Campaign Chatter

The Road to Victory?

Now that the campaign filing deadline has passed, dozens of candidates are breathing a collective sigh of relief — either because they won’t have to run at all, or because they’re facing a cakewalk. Thirty-five candidates are unopposed in both their primary and general elections, including 28 in the Texas House and seven in the state Senate. One of the unopposed state House candidates — former State Board of Education member Marsha Farney — will come in as a freshman. There are no unopposed candidates in Texas' congressional delegation, though several of them have what look like easy races. 

Here’s a look at the outright winners, and those who appear to be cruising toward victory, in Texas’ congressional and legislative races. Candidates listed as "Opposed - Looking Good" face no primary challenger, and are either running in a district where their party won the 2010 election by a margin of more than 20 points, or have no major party opposition in the general election. 

Candidates Who Are Unopposed or Likely to Win
DistrictCandidatePartyStatus
CD-1 Louie Gohmert Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-2 Ted Poe Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-5 Jeb Hensarling Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-17 Bill Flores Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-18 Sheila Jackson Lee Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
CD-19 Randy Neugebauer Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-20 Joaquin Castro Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
CD-26 Michael Burgess Republican Opposed - Looking Good
CD-29 Gene Green Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
CD-32 Pete Sessions Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-2 Bob Deuell Republican Unopposed - Winner
SD-13 Rodney Ellis Democrat Unopposed - Winner
SD-18 Glenn Hegar Republican Unopposed - Winner
SD-23 Royce West Democrat Unopposed - Winner
SD-24 Troy Fraser Republican Unopposed - Winner
SD-27 Eddie Lucio Jr. Democrat Unopposed - Winner
SD-29 Jose Rodriguez Democrat Unopposed - Winner
SD-1 Kevin Eltife Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-6 Mario Gallegos Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
SD-8 Ken Paxton Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-12 Jane Nelson Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-16 John Carona Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-17 Joan Huffman Republican Opposed - Looking Good
SD-22 Brian Birdwell Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-13 Lois Kolkhorst Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-16 Brandon Creighton Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-20 Marsha Farney Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-22 Joe Deshotel Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-25 Dennis Bonnen Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-28 John Zerwas Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-32 Todd Hunter Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-36 Sergio Munoz Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-42 Richard Raymond Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-44 John Kuempel Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-50 Mark Strama Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-58 Rob Orr Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-66 Van Taylor Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-71 Susan King Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-72 Drew Darby Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-76 Naomi Gonzalez Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-81 Tryon Lewis Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-82 Tom Craddick Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-86 John Smithee Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-100 Eric Johnson Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-103 Rafael Anchia Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-104 Roberto Alonzo Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-111 Yvonne Davis Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-112 Angie Chen Button Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-126 Patricia Harless Republican Unopposed - Winner
HD-140 Armando Walle Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-142 Harold Dutton Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-145 Carol Alvarado Democrat Unopposed - Winner
HD-1 George Lavender Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-38 Eddie Lucio III Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-46 Dawnna Dukes Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-49 Elliott Naishtat Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-51 Eddie Rodriguez Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-60 Jim Keffer Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-63 Tan Parker Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-69 James Frank Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-79 Joe Pickett Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-84 John Frullo Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-89 Jodie Laubenberg Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-108 Dan Branch Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-109 Helen Giddings Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-113 Cindy Burkett Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-120 Ruth McClendon Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-123 Mike Villarreal Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-124 Jose Menendez Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-128 Wayne Smith Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-130 Allen Fletcher Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-148 Jessica Farrar Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-1 George Lavender Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-14 John Raney Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-27 Ron Reynolds Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-30 Geanie Morrison Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-61 Phil King Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-62 Larry Phillips Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-87 Walter "Four" Price Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-99 Charlie Geren Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-116 Trey Martinez Fischer Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-122 Lyle Larson Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-135 Gary Elkins Republican Opposed - Looking Good
HD-139 Sylvester Turner Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-141 Senfronia Thompson Democrat Opposed - Looking Good
HD-143 Ana Hernandez Luna Democrat Opposed - Looking Good

A Crowded Field

Not all incumbents have an easy path forward. Some are facing hefty primary challenges from a wide range of candidates — increasing the likelihood that they won’t make it to the general without a run-off.

