Arnold Public Affairs
Weekly News Report
August 27, 2011
Below are some general items of interest pertaining to the latest political developments and important events:
_________________________________________________________________________
Tax-free weekend brings in typical crowds, Dallas retailers say
“Ralston shopped for a few final items at A Teacher’s Aide in Dallas on Sunday, hoping to squeeze in a little bit of savings during the state’s tax-free weekend before greeting her kindergarten students at University Park Elementary School on Monday..….”
(View full article here).
Teachers eye funding suit as classes set to open
“For the 5 million students in Texas public schools, Monday should be just like the start of any academic year. But for teachers and administrators, in addition to welcoming the 2011-12 class, something else might be on their minds — an expected lawsuit aimed at forcing the Texas Legislature to give more money to the schools and devise a more equitable fund-allocation system…….”
(View full article here).
“In the wake of state budget cuts, area school districts are investing in early childhood education because they believe it puts children on the right track…….”
(View full article here).
Strapped school districts look for savings by cutting busing
“When the Keller school district decided to start charging for bus service to offset budget shortfalls, Jennifer Rosenthal tried to set up a neighborhood car pool to get her two children to school..……”
(View full article here).
Let the federal gas tax die? Not so fast
“Apparently, numerous federal taxes and fees have statutory expirations on them and have to be renewed every so often, and motor fuels taxes are among this group. And the gasoline tax — 14.1 cents per gallon of the total 18.4 cents a gallon levy (last given a several-year lease on life in 2005) — is set to go away Sept. 30.…..”
(View full article here).
Tea Party, Others Put Texas Senate in Sights
“The restricted club that is the Texas Senate will be invaded by noisy conservative voters and activists next year if senators have to choose a new leader from their own ranks..……”
(View full article here).
Cap Metro Labor Makeover Could Cost Millions
“The Legislature, when it passed a bill this spring requiring Capital Metro to revamp its labor structure, did so aiming to save the cash-poor agency millions of dollars. Instead, that law could cost the agency $15 million or more over the next decade..…..”
(View full article here)
New Braunfels bans disposable containers on rivers
“The City Council of this popular summer destination voted Monday to ban disposable containers on rivers officials say are crammed with trash left by tubers seeking relief from the Texas heat……”
(View full article here).
EDITORIAL: Texas House: Reps, do voting in person
“As an example, if a state representative is away from the House, a designated person may cast a vote on behalf of that representative. The intent has been to cover a lawmaker who may be tied up in a committee meeting, which is also state business……”
(View full article here).
A different kind of Texan
“In December, 2000, shortly after the Supreme Court finally ruled on the disputed Presidential election, the mood at the Christmas party in the Texas Governor’s Mansion, in Austin, was a mixture of elation and disbelief. President-elect George W. Bush, a little sweaty as he came off the dance floor, greeted an old acquaintance from his Harvard Business School days and exclaimed, “Can you believe this? I’m the President of the whole fucking United States!...”
(View full article here)
Texas students sent from classroom to courtrooms
“In a small courtroom north of Houston, a fourth-grader walked up to the bench with his mother. Too short to see the judge, he stood on a stool. He was dressed in a polo shirt and dark slacks on a sweltering summer morning...…”
(View full article here)
No evidence of fraud from data breach
“Four months after revealing that personal data from 3.5 million Texans was left unprotected on the Internet for about a year, the state comptroller’s office says it still hasn’t seen evidence that the data has been used for fraudulent acts..…”
(View full article here).
Halliburton exec drinks fracking fluid
“An energy company executive’s sip of fracking fluid at an industry conference this month has been called a demonstration by some and a stunt by others, but it’s bringing attention to new recipes for hydraulic fracturing fluids that in the past have contained chemicals commonly used for antifreeze or bleaching hair...….”
(View full article here)
Head of Texas motor vehicle agency resigns amid criticism
“The head of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles resigned Monday, a few weeks after the fledgling agency that handles vehicle registrations and other services was criticized for not fixing organizational flaws quickly enough..….”
(View full article here)
Dewhurst irks tea partyers by skipping forum
“A pattern has emerged at U.S. Senate candidate forums around the state this summer. Candidates field questions about immigration and spending. They mingle with members of the audience before and after..….”
(View full article here)
For the Sullivans, Bedfellows Make Strange Politics
“In March 2010, it is unlikely that Ray and Leslie Sullivan could have anticipated the situation they currently find themselves in. At the time, he was Gov. Rick Perry‘s chief of staff, and she was one of Perry’s top fundraisers for his re-election campaign……”
(View full article here).
Is China Bad For the U.S. Job Market?
“Has China single handedly destroyed the U.S. job market? And is there no turning back? For some in manufacturing, the answer to that may be a resounding “yes”. To others, China growth means they are hiring at home to support demand overseas……”
(View full article here).
Policy, Geography Boost Texas Job Growth
“Several of the companies that have flocked to Texas in recent years say they were attracted by the business-friendly policies of Gov. Rick Perry—as well as by a lot of other factors not under the governor’s control….…”
(View full article here).
Windstorm insurance to go up
“The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which insures property in 14 coastal counties and a sliver of Harris County, has filed with state insurance regulators for the rate hike, which would apply to home and commercial customers……”
(View full article here).
EDITORIAL: History? Whose story? Texas gives lesson in revision
“The contentious hearings of the Texas State Board of Education received considerable attention in the spring of 2010, but seem to have fallen out of the public consciousness as the new school year begins. The new curriculum, officially called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, deserves renewed attention, as it will undoubtedly surprise most Texans..…”
(View full article here).
Perry sets Nov. 8 for vote on constitutional changes
“Voters will be asked to approve or reject 10 proposed changes to the Texas Constitution on Nov. 8, including one that would exempt the surviving spouses of or totally disabled veterans from paying property taxes after the veteran dies, the Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday……”
(View full article here).
Regents approve new UTMB hospital
“The University of Texas Board of Regents on Thursday approved plans for a $438 million hospital at the UT Medical Branch in Galveston, a remarkable change in fortune for an institution on the verge of dismemberment after Hurricane Ike three years ago……”
(View full article here).
Texans outpace the nation in immigration and divorce
“People are more likely to marry, and to divorce, in Texas and across the South than in other parts of the country, according to new census data being released today..…”
(View full article here).
Houston state senator may run for lieutenant governor
“In his strongest words yet, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said Thursday that he is in all likelihood not running for U.S. Senate and is strongly considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2014 instead……”
(View full article here).
Sell the unused prison facility
“The facts (thanks to reporting by the American-Statesman’s Mike Ward): In 2007, Texas officials were thrilled to accept the gift of a six-story building in Marlin that formerly housed a Veterans Affairs health care center. The building, which opened in 1950, became surplus for the federal government when medical services for veterans were moved to an existing VA center in Temple in the 1990s……”
(View full article here).
Sen. Ogden rails ‘politics of ambition’
“Sen. Steve Ogden spared no punches this week in talking about the failures of the Legislature to address critical state problems earlier this year. In a luncheon speech to a group in College Station, the Bryan Republican and Senate Finance Committee chairman said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was ineffective and both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate were more interested in politics than good government. Quoted in the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Ogden said the Legislature only addressed one of four major problems facing the state – balancing the state budget. Troubles in school finance, Medicaid and the state’s business tax were ignored……”
Leave a Reply