Anne Heiligenstein, the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, is retiring from the agency after three years.
Politics
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Politics
BFFs, with Numbers
It’s a synergy thing. Super PACs can spend all they want to advance a candidate or cause, with certain limitations and — importantly — without talking to the candidate or the campaign. So here’s Make Us Great Again, a new Perry-centric Super PAC releasing a poll of Iowa voters that shows — surprise — the governor doing well there.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: The Other Texan
His supporters wouldn’t necessarily agree, judging from our phone calls and emails, but our insiders think U.S. Rep. Ron Paul — the other Texan in the presidential race — is getting all the attention he deserves. More than a third, however, don’t agree with that.
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Politics
Perry on Top in New Iowa Survey
Rick Perry leads the other Republican presidential candidates in Iowa, according to a new poll conducted for a Perry-favored Super PAC.
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Higher Education
UT Regents Bless Cigarroa Plan
At this morning’s meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa won unanimous approval for a plan addressing hot-button higher ed issues of the moment like productivity, efficiency and accountability.
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Economy
Perry Campaign Hoping for Good News in Texas Jobs Report
The latest Texas jobs numbers will be released today, and a positive report would bolster Gov. Rick Perry’s economic message on the campaign trail. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on the battle to define just how well the Texas economy is doing.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: The Ultimate Insiders’ Vote
In which we ask the insiders how the selection of a new lieutenant governor will go, if David Dewhurst moves on to another job after the 2012 elections.
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Politics
Updated: Jackson Chooses Congress Over State Senate
As expected, state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, will run for Congress next year instead of for re-election to the Texas Senate. State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, may run for his Senate seat.
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Economy
Perry and the Stimulus: It’s Complicated
Gov. Rick Perry likes to rail against the Obama administration’s “failed” federal stimulus program, but he and state lawmakers have more than $17 billion in fed-stim dollars to thank for the last two balanced Texas budgets.
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Politics
Here’s a Question: What if They All Lose?
Gov. Rick Perry is running for president. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is running for U.S. Senate. And it seems like everyone else in Texas politics is making plans based on one or both of those offices opening in 2012. What if they lose?