In Congress, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Ennis; Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso; and Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, each have three primary challengers. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Edinburg has four. In the state House, Reps. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, and Jim Landtroop, R-Plainview, each have three primary opponents.

These are the congressional and legislative incumbents facing two or more challengers in their party’s primary.

Incumbents Facing a Crowded Primary Field
DistrictIncumbentPartyPrimary Opponents
CD-3 Sam Johnson Republican 2
CD-6 Joe Barton Republican 3
CD-15 Ruben Hinojosa Democrat 4
CD-16 Silvestre Reyes Democrat 3
CD-21 Lamar Smith Republican 2
CD-27 Blake Farenthold Republican 3
CD-30 Eddie Bernice Johnson Democrat 2
SD-25 Jeff Wentworth Republican 2
HD-10 Jim Pitts Republican 3
HD-11 Chuck Hopson Republican 2
HD-43 J.M. Lozano Republican 2
HD-59 Sid Miller Republican 2
HD-88 Jim Landtroop Republican 3
HD-133 Jim Murphy Republican 2

Comeback Kids 

In the Texas House, 10 candidates who lost in 2010 are seeking another chance. Some of them were defeated in primaries, others in the general. At least one — former Houston Rep. Al Edwards — is battling the same opponent — current Houston Rep. Borris Miles — for the fourth time. And because of redistricting, some former lawmakers who served alongside one another are now facing off.

Like former Reps. Paula Pierson and Chris Turner, both Arlington-based Democrats who lost their respective races in the 2010 general election. They’re now competing in the Democratic primary for HD-101. 

Here are the candidates who are back to the races. 

Candidates Who Lost in 2010, and are Seeking a Comeback
DistrictCandidatePartyLast Election?
HD-7 Tommy Merritt Republican Lost 2010 Republican primary
HD-34 Abel Herrero Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-43 Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-83 Delwin Jones Republican Lost 2010 Republican primary
HD-78 Joe Moody Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-85 Dora Olivo Democrat Lost 2010 Democratic primary
HD-101 Paula Pierson Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-101 Chris Turner Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-107 Robert Miklos Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-114 Carol Kent Democrat Lost 2010 general election
HD-146 Al Edwards Democrat Lost 2010 Democratic primary

In other campaign-related news... 

  • Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's bid for U.S. Senate has received the support of six former Dallas County Republican Party chairmen — every chairman since 1980. Meanwhile, former ESPN analyst Craig James, one of Dewhurst's opponents, has earned the endorsement of former Dallas Cowboys legend Daryl "Moose" Johnston. Johnston had previously endorsed former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, yet another Republican candidate in the Senate field.  
  • James has been busy; he announced this week that he'll be traveling the state in support of Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. The other Republican in the Senate campaign field, Ted Cruz, began airing two radio ads this week, the campaign's first paid media buy. 
  • State Rep. Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, has endorsed Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, in the race for SD-9. Anderson dropped out of that race last week. The other Republican in that primary is Bedford Rep. Todd Smith.
  • Fort Worth City Council member Kathleen Hicks, a Democrat, joined the already crowded field for CD-33. That makes 11 Democrats running in that primary, including Fort Worth state Rep. Marc Veasey
  • The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC has endorsed Sugar Land businessman Lee Duggan III for HD-85, which includes all of Wharton and Jackson counties and part of Fort Bend County. Whoever wins the Republican primary will face off against former Democratic state Rep. Dora Olivo in the general election. The PAC also endorsed Republican Alan Ritter for HD-21.
  • Attorney Jessica Siegel was arrested at the Montgomery County Republican Party headquarters on Friday after filing to run for 418th State District Court Judge. She was charged with a state jail felony for allegedly tampering with a government record — and has been accused of falsifying the length of time that she has lived in the county. She was released on bail, and is still fighting to get back on the ballot. 
  • In a strange story out of Weslaco, a Democratic candidate for state representative, Joseph Campos, listed a Republican candidate for state representative, Joel De los Santos, as his campaign treasurer. The two candidates also put the same home address on their paperwork. They are running to replace Democratic Weslaco Rep. Armando "Mando" Martinez. De los Santos told the Rio Grande Guardian he has no idea why his name and address are on Campos' filings. 
  • Comptroller Susan Combs has endorsed Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, in his race for HD-7. He's facing off against former Republican Rep. Tommy Merritt, whom he defeated in the primary in 2010. She also endorsed Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, for HD-9. 
  • Bob Hall, who filed to run against Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, but was disqualified over residency questions, told the Tyler Morning Telegraph he is considering legal action to get back on the ballot. But the paper reported there are further residency questions being raised over a vote he cast in a 2008 election in Florida. 

