Politex

To the moon! Or not ...

One big issue in Florida that's also a hot topic in Texas is manned space exploration -- a natural, given that both states have enjoyed economic development linked to NASA programs and installations for years.

Newt Gingrich stirred a lot of attention in Florida this week by proposing that Congress and the White House resume spending on a program to return astronauts to the moon -- an effort put on hold by President Barack Obama's administration.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, took a much different view when he was asked during tonight's debate whether the U.S. needs to revive a lunar space program. Polls have shown overwhelming support among Texans -- especially in the area around Houston, where the Johnson Space Center is located -- but Paul has never let public opinion shape his views, and tonight was no different. He gave a resounding "No" on the question of renewed lunar exploration. That view is consistent with the hard line Paul, an obstetrician, has taken through the years on most government spending -- a record that earned him the nickname "Dr. No."

"I don't think we should go to the moon," Paul said in the debate. However, he added with a quip, "I think perhaps we should send some politicians up there."

Mitt Romney also questioned whether a new moon program is worth the billions it would cost.

-- John Gravois

Paul not getting much debate spotlight time

Perhaps Texas Congressman Ron Paul would get more attention at this stage of the Republican presidential debates if he had a Swiss bank account full of earnings from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

As it is, Paul -- as well as Rick Santorum -- are continually overshadowed by the non-stop political war being waged against each other by front-runners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

In tonight's debate -- which continues on CNN until 10 p.m. -- Paul did generate some attention early by touting the need to improve trade relations with Cuba. The congressman says free trade is the key to improving U.S. relations with all nations in Latin America.

-- John Gravois

 

Is the Texas Republican primary going winner-take-all?

Though the date of the Texas primary remains in flux, the state could still play king-maker in a drawn-out race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Jake Tapper of ABC News noted in a blog post Tuesday that Texas could be pivotal for Newt Gingrich if the state were to award its delegates in a winner-take-all format. Tapper added that, "the Texas State Republican Party may change its rules to award its 155 delegates winner take all, possibly offering Gingrich a counterbalance to the April 24th contests."

Changing the way the Texas GOP allocates delegates would require a vote by the State Republican Executive Committee. Some Republicans have previously advocated for awarding all of the state's delegates to the candidate that draws the most votes.

So is such a change in the works for 2012?

Texas Republicans to vote on 2013 do-over on redistricting

After all the accusations and the lawsuits, is Texas ready to take up redistricting all over again in 2013?

That's the question the Texas Republican Party plans to ask Republican primary voters this year.

The State Republican Executive Committee agreed last month to add the following proposition to Republican primary ballots:

The Texas Legislature should redraw the court-imposed lines for Congress and State legislative districts in its upcoming session in order to remedy inequities.  Yes or no.

Parties routinely add such questions to their primary ballots as a way of taking the pulse of the party. Republicans will also be asked to weigh in on school choice, public prayer, controlling state spending and repealing "Obamacare."

Democrats have ballot propositions planned on legalizing casino gambling, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and state funding of colleges and universities.

The Texas redistricting saga is currently moving forward in two federal courtrooms.

A three-judge panel in San Antonio is absorbing last week's US Supreme Court order and figuring out what legislative and congressional maps it should issue for this year's elections. 

Over in Washington, D.C., a trial is ongoing as to whether the maps passed by the Republican-led Legislature last year deserve federal approval. Reporter Maria Recio has a recap of yesterday's odd exchange over state Rep. Lon Burnam's "state of mind" and the future of his Fort Worth-based House district. (As Recio recounts, this PoliTex blog post made a cameo in the testimony).

-Aman Batheja

Fort Worth calls special election for District 8 council seat

The City Council voted 8-0 today to call a May 12 special election for District 8. Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks forfeited her seat when she filed to run in the District 33 Congressional race. Hicks abstained from the vote and will serve until someone is elected to replace her, though she could run again for her seat. For now, she is waiting to see how the Congressional District is redrawn after the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out a San Antonio federal court's maps. "It just depends on what the lower court comes back with and I think we'll know something in about a week," Hicks said before the council meeting. 

- Bill Hanna

FW Council postpones vote on Air and Space museum exhibit

"If we had to vote on this today, I would have to vote against it and vote my conscience," said Mayor Betsy Price. The council was to consider Tuesday suspending the city's financial management policy and accept the contents of a traveling aviation exhibit after the Fort Worth Air and Space Museum Foundation failed to repay a $2.53 million loan to the city. The traveling exhibit was displayed at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History as a temporary exhibit. It ran from late May to Sept. 5 in 2011. Price said the issue needs a frank discussion before the full council at next week's meeting. Councilman Jungus Jordan, who brought the proposal for the council to approve on Jan. 4, 2011, said there were more details that needed to be aired. "There are questions that should be brought before the council," Jordan said. The loan was not to exceed $3 million.

