Burnt Orange Report

Strayhorn vs. Perry: Special Special Session Edition

By Andrew Dobbs

The upper echelons of Republican "leadership" in Texas has continued its bickering today with a competing series of statements, press conferences and press releases. The day began with Strayhorn sending a letter to Perry, Craddick and Dewhurst tooting her own horn on collecting extra tax receipts but also pointing out that Perry's plan would put Texas $10 billion in the hole.

Governor Perry's proposal- announced 11 days ago- cannot even be financed on its own terms. An analysis prepared by my office indicates that in its first five years alone, the plan would accumulate an unfunded and swelling deficit of more than $10 billion even as it produces zero additional property tax rate cuts beyond the amount promised for the very first year. (Bold in Original)

Perry, of course, could not take such an attack lying down. His office responded:

From Governor's press secretary Kathy Walt, "“Constructive ideas are always welcome, but Comptroller Strayhorn's own consistency and math calculations are questionable. In addition to recommending tougher CHIP and Medicaid eligibility rules herself, the Comptroller's last major revenue estimate was wrong by a factor of 100 percent.”

You would think that these two weren't even in the same party. Fact of the matter is that Strayhorn is Perry's only really effective critic right now. At the same time, it looks like things aren't so rosy between Perry and some of the othe other statewide office holders. The San Antonio Express-News(free registration required) reports:

Early last year, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick called reporters together to talk up legislation on home insurance.

The event went smoothly until Dewhurst edged past his colleagues and captured the limelight by forecasting a drop of up to 18 percent in insurance rates.

Perry leaned toward Craddick and whispered, "Open mouth, insert foot."

A few weeks later, Dewhurst failed to arrive for a weekly leadership breakfast with Perry, Craddick and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. There had already been an expression of discomfort from Dewhurst over Perry's decision to invite Strayhorn to the meetings.

Perry vowed to send out state troopers to "drag his ass in here."

At the time, the asides circulated as evidence of the unsettled relationship between the leaders and a reminder that even when officials share goals and advantages — such as Republican majorities in the House and Senate — personal relationships can be slippery.

Looks like the first fissures in the GOP governing coalition are forming and Democrats need to be united to take advantage of this. Its okay to have different ideas and different interests, its not okay to work for yourself over the interest of the party as a whole. Its not okay to fight for the other side while keeping a "D" next to your name. We've purged those elements from our party and now we are ready to win. A majority of Texans have a Democrat electing them at some level of government, most of them moderate/conservative types. If we run candidates like these in 2006 and we keep our internacine battles to a minimum we can look forward to a real shot against the Republicans in that cycle.

The X-Factor, as always, is Kay Bailey Hutchison. Whatever she decides to run for, she wins. Another factor is George W. Bush. The GOP domination of Texas has really been a function of his personal popularity as much as anything else. If he is defeated this year and relegated to simple Citizen Bush status, his hold on state politics diminishes. A Kerry win coupled by a KBH retirement and continued GOP bickering could mean victory for Texas Democrats. So keep up the good work, Carole! Its just what we need to reclaim this state.