Free Republic

WASHINGTON – Legislation to permit law enforcement to jam prisoners' cellphone calls easily cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday, the latest example of how Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has used her seniority to push Texas-centric issues that translate directly to her run for governor. Yet Hutchison has been absent from the committee's work on two top priorities of Congress: health care legislation and consumer protection. When she recently announced her departure from the Senate in the fall, she said she'd stay in Washington long enough to participate in the health legislation.

Rick Perry said Thursday that Kay Bailey's Hutchison's statements that he should leave the governor's race were "bizarre."

"Because I speak in civil tones, some want to try to label me a moderate," she said. "My voting record is one of the most conservative in the U.S. Senate. ... We can't expect to remain the majority party in Texas if we drive out voters that support Republican principles but might not agree on every single issue."

Sen Hutchison Introduces Amendments to Provide Tax Relief to American Families> Would Make State Sales Tax Deduction Permanent & Ban the Marriage Penalty WASHINGTON, DC - As part of the Senate’s debate on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, introduced two amendments to provide tax relief to millions of Texas families by permanently extending the sales tax deduction and eliminating the marriage penalty in the FY 2010 Budget and future legislation. Sen. Hutchison’s sales tax deduction amendment would prevent future tax increases on Texas families by allowing for the permanent...

During an emotional moment at the Dallas Women's Museum, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison praised Hillary Rodham Clinton for "keeping a confident face" during the 2008 presidential campaign when "you were getting so many disappointments." "You were completely devastated and you never let it show on your face," Hutchison said during the forum. "That character is why you are secretary of state today."

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison filed papers today establishing an exploratory committee to run for Texas governor in 2010.