Texas Politics

• Shami celebrates birthday by filing for governor

  Houston businessman Farouk Shami today celebrated his 67th birthday by filing for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. "I'd like to say 42. That would be the truth. I feel like 42," Shami said. A crowd of supporters sang happy birthday to...

  
  

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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 11:16am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Shami to create jobs, Perry appoints new commissioner, Sharp gets endorsed and closing open meetings

  Shami: Mixing business with politics? While asking for votes, hair-care magnate Farouk Shami is promising that he will create jobs. Literally. In a campaign stop in El Paso, Shami said that he would like to open a business in El...

  
  

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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 11:11am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison and Perry compare each other to Democrats

  Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry's campaigns both released new Web attack ads today, using the images of Democratic politicians to make their points. Hutchison's campaign used the image of Bill White as a farce to criticize Perry...

  
  

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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 7:26pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Conflicts: Kinky and Gilbert, Perry and Washington, and Dewhurst and the stimulus

  Kinky vs. Gilbert...again Humorist Kinky Friedman's plan to exit the governor's race to enter the agriculture commissioner race means that there will be a showdown between Friedman and East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert after all. While both men were in...

  
  

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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 1:43pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Shami filing premature

  OK. So the campaign of Houston businessman Farouk Shami sends out a news release saying he's officially filed for governor. Then a little while later the campaign sent out a release on the news conference he plans to hold Tuesday...

  
  

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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 1:27pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Friedman switches to agriculture commissioner race

  After meeting this weekend with Houston Mayor Bill White and businessman Farouk Shami, Kinky Friedman has decided to drop out of the Democratic contest for governor and run for state agriculture commissioner. "This has never been about me; this has...

  
  

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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Shami officially files

  Houston businessman Farouk Shami, who has promised to spend $10 million of his own money to win the Democratic nomination for governor, officially filed as a candidate today. His statement: "I am here today because Texas needs change. Throughout the...

  
  

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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 12:38pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Friedman plans to meet with Shami, White this weekend

  Entertainer and author Kinky Friedman is meeting with Mayor Bill White and hair-care magnate Farouk Shami this weekend before deciding whether to abandon his race for the Democratic nomination for governor, Friedman campaign manager Rania Batrice said today. Batrice...

  
  

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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 9:15am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• CVS Caremark renewed as drug manager for retired teachers

  Despite complaints from retired teachers, independent pharmacists and labor unions, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas today approved entering a two year pharmacy benefits manager contract with CVS Caremark. Here's the release: The Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of...

  
  

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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 5:50pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Lawmaker aims for re-election instead of comptroller

  State Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, will run for re-election next year instead of launching a statewide race for comptroller. State Rep.Mike Villarreal The five-term legislator says allies encouraged him to run for comptroller, which he briefly considered before deciding...

  
  

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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:47pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry says it is human nature to demand loyalty from appointees

  Gov. Rick Perry said today it is human nature to expect loyalty from appointees in his administration. Perry has been criticized for his aides and former aides pressuring some of his appointees over their support for GOP rival U.S. Sen....

  
  

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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:45pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Republican endorsements in the, er, U.S. Senate race

  At least two Republican are keeping up the appearance of a campaign for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat. Hutchison has said she will resign in March after the GOP primary for governor. Railroad Commissioners Elizabeth Ames Jones and Michael...

  
  

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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 10:57am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Tom DeLay is the Bum Steer

  Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's turn as a television dancing star has won him a spot on Texas Monthly's Bum Steers cover for the January issue....

  
  

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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 9:00am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Gambling seems to be paying off for veterans

  http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/columnists/peggy_fikac/Scratch-off_tickets_now_can_fund_vets_services.htmlSales of the new Veterans Cash scratch-off ticket have exceeded $5.3 million since the game was launched a month ago, according to lawmakers who craeted it. That means the Fund for Veterans Assistance will get more than $1 million from...

  
  

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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 5:34pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• The jobless tax debate

  The increase in the jobless tax is sure to be a campaign issue for Gov. Rick Perry as he seeks another term, which U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison hopes to deny him in the GOP primary before Democrats get their...

  
  

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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 2:18pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Patterson tempts fate

  If campaigns were personal ads, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson says he would run this one: DWM, DIVORCED WHITE MALE WITH KIDS, 63, REPUBLICAN LAND COMMISSIONER SEEKS DEMOCRAT OPPONENT FOR 11 MONTH RELATIONSHIP. MUST ENJOY TRAVELING AROUND TEXAS, LONG WALKS ON...

  
  

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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 8:20am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• More help for veterans?

  Veterans' job, education and mental health needs will be a focus of a state Senate committee as it looks toward the next legislative session in 2011. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst joined Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and retired Army Reserve...

  
  

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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 1:41pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison files for governor; hits on Perry and White

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison today used the entry of Houston Mayor Bill White into the Democratic contest for governor as a reason Republicans should vote for her over Gov. Rick Perry in the March 2 GOP primary. "Certainly, he...

  
  

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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 9:07am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Gilbert out of the governor's race; endorses Shami

  As Houston Mayor Bill White entered the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Tyler-area rancher Hank Gilbert dropped out and endorsed businessman Farouk Shami. "Farouk will force the transformation of Texas into a global leader in education, renewable energy,...

  
  

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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 4:43pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry makes it official, files for third full term

  Gov. Rick Perry already holds the record for the longest serving governor in state history, but today he filed to paperwork to officially become a Republican candidate for an unprecedented third term in office. Of course, Republican U.S. Sen. Kay...

  
  

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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 9:42am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison's new TV spot

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison today launched her second television ad in her campaign to unseat Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP primary. Activist Debra Medina also is running. The script: "Texas Tough" (TV:30): ANNCR: "Kay Bailey Hutchison is a...

  
  

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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 4:53pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Texas GOP already slamming on Bill White

  Houston's mayor has not even formally announced for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination -- a move Bill White is expected to make Friday -- but already the Republican Party of Texas is trying to take him down. White spokeswoman Katy Bacon...

  
  

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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 1:43pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Newspapers join forces for political polling

  Texas' five largest circulation newspapers are joining forces for an unprecedented partnership to conduct campaign polling for the 2010 elections. This will mark the first time all of the state's major newspapers have conducted joint polling. The surveys will be...

  
  

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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 9:20am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Ogden may return to the Senate

  The Bryan newspaper is reporting that Senate finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, may be running for re-election. Ogden had announced in September he was leaving the Senate, and he had been expected to make a run for Congress....

  
  

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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 6:16am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• White says he will consider run for governor over Thanksgiving

  Houston Mayor Bill White just announced that he will consider a run for governor over the Thanksgiving weekend. Our sources earlier today told us White was running but would delay a formal announcement until after the holidays. Here's White's statement:...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 4:35pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Podcast: Schieffer urges White to run, others to drop out

  Here's the audio of Fort Worth businessman Tom Schieffer dropping out of the governor's race and urging Houston Mayor Bill White to get in. Schieffer says a candidate forum last week with others in the race was not the...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• What would a White run for governor mean for Democrats?

  What would a run for governor by Houston Mayor Bill White mean for Democrats? "My view is heavily influenced by what I've read and heard from political operatives on the Democratic side, which is it was their dream someone like...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 3:58pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Schieffer says he urged White to run for governor

  Fort Worth businessman Tom Schieffer said he met with Houston Mayor Bill White on Sunday in Houston to urge him to run for governor instead of United States Senate. Schieffer said Texas is facing a "crisis of leadership" and that...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 2:56pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• The governor's race shuffle -- what they're saying

  State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, isn't waiting for an announcement to endorse Bill White for governor, typical of the fast-and-furious reaction to the report that Tom Schieffer's getting out of the race and White may be in. The Hill...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 2:47pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Schieffer out, Bill White in Texas governor's race

  Houston Mayor Bill White is declining to comment on whether he is entering the governor's upon the exit of Fort Worth businessman Tom Schieffer. White told Bradley Olson his campaign will put out an announcement after Schieffer's 3 p.m. news...

  
  

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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 10:37am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• UTIMCO to give performance bonuses

  AUSTIN -- The trustees of Texas' public higher education endowment funds are recommending more than $3.3 million in performance bonuses for investment managers despite $2.6 billion in lost value over the past fiscal year. But the top managers of the...

  
  

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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:59am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Guv race briefing: Roger Staubach, Haley Barbour, Farouk and Friedman, and Felix takes a gamble

  Republican likes Staubach for Governor Who can unify Texas Republicans in the midst of a tough primary battle? How about a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback? At a luncheon on Nov. 13, Roger Staubach jokingly stated that he was planning a...

  
  

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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:29am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Radnofsky says that you aren't married

  Your marriage may not be legal, according to Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Democratic candidate for Attorney General. Radnofsky said that all marriages are in legal danger because the wording of the 2005 amendment to the Texas Constitution that bans gay...

  
  

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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 9:25am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison's new television commercial

  Truth testing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's first television commercial is difficult because it focuses on the national healthcare debate. The ad is a lot like the radio commerical and robo call that we wrote about yesterday. She is telling...

  
  

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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:54pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry's first television commercial truth tested

  Gov. Rick Perry is responding to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's first television commercial with one of their own that bashes Washignton politics but never aims directly at Hutchison. UPDATED: OK. I take that back. I had technical issues and...

  
  

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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:27pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison going up on television

  A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison confirmed that senator's gubernatoril campaign will begin television advertising today. Jennifer Baker said the commercial will run statewide through Thanksgiving. Perry is expected to run a commercial responding to Hutchison's ad....

  
  

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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 3:39pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison radio spot

  We reported this morning on U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison firing the first shot in the paid media campaign for governor with a new radio ad. Here it is:...

  
  

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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:56am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison reassures supporters she still in the race with robo calls; set to launch first radio commercials

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is using robo calls to make sure her supporters know she is still in the governor's race against Gov. Rick Perry. Hutchison late last week announced she would not resign from the Senate for the...

  
  

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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:20pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Powerball!

  The Texas Lottery Commission today took a step toward expanding the state's gambling options to include Powerball. The commission unanimously voted to publish rules for the game for public comment. If the panel gives final approval to the rules early...

  
  

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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:25pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• "A lot of kids are going to die"

  Gov. Rick Perry defended his 2007 executive order that required all girls to get a human papillomavirus vaccine before the sixth grade. The order was blocked by the state Senate after an outcry from both sides of the aisle about...

  
  

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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 10:15am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Farouk Shami fires up his campaign Web page

  Hair care millionaire Farouk Shami fired up his Farouk for Governor Web page today in anticipation of his official launch Thursday into the campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Others in the race include Felix Alvarado, Kinky Friedman, Hank Gilbert...

  
  

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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 4:07pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Dominoes falling despite Hutchison's announcement

  It looks like the dominoes in the 2010 election are beginning to fall anyway. Despite U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's announcement that she will not resign until after the March primary, other candidates have not been deterred from running for...

  
  

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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 10:51am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bill White stays in the Senate race, spokeswoman says

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's announcement that she will retain her Senate seat through next March's GOP primary led to renewed speculation that Houston Mayor Bill White would drop his own Senate bid to jump into the Democratic gubernatorial primary....

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 4:17pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison plans to keep Senate seat

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and some of her key aides are telling other Republican lawmakers that she is not going to resign her Senate seat for her run against Gov. Rick Perry until after the primary. Campaign has confirmed....

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 4:05pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison plans to keep Senate seat until after primary

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and some of her key aides are telling other Republican lawmakers that she is not going to resign her Senate seat for her run against Gov. Rick Perry until after the primary. Campaign has confirmed....

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 4:05pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry says Hutchison A.W.O.L. in Washington

  Gov. Rick Perry today said U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison should concentrate on doing her job in the nation's capital rather than spending time in Texas campaigning against him. Perry said she has been A.W.O.L. in some areas....

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 3:08pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bush criticizes Obama administration

  After Gov. Rick Perry ripped President Barack Obama Wednesday for being "hell-bent on taking America towards a socialist country," his predecessor also offered some of his own criticism of the current administration in Washington. Former President George W. Bush said...

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:23pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison calls for hearings on Fort Hood

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is calling for senate hearings on the shooting at Fort Hood and the military and FBI's failure to act on intelligence on the shooter before the tragedy took place. "I'm at the point of questioning,"...

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:11pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison reacts to poll and talks about resignation

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison reacts to the Rasmussen poll and discusses how the health care debate are affecting her thoughts about resigning to run against Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP primary....

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 12:23pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Comptroller: Texas revenue looks OK for now

  State Comptroller Susan Combs said today that despite a slide in tax collections, she doesn't expect that she'll need to change the revenue estimate for the current budget -- at least not at this point. Combs, questioned by reporters after...

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 9:41am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry leads Hutchison in new poll

  Rasmussen Reports this morning is reporting a new poll showing Gov. Rick Perry leading U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison 46 percent to 35 percent in the Texas GOP primary for governor. Activist Debra Medina had 4 percent support. Perry...

  
  

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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:57am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Sen. Wentworth aware of his rumored retirement

  The rumor of the day is that state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, is going to retire. State SenatorJeff Wentworth Even the senator has heard it. Yes, he plans to retire some day. But for now, he's preparing for a...

  
  

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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 3:58pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Dewhurst mulls Senate run; candidates on issues and a little humor

  Dewhurst may run if there is a race Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says that he will only consider a Senate run if Hutchison resigns. "I don't want to be distracted unless there's a position open," Dewhurst said. Dewhurst is currently...

  
  

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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 10:18am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry calls for more tea parties

  Gov. Rick Perry told the Republican Women's Club in Midland yesterday that the nation needs more tea parties to fight policies of the Obama Administration. Find more videos like this on Mywesttexas Chatter...

  
  

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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 9:11am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Will health care debate upset Hutchison event with Cheney?

  The national healthcare debate is threatening to upset a public appearance and fund-raiser U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has scheduled for next Tuesday in Houston with former Vice President Dick Cheney. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has set Tuesday as...

  
  

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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 4:45pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• REALITY CHECK: Rising unemployment insurance taxes

  The issue: Texas employers next year will pay more than twice the $1.09 billion in jobless insurance taxes they'll pay this year. The taxes will go up more in the following years. The increase is meant to restore the unemployment...

  
  

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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 3:49pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Term limits, Tasers, snake bites, and slumber parties

  Hutchison wants term limits U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is co-sponsoring a bill from U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. to create a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress. The amendment would prohibit U.S. Representatives from serving more...

  
  

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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 12:59pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Survey finds support for probing Fort Hood shooting as a terrorist act

  A new Rasmussen Reports phone survey finds 60 percent of likely voters say the Fort Hood massacre should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act. Even more -- 76 percent -- think the Army should remove officers from...

  
  

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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:35am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Former forensics chair says probe should move forward

  Former Texas Forensic Science Commission Chairman Sam Bassett responded today to current Chairman John Bradley's contention that rules need to be put into place before the panel can finish its investigation of the arson science used to convict Cameron Todd...

  
  

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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 10:53am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Businesses to pay higher jobless taxes, but state acts to blunt increase

  The Texas Workforce Commission today took a step to moderate next year's unemployment insurance tax increase - but a spokeswoman said businesses still will pay at least two times the $1.09 billion they paid this year due to demand created...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:52am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Whitmire tells Bradley to investigate Houston police

  Sen. John Whitmire told Texas Forensics Commission Chairman John Bradley to investigate why the Houston Police Department has not opened and tested 4,000 rape kits. He said it is horrible for the raped women to know they went through the...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:42am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Whitmire says there may be innocent people in prison

  Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the fact that Dallas County has used DNA testing to find 30 men in prison were innocent and the fact Harris County destroyed DNA in cases it handled shows the importance for studying forensic science...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:29am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Ellis and Bradley tangle

  The argument over the Willingham case and the Innocence Project continued between Sen. Rodney Ellis and John Bradley. "The (forensics) commission is not charged with debating the death penalty. The commission is not charged with determining whether people are guilty...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:18am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Ellis says there are 742 arson offenders in state prisons

  Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said there are 742 offenders in Texas prisons in arson case so a commission study of arson forensics is important. Bradley noted that Ellis is on the board of the Innocence Project, which brought the...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:05am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bradley says he is not Perry's pawn

  Forensics commission chairman John Bradley said there is no doubt that Gov. Rick Perry's replacement of three members of the commission disrupted the study of the Willingham arson case.But Bradley said that was partly because the Legislature had given commission...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:01am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Should the forensics commission investigate individual cases?

  Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston said he questions whether the forensic science commission should be looking at individual cases. Patrick said he does not see that in the law. "Nowhere in the legislation do I see a role for the commission...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:54am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bradley dodges question on Willingham case

  Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, asked Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley whether the Texas Forensics Commission under his leadership will hear the arson report prepared by Craig Beyler in the Cameron Todd Willingham case. Bradley said he believes it...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:45am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bradley's standards for forensics commission

  The Texas Forensic Science Commission's new chairman, Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, told the Senate committee today that he has proposed standards that he thinks the agency needs to employ in its investigations.Bradley said he believes the commission is...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:39am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• White and Sharp among the top self-financing candidates

  Houston Mayor Bill White and former Texas Comptroller John Sharp are both in the top five in the nation in the amount of self-funding for their campaigns so far, according to an article in USA Today. Both men are vying...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:59am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Kinky Friedman at Willingham hearing

  Dressed in his usual black cowboy outfit, Kinky Friedman showed up for today's Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing on the Cameron Todd Willingham execution. Asked why he was here, Friedman replied, "Justice."...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:57am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Senate hearing on Willingham execution carried live

  The Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing on the Texas Forensics Commission investigation into the arson techniques used in the Cameron Todd Willingham case will be carried by livestream from the Senate today at 10 a.m.: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php Willingham was executed in...

  
  

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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:08am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Democrats blast party-switcher, Republicans celebrate defection (UPDATE)

  The Fort Hood shootings couldn't escape mention even at a political news conference today. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie, who blasted Rep. Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville for deciding to switch from the Democratic to the Republican party, opened this...

  
  

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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 12:09pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• "Texas doesn't actually exist"

  Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst spoke to students at the University of Texas about energy and told them Texas does not really exist. But he then added more to the statement. "Texas doesn't actually exist," Dewhurst said. "It's a state of...

  
  

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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:36am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry joins Gingrich for health care op-ed

  Gov. Rick Perry joined former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in writing an op-ed about health care in Friday's Washington Post. In the op-ed, Perry and Gingrich write that the states, and not the federal government, should take the lead...

  
  

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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 9:41am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Anything you can do, I can do better: The Race for the Republican Nomination

  One-upmanship is still alive and well in the Republican gubernatorial primary race. Recently, Gov. Rick Perry said that he is the "better conservative" in the race with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Perry refused to say whether Hutchison was a...

  
  

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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:21am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Mid-week rumblings in Texas Politics

  Thompson the first casualty The Texas Governor's race has had its first casualty. Garland Therapist and Democrat Mark Thompson announced that he is dropping out of the race for Texas Governor because the field is too crowded. Thompson then announced...

  
  

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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:07am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Constitutional amendments passing in early returns

  Proposed constitutional amendments to protect open beaches and to limit government from taking private property for profit-making ventures were among 11 winning voter approval in early returns. Proposition 11 to limit government eminent domain power had more than 80 percent...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:55pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Are those Aggies voting against Tier One?

  Of all the counties with major universities, only one seems to be going against Proposition 4, the proposed constitutional amendment to put seven universities on the path of becoming Tier One research institutions. That county would be Brazos, home of...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:25pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Rural Texas is voting against Tier One universities

  The early vote coming in shows Proposition 4 to promote the creation of more Tier One universities, including the University of Houston, is failing in most rural counties. However, the proposition has a solid lead in most urban counties and...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:59pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Medina questions Hutchison's credentials on abortion

  Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina went on the offensive against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison today in an op-ed she is sending to newspapers. Conservative and pro-choice rarely fall in the same sentence, unless you're referring to "conservative" gubernatorial...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:36pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Hutchison questions new poll

  U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign manager went on the offensive today to say the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll that showed Gov. Rick Perry with a 12 percentage point lead in the Republican primary was unreliable. For Terry...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 1:05pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Bill White backs Republican for state House

  No, not the Bill White you're thinking of. That's Bill White, mayor of Houston and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. This is Bill White, chairman of State Finance Commission and treasurer of the Sun City Texas Community Association of...

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 11:38am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• New poll: Nothing changed in governor's race since June

  University of Texas pollsters have come up with results in the Texas Republican gubernatorial primary that are almost identical to a poll they conducted in June -- Gov. Rick Perry leads U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison by 12 percentage points....

  
  

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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:56am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Docs for Rick, Aggies for Kay and Gilbert's gauntlet

  Tort reform erases all old wounds, according to Gov. Rick Perry and the folks at the Texas Medical Association as the statewide group of doctors endorsed Perry today over U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican gubernatorial primary. You'll...

  
  

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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:41pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• KBH and the resignation question: A view from three dominoes down

  State Rep. Dan Branch's decision to seek re-election was seen by some as another sign that GOP hopefuls are giving up hope that U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will resign to focus on her challenge of GOP Gov. Rick Perry....

  
  

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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 12:05pm EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Podcast: Michael Williams gaining steam in Senate bid

  Though it is still uncertain whether Gov. Rick Perry will even get to name a replacement for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, it is apparent that Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is moving toward the front of the pack...

  
  

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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 5:13am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Willingham's stepmother and Corsicana writer speak out about Willingham

  Eugenia Willingham, stepmother to Cameron Todd Willingham, has responded to Willingham's ex-wife's recent statement which claimed that she believes Willingham was guilty. "First, Todd's ex-wife reportedly says now that he confessed to her. I don't believe this is true. More...

  
  

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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 3:43am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Rumblings from the world of Texas Politics

  Gov. Rick Perry is currently facing questions about a 7,000 mile trip to Israel that he took in August to accept the "Defender of Jerusalem" Award. Taxpayers picked up the $70,000 tab for the DPS security detail. At the same...

  
  

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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 1:47am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry grabs endorsement of Mississippi Governor

  After Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison received the endorsement of former Vice President Dick Cheney, her opponent in the Republican primary, Gov. Rick Perry, countered with an endorsement from Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Both men are governors from Gulf Coast states...

  
  

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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 1:19am EST
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry's rival puts Texas Rangers on YouTube

  It didn't take long after Gov. Rick Perry gathered on the south lawn of the state Capitol for a photograph with Texas Rangers that a video appeared on the Internet. And not in a good way. About 120 of...

  
  

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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 4:51pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Sorry, telemarketers: telephone numbers to be removed from crash reports

  Telephone numbers will be removed from crash reports starting Jan. 1, thwarting telemarketers, under action today by the Texas Transportation Commission. The move, as we reported earlier, came after the Texas Department of Public Safety decided removal was OK after...

  
  

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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 2:36pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• If it's not severe drought, it's flooding

  The three- year drought that has devastated Texas is now turning into excessive rain, causing Gov. Rick Perry to activate search and rescue capabilities, including Texas Military Forces and Texas Task Force 1 (TTF-1) personnel and resources. From a news...

  
  

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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 1:34pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Trial lawyer John O'Quinn dies in car wreck

  Houston trial lawyer John O'Quinn, who pumped $2.5 million into Democrat Chris Bell's 2006 campaign, died today in a car wreck....

  
  

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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 12:58pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Perry doesn't worry about Cheney; he's got Palin

  So what does Gov. Rick Perry think about Dick Cheney's endorsement of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in their GOP fight for the gubernatorial nomination? Gov.Rick Perry "I love Sarah Palin," Perry answered this morning while walking to his office. "She'll...

  
  

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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:09am EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Nolan Ryan pitching for Roger Williams

  Hall of Fame baseball picture for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers is endorsing Republican Roger Williams in his efforts to attain the U.S. Senate seat now held by Kay Bailey Hutchison. "Roger Williams will make a great U.S. Senator,"...

  
  

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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 8:56pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• More jobless benefits kicking in

  About 45,000 Texans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits -- or will soon be doing so -- may be eligible for up to an additional seven weeks of payments. The extra benefits are triggered because Texas has had an average...

  
  

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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 2:47pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Newspapers via computer: 'We're not in it to make money'

  Why does this vintage newscast remind me of a Twilight Zone episode? Sit back and.... "Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning on your home computer to read the day's newspaper ... " (Thanks to Mark...

  
  

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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• County official's fate in Attorney General's hands

  While Attorney General Greg Abbott contemplates a run for a higher office, he will decide the fate of a fellow Republican who may be seeking a higher office himself. Comal County Commissioner Greg Parker has allegedly been raising funds and...

  
  

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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:37am EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Radnofsky and Gilbert launch Web sites

  Two Democrats launched new Web sites this week in their campaigns for statewide office. Barbara Ann Radnofsky launched her Web site this week for her campaign for Texas Attorney General. Radnofsky, an attorney from Houston, ran unsuccessfully against Sen. Kay...

  
  

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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:09am EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com

• Houston Chronicle sues Gov. Rick Perry

  The Houston Chronicle and Hearst Newspapers today filed suit against Gov. Rick Perry seeking the release of the clemency report that Perry used in 2004 to deny a stay of execution to Cameron Todd Willingham. Houston Chronicle sues Gov. Rick...

  
  

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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 6:21pm EDT
  by chron.com, MySA.com