Tx Capitol Report | A view from the Texas state capitol

El Paso sex offender on state's most wanted list

Guillermo Chavez-Gonzalez, 41, has been added to Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list for aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child.

Chavez-Gonzalez, who was last seen in El Paso, has a criminal history that  includes aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated.

Up to $1,000 is being offered as a reward for information leading to his arrest.

The Department of Public Safety said tipsters can:

Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).

Text the letters DPS—followed by your tip—to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone, or,

Submit a tip through the DPS website by selecting the sex offender you have information about, and under their picture is a link to submit a web tip.

Bill White releases new web video

Democrat Bill White's campaign released a web video today that accuses Gov. Rick Perry of accepting money in return for appointments and favors.

The video uses various news clips that refer to a recent investigation by the Dallas Morning News that questioned whether Perry benefited from a land deal in Horseshoe Bay.

The article said it "found evidence that Perry's investment was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors."

Perry defended the land deal to the Dallas Morning News. He told the newspaper that the deal was transparent.

Newest campaign videos in the race for governor

From Democrat Bill White's campaign:

From Gov. Rick Perry's campaign:

Dee Margo campaign video

Businessman Dee Margo, the Republican candidate for House District 78, has launched his new campaign website and along with it a new video.

In the video, Margo shares his family history. He points out that his grandfather was Hispanic and did not speak English until he attended college.

The video does not mention that Margo is running for state office. It also does not mention that he faces incumbent State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, for the seat.

Part 1: The Margo Family in Texas from Sir Realistic Productions on Vimeo.

Group launches effort to woo Hispanics to the GOP

About $15,000 will serve as the springboard for a new Republican group that is trying to court Hispanic candidates.

Hispanic Republicans of Texas — whose co-founders include George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush—officially launched as a political action committee Tuesday in Austin.

The group wants to recruit Hispanic candidates to run for office. Leaders of the group say they will help fund campaigns, train candidates to be more media savvy and provide additional support to help them win office.

Hispanics in Texas have traditionally leaned toward the Democratic Party at the polls. Republicans say they are working to lure the ethnic group.

About 37 percent of the state's population is Hispanic and the group makes up about 40 percent of public school students.

"We need to do a better job of reminding our Latinos that Republicans don't have horns and don't all live in country clubs," said Jacob Monty, a partner in a law firm who also serves on the board of Hispanic Republicans of Texas.

The group has raised $50,000 since September but only has about $15,000 left in the bank after helping some candidates with their primary campaigns.

Sonya Medina, another board member who served as deputy assistant for domestic policy to former president George W. Bush, said the fundraising has just begun.

"We feel this is a very good starting point," Medina said. "I have had several large Republican donors talk to us and our board about contributing after our launch today."

Group seeks Hispanic Republicans

The nephew of George W. Bush is trying to increase the number of Hispanic Republicans who run for office in Texas.

George P. Bush, the son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, is the co-founder of the Hispanic Republicans of Texas, which officially launches Tuesday in Austin.

The organization says it "will recruit, elect, support and defend Republican officeholders and candidates for state and local elected offices."
"As it stands today, Hispanic leaders are disproportionately under-represented as elected officeholders especially as Republicans," the group said in a statement. "Hispanic Republicans of Texas has been established to close the gap, build leadership within the Hispanic community and support those who are ready to serve as elected leaders of this state. It’s our responsibility to help other Hispanics. But most important it’s our responsibility to serve the greatest state in our nation – Texas. "

The group already has a website with several promotional videos.

Rasmussen Poll: Governor's race has 50-41 split

    Gov. Rick Perry has a nine point lead over his Democratic opponent Bill White in a Rasmussen Poll released today.

    Perry got 50 percent support in the poll of 500 likely voters. White received about 41 percent support in the survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. 

    Perry leads White with men, women and independent voters, according to the poll.

    The margin between the candidates has not changed much since the last Rasmussen survey in mid-June. That poll had Perry at 48 percent and White at 40 percent.

    About 55 percent of those polled approved of Perry's job performance, while 44 percent disapproved.

   More than half of Texas voters surveyed said the economy was poor and the same percentage said it was getting worse. Only 12 percent said the economy was "good or excellent" and 25 percent felt it was improving.

    About 28 percent of Texas voters supported the U.S. Justice Department's challenge to the Arizona immigration law, while 64 percent disapproved.

     

   

Missing Seinfeld? Campaign ad stages a comeback.

Gov. Rick Perry has channeled Seinfeld in a new online advertisement to accuse his Democratic opponent of being unoriginal. The video is titled "Bill White's campaign about nothing."

White released his own web ad today that charges Perry with dodging responsibility for a projected budget deficit of up to $18 billion. Instead, the "Rick Perry's Deficit Distractions" ad says Perry is spending his time criticizing the federal government.

Check out both ads below:

Perry proposes tax credit for businesses that allow dropouts to return to school

    Gov. Rick Perry is proposing a tax break for employers who give high school dropouts time off to finish school.

   Perry, who shared his plan in El Paso today, said it would cost the state $15 million in sales tax credits over a two-year period if 5,000 dropouts participate each year.

    His proposal would have to be approved by the legislature before it can be implemented.

    "A single dropout is one dropout too many, so we must continue pursuing sensible education options that give every Texan a shot at a better life,” Perry said in a statement.

    Under the proposal, employers would grant adult college dropouts two hours a week of paid time off to return to school or attend GED preparation classes.

    Employers would receive a $1,500 sales tax credit once the employee gets a diploma or a GED.

    Perry's opponent Bill White has released his own plan to improve education that looks at expanding prekindergarten, improving career and technical education and making college tuition more affordable.

    Katy Bacon, a spokeswoman for the White campaign, said Perry had decade to improve education but failed. 

   "After ten years of doing nothing, career politician Rick Perry is trotting out election year sound bites," Bacon said. "Students are slipping through the cracks every day, and Perry still refuses to answer or provide a real solution for the 3 in 10 Texas students who don’t graduate on time."    

    Perry's campaign said White's proposals do not offer new policy initiatives to improve education.

    Read more in Wednesday's El Paso Times.   

   

 

Congressman gets testy

    U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez lost his temper during a meeting with constituents this weekend when a woman accused him of lying about the cost of health care reform.

    "Ma'am, don't accuse me of not saying the truth," the Democrat said. He then slapped a newspaper against a table.

    Rodriguez's flare up became fodder for conservatives who quickly circulated a video clip.

    Right-wing media magnate Andrew Breitbart's "Big Government" website first posted the video.

     Rodriguez's Republican opponent Francisco "Quico" Canseco pounced on the incident.

    Canseco issued a statement saying that Rodriguez "has a history of cursing and yelling at people who disagree with him. It shows how much contempt he has for the people of this district and their concerns about the economy, exploding federal deficits, and reckless government growth.” 

    Rodriguez, whose district includes a part of El Paso County, shot back and accused his opponent of trying to sabotage his event.

    "Unfortunately political operatives associated with my opponent's campaign tried to turn it into something else -- attempting to hijack a 'congress on your corner' event merely to engage in uncivil, cynical videotape baiting tactics," Rodriguez said in a statement. "The people of Southwest Texas deserve better than that."

    Still, Rodriguez said he was sorry for his behavior.

    "That said, I apologize for losing my temper at an event that should always be a civil and respectful exchange of ideas," he said in the statement. "I look  forward to continuing to listen to folks all across southwest Texas, as we work together to create jobs and get this economy back on track."