Legislative Budget Board Rosters Set, for Now

Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, reacts to her selection in the Senate term lottery on Jan. 23, 2013.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, reacts to her selection in the Senate term lottery on Jan. 23, 2013.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, finds herself on the outside looking in after a reshuffling of the membership of the Legislative Budget Board this week.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday announced that he was appointing three senators — Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound; Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls; and Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler — to join the now lone Democrat on the panel, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa of McAllen.

House Speaker Joe Straus on Tuesday appointed three members — Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; John Otto, R-Dayton; and John Zerwas, R-Simonton — to take slots on the LBB belonging to members who are not returning next legislative session.

The LBB consists of 10 members — five each from the Senate and the House, with seats reserved for the chambers' presiding officers as well as the chairs of each chamber's budget and finance committees. The remaining seats are appointed by the speaker and lieutenant governor.

Because the LBB plays a leading role in developing the budget ahead of every legislative session, the vacancies on the LBB were drawing attention this summer. In addition to the House members slated for departure, two Senate spots — one for departed Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams — were vacant.

Nelson will take over Williams' spot at the head of Senate Finance and on the LBB.

On the House side, Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, is still House Appropriations chairman, but all three of Straus' appointees to the LBB are Appropriations subcommittee chairman. As such, all are potential successors to Pitts on Appropriations and to Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, as Ways and Means chairman.

A question going forward, though, has to be whether this lineup of budget writers will remain stable into next session. Dewhurst, of course, is leaving, and it will be up to his successor to decide whether to keep these new appointees. These may not be the people that Republican Dan Patrick or Democrat Leticia Van de Putte would choose. Stay tuned.

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GOP lieutenant governor candidate Dan Patrick has earned the endorsement of the political arm of the Texas Civil Justice League.

"Senator Patrick's business experience provides unique perspective and will enhance his ability to help guide the healthy Texas business environment and job market," said Carol Sims, TCJL PAC Treasurer.

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The Texas Automobile Dealers endorsed Republican Wayne Faircloth for the vacant Galveston-based HD-23 seat. Last week, he received the endorsement of Congressman Randy Weber.

Faircloth is vying in the general election with former District Judge Susan Criss for the seat, which is open after Craig Eiland’s decision not to seek re-election.

Kolkhorst Fires a First Shot in SD-18 Battle

Rep. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham during HB5 debate on House floor June 15th, 2011
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham during HB5 debate on House floor June 15th, 2011

There was more news on a couple of Senate races that for now remain hypothetical.

•    State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, has made no secret of her desire to run for the state Senate seat currently held by Glenn Hegar, the GOP nominee for comptroller.

In what could be described as a shot across the bows of any other potential candidates, Kolkhorst on Thursday released a statement drawing attention to the $792,000 in her campaign war chest, as of the end of June.

After noting that her cash on hand has increased by $250,000 since her most recent campaign finance report, the Kolkhorst campaign added:

“Not surprising to most was the mention from Representative Kolkhorst that she is heavily considering a run for State Senate and, with this recent report, she is the clear financial front runner with none of her potential opponents coming close to the numbers she posted.”

Over the first six months of 2014, Kolkhorst raised $190,809, a total paced by a $100,000 loan made by Kolkhorst to her campaign on June 30.

•    Jodey Arrington, a Lubbock businessman and former Bush 43 administration official, announced he’s raised $206,650 for his nascent campaign for the state Senate seat vacated by now-Texas Tech Chancellor Robert Duncan.

That total represents contributions made over a 10-day period, from his June 20 designation of a campaign treasurer to the June 30 deadline for the July semi-annual fundraising report.

State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, who has also said he plans to run for the West Texas Senate seat, reported raising $130,080 over the fundraising period of Feb. 23 through June 30.

Perry reports having $194,654 in cash on hand while Arrington reports $201,105.

Another candidate, Eppie Garza of Wolfforth, did not report any fundraising activity this year. Other possible candidates are Tech regent John Steinmetz and Lubbock City Councilman Todd Klein.

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Libertarian candidate for governor Kathie Glass reported raising nearly $56,000 over the first half of 2014 with $55,019 in cash on hand.

Glass' biggest contributor? Well, that would be Glass, who gave herself $50,000 on June 20. A statement from the third-party candidate called her report “notable.”

