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On a Lighter Note
June 10, 2008
Beachballing at Democratic state convention
In case anyone has a wish-I’d-been-there feeling about the Texas Democratic Party’s state convention last weekend in Austin, here’s a video flashback from floor action during a break.
I’ll wager there won’t be beachballs afloat at the Republican Party of Texas convention this weekend in Houston.
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May 25, 2008
Perry with a fourth grader, Dewhurst in France...
My story in Sunday’s newspaper, in our Insight section, draws from hundreds of pages of schedules kept by the state’s seven top elected officials (counting House Speaker Tom Craddick among them).
A surprise to me was Gov. Rick Perry granting an interview to Cole Blue, a fourth-grader from McComb, Mississippi. Blue’s parents drove him the more than eight hours from their home to the Capitol in Austin for the big sit-down. They thought an aide shot a video; when I asked Perry’s office for a copy, a spokeswoman said it had been erased. Still photos are viewable online here.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s office redacted the names of about 70 individuals who he visited in the year’s first quarter, though Dewhurst later named many in an interview.
Dewhurst further volunteered that he’d gone to France for about a week to try to negotiate with the French government on expanding a museum devoted to Utah Beach to better display the role Allied air, army and naval power played on D-Day in World War II. Dewhurst said he learned more about his late father’s role as a pilot in the invasion last year.
Dewhurst said he was promised an answer on his expansion pitch by D-Day, June 6.
“The Legislature gets blamed for sometimes moving slowly,” Dewhurst said. “After spending a week trying to negotiate with the equivalent of an American governor and a United States senator in France, I now believe that the Texas Legislature moves with lightning speed.”
Remember his words when the 2009 session drags—if it ever does, of course.
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May 21, 2008
Group goofs, lists Clinton as nominee by June
Scoop up this: By June 4, Sen. Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee for president.
At least, that’s how she’s described on an invitation to a San Antonio banquet that day hosted by the non-partisan Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project.
Fetch the invitation for yourself here.
Lydia Camarillo, a vice president for the group, was unaware of the reference to Clinton as her party’s nominee when I inquired into the wording. She took the blame, though, saying: “That’s a big, big boo-boo”—and not a sign of any kind that the project keeps a crystal ball handy.
Clinton, who still hopes to overtake Sen. Barack Obama for her party’s nod, isn’t expected at the banquet, Camarillo said. Neither will others listed as receiving speaking invitations: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, an Obama supporter, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Gov. Kay Bailey Hutchison will be there—I kid.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, On a Lighter Note, Presidential race
March 29, 2008
Williamson delegates take the wait in stride
A reoccurring phrase heard from some people in attendance at the Williamson County Democratic Convention is hurry up and wait.
“You hurry to get here on time and then you have to wait a couple of hours,” said Linda Cechura, a delegate from Round Rock.
Cechura was waiting in line to get some members of her precinct upgraded from alternate delegates to delegates.
Around 2:45 p.m., party officials here told attendees that the county’s convention couldn’t start counting delegates until it filled positions that were left open when several delegates didn’t show up today.
Now, there’s a rush - though the lines are not moving too fast - to get alternates in those spots.
While the announcement caused some grumbling, most people seem to be taking things in stride - probably because of the high they’re on from seeing this historically red county, look a little blue today.
“I think the whole thing is just great, even though there’s a delay,” said Michael Freeman, a Round Rock delegate. “It’s still a part of the process that makes the Democratic Party what it is and we’re looking forward to it.”
Cechura agrees.
“This is phenomenal,” she said. “People aren’t losing their enthusiasm just because I’m here at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and we’re still getting ready to go.”
So, how long will she be here today?
“As long as it takes,” she said.
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Political tunes
Ever notice the music at political events?
Judging by the tunes played at Williamson County’s Democratic Convention today, there’s a liking for English rock bands, southern pride and reggae.
A reggae version of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” just played and before that was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”
The Who song, “We won’t get fooled again,” also played. Check out some of the lyrics:
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution Take a bow for the new revolution Smile and grin at the change all around me Pick up my guitar and play Just like yesterday Then I’ll get on my knees and pray We don’t get fooled again”
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March 21, 2008
Quipster/consultant Sanders runs for city council
A reader noting Carole Keeton Strayhorn possibly running afresh for mayor of Austin — see our story here—alerted me to her former spokesman-with-an-edge, Mark Sanders, trying life as a candidate.
Sanders, a longtime consultant to Republican candidates for statewide office, was last seen around Austin insisting his gubernatorial candidate, Strayhorn, could defeat Republican Rick Perry by running as an independent. She finished third in the 2006 race.
Now Sanders, whose career included stints as a reporter for the late Dallas Times-Herald and The Houston Post, seeks a seat on the Eustace City Council. He said Friday he made the plunge after failing to persuade Mayor Laura Ward to resign; she was arrested in September after striking a woman outside a bar in Gun Barrel City (see a report here.)
