04.30.08
Hacktackular – UPDATED
This may be the best headline regarding Gov. Rick Perry’s appointment of Deirdre Delisi’s as chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, Daughter-In Law Of Local Lawmaker Will Chair Transportation Commission. As reported by Burka it appears that Austin’s own Sen. Kirk Watson has finally acquiesced, and will allow Delisi’s appointment to go forward.
..I have learned from a source close to Kirk Watson (NOT Watson) that the Austin senator will not object to the appointment of Deirdre Delisi to succeed the late Rick Williamson as chairman of the Texas Highway Commission. Watson has been the primary roadblock–so much so that speculation was rampant that Perry would name a chairman who was not controversial, and then Delisi would take over the running of the agency, a position for which no Senate confirmation is required. However, Watson had previously objected to the appointment of Ron Wilson to the Public Safety Commission, and the best way I can think of to put it is that Perry was playing hardball and Watson didn’t think that busting a second Perry appointee was a good career move.
Not sure what kind of future “career move” Watson is planning on. But it’s hard to see how standing up to a Republican governor, with little public support, could be bad for a Democrats future. There’s no comment yet from Watson or Senate Transportation Committee chair John Carona.
Perry spokesman Robert Black said he believes they will be confirmed. He said Watson, who has not yet commented on the appointment today, had met privately several times with Delisi.
“I think when any member of the Legislature … sits down with Deidre, they will see someone exceptionally bright, someone who wants to find the solution to a problem and doesn’t care who gets the credit,†Black said.
As for Carona, Black said the senator still is no fan of the appointment. As for Carona’s harsh assessment to a Fort Worth audience some months ago, Black said that “anyone who uses terms like that doesn’t really know Deidre. You would be more accurate to call her a policy wonk than a political hack.â€
Carona should be well acquainted with Delisi, however. Black said that in her capacity as chief of staff, one of Delisi’s “top priorities is going to be working withh members of the Legislature to get things done.â€
Carona was not yet available for comment Wednesday.
While this is patroage the appointment power is often cited as the greatest power of Texas’ governor.
[UPDATE]: Watson speaks to the AusChron and what he says is hard to take:
“I knew they were coming, and my hope is that what we see with these two appointments is a change in direction,” said Watson. He hopes this could indicate a shift from the “us versus them mentality at TXDoT,” and place more emphasis on local control over decisions about road infrastructure.
You can just look at the current US Attorney General to see what happens when Democrats believe in GOP appointees. Hoping is fine but, it just can’t be done when dealing with this current crop of GOP leaders in Texas. And looking at Perry’s speech from last week there isn’t any hope for a change in direction in there.