The totals are several orders of magnitude lower than her major party rivals for the Governor’s Mansion, Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis.

In her statement, Glass acknowledged the funding disparity but said she was confident that she’d have enough money to wage a competitive campaign.

"While I do not have the special interest funding of Greg Abbott or the out-of-state funding of Wendy Davis, I will have enough money in 2014 to make sure that voters know who I am and that I am the only candidate in the race who will effectively push back on Washington, actually secure our border, defend property rights while ending cronyism, and prepare Texas fiscally for the day when Washington is not just broken, but collapsed," Glass said.

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Ahead of the Aug. 5 runoff in SD-4, state Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, is airing a radio spot focusing on his conservative track record as a legislator.

Creighton and fellow lawmaker Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, face off in the runoff to fill out the remainder of Tommy Williams’ term in office. Williams resigned his seat last year to take a job with Texas A&M University.

Early voting in the runoff election runs from July 28 through Aug. 1.

Newsreel: Campaign Finance and Migrant Children

This week in the Newsreel: The Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis campaigns are at odds over fundraising figures and accounting methods. And the fight over what to do about the recent surge of Central Americans crossing the U.S. border is mounting.

Inside Intelligence: About Those Migrant Children...

We went to the headlines for this week’s survey of insiders in government and politics, starting with hazardous chemicals and whether those stores ought to be reported to the public as well as to the government. It’s been an issue at least since the fertilizer explosion in West, and 64 percent of our insiders said that information ought to be available to the public. A current ruling from Attorney General Greg Abbott says that the state agency keeping the records can keep them secret.

Two-thirds of the insiders believe Texas should join the rest of the country in requiring its companies to provide workers’ compensation insurance to cover employees hurt at work.

Only one in five insiders think the state will get federal reimbursement for the costs of housing, medicine and other services for migrant children who have massed on this side of the Texas-Mexico border. Who is to blame for the surge? President Obama, according to 62 percent of the insiders, who also blame Republicans in Congress, Democrats in Congress, and federal and state law enforcement, in that order.

We collected comments along the way and a full set of those is attached. Here’s a sampling: 

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Should government-required reports on the locations and amounts of hazardous chemicals stored in the state be readily available to the public?

• "That would be foolish; duh, don't you think the bad guys would love to know? But, the locations and inventory should definitely be kept by TX DPS."

• "This is not a wedge issue; however, community right to know laws and the need for homeland security will need to be reconciled in future legislative sessions."

• "Not sure in today's environment that we need to advertise where shit is that can be blown up by crazy people."

• "They should be reported to the state and provided to local leadership, but not publicly available."

• "That way, you can decide if you want to live close to one or not (i.e.-West, TX)"

• "With exception for locations/materials that should be kept confidential for homeland security purposes, but first responders should have all access."

• "This is a no-brainer. Any homeland security concerns are corporate spin to fight transparency."

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Should Texas employers be required to provide workers compensation insurance for their employees?

• "The current system works. Trading off reduced tort liability in exchange for subscribing to workers' comp, has given both employers and employees the flexibility to choose what works for them."

• "If an employee is hurt on the job, then companies will pay one way or another--either through the state system, through a private policy, or through the courts. No use in forcing companies of all sizes and danger levels to take part in a one-size-fits-all system that wasn't designed to cover their specific needs."

• "Large employers, yes. Small employers, no."

• "So long as there is a workers compensation insurer of last resort. Texas Mutual does not really serve that purpose any longer."

• "I think employers with high injury risk jobs should provide workers' comp coverage. Could be self insured or traditional comp policy. Low risk jobs should not be required to have comp insurance."

• "Insurance should be optional for employers. The smart ones would offer it, though."

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Do you think state and local governments will be fully reimbursed for the costs of housing, medicine and other services for those immigrants?

• "Not a chance; just another unfunded 'mandate' from the feds because this is of their doing, but they care not how it's paid for."

• "For years we have asked about 100% federal reimbursement for emergency (including deliveries) health care services for illegal immigrants. Even though Medicaid pays the usual match, they never accepted the argument that they control foreign policy and therefore should bear the cost for the financial burdens that are not equally distributed across the country."

• "No one knows what to do with these people.... and the citizens will pay whether it is federal or local or state or even non-profits."

