The president of Texans for Lawsuit Reform on why the group spends spend so much money on state elections, what it still wants from the Legislature, what he thinks the trial lawyers on the other side are after and what’s wrong with the Democrats these days.
Texas Democratic Party
Posted in
State Government
A Tale of Two Switchers
Now that state Reps. Allan Ritter of Nederland and Aaron Peña of Edinburg have ditched the Democrats, attention turns to how they’ll hold on to their seats. The former is following a time-tested strategy that has worked for others. The latter is challenging political history.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Ramsey on what a GOP supermajority means, Ramshaw on a crime victim not eligible for crime victims’ compensation, M. Smith on grave matters and state regulation, Hamilton on the college pipeline at San Antonio’s Jefferson High, Hu on a senator’s anticlimactic return, Grissom on the coming closure of juvenile lockups, Aguilar on the return of residents to their drug-war-torn Mexican town, Galbraith on next session’s energy agenda, Philpott on the legal fight over federal health care reform and Stiles on the travel expenses of House members: The best of our best from Dec. 13 to 17, 2010.
Posted in
State Government
HuTube: Olbermann on the Supermajority
The new GOP supermajority in the Texas House made MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight. The host joked that Democrats “are now as relevant as the mythical chupacabra.”
Posted inState Government
Guest Column: Yes, Invest in Texas Democrats
If we ever hope to see the change we desire, we have to continue to support our candidates — even after a terrible loss. The alternative is to simply give up, and just as that was not acceptable for Republicans when they found themselves on the losing side, it’s not acceptable for us.
Posted in
State Government
Pete Gallego: The TT Interview
The 10-term Democratic state representative from Alpine on what he thinks of Tuesday’s newly minted Republicans, the perils of party switching, the potential death of the middle and what the 49-member minority does now.
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
Cellar Dwellers
Texas Democrats have become a political version of the Baltimore Orioles. If Ann Richards were alive, she and Earl Weaver would be comparing notes — in salty language — on what went wrong with their old teams.
