Posted on 12/12/2004 7:28:40 AM PST by Theodore R.
Hutchison holds tense meeting with Perry supporters in El Paso
EL PASO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison reacted angrily recently after several El Paso business leaders suggested that she not challenge Gov. Rick Perry in 2006 because their large campaign contributions to state leaders have increased the city's influence in Austin.
During the private luncheon last week, Hutchison, R-Texas, was asked to instead run for re-election for the Senate. She responded by denouncing the role large contributions play in state government, some of those attending said.
The meeting was organized as a briefing by the senator on various issues, but several Perry supporters turned the conversation to the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Many of those at the meeting agreed the discussion got severely strained after some of the business leaders mentioned their large contributions to Perry, also a Republican. Hutchison has said she hasn't decided whether to run in 2006.
El Paso businessman Woody Hunt said he reminded the senator that El Paso had not fully participated in state politics in the past and has long been neglected. He and others decided to open up their checkbooks and become players.
"We need to be better connected to the state. We need to be able to have access. We need to be able to communicate," said Hunt, who's donated almost $200,000 to Perry in the past four years, campaign finance records show.
El Paso businessman Ted Houghton, said he didn't expect Hutchison to react the way she did.
"That's when the meeting fell apart, unfortunately. Our point was, we like what we have for El Paso and we like what we have for the state of Texas," he said.
The senator's spokesman, Dave Beckwith, said Hutchison reacted to Perry supporters specifically touting the accomplishments produced after significantly stepping up their political contributions.
"Senator Hutchison is appalled that people are being strong-armed, feel they have to hand over huge contributions in order to be heard in the state's political process," Beckwith said Friday.
"What she's been hearing around the state is encouragement — to provide the leadership to clean up that system."
That response from Hutchison's office brought a quick response from Perry's campaign.
"Others can deal in the Washington-style politics of personal destruction and blind ambition to do what is best for themselves, but Governor Perry will continue to be a strong, ethical and effective leader for El Paso and Texas as a whole," said Luis Saenz, Perry's campaign director.
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Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com
"That would be charging people by the mile to drive. unequal... but fuel taxes do that now."
And by and large it works. The problem with fuel taxes is there's no built in revenue growth, like inflation, or what we see in property taxes. If fuel taxes had that indexing, we'd be paying 30 cents per gallon more and we'd have the freeways we need. What angers me about Perry is his haste to dump that system without any thought as to the consequences.
You are overreacting. The process works well elsewhere.
It's never been tried at these toll rates (other than California SH 91). It is very, very, punishing.
But I agree, I am reacting more than necessary. I don't know why - maybe need a shrink.
Incremental tolls occur on most toll roads. It's just different terminology. Regular commuters' transponders eventually provide discounts. Some drivers get off early to avoid higher tolls and drive through neighborhoods with some detriment but also increasing local revenues. Every issue you've raised indicates overreaction due to lack of research and experience, or you're listening to hysterics or MSM.
Perry has been a big nothing as governor and a disappointment. He's no kind of leader at all. Personally, I'm prone to thinking that Kay is a better choice than he is.
I take it you are not familiar with the Texas system? We may have the weakest governor in the US. Our Lt. Governor is the power in the state and the Governor has only two real powers. The veto, which Perry uses a great deal, though he cannot tell you why, and the bully pulpit, at which he is 100% ineffective.
Considering that the General Assembly is controlled by socially conservative Republicans, there is no doubt they will attempt pass some more pro-life bills in the near future. When they do, the media will ask the candidates for Governor if they would support such bills.
It is often said that the TX governorship is institutionally weak, but the governor has line-item veto and can veto up to 20 days after the legislature has left town. Legislators usually defer to the governor if they hope to pass favored bills, for it is nearly impossible to override his veto. This was last done in 1979, I believe.
The lieutenant governor has great authority over the State Senate and is a powerful person in his right. He can keep legislation that he opposes (as Bob Bullock did with abortion restriction legislation in the 1990s) from coming to the Senate floor.
But the TX governorship is not really "weak" as I see it.
The governor has virtually no clemency powers: those were taken away in 1936, but he has a one-time 30-day reprieve in death sentences.
Did Kay Bailey specify what type of stem cell research: adult or embryonic?
2) Nothing will happen until Roe vs. Wade is successfully challenged, and that is still at least a few year out.
3) Any attempts to change current law will be small steps and KBH has always supported laws against partial birth and late term abortion.
She would make a far better governor than Perry.
I'm fairly certain it was embryonic research that was discussed. Not 100% on that but I imagine that there wouldn't be much of a news stroy to play up if it was adult stem cell research.
I think the term "General Assembly" in all states refers to BOTH houses of the legislature.
"Congress" technically refers to the House and Senate, but people associate it primarily with the House.
I should have been more clear. I meant the Texas House may be socially conservative (and that's close) but am not sure the Senate is. We have some real odd folks in that chamber.
Yes, I agree with you that the State Senate, though Republican in majority before the TX House gained a GOP organization, is more liberal than the lower body. Wouldn't you think that is because the House has much more direct rural representation than does the Senate? So there are still some "conservative" Democrats in the House too but vitually none in the State Senate. There are some state senators that some on our forum would call "RINOs" too.
Perry came to my hometown several years ago, had his picture taken with some low-life Dems ( the Dems loved it because the people are so low they were an embarrassment to them) and sent it out in campaign literature. He has been unpopular here among Repubs since then.
changing Texas's parental notification abortion law into a parental consent law
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