Enlarge Anneke Paterson

Tea Party leaders are already hard at work on a legislative agenda built around transparency and paring back government tax and economic incentive programs aimed at promoting economic development.

Many grassroots conservatives, though, take a dim view of those programs, likening it to the government picking winners and losers rather than the free market.

Talking to Texas Weekly, Robin Lennon of the Kingwood TEA Party identified Gov. Rick Perry’s Emerging Technology Fund and the Texas Enterprise Fund as well as the comptroller-administered Major Events Trust Fund and a school district tax abatement program as primary targets of the Clean Up Austin legislative agenda.

Defunding the ETF, TEF and the Major Events Trust Fund — described by Lennon and Clean Up Austin as “slush funds” — and eliminating the tax abatement program, which takes its Chapter 313 name from the area of the tax code where it is found are the first two points on the five-point legislative agenda.

Others deal with putting tax breaks under regular legislative review, strengthening nepotism disclosure requirements for lawmakers and reworking how lawmakers’ pensions are formulated.

This formal legislative agenda comes as the Tea Party’s influence continues to grow in the Legislature. That is especially true in the Senate, where unprecedented turnover in the last two election cycles has tilted the chamber ideologically further right. Also, the Tea Party can claim the incoming lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, as one of its own.

Lennon said she’s seen the Tea Party progress as a movement from a louder first phase more than five years ago to a second phase where “we got quiet but got to know legislators.”

The Tea Party has since moved to a third phase, which Lennon said was to get more active.

Legislation relating to these agenda items has been introduced before. For instance, a nepotism bill was introduced last session by state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake. It went nowhere in committee after being roundly criticized by other lawmakers.

Lennon said she is “very encouraged” by the legislative leadership, mentioning without prompting Speaker Joe Straus, who has come under criticism by some grassroots conservative leaders.

Of Straus, Lennon said, “I am encouraged we can find legislation to work together on.”

She added, “Short or long term, we are here for the fight and to do everything we possibly can. We want them to happen, but we are also pragmatic that it can be a longer process.”

With the Clean Up Austin agenda, grassroots conservatives are looking to start the conversation on the proper role and size of government, Lennon said.

They are looking for legislators who could carry pieces of the agenda. Lennon added that she would look at building coalitions with progressives with whom they could make common cause on rolling back tax abatements and economic incentive funds.

Lennon, though, makes clear that reaching out doesn’t mean she is diluting her message.

“I think there’s a battle going on for the soul of Texas right now,” she said. “We have moderates who see progressive thinking as the norm. The more I do this, the more radical I become.”

Enlarge Bob Daemmrich

Christmas tree grower Marshall Cathey, center, and his family from Denison, TX arrive via horse-drawn carriage at the Texas Capitol on November 28, 2011 with one of several Capitol Christmas trees that will adorn the House and Senate chambers and hallways.

And on the 12th day of Christmas, Gov. Rick Perry gave Texas a trio of special elections.

That’s right, the governor has selected Jan. 6, or the Day of the Epiphany on the Christian liturgical calendar, to fill upcoming vacancies in two San Antonio legislative seats — the SD-26 and the HD-123 seats belonging to mayoral candidates Leticia Van de Putte and Mike Villarreal — and the HD-17 seat belonging to Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, who is leaving to become general counsel at the Texas Department of Agriculture.

For the districts, it means residents won’t go too long before knowing who their new representatives will be. But for the prospective candidates, it means that any hopes they would have time to celebrate the holidays have now been officially quashed.

Would-be candidates for all three seats have until Monday at 5 p.m. to file to run. Early voting begins the following Monday, or just 10 days from now.

“This is breathtaking,” Steven Rivas, a spokesman for SD-26 candidate Sylvia Romo, told the San Antonio Express-News. “It’s not often we see campaign signs next to Santa Claus on people’s lawns.”

Romo is a recent addition to the field, announcing on Tuesday her intent to run. The entry of the former county tax assessor-collector immediately raised the odds of a runoff in the contest that already features sitting representatives Trey Martinez Fischer and Jose Menéndez.

