So why is it such a big deal for Greg Abbott if he succeeds in keeping the primary on April 3, or as early as possible before the Republican presidential nomination is totally sewn up? Perry's not in the race anymore, so what does it matter? The answer lies in Abbott's own future ambitions here in Texas, and his desire to serve the wealthy big-money donors who fund pro-corporate Republicans here in Texas.
Abbott needs to keep a unified primary on the highest-turnout date possible, to make sure Dewhurst wins--as well as the incumbent Republican Congressmen and State Senators--to please the big-money donors that will likely back Abbott when Perry decides he's not running for Governor again.
The Texas Republican Party is primarily dominated by extremely wealthy corporate interests, who in turn want to keep Republicans in office that serve their wishes, rather than the whims of the Tea Party. It costs money to campaign in Texas, and whether you're playing by the FEC's rules or the TEC's, in a state this big if you can't raise real money you won't get too far. In the ongoing Senate primary, Dewhurst is clearly the candidate of the big-bucks donors who backed Rick Perry's gubernatorial and presidential campaigns. While Dewhurst and Cruz both raised similar amounts of money in the last quarter ($1.5M and $1.1M respectively), and both have raised close to $4 million overall, Dewhurst's average donation is over $2000 (and remember, donors are hampered by limits of $2500 per donor, meaning that most of The Dew's donors are maxing out). Meanwhile, Cruz's average donation is a much more modest $319. It's a testament to Cruz's support from the right-wing grassroots / Tea Party / YCT sector of the Texas Republican Party. The big donors are opening their wallets for Abbott as well, who has over $10 million in the bank and raked in $1.6 million during a 10-day period in early 2011, unfettered by individual donor contribution limits. The AG has made it quietly clear that he plans to seek the top spot in the state, but first he's got to dispatch with Dewhurst to be next in line.
So what does the primary date have to do with anything?
After a year of no new shows, we're happy to announce that The DOT Show is back!
Created in 2006 to keep Texans updated on the latest in Texas Politics and highlight some great, Texas music, we are excited to present our latest episode - our first on Ustream.com; so now you can watch as well as listen.
Here is a clip regarding Rick Perry's fantasy emergencies before the Texas Legislature; announced only to bolster his national political career among conservatives.
Happy Veterans Day. For those veterans who think Texas Republicans are here to help you, think again.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Speaker Joe Straus have joined with Republicans at state agencies to call for massive cuts to state agencies. Rick Perry, in particular, has made it a point to rail against government jobs. That counts, as well, for those few people who help our veterans navigate the bureaucracy of veterans benefits. From the Austin American-Statesman, "State agencies offer up 9,800 jobs to close budget shortfall"
The Texas Veterans Commission would lose 21 jobs , including three employees who help the families of wounded veterans find jobs. Thirteen of the eliminated positions — nine of which are now occupied — would be claims counselors who help veterans apply for medical and pension benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A veteran's chances of maximizing his or her federal benefits go up considerably when aided by the counselors, who can navigate the VA's labyrinthine bureaucracy and speak its distinct language, said Victor Polanco , a veterans counselor at the VA clinic on Montopolis Drive. "It can be cumbersome," he said.
Eliminating all 13 claims counselor positions would have the effect of reducing federal benefits to Texas veterans and their families by $88 million over the two years, and the state would lose $3 million in sales tax as a result, the agency estimates.
Want a case study on why statewide candidates should go to Netroots Nation? Three words... Linda Chavez Thompson. Even through Linda is only 5 feet tall, you couldn't miss her at the conference.
In 36 hours, Linda Chavez Thompson met one on one with bloggers from Texas and across the country, attended multiple caucuses and panels, had a campaign briefing, spoke to 2,000+ attendees as a keynote speaker moments before Sen. Al Franken concluded the festivities, hosted a latino blogger breakfast, and was so impressive she became a trending topic on twitter.
KetyE: Here at briefing w Linda Chavez-Thompson. #NN10 #NetrootsNation #latism What an amazing woman! #p2 #gov20 http://tweetphoto.com/34692166
Linda was impressive. Along with Judy Jennings and Rebecca Bell-Metereau, the three women from Texas were everywhere and working hard to talk to people from every state and every walk of life.
Attendees took notice. As Linda bounced from the Women's Campaign Forum Breakfast to her Campaign Briefing, others already started talking about her speech that night.
@ernestomedia: RT @MeanRachel: Linda Chavez-Thompson (@electlinda) will speak tonight at #nn10 keynote, spread the word Texas will have a Latina Lt. Gov in Nov!
Which had the added benefit of getting Texans a little fired up.
