Comptroller Susan Combs announced her plans to recommend that no changes be made to the refund policy of a state-run college tuition savings and discount plan.

Combs previously said she felt that the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan (TGTP) was on the road to insolvency -- with a projected $1.7-2.1 billion in the hole as early as 2015. Combs said she plans to suggest to the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Board (which oversees the fund) on Nov. 5 that the former refund policy be retained. Previously, Combs recommended that refunds for cancelled contracts be limited.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst spoke at a North Austin computer chip printing manufacturing plant to support what he considers to be a plan to boost the high-tech research industry in Texas.

Dewhurst, along with Sen. Judith Zaffrini (D-San Antonio), Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin), Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas), Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond, and Molecular Imprints, Inc., CFO Dave Gino, spoke in favor of Proposition 4, which appears on the Nov. 3 ballot.

James Bernsen, former LSR correspondent and a candidate for the HD 52 seat in the Republican primary, suspended his campaign this morning and endorsed Round Rock sign business owner Larry Gonzales.

HD 52 is currently represented by Rep. Diana Maldonado (D-Round Rock). Other announced, Republican candidates include Stephen Casey, John Gordon, and Ralph Pina.

Gov. Rick Perry spoke at a luncheon during the Texas Association of Realtors Government Affairs Conference Wednesday in downtown Austin. The group's directors unanimously voted to endorse Perry, announced Brooke Hunt, chairman of the association.

While his remarks were fairly standard compared to other campaign appearances, Perry's responses to press questions afterward are not. In a rather heated answer to a question about the arson investigation that led to the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in 2004, Perry called Willingham a "monster" and urged members of the press "not to get caught up in procedure" but to focus on the horrendous nature of the alleged crime.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said "cost containment" is a missing element in federal health care reform efforts at a press conference with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs this afternoon.

Combs and Cornyn spoke together at RunTex, a running and jogging supply store in downtown Austin, Friday afternoon. During the conference, Cornyn, Combs, and RunTex owner Paul Carrozza shared concerns that health care reforms being suggested by the majority in Congress will put a substantial burden on small business owners.

PFLUGERVILLE— This morning, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison made another appearance at an Austin-area business -- this time Red's Indoor Range in Pflugerville to announce her intention to file a federal Supreme Court amicus brief supporting gun rights.

Speaking in the gun shop section of the business, Hutchison said she expects to lead a group of her fellow lawmakers in filing a "friend of the court" brief in the case McDonald vs. Chicago.

Along with the announcement that TTC-35 is dead at a press release today came a mea culpa of sorts from a Texas Transportation Commissioner.

The Texas Transportation Commission decided this week to pursue a "no action alternative" following the federally mandated environmental study period and public opinion gathering process for TTC-35.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) alerted the press today about a conference scheduled for Wednesday morning (Oct. 7) to announce that is is ending efforts to develop TTC-35.

The decision was made, according to a press advisory, based on citizen comments received during the environmental review process of the project. Officials will recommend the "no action" plan, the press advisory stated.

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is challenging Gov. Rick Perry in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, said she wants to be known as a "grassroots candidate" during a press conference Monday afternoon when accepting the endorsement of a major farm and ranch advocacy group at an Austin boot store.
 
After staff moved aside a pair of boots sporting the Texas Tech logo, Hutchison took to a makeshift podium of wooden boot crates and gave her usual remarks -- calling the Texas Department of Transportation "arrogant," opposing the proliferation of toll roads, calling for ethics reform, and advocating free-market friendly means to expand health insurance coverage.

The news of the endorsement, however, led to a back-and-forth in the press among gubernatorial candidates. It started Saturday in a press release. In it, Texas Farm Bureau said Hutchison's record of protecting property rights from expanded eminent domain powers was key in their endorsement.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus announced today they support adding about 650 new full-time jobs to the federal food stamp program in Texas in order to expedite processing and application times to meet with a federal mandate.

So far there has been no word from the Office of the Governor on the move.