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News For November, 2010

  • On the Records: How White Fared at Home

    By Matt Stiles

    A few days ago, we noted the geographic similarities in the statewide performance of Democrats Bill White and Barack Obama in their respective (and losing) Texas campaigns. The same patterns held true in Harris County, where the former Houston mayor narrowly defeated incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, according to precinct-by-precinct maps. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles

  • TribBlog: KSP v. TDP: It's On

    By Morgan Smith

    The King Street Patriots, a Houston-based Tea Party group, have filed a counter-lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party. And they've retained some high-powered counsel: James Bopp Jr., of Citizens United fame. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Water, Water Everywhere

    By Kate Galbraith

    Next legislative session, during the few minutes not taken up with the budget, redistricting and immigration, an old stand-by of an issue — water — could creep onto the agenda. Observers say proposals on groundwater rights are probable, given that Texas is just wrapping up a process for planning the allocation of water from aquifers, while environmentalists will be pushing measures for water conservation. Full Story 

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    Credit: Daniel James

  • The End of Pork?

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says she will join U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in calling for a ban on all Congressional earmark spending. In the past, both used the controversial budget maneuver to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars back to Texas. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • The Dentist Departs

    By Morgan Smith

    This week marks the final meeting of the State Board of Education before former chair Don McLeroy's GOP primary opponent, Thomas Ratliff, takes his seat. But the unapologetic creationist and skeptic of the church-state wall says you haven't seen the last of him yet. “Oh, gosh, no,” he says. “I’m thinking that maybe God’s got something else for me to do.” Full Story 

    Don McLeroy, as he appeared in an interview for Al Jazeera.
    Credit: Al Jazeera TV

  • Guest Column: Put Up or Shut Up

    By Bill Ratliff

    If major-party leaders are not willing to make tough-love decisions on the ballooning national debt, and if the Tea Partiers are not willing to endorse painful measures, the American people must ask them, "Okay, what is your solution?" Full Story 

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  • TribBlog: Research for a Cure

    By Becca Aaronson

    More than 800 scientists, doctors and cancer fighters are gathering in Austin this week for the Innovation in Cancer Prevention and Research Conference. The topic of conversation? The research made possible by grants from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. Full Story 

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  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    By Reeve Hamilton

    With a budget shortfall of historic proportions looming and legislators looking desperately for savings, state Rep. Fred Brown, R-Bryan, is proposing a drastic step: the elimination of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Jack Martin: The TT Interview

    By Ross Ramsey

    The founder and chairman of Public Strategies Inc. — set to be honored today an Austin luncheon — on why the Republicans beat the Democrats so badly on Election Day, whether Texas is philosophically the same state it was 30 years ago, how things have changed for business interests dealing with the government and whether the "little guy" has a voice in our political system. Full Story 

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    Credit: Public Strategies Inc.

  • "I Will Never Return"

    By Julián Aguilar

    Withing walking distance of the port of entry at Roma, a Lions Club community center in a tiny Mexican town is the temporary home to hundreds to citizens fleeing drug violence in Ciudad Mier, which was reportedly overtaken by the Zetas cartel on Nov. 5. An official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection says that despite the town’s proximity to Texas, agents are operating there without an increase in manpower. Full Story 

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    Credit: Adriana Gómez Licón

  • TribBlog: Cuts and Caps

    By Ross Ramsey

    Lawmakers want state agencies to cut another 2 to 3 percent from their current budgets — on top of the 5 percent cuts that were already ordered. The Legislative Budget Board — comprised of members of both the House and Senate, along with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House — also adopted a spending cap for the next budget. Full Story 

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