Vol 29, Issue 12 Print Issue

Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams announces U.S. Senate candidacy at TribLive on January 27, 2011.
Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams announces U.S. Senate candidacy at TribLive on January 27, 2011.

Campaign Chatter

The filings are in, the candidates are raising money and looking for support. It is finally primary season in Texas.

March 6th, 2012: Protest against Texas lawmakers decision regarding changed to the  the Women's Health Program. the federal government is expected to cut funding for the program because Texas improperly excluded Planned Parenthood from its list of providers
March 6th, 2012: Protest against Texas lawmakers decision regarding changed to the the Women's Health Program. the federal government is expected to cut funding for the program because Texas improperly excluded Planned Parenthood from its list of providers

"Obamacare" on Center Stage

From contraception and cancer screenings to "Obamacare" and state physician shortages, here's a look at the month ahead in Texas health policy. 

Steam rises from the stacks at the Martin Lake Coal-Fired Power Plant in Tatum, TX March 30, 2011.
Steam rises from the stacks at the Martin Lake Coal-Fired Power Plant in Tatum, TX March 30, 2011.

EPA vs. Texas: The Cross-State Rule

In the month ahead, the cross-state air pollution rule will get its day in court, and as summer approaches, debate will continue over the capacity of the Texas electric grid and how to incentivize construction of more power plants.

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

Bowing to pressure from groups both inside and outside the state, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced that it is suspending the killing of wild burros in Big Bend Ranch State Park. The department will work with the Humane Society of the United States to find other ways to control the burro population, which it says threatens the purity of the park’s water sources and destroys native plants. Since the policy was instituted in 2007, about 130 burros have been killed. The agencies will conduct a study of the size and location of the population and then consult on strategies for removing the burros.

A federal judge ruled against the state’s housing agency in a case that alleged discrimination in the placement of low-income housing. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which oversees tax credits to the tune of about $55 million this year, was accused of using race as a factor in making decisions about where to locate low-cost housing in the Dallas area. Although the lawsuit was specific to Dallas, it could have statewide implications. The agency was given 60 days to submit a plan to fix the problem and responded that it is considering all of its options, presumably including an appeal of the ruling.

The threat of litigation prompted Texas and IBM to come to an agreement ending their 2006 contract that was supposed to result in two streamlined data centers. IBM had agreed to merge the data of 28 separate state agencies into two upgraded facilities but was unable to complete the project. The state will pay IBM about $35 million for the services and equipment in addition to the $758 million it has already paid under the contract. IBM is forgiving $26 million in billings and will transfer equipment to the state valued at $15 million to $20 million. Work will continue on the project through two new companies, a Dallas-based unit of Xerox and Paris-based Capgemini, which will assume responsibility July 1.

Six Molotov cocktails were thrown at Sen. Wendy Davis’ office on Tuesday as two staff members worked inside. One of the staffers quickly put out the resulting fire with an extinguisher, and no injuries were reported. Police arrested a 40-year old man, Cedric Steele, who was characterized as mentally unstable. Steele had visited the office on two recent occasions, asking to speak to Davis.

The first proposed offshore wind farm in Texas will undergo a study by the Army Corps of Engineers, influenced by public comments it is now accepting on the project. Three areas off the South Texas coast are targeted for the installation of 200 wind turbines each by Austin-based company Barononyx Corp. The environmental study will be based on the locations for which the company has applied for permits, in state waters off South Padre Island. A public meeting will be held in Brownsville next week, and the corps will continue to accept comments on the study until May 14.

A proposed ordinance regulating the feeding of homeless people in Houston is undergoing scrutiny and revision after charitable groups protested some of its provisions. Mayor Annise Parker defended the ordinance, saying that a problem had been identified, a solution proposed and public comment received. After reviewing comments, Parker suggested changes and asked the City Council to put off its review of the revised law until she returned from a trade mission trip at the end of the month. At least five council members explicitly opposed the rules as originally proposed.

Part-time legislative staffer Allison Catalano drew more attention than her position would normally warrant when she fired off a resignation letter to her boss, Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, that was critical of the cuts to women’s health care. The 26-year-old thanked Crownover for the job opportunity but objected to the actions taken by the Legislature in slashing funds for free and low-cost health care for women and said she did not want to be associated with such cuts. The publicized letter led to an appearance at a rally and a possible job offer from Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin.

Political People and their Moves

Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, is exploring a run for comptroller in 2014, working on the assumption that Comptroller Susan Combs will be moving on. He waited to reveal his intentions until after the filing for offices for this year's elections had ended, thus keeping any eager successors at bat. He's running for another term in the Senate and didn't draw any major party opponents for either the primary or general election. And he says he intends to run for comptroller whether he draws a two-year or a four-year term after November's elections.

Hegar could end up in a primary with one of his own constituents. Former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina of Wharton has shown some interest in running for comptroller, too.

House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, is also kicking the tires in that race, but Hegar appears to be the only candidate actively in the hunt.

Kathie Glass is the new chairman of the Harris County Libertarian Party. She was that party's 2010 nominee for governor, and replaces Guy McLendon in that party post.

Doug Davis is leaving the lieutenant governor's office, where he's the resident wizard on redistricting, for the Wholesale Beer Distributors Association, where he'll be vice president. He's replacing Tom Spilman, who succeeded the late Mike McKinney.

Holly Deshields, former chief of staff to state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, is joining the Austin lobby offices of McGuireWoods Consulting.

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Harold Jenkins of Irving to the Trinity River Authority Board of Directors. Jenkins is president of CTJ Maintenance.

The governor reappointed Francisco "Frank" Torres of Raymondville — Willacy County's emergency management coordinator — to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System.

And he reappointed Vandy Anderson and Linda Rounds to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Galveston County. Anderson is a part-time captain at the Texas Seaport Museum and a former radio station owner. Rounds is a professor at the UT-Medical Branch School of Nursing. Both are from Galveston.