Heleman, Wells, Clawson, Harper-Brown, Chisum, and Burton

John Heleman, the state comptroller's chief revenue estimator, quoted by the Associated Press: "We are seeing a gentle cooling of the Texas economy. The last several years have really been growing very robustly... we were calling for an easing of that growth and we're seeing that now."

Daisetta Mayor and Fire Chief Lynn Wells, quoted in The New York Times on the massive sinkhole that appeared in the middle of town: "It's unreal — the earth just wallered up."

Terry Clawson, speaking for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in the Houston Chronicle after state auditors said there aren't enough inspectors available to ensure the safety of the state's 7,603 dams: "We know of no dams in Texas that are in imminent danger of collapse."

Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, quoted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about the state's transportation agency: "TxDOT used to be a premier agency in America. It's not any more. Other states have better roads."

Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, quoted in the Houston Chronicle after Attorney General Greg Abbott said it's probably illegal to transport horsemeat across Texas: "Mexico kills horses, whether we like it or not, and people in France eat them. And sometimes the slaughterhouses like to ship the meat out of Corpus [Christi] or Houston."

Barack Obama press secretary Bill Burton, quoted in The New York Times about on-air advice for his campaign from politico-turned-pundit Karl Rove: "Wouldn't taking his advice be a little like getting health tips from a funeral home director?"