Kay Bailey Hutchison’s announcement that she won’t run again for her U.S. Senate seat wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it still has the potential to overturn the state’s political apple cart. To separate the would-bes from the could-bes in a 2012 race, we’ve created a guide to certain, likely and plausible candidates — as well a few who are plausible only to us here at the Trib.
Texas House of Representatives
Posted in
State Government
Pitts: “There Will Be Less State Employees”
In our TribLive conversation this morning, state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, spoke frankly about the certainty that state employees would be cut as part of the Legislature’s solution to the budget shortfall — and he said furloughs for employees who aren’t cut may be ordered as well.
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State Government
2011 Session: Opening Day Time Lapse
A view of 2011’s opening day over time.
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State Government
HuTube: Behind the Scenes on Day One
In our latest HuTube video blog post, we take you to the Texas House on day one of the 82nd Legislative session. Come with us as we go through the new security system, visit with lawmakers and witness the election of the House Speaker.
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State Government
Paxton Bows Out
State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, speaks on the opening day of the 82nd Legislative Session about his withdrawal from the race for Texas House Speaker.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: The First Non-Vote
After winning a rough and tumble contest for his seat, freshman state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, got his first chance at a record vote in the Texas House of Representatives today. And when that vote finally came, what did he do? He abstained.
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State Government
TribBlog: Chisum Supports Straus
State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, is dropping his challenge to House Speaker Joe Straus and will vote for the incumbent when the House convenes later today, he said in a letter released this morning.
Posted in
Economy
Decision Time
The Texas Legislature today starts its 140-day effort to puzzle out a massive budget deficit, political redistricting, immigration and a slew of other gnarly problems. The budget issues came into focus Monday with new numbers from the comptroller, who says the state is recovering, slowly, from the recession. But first, legislators will get organized, voting on new rules, a new Speaker, and getting sworn in.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Paxton Still In Speaker Race
State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, will stay in the race for speaker tomorrow though he got spanked in the Republican Caucus today. More than two-thirds of the caucus membes expressed their support for Speaker Joe Straus in a non-binding preference poll conducted behind closed doors.
Posted inState Government
Straus: Speaker’s Race “Overanalyzed”
Despite loud protests from Tea Party groups that pushed for a more conservative leader, the Texas House Republican Caucus endorsed incumbent Speaker Joe Straus in an afternoon vote. Straus, appearing after the meeting, said the notion of a speaker’s race was “overstudied and overanalyzed.”
