The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll
for the week of June 3
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 How would you grade these state leaders this session?
• "Without Williams' performance, I • "Re: Dewhurst, Gotta show up for would rate Dewhurst lower." class to get a passing grade."
• "Perry gives a speech in January, • "The work got done and the train disappears, and then makes demands stayed on time." with a couple of weeks to go. Real leadership right there!
• "For a guy whose it trying to protect • "The Governor and Dewhurst are so his right flank, Dewhurst had a funny over. Gentlemen, please retire! After way of showing it." this session, what could they possibly be clinging too? Can it be that much • "Governor Perry is a shadow of his fun riding around in black SUV's? 2011 self. The oops debate has Meanwhile, the Speaker continues to haunted and will haunt him until he pretend that there is still a country hangs up the spurs. David Dewhurst's club wing in the GOP. Although special session plea for conservative beloved by the press -- he squandered relevance came off as too little too his good PR capital, offering no late." leadership or vision on anything -- budget, education, transportation, • "Perry was a huge F. He went from water -- nothing. Nice man. What a Furniture--he didn't even bother to waste." declare emergency items--to Failure-- vetoing bipartisan bills like 'dark • "If there is leadership to be found, it money' and 'buy American'." is in the history books. Dewhurst could have presided from Houston • "You left off the two real chamber and based on his presence on the dais, leaders this session: Dennis Bonnen may have. At least Craddock was and Kevin Eltife. Both get an A." heard if not seen on the dais. Straus must have broken some kind of record • "A lack of leadership across the for turning the gavel over to others. board." Neither presiding officer presided. As usual Perry was for Perry." • "Dewhurst? Is he still around?"
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 • "Waldo describes the speaker - dew House be the House. He may be as is out of touch and the gov at least good as Pete Laney." acts likes h is in charge" • "Dewhurst wanted to lead and was • "The Guv: Did everything right to a non-factor" keep himself relevant (he already has the ''red-meat'' record under his belt). • "Dewhurst was the most ineffective Did not do anything to further Lt. Gov since... well... since before any alienate the women and Hispanic vote of us can remember. Bob Bullock must in case he does another run for Prez. be turning over in his grave." The Dew: Our state has not witness a weaker Lite Guv than the Dew. He • "Mr. Perry's usefulness as the state's looked weak begging for a special red- chief executive has reached its limit. meat session. The Dew has failed to Dewhurst may be the worst Senate govern and will pay the primary President in modern history, and price. Speaker Straus: The Speaker Straus - well he looks OK compared to should be thanking his lucky star for Thing 1 and Thing 2." Dennis Bonnen. It was clear from day one who was running the show. The • "Perhaps we should rename them Speaker should also be credited for leaders doesn't fit. Three blind mice identifying Bonnen as the can-do go- maybe" to member this session." • "Perry was disengaged for most of • "Dewhurst whined at the end of the the session, but still somewhat session about getting little done after effective because he might run for re- he was nowhere to be found for the election. Dewhurst's session was his duration. When he did engage, he was worst, although he managed to avoid ineffective because the senators have screwing things up, largely by being such little regard for him (born of his mentally absent. Straus kept his herd own actions -- or inaction -- over the of cats together, no small years). And he wants this job again?" accomplishment."
• "Straus's style may be too hands off for some people, but he let's the
How would you grade the Legislature?
• "With a few failures (e.g. • "Completely mediocre. Cs across the transportation funding), they board." addressed the matters they needed to address, handled the available • "The freshmen and sophomores resources reasonably well, and did so filed good bills, but Straus' leadership in a much more collegial atmosphere." didn't let them see the light of day. Dewhurst was supposed to prove his • "The adults in the House by-and- conservative credentials, but bills large prevailed over the kooks and including the budget proved quite the newbies (not mutually exclusive)." opposite."
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 • "Really, we had to put the funding -- while factions of different 'status back for k - 12? The education system quos' kept anything meaningful from is already bloated. They need to learn passing in the House." to get by with less period end of story. I see this stuff up close. When I hear • "House, better than expected and 'we have cut to the bone' it makes me the Senate, boring." laugh. Please people. Get serious. One thing is for sure, the fox is watching • "Access to healthcare-uninsured is a the hen house when the real problem" administrators are in charge. The system is overly did I say overly top • "It takes real leadership and courage heavy with administrators and to go from one of the most administrative costs. The money combustible sessions in our history to needs to be spent on teachers and one that ran fairly smoothly." classrooms." • "A session in which treading water • "The sum of the parts is greater than on education funding (while dumbing the whole." down curriculum) is scored as a major victory." • "Tax cuts: check. Water funding: check. Restoring education funding: • "Tarrant County gets an F." check. Balanced budget: check. Hard to argue with the end result, though it • "A harmonious House makes things was sloppy getting there." look better...."