- Bill Hanna

English-only a hot question in debate

Are Republican presidential candidates trying to have it both ways by running advertising in Spanish while they promise on the campaign trail to make English the official language of the United States?

No, they said.

"It is essential to have a central language that we would expect people to learn," Newt Gingrich replied. He explained that requiring a single specific language for official documents and other legal purposes is a much different issue that his practice of seeking to reach out to different communities in their native languages, whether it's Spanish or Greek.

"I think Speaker Gingrich is right," Mitt Romney said in one of his rare moments of harmony with the former U.S. House speaker.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul agreed, too, saying, "you have to have one language" for legal reasons.

-- John Gravois

Paul continues to dismiss third party talk

He wouldn't absolutely rule it out, but Congressman Ron Paul, the only Texan still standing in the Republican presidential race, said in tonight's debate in Florida that he's still not interested in mounting a third party campaign. The one-time Libertarian presidential nominee said flatly when asked on NBC about the future of the 2012 race: "I don't have any plans to do that."

Paul, who has only a low-key campaign presence in Florida's Jan. 31 primary, also dismissed the view of many pundits and much of the party establishment that he's unelectable as president.

Speaking of Texans running for president, South Carolina primary winner Newt Gingrich said once again at the outset of the debate how thankful he is to have Texas Gov. Rick Perry's endorsement. Perry dropped out of the race on Thursday, and has kept a low profile since returning to Austin.

-- John Gravois 

 

FW Mayor won't support pledge for same-sex marriage

While more than 80 mayors nationwide voiced support last week for removing legal barriers on same-sex marriage, Mayor Betsy Price is holding off on making any similar pronouncements. "I remain focused on the business of the City of Fort Worth. The issue of same sex marriage is one for the state, not local government," Price said in a statement. Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck didn't attend last week's U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, where the issue arose and declined to comment because he wasn't there for the briefing, a spokeswoman said. Among the mayors at the briefing last week were Annise Parker of Houston, Michael Bloomberg of New York and Jerry Sanders of San Diego. Last week, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings also said he wouldn't support the same-sex marriage effort.

- Bill Hanna 

Late-night update: Perry still under 1 percent

For all the PoliTex readers wanting the latest, here's where things stand in the South Carolina Republican primary with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

It wasn't a good night for Texans, as U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson finished last among the remaining active candidates, and Rick Perry finished second among candidates who have dropped out too late to have their names removed from the ballot. Perry did stomp Jon Huntsman and Michele Bachmann, though.

Perry may have had a tough week, capped by his departure from the race Thursday, but he did score a big "thank you" from the victorious Newt Gingrich -- and even Gingrich's daughters. The candidate singled out Perry for thanks and praise during his victory speech. Later, on CNN, his daughters hailed Perry as an "American hero."

South Carolina GOP primary results, 99 percent of precincts reporting:

Newt Gingrich, 242,417 - 40 percent

Mitt Romney, 167,419 - 28 percent

Rick Santorum, 101,914 - 17 percent

Ron Paul, 77,943 - 13 percent

Herman Cain, 6,315 - 1 percent

Rick Perry, 2,527 - 0 percent

Jon Huntsman, 1,178 - 0 percent

Michele Bachmann, 495 - 0 percent

Gary Johnson, 213 - 0 percent

-- John Gravois

Perry update: Governor slips to 0 percent in S.C. vote count

It's a statistical thing, of course, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out of the race Thursday, has dropped to 0 percent of the vote in South Carolina. With 58 percent of the vote now counted, Perry, who got out of the race too late to be removed from the ballot, has 1,647 votes, but that rounds down to 0 percent of the total votes cast, The Associated Press reports.

Here's the latest rundown, with 58 percent of the precincts reporting in the South Carolina Republican primary: 

Newt Gingrich, 134,497 - 40 percent

Mitt Romney, 88,423 - 27 percent

Rick Santorum, 59,303 - 18 percent

Ron Paul, 44,910 - 13 percent

Herman Cain, 3,338 - 1 percent

Rick Perry, 1,647 - 0 percent

Jon Huntsman, 638 - 0 percent

Michele Bachmann, 276 - 0 percent

Gary Johnson, 114 - 0 percent

-- John Gravois

Perry running sixth in South Carolina vote

Rick Perry may have ended his Republican presidential campaign, but that didn't keep him off the ballot in today's South Carolina primary.

How's he doing?