A States' Rights Strategy

Gov. Rick Perry in his Capitol office on Feb. 21, 2012.
Gov. Rick Perry in his Capitol office on Feb. 21, 2012.

Rick Perry couldn’t have planned it better himself.

Fresh off of a failed — and at times downright embarrassing — presidential bid, he returned home to his favorite battle: the states’ rights standoff. 

Gone are the deer-in-the-headlights “oops” moments, the campaign blooper reels. They’ve been replaced with the all-too-familiar Texas governor beating his drum against the tyrannical federal government, this time on women’s health and voter fraud. 

On the Women’s Health Program front, Perry’s efforts last week were strategic and redirected a conversation that nearly painted him into a corner. When the federal government threatened to cut off funding for the program — which provides contraception and cancer screenings, but not abortions, for more than 100,000 low-income women — if Texas began enforcing a new state rule that excluded Planned Parenthood, Perry called the bluff.

Instead of letting the reproductive health program dissolve, which could have angered some Republican women in his political base, he vowed to find the money somewhere in the tight state budget to run the program without federal help — and without Planned Parenthood’s participation. This made the fight less about access to women’s health and more about Planned Parenthood, a political touchstone for those on the right. Planned Parenthood, sensing that its position was becoming more desperate, turned up the volume and suggested that Texas would have a massive access problem without the organization's clinics.

In the meantime, Perry has repeatedly — and loudly — blasted the Obama administration for preventing Texas from instituting state-based rules to govern the program, one of his fundamental states’ rights arguments. The Obama administration's argument? That Texas' rule excluding Planned Parenthood violates federal law.

Perry got a second bite at the states’ rights apple this week when the U.S. Department of Justice rejected the state’s request for preclearance of Texas’ new voter ID law, saying that it could have a discriminatory effect on minority voters. It’s a fight that plays even more to Perry’s Republican base than the intersection of abortion politics and Planned Parenthood. The governor wasted no time decrying the Obama administration’s “continuing and pervasive federal overreach,” and accused the federal government of preventing Texas from using its laws to protect integrity at the ballot box. 

These fights have served an important purpose for Perry as he re-enters Texas political life not as a candidate, but as a governor. But it’s terrain that comes with some landmines, particularly if Perry runs for re-election in 2014, or even for president in 2016. Will his voter ID push offend the Hispanic voters who Republicans must court to expand their political clout? Will his position on Planned Parenthood’s family-planning funding offend moderate and politically independent women who fear abortion opponents are going too far? These are socially potent issues that hit close to home for many voters.

Some political operatives say that Perry is at bigger risk on the women’s health front than on the voter ID front — and that polling has confirmed this. He would have been better off to pick states' rights fights on energy, they say, or the environment. Others suggest neither the women's health battle nor the voter ID face-off will matter much long term, even in the event that Perry tries to stay on as governor, or maintains aspirations for higher office. They say such debates will be long gone by the time Perry makes his next move.  

