Texas Insider

“With the recent record energy sector activity in Texas, our agency experienced drilling permit application numbers that haven’t been seen since the last energy boom in the 1980s.”

–Victor Carrillo Railroad Commissioner

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By Jason Moore, SREC Committeeman, Senate District 31
Published: 10-31-08

Recently, a “newbie” State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) member submitted an opinion piece asking for the Republican Speaker of the House to step down, which the Austin American Statesman gleefully picked up as a weighty piece of political commentary.  As Teddy Roosevelt was fond of saying, “Bullfeathers!”

The great part of this is that it further exposed some in the Texas media for the paid political propagandists that they are.  How interesting that the Austin American Statesman has no qualms about taking advantage of a young, politically naïve, as well as a NEW member of the executive committee of the state Party in an effort to accomplish their goal of replacing a conservative Republican as Speaker of the House with a liberal. 

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Published: 10-31-08

Momentum Builds for Hunter, as Garcia Attempts To Deflect The Heat

CORPUS CHRISTI – State Rep. Juan Garcia has missed 100 percent of his interim committee meetings in 2008 even though the hearings involved critical issues ranging from rural economic development to veterans health issues.

Agendas and committee minutes from the Texas House of Representatives confirm Garcia’s attendance record. They can be found at www.house.state.tx.us.

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Tom Pauken, Chairman Texas Workforce Commission
Published: 10-31-08

Everywhere I go as chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), employers express concern to me about what they see as the uneven performance in Texas schools. Some schools continue to produce students well-equipped for the job market and for life in general; others, sadly, fall short.

Why is this a TWC concern? The fact is that too many students don’t have the basic academic grounding along with the skills needed for the jobs that are available. In point of fact, the marketplace needs workers with maturity, judgment, and broad, as well as specialized, knowledge.

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Published: 10-31-08

3-Day Processing for Expedited Drilling Permits & 7 Days for non-Expedited Permits

AUSTIN — The three Texas Railroad Commissioners announced today that after just four weeks of implementing their drilling permit backlog reduction program, the Commission has successfully reduced the processing time for expedited drilling permits to three days, and for non-expedited permits, to seven days.

In early October, the processing times for expedited drilling permits had reached 13 days, and up to 40 days for non-expedited drilling permits. At their Sept. 23 conference, the commissioners voted to withdraw up to $750,000 from the Oilfield Cleanup Fund to address this growing permit backlog. The commissioners also agreed to seek reimbursement to the fund during the upcoming Legislative session.

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Published: 10-31-08

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 30, 2008—Earlier this month Ryan McShan was indicted on counts of livestock theft, resisting arrest and injury to a public servant. What started as a somewhat routine investigation into the theft of four head of cattle from Tyler on Sept. 11 quickly became violent.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Jim Vanover was questioning McShan about the stolen cattle when suddenly McShan jumped out of his chair and tried to escape. TSCRA Market Inspector Pat McGuigan was standing in the doorway and attempted to restrain McShan, who then struck McGuigan in the chin with his fist.

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Gary Varvel
Published: 10-31-08

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By Larry Elder
Published: 10-31-08

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wants you — to redistribute your wealth.

In Obamas highly publicized encounter with Joseph Wurzelbacher — aka Joe the Plumber — the candidate said he wanted to use taxpayers money to spread the wealth. A gutsy local Orlando television anchor interviewed Democratic vice presidential contender Joe Biden:

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“No one has a better grasp of the situation on the ground than the peace officers who patrol our neighborhoods and tackle the challenges of law enforcement every day. These officers are the key to our fight against transnational gangs, and Texas is committed to ensuring that they are well equipped to combat these organizations.”

–Governor Rick Perry

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By Kate Phillips
Published: 10-30-08

With millions of people taking advantage of early voting in states across the country, election experts have been examining the data available and discussing the impact on next Tuesday’s exit poll results and, ultimately, the election itself.

Some analysts are projecting that early voting will amount to more than 30 percent of the total turnout this election. And more than 30 states now have some form of early voting, with much of it continuing through this week and long lines reported in many of them.

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