With 30 percent of the vote counted, the Texas governor had 1 percent of the vote and running sixth -- a few hundred votes short of another former candidate, Herman Cain, who has gotten a lot of attention from Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert in recent days. Colbert had urged South Carolina voters to cast ballots for Cain as a show of support for Colbert's fux presidential candidacy.

Here's the breakdown of the vote with 30 percent of the ballots counted: 

Newt Gingrich, 71,410 - 41 percent

Mitt Romney, 45,724 - 26 percent

Rick Santorum, 31,245 - 18 percent

Ron Paul, 23,607 - 13 percent

Herman Cain, 1,639 - 1 percent

Rick Perry, 1,140 - 1 percent

Jon Huntsman, 394 - 0 percent

Michele Bachmann, 160 - 0 percent

Gary Johnson, 69 - 0 percent

-- John Gravois

South Carolina exit polls show there was a heavy evangelical turnout

What do the early details from today's exit polls in the South Carolina primary show? Here's the first rundown from The Associated Press:

BROADLY CONSERVATIVE: About 7 in 10 voters in South Carolina said they tilt conservative on most political matters, according to early exit polls. That outweighs the share saying so in New Hampshire but is a bit less than in Iowa. In 2008, a similar 69 percent of South Carolina Republican primary voters were conservative.

LATE DECIDERS: A majority of voters in the first-in-the-South contest said they decided on a candidate in the last few days. In 2008, just 34 percent of voters said they made up their mind in the final three days.

RELIGIOUS VOTERS: More than 6 in 10 voters in South Carolina said they are born again or evangelical Christians, and about one-quarter said it was deeply important that a candidate share their religious views.

SEEKING A WINNER: Almost half of voters said the most important trait they sought in a candidate was ability to beat the President Barack Obama in November. Fewer said they prioritized a candidate’s experience, conservative credentials or moral character.

FACING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES: Almost 8 in 10 voters said they were very worried about the future of the nation’s economy, and about a third said someone in their household had lost a job since the start of Obama’s term.

Preliminary results are from an exit poll conducted for AP and the television networks by Edison Research as voters left their polling places at 35 randomly selected sites in South Carolina. The survey involved interviews with 1,577 Republican primary voters and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

-- John Gravois

Paul looks ahead to Nevada, Minnesota and beyond in GOP race

Texas Congressman Ron Paul is expected by many experts to finish third tonight as the votes are counted in South Carolina. And polls suggest he won't be a top contender in the next primary state, Florida, which votes Jan. 31.

But the Lake Jackson obstetrician says he's already looking ahead to Nevada and Minnesota, which hold caucuses next month. The Associated Press reports that he's made a "substantial ad buy" in those states, where he hopes his libertarian, Internet-driven campaign is better received.

“We want a free society and a prosperous society, and we are on the verge of a victory for those issues today,” Paul said as he campaigned.

He told Star-Telegram Austin bureau chief Dave Montgomery in South Carolina that Texas Gov. Rick Perry's departure from the Republican presidential primary field on Thursday should mean more votes for him.

Despite the low expectations for tonight, CNN reports that an enthusiastic crowd of Paul supporters is already turning out at Jillian's Billiards Club in Columbia, S.C. for a celebration tonight. 

-- John Gravois

SCOTUS ruling prompts cryptic tweets from Texas Republicans

The news that the political maps to be used for the 2012 elections in Texas are likely going to change again following today's ruling from the US Supreme Court could mean that scores of Republicans and Democrats will have to change their political plans in a hurry. 

The Justices kicked the convoluted case back to a San Antonio federal court and told that court's judges to give more deference to what the Republican-led Legislature approved last year in devising temporary political maps that can be used for this year's elections.

The look of the maps that will ultimately be used for this year's election remains to be seen but today's news is being cheered by Republicans and stirring concern among some Democrats. 

Some are already hinting via Twitter that their campaign plans are set to change.

Early reactions to SCOTUS ruling on Texas political maps (UPDATED)

Reactions from both Republicans and Democrats are coming in to the US Supreme Court ruling this morning in a high-profile Texas redistricting case.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott cheered the ruling as good news for the state.

"The Supreme Court confirmed that the San Antonio court drew illegal maps, without regard for the policy decisions of elected leaders," Abbott said. "As the Justices point out, courts are ill-suited to make policy judgments and redistricting is primarily the responsibility of the State. The Court made clear in a strongly worded opinion that the district court must give deference to elected leaders of this state, and it's clear by the Supreme Court ruling that the district court abandoned these guiding principles."

Abbott predicted that the decision will allow elections to move forward "as soon as possible."

The Texas Democratic Party said Abbott and others were misinterpreting the ruling.

