If the rainbow flavors of the Tea Party feature a common taste, it’s that of fiscally restrained government — and the anti-Washington and pro-state fervor that comes along with it. Not coincidentally, that was the overwhelming theme of the GOP’s recent convention, setting the tone — as the Democrats did in their state gathering — for the November general election.
Joe Straus
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: Solomons to Berman: ‘You are a Liar’
In what might just be the toughest letter you’ll see exchanged among legislative colleagues, state Rep. Burt Solomons today attacked state Rep. Leo Berman over his “conspiracy theories” regarding illegal immigration.
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
The Brief: June 23, 2010
Three months after his retirement, it might be back to work for Kip Averitt.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Berman Files, Slams Straus; Straus Hits Back
Speaker’s race 2011: Oh, yeah, it’s on.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Leo Berman For Speaker?
Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, is expected to challenge House Speaker Joe Straus for his job, according to Capitol sources. Asked Monday whether he would seek Straus’ post, Berman told the Tribune: “I can’t say anything until tomorrow.”
Posted inState Government
Steve Munisteri: The TT Interview
The state GOP’s new chair talked to the Tribune on Tuesday about the party’s fiscal condition, redistricting, fundraising across partisan aisles, how to unify with the Tea Party and the status of his relationship with his dethroned predecessor, Cathie Adams.
Posted inState Government
The Chair Yields
The ouster of Cathie Adams as the titular head of the Republican Party of Texas was the biggest news at its biennial convention this weekend. There was also open hostility toward Speaker Joe Straus, predictable fretting about a rift between moderates and conservatives and, of course, a laser-like focus on the state GOP’s common enemy: Washington.
Posted in
Economy
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Ramshaw and the Houston Chronicle’s Terri Langford on incidents of abuse and mistreatment at residential treatment centers, M. Smith on the state Republican Party platform and 10th Amendment embracers, Galbraith on a pipeline project raising crude concerns and the most important word in water law, Ramsey on former officeholders who are now lobbyists and the possibility of a speaker’s race, Grissom on a fight over solar power in Marfa, Hamilton and Aguilar on the TxDOT audit, Philpott on budget cuts affecting school districts and my conversation with Dallas County D.A. Craig Watkins: The best of our best from June 7-11, 2010.
Posted in
State Government
Speaker’s Race, Anyone?
Nobody’s openly campaigning right now, but there’s talk of who might succeed Joe Straus if he stumbles before January. Attribute the speculation to inertia: The House’s top job was in play for at least four years before Straus won it 17 months ago, and members and the lobby and the press and other gawkers have been trained to study every new complaint, slight, reward and compliment for signs of a coup. While he appears to be on solid ground going into his second session behind the podium, don’t erase the possibility of a contest. It’s an uncertain environment: It’s an election year, Straus is green and the Capitol is full of people who are constantly looking for a better deal than the one they’ve got.