Tx Capitol Report | A view from the Texas state capitol

Moody goes green

State Rep. Joe Moody has been endorsed in the House District 78 race by a couple of environmental groups.

The groups are the Texas League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club. Moody faces Republican opponent Dee Margo in November.

Below are the comments from the press release:

“Joe Moody has been a leader on the environment for the residents of House District 78 in El Paso, from his leadership role in closing the Asarco smelter, to securing state funding for local parks, to his perfect voting record on TLCV's scorecard,” says David Weinberg, Executive Director of TLCV. “The voters of El Paso should reward Representative Moody's tireless work for clean air, clean water, and parks by electing him to another term this November 2nd.”

“Representative Moody has consistently voted for bills which would increase water conservation and energy efficiency at the state level, and even took a necessary first step in establishing a visitor’s center for the Franklin Mountains State Park,” says David Griggs, Political Chair of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter. “He is an effective legislator, and we in the environmental protection and conservation community trust his leadership going into the 2011 legislative session.”

U.S. Congressmen hit Gov. Perry on proposed education cuts

Texas’ Democratic congressional delegation is hammering Gov. Rick Perry on a proposal by the state’s education agency to cut about $262 million in education funding.

Perry and other Texas leaders asked state agencies to identify 10 percent in potential cutbacks that will be proposed to lawmakers next session as they deal with a shortfall of up to $21 billion

            Democrats and Republicans have been battling over specific stipulations Texas must meet before getting $830 million in federal funding to save teacher jobs. Now, Democratic congressmen say that a Texas Education Agency proposal that includes cuts for science labs and science textbooks shows that the governor is not prioritizing education.

            Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said this in a statement:

“While the Texas Congressional Democratic delegation is fighting to provide $830 million in emergency resources for our schools, Rick Perry is showing once again that he cannot be trusted to make the right decisions. Certainly tough choices must be made in the coming years to get the state out of the hole that Perry put us in, but, he is showing poor judgment by placing science textbooks and laboratories on the chopping block.  His plans are especially disappointing as they come after warnings from national experts that science and math education is deteriorating.”

Congressman Gene Green, D-Texas, said:

 “It is unclear when Perry will stop playing politics with our children’s education. The process for accepting additional funds to cover his education budget shortfall is very clear and he still refuses to put our children’s interest over his own political game.”

Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said education is a priority for the governor and accused the Democratic delegation of playing politics.

She said partisan politics is the reason Texas has not received the federal money.

            “These are not cuts that have been made,” she said. “These are reductions that have been identified by each individual agency.  In this case it’s the Texas Education Agency looking within, identifying where they can propose reduced spending and then presenting that to the Legislature for the budget writing process for the next session.”

Bill White releases energy plan

Clean Energy Jobs

Mr. Satire goes to Washington

With his usual tongue in cheek humor comedian Stephen Colbert called on Congress to improve immigration laws so that migrant farm workers can continue doing work that is "really, really hard".

Colbert today testified, in character, before Congress to share his "vast experience spending one day as a migrant farm worker."

"I'll admit I started my work day with preconceived notions of migrant labor," Colbert said. "But after working with these men and women, picking beans, packing corn, for hours on end, side by side in the unforgiving sun I have to say — and I do mean this sincerely — please don't make me do this again. It is really, really hard.For one thing, when you're picking beans you have to spend all day bending over. It turns out, and I did not know this, most soil is at ground level."

"I am not a fan of the government doing anything but I've got to ask why isn't the government doing anything. Maybe this Ag jobs bill would help. I don't know. Like most members of Congress I haven't read it but maybe we could offer more visas to the immigrants who, lets face it, will probably be doing these jobs anyway. And, this improved legal status might allow immigrants recourse if they are abused."

"The point is we have to do something because I am not going back out there. At this point, I break into a cold sweat at the sight of a salad bar."

Race for governor "leans" GOP

    A six-point difference in the race for Texas governor has shifted it from "solid" Republican to "leans" Republican on a Rasmussen election score card.

    The latest Rasmussen Poll shows that about 48 percent of likely voters surveyed said they would re-elect Gov. Rick Perry, while about 42 percent said they would vote for his Democratic challenger Bill White. Three percent said they would choose another candidate, and six percent were undecided.

    Perry held an eight-point lead over White in a poll last month.

    The poll says that about 28 percent of Texans identify with the Tea Party movement. Below is what the poll says about their positions in the race:

    Eighty-two percent (82%) of Tea Party members support Perry, as do 32% of non-members. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of non-members favor White.

See who is hosting a campaign fundraiser for Bill White

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White will be in El Paso Friday and Saturday to participate in a candidate forum at Coronado High School, visit with the El Paso Times' Editorial Board and attend the Northeast El Paso Unity Rally.

He is also in town for a fundraiser. Below is a breakdown with some donors listed on the invitation for the event.

Patrons (Donors who give at least $5,000): Richard Castro, Mike Dipp, Enrique Moreno, Dan Olivas and Carmen Perez.

Hosts (Donors who give at least $2,500): Ralph Adame, Analinda and Arturo Moreno, Jorge Sanchez and Jim Scherr.

