Texas Insider

Quote for May 12, 2008

"Many of my constituents have recently contacted me about large increases in their local property tax appraisals . . . the Texas Legislature voted in 2006 to reduce school property taxes by a full one-third. Additionally, we went further by requiring voter approval before certain property taxes could be raised. . . If you have received notice from your local appraisal district of a large increase in the appraised value of your home or business, I would like to know.”

--State Representative Phil King

War Supplemental, Farm Bill Top Week�s Agenda

By Congressional Quarterly
Published: 05-12-08

House Democratic leaders will try again this week to move a war supplemental spending package that their own conservative Blue Dogs have stalled.

The Senate plans to finish an overhaul of the federal flood insurance program, and both chambers may take final action on a massive new five-year farm bill that has drawn sharp criticism from the White House.

The war spending package would provide enough money to keep military operations going in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring.

Electoral Map Favors a Democrat, Has McCain Playing Defense

By Liz Sidoti, Associated Press
Published: 05-12-08

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The electoral road to the White House favors Democrats this fall -- either Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton -- and has Republican John McCain playing defense to thwart a presidential power shift.

A downtrodden economy, the war in Iraq and a public call for change have created an Electoral College outlook and a political environment filled with extraordinary opportunity for the Democrats and enormous challenge for the GOP nominee-in-waiting.

No Dispute?

Published: 05-12-08

Clinton Camp Chides NBC

It's no secret that Hillary Clinton's top aides have long been angry at MSNBC for coverage they consider blatantly pro-Obama.

But the final straw seems to have come Tuesday night, when Tim Russert, NBC's Washington bureau chief, declared on MSNBC: "We now know who the Democratic nominee is going to be, and no one is going to dispute it." Other MSNBC pundits agreed, and Russert repeated the verdict yesterday, saying that barring a collapse by Barack Obama or an act of God, "this race is over."

Indiana Dem & Repub Parties Seek to File Joint Friend-of-the-Court Brief

Published: 05-12-08

The Brief in Indiana Supreme Court to Protect Political Computer-Generated Phone Calls

Today, the Indiana Democratic Party and the Indiana Republican Party asked the Indiana Supreme Court to allow them to file a joint friend-of-the-court brief in a case involving computer-generated political calls.

The case, State of Indiana v. American Family Voices, Inc., was initiated by the State of Indiana against American Family Voices and others for using automatic dialing machines to make political calls during the 2006 election cycle.

Wind Versus Gas

NCPA
Published: 05-12-08

Congress seems ready to spend billions on a new "Manhattan Project" for green energy, or at least the political class really, really likes talking about one. But maybe we should look at what our energy subsidy dollars are buying now, says the Wall Street Journal.

For example:

Gohmert�s Columbia Space Shuttle Memorial Act Signed into Law

Published: 05-12-08

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) announced today that the Columbia Space Shuttle Memorial Study Act has been officially signed into law, and he is grateful that efforts to construct a lasting tribute to the seven Columbia crew members will now be able to officially move forward. Gohmert stated:

“This is a tremendous step in truly honoring the heroic Columbia crew, their families, and the courageous east Texans who volunteered in the recovery efforts. Many people still remember the pain they felt on that fateful day when the Columbia Space Shuttle was tragically destroyed, but they will also remember that from that tragedy emerged a stronger community determined to unite together and show the world what big hearts our folks have in east Texas.

Gov. Perry Names Whitaker Chair of Judicial Compensation Commission

Published: 05-12-08

Appoints Eight Members to Board

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry named Betsy Whitaker of Dallas chair of the Judicial Compensation Commission. He also appointed eight members to the commission, which was created by the Texas Legislature in 2007 to regulate the salaries of state judges.

Whitaker is a lawyer in private practice. She is a member and past president of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the Dallas Bar Association. She is also a member of the Dallas Assembly, and serves on the executive committee of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and on the board of Communities in Schools Dallas. She is also a Center for American and International Law trustee and a member of the American Law Institute. Whitaker received a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a law degree from Southern Methodist University. Her term expires Feb. 1, 2009.

Gov. Perry Makes 10 Student Regent Appointments

Published: 05-12-08

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed 10 student regents to their respective university systems and one student representative to serve on the Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms to expire May 31, 2009. In 2005, Gov. Perry signed legislation directing each public university board of regents to include one non-voting student member. In 2007, the governor signed legislation creating a student representative position on the Coordinating Board.

Higher Education Coordinating Board
Charles E. “Trey” Lewis III of Houston is a law student at the University of Houston. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the National Political Science Honor Society. He is also a mentor at Mathews Elementary School. Lewis received a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin.

King Asks Citizens to Take Action on Appraisal Increases

Published: 05-12-08

Austin - State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) made the following statement today to residents of District 61 due to concerns over recent property tax appraisal increases:

“Many of my constituents have recently contacted me about large increases in their local property tax appraisals. This is deeply disturbing, as the Texas Legislature voted in 2006 to reduce school property taxes by a full one-third. Additionally, we went further by requiring voter approval before certain property taxes could be raised.