Gov. Rick Perry would deal a “huge blow” to prosecutors who handle public fraud and corruption cases if he carries out a threat to end state funding for the state’s public integrity unit, the unit’s director said.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted in
State Government
Perry Expands Special Session Agenda to Include Transportation Funding
Gov. Rick Perry on Monday added transportation funding to the agenda of the special session. He said Texas’ transportation network is facing added pressure because of the state’s growing economy and population.
Posted in
Economy
Amid Criticism, Perry Defends State Budget
Gov. Rick Perry is pushing back against conservative critics who say the state budget is growing too fast. Perry is still analyzing the budget legislation, but his defense of it was the clearest signal yet that he plans to sign the two-year, $197 billion appropriations bill into law.
Posted in
Economy
Perry Takes Job Raid, Ad Buy to the Big Apple
Gov. Rick Perry will start spreading the news of his state’s strong economy to the Big Apple on Monday. A $1 million ad campaign, dwarfing previous buys in California and Illinois, is aimed at convincing businesses to bring jobs here.
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Bidness As Usual
Lawmakers Collect Daily Pay Even in Recess
It doesn’t feel much like there’s a special session going on at the state Capitol, but that doesn’t mean taxpayers won’t get a bill for it. Lawmakers get paid whether they’re here or not.
Posted inState Government
Tea Party Leader Says He Misspoke About Black Voters
UPDATED: Dallas Tea Party leader Ken Emanuelson says he misspoke when he said last month that Republicans don’t want to encourage blacks to vote because they overwhelmingly support Democrats. State GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri had said Emanuelson’s remarks don’t reflect the party’s position.
Posted inState Government
Perry Open to Expanding Special Session Agenda
Gov. Rick Perry told reporters Friday that he is leaving open the possibility of adding more items to the agenda of the special legislative session, but he wants to first see specific proposals that have a chance of passing.
Posted in
State Government
Will Perry Run Again? And if So, for What?
Robert Black, a former aide to Gov. Rick Perry, has some advice for people who think they can predict the governor’s next political move: “For those out there trying to read the tea leaves, don’t. Because you’re probably going to be wrong.”
Posted in
Politics
Comptroller Susan Combs Won’t Seek Re-election
Comptroller Susan Combs announced Wednesday that she will not seek re-election and that she is retiring from public office at the end of her term.
Posted in
Energy
Perry Hails Water Bill, is Evasive on His Future
Gov. Rick Perry signed a major water infrastructure bill into law on May 28. Speaking to reporters afterward, he remained coy about his political future and wouldn’t say if he will add any items to the special session agenda.
