Inside Texas Politics: Rollouts, Reboots and Acts of Love

On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, I talked with host Jason Whitely and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy about embattled University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall, under consideration by a state House committee for impeachment proceedings. Last week, in his report to that committee, noted Texas trial lawyer Rusty Hardin found there may be grounds for impeachment. In such instances, if it decides to proceed, the Legislature can convene itself.

We looked at Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott's rollout of his education plan, which his Democratic opponent Wendy Davis has hammered relentlessly. While Democrats traditionally "own" education issues, at least one poll shows most Texans may favor Abbott's approach.

And after a disastrous start and an under-the-wire finish in Affordable Care Act enrollment, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius resigned this week, offering President Obama's administration a chance to reboot.

We also talked about former Florida governor Jeb Bush's possible run for president in 2016 — his "act of love" comments on immigration indicate a move to the middle in the field of prospective GOP candidates; how the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library, which had four of the five living presidents visiting Austin, used the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act to consider Lyndon Johnson's legacy outside the long shadow of Vietnam; and finally, candidate Davis' private meeting with President Obama while he was at the summit — so far, no pictures have emerged of their meeting to offer campaign ad fodder for Republicans.

Also: Jason and Bud interviewed Democratic candidate for state comptroller Mike Collier; Jason talked with U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, about his simplified tax plan and Sibelius' proposed replacement Sylvia Mathews Burwell's chances for confirmation; Texas' stance on immigration in its early days; and North Korea's complete unanimity in its last election may have owed something to the slogan "Yes You Will."