The Texas Democrats wrapped up their convention in Corpus Christi on Saturday, and the party’s grass roots activists headed home newly energized to elect their candidates — including Bill White as governor. But as Ben Philpott of KUT and the Tribune reports, excitement may only be able to carry them so far.
Austin
Posted inState Government
2010: Goodbye, Green Party?
If today’s court ruling stands, there will be no Green Party on the November ballot in Texas.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: No Raises at UT
The latest victim of the budget crunch at the University of Texas at Austin? Employee raises.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: “Older and Sicker” [Updated]
After Thursday’s lively state hearing, where health advocates told lawmakers they were bracing for massive Medicare cuts, doctors got some rewarding news: Congress had voted to delay a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments six months.
Posted in
Economy
Ads Infinitum: Education PAC’s Anti-Perry Ad [Updated]
A new political action committee is attacking Gov. Rick Perry with a television ad playing on a familiar theme: Perry’s high-class living. The ad starts airing tonight in markets across Texas.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Berman’s Cup of Tea
State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said he’s counting on Tea Party supporters to call their state representatives and urge them to vote for him for Speaker instead of incumbent Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Munisteri’s Private Parts
The recently elected chairman of the Republican Party of Texas has updated his formerly personal website bio.
Posted in
Public Education
State Board of Landlords?
Hoping to tackle the long-standing challenge of financing charter school facilities, the State Board of Education is considering taking on a novel and controversial role: landlord. SBOE member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, wants to use $100 million from the $23 billion Permanent School Fund to buy properties and then lease them back to charter schools, which have historically struggled with capital costs. Critics say the elected board can’t possibly fulfill the mandate of the Fund — to invest for maximum return — while at the same time cutting charters a good deal.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: Excellence for Aid?
A previously rejected proposal that would give TEXAS Grants to college students based on academic merit, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis, saw the light again on Wednesday — but old tensions still linger about who should get a piece of the nearly $615 million financial aid pie first.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Watchdogging Perry’s “Creature Comforts”
Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit watchdog group, filed a complaint today urging the Texas Ethics Commission to require Gov. Rick Perry to provide detailed reports of campaign expenditures on the Governor’s Mansion.
