State Politics Are All About Anticipation

Even early birds can be long shots, which is probably the best way to characterize state Sen. Florence Shapiro's anticipated campaign in next year's anticipated special election for the U.S. Senate. That would follow U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's anticipated resignation to make an anticipated race for governor against incumbent Rick Perry in 2010. Those are a lot of what-ifs, but take the anticipation out of politics, and you lose much of the entertainment. More

White May Share Plans for Future in Weeks to Come

Houston Mayor Bill White seems to have mastered the art of deflecting questions about his political future with a few aw-shucks grins and artful denials. But with the prospect of an Obama Cabinet position seeming more remote for the former deputy energy secretary, White is preparing to put speculation to rest with a definitive answer soon, perhaps this month, aides said. Whatever plans he declares, a perhaps more burning question still looms large over his intentions: Can he actually win statewide office? More

Tom Pauken: Texas and the Economy

Economic news used to make enjoyable reading. Not anymore - even here in Texas. It is true that our state, thanks to its excellent business climate, has suffered less than most others from the financial hurricane that made landfall during September. Unemployment is so high in Michigan - 9.3 percent - that the state has had to borrow $481 million from the federal government to replenish its unemployment insurance trust fund. By contrast, Texas had an October unemployment rate of 5.6 percent and has been able to add nearly a quarter-million jobs in the past year, at a time when the nation as a whole was losing 1.1 million jobs. More

Texas’ Highway System Needs Love, Care, Money

Texas highways were once the pride of the state — and justifiably so. Our extensive infrastructure allowed generations of farmers and ranchers to feed the state and the world, and it turned our cities into economic powerhouses. Our transportation networks allowed generations of Texans to charge into a prosperous future without having to catch up with the present. But for a generation, the state has approached old and new transportation challenges in a very different way. We have struggled simply to keep up with our needs. More

Open Senate Seats Hard to Come By, Hard to Keep

There's only one vote that counts when a senator quits: the governor's. But as ambitious Texas politicians itch for a shot at Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat, they might want to keep in mind a bit of history. Only a third of senators appointed in the last century nationwide have managed to keep their seats. And the last Texans in that group weren't among the lucky ones. More

Consultant: Texas Banks Healthier Than Elsewhere in U.S.

Banks continue to do better in Texas than elsewhere in the country, and bank consultant Robert Walters has the numbers to prove it. Walters, the chairman of Austin's Bank Advisory Group , said that his company's data show that Texas banks reported substantially higher profits and considerably lower levels of problem loans than banks elsewhere in the country. More

Business Tax Revenue Not What Texas Had Banked On

Texas' new business tax is coming up short of expectations. The state comptroller's office said Wednesday that nearly $4.7 billion has been collected in the first year of the tax, about $1.2 billion less than projected. But state officials said solid revenues from other sources - primarily the state sales and cigarette taxes - should help offset the shortfall. A final figure for the business tax is not available because some returns are still coming in, but the number is not expected to change much. More

Craddick Campaign Fixing to Get Heavy

For Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, the re-election campaign has only begun. Armed with a recent court ruling allowing a bombardment of campaign advertising, the Midland Republican’s friends are about to start calling and mailing us, pressuring local lawmakers to keep Craddick as speaker when the House convenes Jan. 3. If you’re confused by the Texas speaker’s race, you’re not alone. In Washington, the majority party routinely elects the speaker. In Austin, Republicans are clinging to a two-vote edge, 76-74, and Craddick has led the party for 20 years. But he has one problem. More

State Board Keeps Eye on Unlicensed Plumbers

Unlicensed plumbers beware: The state is tough on handymen who think they know a thing or two about plumbing but don’t have the credentials to back it up. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners aggressively pursues unlicensed plumbers, slapping them with thousands of dollars in fines. That’s because shoddy work, such as an improperly installed water line, can contaminate a neighborhood’s water supply. More

Perry’s Jabs at Feds May Have Second Target

From the Wall Street bailout bill to helping the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Ike, it seems the federal government can do nothing right in the eyes of Gov. Rick Perry. The latest shot came Tuesday, when Perry accused federal environmental protection officials of "actively working to do more economic harm" to the state through potential regulation of carbon emissions linked to climate change. "Washington has Texas in its sights," he said. Many political observers believe Perry's harsh rhetoric is designed to position the governor in his bid for an unprecedented, third four-year term in 2010. The target is his likely challenger in the Republican primary, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is more popular than Perry in some polls. More

Political Clout Can Be Subtle

Advocacy groups on the left and the right rarely get the attention of major political committees and business associations, but these issue-based organizations are spending millions of dollars to influence public policy at the state Capitol. Most don't have political committees that finance candidates. Many don't have lobbyists working the Capitol hallways. Instead, these groups try to sway the minds of voters and policymakers through statistical reports, analyses and databases. More

Foes Say Craddick Won’t Win This Time

House Speaker Tom Craddick's critics say they've got enough signed pledges against him to make his re-election all but impossible. But Craddick opponents have yet to coalesce around a challenger seeking to replace him, ensuring that behind-the-scenes jockeying for one of the most coveted political offices in Texas could continue right up until the Legislature convenes Jan. 13. More

White Faces Final Year with To-Do List in Austin

Houston is getting ready for the Texas Legislature to reconvene in January and will ask for state help in its battles against air polluters, thieves, sexually oriented businesses and traffic. The legislative session will be the last during Bill White's tenure as mayor. White, who must step down at the end of 2009 because of term limits, will make one final stab at strengthening Texas' regulations on benzene and other air toxics, an issue of particular concern to Houston. He would also like targeted changes in state law that would help the city regulate pawnshops and strip clubs. More

Texas Judges Seek to Expedite Ike-Related Lawsuits

Expecting an influx of lawsuits related to Hurricane Ike, Galveston County judges are developing plans to expedite cases and hopefully avoid some of the prolonged proceedings that took place in neighboring states after the 2005 hurricane season. Ike roared ashore Sept. 13 in Galveston, damaging much of the state's upper coast and displacing thousands of residents and businesses. In a story in Saturday editions of the Galveston County Daily News, Judge David E. Garner of the 10th Judicial District Court said few homeowners have filed lawsuits against their insurance companies, but he expects that to change. More