Sanders, 45, says on his campaign site that if elected, he’ll lead the East Texas burg of some 900 people in a “much needed, new direction.”
His five-point platform calls for a code of integrity for all elected offices in Eustace, hastening the mayor’s departure, fiscal reforms, creation of an economic development council to draw businesses, a pay raise for police officers and a comprehensive road-repair plan.
Sanders, who continues to do a little consulting while raising quarterhorses, said he’s sent two leaflets to residents by mail. And he’s fielded $225 in contributions.
“It’s clicking right along,” Sanders said.
On the campaign site, Sanders says: “I don’t want citizens’ voices to continue to go unheard and public needs to go unmet. I want the dignity of this town restored.”
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January 17, 2008
Perry, Bush reuniting at Washington fundraiser
Gov. Rick Perry will be reunited with President Bush at a February fundraiser in Washington. The gala organized by the Republican Governors Association (which Perry chairs this year) might give Perry a chance to publicly elaborate on why Bush has never been a fiscal conservative in Perry’s eyes. Perry aired his view at an Iowa stop in December that was placed on YouTube.com. (See our December account here.)
According to the invitation to the Republican Governors Association’s Feb. 25 “celebration of America’s leaders” — fetchable by clicking here — contributors can get in for as little as $1,000, though folks also have the option of volunteering to raise up to $500,000 for the association.
Mildly intriguing in the wake of Perry’s characterization of Bush in December: It looks as if Perry might not directly introduce Bush, his predecessor as governor, at the dinner. That’s because the dinner chairman is South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign finance, Comings and goings, Elections, Governor, Money, On a Lighter Note, Presidential race
January 15, 2008
Stanford: I wanted to be a spy
Austin’s Jason Stanford, the consultant who managed Democrat Chris Bell’s 2006 bid for governor, tends to keep a low profile. For instance, he declined comment last week when I asked him what he made of State Rep. Rick Noriega’s campaign strategy and team.
But he ain’t a fool about publicity — and so it is that he’s featured in a Web article on politico.com (brought to my attention by the avid link chasers at Texas Weekly.
In the piece, Stanford describes his approach to opposition research.
An excerpt:
“What we do is hold politicians to publicly documented facts,” Stanford said. “This job is tailor-made for a high-achieving debate nerd.”
The story goes on to suggest Stanford’s career choice is “considered a social faux pas in some circles, and even his own mother is hesitant to talk about it.” And it reveals that Stanford once wanted to be a spy for a living.
Peek at the tale here.
Permalink | | Categories: Elections, Governor, On a Lighter Note, Open government, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate
December 11, 2007
Perry says Huckabee, then says he meant Giuliani
Gov. Rick Perry helped file paperwork Tuesday with the Republican Party of Texas putting Rudy Giuliani on the Texas ballot for the March 4 Republican primary.
He tumbled into an oh-my-goodness oops, though, after recapping his belief that Giuliani, who supports abortion rights, will still appoint strict constructionist judges to the U.S. Supreme Court — implying the kind that might restrict abortion. It was the kind of remark that could encourage anyone who’s thinking Perry has grown more aligned with Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and presidential aspirant lately surging in polls of Republican voters.
After describing Giuliani’s types of judicial appointees, Perry said: “The issue becomes very, very clear to me from the standpoint of who I want to support. And it is Mike Huckabee.
“And then it goes to the next level, which is who do we have who is the most electable of our candidates, and I think without a doubt it’s Rudy Giuliani.”
Informed that he’d thrown his support, ever briefly, to Huckabee, Perry said: “I’m sorry, I made an error. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
Perry’s spokesman, Robert Black, said the Huckabee mention was a simple mistake and no indication of a secret Perry desire to shift candidates. Earlier, Perry had said he had no buyer’s remorse about leaping to Giuliani on Oct. 17 before Huckabee’s surge.
Black said: “We’re all humans. Everybody makes mistakes.”
On a different front, Perry said he never considered endorsing U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson. He declined to say why.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Categories: Governor, On a Lighter Note, Presidential race
October 31, 2007
Sammy gone, Perry steps in by telephone
It’s big news in Austin radio that Sammy Allred is no longer on KVET FM 98.1 in the mornings.
Yet the bigger political pop of Wednesday morning’s used-to-be Sam & Bob Show might have been host Bob Cole calling Gov. Rick Perry’s cell phone live on the air. After a couple rings, Perry picked up.
Cole wondered aloud if he had the right number, asking if he had the governor.
“In the flesh,” Perry replied.
The pair, joined by ad guru Roy Spence (evidently in the studio with Cole), jawed for several minutes with Perry saying he thinks it could be two years before the overhaul of the Governor’s Mansion is done — that’s six months longer than projected.
And Perry noted that early one recent morning, he stepped outside the Perrys’ temporary quarters southwest of Central Austin and heard coyotes howling.
