Posted on 09/11/2009 5:26:07 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
DALLAS — Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says if Gov. Rick Perry calls an early special election to fill the seat of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison after she resigns, the cost will be his responsibility — not hers.
The state says an emergency election soon after Hutchison quits could cost taxpayers up to $30 million, but Hutchison says it won't be that much if Perry follows the schedule.
Hutchison is running against Perry for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. If she leaves the Senate in October or November as she has said, state law sets the special election to fill her seat next May 8.
"I'm looking now at some of the governor's comments that he may be playing games with a special election, and that's a great concern to me," Hutchison said.
The law gives Perry the authority to pick a temporary replacement for the vacant Senate post. He can then call the election as soon as 36 days after Hutchison resigns.
The governor continues to say he might do just that, claiming an elected senator needs to represent Texans as soon as possible. "For us not to have someone not in the United States Senate looking after Texas' interests, I think, is irresponsible," Perry said.
Secretary of State Hope Andrade, whom Perry appoints, estimates the early special election and runoff could run $30 million. The Perry campaign blames the potential cost on Hutchison.
But she says it doesn't have to be that way if he just sticks to the schedule. "He can save the money by having it on the prescribed election dates," Hutchison said.
A spokesman for the secretary of state confirmed that a Senate election on the scheduled date in May would be cheaper, since local governments would be holding elections anyway.
Hutchison's campaign suspects Perry wants to call an early election for a political advantage, but Perry's campaign denies that assertion.
E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com
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Nothing Rino KBH would like more than to have Republicans of Texas less represented in the Obamination Congress.
Of course, if she doesn’t resign in mid-term, that also saves the taxpayers a lot of money.
I don’t care when the election is held as much as who he appoints to be her replacement. Not sure who that would be but I sure hope he chooses a solid conservative and not a RINO. I hope it is someone to the right of Cornyn.
Kay Bailey is the one resigning before her term is up and she doesn’t like the way Rick Perry may handle the vacancy?
What am I missing here? If she didn’t resign early, there would be no problem. No wonder she only gets 30 to her meetings.
I believe Texas law requires her to resign in order to run for governor. (I could be wrong.) If she didn’t have to resign, I don’t think she would.
But I sure am glad she’s leaving the Senate. And I hope she gets her butt handed to her in the primary.
This makes me wonder who is pushing this issue.
I cannot find anything in the election law that says she has to resign to run for Governor. Only thing I found was you cannot run for two offices like House and Senate at the same time which makes sense.
Since she is not running for reelection, I don’t see a problem. She is resigning early according to reports to have time to take on Perry full time.
It might have to do with a change that was made when someone was running for VP and also was up for Senate reelection that year.
She cannot use her federal funds to run for state office unless there has been a recent change. You cannot mix state and federal donations. You have to refund the federal donation and ask the people to redonate which they don’t have to do.
She’s an idiot...I can’t believe I always voted for her when living in TX.....I hope Perry calls her on this.....
She cannot use her federal funds to run for state office unless there has been a recent change. You cannot mix state and federal donations. You have to refund the federal donation and ask the people to redonate which they don’t have to do.
For what it’s worth I think she can... I know all the articles I’ve read indicates that is where the bulk of her war chest has come from. Some $8 million or so.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2004/11/29/congress_frees_funds.html
November 29, 2004
Congress Frees Funds
“Without floor debate or a single hearing, Congress changed election laws last week to allow members to transfer campaign funds raised for a federal race to a run for state or local office,” Roll Call reports.
“A four-paragraph provision taking up less than half a page in the 3,300-page omnibus appropriations measure struck a portion of the landmark campaign laws adopted in 2002 and once again freed Members to apply dollars raised for federal elections toward bids for governor, mayor or other offices.”
Thanks! I thought they tightened it back again. In 2006 our candidate for Governor, a sitting Congressman who did not run for reelection, had to refund money and have them donate it to the run for Governor and even then he was still fined by the FEC because he used funds not intended for the federal election.
Perry's doing his political thing right now. Making hay with any issue he can get. Does this every election as far back as I can recall.
This isn't an issue if he would appt a temp Senator and let the GOP have the time to organize behind a candidate for the May 8, 2010 election. You are correct in that White/Sharp are chomping at the bits for this to come quickly as they do have the cash with which may help them win or be the top two vote getters, thus a runoff between them.
The law has something to with not being able to run for office in TX while also holding a federal office. Something along those lines. I’ll look it up tomorrow and send it to you.
She has already transferred her senate campaign reserve funds to her war chest for the governor’s race. I asked her for a refund.
Good for you! Hope everyone ask for a refund.
Want to see her defeated big time.
Well that only eliminates a small fraction of Texans...
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