• "hahahahaha."

• "Was Houston 'fully reimbursed' for taking care of US citizens during Katrina? Does the federal government 'fully reimburse' anyone, ever?"

• "Yes, just in time for Christmas."

• "Although does it really matter if the fed government is reimbursing the states? The money all comes from taxpayers at some point. And if Texas covers the costs directly, we can probably do it more efficiently."

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Who do you blame for the swollen population of immigrant children who have crossed the Mexican border into the U.S.? [Check all that apply]

• "Complete incompetence and dereliction of duty by POTUS."

• "Also U.S. foreign policy and drug policy for most of the previous century. There's a reason most of the kids are coming from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but not Nicaragua."

• "Plenty of blame to go around. It is what happens when politicians are not looking at a problem comprehensively and trying to solve it, but are, instead, putting politics first.”

• "None of the above. Horrible crime, the drug war and the sex trade are the reasons this is happening. The same reason the legislation was passed and signed by George W. Bush. No one in a safe, healthy environment leaves their home and family or puts their children in at risk unless it is the only option."

• "Casting blame will not solve the problem. People escaping human rights issues and poverty have ALWAYS streamed to the U.S. We are a magnet for the less fortunate. Even those who live in horrendous poverty by American standards may have it better than in their home country. People from trouble spots around the world will continue to be attracted to this country."

• "Members of both political parties in Congress are to blame for the inaction taking place in DC. They are too concerned about scoring political points with their respective base of supporters before the mid-term elections in November. As a result, neither group is willing to set aside their differences to work out a compromise with respect to the immigration/border security issue."

• "None of the above. I doubt any of these items are on mamma y papa's mind as they say adios y Buena suerta to their beloved 7 year old whom they want to at least have a chance to avoid squalor, violence and a dead end."

• "It is a refugee crisis. America has a responsibility to follow the law and provide these children refugees protection under the law, as well as provide humanitarian treatment."

• "There is no sound bite villain in this drama."

• "What a flawed set of choices. Please add: Ourselves, The drug war, Latin American poverty, urban violence in Central American cities'"

Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Brandon Aghamalian, Brandon Alderete, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Charles Bailey, Dave Beckwith, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Chris Britton, David Cabrales, Lydia Camarillo, Kerry Cammack, Thure Cannon, Snapper Carr, William Chapman, Elna Christopher, Harold Cook, Kevin Cooper, Beth Cubriel, Randy Cubriel, Curtis Culwell, Denise Davis, Hector De Leon, Eva De Luna-Castro, June Deadrick, Holly DeShields, Tom Duffy, David Dunn, Richard Dyer, Jeff Eller, Jon Fisher, Neftali Garcia, Norman Garza, Dominic Giarratani, Stephanie Gibson, Kinnan Golemon, Daniel Gonzalez, John Greytok, Clint Hackney, Wayne Hamilton, Bill Hammond, John Heasley, Ken Hodges, Laura Huffman, Deborah Ingersoll, Richie Jackson, Cal Jillson, Mark Jones, Robert Jones, Lisa Kaufman, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Ramey Ko, Sandy Kress, Dale Laine, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, Dick Lavine, James LeBas, Luke Legate, Myra Leo, Richard Levy, Matt Mackowiak, Jason McElvaney, Mike McKinney, Steve Minick, Bee Moorhead, Mike Moses, Steve Murdock, Keir Murray, Nelson Nease, Keats Norfleet, Pat Nugent, Gardner Pate, Robert Peeler, Bill Pewitt, Jerry Philips, Tom Phillips, Wayne Pierce, Richard Pineda, Allen Place, Kraege Polan, Gary Polland, Jay Pritchard, Jay Propes, Karen Reagan, Patrick Reinhart, David Reynolds, Carl Richie, Grant Ruckel, Tyler Ruud, Jason Sabo, Luis Saenz, Andy Sansom, Jim Sartwelle, Barbara Schlief, Stan Schlueter, Bruce Scott, Robert Scott, Ben Sebree, Bradford Shields, Nancy Sims, Jason Skaggs, Ed Small, Martha Smiley, Larry Soward, Leonard Spearman, Dennis Speight, Tom Spilman, Jason Stanford, Bob Strauser, Colin Strother, Sherry Sylvester, Gerard Torres, Trey Trainor, Vicki Truitt, Ware Wendell, Ken Whalen, David White, Darren Whitehurst, Seth Winick, Peck Young, Angelo Zottarelli.

