Perry, Whitmire, Grahmann, Eltife, Smith, Hanushek, Sanders, Bentsen, and Williamson

Gov. Rick Perry, asked by the Associated Press about his national ambitions: "I have no interest in that. I am not interested in going to Washington, D.C., other than to the occasional meeting or to meet with a secretary or someone in the administration to help further Texas' business."

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, leaning over to Lakeway Church Senior Pastor Joel Osteen while the audience was applauding Gov. Rick Perry's "Imagine the Possibilities" inauguration speech: "Hey, Joel! You've got some competition!"

From a sermon by Catholic Bishop Charles Grahmann, quoted in The Dallas Morning News on strict anti-immigration laws adopted on one of that city's suburbs: "I often wonder if Joseph and Mary and Jesus would try to find a place in Farmers Branch. They would probably be told they would have to find another place."

Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, in the Tyler Morning Telegraph on local school property tax cuts funded by the state: "I was concerned people were going to get their tax bills and they would be furious that there was no tax decrease. The first 17 cents wasn't even felt. I am in real estate, and I get tax bills. I don't think I got one tax bill that was less than the year before. We may not feel much of the next round, the 33 cents, either."

Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, telling the El Paso Times why he filed legislation making it a crime to miss a parent-teacher conference at school: "It's intent is not to raise money; it's solely to improve parental involvement."

Eric Hanushek, a researcher who also works at Stanford University, quoted in The Dallas Morning News on studies showing masters' degrees for teachers don't improve education for students they teach: "They're worthless. Case closed. Next question."

Another researcher — William Sanders, formerly of the University of Tennessee — in the same story: "I did one study that compared graduates from 40 different schools of education, everything from tiny no-names to national powerhouses. Each school produced great teachers, mediocre teachers and lousy teachers in roughly the same degree."

Former U.S. Rep. Ken Bentsen Jr., who now lives — mostly — in Washington, D.C., in the Houston Chronicle: "I think we are the only people in the United States who summer in Houston."

Former Rep. Ric Williamson, now chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, on the Texas Legislature, in the San Antonio Express-News: "Those boys and girls pass the laws and we live with them and smile."

Pauken, Burgess, Perry, Dewhurst, Craddick, Talton, Thompson, King, Patrick, Nugent, and Black.

Tom Pauken, on why the Task Force on Appraisal Reform, which he chaired, didn't recommend a cap on growth in property appraisals: "I don't think we stood a chance in getting it passed. The votes aren't there for that."

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, quoted in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about being in the congressional minority:  "To some degree, it can be liberating. But, all things considered, it's still better to be in the majority."

Gov. Rick Perry, quoted in The Dallas Morning News after a meeting with Democrats in the Texas delegation in Washington, D.C.: "Here's how excited I was about it. I said you get that transportation money up to where we're not a donor state anymore, I'm gonna become a Democrat again."

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, on calls for looser eligibility requirements for people in the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP: "I don't think most people in Texas have a lot of sympathy for someone that can't fill out a two-page application every six months."

House Speaker Tom Craddick, quoted in The Dallas Morning News on the unsuccessful challenge to his reelection: "We're going to try to do a better job of listening to what the members are trying to tell us, and communicate both ways. Obviously, we thought we were doing a good job. Some didn't, and that's what it's all about."

Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, who challenged House Speaker Tom Craddick, talking about Craddick's [then pending] committee appointments with the Austin American-Statesman: "He's not kinder and gentler. He's just trying to be smarter."

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, quoted in The Dallas Morning News on the chance of creating an "innocence commission" to make criminal penalties are fairly administered: "Most people aren't interested in the innocence of people, just the guilt. It's going to take a major embarrassment before Texas resolves these issues."

Rep. Phil King, a Weatherford Republican who chairs the House committee overseeing utilities in Texas, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "I think it's just bad science. I think global warming is bad science."

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, quoted in the Houston Chronicle after he's seen the committees where he'll serve: "The truth is, after 10 years of talk radio, I am well-versed in these issues."

Rocker Ted Nugent, telling the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Gov. Rick Perry "called me to tell me, when they attack me for wearing the rebel flag, 'Be sure you tell them that I, as governor, support the waving of the rebel flag at the Laredo airport, alongside with the American, Texas and Mexican flags, and tell them to drop dead.'"

Perry spokesman Robert Black, asked if Perry really said people could drop dead: "No."