was consensus on many topics but “irreconcilable disagreement” on others, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, said in a letter accompanying the report released earlier this week.
“This debate will need to be continued and the consequences of any actions fully considered as legislation is developed,” they wrote.
They also pointed out that “[t]he report has an underlying tone that…traditional transportation finance…should be deemphasized”. The “Randian” on the committee had a different opinion.
Another study committee member, Robert Poole of the Reason Foundation, which advocates free markets and limited government, said the report didn’t go far enough to extol private help.
Private cash and bonds will pay for all of the $1.3 billion Texas 130 tollway from Seguin to Austin, more than twice what government bonds could have raised, he said in his own letter. Construction on the four-lane, 40-mile highway is set to start this year.
“One of the important advantages of the long-term toll concession model is that it can often raise larger sums for a new toll road,” he stated.
Ben Wear wrote an article this weekend on the first in Texas PPP toll road in Texas, Kickoff close for first (and only?) private tollway.
Based on the years-long furor over privatized tollways and the Trans-Texas Corridor, Texans could be forgiven for thinking the state is crisscrossed with thousand-foot-wide, foreign-run toll roads.
In fact, there aren’t any. None are even under construction.
That will begin to change this summer, however, when a Spanish-Australian-American consortium breaks ground on a 40-mile extension of the Texas 130 tollway southeast of Austin. Once the SH 130 Concession Co. completes the four-lane toll road, probably by sometime in 2012, the 50-year clock on its lease with the Texas Department of Transportation will begin.
While it brought in money up front it’s way too soon to tell if this road will ever pay off. (It will cost $6 to drive the 40 mile stretch, as of now).
While it needs to be made clear that PPP’s are not all bad or unacceptable, what should be taken from this report is that there is no single answer to our problem. PPP’s may be fine in some limited instances. But the overriding point that should be taken form the report is that while stopping diversion and recovering Texas’ full share of federal funds, indexing and raising the gas tax, may not be able to “close the funding” gap it’s obvious they could, at the least, shrink the gap significantly and provide some relief in the near future. That in conjunction with possible federal stimulus money, and a toll road in specific circumstances, could be enough to get us through this crisis.
There is an opportunity this session to finally take a step forward. A new speaker and committee chair in the Texas House certainly could help, but transportation with a new “anti-tax”, “free market” speaker could also be the death of anything with the word tax in it.
And with the issues facing TxDOT in the upcoming session , Texas lawmakers to focus on transportation politics, it seems like everything is up in the air right now.
In mid-December, a citizen’s committee made up of Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane and other business leaders outlined for the commission $313 billion in road and bridge needs between now and 2030. While some spoke about the astronomical dollar figure, Delisi asked, “What’s the cost to the state of not doing it?”
Meanwhile, lawmakers on the sunset panel recommended in a narrow vote to do away with the existing five-person commission that oversees the transportation department and replace it with one commissioner named by the governor – much like the insurance commissioner operates. That transportation head would have to be reconfirmed by the state Senate every two years, and there would be more legislative oversight of the agency.
The state’s direction on transportation is at a crossroads right now which means there’s a great opportunity to fix this long standing problem.
Permalink
Posted in Around The State, Commentary at 8:51 am by wcnews
It’s Monday and that means it is time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance’s weekly round up. Enjoy the first one of the year!
BossKitty at TruthHugger sees the USA is not the “goodie two shoes” it claims to be. Among other discrepancies, euphemisms don’t change hard cold facts, US Teaches Terrorism As “Irregular Warfare”
SHOCKING! How Exxon Fixes Benzene Leaks. Also at Bluedaze links to the five part series, Behnd the Shale. Part five highlights blogger TXsharon and her blog, Bluedaze.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes the monarchists are using words like ‘insurgency’, ‘coupe d’etat’ and ‘overthrow’ to describe the Speaker’s race.
Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about how our terrible Texas Senator John Cornyn is silent on hard economic times in Texas, but quite vocal about the Senate race in Minnesota.