“The Supreme Court did not strike down the interim maps," spokesperson Anthony Gutierrez said. "The issues they had pertained to the process by which the court arrived at new maps, not necessarily the maps themselves."

Gutierrez said it remains unclear what the final maps will look like. 

"The state’s maps completely ignored the demographic realities of Texas," Gutierrez said. "The Supreme Court did not approve the state’s maps and we don’t expect they ever will."

BREAKING: US Supreme Court throws out court-drawn maps in Texas redistricting case

The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday to toss out court-drawn maps that had been intended to be used for the 2012 elections. 

The case now heads back to the three-judge panel in San Antonio to reconsider the politically-charged issue. 

The Justices all agreed that the San Antonio court overstepped its authority when it drew new temporary political maps that did not appear to properly take into account what the Republican-led Legislature approved last year. Those maps, which Democrats have alleged disenfranchises the state's minority voters, are still waiting on federal approval in a separate case in Washington, D.C.

The ruling is a blow to Texas Democrats who had cheered late last year when a San Antonio federal court released new legislative and congressional maps that were widely seen as less favorable to Republicans.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott praised the ruling as good news for the state.

Gingrich: Perry endorsement will make "an enormous difference in Texas"

Newt Gingrich spoke to PBS' Gwen Ifill today following Gov. Rick Perry's announcement that he was dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Gingrich.

"I think Gov. Perry actually endorsing me today was very helpful and I think will make a very big difference both around the country and an enormous difference in Texas," Gingrich said.

Here's the video:

-Aman Batheja

Perry and Gingrich: It's complicated

Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to end his presidential campaign and endorse former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is sure to bring up more examination of the pair’s unusual history.

Before becoming primary rivals, Gingrich and Perry spent years as allies.

In 2010, Gingrich wrote a glowing foreword to Perry's last book, "Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington."

That year, the pair appeared together at a book signing at a Barnes & Noble in southwest Fort Worth. At the signing, Gingrich praised Perry's leadership and suggested President Obama seek out Perry for advice.

"I have to say there are very few people who I think could do a better job leading the country than Gov. Perry," Gingrich said.

Transcript of Gov. Rick Perry's speech ending his presidential campaign

Gov. Rick Perry ended his presidential campaign today in South Carolina, the same state he officially launched his presidential campaign in August. Below is a transcript of his remarks:

As I’ve stated numerous times during the campaign, this campaign has never been about the candidate. I ran for president because I love America. I love our people. I love our freedom and, matter of fact, this mission is greater than any one man.

As I’ve traveled across this great country, starting here in Charleston, going to New Hampshire, Iowa, California, down into Florida, numerous states in between obviously. I just covered this tremendous purpose, resiliency of our people. They’ve never lost hope despite the circumstances we find ourselves in. They haven’t stopped believing in the promise of America. They haven’t stopped believing in the American dream. Americans are down but we can never be counted out. We’re too great a people for that.

What’s broken in America is not our people, it’s our politics. And what we need in Washington is a place that is humbler with a federal government that is smaller so that our people can live freer.

 

From start to finish: A timeline of key moments in Rick Perry's presidential campaign

It's been nearly eight months since Texas Gov. Rick Perry first began speaking publicly about running for president. As he ends his presidential campaign this morning and endorses Newt Gingrich, here is a look back to the key moments of his presidential campaign with links to our coverage.

May 27, 2011: At a news conference near the end of the legislative session, Perry confirms he is thinking about running for president.

June 9, 2011: Several of Newt Gingrich’s senior campaign aides abruptly resign en masse, including Dave Carney and Rob Johnson, two former Perry advisers. The pair will eventually help Perry launch his presidential bid. 

June 18, 2011: Perry steals the show at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, delivering an energetic speech that increases interest in him joining the presidential race.

Aug. 6, 2011: Perry is a featured speaker at The Response, a daylong prayer and fast at Houston’s Reliant Stadium that draws thousands in attendance and national attention due to Perry’s involvement. Organizers insisted the event was non-political though similar events have since been held in Iowa prior to that state's caucus and in South Carolina in advance of that state's primary.

Aug. 13, 2011: Perry makes if official, launching his campaign for president in South Carolina. "It is time to get America working again," Perry says. "That’s why, with the support of my family, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of America, I declare to you today my candidacy for President of the United States." Perry quickly jumps to the top of national polls.

Perry still running last in South Carolina

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is running out of time to rebound in South Carolina, which most experts consider do-or-die for the Republican presidential candidate. Unless Perry can move up substantially, pundits are abuzz that he'll be out of the race after Saturday's vote.