Cole encouraged Perry to revisit his remarks at a Tuesday award dinner thrown by the local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. In his speech, Perry said his book on Scouting values will be published in February. He said it’ll be a defense of traditional Scouting values, which he described as inappropriately under attack — a message that civil rights lawyer Jim Harrington questioned.
Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project and a former Eagle Scout like Perry, told Peggy Fikac of the San Antonio Express-News he disagrees with the Boy Scouts’ prohibition on gay people as leaders, saying the group instead should focus on whether a person may be a danger regardless of sexual orientation.
“What the Boy Scouts should be about, and what I always figured we were about … (is) bringing everyone into the community, accepting differences — even differences that you don’t understand or necessarily agree with — to make a better society,” Harrington said. “And to teach boys how to work with each other … not to teach them hatred, and not to teach them division.”
If Cole dials up Harrington for a live chat, we’ll know KVET’s morning show has truly shifted gears.
In the meantime, could someone e-mail me Perry’s cell num? I’ll trade three numbers of your choice and a migas taco.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Comings and goings, Governor, On a Lighter Note
October 24, 2007
Christmas in October
Lance Armstrong, ubiquitous non-candidate, helped Nadine Craddick, wife of House Speaker Tom Craddick, introduce the official 2007 state Capitol ornament earlier today in a brief ceremony at the Capitol.
Armstrong, who is becoming as comfortable under the dome as he is on a bicycle seat, joins a long line of the famous and near-famous in promoting what is a fundraiser for Capitol preservation and children’s education programs.
Lyle Lovett and actress Janine Turner are just two of the celebrities who have helped the House Speaker’s wives promote the ornament and its sales.
Sales of the ornaments over the past 11 years have raised $4.2 million.
The ornament this year depicts a pair of interior Capitol doors of wood, with glass embossed with Victorian scrollwork and the seal of Texas.
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September 11, 2007
Belated award for lieutenant governor
Ralph Wayne, the president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, knows Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst well enough that he solicited a donation for him Tuesday morning at the Austin Club.
Dewhurst was the keynote speaker for the Commission’s sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Breakfast. The lieutenant governor reviewed the high points of this past Senate session for members from as far away as Houston who braved a driving Austin rain. The audience included new Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo.
“I consider myself, literally, your biggest friend in state government,” Dewhurst said, ticking off the funding the Legislature approved for border security and stiffer laws passed for repeat sex offenders.
Dewhurst has been a friend of law enforcement for years, Wayne told the gathering during an introduction. At their first meeting, shortly after Dewhurst had decided to run for land commissioner, a post he held from 1999-2002, Wayne asked Dewhurst for his views on crime.
“By the time we got out of the Four Seasons, I owed $30 for parking, he talked so long,” Wayne said. “I knew I had myself a candidate.”
Wayne wanted it known that Dewhurst is also a fine competitive rider and roper. Taking the podium, Dewhurst explained just how good he was during one world championship. Dewhurst started the final day in 11th place and after he performed fell to 16th.
Dewhurst finished out of the money for the turkey platter-sized belt buckles awarded to the winners, so Wayne asked his breakfast guests to hunt around their houses for a consolation prize. The buckle, Wayne said, doesn’t have to be shiny as long as it is big.
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June 25, 2007
Legislative aide reaches Taiwan, sees mariachis
David Holmes, a Texas House aide who doubles in his private life as a Texas member of the Democratic National Committee, landed a DNC-sponsored trip to Taiwan. He made it there—though his first sight happened to be mariachis.
A flight-report excerpt from his trip blog:
“Oh, and the greatest thing about the menu of food was the choice between two breakfasts entitled ‘Western Delight’ - which sounded reasonable; a nice, Four Seasons style American Breakfast - or, ‘Chinese Superiority’ : Pickled mustard greens with minced pork, “marinated, small cucumber slice,” and plain congee just didn’t seem superior to me in any way.”
Peek.
Permalink | | Categories: Comings and goings, House, On a Lighter Note
June 22, 2007
Governor had 'im at road kill
As revealed elsewhere, Gov. Rick Perry recently fired off a letter almost offering honorary Texas citizenship to a late-night talk-show host, Craig Ferguson on CBS-TV.
By the YouTube posting, it looks like this moment will air tonight. (Go ahead, peek.)
No spoiler in this space except Ferguson’s reaction to Perry’s letter: “Governor, you had me at road kill.”
Or gander at Perry’s letter.
Permalink | | Categories: Governor, On a Lighter Note
Texas Senate forms backdrop for Obama love song
Some true political giants have enjoyed the Texas Senate as a stage — Preston Smith, Barbara Jordan, Bob Bullock.
And, now, Obama Girl.