@XicanoPwr: It's people like Bill White, Linda Chavez-Thompson and Chuck Rocha that make me feel proud being from Texas again! #NN10
At a conference packed with events, LCT had over 40 folks attend a campaign briefing. Leaders ranging from the Hispanic community, labor community, and online leaders. Folks were enthusiastic and as a result of positive feedback Linda hosted a Lation blogger meeting the following day to capitalize on the passion being generated.
Without missing a beat, as many of us loitered after the briefing (or in some cases headed down to the blackjack tables... it was Vegas after all) Linda immediately went to talk to her brothers and sisters in the labor movement at the labor caucus.
I wish I could take the time to show you what happened next on twitter. Seriously. But with over 200 tweets in less than 15 minutes, Linda Chavez Thompson dominated twitter feeds across the country.
Linda spoke to over 2,000 attendees before Sen. Al Franken's keynote. The speech easily one of the best speeches of the night and convention.
@sadydoyle: Linda Chavez Thompson is KILLING ITTTTT. I want to be LCT when I grow up. #nn10
It was incredible to watch the room as she spoke. She was funny, interesting, and a crowd pleaser. She talked policy. She discussed the Texas political climate. And she showed there was hope not just in Texas but everywhere.
Not long ago, Texas earned a unique honor. The city of Laredo became the largest city in the country without a bookstore. Over a quarter million people and there isn't a single bookstore in the whole town. If we don't work together, we are going to continue to see the gap grow between the haves and the have nots. We are going to see our budget shortfall grow at the same rate we watch our education deficit increase.
The thing that was so refreshing to watch at Netroots Nation wasn't that Linda was there, but that she was there speaking truth to power and influencers. She was open and honest about her beliefs and her solutions. To every politician or candidate out there who is afraid or timid, what we saw this past weekend was how well people response to honesty. What we saw, online and off, people are hungry for leadership. We are starving for an honest debate. Instead, we are either too often ignored or pandered too. Linda Chavez-Thompson was successful at Netroots Nation because she used the medium the way it was intended... as a political space to have fair, open, and honest discussions about how we can work together and fix complex problems.
For 36 hours, Linda Chavez-Thompson was the political embodiment that Texas is changing, and not because of time, but because we are devoted to making a difference. Linda Chavez-Thompson is a difference maker.
Linda Chavez-Thompson is a client of GNI Strategies. A company Matt Glazer launched in 2009 with two others - Katie Naranjo and Will Ikard. Linda Chavez-Thompson nor the campaign saw, edited, or had any direct input in this Netroots Nation retrospective.
No one will tell the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, Linda Chavez-Thompson, something that she doesn't already know---she has her work cut out for her against David Dewhurst. This West Texas native and forty-year veteran of the American Labor Movement knows all too well what it means to be an underdog, and like any smart underdog she relishes that role.
Linda's story is probably familiar to most that read Burnt Orange Report, but it is worth revisiting so as to appropriately capture the essence of this remarkable woman. Chavez-Thompson was an underdog from the minute she had to leave school in the 9th grade to work the cotton fields with her family. Hard, laborious work is not beneath her, which is perhaps why it was only fitting she went on to become Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO. Teaching herself how to read and write while working the family fields should give any young Texan, particularly minorities, reason to believe they can beat the odds and succeed too. That enthusiasm, passion, drive for excellence, determination to succeed, and belief that one can do anything they put their mind to, are qualities that embody the candidate that Democrats have fielded for Lt. Governor.
Last night Linda Chavez-Thompson sat down with the Board of the Mid-Cities Democrats and gave a good synopsis of exactly what her campaign will do for mainstream Texans. She is vibrant, articulate, and very strong-willed. Chavez-Thompson believes she compliments Bill White on the statewide ballot, and she does. Her national Labor background brings money from outside the Lone Star State along with experienced boots on the ground. These resources will be invested in a manner that best maximizes hers, and the rest of the statewide slates chances of winning in November. For the first time in a long time for Texas Democrats we'll have a campaign that focuses on communicating, organizing, mobilizing, and turning out the predominately Hispanic communities from Bexar County southward along the Rio Grande, and westbound toward El Paso. Chavez-Thompson knows exactly what she must do well at this cycle and that's playing to the three bases she knows her story appeals to---Hispanics, women, and Labor.
Her platform mirrors that of the Democratic candidate for Governor, which means we have a slate united in a common message that career politicians in Austin have failed Texas families and small business owners. Mainstream Texans are fed up with being ranked at the bottom in most public education measurements, yet among the top in paying for insurance and utilities in the country. Chavez-Thompson knows all too well that 1 out of 3 Texans is a high school dropout under the Perry-Dewhurst model of leadership, but she also knows that 1 out of every 2 of those dropouts is Hispanic.
