Full, though not necessarily the most up to date, results, are here. The Trib and the Observer have good roundups as well. – Mitt. Yawn. He was at just under 70% statewide, with Ron Paul getting 11% and Rick Santorum 8%. You have to wonder what might have been if Santorum had held on through [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Mike Jackson’
Four Congressional stories
CD27: It’s a relatively unknown field of hopefuls trying to unseat incumbent Republican Blake Farenthold in the newly configured U.S. House District 27, an area that stretches from Bastrop County south to Nueces County. The field includes former Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald — well-known in Central Texas but not in the most populous part [...]
Endorsement watch: Three’s company
It’s not uncommon to see dual endorsements in multi-candidate races. Even the Chron did one for the 2009 Mayor’s race. But this is the first time I can ever recall seeing a three-way endorsement. The creation of District 36 has attracted a field of candidates on the Republican side comparable in number to an event [...]
First thoughts on the new Congressional map
OK, down to business. Here’s a map of the new plan, which was unanimously approved by the three judges, the 2008 election data, and here’s 2010 election data. Going by the 2012 data, I break it down as follows: Strong R Dist Obama Pct Houston Pct ============================ 01 30.5 36.4 02 34.4 35.6 03 37.4 [...]
The Chamber of Commerce tax cut gets extended
Remember the Chamber of Commerce tax cut from the 2009 legislative session? Ed Sills of the Texas AFL-CIO has an update on it: Much to our chagrin, the 2009 Texas Legislature approved a law that exempts local Chambers of Commerce from property taxes based on their status as a “nonprofit community business organization.” The notion [...]
Senate changes
I’m not worried about the State Senate becoming more conservative, I’m worried about it becoming more stupid. “A seat in the Texas Senate does not come open very often, and all of a sudden now there are four,” said Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, one of the four who have announced their retirements. “The Senate is [...]
Jackson to run for Congress, Anderson to primary Harris
State Sen. Mike Jackson makes official what had been speculated. As expected, state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, will run for Congress next year instead of for re-election to the Texas Senate. He’ll be running in the newly created CD-36. Jackson, the Senate’s president pro tempore, has been in that body since 1999, and served [...]
The Chamber of Commerce tax cut
I mentioned before that a secondary reason for Governor Perry to veto HB770 and its Wayne Christian Beach House provision was an amendment slipped in by State Sen. Mike Jackson to give a property tax exemption to local chambers of commerce. Ed Sills of the Texas AFL-CIO went off on a righteous rant about this [...]
Falkenberg on HB770
Lisa Falkenberg hops on the HB770 train, both in her column and her blog, with video of Rep. Wayne Christian at work. I don’t really have anything to add to that, but I will note that there’s another reason to dislike this bill, beyond Christian’s self-dealing. An amendment by Sen. Mike Jackson, added before the [...]
Open beaches
Got the following email from a colleague and thought it was worth mentioning: Very late Sunday night a “deal” was made in the Texas legislature to make an exemption in the Texas Open Beaches Act – the law that guarantees public access to our beaches. Rep. Wayne Christian of Center, Texas use to have a [...]
Senate passes windstorm bill
The one bill that has been expressly mentioned as a reason for a special session if it doesn’t get done is SB14, the windstorm insurance bill. It was a chubbing victim on Tuesday, but on Wednesday it was revived by the time-honored “attach it as an amendment to another bill” method. By a 27-4 vote, [...]
McLeroy confirmation lives again
Back in April, the Senate declined to act on the confirmation of Don McLeroy as the chair of the State Board of Education, as Nomination Committee Chair Mike Jackson decided there weren’t enough votes to confirm him. That may not be the case any more, as McLeroy has now been approved by the committee and [...]
Won’t somebody please think of the mollusks?
Oyster offenders, long a scourge of the Texas criminal justice system, may have finally met their match in the Senate. A cautiously hopeful populace waits with, um, baited breath.