The latest CNN/Time poll doesn't show a surge. Mitt Romney still leads with 33 percent of the support from likely South Carolina Republican voters, followed by Newt Gingrich at 23 percent, Rick Santorum at 16 percent, Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 13 percent and Perry at 6 percent.

Gingrich earlier today urged Perry and Santorum to drop out of the race to give conservatives a chance at derailing the march by Romney, a moderate, to the nomination. Perry's campaign says he's staying in the race and looks forward to a strong showing Saturday.

Perry's next chance to turn things around is Thursday night's debate, scheduled for 7 p.m. on CNN.

-- John Gravois

JPS trauma center missing out on up to $1.5 million in red light camera revenue

The JPS Health Network trauma center could be missing out on up to $1.5 million in revenue from red-light cameras that the state won’t release.

The Dallas Morning News reported  (paywall) last weekend that the state is sitting on at least $46 million in funds collected from red light cameras that is supposed to benefit Texas’ 128 trauma centers. 

The story was reported by students in an advanced reporting class at the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas.

The money has helped lawmakers certify a balanced budget, never mind that much of the money can’t be used for general expenses, the story says.  It is apparently a common accounting ploy that some say is necessary because of the state’s difficult budget situation.

I asked Robert Earley, JPS’s CEO, how much JPS had received in red-light revenue, as well as how much it was due. He told me the public hospital district has received about $3.3 million, but figuring out exactly how much it was owed wasn’t a simple calculation.

If the money is distributed the same way it has in the past, JPS officials estimate the trauma center could be due up to $1.5 million, he said.

But that’s a big if, he said.

“We still don’t know how they will distribute that money, or whether they will distribute it,” he said.

--Alex Branch

 

Trinity Park feral cat colony has disappeared

Beverly Sims, part of a group that has helped feed the cats in Trinity Park, said the felines have vanished and she's worried that somebody may have harmed them. "They're gone, there's no sign of them," Sims said Wednesday. Sims and other cat lovers are offering a $1,000 reward for information about the cats. City animal code compliance officers visited the park on Tuesday after receiving a complaint but stopped short of saying they had launched an investigation. "I think unless we hear more information, we're not in a position to speculate," said Scott Hanlan, assistant code compliance. Hanlan noted that there are predators in the park but cautioned there is no evidence that other animals  harmed the cats. "We just don't know," Hanlan said. Feral cats have been getting a lot of attention recently as the city contemplates a trap/neuter/return policy for the wild, undomesticated cats. The last feral cat public meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Meadowbrook United Methodist Church. Below is a photograph of the Trinity Park colony that was taken in November. 

- Bill Hanna

Tarrant Senate races draw more than $1 million in donations, half of it for Davis (updated)

Two hot state senate races based in Tarrant County drew more than $1 million in donations to candidates over the last six months of 2011, according to campaign finance reports posted online Wednesday.

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, raised $569,162 from July to December and reported $681,362 cash on hand as of the end of the year. The largest donations were several in the amount of $25,000 from Austin-based political action committee Annie's List, Bonanza Oil Company President Lee Fikes of Dallas, Fort Worth investor Robert Patton and Houston attorney John Williams Jr.

Davis' District 10 senate seat has drawn considerable interest from Republicans as has nearby Senate District 9, currently represented by Arlington state Sen. Chris Harris who is not running for another term.

State Rep. Mark Shelton of Fort Worth, currently the only Republican running for Senate District 10, reported raising $273,518 and had $265,105 left in his account. His largest sources of funding were $100,000 from TEXPAC, the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, and $51,000 from Dallas-based Pinnacle Anesthesia Consultants. 

State Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, is currently running for Senate District 9 but that could change. He originally launched a campaign to unseat Davis and represent Senate District 10. When legal battles over redistricting led to a change in the political maps in November, Hancock found himself living in Senate District 9. A ruling from the US Supreme Court on redistricting is expected soon. A spokesman for Hancock's campaign said Hancock expects he will ultimately end up running against Shelton for the Senate District 10 Republican nomination.

Hancock reported raising more than $178,000 between his campaign account and a separate Texans for Kelly Hancock PAC. Hancock also loaned the PAC $250,000. He reported $603,756 on hand between the two accounts. Hancock drew $50,000 in contributions from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and his wife, Doylene.

State Reps. Rodney Anderson of Grand Prairie and former state Rep. Toby Goodman of Arlington are both running for Harris' senate seat. 

Bill would give Oklahomans the right to vote on any Texas water sale

An Associated Press story says proposed legislation by two state lawmakers would require a statewide vote of the people before any out-of-state sale of Oklahoma water. Sen. Jerry Ellis of Valliant and Rep. Eric Proctor of Tulsa said Tuesday that The People's WaterAct would give Oklahomans the final say in deals with other states. The Tarrant Regional Water District has waged a multi-year legal battle to obtain water from Oklahoma that has so far been unsuccessful. Ellis, who is based in water-rich Southeastern Oklahoma has been one of the most vocal opponents of water sales to Texas and said the future of Oklahoma water should not be decided in private meetings between politicians and Texans.

