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.
Texas House of Representatives
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.”
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State Government
Pete Gallego: The TT Interview (audio)
Pete Gallego: The TT Interview (audio)Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.
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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.
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State Government
TribBlog: Kuempel Wins Father’s Seat
Republican John Kuempel, a 40-year-old metal salesman and University of Texas graduate, won tonight’s special election in House District 44 with 66 percent of the vote.
Posted in
Politics
The Defectors
After announcing they were defecting from the Democratic Party, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, were welcomed by Texas Republican leaders at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
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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.
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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.
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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.
