Our obsessive-compulsive election day and next day coverage: frenetically updated county-by-county maps and up-to-the-minute returns in every race on the ballot, Hu’s awesome crowdsourced liveblog, Ramshaw on the twenty surprise outcomes, Aguilar on recount possibilities and dead incumbents, M. Smith on how judicial races turned out, Rapoport on changes at the SBOE and who was elected before the first vote was cast, Thevenot on whether the GOP has a problem with Hispanics, Hamilton on how the Tea Party fared, Grissom and Ramshaw on the legislative and congressional mop-up, Ramsey on what happens now, Stiles on how much candidates spent per vote; and my post-primary debrief with Rick Perry’s pollster and George W. Bush’s former strategist. The best of our best from March 1 to 5, 2010.
state agencies
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Relieving Driver Debt
Today, the Texas Department of Public Safety released it’s proposed new rules that would make it easier for poor Texans with traffic tickets to get right with the law.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Insurance Department Could Ban Discretionary Clauses
The Texas Department of Insurance has drafted rules that would ban health insurance policies from including so-called “discretionary clauses.” Those are the rules that many patients hate, which allow their health insurers to decide exactly what they cover and what they don’t — and give the insurers a degree of protection from litigation.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: DPS to Spring Breakers: Ten Cuidado
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw issued a warning today to spring breakers planning to travel to Mexican border cities like Juarez or Nuevo Laredo: Don’t.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Texas Unemployment Rises
More than 1 million Texans were unemployed in January, according to new numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission. Unemployment in the state hit 8.6 percent in January, up from 8 percent the month before and 6.8 percent in January 2009. The comparable national rate was 10.6 percent.
Posted in
Demographics
The Elefante in the Room
Railroad Commission Chairman Victor Carrillo, a seven-year incumbent with a background in the industry he regulates, got trounced in the GOP primary on Tuesday by an unknown, David Porter, who spent little money on the race. He’s not the only one who thinks his Hispanic surname cost him his job.
Posted in
State Government
Once More, With Feeling
One candidate lost on Tuesday by 11 votes out of more than 10,000 cast. Others lost by fewer than 200 votes. Anyone up for a recount?
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Restraints Bill Passes U.S. House
The U.S. House has passed the Keeping All Students Safe Act, a measure designed to protect students from abusive restraints in school settings.
Posted in
Demographics
Carrillo: Hispanic Surname Caused Election Loss
“Early polling showed that the typical GOP primary voter has very little info about the position of Railroad Commissioner, what we do, or who my opponent or I were. Given the choice between “Porter” and “Carrillo” — unfortunately, the Hispanic-surname was a serious setback from which I could never recover.”
Posted in
Public Education
The SBOE, Revised
The State Board of Education likely won’t be quite as much of a Christian Conservative flash point any more. What it will be, however, is anybody’s guess.