The Texas Legislature’s stuffy upper chamber finds its way into a few quick shots in “I’ve Got a Crush on Obama,” the over-the-top music video that has you-tubed itself into the hearts of campaign junkies everywhere. The tightly clad Obama Girl, known in real life as model Amber Lee Ettinger, lip-syncs her way through an adoring, R&B-style tribute to the Illinois senator with lyrics like, “You’re into border security. Let’s break the border between you and me.”
The video shows Obama Girl in New York City, outside the U.S. Capitol, on a beach and, a few times, tugging on an Obama T-shirt in front of an empty Senate chamber right here in Austin.
Just how did she get past Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rick DeLeon, who isn’t exactly the most playful man in the world?
She didn’t have to. Ben Ralles, who made the video, said this morning that the whole thing was shot in front of a green screen, adding that the Senate shot probably just came up in an image search on Google.
Austin seems to have a knack recently for landing at the nexis of sex and politics. Last year, Austin actress Johanna Goldsmith starred in a Republican National Committee ad against U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee.
Goldsmith’s bubbly character bragged that she met Ford at a Playboy party and told him to “call me.”
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May 25, 2007
Loco & Dissent calendar surfaces (it's a joke)
It’s a biennial tradition for who-knows-who to distribute a pretend Texas House calendar. Here it is:
The LOCO AND DISSENT Calendar Sunday, May 27, 2007 10:00 a.m.
HB 56 by Talton Relating to…it doesn’t matter what it relates to, because there’s a point of order in the bill analysis in violation of Rule 4, Section 32 of the House Rules
HB ??? by Guillen, I think Relating to…uh, something having to do with….something that changes something somewhere…it’s probably a pretty good bill though
HB 1836 by Perry Relating to the sale of the Alamo back to Mexico to fund pet projects
HR 1 by Thompson Relating to vacating…I’m just kidding…I had you scared though, didn’t I?
HB 1837 by Kolkhorst Prohibiting the sale of the Alamo and creating a commission to study the sale of the Alamo
HB 154 by Pickett Relating to the abolition of the office of State Dictator and replacing it with a Governor elected by the people…wait, we don’t have a state dictator? Someone better tell Goodhair.
SB 457 by Patrick, Dan Relating to the exemption of human babies from sales and use taxes during the tax free holiday weekend and other times
HB 45 by Krusee Relating to allowing members to vote from out of the country via Blackberry until they are excused.
HB 1 by Misterspeakermembers Relating to this new member who all members apparently address at the front mike.
HB 234 by Driver Relating to an appropriation for research on amnesia so that members don’t forget to excuse their colleagues when they are out of the country.
HR 1 by Talton Relating to vacating…any chance I had to pass a bill this session because I’m making everyone mad with all my points of order.
HB 263 by Woolley Relating to declaring herself Bodyguard to The Speaker and Defender of His Character
HB 157 by Burnam Relating to the exemption of…hold on; did I just say Burnam ? How did this happen? Are you sure it’s not Berman? Who do I need to fire? This just isn’t right. Maybe it really is a kinder, gentler Craddick…
HB 666 by Burnam Relating to the requirement that the temperature in Hell remain under 32 degrees because he got a bill to the floor; amendment by Turner will ensure TXU doesn’t cut off the power in this extreme temperature to comply with provisions of the bill
HB $$$ by Isett Relating to a limit on the maximum annual increase of an individual or business’ income to prevent “income creep” on federal income taxes
HB .08 by Dutton Relating to…see, I told you we should let hotel bars serve to guests 24 hours…I could have been asleep my room rather than driving down 6th Street.
HB VO5 by Dunnam Relating to an appropriation to fix his hair.
HR 1623 by Chavez Recognizing Paul Methusala…I mean, Moreno…on his 5651st birthday.
HR 1 by Geren Relating to a votion to macate…hiccup…I mean cotion to vamate…I mean…ZZZZZZZZZZZ…
HB T2 by The Taltonator Relating to You may have overruled my point of order, but I’ll Be Back! Hasta la vista, HB!
HB 2541 by Hill Relating to the severance of ties between the State of Texas and Harris County, so that Harris County can do whatever the heck it wants and leave everybody else alone!
HB 453 by Thompson Relating to…I’m calling a point of order on Tuffy Hamilton’s bill because he didn’t send me a pie.
HB 10 by Burnam Relating to the number of minutes I can talk about any subject, provided it’s a day with Local & Consent bills.
HB 9 by Crownover Relating to the banning of eating donuts in a place of employment for the prevention of secondhand obesity.
HB 2010 by Dewhurst Relating to can I be Governor yet? I’m tired of dealing with this Senate crap. I promise I won’t vaccinate your kids or sell the state to Spain. Please get me out of here!!
SB 791 by Williams (Eiland) Relating to changing the caption of this bill to declare oysters an inherently DELICIOUS product for personal consumption.
HB 2 by Martinez Fischer | Pickett | Kolkhorst Relating to the creation of the office of the road fairy…because we need to build roads, yet have turned down indexing the gas tax and toll roads while eliminating the only revenue source for roads for the summer.