The HD-123 contest also features some heavy hitters on the San Antonio political scene. Former City Councilman Diego Bernal, public relations consultant Melissa Aguillon, former City Councilman Walter Martinez and State Republican Executive Committeeman Nunzio Previtera have all said they are running for the seat.

In the contest to represent HD-17, which covers several Central Texas counties east of Austin, two Republicans — Brent Golemon and John Cyrier — have announced candidacies.

*****

U.S. Rep.-elect Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, announced on Thursday that he has been tapped to chair a House subcommittee on information technology. He said that he’s the only incoming freshman to be given a chairmanship.

A former undercover CIA officer, Hurd defeated Democratic incumbent Pete Gallego of Alpine to take the sprawling West Texas-based Congressional District 23.

Hurd also said he’s been picked for a spot on the House Homeland Security Committee, which is chaired by Austin Republican Michael McCaul.

*****

Empower Texans announced this week that it is modifying its Fiscal Responsibility Index for the upcoming legislative session to take into account the vote for speaker.

From the announcement:

The Fiscal Responsibility Index will now reflect, positively or negatively, the actions of the winning Speaker candidate as a part of the ratings of those members supporting that candidate ... At the end of the session, members who vote for the winning speaker candidate will receive positive ratings boosts for those priority issues that receive a vote on the House floor. Similarly, negative points will be assigned to members who vote for the winning speaker candidate for each priority issue that does not receive House floor consideration.

Empower Texans is promoting a challenge to Speaker Joe Straus by rising sophomore state Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco.

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In inauguration news, the inaugural team has named its leadership team: Ardon Moore of Fort Worth (Chairman); Alejandra de la Vega Foster of El Paso and Toni Brinker Pickens of Dallas (Co-Chairs); and John Nau of Houston and Trevor Rees-Jones of Dallas (Finance Co-Chairs).

Also, the 2015 Inaugural Committee now has a website.

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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Will the regents at Texas A&M University rename a building after Gov. Rick Perry? The unofficial nose counting in the race for speaker of the Texas House looks to be in favor of Joe Straus

You can view the video at: https://trib.it/1wIvziY

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Rick Perry leaves office after 14 years as governor next month, so we asked our insiders in politics and government for their impressions of his time at the top of state government.

Eight percent think he’s the best governor ever, and another 39 percent rank Perry above average. Five percent say he is the worst governor in the state’s history, and 25 percent rank him worse than average. About one in five called Perry average as Texas governors go.

Perry has made no secret of his interest in running for president in 2016, although he says he will not make a decision about that race until sometime next year. That said, 77 percent of the insiders think his current post is the last public office he will hold.

We asked the insiders for their take on the governor’s failures and accomplishments, as well as for comments on the questions above. A full set of those responses is attached. Here’s a sampling:

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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How would you rank Rick Perry among Texas governors?

• "Stable. Shrewd. Arrogant. "

• "Bigger and badder. Definitely transformative, but not in healthy ways. "

• "The man won gubernatorial elections in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Only fourth governor in Texas history to serve three terms. Texans kept voting for him, sending him back to the Governor's Office again and again and again. He must have been doing something right."

• "Tough question: He had a significantly longer period of time to succeed or fail so it's tough from the perspective. He was arguably more corrupt than modern governors. He succeeded on many front -- especially public safety and homeland security issues and economic development (despite the graft). He was a failure in most legislative respects -- very contentious relationship with the Lege and few real successes within that body. He's most noteworthy for things like 'oops' and 'get on down the road' and the clouds of cronyism and an official indictment... so I guess I gotta say 'worst'. "

• "Clearly the best of the modern era. A visionary leader who charted a course for economic success unparalleled by any of his predecessors."

• "Austin hates him, but the people of Texas clearly loved him."

• "He concentrated on his own political advancement while completely neglecting the long-term interests of the state."

• "He came in with strength--calling on the Legislature to include ZERO-based budgeting in their next budget to deal with a $10 billion shortfall. And he's going out with strength--adding a strong pro-LIFE bill to special sessions to offset the Speaker's success in burying them during the regular sessions."

• "I agree with precious few priorities pushed by Perry, but it's hard to argue with longevity. Clearly voters stayed okay with him for years."