- Bill Hanna

 

 

Water District votes to move board elections to 2013

In a 3-2 vote, the Tarrant Regional Water District board voted to shift its election date for three board seats from May 2012 to May 2013. Vic Henderson, chair of the water board, said the switch was made to bring the water district's election date in line most of the other Tarrant County governmental entities that have shifted to odd rather than even years. But the water board, which historically has been known for casting unanimous votes, was split on the issue. Board members Hal Sparks and Jim Lane voted against the issue, saying they felt the water code was clear that elections should be held in odd years even though the water district had obtained a letter from the Secretary of State's office saying they could move the date. Sparks,  Henderson and board member Jack Stevens were slated to be up for re-election but will now serve for another year. Sparks said he felt like he made an agreement with voters to serve four years when he was elected and voted his conscience on the issue. But he said he plans to serve the remainder of his term.

- Bill Hanna

 

 

Romney leads Perry in Texas

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the pack of Republican presidential candidates in many states, including Texas, where Gov. Rick Perry – who once led the race in his home state – now comes in third, according to a new poll released Tuesday by the North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling.

Last September, Perry drew 49 percent of the vote in this poll, compared with 10 percent for Romney, who came in second.

But now, Romney draws 24 percent of the vote, compared with Newt Gingrich’s 23 percent, Perry’s 18 percent, Rick Santorum’s 15 percent and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s 12 percent, according to the PPP poll conducted this month.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Trump supporters, socialists among groups vying for ballot access in Texas

Ten political groups have filed for the chance to get added to this year's ballot in Texas and any of them could serve as a major disruption to the November elections if successful.

As we reported in Sunday's paper, socialists, reformers, Donald Trump fans and new groups that defy simple categorization are looking to join Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and Greens on the general election ballot in November. 

Getting a new party on the Texas ballot isn't easy. The most common route is to gather signatures of registered voters following this year's primaries and 49,799 are needed this year. The Texas secretary of state's website states that ballot access petitions need to be submitted by late May, though that date could change if the rest of the election calendar is altered by legal battles over redistricting.

In the past decade, Libertarians and Greens got on the Texas ballot via petition drives that cost over $100,000.

Here's a quick look at the ten political groups and their seriousness about making it on the Texas ballot: 

Another blow for Perry: Evangelical leaders meeting in Texas back Santorum

Rick Santorum is the choice of a group of national evangelical leaders gathering in Texas this weekend in hopes of joining forces behind a Republican candidate they consider to be a true conservative.

Nationally, the meeting has attracted a lot of attention as political experts portray it as a last-ditch effort to stop Mitt Romney's march to the GOP nomination. Many politically active evangelicals consider Romney far too moderate. Closer to home, backers of Texas Gov. Rick Perry were hoping to win the backing of the evangelical leaders as a way to revive his struggling campaign.

Conservative heavyweights hosting or invited to the event at a ranch outside Brenham include James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family; Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of the Liberty Institute; Don Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association; and Gary Bauer, president of American Values.

"This coming election could prove to be the most critical of our lifetime," reads the invitation. "Conservatives of faith need to attempt to reach a consensus on which Republican presidential candidate or candidates we can support, in order to be most effective."

-- John Gravois and Dave Montgomery

Fort Worth sees 12 percent jump in November sales tax receipts

It is a sign, said Fort Worth Budget Officer Horatio Porter, that the economy may be improving locally.

That's good news for the City of Fort Worth, which is projecting a budget shortfall next year, but Porter said officials would wait until December's sales tax receipts were released before adjusting its projections for next year's budget.

River Oaks, meanwhile, saw a 27 percent increase from November 2010 to November 2011. Other cities that saw increases included North Richland Hills, 7.65 percent; Mansfield, 5.86 percent; Haltom City, 7.93 percent; Bedford, 4.93 percent; Southlake, 4.43 percent; Keller, 3.43 percent and Grapevine, 2.57 percent.

Among those that saw drops from November 2010 to November 2011 were Richland Hills, which was down 17.11 percent;  Hurst, which decreased 9.55 percent. Arlington was nearly flat with a 0.20 percent drop from November 2010 to November 2011.

For other cities, check the Texas Comptroller's website.

- Bill Hanna

Perry to attend another "Response" prayer rally, this time in South Carolina

Hoping to re-energize his presidential campaign in South Carolina, Gov. Rick Perry is returning to an approach that worked for him five months ago.

