Free Republic

AUSTIN — Increasing criticism of Gov. Rick Perry by Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has cost her a longtime campaign treasurer. Houston oil and gas operator George Strake Jr., the comptroller's chief fund-raiser for 20 years, said in an interview Thursday he could "no longer stomach" Strayhorn's strategy of attacking Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other GOP leaders. Although she denies it, political insiders say Strayhorn has been positioning herself to either take on Perry in 2006 or maneuver toward another position, like lieutenant governor, should U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison challenge Perry and Dewhurst seek Hutchison's senate seat. "It's...

Says children will pay for it 'for the rest of their lives' AUSTIN -- Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn on Monday delivered a scathing review of Gov. Rick Perry's school finance proposal, saying it would create a $10 billion deficit within five years and provide little property tax relief. Just one day before lawmakers convene a 30-day special session on school finance, Strayhorn likened the governor's plan to a "balloon payment" that Texas children "will be paying for the rest of their lives." "This governor's plan replaces Robin Hood with Robbin' Everybody," Strayhorn said in probably her most pointed attack on...

February's S.C. presidential primary could be brought to you by ... name your price. S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin says he plans to seek corporate sponsorships to help raise $500,000 to hold the Feb. 3 primary, which the state party has to pay for. If a corporation wants to give a little extra to slap its name on a ballot or a media backdrop -- or pretty much anything -- he'll consider it. It's a takeoff on the way ballparks sell ads on scoreboards or seatbacks. "Some statewide corporation may want their company identified with democracy," said Erwin, a...