This underdog for Lt. Governor knows how important her role is this election cycle. For Texas Democrats, Linda Chavez-Thompson is the type of hardworking fighter we should be thankful to have on the ballot this November.
Texas Republicans are going to lie, every day from now until November, about health care costs. Elise Hu with the Texas Tribune reports, "Blame it On Health Care":
As Elise reports, the health care bill will not contribute, in any way, to the $11-$15 billion budget shortfall Rick Perry and Texas' Republican lawmakers. But Republicans will still repeat the claim that the budget shortfall they created is due to the fact that Democrats believe that providing health coverage to $4.3 million more Texans is a good thing.
Thanks to Eye on Williamson & the Texas Tribune for pointing out the obvious as finally voiced by Lt. Governor David Dewhurst. Between dropping sales tax revenue and the Republicans structural deficit put in place by the the most recent property tax setup, we're looking at a 2011 budget cycle with a budget shortfall.
Given that we've already made painful cuts to programs that were never fully funded to begin with (CHIP, Higher Education) it's nice to see our GOP Lt. Governor admit that other than more painful cuts that the only other tool is to raise revenue through tax increases.
But don't worry, Dewhurst's backup plan is to... repeal "Obamacare". Yeah, I'm real confident about putting my budgeting plans into that basket (not even counting on the fact that "Obamacare" saves more money than it spends and is a federal, not state program).
To round out the Texas Republican Party's make-an-ass-of-yourself week, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst has decided that a play performed in a classroom that features a gay Jesus is unacceptable. Yes, Texans, that's right. Apparently, you may not perform works of theater in a private setting if the subject matter is offensive to the Lieutenant Governor.
Here's what happened. A Tarleton College student chose to direct Corpus Christi as part of an advanced directing workshop. The play, by award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, revolves around modern-day gay Jesus living in modern-day Texas, who at one point performs a wedding for two gay disciples.
Dewhurst found out about it, and man is he pissed! How dare these students express themselves in an educational setting if it threatens his narrow-mindedness? The Dallas Morning News has the money-quote, emphasis mine:
Says Dewhurst in a statement: "Every citizen is entitled to the freedom of speech, but no one should have the right to use government funds or institutions to portray acts that are morally reprehensible to the vast majority of Americans."
Thankfully Dewhurst is totally wrong: most Americans are not as deeply homophobic and bigoted as he is. From recent public opinion polling:
"Do you favor or oppose permitting homosexuals to serve in the military?"
Favor
Oppose
Unsure
69%
27%
4%
"Do you personally think that homosexual relationships between consenting adults is morally wrong, or not a moral issue?"
Morally Wrong
Not A Moral Issue
Unsure
48%
50%
2%
These numbers aren't great--"Oppose" and "Immoral" need to be much, much lower--but we're slowly bending society towards increased tolerance and acceptance. From the Gallup Pollsters:
There has been a general trend toward greater acceptance of gay marriage over the years. There were times in the mid 1990s when two-thirds of Americans said "no." Despite this trend, this year's numbers are actually a little more conservative than the previous year.
And besides--don't like a play, Lieutenant Governor? Then don't go see it. Wait, it's not being performed publicly? Only in a private classroom setting? Then don't enroll in advanced directing at Tarleton College, don't attend class regularly, and don't engage with the work of your peers. (Side note: Is this or is this not similar to his performance as Lt. Gov. during the past session? Discuss.)
The President of Tartleton College, F. Dominic Dottavio, while no paradigm of acceptance and tolerance himself, at least recognizes the First Amendment issue at hand. From the DMN, emphasis mine:
[Dottavio] made no effort to halt the production, because to do so would violate the principle of free expression.
"Like every citizen of the country, the student who chose to direct excerpts from the play enjoys his right to free speech," wrote President F. Dominic Dottavio in a letter published today on the Tarleton State University Web site.
"This right is protected by law even if the speech is offensive to others."
How embarrassing for Texans that our Lieutenant Governor wants to actively stifle speech he finds threatening to his narrow-mindedness. How shameful that our most powerful elected statewide official behaves in this manner. He reflects poorly on all Texans, the bulk of whom are vastly more tolerant and accepting than he is.
Further shame: the award-winning McNally is a native of Corpus Christi, and has won four Tony Awards, two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Hull-Warriner Award, and a citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Yet rather than praise our native son, Dewhurst wants to condemn him.