Perry will appear at a prayer rally in South Carolina next week put on by The Response USA, the same group that organized a prayer and fasting event at Houston's Reliant Stadium in August immediately before Perry launched his bid for president. The American Family Association hosted that rally at Perry's request.

Following the Houston event, which was heavily covered by the national media because of Perry's involvement, The Response USA held a second prayer rally in Iowa in December.

Though they didn't hold any events in New Hampshire, the group's leadership appears to be planning to somewhat mirror the remaining primary calendar, holding events in the coming weeks in South Carolina, Florida and Arizona. 

The group confirmed via Twitter today that Perry will appear at their South Carolina rally on Jan. 17 but stressed on their website that the event should not be considered an event for Perry's campaign.

"Though Governor Rick Perry initiated The Response in Houston, these upcoming state-wide gatherings will not be affiliated with any particular presidential candidates," the group writes on its website. 

While the Houston rally was advertised as "apolitical," the event's registration list was ultimately used by the American Family Association in an email campaign encouraging conservative Christians to "register and vote according to the Biblical worldview in 2012."

(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

-Aman Batheja

Libertarians schedule presidential debate in North Texas

The Texas Libertarian Party will hold a presidential debate in Grapevine next month, a local party official confirmed today.

The debate is scheduled for Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., at the DFW Airport North Outdoor World hotel in Grapevine and will be open to the public, said John Spivey, chair of the Tarrant County Libertarian Party. Candidates will take questions selected by a debate committee and from the audience.  

Gary Johnson, once the Republican governor of New Mexico, is among three candidates for the party's presidential nomination who has confirmed he will attend the debate, Spivey said. Last month, Johnson quit the Republican primaries to vie for the Libertarian nomination.  

RJ Harris of Oklahoma and Roger Gary of Texas will also attend the debate, Spivey said. Several other candidates running for the party's nomination have been invited.

The party's nominee will be selected at the Libertarian's national convention in Las Vegas in May.

Along with Texas, where they already have ballot access, the Libertarian Party has said it expects to be on the ballot in at least 45 states this year.

-Aman Batheja

GOP delegate count begins

Here's the latest from The Associated Press on how the early delegate chase is stacking up among Republican presidential candidates:

"Republican Mitt Romney has added to his lead in the race for convention delegates by winning the New Hampshire primary.

The former Massachusetts governor won at least four delegates in Tuesday’s primary, with four still to be awarded. Texas Rep. Ron Paul came in second with at least two delegates and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman came in third with at least one.

There were only 12 delegates at stake in New Hampshire because the state was penalized half its GOP delegates for holding its primary before February. Romney won 13 delegates in last week’s Iowa caucuses, giving him a total of 17 so far.

It will take 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination."

-- John Gravois

Fort Worth Water Department bill paying site will be unavailable this weekend

While the City of Fort Worth is upgrading its online bill pay system, H2O online, this weekend the website will be offline. It means city residents will not able to access the site from 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 until 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Customers needing to make a payment before then can pay by phone with a check, credit card or debit card by calling 817-392-4477. But customers will not be able to get account information or pay through the H2Online website while the upgrades are being installed. Customer service representatives also will be unable to look up account information but can still open and close accounts and receive reports for water emergencies or sewer issues. Customers that pay by bank draft, through a third-party online service, online through their bank, by mailer or by using a drop box are unaffected. To support a projected increase in calls, the water department will staff its call center at a higher than normal level for a furlough, holiday or weekend. Also, the water department's three satellite offices in the Southwest Municipal Court Building and Carnival and Fiesta stores are closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Normal operating hours resume on Tuesday Jan. 17. The city says late payment and delinquency notification processes have been adjusted so there are no payment due dates during this four-day period.

- Bill Hanna

Previously rejected, an April primary may be best outcome for Texas

Last spring, the Texas Legislature had to decide what to do about the Texas primary.

All sides were in agreement that the election calendar had to be tweaked in some way to allow the state to comply with a new federal law requiring military and overseas voters have more time to vote.  

The leading options were to move the primary to early April or keep the primary in early March and move other key deadlines around it. State Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, argued that moving the primary to April was the simplest solution and the one that would cause the least confusion.

The majority of Taylor's colleagues disagreed.

On the House floor, State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, argued that moving the Texas primary to April would ensure that the state would not be a factor in the 2012 presidential race. Others expressed concern that an April primary would move any possible runoffs into June, which would be a logistical challenge given that so many schools serve as polling places. Also, turning out voters in the summer would be tough.

Eight months later, something akin to Taylor's plan is looking like the best possible outcome.