• "Longevity does not equal excellence. "

What do you think has been his biggest achievement?

• "Economic 'reform.' He focused on taking government processes that frustrated the private sector and cut turn around time down to a third. This is what got the country ignited about doing business with Texas. It was an attitude of lets fix this and get you an answer ASAP. "

• "Letting business do business."

• "Stewardship of the Texas economy, Pro life leadership"

• "He was the first to identify the tea party movement and take advantage of that wave. He was also the best 'Yell Leader' for Texas. "

• "Homeland security - by far. He stands tall when hurricanes hit and disasters strike."

• "Named every single current gubernatorial appointee and had input on probably every managerial hiring at every state agency. "

• "Consolidating more power into the governor's hands."

• "Economic Development"

• "Surviving- he reads the battleground well and adapts. From Democrat to tea party/secessionist, he can change stripes and ruthlessly attack his opposition. "

• "Entrenching Texas into the 'red' column"

What do you think has been his biggest failure?

• "It's a toss up ... either the Trans-Texas Corridor or not having enough influence with God to get the rains falling during the drought."

• "HPV vaccine. "

• "It’s a toss up between crumbling infrastructure, poverty, and sky high insurance rates."

• "Cronyism"

• "Education in Texas has slipped tremendously especially at the university level. The inability to manage a surplus and direct it toward higher education is a failure."

• "Reckless pursuit of Trans Texas Corridor and the HPV vaccine will go down as political miscalculations."

• "What he has done to some of the state agency's rep. And how far on debt he has taken Texas "

• "His politics have prevented the state from receiving billions in federal dollars. This has cost us money and mostly because of politics. Governing should be what is best, not what makes you look best."

• "His near-total lack of leadership in preparing the state for future road, water and education needs."

• "Reducing size of government "

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Do you think governor is the last public office Rick Perry will hold?

• "He was a good AAA ball player but doesn't have the stuff to make it in the majors. As we saw in 2012… and may see again in 2016."

• "Last elected office"

• "A republican presidential administration might appoint him to something. "

• "He will go make 'serious money' and be the next Rudy Giuliani (that's not a complement). "

• "If he runs for President, he will be a leading candidate. Whether or not things break his way -- it's too early to tell."

• "Maybe the last elected office but probably not the last public office. "

• "I don't know whether he'll be president, Vice President, a cabinet secretary or university president but he will hold some public job."

• "Don't ever count the man out of the race."

Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Brandon Aghamalian, Brandon Alderete, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Charles Bailey, Dave Beckwith, Andrew Biar, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Chris Britton, Raif Calvert, Kerry Cammack, Snapper Carr, Corbin Casteel, William Chapman, Elna Christopher, Harold Cook, Beth Cubriel, Randy Cubriel, Curtis Culwell, Denise Davis, June Deadrick, Nora Del Bosque, Glenn Deshields, Holly DeShields, Tom Duffy, David Dunn, Richard Dyer, Jeff Eller, Jack Erskine, John Esparza, Jon Fisher, Neftali Garcia, Dominic Giarratani, Bruce Gibson, Stephanie Gibson, Eric Glenn, Daniel Gonzalez, Jim Grace, John Greytok, Clint Hackney, Bill Hammond, Ken Hodges, Steve Holzheauser, Kathy Hutto, Deborah Ingersoll, Jason Johnson, Mark Jones, Robert Jones, Walt Jordan, Robert Kepple, Tom Kleinworth, Sandy Kress, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, James LeBas, Luke Legate, Myra Leo, Vilma Luna, Matt Mackowiak, Steve Minick, Bee Moorhead, Mike Moses, Steve Murdock, Nelson Nease, Keats Norfleet, Pat Nugent, Todd Olsen, Nef Partida, Gardner Pate, Jerod Patterson, Jerry Philips, Richard Pineda, Allen Place, Gary Polland, Jay Propes, Patrick Reinhart, David Reynolds, Carl Richie, Jason Sabo, Andy Sansom, Barbara Schlief, Stan Schlueter, Bruce Scott, Robert Scott, Ben Sebree, Bradford Shields, Julie Shields, Nancy Sims, Jason Skaggs, Ed Small, Larry Soward, Leonard Spearman, Dennis Speight, Jason Stanford, Bob Strauser, Colin Strother, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Sherry Sylvester, Sara Tays, Gerard Torres, Trey Trainor, Vicki Truitt, Corbin Van Arsdale, Ken Whalen, David White, Darren Whitehurst, Woody Widrow, Seth Winick, Peck Young, Angelo Zottarelli.

Enlarge Todd Wiseman

Monday, Dec. 22

• Lois Kolkhorst SD-18 swearing-in ceremony; 1100 Congress Ave., Senate Chamber, Austin (12 p.m.)

Thursday, Dec. 25

• Christmas Day

Jack Stick's verbal resignation last Friday as top lawyer at the Health and Human Services Commission has not quelled controversy over Stick's involvement in awarding a $110 million no-bid contract to detect Medicaid fraud. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, on Thursday asked the state's public integrity unit to investigate. On Wednesday, HHSC canceled another smaller contract awarded on a similar no-bid basis from the Department of Family and Protective Services to help caseworkers find information on families under investigation.

Gov. Rick Perry decided against having the Academic Building at his alma mater, Texas A&M University, named after him. The proposal to change the name of the historic building had spurred opposition. Perry said in a Thursday address at the university's convocation ceremony that "certain places on this campus ... transcend any one individual."

President Barack Obama's decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba could help revive trade between Texas and the Caribbean island nation. In the last five years, red tape has slowed Texas exports to Cuba and some hope the change in federal policy will help restore robust levels of trade.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia last Friday declined to lift a stay that is preventing same-sex marriage in Texas, writing that a temporary lifting of the ban would create further "confusion and doubt."

Austin voters chose Steve Adler to lead the city, handing him an easy win in a Tuesday runoff for mayor against Councilman Mike Martinez. The election was also significant for ushering in a new single-member district system for the city.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's office is facing a lawsuit in which a former staffer has alleged sexual harassment. A spokesman for the Corpus Christi Republican has denied the accusations, but operatives are mulling what could happen to the congressman on Capitol Hill.

A bill filed Monday could create a financial incentive for students to become mental health care providers. The legislation by state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, would create a loan reimbursement program for certain licensed mental health workers who assist the underserved.

Gov. Rick Perry is asking to address a joint session of the Legislature one more time before he leaves office. Once a common practice, the custom of an outgoing address has fallen out of fashion. The last governor to make such a speech was Mark White in 1987.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. Steve Adler is a major donor and former board chairman of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has been chosen to serve as vice chairman of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC) in 2015. The national organization's focus is on electing more Republicans to state legislatures.

Sarah Saldaña has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She served most recently as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Land Commissioner-elect George P. Bush has named the members of his government relations team. Jim Darwin will serve as federal and veterans liaison. Don Forse, Jackie King and Molly Quirk will serve as legislative liaisons. Anna Lisa Montoya will serve as legislative coordinator.

Shawn Saladin of Edinburg was named by Gov. Rick Perry to the board of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) for a term to expire Jan. 31, 2017.

Michael Hanley of Leander was named by Perry to the board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) for a term to expire Jan. 1, 2017.

Rob Looney, who spent 26 years at the Texas Oil & Gas Association and nearly all of them leading the organization, has landed at Austin-based law firm Beatty Bangle Strama PC.

Martin Hubert has been hired as vice president and counsel for the Austin office of Cornerstone Government Affairs. His most recent service was as deputy comptroller. He has also worked at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Department of Agriculture and as general counsel to then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.

Mark M. Ellison is leaving Perry's office of economic development and tourism to join IDE Americas, Inc. as regional director of sales. Ellison, who has been with Perry "off and on" since 1991, starts his new job Jan. 3. He will continue to be based in Austin.

Ryan Streeter has been named director of the Center for Politics and Governance at The University of Texas at Austin. He most recently served as deputy chief of staff for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and also spent time as an adviser in the George W. Bush White House. His first day is Jan. 2.

Mia McCord is joining the consulting firm of Sabrina T. Brown. McCord was most recently chief of staff for state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills. She begins work on Jan. 1.

Disclosure: The Center for Politics and Governance at UT-Austin is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.