For now, as Perry turns from the national stage back to Texas, carrying the states’ rights torch makes for the smoothest of possible transitions — even if it offends some voting blocs in the process.

Inside Intelligence: Retirement and Planned Parenthood

This week in our nonscientific survey, we asked our insiders about Planned Parenthood, lawmakers collecting retirement and term limits.

We found out during Gov. Rick Perry's failed presidential bid that he had actually retired as governor, even though he is still doing the job. That allowed him to boost his pay by some $90,000 a year. And Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, recently found out he's also eligible to collect retirement while he stays in office. It's totally legal, but not everybody agrees it's the right thing to do. A majority of insiders, 75 percent, said officeholders shouldn't do it.

Planned Parenthood took major hits during the legislative session, and the hits from Republican lawmakers have kept on coming in the year since. The debate over the end of the Women's Health Program in Texas because of the state's refusal to allow Planned Parenthood to participate, has kept the organization in the spotlight. Will the issue play at the ballot box? Nearly two-thirds of insiders who responded this week said yes.

Finally this week, we asked insiders about term limits for legislators and for statewide officeholders. In both cases, a majority seemed to believe the current terms, decided at the ballot box, are sufficient. But our insiders were more adamant about their dislike for term limits when it comes to legislators. About 80 percent said they don't support term limits for legislators, and in the verbatim responses, many said the work at the Capitol needs the kind of experience that comes from long-term officeholders.

As always, we've attached a copy of the full verbatim answers to this week's survey. A sampling of what they had to say follows.

Will shutting off state funding for Planned Parenthood have any political repercussions in Texas?

Ben Hasson.

• “The pundits will rumble about it, but it will not change the outcome of any Texas race.”

• “Let the Austin crowd continue its gnashing of teeth. Everywhere else in Texas, this is either a non-issue or very low on the political ‘what issues will decide how I vote’ list.”

• “Many women are put off by the rhetoric and will likely offset many of their husbands votes.”

• “Good for Republicans. They can actually show results to the pro-life community and will be able to improve pro-life voter turnout. Bad for Democrats. They can't take care of their base vote. It will hurt turnout.

• "There is ZERO chance of a pro-abortion legislature in the next session. There is nothing to motivate the Democrat pro-abortion base from turning out. They lost and there is nothing they can do about it.”

• “It's a great campaign issue for both sides. The pro-life crowd can talk about how their efforts are cutting Planned Parenthood funding, and the pro-choice crowd can talk about how the pro-choice folks shouldn't let their guard down.”

Should state officeholders be allowed to collect retirement while they're still in office?

Ben Hasson.

• “They should be allowed to collect what they earned. No matter political party, gender or sexual orientation.”

• “This is flat wrong and is why the public distrusts government.”

• “Some issues strike me as useful. This one actually makes me mad.”

• “They shouldn't be able to collect retirement from the job they currently hold, but if they're collecting pension checks because they're retired teachers or firefighters, I'm OK with it.”

• “Let me get mine, first. Then, no more of this outrage.”

Do you support term limits for the governor and other statewide officials?

Ben Hasson.

• “Governor should be limited to two terms.”

• “You may not like Rick Perry (on the right) or Lloyd Doggett (on the left), but both keep getting elected by those who vote. Term limits undermine that constituency voice.”

• “Too much political ambition gets bottled-up when somebody overstays their office. On the other hand, except for governor and lieutenant governor, statewides have major operational responsibilities, which benefit from experienced leadership.”

• “How dare you suggest dear leader isn't fit to hold office for another 100 years!”

• “The best term limit is found at the ballot box.”

Do you support term limits for Texas legislators?

Ben Hasson.

• “We have term limits. They're called elections.”

• “Yes, if I can select the ones that should be term-limited. Otherwise, no, we don't need more inexperienced legislators.”

