Texas leaders vow to fight EPA regulations

A group of defiant Texas leaders outlined a game plan Monday in the continuing battle with federal officials over "onerous" environmental regulations that they say could create an unstable business climate.

The group of congressmen, state senators and house members vowed to fight the Environmental Protection Agency with law suits, state constitutional amendments and legislation that would block environmental mandates.

Mulvaney: http://dallasne.ws/gujJUz

Many Texas politicians, including Perry and White, talk little of $21 billion budget gap

"I've worked for politicians most of my adult life, and I never knew one to say 'Oh, no, there's this huge problem and I haven't got the first idea on how to deal with it.' "
Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/cDWTCH

Perry tries raffle to locate supporters

Hoppe:
AUSTIN – In the world of political come-ons, Rick Perry is running and gunning. And roping.


The Perry campaign is offering supporters who submit 11 names of registered voters for the campaign to contact a chance to win prizes in a raffle. The gifts include a jogging lesson from RunTex founder Paul Carrozza and a shooting lesson from the paramilitary outfit LaRue Tactical.
http://dallasne.ws/blYHmy

More car drama in politics: Staples campaign denies accusations of vehicle misuse

Meyers:
Car controversy continued today as Democratic agriculture commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert accused incumbent Todd Staples of buying an SUV with campaign funds and driving it for personal use.
http://dallasne.ws/bDXE4f

Texas Democratic governor candidate Bill White's main stance hails back 15 years

Slater takes a look at Bill White:
When Bill White became state Democratic chairman nearly 15 years ago, he predicted that the party's worst days were over and that momentum "is definitely on our side."


He was wrong.

The Democratic Party was in political free fall when White took over after Republican George W. Bush's election as governor. White left the position as the GOP was on the verge of sweeping every statewide office in 1998.
http://tinyurl.com/32d5x8d

On some of Perry's attack lines on White, differences are minimal

Slater:
AUSTIN — Political campaigns are about convincing voters you’re different than your opponent — even when you’re not.

Gov. Rick Perry and challenger Bill White are very different candidates — Republican, Democrat. A conservative, a moderate. One says he shoots coyotes while jogging, the other says he stares them down and they run away.
http://tinyurl.com/2vc8h64

White keeps drilling Perry for 'act of God' quip

Democratic nominee for governor Bill White apparently thinks there's some taters where he's digging. So he's digging GOP opponent Rick Perry again, more sharply, over the incumbent governor's "act of God" comment about BP's oil-spewing drill hole on the ocean bed of the Gulf of Mexico. Garrett reports. http://tinyurl.com/2f2stkg

Offshore drilling not losing favor among Texas leaders

Hoppe reports:

AUSTIN – State leaders continued to voice their support Tuesday for offshore drilling while eyeing the anticipated economic and environmental damage from the BP oil spill.

While others, such as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have reversed their push for more offshore drilling in light of the oil-laced Gulf of Mexico, Texas' elected officials indicated that the disaster has not softened their support.
http://tinyurl.com/3azaao5