Vol 32, Issue 39 Print Issue

The Week in the Rearview Mirror

The private firm trying to build a bullet train between Dallas and Houston has released a study claiming it would pump more than $30 billion into the state economy over the next 25 years. 

State health officials appear to have taken up Republicans’ ongoing fight against Planned Parenthood by adopting guidelines that prohibit abortion-affiliated groups from getting state contracts to run abstinence education programs.

Nearly a year after the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved what could be the most expensive water project in the region's history, some council members appear to be having doubts.

Former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday he still supports Hillary Clinton, who lauded the Trans-Pacific Partnership he helped negotiate during her tenure as secretary of state but has more recently opposed it.

After hearing oral arguments Wednesday, the Texas Supreme Court will consider whether a provision in oil-and-gas law that protects landowners who don’t own the minerals beneath their property should also apply to those who don’t own the groundwater.

The U.S. armed forces should not serve as a "cauldron for social experiments, " said Ted Cruz in Iowa, expressing skepticism about the military's move to end a ban on transgender soldiers.

In his first certified revenue estimate, Comptroller Glenn Hegar lowered his estimate for how much revenue the state will take in by more than $2 billion, pointing to reduced activity in oil and gas drilling as the main culprit.

Seeking to fight scandal-plagued Volkswagen alone, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking two Texas counties to halt their lawsuits against the automaker — a move highlighting friction between Texas and local governments pursuing tens of millions of dollars in court.

In a letter to Paxton on Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lent his full support to the Childress Police Department, which recently came under fire for displaying the motto "In God We Trust" on its patrol vehicles.

Disclosure: Planned Parenthood was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune in 2011. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Political People and their Moves

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed his deputy general counsel, Don Clemmer of Austin, to the bench of the 450th Judicial District Court in Travis County.

State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, said on Monday that he's been elected to be the next leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He takes over for state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who has held the post for the past two sessions.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz named a number of statewide leaders for his Cruz for President African-American coalition on Thursday. The appointees include three national co-chairs — Elbert Guillory of Louisiana, Robin Armstrong of Texas and Robert Smith of Arkansas.

Jonathan Boos, a self-described conservative Republican, is challenging incumbent Cindy Burkett for the House District 113 seat in eastern Dallas County. Boos has a law background, working as an attorney in the area.

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, announced Tuesday he will seek re-election to the Texas House. He has held the HD-103 seat since 2005 and is the only person who has announced plans to run for the seat thus far.

Longtime Republican activist, attorney and lobbyist John Greytok will challenge Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter in next year’s GOP primary, he said Monday. It’s the first big contest for Greytok, though he’s been a precinct chair and helped in his mother Marta’s 1994 race for land commissioner against incumbent Garry Mauro.

Michael Massengale announced last week that he’s rounded up the support of eleven conservative state legislators for his run for the Texas Supreme Court. Massengale is challenging Debra Lehrmann, who has served since 2010, for the seat on the bench.

Kevin Roberts, a Republican candidate for the HD-126 seat in Harris County, announced Tuesday that 11 out of 19 Republican Party Precinct Chairs in the district have endorsed his bid for the seat.

Former Texas Department of Insurance attorney Marisol Saenz has joined Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP in its government affairs practice in Austin.