Earmark ban fails in Senate

A lot of details on what went down over at National Review.

Interesting stats, courtesy NRO's Andrew Stiles, emphasis mine:

Seven Democrats backed the proposal: Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Michael Bennett (Colo.), Russ Feingold (Wis.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Mark Udall (Colo.), and Mark Warner (Va.). All are either freshman members, retiring/defeated members, or up for reelection in 2012.

Eight Republicans, primarily members of the Appropriations Committee, went on the record against the ban: Sens. Bob Bennett (Utah), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), James Inhofe (Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Richard Shelby (Ala.), George Voinovich (Ohio).

Not one of the Republican names surprises me, though I find it all just terribly sad.  I know there are arguments among Republicans these days about earmarks.  I think, though, that being against earmarks just shows what your overall position is on spending and the role of the federal government.  If you're for them, and known for them, you're for a bigger, more intrusive government.  If you're against them, you're less likely to support such a government.  Earmark bans are no more than a drop in the bucket spending-wise, but they're important in the sense that earmarks are why lobbyists are in the game (especially taxpayer-funded lobbyists), why there's so much horse-trading, and why the federal government gets so frequently out-of-control.

Meh.  Watching the federal government at work routinely gives me indigestion.

Silver cockroach coming to Austin?

Apparently, the architects behind the hideous taxpayer-funded monstrosity known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington are going to design the Formula One racetrack that's coming to Austin.

Granted, they've done good work, too - the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington comes to mind - but Cowboys Stadium is painful to behold.

So long as Jerry Jones isn't planning an Austin move....

(photo via The Whited Sepulchre)

The True Cost of Public Education

From the Cato Institute.  This video highlights Houston ISD - and it's a good explanation for all of Texas' school districts and their funding systems.

Paxton announces speaker candidacy

The press release:

State Rep. Ken Paxton Announces Bid for Texas House Speaker
“Historic Opportunities Demand Bold Action”

(McKinney, TX) – In announcing his bid for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, State Rep. Ken Paxton today issued the following statement:

“Today, on Veterans Day, we honor the service of those who have given so much to our state and nation, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. It seems appropriate that we focus on how we can best protect our hard-won freedoms which are increasingly under attack.

On Election Day, we witnessed a monumental shift in the political climate, and I believe that historic opportunities demand bold action in defense of our conservative values. Voters across Texas sent a clear message that they favor leadership dedicated to protecting our freedoms and fighting government growth. Texans have provided us with an historic mandate, and they expect us to use this mandate to honestly advance conservative principles and not simply protect the status quo. These goals can only be accomplished with a conservative Speaker.

In January, members of the Texas State Legislature have a unique opportunity and an obligation to do more than simply balance the budget without raising taxes. We also have an opportunity to:

• Implement measures to reduce property taxes permanently over time;
• Aggressively fight back on the federal government’s invasion on the rights of Texans, and in fact reclaim our state sovereignty;
• Limit our state government’s ability to grow beyond the rate of inflation and population;
• Pass true immigration reform and implement photo id;
• Provide opportunities for individuals and families to make important decisions such as health care options that are free from governmental intrusion and mandates; and
• Challenge ourselves to bring solutions to the table that create jobs, sustain economic prosperity, and continue to make Texas a shining light for generations to come.

Republicans have the opportunity to unify behind a conservative Speaker who can effectively lead our Party on the principles our citizens espouse. As someone who has continuously served as an advocate for conservative principles, I am announcing my candidacy for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Texans have clearly asked us to advance their values, promote conservative policies and follow a path of long-term economic prosperity, and I stand ready to serve as the leader to accomplish these goals. I welcome the opportunity to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to address the critical issues we face and implement real solutions that will benefit all Texans.”

Young Conservatives of Texas send letter to Texas House members

You can read the entire letter here.

You can also see the comparison chart of committee chairmen in the 80th and 81st Legislative Sessions that YCT put together at this link.

Strake Jr., others sign on to call for conservative speaker

George Strake, Jr., former Republican Party of Texas chairman, has added his name to the list of people calling for a conservative speaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

Thanks to Texas Legislative Update for the heads-up.

Almost 1900 people have signed the letter so far. Add your name.

Planned Parenthood thanks Speaker Straus for his work

This is from fall 2009, but it does speak volumes. Click here to download the whole newsletter.  The following appears on page eight.

