Once a State Representative or Senator is done serving in the Texas legislature, it doesn't mean they are done working in the pink dome.
Texans for Public Justice has looked at 10 formerly elected officials including 8 Republicans and 2 Democrats. All 10 of these former State Representatives were serving in the House just this last session and now have gone through the revolving door to get huge payouts to lobby.
Texans for Public Justice looked at the 68 lobby contracts held by Mike Krusee, Fred Hill, Kyle Janek, Pat Haggerty, Corbin Van Arsdale, Dianne Delisi, Kevin Bailey, Robby Cook, Tony Goolsby and James Murphy currently have. Because of reporting laws, lobbyist are only required to disclose whether they fall within a range and not the specific amount the actual revenue from each lobby contract.
Lobbyist are only required to specify if they make less than $10,000, $10,001 to $24,999.99, $25,000 to $49,999.99, $50,000 to $99,999.99, $100,000 to $149,999.99, $150,000 to $199,999.99, $200,000 to $249,999.99, etc.
This makes it difficult to determine how much these 10 formerly elected officials are actually making.
Needless to say, these 10 men have 68 contracts and are currently getting paid anywhere from $2,025,000 to $3,890,000. Mike Krusee and Fred Hill appear to be the two highest paid former elected with Tony Goolsby and James Murphy rounding out the bottom.
In case any one is concerned how former lobbyist Todd Hunter is doing after taking a pay cut to work at the capitol again, don't worry too much. In 2007, Hunter had 4 lobby contracts that could have made him as much as $225,000. He should be okay for a little bit.
The more I find out about Juan Garcia, the more I don't believe him. If I don't believe a man, then I certainly vote won't for him."
That's how Todd Hunter's ad closes as he attacks House District 32 incumbent Juan Garcia.
Interesting since Todd Hunter's desperate ad deceives voters. Hunter must know what he's doing since he won't even step up to the plate and approve the message or be in the ad.
At one point in the new Hunter ad, he refers to the Republican led revolt against Tom "I am the decider" Craddick. Saying, ""When he didn't get his way in the Legislature, he walked off the floor of the Texas House."
We all know the reality of that claim. The uprising was started by then Representatives Republican Pat Haggerty of El Paso and Republican Mike Krusee of Round Rock.
The poignant moment was when Haggerty forced a roll call vote the only way he knew how. He took a list of names from his pocket and began asking every member of the Texas House if they still supported Tom Craddick. After reading a modest amount of names and getting some answers, Haggerty was gaveled to be quiet. A motion to vacate the horrid speaker Haggerty led the charge and asked every member, regardless of party, to join him and breaking quorum.
Todd Hunter clearly doesn't get it. He is so out of touch. In fact, he had to hire an actor to attack Rep. Garcia because he couldn't find a voter to do his bidding.
That's why the Garcia campaign is asking an important question about Hunter's deception.
We want Todd Hunter to tell us, who is his new-found friend with the backwards cowboy hat and store-bought clean gloves. What kind of cattle does he run, if any at all? Does this "around here" rancher have a ranch around here?
These are the tactics of a desperate campaign. Hunter is a horrid candidate. He is bad on policy and he is bad on the campaign trail. His latest attack ad proves the point.
Maybe the cowboy actor will honor his pledge. Voters can't believe anything Todd Hunter says, and they certainly shouldn't vote for him.
The GOP says they'd never endorse Moody...yet its on their property, which is owned by Dan Haggerty, who is the brother of Republican and current State Rep. Pat Haggerty.
Dan Haggerty said Moody asked if he could put signs up on some of his commercial properties.
"So I gave him a list and I said, 'Sure, put them up,'" he said.
But Dan Haggerty said the signs aren't an endorsement of the Democratic candidate.
He said he's still undecided about the race. If Margo would have asked to put up signs on his properties, Dan Haggerty said he would have told him yes, too.
"I believe in the two-party system," he said, adding that he has signs for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in front of his house.
For those following the critical race for HD78, the only Republican-held House seat in El Paso County, most of the attention is on the bitter clash between incumbent Pat Haggerty and challenger Dee Margo in the Republican primary, but whoever wins that contest will face either Louis Irwin or Joseph Moody in the general election. Information on Irwin, a life-long progressive to liberal Democrat with previous elective office experience as an alderman in Newton MA, is now available at www.lirwin.org.
I've been of the opinion that El Paso State Rep, Pat Haggerty, would be one of the most palatable party switches to the side of good. It's looking more and more like Tom Craddick is setting things up to see if it might come to pass.
In this instance, I'm actually going to agree with the bulk of Burka's take. If it's Haggerty v Margo in a GOP primary, I'm not sure what Haggerty tells the natives that makes them happy with him. And that's not even factoring in the money it'll take to combat the onslaught that Margo would bring. Exactly how do you get that message heard - whatever it is - above the din of those proverbial Louisville Sluggers cracking on your kneecaps?
Likewise, if Haggerty sticks it out, all the best to Shapleigh in finding a D to put up in the General. Cuz the only way Haggerty is on the ballot in 11 months is if he's a Dem. Otherwise, it'll be Margo versus a D. Personally, I'd much prefer that D be Haggerty.
Lot's of speculation about whether the breaking of the quorum on Sunday night would foreshadow the end of session.
The budget has to be signed by the Speaker in the presence of the House. Folks will be there so that can happen.
On the question of whether they'll suspend to bring up the remaining bills that died on the calendar is an unanswered question.
They all died at midnight. You can suspend the rules to bring them up with a 2/3 vote. I have no idea tonight what was left... good, bad or ugly. There is no difference at 2:00 pm tomorrow about suspending the rules and what was happening just after midnight. Monday is Monday is Monday. It's up to Tom Craddick if any of this stuff passes or dies. He's told us over and over he has the power to recognize motions.. or not.
Keep in mind that the Sunday night revolt followed the personal privilege speeches of Republicans, including one from a long time Craddick defender and Chair, Mike Krusee.
And also note that when the quorum was busted, it can't be used as a test of the vote to vacate. Many were caught by surprise and we had Insurgents still on the floor, and Craddick supporters off the floor.
Balls in Tom Craddick's court. Will he come to his senses?
**Ed. updated.**
Rep. Haggerty has indicated on Quorum Report that he has every intention of returning tomorrow to pass key pieces of legislation.
It's not uncommon for Perry to take a little time off when the legislature meets. During the 3rd special, Perry decided the educational crisis was so important that he had to go to Italy.
Now, Perry is out of the state again, and a bipartisan group want Lt Governor David Dewhurst to help during the TYC crisis.
The letter requests Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, in his role as current acting governor, place the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) under Conservatorship immediately.
Under the Texas Constitution, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst currently possesses all the powers and authority of the office of the governor because Governor Perry is out of the state visiting Dubai. As the current acting governor, with full powers, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst has the authority to place TYC under immediate Conservatorship. Conservatorship has been recommended unanimously by the full Senate and the Legislative Audit Committee.
Additionally, the Joint Select Committee on the Operation and Management of the Texas Youth Commission unanimously voted to express their complete lack of confidence in the TYC board. Placing TYC under Conservatorship will suspend the authority of the TYC board and transfer the board's functions to the conservator.
The letter was authored by State Representatives Pat Haggerty, Valinda Bolton, Delwin Jones, Jim Dunnam, Tommy Merritt, Pete Gallego, Robert Talton and Scott Hochberg.