• “Six two-year terms for a state rep, and two six-year terms for a state senator should do the trick.”

• “Term limits have dramatically weakened city councils around the state and are a terrible idea for legislators because the turnover would weaken the ability of the Legislature to do business. It takes a while to learn the job. Voters have demonstrated they are quite willing to vote folks of office if they become annoyed.”

• “Bad idea. Bureaucrats would run state government.”

Our thanks to this week's participants: Adam Haynes, Albert Hawkins, Alan Erwin, Allen Blakemore, Andrew Biar, Andy Sansom, Blaine Bull, Bee Moorhead, Bill Hammond, Billy Howe, Bradford Shields, Hugh Brady, Brandon Aghamalian, Bill Ratliff, Bryan Mayes, Bruce Gibson, Bruce Scott, Tom Duffy, Cathie Adams, Chris Britton, Cal Jillson, Clyde Alexander, Colin Strother, Craig Murphy, Christopher Shields, Dennis Speight, Dan Shelley, David Dunn, Dee Simpson, Daniel Gonzalez, Dominic Giarratani, Donald Lee, Mike McKinney, Elizabeth Christian, Robert Kepple, Ellen Williams, Elna Christopher, Eric Bearse, Ed Small, Gene Acuna, George Cofer, Gardner Pate, Harold Cook, Harold De Leon, Homero Lucero, Jack Erskine, James LeBas, Jim Henson, Robert Jara, Jason Sabo, Jason Johnson, Jay Arnold, John Colyandro, Jeff Eller, Pete Laney, Jerry Philips, Parker McCollough, John Greytok, Jon Fisher, Jim Sartwelle, Jay Thompson, June Deadrick, Kathy Miller, Keats Norfleet, Kinnan Golemon, Ken Hodges, Kim Ross, Keir Murray, Kerry Cammack, Karen Reagan, Keith Strama, Ken Whalen, Lee Woods, Lydia Camarillo, Lee Parsley, Lee Soward, Luke Legate, Marc Campos, Matt Mackowiak, Dan McClung, Mark Jones, Martha Smiley, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Michael Wilt, Alex Winslow, Nef Partida, Norman Garza, Mark Sanders, Pat Nugent, Dave Beckwith, Phillip Martin, Wayne Pierce, Jay Propes, Peck Young, Randy Cubriel Richard Dyer, Richard Khouri, Richie Jackson, Rick Cofer, Robert Miller, Bob Strauser, Royce Poinsett, Russ Tidwell, Luis Saenz, Sandy Haverlah, Seth Winick, Sherry Sylvester, Sandy Kress, Snapper Carr, Steve Scurlock, Stan Schlueter, Jason Stanford, Steve Murdock, Steve Bresnen, Sylvia Nugent, Tom Banning, Tom Blanton, Terry Frakes, Thure Cannon, Tim Reeves, Tom Kleinworth, Todd Smith, Tom Phillips, Trent Townsend, Trey Trainor, Eric Glenn, Vilma Luna, Walt Baum, Corbin Casteel, William Chapman, Wil Galloway, Wayne Hamilton, Ware Wendell, Angelo Zottarelli

The Freshman 30

The House chamber below a mostly empty gallery during the final days of the special session on June 27, 2011.
The House chamber below a mostly empty gallery during the final days of the special session on June 27, 2011.

No matter how the elections swing, one thing is certain about the 83rd legislative session: There will be a lot of new faces.

A fifth of the House — 30 members — is retiring or running for another office. Add to that another 30 who will only be serving their second year and you have a lower chamber — without even counting the possible incumbents who will be defeated in primary or general elections — in which at least 40 percent will be freshman or sophomore legislators.