HB 23 by Woolley Relating to me being the one who sets the House calendars…no, really, it’s not the Speaker. I’m serious. Stop laughing!
HB 1400 by Harold “Abraham Lincoln” Dutton Relating to requiring a person to show identification so they cannot vote or pose as a dead president (and what, exactly, is at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue? Maybe they moved the White House a couple blocks since Honest Abe’s term)
SB 1 by The Whole Senate Relating to how we’re glad the Senate carpet is green so all the Christmas trees we made in there in the last few days of the session aren’t as noticeable.
HB 21-0 by The Freshman Class Relating to Yes, Ms. Truitt…we know the score of the football game!
HB 10W-40 by Eiland Relating to how he keeps his hair from moving while playing basketball for two hours.
HB K-9 by The Whole House Relating to those dog noises made every time a dog bill comes up on the floor. We understand that being a legislator is a “ruff” job, but they really “tick” us off, making us want to “flea” the floor. Next time they start, we will head to the “worm”-er climate of Mexico or the Caribbean. This is annoying us from “Bark”-er County in North Texas all the way to Jim “Dogg” County.
HB 254 by Woolley - Floor Amendment Relating to the amendment being acceptable to the Arthur…I mean wautha…I mean awwthug…I mean…aw, heck, the person who wrote the bill.
HB 78 by Craddick Relating to I would adopt this bill but I can’t tell whether the clerk needs to “Read the Bell ” or “Ring the Bill.”
SB 3 by The House (most of it) Relating to SCREW YOU NORTH TEXAS!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
HB 125 by the House Relating to an emergency appropriation to buy Dennis Bonnen a razor.
HB $0.99 by Thompson | Hamilton Relating to the price of their cover of “Ebony and Ivory” on iTunes; if you buy now, you will get their new single “Coffee and Cream” absolutely free.
SB %#$%^#%$ by Whitmire Relating to…will somebody please tell the Dean of the Senate that the Senate floor is supposed to be more laid back than the House? I mean really…
SB 0 by Patrick, Dan Relating to the number of friends this guy is making in the Senate…well short of 2/3.
HB 2 by Allen | Alonzo | Anchia | Anderson | Aycock | Bailey | Berman | Bohac | Bolton | Bonnen | Branch | Brown, Betty | Brown, Fred | Burnam | Callegari | Castro | Chavez | Chisum | Christian | Cohen | Coleman | Cook, Byron | Cook, Robby | Corte | Crabb | Craddick | Creighton | Crownover | Darby | Davis, John | Davis, Yvonne | Delisi | Deshotel | Driver | Dukes | Dunnam | Dutton | Eiland | Eissler | Elkins | England | Escobar | Farabee | Farias | Farrar | Flores | Flynn | Frost | Gallego | Garcia | Gattis | Geren | Giddings | Gonzales | Gonzales Toureilles | Goolsby | Guillen | Haggerty | Hamilton | Hancock | Hardcastle | Harless | Harper-Brown | Hartnett | Heflin | Hernandez | Herrero | Hilderbran | Hill | Hochberg | Hodge | Homer | Hopson | Howard, Charlie | Howard, Donna | Hughes | Isett | Jackson | Jones | Keffer | King, Phil | King, Susan | King, Tracy | Kolkhorst | Krusee | Kuempel | Latham | Laubenberg | Leibowitz | Lucio | Macias | Madden | Mallory Caraway | Martinez | Martinez Fischer | McCall | McClendon | McReynolds | Menendez | Merritt | Miles | Miller | Moreno | Morrison | Mowery | Murphy | Naishtat | Noriega | O’Day | Oliveira | Olivo | Orr | Ortiz | Otto | Parker | Patrick | Paxton | Peña | Phillips | Pickett | Pierson | Pitts | Puente | Quintanilla | Raymond | Riddle | Ritter | Rodriguez | Rose | Smith, Todd | Smith, Wayne | Smithee | Solomons | Strama | Straus | Swinford | Talton | Taylor | Thompson | Truitt | Turner | Van Arsdale | Vaught | Veasey | Villarreal | Vo | West | Woolley | Zedler | Zerwas Relating to the people who want to be Speaker, in the event that the chair is vacated.
HB 100 by Cook, Byron Relating to the percentage chance that his political career is done if the Speaker stays in power…
HB 21 by Riddle Relating to appointing me the judge of all bills to come to the House floor, since I can tell which the worst bill EVER is…
HB 98752 by Dunnam | Coleman | Gallego | et al. Relating to the creation of the Dead Bill Railroad…chub-a chub-a chub-a chub-a…chub-a chub-a chub-a chub-a…CHOO CHOO!!
HB 32 by Howard, Charlie Relating to I’ll get you the Local & Consent Calendar when it’s ready, Mr. Burnam!