The play in question, Corpus Christi, has always been a lightning-rod for conservative bigotry. From the Wikipedia, emphasis mine:
In 1997, McNally stirred up a storm of controversy with Corpus Christi, a modern day retelling of the story of Jesus' birth, ministry, and death in which both he and his disciples are portrayed as homosexual. In fact, the play was initially cancelled because of death threats from extremist religious groups against the board members of the Manhattan Theatre Club which was to produce the play. However, several other playwrights such as Tony Kushner threatened to withdraw their plays if Corpus Christi was not produced, and the board finally relented. When the play opened, the theatre was besieged by almost 2000 protesters, furious at what they considered blasphemy.
In all of this, it is the student who directed the play who has perhaps come across as the most -- dare I say, "Christ-like."
"I am both a Christian and gay," [John] Otte said in a video interview. "This play deals with that subject matter, I believe in a tasteful way. ... I don't believe in a God who hates me for who I am."
He added, "Never did I choose this play to attack Christians. I am one."
He said he disagreed with the widely held view among Stephenville clergy and others that McNally's play is blasphemy. "I personally don't believe that,: Otte said. "I respect those people's feelings that do believe that. I respect your religions."
It is unfortunate that this same level of respect and tolerance cannot be practiced by our Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. It is shameful that he would condemn this act of self-expression because it threatens his own homophobic beliefs. Finally, it is embarrassing for Texas that our statewide "leadership" cares more about divisive, hate-filled rhetoric than praising the best of our state and celebrating our diversity.
Most state agencies haven't recuperated from the dramatic and overwhelming budget cuts made when our state was suffering from major budget shortfalls in 2003.
Since then, every biennium, Rick Perry, Tom Craddick, and David Dewhurst -- also known as "The Gang of 3" -- have demanded increasing cuts. One Republican described their demand as "cutting bone."
Yesterday, the new "Gang of 3" -- new Speaker Joe Straus, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and 12 year incumbent Republican Governor, Rick Perry -- all notified state agencies that they must identify an additional 5% cut in their current budgeted general revenue funds and general revenue-dedicated funds.
Texas Democratic Governor candidate Bill White released a statement responding to the Republican demands.
The State of Texas has been affected by a global economic recession. The Legislature passed a budget using the Comptroller's assumptions that sales tax revenues would increase in the two years beginning October 1, 2009 compared to the prior two years. At least two months ago it became obvious that sales tax revenues would drop rather than go up. I wrote about this on December 12th. Sales tax revenues for the last three months have dropped by 12% rather than going up.
Governor Perry is the head of the Executive Branch of state government. For months, he should have been identifying efficiencies and productivity improvements that would allow a reduction in spending without a compromise in services delivered. This exercise has occurred among well-run businesses in Texas and cities such as Houston. Any well-run organization can find these kind of deficiencies, but it takes attention to detail and strong management skills to implement them. This job is not the responsibility of legislative leadership. Governor Perry has had information about these declines in sales tax revenues for almost two months. At least the first two or three percent in cuts should have been identified by now and presented by Governor Perry for public comment and discussion.
I have no doubt that the State of Texas will balance its budget, as required by the Texas Constitution. As Lt. Governor Dewhurst has pointed out, this is and has been the law in our State for decades. The task of the Governor is to manage reduced spending without compromising basic services. The later the Governor starts the more difficult this will be.
Perry even wanted to cut more (6%), Dewhurst less (1%) and Joe Straus and the "Gang of 3" eventually decided that 5% was just right.
Straus confirmed earlier in the week that the men would seek the 5 percent cuts, or twice the level originally proposed by Dewhurst in December.
Speaking to reporters before his luncheon appearance at a policy orientation sponsored by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Perry said that he proposed a higher level of cuts -- 6 percent -- but that the group came to a consensus of 5 percent.
State leaders were able to defer dealing with a budget shortfall last session due to the timely arrival of federal stimulus dollars. With those dollars going away, lawmakers are looking at having to cover a budget shortfall next session somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 billion.
Rather than lead or set priorities, these Republican elected officials have one set of solutions -- rhetoric and blind cuts.
(Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is running for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. His full remarks continue in the extended entry. I encourage you to read them. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Deciding to run for Lieutenant Governor of Texas was not easy; part of me very much wanted to continue to enjoy being the former District Attorney of Travis County.
Democracy is more than just mass action; it is the sum of individual actions. That means that it makes a difference what each of us does. I found it hard to sleep at night thinking about how far things have gotten off track here in Texas without trying to make things better for regular Texans.
That's because the world, including us, is getting worried. We're all in need of a little more light. The spirit of democracy rests on the shoulders of justice, which in turn rests on the shoulders of an informed and responsible citizenry. Responsibility in a democracy rests on all of us together, and the doing of justice is everybody's job. Please come to my campaign web site and get involved.
