About

- Who We Are
- Community Guidelines
- Right to Respond

Advertising on BOR

- Advertise on BOR
- Buy on all Texas Blogs

Advertisements

Follow Burnt Orange Report on Twitter (@BOR) and Facebook.

Time for Donna Howard to Shine

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 11:17 AM CDT

Over at the Capitol, HB 3 seems to at rest until this afternoon, around 1 pm. Word has it though that lobbyists from Exxon-Mobile, AT&T, and Tobacco are pressuring newly minted State Representative Donna Howard to vote with Craddick and the Republican 'leadership' on HB 3 (where Democratic Rep. Vilma Luna has already signaled her support for carrying Craddick's water by carrying the bill).

Here at BOR we believe that this is the time for Howard to shine by not caving to Craddick or the lobby, by voting her district, and voting with responsible legislators against HB 3 as is at this time. The Republicans can't even agree on their bills, Democrats do not need to give aid to "get out of dodge". As such, this is Howard's first big vote- let's hope she votes with the 58% majority that put her into office.

Capitol Office
Contact
Room EXT E2.802
(512) 463-0631

Tags: Donna Howard, Texas Lege, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Time for Donna Howard to Shine | 17 comments

HB 3 (0.00 / 0)

On it's own...What is wrong with HB 3? Even the CPPP has noted that the business tax created by the Sharp Commission is a great start. It is definitely better than the current structure.

Now dedicating all the revenue generated from HB 3 to property tax relief, that is a bad idea.

by: Aero @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 12:33:14 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

scorched earth... (2.00 / 1)

... none of the R proposals do much to fix the underlying problems or provide meaningful tax relief to middle class folks who desperately need it. It's a bandaid, at best, and a brilliant display of absolute incompetence on the part of the Republican leadership (sorry about the contradiction in terms, y'all).

I hope she votes against them all and yes, I'm a constituent of hers in the Fighting 48th!

by: The Trey @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 12:59:40 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Fighting 48th (0.00 / 0)

Is treaty oak a resident of that district too?

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 13:29:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Treaty Oak resides in HD 47... (0.00 / 0)

... or maybe in the Naishtat's domain.

We are not one and the same, K-T. For one, I don't reproduce with acorns. Oh, and I'm not a tree.

by: The Trey @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 14:17:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

well (0.00 / 0)

at least Treaty Oak reproduces!

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 14:31:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

True... didn't we have (0.00 / 0)

this discussion?

by: The Trey @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 16:05:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Treaty Oak lives in the solidly Democratic HD49 (0.00 / 0)

And he ain't moving. He's under Representative Elliott Naishtat's protection. You do anything to any of us in HD49, especially The Mighty Treaty Oak, and we'll kick your ass.

by: sonia @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 18:48:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

I hope she doesn't (0.00 / 0)

I've been a vocal supporter of Donna from the beginning and I will be very disappointed if she votes for this Republican tax bill.

by: austinite @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 13:20:44 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Working with the Republicans (3.00 / 1)

The favorite reason for endorsement by Texas newspapers comes to mind. "Will work well with the Republican legislature."

We need Democrats who will work AGAINST the Republican legislature and their "special interest" agenda and FOR the public interest. Maybe Donna Howard can emphasize that for us.

Any tax which exempts special interests is not an equitable tax. Nor will it result in equitable funding for our schools. Which apparently is not a priority of the Republican legislature. But should be for the Democratic legislators.

by: Baby Snooks @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 14:37:05 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Donna should vote her district (0.00 / 0)

It may come as a surprise to the House Democratic leadership (and some commenters here), but Donna Howard ran as an independent voice who would represent her district, not her party.

by: BenBentzin'sBrain @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 20:12:51 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Strama and Howard vote for HB 3 (0.00 / 0)

It looks like the El Pasoans were also offered a deal for their votes.

by: Jobu @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 23:12:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

thrilling (0.00 / 0)

I don't know what the amended version ended up being, but seeing as how most Democrats voted against it, I'm going to guess I shouldn't get too excited.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 23:29:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Her District is Democratic now (0.00 / 0)

Still, it's not like anyone had much of a choice.

by: The Trey @ Tue Apr 25, 2006 at 00:20:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

And the Lobbyists Are .... (0.00 / 0)

Lobbyist for Exxon Mobil - Keith Strama

Tobacco - Kelly Fero - Sharp and Howard's political consultant.

by: tired of weakness @ Tue Apr 25, 2006 at 08:35:12 AM CDT

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Donna's Time to Shine (0.00 / 0)

OK. She was discounted by the Central Austin Democrats, she was dismissed by Kelly White's consultant. She was opposed in a cooked-up special election by a Dellionaire with the full support of the Governor and the Speaker. She only managed to pull 58% of the vote.
Every homeowner in her district got a huge property appraisal increase in the mail last week.
She didn't vote for HB 2 and the R's can't pass ANY tax bill conference report without her and few more D's.
So we have more geniuses who want to judge her or her represenattion.
Get off her back and Strama's. They don't represent a property poor district. They have leveraged their position and represent an important voice in an area that was designed to be solidly Republican.
Your comments about her consultant and his brother are an insult to both of them. Why don't you call Todd Baxter and jack Stick and ask for their help.

by: emptyk @ Tue Apr 25, 2006 at 10:37:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

if there's nothing wrong... (0.00 / 0)

then why is it an insult that they were named?

by: tired of weakness @ Tue Apr 25, 2006 at 11:24:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.