HB 32 by Dukes | Kolkhorst | Harless | Gonzales | Mallory Caraway | King, Susan Relating to creating the House Committee on Hotness…they can sustain my point of order any day!
SB 1256 by John “Godfather” Carona Relating to the allowance of toy horse slaughter to send your enemy a fake horse head.
*Note: The Speaker wanted more bills to be added to this calendar, but his decision was overruled. The bills in question weren’t loco enough and shouldn’t have been on this calendar anyway. Additionally, we tried to deliver additional bills from the calendar to the Governor for his approval, but his clerk was sick so we’ll have to wait.
As you might imagine, many bills looked like they’d pass quickly but were inexplicably detained for a long time in committee in the non-originating house. Still no official word on why so many bills just sat around for weeks with no action taken…
Additionally, several of the major Loco and Dissent tax bills were ready to be set on the calendar, but the Comptroller’s fiscal note kept changing on us, so we finally had to drop them. I’m sure many of you can relate…Oh, and you should have seen the 25 “lost” bills we decided not to publish/pass out of committee due to potential threats of political payback!! All the remaining bills were killed by hyper-technical points of order. Have all voted? Is there objection? Admit the messenger, ring the bell, the gentlelady’s time has expired, Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry, are you aware…?, oh how we will miss it when the session ends!!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: House, On a Lighter Note
Dally still climbs Capitol stairs at 87
In a floor resolution Austin Rep. Mark Strama, not yet 40, honored D.L. “Dally” Willis on turning 87 years old this week. Willis, a full-time lobbyist for the Communication Workers of America, the Texas AFL-CIO, and the statewide labor movement for more than 45 years.
He’s best known at the Capitol for passing out lapel stickers to House members as they enter the floor. Imagine a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day, a Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo and go from there.
Strama, joined in his presentation by Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, said that Willis still prefers to climb the Capitol stairs over stepping into various elevators. Willis stood in the overhead visitors’ gallery as Strama spoke. He stayed in the gallery afterward too; still his job.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: House, On a Lighter Note
May 17, 2007
Football score in House basketball fracas
Helped by a ringer (a University of Texas student doing duty as a basketball player all of a hurry), a team of first-term Texas House members battered a team of longer-serving members in basketball Wednesday night, 22-10. The game huffed-and-puffed in a gym on the UT campus.
“We killed ‘em,” said Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston. “They could not hang with the freshmen.”
The frosh combatants were Murphy, who imposed a hands-on version of Murphy’s law in the paint; Reps. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi, Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, and Kelly “Shooter” Hancock, R-North Richland Hills.
Attempting to match up on the opposing side were Reps. John “Tree” Smithee, R-Amarillo; Craig “I Once Fouled Out Playing Horse” Eiland, D-Galveston; Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Rick Noriega, D-Houston.
Post-game this morning, Noriega asked Eiland on the House floor: “How can you play two hours of basketball and your hair never moves?” Eiland blew no whistle, offered no reply.
Most valuable player of the game, according to Anchia: “The defribillator.”
In reality, no injury report proves necessary. Everyone returned to their desks by this morning and the ball game under the pink dome.
Permalink | | Categories: House, On a Lighter Note
May 11, 2007
Howling again as House acts on barking dog measure
House members broke into spirited barking again as Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, won final approval of his proposal enabling urban counties including Travis County to treat barking dogs in unincorporated areas as nuisances. The first round of barking happened on preliminary action Thursday night.
Eissler, a can’t-help-it punster, said: “Mister Speaker, members, last night was ruff.” Members, baying, voted 126-8 to send his bill to the Senate.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: House, On a Lighter Note
Bolos, boots, poker and driving way too fast
In the lull-ish day after the last day for House members to pass House-originated measures of statewide import, occupants of the lower chamber are slated to take up local and consent items and resolutions lacking in lasting consequence.
Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice, is poised to offer her proposal barring anyone ticketed for driving more than 95 miles per hour from shaking the ticket by taking a driver’s education class.
Also ahead:
A resolution designating the bolo tie as the official state tie. Its sponsor writes: “The bolo tie is well matched to the individualism that is so much a part of the Texan identity; in selecting or designing a clasp, bolo tie wearers are able to express their personal flair; moreover, the selection of a bolo over a standard tie can suggest that the wearer refuses to be bound by convention and relishes the freedom to exhibit a distinctive sense of style even as they maintain a dignified, formal appearance.”
A resolution recognizing Robstown, near Corpus Christi, as birthplace of the poker game Texas Hold ‘Em. Lore has it, according to the measure’s analysis, that the game’s invention dates to the early 1900s when the first hand of the card game was dealt in Robstown. And “from there it traveled northward in the hands of ‘rounders’ and up the sleeves of cardsharps,” the analysis states.
