Texas budget surplus not as hefty as it seems
AUSTIN (AP) -- A 10. 7 billion dollar budget surplus predicted this week by Comptroller Susan Combs set Texas Capitol-tongues awagging with plans for tax rebates. But the surplus is actually about two billion dollars. The Associated Press reports 5. 7 billion is for the state's Rainy Day Fund and ... more » |
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Gov. Perry busy with book gig
AUSTIN (AP) -- When he's not busy with his day job, Governor Rick Perry is zipping around the state and the country for his new gig -- book author. This past week found the Republican governor in Abilene and Tyler to speak about and sign his book, "On My Honor: ... more » |
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Gov. Perry reiterates plan to run in 2010
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (AP) -- Republican Governor Rick Perry today repeated he's definitely running for re-election in 2010. Perry says he's like the leader of a prosperous company who should stay on board. Perry made the comments in Fredericksburg, where he took part in groundbreaking for the 40,000 square foot expansion ... more » |
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LULAC sued Texas Democratic Party over primary delegates
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- A Latino advocacy group is suing the Texas Democratic Party over the way delegates are being allocated through its complicated primary and caucus system. LULAC filed a federal voting rights lawsuit in San Antonio, but it is not seeking to stop the seating of Texas delegates ... more » |
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Austin-area lawmaker arrested on DWI charge
GEORGETOWN, Texas (AP) -- A Texas state lawmaker who helped pave the way for major toll road projects is facing drunken driving charges. Representative Mike Krusee of Round Rock, the Republican chairman of the House Transportation Committee, was charged with first offense driving while intoxicated late yesterday. He is not ... more » |
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Texas mayor's colorful past called into question
CARROLLTON, Texas (AP) -- Officials say the mayor of the Dallas suburb of Carrollton has long told stories of her colorful background. Among Mayor Becky Miller's tales are claims of an engagement to Don Henley of the Eagles and stints as a backup singer for Linda Ronstadt and ... more » |
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Texas House may no longer get to hire part time, pay full time
AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas Legislature's long-standing practice of hiring full-time employees at part-time hours and pay -- may be nearing an end. The Austin American-Statesman has reported that at least 12 House employees are paid less than $300 a month and work other jobs. But those employees have been ... more » |
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Texas superdelegate backs Clinton
AUSTIN (AP) -- Another Texas Democratic superdelegate has decided to endorse Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the party's presidential primary. McAllen attorney Jaime Gonzalez Junior confirmed today that he's endorsing Clinton. He says he based his decision, in large part, on Clinton having won the Texas primary and the Hispanic ... more » |
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Craddick challenger not giving up statehouse bid
MIDLAND, Texas (AP) -- Democrat Bill Dingus resigned his Midland city council seat today as he seeks to run for the Legislature. Dingus hopes his resignation will make possible an alternate route to challenge Republican Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. A federal judge last week ruled that Dingus is ineligible ... more » |
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LBJ tapes reflect 1968 turbulence
AUSTIN (AP) -- Politically crippled by the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson still sounded like a candidate for re-election in private 1968 telephone conversations just before deciding to pull out of the race. That's according to recordings released Thursday. Johnson sought support from labor leaders and talked of winning ... more » |
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Governors meet near Dallas for energy conference
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) -- Texas Governor Rick Perry and six other Republican governors are meeting to discuss energy policy, the economy and the presidential race. Governors of Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada are expected to attend the Texas Governors Forum hosted by Perry on Thursday, said Chris Schrimpf, ... more » |
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Dewhurst hails Supreme Court ruling, state fight likely
AUSTIN (AP) -- Republican Lieutenent Governor David Dewhurst ailed today's Supreme Court ruling that approves states' efforts to pass a voter identification law. He says he looks forward to passing such a measure when the legislature meets again next year. The ruling galvanizes a Republican-inspired effort that Democrats say will ... more » |
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Lawmakers look at injured worker ruling
AUSTIN (AP) -- Relatives of those killed in the 2005 BP plant explosion urged lawmakers today to undo a Texas Supreme Court liability ruling made last year. The decision by the state's highest civil court prevented a BP contract worker from suing the company after the refinery blast. Judges ruled ... more » |
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Winners in Texas congressional primary races
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press reports the following are
winners in their primary races for Congress:
-- District 3: Republican incumbent Sam Johnson
-- District 4: Republican incumbent Ralph Hall
-- District 14: Republican incumbent Ron Paul
-- District 16: Democratic incumbent Silvestre Reyes
-- District 23: Republican Lyle ... more » |
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Craddick challenger not giving up statehouse bid
MIDLAND, Texas (AP) -- Democrat Bill Dingus resigned his Midland city council seat today as he seeks to run for the Legislature. Dingus hopes his resignation will make possible an alternate route to challenge Republican Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. A federal judge last week ruled that Dingus is ineligible ... more » |
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Former TV judge wins congressional primary
DALLAS (AP) -- A lawyer who dispensed Texas justice on television
stamped out his Democratic competition in the U. S. House District
10 primary election. Larry Joe Doherty defeated international consultant Dan Grant on
Tuesday and now heads to a general election matchup with Republican
Rep. Mike McCaul. ... more » |
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Texas strip clubs must pay 'pole tax' during appeal