Sponsors (Donors who give at least $1,000): Joe M. Bernal, John Mimbela, Ike Monty, Jeff Ray, Joe Spencer and Lorraine Wardy.

Supporters (Donors who give at least $500): Danny Anchondo, George Andritsos, Enrique Chavez, Francisco Dominguez, Joe Lopez, Alex Medrano, Al Melendez, Tony Ponce.

Friends (Donors who give at least $250): Carlos Aguilar III,  Angel Beltran, Gustavo DeAnda, Fermin Dorado, Jaime Esparza, Anna Maria Guzman, Bruce Ponzio and Jose Rodriguez.

Poll on path to citizenship for college students and those who serve in the military

Children who are brought to the U.S. illegally should get a chance at citizenship if they complete two years of college or serve in the military, according to the majority of voters surveyed in a Rasmussen Poll released today.

The results of the poll seem to indicate some form of support for the DREAM Act, which looks to provide a legal path to citizenship for people who fit into those categories.

About 78 percent of voters in the poll said that a child who is brought to the country illegally but who later serves in the military should get a chance at citizenship.

About 52 percent of those polled felt that children in the same situation should also get that opportunity if they complete two years of college. Of those surveyed, 36 percent did not support the concept, while 12 percent were undecided.

Still, 66 percent of those likely voters said that introducing such policies would encourage more illegal immigration, according to the poll.

State Board of Education candidate touts endorsements

Gov. Rick Perry and Comptroller Susan Combs have endorsed educator Carlos “Charlie” Garza, who is running as a Republican, for the State Board of Education.

Garza, an assistant principal in the Clint Independent School District, is running against incumbent Democrat Rene Nuñez.

Combs, in a statement, said: “Charlie Garza has the professional competence to know what to do for public education and the dynamic leadership to inspire others. Not only is he driven to improve our schools through exemplary professionalism and diligence, he is truly dedicated to the children of our state."
 
 

 

Two El Pasoans are "Texas Influencers"

Two El Pasoans made a national list of influential people in Texas.

They are semi-retired El Paso lobbyist Hector Gutierrez, who was a senior advisor for Gov. Rick Perry while he was lieutenant governor, and former County Attorney Jose Rodriguez, who is now a candidate for Texas senate.

The list of "Texas Influencers" was compiled by Gardner Selby of the Austin-American Statesman and published in Campaigns and Elections magazine.

It's broken into three categories by party: Top 10, the Next 20 and the Last 20.

Here are some highlights from each category:

•Top 10 Democrats: The category includes gubernatorial candidate Bill White, strategist Matt Angle and U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk.

•Top 10 Republicans: The category includes Gov. Rick Perry, Comptroller Susan Combs, House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

•The Next 20 Democrats: This is the category for Gutierrez. Others in the category include State Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio and Garnet Coleman of Houston and state Sens. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio and Rodney Ellis of Houston.

•The Next 20 Republicans: This category includes Attorney General Greg Abbott, Houston home builder and large donor Bob Perry and Perry campaign manager Rob Johnson.

•The Last 20 Democrats: This is the category for Rodriguez. It also includes San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, state Reps. Senfronia Thompson of Houston and Rafael Anchia of Dallas.

•The Last 20 Republicans: This category includes former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina, Perry pollster Mike Baselice and state Rep. Tom Craddick.

State representative on the "liberal, progressive, godless way"

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, today suggested that liberalism was related to godlessness then attempted to back away from the comments after she was asked for clarification.

Riddle was being interviewed by Evan Smith, the editor and CEO of the Texas Tribune, at an event sponsored by the nonprofit news organization.

While responding to a question from an audience member about a "pit of hell" comment she made in 2003, Riddle said she was attempting to explain that undocumented immigrants should not get the same privileges to health care and education as U.S. citizens.

"What I was saying is that for us to really take away and water down for our own people here while just an unending group (is) coming over and coming in, is fundamentally wrong," she said. "It is fundamentally wrong. And I think going the liberal, progressive, godless way — I think it's fundamentally wrong.

Smith immediately asked if Riddle was associating godlessness with liberalism. She responded, "you're questioning that?"

Below is the exchange that followed:

Smith: "Yes ma'am, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't question the faith of anybody. Are you questioning whether liberals believe in God?"

Riddle: "Oh, I think a lot of liberals believe in God. But I also know that there has been a move within our country, with the ACLU and with others in wanting to remove the Ten Commandments from courtrooms and in wanting to take prayer out of schools and removing so much of what we have had traditionally within our country. Do you deny that?"

Smith: "I don't know that I have enough time to go into every single one of those things but let me just be sure that I'm clear on what your saying and then we can move on. Are you suggesting that liberals are godless?"

Riddle: "No."

Smith: "But isn't that what you just said?"

Riddle: "There is a part of the secular, progressive, liberal agenda that has been fighting that, yeah. I mean, I thought everybody was aware of that."

Side note:

Here is Riddle's comment from 2003:

"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country."

Here is how she described that comment Wednesday:

"I said where did it come from that everybody, meaning illegals, should get free health care, free education, free whatever? Let me tell you where it came from. It came straight out of Moscow, straight out of Russia. It came straight out of the pit of hell. It is cleverly disguised as being tender-hearted but in truth, it is tearing the heart out of this nation."