Add your voice and demand a conservative speaker

A website has been set up where you can add your name to the growing list of citizens demanding a conservative speaker in the Texas House of Representatives.

Check it out here.

I can't stress how important it is that ordinary citizens get involved in this.  We have no guarantee that the current speaker will appoint conservative committee chairmen, or even that he'll give key committees to Republicans.  We elected conservatives on Tuesday night - Republicans have never had a clearer mandate or better means by which to accomplish our major goals in Texas.  This opportunity cannot be wasted - and if we sit here on sine die next spring, wondering why we still don't have voter i.d. in Texas, why there are not tighter property tax appraisal caps, why taxpayer-funded lobbyists are still not required to report their specific compensation, why we still didn't get a sonogram bill passed.....

You know what, I'm just going to leave it at that.  I'm tired of the status quo, I'm tired of being represented by "moderates" who impose higher spending every chance they get, and I'm tired of Republicans being complacent about these things.  We have this fight over and over - and we have never had a chance like this before.  Before we can get any legislation passed, we have to have the leadership in place who will stand up for us.

Make no mistake, there are forces at work to keep YOU from being heard.

Add your voice.  We can no longer afford to be the "silent majority" - and if that's what the conservatives in the Texas House of Representatives turn out to be in the 82nd Legislature, let it not be because the citizenry sat back and let it happen.

More tea party leaders sign on to leadership letter

Following up from this post about the call for conservative leadership in the Texas House of Representatives, there are several more signers, all tea party leaders:

Amy Knickerbocker
Coordinator, Lone Star Tea Party

Mel Moss
President, Arlington Tea Party

Ray Myers
Coordinator
Kaufman County Tea Party

Catherine Engelbrecht
President
King Street Patriots

John Tweedell
Hideaway Grassroots WTP

Marshall Holland, Chairman
Citizens for the Constitution

Jodi Maner
President Amarillo Tea Party Patriots

T.J. Fabby
Ellis County Conservatives

Leslie Haight
Fredericksburg Tea Party

John White
Organizer, Rockwall County TEA Party

Conservative leaders, tea party call for conservative leadership in TX House

This comes as no surprise, and it needs to be taken seriously by those House members who may be considering "compromise" with the current leadership.  There is no excuse now for liberal committee chairmen (Oliviera, Strama, Coleman, Pitts).  There is no excuse now for moderate leadership.

Text and signatories of the letter from conservative grassroots leaders and tea party members:

November 4, 2010

Honorable Members
Texas House of Representatives
Austin, Texas

Dear Honorable Members and Members-Elect,

Tuesday night’s resounding victory by conservatives in Texas and around the nation was not the result of any particular politician or group. It was the result of citizens rising up and making their voices clearly heard and it should be taken for precisely what it is: a mandate for conservative policy leadership.

The victory of nearly two dozen new conservative Republican legislators reflects the mood of Texas voters on the state’s critical issues. It was a clarion call for conservative leadership in the Texas House – leadership that has been absent the past two years. This desire for conservative leadership must be reflected from the Office of the Speaker to every committee chairmanship.

A change to a more conservative Speaker is in order. The voters who labored hard for this conservative majority expect it to diligently represent their conservative values.

Texans voted with the expectation they would see meaningful change for their businesses and families. The same conservative voters who made this near-supermajority possible will be just as engaged in the months ahead, as they have been leading up to Victory Night. These voters will be watching and actively participating.

We urge you take time to ask your constituents – the people who walked your precincts and made calls to their neighbors; the people who voted for you – what kind of person they want serving as the state’s third-ranking constitutional officer, and what kind of committee chairs they expect. It is their right to be involved and engaged in this important decision.

We look forward to working with this reinvigorated conservative majority throughout the coming legislative session!