A resolution designating the cowboy boot as the official state shoe. Its backer writes that the “basic pattern of the cowboy boot was forged in the crucible of the post-Civil War trail drives. Between 1866 and 1890, mounted cowboys drove millions of head of Texas cattle to northern and western markets along such famous trails as the Chisholm, Western, and Goodnight-Loving. Boot makers in Texas and Kansas responded to suggestions from those cowboys regarding the design of their footwear, and a slimmer boot with a higher heel, more rounded toe, and rounded, reinforced instep began to be developed.”
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April 17, 2007
McCown gulps soda, reads, watches TV
F. Scott McCown, the former Travis County state district judge who directs the Center for Public Policy Priorities, gets honored tonight by the School of Social Work at the University of Texas with its Vision and Valor Award of Distinction for an Individual, in recognition of his dedication to social justice.
Never mind that… To promote the moment and to celebrate McCown, the center sent an e-mail informing recipients that McCown is fueled by a case of Diet Coke a week. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and watching the “CSI” series. And he reluctantly cares for the family chinchilla, which has a life expectancy of 20 years.
The e-mail gives a link to more information, though a quick look at the linked site doesn’t yield more insight on McCown’s personal habits. Could be McCown censored items he’s saving for his 2009 legislative update.
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No Craddick as Sinatra but...
Never mind legislation in the making. Rock ‘n’ roll history could be in the offing if Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, is to be believed.
Dunnam, on keyboards, has corraled a band, The Bad Precedents, for their first and perhaps last engagement at a party postponed to Wednesday night, despite what it says on the invitation
.
He’ll be twanging with guests possibly including Rep. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi, and Denise Davis, the House parliamentarian. From the upper chamber, Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, is expected to showcase his drums-manship. Perhaps veteran Capitol scribe Dave McNeely will sit in.
From inside and close by the Capitol, we hear that Kelly Fine, Michael Garemko, Ross Peavey, Jeff Rotkoff and Tommy Tynes will join in the debut. It’s safe to say that House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, will not be doing a Sinatra bit.
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House ready to negotiate budget; caucus wins one
Give a nod of power to the House Republican Caucus. The GOP members huddled twice early today partly so the majority party’s members were lined up to shoot down Democratic requests to instruct House negotiators on the state budget.
House members later voted by margins of around 30 votes to turn back efforts by Democrats to direct House negotiators to insist on certain parts of the state budget already voted on by the House.
“Thank you for sticking with me,” said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
House Speaker Tom Craddick named the five House members delegated to negotiate the 2008-09 state budget with five senators to be designated by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. They are Chisum; Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City and vice chairman of the appropriations panel; Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown; Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston and the speaker pro tempore.
House members earlier decided not to concur in the Senate version of the budget by 134-5.
A few Democrats pitched afresh (and in vain) for priorities already endorsed by the House membership.
Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, urged that the negotiators be instructed to insist on restoring full funding of health insurance for children of low-income parents. His request was tabled at Chisum’s urging.
Rep. Joe Heflin, D-Crosbyton, asked the House to stick with Heflin’s language barring state money from being spent on vouchers for students to attend private schools. Chisum said he intends to stick with the Heflin limit, but asked that members not tie the hands of the negotiators. The House tabled Heflin’s request by a slightly smaller margin.
Next up: Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, who said before his try: “I hear that train a’comin’.” C-r-r-r-unch.
Noriega asked that House negotiators be told to stick with an across-the-board $1,000 teacher pay raise. After Chisum said he intends to follow the House intent in negotiations — though he predicted a “significant amount of debate” — he urged members to table Noriega’s request. Colleagues did so.
And Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, likewise fell short in getting the House to instruct the conference committee negotiators to press for full funding of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Members tabled the measure after Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, said he’d prefer to assure sufficient funding without the stick of direct instructions to the negotiators. Hilderbran has carried the House’s ball on the parks issue.
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Kuempel's hippo
Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin, who arguably defines drawling Texan folksiness, tossed out an old line this week — so old, it sounded new.
“Sometimes we lose sight of what we need,” Kuempel said, recapping his defense of a proposal requiring a sunset review of the Lower Colorado River Authority. “We’re stomping ants in the cellar while hippopatamuses are running wild on the first floor.”
This pundit’s take: The joke used to say “elephants” on the first floor. That was before Republicans held the majority of Texas House seats.
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April 16, 2007
Political graffiti?
When we pulled into the visitors’ parking garage just east of the Capitol this morning, two men were scrubbing graffiti off an outer wall of the garage.
We couldn’t tell what the graffiti said, but when we squinted, one of the words almost looked like “Dems.”
Wasn’t clear whether the graffiti artists were for or against.
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April 12, 2007
Voting malfunction or voter malfunction?
After a close vote this afternoon on an amendment to a measure on electric deregulation, several House members reported that voting machines on their desks had malfunctioned.
That’s Capitol code for please-change-my-vote-because-I-have-changed-my-mind-or-had-it changed-for-me.
Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, saw a chance to gig his Democratic deskmate, Rep. Elliott Naishtat of Austin.
