If there’s one thing that politicians are good at, it’s talking. And chubbing is a kind of talking that’s used to stall legislation in the Texas House. While state representatives do have the power to talk something to death, this session it will be harder to do than in the past.
Austin
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State Government
Election Contest in HD-48 Begins
A Texas House investigation to determine the winner of the District 48 race between state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Republican challenger Dan Neil has begun. Testimony is expected to last at least a couple of days. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
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Public Education
Ed Commissioner: Don’t Lose Cool Over Cuts
“Now is not the time to point fingers and scream and yell. Now is the time to solve the problem,” Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott told more than 6,000 public school leaders from across the state today.
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Public Education
Gail Lowe Reappointed as Education Board Chair
Pending Senate confirmation, Gail Lowe will serve another term as head of the State Board of Education.
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State Government
Testimony Under Way in HD-48 Fight [Updated]
More than a dozen witnesses took the stand today to testify about where they lived and how they voted in the House District 48 contest in the November 2010 election.
Posted in
Politics
Few Obstacles Face Voter ID in the Legislature
Both sides cite stats and research papers to support their positions, with Democrats saying the photo voter ID law will suppress minority voting, and Republicans saying it won’t do anything but stop fraud. Whatever it is, it’s on its way into the law books.
Posted inState Government
Sam Kinch Jr., 1940-2011
Sam Kinch Jr., the founding editor of Texas Weekly and a former political and government correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, died shortly after midnight, according to a spokesman for the family. He was 70, and had been battling pancreatic cancer, emphysema and congestive heart disease.
Posted in
Politics
Dan Neil on His Election Contest
Republican Dan Neil discusses his election contest against state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin.
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Politics
Disputed Howard-Neil Contest Goes to the House
Travis County Republican Dan Neil lost his first race for elective office in November by just 12 votes. Now he’s asking the Texas House of Representatives to declare some of the voters in that election ineligible and to put him in first place and state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, in second.
Posted in
State Government
Sam Houston, Texas Secession — and Robert E. Lee
No secession ball will mark the day. But 150 years ago today, on Feb. 1, 1861, a state convention voted overwhelmingly to secede from the Union, against the fervent wishes of Gov. Sam Houston. Caught in the mess was one Robert E. Lee, a federal officer in what had become a rebel state.
