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September 1, 2010 4:57 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
RPT highlights a Rep's work with ACORN, Chet Edwards goes after opponent on plan to eliminate Dept of Energy and more
RPT: TEXAS REPUBLICANS EXPOSE DEMOCRAT STATE REP.
KRISTI THIBAUT'S TIES TO DISCREDITED ACORN
RP: BILL WHITE: MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHAT
POLICY SHOULD I CHANGE TODAY?
BW: PERRY NAMED IN "DIRTY DOZEN"
RP: TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF
CARDIOLOGY, HEART PAC ENDORSES GOV. PERRY FOR RE-ELECTION
CHET EDWARDS: BILL FLORES' PLAN TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY WOULD KILL 5,000 JOBS IN OUR DISTRICT AND HURT HOMELAND SECURITY
REP. CHRIS TURNER: REP. CHRIS TURNER RECEIVES
ENDORSEMENT OF LEADING TEXAS EDUCATOR ORGANIZATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND: EPA DISAPPROVES ANOTHER
PORTION OF TEXAS' AIR PERMITTING PROGRAM
TEXAS AFT: SHORTSIGHTED, DESTRUCTIVE CUTS UNDERMINE
PUBLIC EDUCATION--TEXAS CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS
GREG ABBOTT: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ENDORSES
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT
TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: TEXAS TUITION
PROMISE FUND 2010-11 ENROLLMENT OPENS SEPT. 1
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST: HOUSTON AND LOUISIANA
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES MERGE
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Copyright September 01, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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September 1, 2010 4:48 PM
PROPOSED CUTS AT TEA DRAW FIRE BUT BIGGER BUDGET CHALLENGES LOOM
"Direct cuts to the foundation school program, which were avoided in 2003, are expected ahead, with or without any edujobs money coming from the Obama administration."
Education groups
have panned the Texas Education Agency’s proposed 10 percent budget cuts,
calling them misguided in light of higher expectations for students and
teachers under the state’s new tougher accountability system.
Teacher groups
are calling for the agency to cut deeper into the governor’s teacher
performance pay programs. They’re criticizing cuts to science labs grants and
textbook purchases with end-of-course exams just around the corner. And there’s
some amount of heckling from the sidelines that agency leadership needs to step
up its game in negotiations with Washington D.C. over edujobs money.
“In the short
term, the governor needs to suspend the anti-Washington posturing and accept
the $830 million for Texas school districts that is there for the asking from
the U.S. Department of Education under the emergency school aid bill Congress
passed last month,” said Texas AFT president Linda Bridges. “Also in the near term, the legislature needs to use
the state’s Rainy Day Fund of more than $8 billion for its intended purpose, to
avoid destructive budget cuts in response to the temporary drop in state
revenue due to the recession.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright September 01, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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September 1, 2010 3:32 PM
SENATE BEGINS WORK ON REDISTRICTING
Before all is said and done, new Chairman Kel Seliger might be reaching for the hard hat again.
State Senators put in their dues in the hopes of moving up
the ladder and nabbing a committee chairmanship. Today, it was Sen. Kel
Seliger’s turn for his first assignment as committee chair – and it’s a
doozy.
The Amarillo Republican has been tapped to helm the Senate
select committee on redistricting, meaning he could soon be looking at a
baptism by fire, hailstones and any number of other natural disasters you could
name.
Things started off nice and easy, though, at today’s first
meeting with invited testimony from the state demographer and from Lege
Council.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright September 01, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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September 1, 2010 1:25 PM
IT IS NOT EASY BEING CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR JERRY PATTERSON
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Some candidates require a lot of their campaign managers, but Max Engram might not have fully appreciated what he signed up for.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has his own unique campaign style. He sent us the following note about a day on the campaign trail.
Patterson wrote, "As you know I’m traveling around Texas in my 1944 Stinson observation aircraft, which is a genuine “warbird” that was actually flown by the USMC in the 1945 battle of Okinawa. My campaign manager, Max Engram is relegated to the back seat of this 2 seat fabric covered airplane. There’s of course no air conditioning and due the fact that the aircraft with its plexiglass roof gets fairly warm these days its frequently necessary to stick your head out to get some fresh air to avoid “queeziness”."
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Working for Jerry Patterson - Campaign manager Max Engram |
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Copyright September 01, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 5:40 PM
PERRY PROPOSES INCENTIVES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT COOPERATIVE PURCHASING
Service centers already operate purchasing co-ops but incentives are a new wrinkle
Gov. Rick Perry
proposed a grant program today in Abilene that would kick back a 10 percent
rebate for districts that pursue cooperative purchasing agreements.
Cooperative purchasing agreements among districts could
cover functions such as human resources, accounting, transportation services,
technology and facilities. The governor’s office confirmed this is not budgeted
and would be part of the governor’s larger education agenda next session, one
that also includes expanding the state’s virtual school network and doubling
the state’s STEM academy network.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 5:25 PM
DRIVER CAMPAIGN RELEASES POLL SHOWING 57-25 LEAD OVER DORRIS
Poll by Darron Shaw has Perry up 21 points over Bill White in district
The Joe Driver Campaign press release can be found here.
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 5:10 PM
AP: HOUSE HALTS PLANS TO SHRED TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AT REQUEST OF TRAVIS COUNTY DA
Fallout from Driver affair continues
From the Austin American Statesman story
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 4:56 PM
DIETZ AWARDS CHRIS BELL $2 MILLION IN CIVIL PENALTIES IN RGA CASE
Attorneys awarded $130,000 in fees
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell was awarded $2 million in civil penalties by Travis County Judge Dietz today. The case stems from money funneled from homebuilder Bob Perry to candidate Rick Perry through the Republican Governor's Association.
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 4:45 PM
5TH COURT OF APPEALS DENIES SAME SEX DIVORCE PETITION BASED ON CHILDREN INTERESTS BEST SERVED BY DIFFERENT SEX PARENTS
Appellant responds, "I fail to see what that has to do with divorce. Even divorcing opposite sex couples don't intend to procreate with each other."
The Texas Lawyer summary of the 5th Court of Appeals decision and response by the appellants can be found here.
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 4:44 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
Campaigns, personalities and admonitions
BW: WHITE CALLS FOR TERM LIMITS
RP: BILL WHITE: HYPOCRITE ON TERM
LIMITS
RP: TEXAS PHARMACY ASSOCIATION PHARPAC
ENDORSES GOV. PERRY FOR RE-ELECTION
FIVE OF KARL ROVE’S BIGGEST LIES
RP: DAY 177: BILL WHITE REFUSING
TO DEBATE
RPT: REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN MUNISTERI TO
GOP CANDIDATES: SEEK NEUTRAL DEBATE SPONSOR
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: GOV. PERRY
ANNOUNCES SCHOOL SAVINGS INCENTIVE
BLAKE FARENTHOLD: ORTIZ UNDER SCRUTINY
IN ETHICS INVESTIGATION
BILL FLORES: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS
ENDORSES FLORES FOR CONGRESS
LARRY TAYLOR: TEE IT UP FOR TAYLOR'S
50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
CINDY BURKETT: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF
BUSINESS ENDORSES BURKETT AS "BEST SUITED TO PROMOTE A BETTER BUSINESS
CLIMATE IN TEXAS"
WHITE HOUSE MEDIA AFFAIRS: AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT PROGRAM HELPS 94 TEXAS EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS COVER EARLY RETIREES
LYLE LARSON: THE TIME IS RIGHT TO ELECT
TEXAS'S TRANSPORTATION LEADERS
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 4:13 PM
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE MULTIPLE FINANCIAL REVIEWS
Efforts intended to find efficiencies, preview problems and anticipate insolvencies
All but a
handful of Texas school districts hit the minimum bar on the state’s financial
accountability system this year, a point that clears the way for two
measures approved last session to move to the forefront in school district
financial accountability in coming months.
Every school
district in the state is expected to hold a hearing on its ratings under the Financial
Integrity Rating System of Texas, or FIRST, sometime in the next two
months. The 22 indicators monitored by the state system include current and
timely “clean” audits, high rates of tax collection and debt-related
expenditures.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 1:27 PM
BILL FLORES FIRST TV SPOT: WHERE THE JOBS ARE
"Washington is out of control"
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 11:45 AM
HK: NEW SIGNS OF LIFE AT RPT
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Munisteri hits the ground running
During his campaign for Republican Party of Texas
chair, Steve Munisteri promised to hit the ground running. Early indications are that he has been true to his word.
In recent history, the RPT had become somewhat
of a caricature of a political organization, more obsessed with
self-destructive purification rituals too often focused exclusively on a
socially conservative or benefactor-driven agenda. Traditional contributors upset with its involvement in picking
winners and losers in Republican primaries had jumped ship leaving the party in
a financial lurch that was approaching a death spiral.
Since taking office, Munisteri has certainly shaken things
up.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Harvey Kronberg
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RPT Chair Steve Munisteri |
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 11:41 AM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
Campaigns, lawsuits, per diems and more
RP: BILL WHITE: A FISCAL TRAIN WRECK
RP: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
ENDORSE GOV. PERRY FOR RE-ELECTION
RPT: TEXAS REPUBLICANS LAUNCH "DONE WITH
DUNNAM!" WEBSITE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: TEXAS CONFERENCE
FOR WOMEN ANNOUNCES KEYNOTE LINEUP
GENERAL LAND OFFICE: PATTERSON HEARS
WIDOW'S PLIGHT, CHANGES POLICY OVERNIGHT
LONE STAR PROJECT: MEMO: PER DIEM
PAYMENTS TO TEXAS LEGISLATORS
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE PAC: POLITICAL ARM
OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ENDORSES REP. JOE DESHOTEL FOR HOUSE
DISTRICT 22
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND: TWO
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SEEK TO PARTICIPATE IN TEXAS-EPA AIR POLLUTION LAWSUIT
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 31, 2010 10:26 AM
UPDATE ON COURT KOENNING
Extensive injuries from crash but full recovery expected
Latest update on Court Koenning, former Chief of Staff to Senator Dan Patrick and current consultant.
Court has now been in STICU, shock and trauma intensive care unit, for a week after a plane crash last Monday that nearly took his life. While his condition remains stable he remains in STICU and will be there for another 12-14 days if all goes well. He has been sedated for several days unable to communicate. He has had several surgeries to repair abdomen related issues. Once that surgery heals a bit more he will undergo extensive surgery to repair additional injuries to his upper body.
His full recovery is still expected by doctors. However, it is expected to be several months before he is fully recovered if all goes as planned. To keep up with his progress you can go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/courtkoenning for continuing updates.
By Harvey Kronberg
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Copyright August 31, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 30, 2010 5:10 PM
CITING REPORTING BIAS, CONSECO DECLINES EXPRESS NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD VISIT
Includes copy of letter to Board citing long list of reporting issues
Today House Republican congressional candidate Francisco "Quico" Conseco notified the San Antonio Express News editorial board that he would not accept their invitation for their regular pre-endorsement interview.
Conseco cited a whole series of stories and omissions that he says demonstrate the clear bias of the newspaper toward incumbent Ciro Rodriguez.
To our knowledge, the Express News is the only editorial board with which Conseco has refused to meet.
Conseco's full letter to the Express News can be found at the end of this press release.
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Copyright August 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 30, 2010 5:02 PM
NEW BILL WHITE TV AD: RICK PERRY'S LOBBYIST BALL
Thirty second spot pegs off of Austin Perry fundraiser hosted by thirty individuals -- twenty-nine of whom are lobbyists
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Copyright August 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 30, 2010 4:48 PM
HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS CALL FOR DOJ TO REVIEW PLANS FOR ELECTIONS POST-VOTING MACHINE FIRE
Consolidating voting places, long lines and other other measures could reduce minority participation, they say
Sixteen Democratic lawmakers today signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calling on the Department of Justice to "assist and oversee the development of new plans for conducting the upcoming elcections in Harris County."
They continue, "While we are heartened by the stated intention of local officials in Harris county and across the state to condut a fair and open election in November, we are concernece that some of the options for conducting the election could have an adver impact on voter participation...."
The lawmakers note, "...In recent elections, there have been controversial actions on the part of the Harris county officials that administer and oversee voter registrations and elections."
The entire letter can be found here.
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Copyright August 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 30, 2010 4:36 PM
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS MAGAZINE NAMES TEXAS 100 TOP DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
Austin American Statesman's Gardner Selby authors article
It's not as if the Statesman's Gardner Selby doesn't have to take enough incoming for his Politifacts feature.
Now he will no doubt face a whole new round of grief for picking Campaigns and Elections magazine's 100 Top Texas Influencers comprised of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats.
See who made Selby's list by checking here.
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Copyright August 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 30, 2010 4:12 PM
SWINFORD TO RESIGN AUGUST 31
"...I have decided the greatest parting gift to my constituents would be to retire early..."
Dumas state Rep. David Swinford has submitted his resignation as a member of the Texas House effective Tuesday August 31. In his letter, he asks the Governor to call a special election to fill his unexpired term on the same day as the general election. In so doing, he opens the door for HD 87 Republican primary winner Four Price to appear on the ballot twice and to gain a little additional seniority over other incoming freshmen.
Representative Swinford's letter can be found here.
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Copyright August 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 28, 2010 6:08 PM
IAF GROUPS PROMISE TO DELIVER 225,000 VOTES
The community building organizations will focus on 2008 voters who back their working class agenda
One of the conversation threads among Austin political types
this summer has focused on the resurgence of ultra-traditional methods of
turning out the vote like block walking as an alternative to the modern mass
media campaign. It’s partly fueled by the belief that the media consumer is
becoming more difficult to reach either because of technology like the digital
video recorder or because he is becoming inured to the ad blitzes that occur
before every election.
The conversation is also gaining traction because of
increasing evidence that the old ways of bringing out the vote are still
effective. On the R side, we have the example of David Simpson who told QR
in March that he credited block walking for his unexpected House primary
victory over Tommy Merritt.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright August 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 27, 2010 4:32 PM
LITE GOV, SPEAKER DELIVER LETTER TO DUNCAN DURING MEETING
Missive intended to emphasize concerns of state budget writers during negotiations over $830 million in federal funds for Texas.
Here is the letter.
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Copyright August 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 27, 2010 4:29 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
Claims of voter fraud in Harris County and Democratic AG candidate wonders why Abbott can't make a decision on a debate
RP: BILL WHITE'S TWO IDEAS: HIGHER TAXES, MORE
REGULATIONS
BARBARA ANN RADNOFSKY: ABBOTT ON DEBATE: "I
DON'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS"
GREG ABBOTT: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS PAC
ENDORSES ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT
TCEQ: BARNETT SHALE ACTIVITIES CONTINUE, INTERACTIVE
MAP UNVEILED
HOUSTON VOTES: HOUSTON VOTES CALLS ON THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE COUNTY REGISTRAR FOR BREAKING THE LAW AND REFUTES
HIS COMPLAINTS AS FALSE AND DEFAMATORY
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE PAC: POLITICAL ARM OF THE TEXAS
ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ENDORSES ERWIN CAIN IN HOUSE DISTRICT 3
LIBERTY
INSTITUTE: ADMISSION OF POSSIBLE FRAUD PLAGUES HOUSTON VOTES
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Copyright August 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 27, 2010 10:40 AM
FIRE DESTROYS HARRIS COUNTY VOTING MACHINES
The Chronicle reports that elections officials will talk with neighboring counties to borrow machines for the November elections.
Click here for the story in the Houston Chronicle and here for the story on KTRK-TV.
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Copyright August 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 27, 2010 10:33 AM
MISSED IN OUR CLIPS: BOB GARRETT OF DMN EXPLORES HHS BUDGET CUTS, PEGGY VENABLE OP-ED ON TEXAS VS. EPA
A couple of takes on the important issues of the day
The Dallas Morning News' Bob Garrett explores in depth the implications of budget cuts on the poor, mentally ill and other needy Texans.
Peggy Venable of the Texas chapter of the Texas chapter of Americans for Prosperity applauds state officials for fighting the EPA in a Washington Times op-ed.
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Copyright August 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 27, 2010 10:22 AM
NEW CHET EDWARDS AD: BACK
Revisits Bill Flores' false statement that he voted for fellow Republican challenger Rob Curnock
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Copyright August 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 26, 2010 4:56 PM
RPT ALLEGES DUNNAM IS NOT RESIDENT IN HIS DISTRICT
Dunnam dismisses the allegations as "a sad, bogus attack from a desperate political party looking for anything to say rather than talk real issues."
In a nutshell, the Republican Party of Texas
is saying today that even though House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam said
in 2002 that his residence had been taken out of HD 57 because of
redistricting, he has yet to take corrective action and move into the district.
RPT Steve Munisteri said at an afternoon press
conference in Waco there was abundant evidence that Dunnam still lives at the
out-of-district residence, 212 Shady Trail in McGregor. He cited property tax
records and evidence of Dunnam’s cars sitting in the home’s driveway.
Munisteri said that Dunnam should step down. “Rep. Dunnam
chooses not to live among the very people he purports to represent. Even
worse, he is dishonest about it. This displays just the brand of out-of-touch
arrogance that has the American people angrier than they have ever been with
elected officials like Jim Dunnam, who refuse to play by the rules.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright August 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 26, 2010 4:51 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
Carol Kent ups the ante in HD 102 attacks, TAB political arm announces endorsements
REPRESENTATIVE CAROL KENT: CAROL KENT TO STEFANI
CARTER: RETRACT YOUR FALSE PERSONAL ATTACK
BW: WHITE STANDS UP FOR TEXAS HOMEOWNERS, ANNOUNCES
PLAN TO REIGN IN COSTS
RP: TEXAS TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ENDORSES GOV.
PERRY FOR RE-ELECTION
TEXAS WATCH: HOMEOWNER ORGANIZATION APPLAUDS BILL
WHITE FOR STANCE ON INSURANCE REFORM
REPRESENTATIVE CAROL KENT: KENT ADDS OPPONENT'S
EMPLOYERS TO LIST OF SUPPORTERS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: GOV. PERRY HELPS BREAK GROUND
ON A&M-CENTRAL TEXAS CAMPUS BUILDING
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS: POLITICAL ARM OF THE
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ANNOUNCES GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS
TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION: TSEU CALLS ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FULLY FUND TYC
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Copyright August 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 26, 2010 12:52 PM
NEW PERRY VIDEO: DO IT
Perry campaign lets Ben Stiller (in Starsky & Hutch) deliver the message this time.
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Copyright August 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 26, 2010 10:47 AM
STATE OFFICIALS WILL GO TO D.C. TOMORROW TO DISCUSS EDUJOBS FUNDING
Officials with the Governor's Office and TEA will try to figure out how to get $830 million in edujobs money to Texas while accommodating state constitutional concerns
State officials
confirm they will meet with the Department of Education on Friday in
an attempt to hammer out terms on the release of almost $830 million in federal
funds approved for Texas under the recent federal edujobs bill.
If Texas fails
to reach some kind of detente with the Obama administration
before its application is due in early September, it would add up to well over
$2 billion Texas either turned down or refused to pursue in the last two years.
That total combines $555 million in unemployment insurance funds, the $830
million edujobs funding and a potential $700 million grant under the Race
to the Top competition.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who has indicated a willingness to
negotiate with Texas within the parameters of the Doggett
amendment, controls the purse strings in this decision. On Friday, both
sides will have to land on a definition of state “assurances,” one that meets
the Department of Education’s interpretation of the law and still allays the
state’s concern of constitutional prohibitions.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright August 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 25, 2010 5:03 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
A heaping helping of press releases
RP: BILL WHITE HIDING RELATIONSHIP WITH BACK TO BASICS
PAC
BW: WHITE TO PERRY: COME CLEAN ON CAMPAIGN
EXPENSES
RP: DAY 171: BILL WHITE REFUSING TO DEBATE
RP: TEXAS ALLIANCE FOR LIFE PAC ENDORSES GOV. PERRY
FOR RE-ELECTION
BACK TO BASICS: INDEPENDENT TEXANS ACROSS THE STATE
AGREE: IT'S HIGH TIME RICK PERRY DEBATE
HANK GILBERT: WHEN STAPLES HAD OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE
CONCERNS ABOUT TOLL ROADS, HE DID NOTHING
GREG ABBOTT: INDEPENDENT BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS
ENDORSES ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT
BILL FLORES: BILL FLORES FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHES FIRST TELEVISION AD OF GENERAL ELECTION: "WHERE THE JOBS
ARE"
REPRESENTATIVE ORR: REP ORR THROWING OUT FIRST PITCH
AT RANGERS GAME
TCEQ TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON PROPOSED OIL & GAS RULES
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: CORNYN ANNOUNCES CITY OF AUSTIN
TO RECEIVE $457,140 GRANT TO HELP PREVENT CRIME
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: CORNYN ANNOUNCES $2,316,089 GRANT
FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN AUSTIN
TEXAS TASK FORCE ON INDIGENT DEFENSE: TASK FORCE
GRANTS AWARDS FOR NEW INDIGENT DEFENSE SYSTEMS AND RELEASES REPORT ON WRONGFUL
CONVICTIONS
FORT BEND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY: FORT BEND COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NAMES NICK HELLYAR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Copyright August 25, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 25, 2010 3:42 PM
HARRIS COUNTY RECEIVES $4.1 MILLION GRANT TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE
The county is the largest jurisdiction in the nation without a public defender office
The state’s Task Force on Indigent Defense
approved a $4.1 million grant this morning to Harris County to help start up a
public defender office. The county is the nation’s largest jurisdiction without
an office of this type.
The indigent defense task force will cover all of the first
year costs, mostly related to ramping up the new program. The state’s match
drops to 80 percent of cost in the second year and to 20 percent of cost in the
third and fourth years. According to a release put out by the task force, the
new public defender office “will be a hybrid indigent defense system
incorporating a public defender and assigned counsel that will increase predictability
of costs, improve quality representation and will include the defense bar at
policy discussions.”
Final action on the grant request had been delayed to give
the county more time to clarify several points in its application, including
the level of participation of trial and juvenile courts and the indirect costs
associated with the program.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright August 25, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 25, 2010 2:52 PM
WH: OBAMA TO MEET WITH TROOPS AT FORT BLISS ON TUESDAY
Will also address the nation on Iraq later in the day
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Copyright August 25, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 25, 2010 8:25 AM
JIM DUNNAM AND LARRY TAYLOR: TEXAS LAW PERMITS MEMBERS TO PAY FOR THEIR AUSTIN HOUSING EXPENSES FROM CAMPAIGN FUNDS
The leaders of their respective House caucuses take issue with an SAEN piece questioning the use of campaign funds for Austin apartments
The San Antonio Express-News has recently
published an article that questions the practice by many Members of paying for
Austin apartments using campaign funds while also receiving per diem while in
Austin. The story specifically notes that neither complaint “cite[s] any
alleged violations of specific criminal statutes.” This is not surprising, as
according to Caucus legal counsel, Texas law currently specifically permits
Members to pay for their Austin housing expenses from campaign funds.
To read the remainder of this column, please go to our R&D column.
By Jim Dunnam and Larry Taylor
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Copyright August 25, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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