Friday, January 30, 2009

Gromer Jeffers, Jr.

At first glance, Reps. Dan Branch and Roberto Alonzo, recently chosen to lead the Dallas-area delegation to the Legislature, have some of the best jobs around.

The 27-member group is the most diverse in Austin and potentially the most powerful, and its influence could even improve under new House Speaker Joe Straus.

But Dallas lawmakers have a history of botching even the best-laid plans – consider the 11th-hour bungle two years ago of a proposed University of North Texas Law School in downtown Dallas. And even when the delegation is in accord, it's often outperformed by its raucous counterpart in Houston.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

By Marlena Hartz

Texas needs to overhaul its failing higher education system - which isn't adequately reaching its fastest growing population, Hispanics - to avoid a downward spiral in quality of life and economic competitiveness, according to a new government-commissioned report meant to inspire legislative action.

Some of the report's antidotes include outreach programs for Hispanic parents; changing the state's higher education funding formula to reward institutions for graduation rather than enrollment rates; creating a fund to establish more tier-one universities; and amending the top 10 percent rule, which gives high school graduates in the top 10 percent of their class automatic admittance to the public university of their choice.

The report's authors, the Select Commission on Higher Education and Global Competitiveness, should address legislators with their findings in the next few months, said commission member Dr. John Baldwin, president of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

Posted on Wednesday, January 28

James C. McKinley, Jr.

AUSTIN, Tex. — On first blush, it is easy to think the Democratic tide that swept President Obama into office barely touched Texas. After all, Republicans still run the state and hold all the top offices and, if Texas voters had had their way, John McCain would be in the Oval Office.

But a recent coup by moderate Republicans against the speaker of the state's House of Representatives suggests otherwise.

When the Republicans nearly lost their majority in the Texas House in November, a small group of moderates from the party joined with Democrats to oust the archconservative speaker, Thomas Craddick of Midland.

Posted on Tuesday, January 27

By Kelley Shannon

AUSTIN — As other states struggle and raise taxes, Texas should work to keep attracting more businesses and jobs through financial incentives and tax relief while easing tuition expenses for college students, Gov. Rick Perry told the Legislature on Tuesday.

Perry told House and Senate members in his "State of the State" address that he wants to pump more than $500 million combined into a job creation fund, an emerging technology fund and a film-making incentives account in the coming two-year budget. He said all have a track record of success.

"As we wrestle with a lowered revenue estimate, we must stay committed to the proven policies that have brought us so far, and resist any calls to panic," Perry said. "In tough times, others see threats; Texans see opportunity."

Friday, January 23, 2009

Gromer Jeffers, Jr.

Reps. Roberto Alonzo and Dan Branch were chosen Thursday as co-chairs of the Dallas area delegation to the Legislature.

Branch, R-Dallas, replacing Fred Hill as the GOP leader. Alonzo was reelected as the Democratic chairman.

The veteran lawmakers now have to get the delegation on the same page on issues like transportation, education and health care.

It's easier said than done.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Robert T. Garrett

There's been no official word on House Speaker Joe Straus' plans for filling the chamber's most important committee chairmanships. But the members and lobbyists are in full gossip mode. Here are a few bits of speculation:

House speaker pro tem: Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, or Craig Eiland, D-Galveston

Appropriations: Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie (shown at right in DMN photo)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Opinion/Editorials

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has staked out a positive and pragmatic approach to strengthening the research status of state universities. Start now, he says. Amen, we say.

Indeed, given the proportion of Tier One schools to its population, Texas is overdue in developing more. North Texas is most overdue, given that it's the nation's most populous metro area without an elite university and that these schools whip up enormous economic activity.

Dewhurst told this newspaper's Austin bureau that he favors a strategy that rewards universities for their own efforts and successes. That aligns with House legislation filed by Dallas Rep. Dan Branch that would provide matching dollars to emerging research universities – say, the University of Texas at Dallas, UT-Arlington and the University of North Texas – when they land major grants or sign top faculty talent.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Gromer Jeffers, Jr.

State Rep. Dan Branch thrived under former House Speaker Tom Craddick, scoring key appointments to the appropriations and education committees.

Austin insiders expect him to get juicy committee assignments under new Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.

But on the opening day of the legislative session, Branch was downplaying expectations that he would get the chairmanship of the appropriations committee.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Opinion/Editorials

The Dallas-area delegation to the Texas House will be filling a vacancy in one of its leadership posts, and Rep. Dan Branch's resume makes him the best person for the job. At stake are must-get assets for North Texas, such as upgraded research universities and transportation and water projects.

The co-chairmen of the multi-county Dallas-area delegation are critical to effectively push the region's agenda. The two posts were filled last session by Democrat Roberto Alonzo of Dallas and Fred Hill, a veteran Richardson Republican who is now retired.

Hill's exit left big shoes to fill on the GOP side, and Branch, a four-termer from University Park, has the preparation to step forward and work with the more senior Alonzo.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

DALLAS - The Texas legislature gaveled into session Tuesday; and as expected, the House of Representatives elected a new speaker.

The controversial Tom Craddick of Midland is no longer speaker.

House members elected Rep. Joe Straus, of San Antonio. Many North Texas lawmakers expressed delight in the decision saying Straus is flexible and will be more sensitive to urban issues.