The media (and we do include ourselves, thanks) loves the sort of legislative or political story line that goes like a cliffhanger episode of a TV show. And the Lege always seems to provide at least one during the session. Will they finish in time? Will they fail and go into overtime?
Full StoryGov. Rick Perry on rumors that he’s sniffing out a presidential run: “I’ve got a legislative session that is substantially more important to the people of the state of Texas and to me.”
Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh on Perry's qualifications: "He has great hair."
Republican National Committeewoman Debbie Joslin of Alaska, quoted by the Washington Times on the talk of a presidential candidate from Texas: "As of today, I love Gov. Perry for the nomination. In my state, the coyote story alone would win him the nomination."
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, as storm clouds gathered over the budget: "Nothing's impossible as long as the Legislature is in session."
Rep. John Zerwas, R-Houston, on health and human services budget figures in the House-Senate compromise: "It's a stretch. But it's absolutely certain it won't happen if we don't try."
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, at a Texas Tribune TribLive forum, on the budget: "Everybody wants a cut until they find out it's their grandmother that's going to be in the garage."
Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, at that same event, on whether there will be a negative reaction to what the Republican Legislature has been doing: "It's a conservative state, but it's not a crazy state."
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, in an interview published by the Texas Democratic Party: "Rick Perry doesn’t understand higher education. He doesn’t have a graduate degree, and he graduated a long time ago with a major in something like agriculture. I have a PhD, so I understand the value of research and teaching. He just doesn’t understand it."
Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, upon hearing that his "sanctuary cities" legislation, HB 12, was gutted by state senators, who replaced the bill with a homeland security omnibus bill: "I'm in the Zen mode right now. I am thinking."
Sen. Robert Deuell, R-Greenville, presenting a bill that would make a particular type of fishing legal: “I personally don’t noodle, but I would defend to the death your right to do so."
Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, on campaigning as a 13-year-old for Gov. Dolph Briscoe: "I didn't get to vote, even though I grew up in Duval County."
Some Texas cities that held municipal elections last weekend aren’t quite finished. In Dallas and Fort Worth, where no mayoral candidates were able to pull past the 50-percent mark, will hold runoffs in June. Dallas will choose between businessman Mike Rawlings, the front-runner, and former police chief David Kunkle. On the same day in Fort Worth, Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Betsy Price will face former councilman Jim Lane.
Feral hogs should watch for copters. A bill permitting hunters to shoot them from helicopters got final passage in the House and was sent to the governor’s desk. Under the pork-choppers' bill, licensed hunters will be allowed to contract with landowners and pilots to shoot the animals, which are increasingly encroaching on residential communities — and even some urban areas. The bill passed the House with only one dissenting vote.
Waste Control Specialists, a company owned by politically connected Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, scored a victory with the passage of a House bill that would authorize the company to set the rates it charges for radioactive waste imported into Texas for disposal. The company’s facility in Andrews County will begin accepting low-level radioactive waste later this year, and the legislation allows it to accept waste from states other than Texas and Vermont, whose rates are already set. Attempts to amend the bill were unsuccessful, and it eased through the House. The Senate has already passed its own version of the bill.
Conference committee members trying to craft a final budget are planning to recommend closing a state prison to save an estimated $50 million in the budget cycle. City leaders in Sugar Land have wanted the prison closed for years, and the lawmakers’ decision to close the Central Unit there frees up the real estate for business development. It would be a first for Texas, which has never closed a prison.
Three Texas death row inmates' appeals were rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, clearing the way for their executions. The court didn't comment in rejecting the appeals of Guadalupe Esparza, Richard Vasquez and Steven Woods. Esparza and Vasquez’s appeals centered on their troubled upbringings and mental capacity; Woods’ attorneys alleged that his trial attorneys weren’t diligent enough at presenting evidence that would have prevented a death sentence in the case.
James Rodney Gilstrap, an attorney from Marshall, is President Barack Obama's choice for a federal judgeship in East Texas. He's a former Harrison County Judge and is a partner in a law firm and he starts with backing from both of the state's U.S. senators.
Houston's delegation to Austin used to battle over local issues so much that the House was sometimes called the Houston City Council. Now it's going the other way. Former Reps. Ellen Cohen and Kristi Thibaut, two Democrats who were defeated in November's election, are running for the Houston City Council.
Dolores Ramirez, who teaches kindergarten in San Benito, is the new president of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
C. Bruce Malone is the new president of the Texas Medical Association. He's an orthopedic surgeon from Austin.
Move Pete Havel to the Dallas-based Wolf Group, a PR, advertising and marketing firm. He's been with the U.S. Chamber, NFIB and the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Gov. Rick Perry appointed three members to the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. Debra Dockery of San Antonio is president and owner of Debra Dockery Architect PC. Paula Miller of The Woodlands is a financial accountant and president of P.A. Miller Consulting Inc. Sonya Odell of Dallas is an adviser for Wayne O’Neill Associates.
The governor also appointed: