Enlarge Marjorie Kamys Cotera

Rep. John Otto R-Dayton after HB1 passed 115 yea and 33 nay on May 29, 2015

House Appropriations Chairman John Otto views his time in the Texas House as "probably the greatest experience I've ever had in my life." Yet he's leaving because of the changing tone of Texas Republican primaries. 

The Dayton Republican explained his decision not to run for another term during an on-stage interview last Friday at the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association's conference.

When he first joined the Legislature, Otto said his "bucket list" included chairing either Appropriations or Ways and Means. Once he got the position, he always intended to chair the Appropriations Committee for multiple terms.

"I was planning on coming back," Otto said of his thinking at the end of the session.

The thought of waging another primary campaign changed his mind.

"The last two primary seasons have not been fun and I made the statement, 'when this thing ceases to be fun, it's time to get out,'" Otto said. "And that concerns me because I'm watching a lot of my friends go through the same thing. I think we as a state better wake up or we're not going to be able to attract good people to come serve."

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday warned Houston Mayor Annise Parker against trying to revive the city's polarizing nondiscrimination ordinance, calling her obsessed with an issue that defies common sense.

"You can’t find any women who want men in the bathroom beside Annise Parker and a few people who voted for her," Patrick told reporters at the Texas Federation of Republican Women conference in Lubbock.

Patrick's comments came two days after voters in Texas' largest city soundly defeated the ordinance. Parker said Wednesday she planned to meet with the city council to see if it could bring back at least some parts of the law before her term is up at the end of the year.

“I think Annise Parker needs to realize she’s going to be out of office in a few months, and she ought to take her bad ideas to wherever she’s going after she leaves office," Patrick said, promising that HERO opponents will again defeat the ordinance if Parker or her successor revive it.

Although he took a leading role in the HERO fight, the Republican lieutenant governor said he was "staying out of" the Dec. 12 runoff between state Rep. Sylvester Turner and former Kemah Mayor Bill King. Turner is a longtime Democrat, while King is a self-described independent who secured a runoff berth thanks to a GOP coalition.

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Patrick has asked seven senators to take a closer look at the property tax system with an eye toward recommendations on how to improve both the process of levying the tax and providing relief to property owners.

The select committee will present its recommendations to the Senate’s main budget committee, Senate Finance, before the start of the next legislative session in 2017.

The members of the committee are: Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe; Kelly Hancock, R-N. Richland Hills; Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; Charles Perry, R-Lubbock; Van Taylor, R-Plano; and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio.

Bettencourt has been tapped to chair the committee. In a statement, he said, “Our goal is that this committee will hold a robust series of hearings where we listen to what the people of Texas tell us, and seek to find meaningful solutions.”

*****

State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, released a plan for more school choice on Thursday. In a press release, Simpson said the proposal is meant to establish more choices for Texas’ parents in how parents educate their children, whether that be through a public school, private school or home school.

“Unfortunately, the current system of school finance gives public schools an advantage over other models regardless of the best interest of the child to be educated,” the press release stated.

Simpson’s plan gives property owners and businesses tax credit for establishing educational savings accounts with educational nonprofits, which the release stated would “would drive the market not government mandates.”

Enlarge REUTERS/Mike Stone

Sen. Ted Cruz at the third GOP debate, held in Boulder, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2015.

A super PAC backing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is bolstering its $1 million radio campaign with a series of new ads, including one that riffs on the choice words House Speaker John Boehner reportedly had for the Texas Republican.

"The media and even some in his own party, like Speaker John Boehner, attacked Ted Cruz, referring to him as a pain in the you-know-what because his bold actions fighting to keep the promises he made to me," a woman says in the minute-long spot.

The line is a reference to an August report that Boehner called Cruz a "jackass" at a Colorado fundraiser. Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, has not distanced himself from the comment, suggesting in a September interview that he stands by it.

The super PAC, known as Keep the Promise I, started airing the ads in late September, and they are set to run through the end of the year. Currently, they are being aired on a mix of Christian networks and conservative programs nationally as well as in the early voting states of Iowa and South Carolina.

*****

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is returning to Texas this month, her campaign announced last Friday.

The former secretary of state is scheduled to hold a campaign event Nov. 17 in Dallas. It will be her second campaign event in Texas, following an October rally in San Antonio where she received the endorsement of U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro.

She will also raise money for her campaign later that evening in Austin, according to an invitation. The event, which is being held at the home of filmmakers Clark and Jesse Lyda, costs $1,000 to get into and $2,700 to both attend and receive a photo with Clinton.

Clinton made her first trip to Texas as a candidate in June, when she delivered a speech about voting rights in Houston. She has since come back to the state for several fundraisers.

*****

The Latino Victory Fund announced Tuesday it is endorsing former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego who is running for the Congressional District 23 seat he lost to Republican Will Hurd in 2014.

"We are proud to endorse Pete Gallego for Congress," said Cristóbal Alex, president of the fund, in a statement. "Throughout his public service career Pete has worked tirelessly to increase opportunities for Latinos and support our community.  We look forward to having him back in Congress fighting for the issues that matter to our families.”

*****

A group of 38 Democrats in the Legislature have signed on to a letter Wednesday asking the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to monitor Texas’ actions against Planned Parenthood to ensure they’re legal.

Texas health officials announced in late October that they want to kick Planned Parenthood out of the state Medicaid program although the inspector general at the Health and Human Services Commission later clarified that no final action has been taken against the group.

In their letter, the Democrats write, “We request that CMS continue to monitor the legality of the state’s actions and urge CMS to use every tool available to enforce the law and ensure that baseless political attacks do not interfere with a patient’s ability to access critical care from quality, trusted providers.”

Enlarge Angi English

The Alamo in San Antonio.

Photos of Ozzy Osbourne walking through the state Capitol circulated on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, prompting questions about his intentions and numerous jokes about the Congress Avenue Bridge bats.

It turns out the Black Sabbath front man and his son, Jack, were in Austin shooting footage for their new show coming to the History Channel that will discuss "history with an Osbourne slant."

The Osbournes met with state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, to discuss Texas history and politics, according to Rodriguez's chief of staff Laura Stromberg-Hoke.

“They probably spent about 50 minutes in our office meeting,” she said. “They were very gracious, very down-to-earth... I did get to escort Ozzy to the bathroom, so that was exciting."

On Thursday, Osbourne visited the Alamo in San Antonio in part to apologize for a 1982 incident where he urinated on a monument to the defenders of the Alamo that is located in the nearby Alamo plaza.

The General Land Office, though, denied his request to film on the parts of the Alamo property that are state owned.

“We repeatedly denied requests for a permit to film on Alamo grounds,” said GLO spokeswoman Brittany Eck. She noted that the incident at the cenotaph happened in the city-owned Alamo plaza. Osbourne had been coordinating with San Antonio District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño for the visit.

Eck said when deciding whether or not to grant filming permits the land office looks at “whether or not the program is related to the history of the Alamo, is primarily educational in nature, and whether we are confident the Alamo mission and its history will be portrayed accurately and positively.”

According to a report from the San Antonio Express-News, Osbourne arrived mid-afternoon at San Antonio’s city hall in advance of the expected meeting with Treviño.

A subsequent tweet showed Osbourne and his son at the Alamo.

*****

The Texas General Land Office and the Veterans Land Board on Tuesday announced numerous policy changes for veterans cemeteries across the state including a waiver of all fees for the burial of military spouses, extended visiting hours at the grounds and more lax rules regarding flowers left at grave sites.

"Sometimes the right thing to do is an easy choice, and this is one of those instances," said Land Commissioner George P. Bush in a statement. "Texas is home to over 1.7 million veterans. ... By waiving all spousal fees at our State Veterans Cemeteries we're doing right by our veterans, and taking another step to ensure we continue to give our best for the men and women who represent the best of us."

Enlarge

For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about differing approaches taken by Texas' Big Three to sanctuary cities.

In recent days, Gov. Greg Abbott has been using both the bully pulpit and his authority over grants administered out of his office to pressure local officials to cooperate fully with federal immigration officials. He also has suggested that he'd like to see more conservative lawmakers elected to ensure the passage of sanctuary cities legislation next session.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, meanwhile, signaled that he'd be willing to fast track sanctuary cities legislation in a hypothetical special session. Some in the conservative grassroots have been urging Abbott to call such a session, something that the governor has indicated will not happen.

Speaker Joe Straus for his part has responded to the increased talk about sanctuary cities by emphasizing the need to study the issue ahead of the 2017 regular legislative session.

The insiders split relatively evenly between Straus (48 percent) and Abbott (44 percent) on whose approach will prove most likely to succeed with just 8 percent favoring the chances of Patrick's plan. But when it comes to reading the voters, the insiders said Patrick (36 percent) and Straus (35 percent) have the upper hand with 29 percent saying Abbott is taking the right approach.

On the thornier question of how this debate plays out among Hispanic voters, three in five of the insiders said it repelled Hispanic voters while 9 percent said it attracted them. Fully 30 percent, though, would use different terms to describe the issue's effects.

Finally, the insiders were nearly unanimous in thinking that Abbott doesn't call a special session on sanctuary cities.

We collected comments along the way, and a full set of those is attached. Here’s a sampling:

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Whose approach to sanctuary cities has the best chance of success?

• "The voters are sick and tired of being manipulated by politicians — which exactly what this choice does. Fast Track would be the correct approach to motivate voters, but we are left wondering whether they really plan to fix the problem or manipulate the electorate."

• "Straus' measured, thoughtful approach makes the most sense, so therefore it's DOA with the xenophobes and hyper partisans in his party."

• "Since only the Governor can call a special session, his plan is the only plan."

• "I'm not sure what you are defining as success, but whatever it is, I'm betting on Patrick."

• "Abbott's got the right idea: just ride this thing to Republican victories. Actually doing something about it is really messy and may backfire."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Where do you think the voters are?

• "Which voters — the large, silent majority or the loud, vocal minority?"

• "Answer is Straus for where all voters and population are. Republican primary voters are with Patrick or Abbott."

• "Abbott is the Governor. No one knows who the others are outside of their families."

• "Abbott has ability to make life uncomfortable for sanctuary city advocates, which is sufficient for now."

• "Patrick knows what voters want. He and they aren't likely to get what they want, though."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Does this debate attract or repel Hispanic voters?

• "It depends. We forget that the Hispanic voters have a wide range of perspectives. Some come from families who just got to Texas, some from families who have been here since Texas was a part of Spain, and the rest from every generation in between. Some are of Mexican descent, some of Cuban, some..."

• "Let us be clear, some Hispanic voters are absolutely aligned with the Gov./Lt. Gov., however a majority are not. This is not an issue of civil disobedience, but rather a issue of municipalities purposefully, and at times flaunting the fact, of ignoring federal law and they should he held accountable."

• "Hispanic voters are the most double minded of every segment. They want the border secured but they also want to allow their friends and family to be allowed in. Hispanic voters away from the border see things differently from those on the border."

• "It has little effect. Most conservative Hispanics — a substantial minority of the Hispanic population — want to see the law enforced."

• "Patrick's election results speak for themselves. A bold stance attracts voters, not repels them. Patrick garnered a strong share of Hispanic votes to prove the point."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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When all is said and done, what does Abbott do on sanctuary cities?

• "Ted Cruz will run on this issue in Texas."

• "Avoid controversy while manipulating voters. That's how to gain poll numbers in keeping with Congress."

• "He only calls a special session if a national newsworthy event takes place in a sanctuary city."

• "Abbott is congenitally incapable of making a decision."

• "No primary to worry about so it's a safe decision."

Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Dave Beckwith, Andrew Biar, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Chris Britton, Raif Calvert, Lydia Camarillo, Kerry Cammack, Snapper Carr, Corbin Casteel, Elna Christopher, Harold Cook, Kevin Cooper, Randy Cubriel, Beth Cubriel, Curtis Culwell, Denise Davis, June Deadrick, Tom Duffy, David Dunn, Tom Forbes, Neftali Garcia, Bruce Gibson, Stephanie Gibson, Eric Glenn, Kinnan Golemon, Daniel Gonzalez, Wayne Hamilton, Bill Hammond, Ken Hodges, Deborah Ingersoll, Mark Jones, Walt Jordan, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Dale Laine, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, Dick Lavine, James LeBas, Luke Legate, Ruben Longoria, Homero Lucero, Matt Mackowiak, Steve Minick, Mike Moses, Steve Murdock, Nelson Nease, Todd Olsen, Gardner Pate, Jerod Patterson, Robert Peeler, Jerry Philips, Tom Phillips, Richard Pineda, Allen Place, Gary Polland, Jay Pritchard, Jay Propes, Patrick Reinhart, David Reynolds, Grant Ruckel, Tyler Ruud, Barbara Schlief, Stan Schlueter, Robert Scott, Ben Sebree, Nancy Sims, Ed Small, Martha Smiley, Larry Soward, Leonard Spearman, Dennis Speight, Colin Strother, Sherry Sylvester, Sara Tays, Trey Trainor, Vicki Truitt, Ware Wendell, David White, Darren Whitehurst, Angelo Zottarelli.

Enlarge Todd Wiseman

Saturday, Nov. 7

• 20th Annual Texas Home School Coalition Gala and Fundraiser with special guest Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett; 945 Gessner Road, Houston (6-10 p.m.)
  

Sunday, Nov. 8

• HD-130 candidate Kay Smith Family Fun fundraiser; 14800 Tin Hall Road, Cypress (4-7 p.m.)

Monday, Nov. 9

• 2015 Texas Legislative Black Caucus Golf Classic; 7401 Texas 45, Austin (10 a.m.)
  
• State Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, Golf Scramble and Fundraising Reception; 1701 Hamilton Blvd., Wichita Falls (11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.)
• State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, fundraiser with special guest former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison; 4700 Preston Road, Dallas (5-6:30 p.m.)
• SD-1 candidate and state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, with special guest Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; 2323 Ross Ave., Dallas (5:30-7 p.m.)

Wednesday, Nov. 11

• Veterans Day

Thursday, Nov. 12

• Williamson County Republican Women November 2015 Luncheon with special guest state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels; 2370 Chisolm Trail, Round Rock (11 a.m.)
  
• Presidential candidate Martin O'Malley fundraiser; Home of Charles & Sylvia Zeller, Austin (7-8:30 p.m.)

Lawyers for Attorney General Ken Paxton filed six motions Monday to quash the three indictments against him, citing problems with the grand jury process. In a 19-page filing Thursday, special prosecutors delivered a scathing response to Paxton's motion, calling the attorney general's legal arguments a "pre-trial shell game" based on a "quicksand-like foundation."

House Speaker Joe Straus issued more than 150 interim charges Wednesday, directing committees to study issues such as the effectiveness of border security operations and the impact of the plummeting cost of oil on the local economy. These homework assignments will help direct the work of the House's work over the remainder of the legislative interim.

If Texas sheriffs do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, they will face losing state grant money, Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday. The governor's criminal justice grants provide counties with funding for a range of resources, including drug courts, juvenile justice programs and body cameras. So far this calendar year, Abbott's office has awarded $4 million in criminal justice grants.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, on Wednesday gained the upper hand in becoming the House's next lead tax-writer when he won the endorsement of a key House steering committee. His bid for the job was helped by incoming Speaker of the House Paul Ryan who until now was the Ways and Means chairman. Brady becomes the seventh Texan to currently chair a standing — or permanent — House committee.

Paxton issued a formal opinion Wednesday saying there's nothing wrong with the Childress Police Department sporting "In God We Trust" stickers on its patrol cars. In his opinion, Paxton said the stickers are “a passive use of a motto steeped in our nation’s history” and that the police department would likely win if someone challenged the stickers in court.

Democratic state Rep. Sylvester Turner led the field for Houston mayor, but Houston Democrats took two big hits during Tuesday's election in the nation's fourth largest city. A controversial nondiscrimination ordinance lost decisively after opponents were able to frame the measure as one on access to bathrooms. And Adrian Garcia, who stepped down as sheriff to run for mayor, finished a distant third behind Bill King who consolidated GOP support behind him.

After a Houston psychologist was discovered vouching for the mental health of would-be police officers without even meeting them, the state is revamping its approach to screening the psychological and emotional health of law enforcement applicants.

Chancellor Bill McRaven said Thursday he will require that a woman or minority candidate be interviewed for every high-level position at the UT System's 14 universities and medical schools. The requirement will be similar to the National Football League's Rooney Rule, which mandates that a minority head coaching candidate be interviewed before a final hire is made. McRaven designed the rule to ensure that women and minorities will be strongly considered and he will also require each school to submit a report to him detailing how it plans to close the gender gap.

The University of Texas System plans to build a new campus on 300 acres in the southwestern part of Houston, an initiative its leaders say will drastically expand the system's presence in the state's biggest city. The property, which is mostly vacant, is in an area called Buffalo Point about 3.5 miles south of the Texas Medical Center. A rendering displayed during the board meeting showed the potential for as many as a dozen buildings on the site, as well as sports fields and green space. The announcement was a surprise to some in the area, particularly supporters of the University of Houston.

House Speaker Joe Straus announced Thursday that a new House Committee on Federal Environmental Regulation will examine a litany of new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency efforts that have roiled Texas leaders and industry. An ambitious effort to combat climate change launched by President Barack Obama could significantly affect Texas, an industrial juggernaut that generates more electricity and emits far more carbon than any other state.

A state appeals court ruled Thursday that conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan lives in Austin despite his claims otherwise, so his dispute with the state Ethics Commission will play out in Travis County. Sullivan and the Texas Ethics Commission have been sparring for years over whether Sullivan's past political activity makes him a lobbyist under state law. The appeals court made clear it did not buy Sullivan's arguments establishing his residency in Denton County.

Voters overwhelmingly favored seven changes to the Texas constitution, including measures that will cut property taxes, boost funding for road projects beginning in 2017 and let state officeholders live outside of Austin. All seven propositions drew at least 66 percent support. Voter turnout was approximately 11 percent. After legislative sessions, lawmakers typically require multiple amendments to the state's rigid constitution to allow for some laws to be enforced. Since it was adopted in 1876, Texans have amended their constitution more than 400 times.

Former University of Texas at Austin Athletics Director Steve Patterson will receive up to $3 million from his old school after his "resignation," according to an exit agreement released by the school Wednesday. Patterson and the university reached that agreement after he left his job under pressure in September. He had four years left on his contract at the time at a salary of almost $1.5 million per year.

Disclosure: The University of Houston and the University of Texas at Austin are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Leslie Kinsel of Cotulla and Natalie C. Koehler of Cranfills Gap to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council for terms to expire on Feb. 1, 2021.

Abbott appointed Jason Cooper as chairman of the Texas Physician Assistant Board. He also appointed Victor Ho, Jorge Martinez, Karrie Lynn Crosby, Clayton “Clay” Bulls and Maribel “Monica” De Ponce to the board for terms to expire on Feb. 1, 2021. In addition, he appointed Melinda Moore Gottschalk and Jennifer Clarner to the board for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2019, and Feb. 1, 2017, respectively.

Abbott named Martha Wong of Houston and Romanita Matta-Barrera of San Antonio to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. He also reappointed Larry Holt of College Station. Terms for all three appointees expire on Sept. 28, 2021. Wong is a former state lawmaker, representing HD-134 for two terms from 2003 to 2007.

Abbott has appointed Rusty Boles, Cynthia Flores, Rick Huber, John Henry Luton, Ford Taylor and reappointed Bill Rankin and Jeff Tallas to the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors. These seven were appointed to terms to expire Feb. 1, 2021. In addition, Abbott named Jarrod Smith to the river authority board for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Abbott appointed Ben Pena of Harlingen, Rosie Morris of San Marcos, Kimberly Wilkerson of Lubbock, Timothy LaFrey of Austin and Ross T. Johnson of Houston to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for terms to expire Jan. 31, 2021. He also named Coalter Baker of Austin as the board’s presiding officer.

Abbott appointed Bob Leonard of San Antonio, Rayito Stephens of Pearland and reappointed T.J. Turner of Austin to the Texas Real Estate Commission for terms to expire Jan. 31, 2021.

Land Commissioner George P. Bush named three new directors for the main divisions of the Texas General Land Office – Brian Carter will be director of the Asset Enhancement division, Matthew Elledge will be director of Veterans Programs and Ken Wisian will be director of the Coastal Protection division.

Bush also named two new members to the Alamo Endowment Board – former Secretary of State Hope Andrade and former UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa. The board oversees fundraising efforts for the historic mission.

John Keel is stepping down as state auditor on Jan. 4 after 11 years on the job and 35 years in state government.

Gary Jessee was named the state’s new Medicaid director last Friday. Jessee takes over for Kay Ghahremani, who is retiring after working for the state for 20 years.

Former state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, has been appointed to the board of directors for the National Center for Public Policy Analysis.

Jon Cobb dropped out of the race for SD-24 on Monday because of “recent family medical concerns.” His departure leaves six Republicans in the field to succeed Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay.

Texas Right to Life’s political arm endorsed Stephenville businessman Brent Graves for HD-59 on Thursday. Graves is challenging incumbent state Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, for the spot.

The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC announced on Wednesday that it has endorsed state Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels, for re-election to the HD-73 seat he's represented since 2009. Miller is facing a primary challenger in Kyle Biedermann of Fredericksburg.

HD-121 candidate Jeff Judson announced that he has the backing of 27 members, or almost half, of the State Republican Executive Committee in his challenge to Speaker Joe Straus to represent the Bexar County House seat.

Longtime Rick Perry aide Rob Johnson has launched a new venture, Johnson Strategies, which bills itself as a “full-service communications firm” with a focus on campaign strategy, voter outreach, crisis management and media preparation. He is teaming with creative director Ben Price in the venture.

Aaron Whitehead, who was serving as the Republican Party of Texas' communications director, stepped down last week to join Florida-based Majority Strategies. The firm's new Texas shop plans to be active in the 2016 election cycle at the state level. The RPT is making Michael Joyce its communications coordinator.

The Texas Retailers Association announced on Monday that it has hired George Kelemen as its new president and CEO.

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas announced Wednesday that Meredyth Fowler will serve as legislative counsel for the group. Fowler previously worked in Texas House Speaker Joe Straus' office. "I relied heavily on her advice and counsel on a number of important issues, as did many of my House colleagues," Straus said. "She will be greatly missed, but I have no doubt that she will continue to succeed as she begins this next chapter in her career."

Deaths: Roberta Hicks, 84, past president of the Texas Democratic Women and a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee for SD-31.

Disclosure: The Texas Retailers Association is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. The Independent Bankers Association of Texas was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune from 2011-13. The Texas General Land Office has been a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.