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas still expects strip clubs to pay the so-called "pole tax" while the state appeals a court ruling that the fee is unconstitutional. The state comptroller has sent a letter to strip clubs saying the fee is active and that the first reports and payments are ... more » |
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Texas math tests go on despite runoff elections in many schools
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- About 600,000 fifth- and eighth-grade students take the high-stakes Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills on Tuesday. Many will have to tune out the sounds of runoff-election voters trickling in and out of schools that also serve as polling locations. The tests scheduled at the same ... more » |
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Lawmakers study immigration crackdown
AUSTIN (AP) -- Some conservative legislators made it clear they'll again push for strict Texas laws to crack down on illegal immigration. The Texas House State Affairs Committee is studying the issue for the 2009 legislative session. Representative Debbie Riddle of Tomball told fellow lawmakers that "our borders are broken. " ... more » |
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Congressional candidates report 2007 money raising
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Here's the latest on Federal Election Commission reports showing the campaign finances of Texans running for office:
-- Republican U. S. Sen. John Cornyn reported raising raised $11. 3 million over the six years he's been in office for his re-election. Cornyn raised ... more » |
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Perry says he plans to seek re-election in 2010
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry said today he plans to run for re-election in 2010. Perry made the statement during a break in a Republican Governors Association forum. Perry will be the longest-serving governor in Texas history later this year. He took over for George ... more » |
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Craddick opponent disqualified
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Republican Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick won't have a challenger in the November election after all. A federal judge in Waco on Wednesday ruled Midland City Council member Bill Dingus is ineligible to challenge Craddick for the Texas House seat. The judge says Dingus didn't resign ... more » |
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Clinton campaign looks to locals to challenge Obama delegates
AUSTIN (AP) -- Hillary Clinton's campaign is mobilizing caucus supporters and helping those who want to challenge the legitimacy of some Barack Obama delegates in Texas. Clinton state chairman Garry Mauro says the campaign itself won't challenge Obama's delegates at the approximately 280 county and state Senate district ... more » |
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Democrat raised about half what Republican Cornyn spent
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Documents provide a picture of the tough challenge Democrat Rick Noriega has undertaken in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Campaign money raising reports show Noriega collected $387,047 over the approximately two months ending March 31. That's a little more than half of the $733,481 ... more » |
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Former comptroller Strayhorn considers Austin mayoral run
AUSTIN (AP) -- Former gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn may not be putting politics behind her just yet. Strayhorn says she's getting nudges from supporters about running for Austin mayor in 2009. Before her rise in state politics, she was elected Austin's first woman mayor 31 years ago. Strayhorn's response? ... more » |
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Texas Democrats challenge some presidential caucus results
AUSTIN (AP) -- Texas Democratic Party officials received at least 50 challenges to caucus results as Texas' presidential delegate selection system moved into its next phase. Party spokesman Hector Nieto says the figure is a higher number than usual. The deadline for filing delegate challenges stemming from the March 29 ... more » |
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Aide quits after accusations he impersonated reporter, lawmaker
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A veteran aide to a state senator has resigned after allegedly impersonating first a state representative, then a newspaper reporter in politically motivated schemes. Todd Gallaher resigned Monday after acknowledging that he'd called an ethics watchdog and identified himself as a reporter. He then asked about ... more » |
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Bush hosts barbecue for big Republican donors, raising $3.5
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush is again thanking some of the Republican Party's biggest spenders Texas-style tonight. The gesture's a barbecue supper at a Central Texas ranch next to his. Bush has headlined this event to benefit the national Republican Party each year at the Broken Spoke Ranch. ... more » |
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Thousands join Clinton at service for Dallas officer
PLANO, Texas (AP) -- Several thousand mourners joined Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton to remember a Dallas motorcycle officer who died in a wreck while escorting the candidate to a campaign rally last week. Sr. Cpl. Victor Lozada Tirado was killed Feb. 22. He was at the rear of the ... more » |
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Thousands join Clinton at service for Dallas officer
PLANO, Texas (AP) -- Several thousand mourners joined Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton to remember a Dallas motorcycle officer who died in a wreck while escorting the candidate to a campaign rally last week. Sr. Cpl. Victor Lozada Tirado was killed Feb. 22. He was at the rear of the ... more » |
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Thousands join Clinton at service for Dallas officer
PLANO, Texas (AP) -- Several thousand mourners joined Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton to remember a Dallas motorcycle officer who died in a wreck while escorting the candidate to a campaign rally last week. Sr. Cpl. Victor Lozada Tirado was killed Feb. 22. He was at the rear of the ... more » |
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Alleged Hutchison stalker arrested in Dallas
DALLAS (AP) -- Dallas police say they have arrested a person accused of stalking U. S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Dallas police Cpl. Janice Crowther on Tuesday would not provide any details about the suspect or charges, other than to confirm that an arrest had been made. In a statement, ... more » |
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