By William Lutz on
8/29/2009 2:23 PM
The Lone Star Report's William Lutz will appear on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Brad Watson Sunday (that's tomorrow). The program airs at 9 a.m. on Channel 8 in North Texas. Lutz will be blasting the liberal Democrats and RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) who are attacking the good conservatives on the elected State Board of Education. The program is also archived at wfaa.com.
|
By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 3:10 PM
In this week's Lone Star Report, Managing Editor William Murchison wrote the opinion piece discussing how his alma matter, the University of Texas, has abandoned teaching in Western Civilization. We post it below for your reading pleasure:
You know, don’t you, what kind of university trembles at the idea of affirming Truth? Right – a state university; which is one reason state universities are unlikely, in the broad, liberal sense, to amount to much in the 21st century.
Yeah, sure, they perform valuable scientific research. They can furnish a patina of basic knowledge. They can press diplomas into outstretched young hands. Their sports teams can rack up championships.
Which brings us to the idiots at the University of Texas, who quietly demonstrate what a state university can’t or won’t do, because, stupid, it’s a state university: a political construct, mindful of political currents and tides; unable to give offense; unable – here’s the point – to sort out life’s great questions, which questions it leaves to more intrepid, and better protected, private institutions.
The University of Texas, in its present incarnation, would no more sort out great questions than it would abolish football scholarships. The University of Texas is a gentle joke when it comes to the quest for Truth. It trembles, it quakes at the idea of offending constituents, save, perhaps, the kind who would have benefited from exposure to the Western tradition as Prof. Robert Koons hoped the Program in Western Civilization and American Institutions would provide.
|
By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 11:22 AM
Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointment of Thomas Suehs as executive commissioner of health and human services. This is, by far, one of the most powerful appointed positions in state government. The executive commissioner oversees the vast majority of state health and human services programs for the poor and disabled and has extensive rulemaking authority. Efficient management of the state’s health care agencies is also of critical importance to the state’s fiscal health.
Suehs succeeds Albert Hawkins, who retired. Hawkins is one of the most knowledgeable people on the Texas budget, having worked for the Legislative Budget Board, as budget director for Gov. George W. Bush, and as executive commissioner. He was respected by Republicans and Democrats alike.
|
By William Lutz on
8/28/2009 11:10 AM
This Monday, the San Antonio Water System announced it is suing the Lower Colorado River Authority over a proposed water deal that went bust, accusing the state agency of breaching a contract with the water system. How to provide for San Antonio’s growing water needs is one of the stickiest – and most controversial – questions in Texas natural resources policy.
LCRA denies wrongdoing, and several leaders from rural Texas have already expressed concerns about this lawsuit.
|
By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 5:25 PM
A three-judge federal court Monday denied a Texas Democratic Party motion to throw out a lawsuit challenging its allocation plan for delegates to the Democratic National Convention The court ruled that Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act applies to the delegate selection formula for a state party’s political convention (including the “Texas Two-Step,” where both caucus and primary results are used to allocate Delegates to presidential candidates at the Democratic National Convention). That means the Texas Democratic Party would likely have to pre-clear its delegate allocation formula either with the U.S. Department of Justice or a three-judge federal court in Washington DC. In 2008, the formula resulted in President Barack Obama getting a majority of Texas delegates, despite Hillary Clinton winning the statewide primary.
The court stopped short, for technical reasons, of ordering pre-clearance but left no doubt about how it would rule. “Today, we continue to give force to those accomplishments [of the Voting Rights Act] by following clear Supreme Court precedent and ruling that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973c, applies to a political party’s delegate allocation formula for its nominating convention,” wrote Circuit Judge Edward Prado for the panel. “…Indeed, political expediency and the TDP’s stated support for Section 5 might counsel it now to seek preclearance of its delegate allocation rules instead of proceeding further in this litigation.”
|
By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 12:15 PM
Last week, Kay Bailey Hutchison was roundly criticized in the Texas press for lacking a coherent, unified message in her announcement for governor. She was accused of merely attacking Gov. Rick Perry without offering alternatives of her own. Excuse the shameless self-promotion here, but Kay -- we warned you.
LSR Managing Editor William Lutz gave a commentary on WFAA television Aug. 2 warning that -- so far -- Hutchison has mainly attacked Rick Perry and not offered solutions of her own. Lutz called on Hutchison to lay out the kind of governor she would be. If only Kay had listened ...
You can listen to Lutz's commentary here.
This week, Lutz is getting ready to tape another commentary for WFAA's Inside Texas Politics, which airs every Sunday at 9 am on Channel 8 in North Texas.
|
By William Lutz on
8/26/2009 11:48 AM
The San Antonio Express-News published a very interesting article this morning quoting House Speaker Joe Straus worried about the effect the Texas Governor's primary could have on next year's elections for the Texas House of Representatives. “I think that the governor and the senator need to be mindful that the party needs to grow,” he said after delivering a lunchtime speech to the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. “That race needs to be inviting, to get more people to vote Republican. I am concerned that the governor's race not get off track” and result in turning off GOP voters in down-ballot races. This article is well worth reading.
|
By William Lutz on
8/20/2009 9:32 AM
 According to today's Denton Record-Chronicle, the Denton City Council is going to renew its push for the local option tax increase bill. And here's the kicker -- the city council looks like its going to help pay to create some sort of fake grass-roots group to make it appear like there are real people who support this. Here's my question: if this initiative really had support from the masses, than why do they have to spend tax dollars hiring lobbyists to push it?
|
By William Lutz on
8/18/2009 4:49 PM
One of our readers just wrote and asked what questions would I have asked U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison if she had taken questions at yesterday's announcement of her candidacy for governor?
I would have asked two questions:
1. Senator Hutchison, where do you stand on tuition deregulation?
For anyone who knows me, that I would ask such a question is predictable. But it’s also fair game. In her announcement speech, one of Hutchison’s attacks on Perry is that tuition has skyrocketed during his term of office. So it’s only fair that she clarify her position on the policy that allowed it to skyrocket.
2. Senator Hutchison, you correctly mentioned that property taxes are some of the highest in the nation. Do you support requiring cities and counties to obtain voter approval before raising property taxes faster than inflation?
|
By William Lutz on
8/18/2009 12:50 PM
Normally in Austin, reporters interpret as a sign of insecurity politicians who hold press events but don’t take questions. It’s like saying “I’m not confident enough to withstand a little kicking of the proverbial tires.”
|