The crop of retiring lawmakers means a void of leadership on key committees in the House. At least six will be looking for new chairmen: Criminal Jurisprudence (Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is running for Congress), Judiciary (Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Dallas, is stepping down), Redistricting (Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, is stepping down), Elections (Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, is running for state Senate), Agriculture (Rep. Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon, is stepping down) and Corrections (Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, is stepping down). Two key vice chairmen are looking for new jobs — on Education, Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, who is regarded by both parties as an expert on school finance, and Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who quickly established himself as an important voice on higher education.

In the upper chamber, four senators aren't coming back. Each of them is a committee chair: Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, on Education; Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, on Finance; Chris Harris, R-Arlington, on Jurisprudence; and Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, on Economic Development.

Two regional delegations — El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley — will also have mostly fresh blood.

Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, will be the elder statesman of a five-member delegation that will return at least two sophomores and at least one freshman. In her third term, Rep. Marisa Marquez could rank in seniority behind Pickett if she outlasts her primary challenger Aaron Barraza.

Rep. InocenteChenteQuintanilla, who has held his seat since 2003, is seeking a post as county commissioner. After ousting long-time member Norman Chavez in 2010, freshman Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, 33, is unopposed for her second term. Former Rep. Joe Moody hopes to return as the delegation’s second sophomore, challenging Rep. Dee Margo, the group’s only Republican, who beat Moody in a close race in 2010. If Margo is successful, he will be the group’s other sophomore.

The Rio Grande Valley delegation will also likely send several new representatives to Austin — Reps. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, and Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg have decided they had enough. If he can withstand challenger Alex Dominguez, longtime member Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, will remain the delegation’s senior member.

Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-San Benito, is unopposed as he seeks his fourth term, while freshman lawmaker Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Palmview, who replaced longtime member IsmaelKino” Flores in 2010, is unopposed and will return as a sophomore.

Freshman lawmaker J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, made headlines earlier this month when he switched over to the Republican Party. But after being celebrated for the move by the state’s leadership, Lozano quickly drew two primary opponents, Bill T. Wilson and former Ingleside Mayor Willie Vaden.

If he can withstand that challenge, he also faces a tough general election battle. Former Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice, decided to run the day after Lozano announced his switch.

Abbott Strikes Early

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott

In a surprise to no one, the U.S. Justice Department on Monday denied the state’s request for preclearance of its controversial voter ID law. Attorney General Greg Abbott was ready for this, so much so that he took action two months ago by filing suit against the Department of Justice to have the law implemented immediately.

Abbott’s argument? Because similar laws have been upheld in other states, mainly Indiana, Texas shouldn’t be denied its ability to protect the integrity of its voting practices.

“Given the Texas law’s similarity to the Indiana statute that was upheld by the Supreme Court, Texas argues that its photo identification requirement is lawful and should be precleared,” Abbott argued when his office filed suit.

The suit, filed in federal court in Washington D.C., is the state’s best chance to have the bill enacted sooner rather than later. But later is looking like the likely outcome. The Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the Texas NAACP filed a motion to intervene as defendants. Attorneys for the groups said it’s likely the state will argue against the motion. But either way, the state has to convince the three-judge panel in D.C. that the law doesn’t infringe upon a voter’s rights, independently of what it argued to the Department of Justice.

That leaves a sliver of a shot the measure could be in place this year before the elections.

 

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

As Austin played host to the South by Southwest interactive conference, a marketing agency trying an innovative idea for the gathering found itself the subject of criticism. BBH Labs introduced the idea of so-called homeless hotspots for festival-goers who needed wireless access, hiring 13 homeless volunteers to go to venues and offer wireless services in exchange for donations. Bloggers slammed the program, saying that it took advantage of the homeless, but the sponsoring agency, Front Steps, and the participants seemed satisfied with the outcome.

Federal auditors looking at the management of hurricane recovery grants have criticized the Texas Department of Rural Affairs and are recommending that the state come up with $9 million in funds to reimburse the federal government. The inspector general’s office at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that the contract between the state and engineering firm HNTB was improperly entered into, expanded without authority and inadequately monitored, leading to overbillings by the Kansas City-based firm. The state outsourced work on hurricane recovery programs, and although the contract with HNTB has been canceled, the company is still working with the state under a separate contract.

