Republicans may come to regret strong-arm tactics in Legislature, analysts warn

AUSTIN — Republicans, using the power of their huge majority, have done more than tip the Legislature into turmoil in the past week.
They’ve raised doubts that Capitol politics will ever be the same.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/l5RcfA

Texas Legislature still wrangling with host of political bills

With the Texas Legislature headed into its final seven weeks, Slater takes a look at the status of major bills dealing with political issues: http://dallasne.ws/h6yz4U

House Democrats try to force Republicans into tough budget votes

AUSTIN — House Democrats are powerless to stop big budget cuts, but they tried to start turning around their political fortunes this weekend by forcing votes that could haunt Republicans next year — and beyond.

Democrats called for easing steep reductions to schools for the blind and deaf, programs for...

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/gDjRRu

Texas’ tea party has a stronger mix of social issues than most

AUSTIN — As the national tea party movement focuses on cutting the reach of government, the mix in Texas is a different brew — laced with social agendas and served with a twist of old-fashioned religion.

Brooks: http://dallasne.ws/hWZF0W

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples for Lt Gov in 2014?

Todd Staples isn't a name heard often in the backlogged line of Texas political stair steppers.
But the current agriculture commissioner has worked his way up as both a state representative and senator. He echoes the anti-Washington mantra so successful for Gov. Rick Perry and keeps himself in the public eye on issues of eminent domain and bans against same-sex marriage. He's in his second term as agriculture commissioner, a position that has catapulted others to higher office - just look at Comptroller Susan Combs and the state's current governor.

Meyers: http://dallasne.ws/ihPKxr

GOP nearing supermajority in Texas House

AUSTIN — Republicans in the Texas House now enjoy carte blanche to do pretty much whatever they want. A veteran Southeast Texas Democrat’s decision over the weekend to switch parties means the GOP should hold 100 of the House’s 150 seats when lawmakers return to work next month.


Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/hZIQSN

One-woman play about ex-Texas Gov. Ann Richards portrays a real 'piece of work'

SAN ANTONIO – The actress Holland Taylor made an Ann Richards entrance, which is to say with enough energy and sashay that everybody noticed. She might as well have been wearing the Dairy Queen hair and white brocade suit like on the posters down the street advertising her one-woman play, ANN: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards.

Slater: http://dallasne.ws/eedEZx

What do Tom DeLay, Kay Bailey Hutchison & Bill White have in common?

Slater knows:
Turns out, Tom DeLay , Kay Bailey Hutchison and Bill White all have a friend in famed Houston crriminal lawyer Dick DeGuerin . White is calling for an investigation into state business subsidies to political contributors of Gov. Rick Perry. And DeGuerin agrees. DeGuerin joined the dustup today over The Dallas Morning News report that top Perry political contributors benefited from $16 million in taxpayer dollars from the governor's high-tech fund.
http://dallasne.ws/d3075l

Texas Farm Bureau stays neutral, breaking habit of backing Republican nominee for governor

AUSTIN – The Texas Farm Bureau, which has feuded with Rick Perry over toll roads and private-property rights, opted Wednesday not to endorse anybody in the governor's race. The decision was the first time the Farm Bureau's political committee has not backed the Republican nominee for governor since it began making endorsements in 1990.

Slater reports: http://dallasne.ws/a2VAXk

UPDATED: Small businesses in Rick Perry TV ad don't support Perry

A second small business featured in Rick Perry's new TV commercial says the owners don't support Perry and didn't give permission to be in the ad.
Slater reports http://dallasne.ws/aDq2gG on Burnt Orange story: http://dallasne.ws/a5Cr0p

Rick Perry's goes up with first TV spot : TX open for business

Rick Perry has gone up on television with his first TV spot of the general election campaign - a 30-second ad touting the Texas economy. The spot made its debut with a healthy buy on the Sunday morning talk shows. Slater reports: http://dallasne.ws/9ukiR0

Candidates trade attacks sitting down

The candidates for agriculture commissioner lit into each other Friday, as their first public conversation this year turned from the state's water deficiencies to tough personal attacks. The race snagged headlines early in the season for their campaigns' vitriolic assaults, but the candidates had avoided direct blows to each other until asked about the allegations at a Dallas Morning News editorial board meeting. Jessica Meyers reports: http://dallasne.ws/a6uGBK

Rick Perry's latest role model: Ann Richards?

Slater says "it's déjà vu all over again."
Rick Perry has embraced an unexpected model in the latest turn of his reelection campaign - Ann Richards.
http://bit.ly/asDujF

Rick Perry: Why did Bill White have no taxable income in 1995?

Slater:
Rick Perry's campaign has asked why Democratic challenger Bill White had no taxable income in 1995, his last year as deputy energy secretary in the Clinton administration.
http://dallasne.ws/9x02HW

The Perrys on the hunt

Not one to quail at the sight of doves, Hoppe reports: http://dallasne.ws/c1FA0G

New ad: Rick Perry a "Coward" for refusing to debate

Slater previews it:
Allies of Democrat Bill White are stepping up the rhetoric against Rick Perry for refusing to debate in full-page ads that will appear in Tuesday's newspapers.
http://dallasne.ws/d2zw2m

Perry Coward Ad

Slater: Case of Perry aide and wife show how things work in Austin

AUSTIN — Rick Perry says as governor, his job is to make life better for Texas families. One family that’s done well is the Sullivans of Austin, Ray and Leslie, whose political ties to Perry over the past decade have paid big dividends. http://dallasne.ws/azh7Nt

Rep. Chet Edwards slams opponent's plan to let veterans use health benefits in private sector

Benning reports:
WASHINGTON – Rep. Chet Edwards slammed his Republican opponent's plan to allow use of veterans' health benefits in the private sector, saying Wednesday that it would "destroy the VA health care system as we know it." With the backing of several national veterans groups, the Waco Democrat said that rival Bill Flores' plan would drastically dilute the patient base at Veterans Affairs hospitals, increase costs and threaten the livelihood of the VA hospital in Waco and others across the country. 
http://dallasne.ws/9obU8L

State Rep. Joe Driver of Garland double-billed for travel

AUSTIN – State Rep. Joe Driver of Garland, who rails against the evils of runaway government spending, admitted Monday that he has pocketed thousands of dollars in taxpayer money for travel expenses that his campaign had already funded. AP reports: http://dallasne.ws/9Bnpe4

Travis County DA's office investigates: http://dallasne.ws/9EXCn1

Texas ag commissioner hopeful Gilbert resists court's order that he pay consultant $40,000

A court has ordered Democratic Agriculture Commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert to reimburse a Washington political consultant more than $40,000 for her services last year, but his spokesman says he has no plans to pay. Meyers reports: http://dallasne.ws/ajNQ7q