Galbraith on why the Lege meets only every two years, Hu picks the year’s best political moments on video, Ramsey on the personalities who mattered in 2010, Stiles on lobbyists with conflicts of interest and what the census means for redistricting, yours truly on the new Cameron Todd Willingham documentary, Grissom on cockfighting and Trillin on Sissy Farenthold: The best of our best from Dec. 23 to 27, 2010.
Joe Straus
Posted in
State Government
Face Time
2010 didn’t turn out like it looked a year ago. Unexpected people showed up. The political environment bloomed red instead of blue. The Tea was strong. And big shots turned into paper tigers. Here are some of the political personalities who mattered.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: One for Straus
State Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, threw her support to House Speaker Joe Straus today, putting an important member of former Speaker Tom Craddick’s team on the incumbent’s side.
Posted in
State Government
Down for the Recount
After a recount affirming his loss to state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, former University of Texas lineman Dan Neil has asked that the Texas House settle the election’s outcome. What happens now?
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Four for Paxton
Add four East Texas state representatives to Rep. Ken Paxton’s list, bringing the McKinney Republican closer to a dozen-and-a-half votes in his quest for 76. Paxton is challenging Speaker Joe Straus for the top job.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Force Play
The next speaker of the Texas House should be chosen by the Republican Caucus instead of the full House, says state Rep. Warren Chisum, and he has prepared a letter with 10 signatures that he says will force a caucus vote.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Party Boys
Surrounded by statewide elected officials and a pack of fellow lawmakers, Democrats Aaron Peña of Edinburg and Allan Ritter of Nederland defected to the Republican Party this afternoon.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Sources Say Peña Will Switch Parties
State Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg has decided to change parties and will announce the switch at a press conference this afternoon with Gov. Rick Perry and House Speaker Joe Straus, according to Republican sources.
Posted in
State Government
What 100 Means
When state Rep. Allan Ritter, D-Nederland, switches parties today, he’ll give the Republicans the votes to do anything they want. With a two-thirds majority, the GOP will be able to suspend the rules that govern House business and will have the numbers to keep working even if the Democrats take a walk. On a practical level, Ritter’s switch gives Republicans an even bigger buffer on votes that just require a majority of the 150-member House. “It means we can lose 24 votes and still win,” says state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the chairman of the House Republican Caucus.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: The Ingrate
State Rep. Randy Weber, R-Pearland, who today withdrew his pledge of support for House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, was the beneficiary of two fundraisers this month at which a featured guest was … House Speaker Joe Straus.
