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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Texas Insider staff thanks our readers
and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!

The Texas Insider will not be publishing
during the Christmas Holiday Season,
December 24, 2008 – January 5, 2009

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By Bruce Drake, CQ Staff
Published: 12-23-08

Vice President Richard Cheney on Sunday staunchly defended the Bush administration’s record in Iraq, its authorization of electronic surveillance programs, and the use of a “robust” interrogation program as legitimate exercises of presidential power in fighting the war on terrorism.

Interviewed on “Fox News Sunday,” Cheney also dismissed Vice President-elect Joseph Biden’s assertion that he had dangerously expanded his own role, saying, “if he wants to diminish the office of vice president, that’s obviously his call.”

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Published: 12-23-08

As 2008 and the 110th Session of Congress draw to an end, I’d like to take a moment to reflect and share some important accomplishments as well as missed opportunities that I would like to tackle in 2009.

As the son of a World War II veteran, one of my proudest accomplishments was sponsoring and passing legislation to significantly improve housing benefits for America’s veterans. Many provisions in my bill, the Veterans’ Housing Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, were signed into law in July and corrected an existing disparity in the treatment of veterans.

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Published: 12-23-08

Data on adequate yearly progress show that 1 in 5 public schools are in some stage of penalties under the federal law.

Almost 30,000 schools in the United States failed to make adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act in the 2007-08 school year. For states with comparable data for the 2006-07 school year, the number of such schools increased by 28 percent.

Half those schools missed their achievement goals for two or more years, putting almost one in five of the nation’s public schools in some stage of a federally mandated process designed to improve student achievement. The number facing sanctions represents a 13 percent increase for states with comparable data over the 2006-07 school year.

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Published: 12-23-08

Orr: “These awards will have a dramatic and positive impact in the life of these homeowners. . . “

(AUSTIN) — Knowing that maintaining and improving the existing housing stock in rural Texas helps maintain homeownership and the viability of entire communities, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has announced an award to the City of Godley that will help fund home repairs for low income residents and provide financial benefits to both the local construction industry and government coffers.

TDHCA awarded $150,000 in home repair assistance funds to the city which will help rehabilitate two homes owned and lived in by income eligible residents.

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Published: 12-23-08

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry today granted clemency to seven individuals after each case was favorably recommended for clemency by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Clemency was granted to:

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Michael Ramirez
Published: 12-23-08

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By Jonathan Allen and Karoun Demirjian, CQ Staff
Published: 12-19-08

California Rep. Hilda L. Solis is President-elect Barack Obama ’s pick to become secretary of Labor, a senior Democrat confirmed Thursday.

A formal announcement is expected Friday, along with the selections of Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood as Transportation Secretary and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk as Trade Representative.

The 51-year-old Solis, a leader in the environmental justice movement, is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Nicaragua who became naturalized American citizens.

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By Tiffanay Waller, Texas Education Agency
Published: 12-19-08

Nominations being accepted by The Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is accepting nominations for appointments to the Proclamation 2010 state review panels.  The panel members play a very important role in ensuring that students throughout the state of Texas have the benefit of quality instructional materials.

These state review panel members will evaluate instructional materials submitted for adoption under Proclamation 2010. The deadline for submission of completed nomination forms has been extended to January 16, 2009.

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Published: 12-19-08

Texas Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly to 5.7 Percent 
             
AUSTIN — Texas’ seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment grew by 7,300 jobs in November. Texas employers now have added 221,200 jobs in the past 12 months, for an annual job growth rate of 2.1 percent. The United States recorded 1.9 million job losses during the same period, for a negative annual job growth rate of -1.4 percent.

“Despite a slight increase in the unemployment rate statewide, the falling unemployment rates in Southeast Texas reflect that those adversely affected by the impact of Hurricane Ike are getting back to work,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken. “While Texas is holding our own compared to the national trends, we continue to feel the impact of the U.S. and international economic downturn.”

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