Campaign Season's Impact on Special Session
This special session will be full of campaign season issues as all of the representatives in the Texas House as well as one-third of the state Senators are back up on the ballot.
The most intriguing situation however seems to be that of the Governor position. Republican Governor Rick Perry is on the hotseat after several shortcomings with lowering property taxes while taking care of the public education problems facing the state. This is made an even bigger issues due to the fact he is facing competition in the race for the Governor's Mansion from Democrat Chris Bell, humorist Kinky Friedman and state comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Of the three, Strayhorn is really shaking things up with her remarks from her position as comptroller.
After Perry released his plan, representatives from both sides of the aisle approached the comptroller, Strayhorn, to gauge what her office expected from the Perry plan. Strayhorn told the representatives that Perry's tax plan does not work.
Okay, it may be politically-motivated, but there is a legitimate problem to what Strayhorn says. That's because the word of her office has an official impact on the legislation passed by the Texas Legislature. As Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), who chairs the Ways and Means Commitee said, Strayhorn's conclusions are a "problem, no doubt" since her office has final say in judging the fiscal implications of legislation. (Austin American-Statesman, 4/15/06)
With Strayhorn campaigning against Perry, of course she wants him to fail this special session and face the wrath of the Supreme Court and ultimately, Texas voters. However, is this really politically motivated? Or is Strayhorn being legitimate? It's tough to tell as her office has waged war with Perry's plans in the past from her office in Austin as state comptroller.
Time will tell what comes of the Perry plan and whether or not those under the dome in Austin are favorable to it. Then again, this is just one story of many that have direct links to the election season this fall.
The special session begins tommorrow and I am sure we'll hear many more remarks from both Perry, Strayhorn and the rest of the circus acts getting together for the 30-day show.
The most intriguing situation however seems to be that of the Governor position. Republican Governor Rick Perry is on the hotseat after several shortcomings with lowering property taxes while taking care of the public education problems facing the state. This is made an even bigger issues due to the fact he is facing competition in the race for the Governor's Mansion from Democrat Chris Bell, humorist Kinky Friedman and state comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Of the three, Strayhorn is really shaking things up with her remarks from her position as comptroller.
After Perry released his plan, representatives from both sides of the aisle approached the comptroller, Strayhorn, to gauge what her office expected from the Perry plan. Strayhorn told the representatives that Perry's tax plan does not work.
Okay, it may be politically-motivated, but there is a legitimate problem to what Strayhorn says. That's because the word of her office has an official impact on the legislation passed by the Texas Legislature. As Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), who chairs the Ways and Means Commitee said, Strayhorn's conclusions are a "problem, no doubt" since her office has final say in judging the fiscal implications of legislation. (Austin American-Statesman, 4/15/06)
With Strayhorn campaigning against Perry, of course she wants him to fail this special session and face the wrath of the Supreme Court and ultimately, Texas voters. However, is this really politically motivated? Or is Strayhorn being legitimate? It's tough to tell as her office has waged war with Perry's plans in the past from her office in Austin as state comptroller.
Time will tell what comes of the Perry plan and whether or not those under the dome in Austin are favorable to it. Then again, this is just one story of many that have direct links to the election season this fall.
The special session begins tommorrow and I am sure we'll hear many more remarks from both Perry, Strayhorn and the rest of the circus acts getting together for the 30-day show.
posted by Jason Plotkin | 4:42 PM
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