By Mark Lavergne on 8/26/2009 9:20 AM

Hank Gilbert, the 2006 Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, and outspoken opponent of toll roads, has told the Austin American Statesman that he plans to go for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Gilbert was quoted in the Statesman saying:

I just feel like we need that person at the top that has the experience of fighting in the (Legislature) and fighting to get things done for the people of Texas across this state, get people inspired to take a hard look.

The left-leaning Burnt Orange Report calls this "an exciting development," surmising that his entry into the race could create a more active Democratic primary and prevent Democratic voters from crossing the aisle to vote for Kay Bailey Hutchison.

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/25/2009 3:51 PM

Gov. Rick Perry Aug. 25 announced appointments to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and to the University of North Texas Board of Regents.

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/25/2009 1:36 PM

Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams has gotten an endorsement from former U.S. House Speaker and conservative firebrand Newt Gingrich. Williams' campaign website has published a glowing column by Gingrich, touting Williams' extensive resume and conservative bona fides, and, of course, asking for money for Williams' campaign.

An excerpt from Gingrich's endorsement:

As someone who has been elected statewide in Texas three times, Michael caught my eye by advocating the right energy policies for America’s future. Unlike the liberals who want to bring fossil fuel exploration to a grinding halt and worsen the economic crisis, Michael wants to expand domestic exploration of both traditional fossil fuels as well as clean, renewable sources.

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/25/2009 10:37 AM

From their respective posts, House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding Chairman Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) and Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken both announced that Texas' unemployment rate has risen to 7.9 percent.

Pauken highlighted the net addition of 37,900 jobs. The rise in both figures -- unemployment rate and available jobs -- seems to indicate that the Texas labor force is growing faster than jobs are, meaning people are coming to Texas even though they do not have jobs lined up here yet. Also, it means that more people already living in Texas have decided to start looking for work, meaning they have to be reported by TWC as "unemployed," TWC spokeswoman Ann Hatchitt told LSR.

Further, Hatchitt observed, the labor force in the U.S. is going down, whereas in Texas the labor force continues to grow.

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/25/2009 9:34 AM

House Speaker Joe Straus’s communications director Angela Hale today announced she will leave the Speaker's office to join Red Media Group as managing partner. Red Media Group is a strategic communications company with offices in Austin and Dallas. Hale will begin providing consulting services in September, specializing in public relations, public affairs, crisis communications and multi-media production.

Said Straus:

Angela did an outstanding job communicating the priorities of the Texas Legislature during the 81st legislative session. I was fortunate to have an experienced communications professional guiding me through my first session as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Her years of dedicated service have truly benefited the State of Texas, and I know she will have great success in this new phase of her career.

Said Hale:

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/18/2009 4:17 PM

During a Q&A at a press conference today to unveil a study showing the adverse effects of Obama-style healthcare reform on the state of Texas, Gov. Rick Perry was asked to respond to a few of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's jabs.

To Hutchison's charges that he has been in office for too long, at 9 years and counting, he said:

I understand the Senator has been in Washington for 16 years. She may not have a grasp of all that is going on in the state of Texas. She may not know or understand the progress that we've made in this state. There is a reason why we're number one in job creation. We are luring doctors … from all across the country. … People are coming here because we have created a great economy. There are more Fortune 500 companies that call texas home than any other state in the nation. We got low taxes. We cut taxes for over 40,000 small businesses this last legislative session. That is the scenario that is driving the Texas economy. We are the envy of the nation.

He continued:

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/17/2009 3:17 PM

The Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA), that official state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, last week named Sen. Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) its Legislator of the Year for 2009.

"Senator Hegar has long been recognized by law abiding Texas gun owners as a friend and ally but his actions during the 81st Texas Legislature clearly affirm his place as one of the state's foremost champions of second amendment rights,” said TSRA legislative director Alice Tripp.

Hegar authored in the 81st SB 730, which had it passed would have prevented employers from prohibiting their workers from keeping licensed firearms in their vehicles when they park on the jobsite. It passed the Senate but died in the House due to the Voter ID chubfest.

Hegar will be formally presented with the Doc Brown Legislator of the Year Award on Feb. 27, 2010 at TSRA's annual members' meeting in Mesquite.

Hegar said in a statement that he plans to continue working to pass the legislation in future sessions. Said he:

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/17/2009 1:28 PM

Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister announced today that he will leave the Court effective September 7, 2009, to return to private practice with the law firm of Andrews Kurth L.L.P. Brister will lead Andrews Kurth’s appellate section from the firm’s Austin office.

Brister has served on the state's high court for six years since his appointment in November 2003. Before that he was chief justice of the 14th District Court of Appeals in Houston, justice on the First Court of Appeals in Houston and district judge in Harris County.

Said Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson:

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/14/2009 2:42 PM

Dan Huberty, president of the Humble ISD School Board and a lifelong Republican, has announced he would seek Rep. Joe Crabb's (R-Kingwood) Texas House seat. He will be a candidate in the Marhc 2010 Republican primary.

Said Huberty:

Representative Crabb has been a faithful representative for the people of District 127. I want to thank Joe and Nancy for giving so many years of their lives in service to the people of Texas and especially northeast Harris County.  I believe my candidacy offers a great opportunity to elect a conservative businessman, with public school finance experience, to the Texas House.

I am keenly aware the next legislative session will deal with legislative redistricting and another attempt to secure the voting process by requiring photo identification to vote. These and other issues require that a strong conservative be elected to follow Rep. Crabb’s history of conservative leadership.

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By Mark Lavergne on 8/14/2009 2:19 PM

Health and Human Services Commission Chairman Albert Hawkins addressed Rep. Jim Dunnams' (R-Waco) Select Committee on the Federal Economic Stabilization Fund on Wednesday August 12. He said that in addition to the stimulus funds already given to Texas, the state could receive another $470 million in bonus FMAP money because its unemployment rate has gone up from “Tier One” to “Tier Two” status. As the state’s unemployment inches up, the state is likely to get more in matching funds from the federal government.

If Texas’ current unemployment rate of 7.5 percent holds steady next week when the Workforce Commission releases its numbers, the state will go into Tier Two.

Hawkins said if that happens, the state could start drawing in the next quarter. If the state goes into third tier unemployment status, that’s an additional three percent in FMAP funding.

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