• "House: points off for poor clock • "Generally, a pretty common sense management" legislature. Their inability to 'get' that the public wants them to reform • "Spent to much but got all bases themselves is the only thing holding covered and can get out of town them back from an A." having done what they have to do; pass a budget" • "Despite the tea party nut jobs and followers of MQS, House came out • "For having a bunch of money and, with pretty sensible solutions for the thus, a pretty easy go of it, the session session." was mediocre and forgettable." • "Both bodies acted like adults, and • "Ironically, the performance of both managed to do their jobs without chambers never got higher than their drama. One of best sessions in recent worst members -- Wendy Davis years." blocking all things good in the Senate
How many members of the Senate will leave or be replaced in the next election cycle?
• "At least 2 Senators plan to run for • "Turn over is real and we do not statewide office." need term limits. If people actually
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 did the homework and math they • "Davis will surely be defeated. Can would see that there is a consistent the Fort Worth Republicans stumble turn over rate." three times in a row?"
• "Patrick and Hegar will try to move • "There are several senators whose up. I could envision a retirement." time has come, they just don't know it yet." • "Adios, Senators Davis, Campbell, and maybe Hegar, who will be a great • "Redistricting - don't care much at Comptroller." moment"
• "Are you including the light guv in • "What senators are not running for this question?" state wide office?"
• "Why would anyone leave the Texas • "Paxton to AG and Hegar to Senate? Notice that only TX House Comptroller at a minimum." members leave to run for Congress. TX Senators already have a better deal • "San Antonio is calling they want - part-time work, outsized power." their Senator back."
• "Lots of folks with aspirations for • "Paxton (the dude from California) statewide office." wont' be able to stop himself from running. Patrick either." • "A couple my try for a statewide slot if Perry moves on." • "It's difficult to see any retirements or serious challenges for any • "Depends on what happens with Senators." redistricting"
How many members of the House will leave or be replaced in the next election cycle?
• "I hope the liberals give up the districts that elected extremists who ghost." are likely to balance back out. As the wars end, the economy stabilizes, and • "If any of the incumbents were the heat of the Obama re-election gets going to be replaced they would have further in the rearview mirror, the been last time. A few of the freshman Chamber of Commerce Rs will claim will get beat. There will be very little some territory back from the Tea turnover" Party Rs.be it in the primary, or by voting with Ds in November." • "Lots of primaries and cardinals retiring." • "This is a great ending session for many members, with a budget • "The House is due for some high surplus and water funding taken care turnover. You have some moderate of. Why not call it quits and stop
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 being hassled by the fringe on either and make sure the teachers unions are side of the aisle?" happy."
• "The good ones are tired of waiting • "Surely fewer than the last two for a chance to move up within the cycles." Capitol, so they head for local positions where they can actually get • "I think they are staying for the most something done. E.g. Mark Strama." part unless they need their pension"
• "Tough to say for certain without • "The moderate conservatives and knowing if the current map will stick." the few conservative democrats are a dying bread. Expect Mostyn and MQS • "Always a low turnover the second to be heavily involved this primary session after redistricting." cycle."
• "Depends on what happens with • "Branch, Geren and Hilderbran to redistricting" statewide offices and Senate challengers to vacant spots." • "Can't we start with a clean slate? Get rid of all of them and start • "Retirement is the more likely over???" option. Who wants to serve in a body with man-children like Van Taylor, • "Those expecting a huge Schaefer, Krause, and Stickland?" conservative backlash will be disappointed. Voters don't like to pick • "Not that many, hard for anyone to their way through votes -- they really run to the right of some of these do expect their leaders to manage the guys." details and most of the GOP have done fine. Meanwhile, Democrats will • "Normal attrition. This session was continue to return the same old folks relatively pleasant, and not apt to who kiss the rings of the trial lawyers drive excessive retirements."
Who were the heroes this session, and who were the goats?