The Texas Cloverleaf looks at the possibility of a higher federal gas tax, and offers suggestion on new ideas.
Off the Kuff looks at various possibilities for the presumed eventual special election to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Senate.
jobsanger addressed both political and lifestyle issues last week. First, he answered those who questioned the qualification of Caroline Kennedy to be a senator in Is Kennedy Qualified?, and then expressed his amusement that a swinger’s club exists in the absurdly religious Texas Panhandle in Panhandle Swingers - Who Knew?.
PDiddie at Brains and Eggs remains skeptical about the prospects of Tom Craddick being unseated. He’s still got Hope for Change, he just isn’t sure that the Republicans have it in them.
McBlogger this week takes a look at the hard times some are having the Bush’s ‘Economic Miracle’. Mayor McSleaze gives us an inside look at a Wendy’s in DC metro that has a Supreme new employee.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson says that Ronnie Earle should run for Governor of Texas.
Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at Joe Strauss, the candidate for speaker anointed by the 11 “Anybody But Craddick” Republicans and now the presumed Speaker.
Permalink
Posted in 81st Legislature, Around The State, HD-52, Speakers Race, The Lege at 8:21 am by dembones
Quorum Report is reporting that San Antonio Republican Rep. Joe Straus has released a list (Microsoft Word .doc) of 85 supporters, nine more than required to elect him to replace Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) as Speaker of the House. Last night, Craddick withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo). EyeOnWilliamson has also learned, via an email from Carl Whitmarsh, that Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) has signed a pledge card for Straus, bringing his total to 86.
Smithee now must lock down the remaining 64 members and attempt to persuade eleven others to switch sides. There are more than a few other candidates, but their chances are rapidly dimming as these two front-runners emerge.
Williamson county Rep. Diana Maldonado (D-Round Rock) has signed a pledge card for Straus and is shown on Straus’ list of 85. Rep. Dan Gattis Jr. (R-Georgetown) released a list of three supporters Dec. 29 and remains a candidate for Speaker.
UPDATE: Two more Representatives have pledged support for Straus, bringing his total pledges to 88. EyeOnWilliamson will post their names as soon as the sources are confirmed.
UPDATE: Add two more names, bringing Straus to 90, with two more Republicans expected to join the list today.
Permalink
01.02.09
Posted in Around The State, Commentary, Speakers Race at 10:59 pm by wcnews
Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) is the consensus pick of the anti-Craddick Republicans in the Texas House.
This could be the beginning of an internal battle inside Texas GOP that was bound to happen sooner or later. The “moderates” vs. the “conservatives”, and this pick just feeds into that. I don’t think the wing nuts are going to like this pick, especially when he’s taking the place of their ideological master.
Here’s how a short profile on him from the February 2008 issue of Texas Monthly:
The ideological pendulum at the Lege is swinging, finally and inevitably, back toward the center, so moderate Republicans—the golden-cheeked warblers of Texas politics—may soon reemerge as a force to be reckoned with. When that happens, we’re betting on this pedigreed, patrician lawmaker from tony District 121 (Alamo Heights, Olmos Park) to be in the thick of things. The son of San Antonio grandee and GOP stalwart Jocelyn Straus, Joe III studied political science at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, before taking low-level staff jobs in the Reagan and Bush 41 administrations. A principal in the insurance firm of Watson, Mazur, Bennett, and Straus, he had never run for office before vying for a seat vacated by a Railroad Commission appointee in 2005; he beat three challengers, including a former Texas Supreme Court justice, to win a special election, and was reelected with ease last year. Genial and pragmatic, he’s a proponent of low taxes, economic growth, and other totems of fiscal conservatism, but he’s no friend to hectoring social conservatives—and he’s all for lowering the level of anger at the Capitol. He’s also one of the rare pols who see their time in office as public service. Imagine that. Even better, imagine a world in which everyone saw it that way.