Respectfully,
[signed]



Michael Quinn Sullivan
President, Empower Texans

Peggy Venable
Americans for Prosperity – Texas Director

Kelly Shackelford, Esq.
President & CEO, Liberty Institute

Tim Lambert
President, Home School Coalition

Elizabeth Graham
Director, Texas Right to Life

Richard Ford
President, Heritage Alliance

Peter Morrison
The Peter Morrison Report

David Barton
President, WallBuilders
Former Vice Chair, Republican Party of Texas

Felicia Craven
Houston Tea Party

Greg Holloway
Board member, Austin Tea Party Patriots

Cathie Adams
Former Chairman, Republican Party of Texas
Texas Eagle Forum, Legislative Liaison

Toby Marie Walker
President, Waco Tea Party

Jason Moore
State Republican Executive Committee

Tony McDonald
Senior Vice Chair, Young Conservatives of Texas

Lou Ann Anderson
Creator, EstateofDenial.com

Lee Barlow
President, Erath 9-12 Project

Tammy Blair
Chair-Tyler Tea Party

Konni Burton
Vice President, NE Tarrant Tea Party

Pat Carlson
President, Texas Eagle Forum

Angela Cox
President, Johnson County Tea Party

Rachel Delgado
President, Galveston County TEA Party

Julie Drenner
The Heartland Institute, Texas Director

Ken Emanuelson
Board Member, Dallas Tea Party

Carol Everett
Founder and CEO, The Heidi Group

Rebecca Forest
Executive Director, Texas Alliance for America Legal Defense & Education Fund

Suzanne Guggenheim
Founder, The Woodlands Tea Party Society
Texas Tea Party Patriots PAC

Jennifer Heiden
President, Katy Tea Party

Ann Hettinger
Texas State Director, Concerned Woman for America

Margaret Hotze
Legislative Director, Life Advocates

James V. Long
Vice President, McKinney Tea Party

Maria G. Martinez
Exec. Dir., Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas

Sharon Hall
Supporter, San Antonio Tea Party

Donna McClure
Corpus Christi Tea Party/ 9-12 Project

Jodi Maner
President, Amarillo Tea Party Patriots

Lorie Medina
Co-Leader, Frisco Tea Party

Charles Molyneaux
Board Member, Allen Area Patriots

Cyndi Ortiz
President of Macdaddy Campaign Network

Rena Peden
State Republican Executive Committee

Katrina Pierson
Dallas Tea Party

Russell J. Ramsland, Jr.
Leader - Dallas Tea Party

Jonathan Saenz, Esq.
Director of Legislative Affairs, Liberty Institute

Rick Scarborough
President, Vision America Action

Michael Smith
Executive VP, Heritage Alliance

Dave Welch
Executive Director, Texas Pastor Council

Louise Whiteford
President, Texans for Immigration Reform, Inc

Elizabeth Wooldridge
President, Odessa Tea Party

Breaking: Rep. Edmund Kuempel dies from heart attack

This is on the Statesman and came over email via Quorum Report.  Mayor Lee Leffingwell (Austin) announced this at today's city council meeting.  Texas Tribune has it confirmed from Capitol sources.

Rep. Kuempel had suffered from a life-threatening heart attack last session.

He will be missed.  Rep. Kuempel had served in the legislature since 1983.

99, maybe 100, Republicans in the Texas House

Definitely a referendum on Democratic shenanigans and ties to Washington.  HD 48 is razor-thin, so there could be a recount that would see Donna Howard gone after all.

In light of the results, Speaker Joe Straus has released his pledge card list.  This will not be the end of the story - pledge cards are not binding.  But keep your ears to the ground.  At the very least, this is a conservative mandate, and the Speaker needs to take a long, hard look at his committees.

A long day and a long night - I need some sleep.  More analysis forthcoming.

BE THE WAVE! GO VOTE REPUBLICAN!

Travis County residents!  If you don't have your voter registration card, you can find out your precinct number and polling location at this website.  House District 50 (those of you who are going to TAKE STRAMA OUT today), your polling locations are listed here.

There is a great list of endorsements here, if you're still undecided.

November arrives

Nate Silver has five reasons Republicans may do better than expected on Tuesday.

George Will talks about what is at stake in Tuesday's election.

John Fund's "Requiem for the Pelosi Democrats."  Third Base Politics shows just how unpopular President Obama really was in Cleveland recently.

Jim Geraghty talks about a "wow" poll in a competitive Nevada Congressional district.

Watcher of Weasels rounds up blogger predictions from around the country.

Gallup has released final poll numbers, and they're very interesting.  NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls are also interesting (and who would have expected THAT headline on an NBC website).

Me, I'd rather lower expectations, and make sure everyone has concession speeches on hand.  I'm a little superstitious, what can I say?  (as I run to knock on wood for just reading those posts linked above!!)