Hill asked House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, if an emergency appropriation could be arranged so the malfunctioning vote machine on Naishtat’s desk could be fixed.
Hill said Naishtat’s votes haven’t come out right for 16 years — the time the liberal Travis County-ite has been in the House.
Craddick replied: “Mr. Hill, maybe Mr. Naishtat needs more than help with his machine.”
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April 5, 2007
Blind hunters, upside down license plates in the House
Without debate Thursday, House members sent the Senate a proposal enabling blind Texans to hunt with laser-lit viewfinders and another directing everyone with a vehicle to put their license plates on right side up.
Seriously.
Rep. Ed Kuempel, R-Seguin, won approval of his move to amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow legally blind hunters to use a laser sighting device when assisted by another individual who is not legally blind, has a hunting license and is at least 13 years old. Nobody opposed it in committee, and it has the backing of the Texas State Rifle Association and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.
And Rep. Tracy King, D-Eagle Pass, advanced his mandate that drivers display license plates so the letters (and presumably numbers) appear right side up and readable from left to right.
King’s office said the idea originated with Department of Public Safety troopers in King’s district who’ve had problems with individuals displaying license plates the wrong way—as in backwards and upside down.
Records show nobody testifying for or against the plate measure.
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April 4, 2007
Missing photo gives Bolton and Miles fresh material
A giant composite photo of 150 past Texas House members has been removed from the east wall of the House chamber, giving rise to fresh moments for the House’s rookie arbiter of taste in art, Rep. Borris Miles, D-Houston.
Last month, Miles took down two art works in a display in the Capitol Extension. He said the pieces were too offensive for a public showing.
On Wednesday morning, Miles noticed the missing photo in the chamber, asking Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, what was up. As overheard by a reporter, Bolton replied: “Maybe somebody found it offfensive.”
Moment No. 2 occurred at the House’s lunch break when Miles told another legislator, in earshot of a reporter, that he took down the big picture. “I thought it was offensive because it had Al Edwards’ picture so I took it down.” Miles was jesting about the Democratic representative that he defeated last year.
So why is the big pic gone? A spokeswoman for the State Preservation Board said a member’s name was misspelled. The goof is getting fixed with the photo to be returned.
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April 2, 2007
Tyrannical joke
As aired on an Austin radio show, the joke starts like this: “Heard about the tyrant who’s hard of hearing?”
Smiling, House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, shot back: “That’s me.”
Not so fast. The actual punch line: “Attila the huh?” Put stress on the huh.
Who says things are slow on the House floor?
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March 14, 2007
Who's Petty?
We know that our friends at the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News may be experiencing some identity issues since their papers merged their state Capitol bureaus recently.
But lately, they seem to be confused about their own names.
On Monday, an online story about HPV carried the byline “Jane Elliott,” (her name is actually Janet). And yesterday, an online story about the end of the state’s social services contract with Accenture had a double byline: “Garry Scharrer” (his name is Gary) and, worse, “Petty Fikac” (of course, they meant Peggy).
They got the names right in the print edition of the paper and the Web versions now appear to have been fixed. But we can’t help but wonder what their bylines will say on April Fool’s Day.
Then again, although we hate to admit this, we reporters may be the only ones who read the names at the top of stories.
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March 13, 2007
House makes history with marriage proposal
An East Texas couple formalized plans to marry in an unprecedented way today. Cody Terry of Longview proposed to Kendra Payne of Kilgore in front of the Texas House under cover of inviting her to Austin to watch the presentation of a congratulatory resolution.
“We have just had a first on the House floor,” House Speaker Tom Craddick said.
Payne, who said yes, fielded a vase of flowers. She said afterward she felt “excited, happy, surprised. I’m ready to plan a wedding.”
Terry, 26, district director for Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, said he ginned up his unusual proposal with Hughes’ help. “I want her to have a memory she can share with all her friends the rest of her life,” he said.
Payne, 19, a sophomore at Kilgore Junior College, said she realized something was up because House members suddenly quieted down. Terry then kneeled and proposed on the raised dais behind the speaker’s desk at the front of the House chamber.
The couple, who met on Christmas Eve, intend a June 30 wedding, according to the resolution adopted by the House in their honor. They left the House to lunch with Rep. Hughes at a downtown restaurant.
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February 15, 2007
Naishtat OF NEW YORK gets birthday recognition
Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, asked House colleagues today to recognize Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, to honor his 62nd birthday today.
Naishtat initially had no comment. Then he lofted a wisecrack playing on what his Republican opponent tried to paste on him when he won his House bid in 1990.
“After 35 years in Texas and nearly 17 years as a state representative, I wonder why a handful of members still exclaims: ‘New York City! Get a rope,’ whenever I get up to speak in the House.”
Yup: Naishtat hails from New York. Nope: No one says anything about a rope when Naishtat speaks to the House.
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