He’s from the Daddy Bush “elite” wing of the GOP. He also may get under the skin of the Rural R’s - there has been a rural vs. urban rift develping in the GOP also. He’s an insurance man and lawyer. There is no such thing as a good GOP speaker for the Democrats. But Straus is likely better for Texas than Craddick. That may be the best we can hope for at this point, to try and lessen the damage until Democrats can take back power in Texas. The pick shocked Burka. Good luck Joe.
[UPDATE]: Elise Hu has video.
Permalink
Posted in Around The State, Privatization, Road Issues, Transportation at 4:33 pm by wcnews
The full report [.pdf] of the Legislative Study Committee on Private Participation in Toll Projects is now available. It’s 128 pages, enjoy all you tranportation geeks out there.
Also the federal National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, (of which soon to be former state Rep. Mike Krusee is a member) will be recommending a 50% hike in the national gas tax.
Permalink
Posted in 2010 Primary, Around The State, Election 2010, Good Stuff at 1:23 pm by wcnews
As I was reading this AAS article, Retiring DA engaged community in his job, it seemed like a “no-brainer” that Ronnie Earle should run for the Democratic nomination as Governor of Texas in 2010.
Lawyers and judges call Earle an innovator and say he was the perfect match for Austin, a place where juries have shown little appetite for sentencing low-level offenders to prison.
Terry Keel, a prosecutor under Earle in the 1980s and 1990s who went on to become county sheriff, a state legislator and Texas House parliamentarian, said Earle struck a balance between innovative programs and being tough on crime. Keel said, for example, that Earle was one of the first in Texas to create a special unit for prosecuting child abuse crimes.
“What he’s most known for, and rightfully so, is he was willing to think outside the box,” said Keel, a Republican. “Ronnie sees the role as more of a social worker than as a law enforcer.”
In the past decade and a half, Wilson Andrews, a bailiff in Travis County courts, has volunteered on a variety of Earle initiatives, including community crime prevention committees and at the Travis County state jail, helping reintegrate former offenders into the community. Andrews, 75, said Earle is “straight up.” “In other words, he cares,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”
Earle, 66, is married to Twila Hugley Earle, with whom he once taught a class on “community building” at the University of Texas. They have three grown children, including Travis County Court-at-Law Judge Elisabeth Earle.
He grew up northeast of Fort Worth on a ranch near Birdville, now called Haltom City. He came to Austin when he was 19 and earned government and law degrees from the University of Texas. At 26, he became Texas’ youngest judge when he was appointed associate judge in Austin’s Municipal Court,
In 1973, Earle won his first of two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, and three years later, he ran for district attorney and defeated then-County Attorney Ned Granger.
Earle recalls that he started out as a tough-on-crime prosecutor but within a few years realized that, standing alone, that approach was flawed. Criminals would go off to prison and return to Austin as better criminals, he said.
“To do the same thing over and over and wait for the same result is insanity,” he said.
In the 1980s, Earle was a leader of the emerging community justice movement, pushing alternative sentencing programs like jail boot camp and making restitution for victims a priority.
With the issues this state has had in recent years with its prisons and reform talk coming from both sides of the aisle the last several years - problems at the TYC, putting innocent people in jail, easing some sex offender requirements, and alternatives to prison - an Earle candidacy would have built-in appeal.
Of course, he’s got tremendous support and credibility with the Democratic base in Texas. He’d be a great counter on the ballot to either Perry or Hutchinson, and will not shrink in the face of their attacks. He’s also well positioned to take advantage of the GOP’s corruption. And he’d make the “wing-nut” heads spin in the Texas GOP. Here’s what the article said about a run for governor:
As he prepares to leave office Thursday, Earle, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2010, is coy about his future plans. “I am going to be doing some life preaching, but it ain’t going to be the gospel,” he said.
It is impossible to know whether Earle would seriously consider running. Democrats would be fortunate to have a candidate with his experience and integrity on the statewide ballot.
Permalink
Previous entries