The Texas Department of Transportation had some good news for drivers in the state this week: The agency has $2 billion to spend on projects that it hadn’t counted on. The extra money came from unanticipated federal dollars, increased borrowing capacity and cheaper construction costs. The money will be available to be spent on projects throughout the state, although the way the money will be apportioned still has to be determined.

A bioethicist from the University of Minnesota has filed a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration over Celltex Therapeutics Corp., a Houston company involved in adult stem cells. Leigh Turner alleges that Celltex is not complying with FDA regulations in its operations and poses a threat to patients. The company, which opened last year, stores and processes adult stem cells, which doctors then reinject into their patients. Texas is in the process of setting up review committees that would oversee new and experimental therapies, like adult stem cell therapy. The Texas Medical Board is set to approve the new policy in April, and Celltex has registered with one of the oversight committees.

A report commissioned by the Houston Endowment shows some discouraging figures on Texas’ higher education results. A study of eighth graders in the public education system in Texas from 1996-98 revealed that only about 20 percent of them went on to receive higher education certification within six years of their expected high school graduation. The national average was almost 30 percent, and the only state that fared worse than Texas was Florida.

Citing irregularities in previous voting cycles, Latino activist and congressional candidate Carlos Quintanilla has requested federal monitors for the upcoming primary. Quintanilla is running against two Republicans and 10 other Democrats for the new congressional district in North Texas. He’s facing criticism for asking the Justice Department to send observers but has defended his request, saying he wants to avoid specific problems with ballots he’s seen before in Dallas County.

Texas led the nation in job creation in January. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that from December to January, Texas added more than 67,000 nonfarm jobs, making it the top job creator of the 37 states that added jobs during the month. Over the course of a year, Texas tied with Utah for second place in job creation; North Dakota led the nation with a 5.7 percent increase.

Political People and their Moves

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed A. Charles Fischer to the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee. Fischer served as president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences and as a member of Dow Chemical Company's Executive Management Team until his retirement in 2004.

Kyle Janek, a practicing anesthesiologist and former member of the Texas Senate, will join the new Lakeway Regional Medical Center as chief of staff and director of anesthesia services when the hospital opens April 16. Janek served in the Texas House from 1994 to 2002 and the Texas Senate from 2003 to 2008.

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. announced the addition of Benette L. Zivley as a shareholder in its Austin office. Zivley previous served on the Texas State Securities Board as the Texas securities commissioner.

Quotes of the Week

It's humbling but premature.

Rick Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier on talk of a Gingrich-Perry ticket, quoted by CBS News

They were abrasive, offensive, and self-centered.

Colorado Polk County GOP chairman Kevin McLaughlin on the Ron Paul supporters who tried to illegally become delegates, quoted by ABC News

President Barack Obama is waging a policy war on conservative values in Texas. This time they want to end a health program for 100,000 Texas women just because we have not funded abortion providers or their affiliates with your taxpayer money.

Rick Perry in a robocall to Texas voters, as reported by The Dallas Morning News

I am flattered that my name keeps surfacing for public office but I have no firm plans to run this election year or in 2014.

George P. Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and nephew of former President George W. Bush, to the Austin American-Statesman

This is happening in statehouses across the country. It’s lunacy, and lunacy, of course, is in my wheelhouse.

"Doonesbury" author Gary Trudeau to Reuters on Texas' abortion sonogram law, which he lampooned in a controversial strip running this week

I don’t think anybody is against providing health care for women. What we’re opposed to are abortions. Planned Parenthood is the main organization that does abortions, so we kind of blend being anti-abortion with being anti-Planned Parenthood.

Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, on cuts to women's clinics