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WASHINGTON – President Bush tapped former Rep. Henry Bonilla of San Antonio on Thursday to serve as the permanent representative of the United States to the Organization of American States. The position carries the rank of ambassador. Bonilla had sought the ambassadorship to the organization, which promotes democracy in the Western Hemisphere. “I'm excited. It's a tremendous opportunity,”' Bonilla said. The appointment comes one day after Bush completed a six-day trip through Latin America, where he announced initiatives on health care, education and housing. Bush also pledged his efforts to push through Congress a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would...

Two weeks after voters sent U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla and former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez into a runoff, it finally got put on the calendar. Voters go to the polls Dec. 12. Early voting starts Dec. 4. But soon after word got out late Tuesday, Rodriguez objected to the short period between the announcement and election day, saying in a written statement that Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams had done "a disservice." "This is yet another coordinated Republican scheme to manipulate the electoral process in order to limit voter participation," the San Antonio Democrat said. The...

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today canvassed the results of the election for Congressional District 23 and set the special runoff election date for Tuesday, Dec. 12. Early voting will begin Dec. 4. The Texas Election Code requires that a special election be called because no candidate received a majority of the votes cast in the Nov. 7 general election. The special election will be between U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, who received 48.6 percent of the votes, and Ciro D. Rodriguez, who received 19.87 percent of the votes cast. Dec. 12 is the earliest the special election can be called...

Weekend Talk Show *Preview* for DATE HERE (not the live thread)Journal Editorial Report (Paul Gigot) - FNC show page Meme: Don't believe what the dinosaur media is telling you about November, but don't discount it, either Topics: "Runs, Hits and Errors"A discussion of GOP prospects (from OpinionJournal web site) After Tom DeLay's departure, how bad does November's election now look for Republicans, and can they do anything to stop a rout? The 2006 elections: With DeLay out of the picture, can the GOP get its mojo back? (FNC web site)Baseball steroids (from OpinionJournal web site) Major League Baseball finally confronts...

County and federal border lawmen took another step toward working together to address their common law enforcement problems when they met in Del Rio Thursday. “I feel that it was a resounding success. I was very proud of the chief patrol agents responsible for the Texas border sectors for their role in agreeing to meet so we can begin these dialogues,” Val Verde County Sheriff A. D’Wayne Jernigan said of Thursday’s meeting. Included in Thursday’s meeting were 14 of the 16 sheriffs who are members of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition and representatives of all of the U.S. Border Patrol...

Val Verde County Sheriff A. D’Wayne Jernigan this morning lauded a letter from Texas Congressional representatives that declares “a state of emergency” in security along the Texas-Mexico border. Asked his opinion about the security of the Texas-Mexico border in Val Verde County, Jernigan said, “You know the answer to that. It’s wide open. Anyone and anything can come across anytime they want.” Jernigan added, “Right now, any threat that you could possibly identify can cross the border in Val Verde County and threaten our national security. This border is porous, and we’re concerned that that does not seem to be...

Raymond eyes tough race By TRICIA CORTEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES The March Democratic primary is eight months away, an eternity in politics, but the race for one of Laredo's two congressional seats promises to be as furious as an Alabama tick in summer. This week, state Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, made clear his intentions to challenge incumbent Congressman Henry Cuellar of Laredo. However, Raymond said Friday he would make no formal announcement until the special session on school finance in Austin is over. Over the years, both legislators have done little to hide their dislike and lack of support for...

Bonilla says he'll seek Hutchison's job, if she leaves Associated Press LUBBOCK (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla said Tuesday he would seek Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's job if she decides to leave office. Bonilla, R-San Antonio, made the announcement from Washington during telephone interviews with Lubbock radio stations. Bonilla, 50, has represented the 23rd District, which includes most of West Texas, for more than a decade. Hutchison is widely believed to be considering a challenge to Gov. Rick Perry in 2006. Both are Republicans. A Hutchison spokesman had no immediate comment. "If she makes a decision on her own...

Talk about a run should a Senate seat open up Fresh from his success in attracting more minority votes in Congressional District 23, U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-San Antonio) says he is ready to take his party's message to "the Latinos of Texas." Bonilla's supporters say they believe this could means the Texas Republican Party's only Hispanic congressman is gearing up to run for the U.S. Senate - should U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) stand down in preparation for a gubernatorial bid. "Let me say, first, that I would love Kay Bailey Hutchison to stay on as senator. She...

WASHINGTON, DC— Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding John Kerry’s remarks to LULAC: “Celebrities at Thursday’s New York City fundraiser for John Kerry directed their anger and rage at President Bush, calling him a ‘liar’ and ‘thug.’ Instead of repudiating these obscene attacks against President Bush, Kerry said they represent the ‘heart and soul’ of America. If John Kerry really thinks hate and vitriol represents America’s ‘heart and soul,’ then he truly has no knowledge of western voters. “Kerry and Edwards’ opposition to free trade pacts like the Central America Free Trade Agreement and Free Trade Area...

<p>MIAMI — House Rep. Henry Bonilla, a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (search), has taken back his demand that Rep. Corrine Brown (search) resign her seat in Congress for remarks she made accusing the Bush administration of racism in its Haiti policy.</p>

Remap pits Democrat against pal SAN ANTONIO — They were buddies as Texas House freshmen in 1987. But lately, there's bad blood. One wants the other's job. Ciro Rodriguez, 57, of San Antonio went on to Congress in 1997. Henry Cuellar, 48, of Laredo stayed in the House. But he endorsed Republican Gov. George W. Bush for president in 2000. And on Jan. 2, 2001, he became secretary of state, the first appointee of Republican Gov. Rick Perry, another 1980s House buddy when Perry was still a Democrat. Rodriguez, a devout Democrat, remained friends with Cuellar. He welcomed him back...

Rural communities divided by redistricting BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer SONORA, Texas - To folks in this hamlet on the western edge of the Texas Hill Country, redistricting seemed an issue for cities such as Houston, Dallas or San Antonio. That was until state lawmakers divided Sutton County between two U.S. congressmen, splitting a place where natural gas fuels the economy and where hunters fill the main drag each autumn. "It's an absolute absurdity," said John Tedford, the Republican party chairman for Sutton County. "With just 3,000 people here, it's just absurd." The Texas Legislature approved in October a...

Top Capital Hill military money man visits 101stby Pfc. Thomas DayMOSUL, Iraq (Sept. 28, 2003) -- Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-CA, chairman of the House Military Appropriations sub-committee, led a nine-member congressional delegation Sunday to meet constituents fighting with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.The delegation included GOP Texans Henry Bonilla and Kay Granger, fellow Republicans John Shimkus (IL), George Nerthcutt (WA), and Don Sherwood (PA). Democrats Tim Holden (PA), Norm Dicks (WA), and Ellen Tauscher (CA) made the trip a bipartisan affair.Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, 101st Airborne Division commanding general, who has hosted a number...

Some Democratic Party insiders in Washington and Texas think Democrats can unseat sixth-term Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla next year -- provided they dump last year’s nominee, former Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar. Last year, Cuellar nearly knocked off Bonilla, holding him to 51.5 percent of the vote. Normally, party leaders would be salivating at the chance to defeat Bonilla in a rematch. But some Democrats say that the stars were in perfect alignment last year for a Democratic win in the 23rd District and that Cuellar squandered the opportunity. "It was a serial nightmare trying to get him to...