Peña, Solomons, Smithee, Garza, Costello

Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, quoted in the Rio Grande Guardian from a speech to the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: "The reason last session we did so well is because you had these two warring factions going against each other with knives, clubs, and whatnot. And we are the peacemakers. We say, 'Hey, hey, let's work this out. How do we work that out, Mr. Speaker? Well, we need some more money directed to the Valley. So that's the way we are going to work it out. You send us some more money.'"

Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, in the San Antonio Express-News: "The House is seemingly coming apart. I am terribly, terribly dismayed that... apparently we have a handful of Democrats making demands for control of power and clout and title. A number of us, even though we're supporters of Tom Craddick, are just totally turned off."

Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, on the conversations among House members about the race for speaker: "There are some advantages to it. Everybody's being really nice to each other. They all want to know how your wife is doing."

Tony Garza, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, quoted in the Rio Grande Guardian from a speech to the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce: "The truth is, Mexico would not be the center of cartel activity or experiencing this level of violence were not the United States the largest consumer of illicit drugs and the main supplier of weapons to the cartels. The U.S. and Mexico must fight these criminal organizations together or we will fail together."

Anti-toll road activist Sal Costello, telling the Austin American-Statesman that he's left town, and the state of Texas, and giving up his excoriating advocacy: "I'm retired from that. It doesn't pay, and it's a long road. It's a lonely road."