At a hearing yesterday on Texas redistricting issues, the US Supreme Court put forth the very real possibility that this year's Texas primary may not be until late June in order to give federal courts more time to resolve issues regarding redistricting maps. Not only would that be a later date than anyone had foreseen last year, it would mean primary runoffs would take place in the middle of summer.

And a June primary isn't the strangest possible outcome of this scheduling fiasco.

In an email to party members this morning, Texas Republican Party Chair Steve Munisteri said that a split primary is looking more likely. Munisteri explained that the state conventions planned by the Texas Democratic and Republican parties are set for June and can't be rescheduled. 

"There has to be a primary for at least some races by early April, in order to have the two parties' state conventions," Munisteri wrote. "Cancelling the state conventions is not an option for several reasons. First, the already incurred contractual obligations of the parties would jeopardize the financial health of both parties. Second, it is important that the State of Texas be able to pick delegates to the Republican National Convention so that we can have an impact on the Presidential race....Third, the Texas Election Code requires that we have a state convention. And fourth, we need to have elections for party officers, including State Chairman, Vice-Chairman, National Committeeman and Committeewoman, and the members of the State Republican Executive Committee."

Even if the primary is only delayed until May, instead of June, Munisteri explained that that still would not allow enough time for the Texas Republican Party to properly plan for its June state convention.

With few options left, hosting two Texas primaries may end up the only viable solution remaining. 

-Aman Batheja

Two New Hampshire polls have Perry trailing Roemer

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, two new polls show Gov. Rick Perry in last place in the state, even trailing Buddy Roemer, a former Louisiana Gov. who has received far less attention than Perry on the campaign trail.

Phone surveys from Public Policy Polling and Suffolk University both show Perry drawing 1 percent support. Roemer polled at 2 percent in the Suffolk poll and 3 percent support in the PPP poll.

Both polls show Mitt Romney with a double-digit lead, followed by US Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.  

Both polls were conducted over the weekend.

Details on the Suffolk University poll are here.

Details of the PPP poll are here.

Perry has said he is focusing his attention this week on South Carolina, which holds its primary on Jan. 21.

Over the past week, Roemer has been working to draw attention to his poll numbers compared to Perry's, arguing that he should be allowed in the remaining televised debates if Perry is still allowed in.

-Aman Batheja

Tarrant County leaders at the White House Mavericks' celebration

Tarrant County was represented at the White House celebration Monday for the reigning Dallas Mavericks champions.

Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairman Steve Maxwell and former Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairman Art Brender attended the event after being invited by the Obama For America campaign.

"It was fantastic, amazing," said Brender, who was able to pose for a picture with the Mavericks' championship trophy. "It was a neat deal."

Maxwell said he was excited to attend the event, getting the chance to both talk to current and past Dallas Mavericks as well as tour the White House.

"President Obama was very warm and friendly," he said. "You could tell this was something he loved to do."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Reports: Supreme Court Justices appeared unsure at Texas redistricting hearing [Updated]

The US Supreme Court concluded a hearing on Texas redistricting maps this afternoon, leaving the timing of this year's primaries and the political maps that Texas will be allowed to use still very much up in the air.

Mark Sherman, a legal affairs writer with the Associated Press, reported the following: 

The justices appeared unsure Monday at arguments over Texas’ electoral districts about whether primary elections could take place in early April or whether legal wrangling between the GOP-dominated state government and minority groups would take longer to resolve.

Several justices lamented the lack of an easy answer in a case being considered on an expedited schedule because of the impending Texas primary, set for April 3 after a judge delayed the vote for a month.

The justices discussed moving the primary date back further to give the courts handling different aspects of the case more time.

"Why can’t this all be pushed back, and wouldn’t that eliminate a lot of the problems we are grappling with in this case?" Justice Samuel Alito asked.

The court agreed last month to hear an emergency challenge by Texas Republicans to court-drawn maps that had been set for the 2012 election cycle. Last year, the GOP-controlled Legislature approved maps for the state's congressional and legislative districts that Democrats and minority groups argued disenfranchised minority voters.

Fort Worth Councilman Frank Moss set to return

Moss, 67, said Monday he is planning to attend his first council meeting on Tuesday since suffering a heart attack in October. But he is still dealing with damage to his vocal cords that was caused by one of the medical procedures. While he can speak clearly, his voice has been weakened and he is undergoing treatment from a speech therapist. "I've been told it may recover and it may not," said Moss who is using "a device" to help him be heard. He believes he can serve out the remainder of his term, which expires in May 2013. "That's my intention," Moss said. The councilman suffered a heart attack while attending the Texas Municipal League Meetings in Houston.

- Bill Hanna