The Calendar

Friday, July 18

  • Democratic comptroller candidate Mike Collier appears at town hall discussion on property tax appraisal reform hosted by the Travis County Democratic Party; 1910 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin

Friday, July 20

  • Collier begins a two-week, 36-city Texas Watchdog Tour in Fort Worth.

Thursday, July 24

  • Democratic candidates for governor, Wendy Davis, and for lieutenant governor, Leticia Van de Putte, appear at the Minority Advancement Project (MAP) of Texas Shrimp Boil; 1581 N. Chaparral St., Corpus Christi
 

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst filled the long-standing vacancy at the head of the Senate Finance Committee, naming Jane Nelson to the post. She is now positioned to be one of the lead budget writers in the 2015 legislative session. She succeeds Tommy Williams, who left in October for a job with Texas A&M University.

The two major-party candidates for governor — Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis — released their latest campaign finance numbers with each claiming historic numbers. Abbott said the $35.6 million sitting in his campaign's account is a record sum for any gubernatorial candidate, while Davis said the $27 million raised by her campaign this election cycle is unmatched by any Democrat.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday — for the second time — that the University of Texas at Ausin may use race as an element of its admissions decisions for candidates not admitted via the state's top 10 percent law. Attorneys for the plaintiff, Abigail Fisher, said they planned to appeal the ruling.

After a lengthy hearing on Wednesday, a co-chair of the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations said members were "very close" to reaching a consensus on what to do about UT Regent Wallace Hall.

Voters will decide whether Denton will become the state's first city to ban hydraulic fracturing after the City Council rejected a proposal to ban the method of oil and gas extraction.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Political People and their Moves

House Speaker Joe Straus named three legislators — Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; John Otto, R-Dayton; and John Zerwas, R-Simonton — to spots on the Legislative Budget Board. They replace three members — Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie; Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville; and Dan Branch, R-Dallas — who will not be returning to the Legislature in January.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst named three senators — Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound; Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls; and Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler — to join Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa on the LBB.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is promoting Ranger Wende Wakeman to the rank of lieutenant, which would make her the highest-ranking female in Texas Ranger history. The promotion is effective Aug. 1.

Wesley "Scott" Smith of Murphy was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Funeral Service Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Perry has appointed 12 members to the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. They are Joe Bontke of Houston (chairman); Marilou Fowler of Katy; Rames Gonzalez Jr. of Palmview; Linda Millstone of Austin; David Ondich of Fort Worth; and Shawn Saladin of Edinburg for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2015. Aaron W. Bangor of Austin; Rodolfo "Rudy" Becerra Jr. of Nacogdoches; Heather Griffith of Fort Worth; Faye Kuo of Austin; Margaret Larsen of Austin; and Marco Trevino of Edinburg for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2016.

Quotes of the Week

Abbott, even if he were to not raise another dime during the second half of 2014, would still have enough money to run a very competitive campaign in the fall, whereas Davis does not have enough money to run a high-level campaign during the month of October.

Rice University political scientist Mark Jones on the significance of Greg Abbott's cash-on-hand advantage in the governor's race

It tastes the same as Wichita Falls water always has. It’s not really good tasting water … That’s why most people have always had bottled water in their homes.

Katherine Smith of Wichita Falls, on the city's introduction of treated wastewater to help deal with a historic drought

The state of Texas, as it has in redistricting cycles since 1970, adopted maps that discriminated against its citizens.

U.S. Department of Justice Attorney Bryan Sells, during opening statements at the latest round of the legal challenge to electoral maps enacted by the Legislature in 2011

You’re not supposed to be taking a bunch of selfies and freaking people out at the doughnut shop. These guys are just jackwagons.

Barry Kooda, organizer of Dallas' Open Carry Guitar Rally, criticizing open carry activists' decision to take long arms into businesses such as Chipotle

The sheep have done a really good job of keeping it nice.

Sara Krueger of OCI Solar on the decision to use the wooly landscaping crew to keep the grass down around a 45-acre solar farm northeast of San Antonio