• "Heroes branch, cook, dukes, Hero. Dennis Bonnen House Goat. dutton, geren, s. king, lewis, murphy, Drew Darby House Hero. David wu, duncan, eltife. Goats: Carona, Simpson House Goat. Van Taylor Fraser, w.davis, l.h brown, House Goat. Bob Deuell Senate Hero. laubenberg, phillips, riddle." Bob Duncan Senate Hero. Tommy Williams Senate Hero. Kel Seliger • "Heroes: Ritter, Zerwas, W. Davis, Senate Hero. Royce West Senate Hero. Corona" Donna Campbell Senate Goat. David Dewhurst Goat of Goats" • "Jimmy Don Aycock House Hero. John Otto House Hero. Jim Pitts • "Rick Perry definitely the hero" House Hero. Sylvester Turner House
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 • "Heroes-Aycock, Darby, Geren, • "Every member of the leg who Otto, Sylvester Turner, Zerwas, helped advance getting movement on Carona, Duncan. Goats-Stickland, water infrastructure is a hero. The Simpson, Hughes, Taylor." goat is the taxpayer"
• "Heroes: Pitts, Ritter, Otto, Sly • "There were no real heroes or goats." Turner. Goats: Stickland, V Taylor, Miles." • "Heroes: John Zerwas and JD Sheffield for having the courage to • "Heroes: Aycock, Williams, Van de remember their obligation to the Putte, Huberty, Straus, D Bonnen, public health despite their party's Eltife. Goats: Campbell, Stickland, V short-sighted ignorance of health care Taylor, Drew Darby." issues. Representative Stickland. Need I say more?" • "Hero: Williams (I'm picky). Goat: V. Taylor, Schaefer, Stickland" • "Jim Pitts is the Hero, but then again he seem to always be, What’s up with • "Hero--Pitts, Strauss, Turner. Goat-- Tommy Williams? He is spending Williams, Van Taylor." every dollar in sight."
• "Williams did a great job; Pitts did a • "The Geren/Seliger bill was an very good job. They were the heroes." embarrassment."
• "Jimmie Don Aycock was a goat. • "Goats-Simpson-two time winner, Dan Patrick a hero." Stickland, Toth, Taylor, Sheets"
• "No heroes but plenty of goats. A • "Heroes--Joe Straus, Todd Hunter, couple of examples of goats whose Robert Duncan. Goats--David political ambitions got in the way of Simpson, Abel Herrero, Sylvia Garcia. the public good: Hilderbran, " Kolkhorst." • "Hero - Kacal" • "Hero -- Ken King. Hero Kel Seliger. Goat -- Dennis Bonnen. Goat -- Glenn • "Everyone will say Wendy Davis Hegar" was some kind of hero. She was above average, let's be honest. Sylvester • "Freshmen and sophomores were Turner=hero for systems benefit fund the heroes. The goats were the and budget fights. Joan leadership and their lieutenants." Huffman=goat for killing exoneration commission. David Simpson=goat for • "Geren, Otto and Darby were the general douchebaggery." heroes and Stickland, Taylor and Schaefer were the goats." • "You’re kidding! Heroes?"
• "Heroes: Conservatives who • "Glenn Hegar was a hero! There motivated Dewhurst & Patrick to were too many goats to count." 'show me.' Goats: Dewhurst & Patrick who couldn't."
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 • "Sylvester Turner and other • "Jim Pitts and Tommy Williams = Democratic house leaders were heroes heroes. Harvey Hilderbran = goat." in holding together a coalition that led to restoring funding for education and • "Dewhurst, not a hero." delivering the votes needed to pass SJR 1 and HB 1025 for water funding. • "Straus is a hero. Perry is worse than Elizabeth Graham is the goat for a goat." extremist views that were reflected in actions by certain members against • "Heroes of House: Darby and Otto, religious leaders in open hearings." goat was Simpson. Senate goat is Zaffirini for being a cry baby about • "Heroes include Dennis Bonnen, her tuition revenue bill and her claim who really ran the House and kept the she was disrespected by the House; members going, and Tommy grow up, it's not always about her. Williams, who exercised patience and Hero would be Eltife, he kept the problem solving. Goats have to Senate running in the absence of include Sen. Davis and Rep. Wu Dewhurst. Although it's easy to be a (seriously, we don't need your giant in the land of midgets." comments on every bill) and Rep. Creighton, who did almost nothing to • "The biggest goat is an easy choice: help leadership." Dan Patrick. He gave away all of his reform leverage by siding 100 percent • "Heroes: Williams, Seliger, with the forces of the status quo at the Giddings. Goats: too many to name" beginning. Then they killed virtually all his reform proposals. This was the • "Hero's - Zerwas, Pitts, Turner, weakest show by a chairman in Huberty. Goats - STICKLAND, memory. There were a few good STICKLAND, Schaffer, Y. Davis, performers but no real heroes. This us Simpson & STICKLAND" not a time of heroes - sadly."
• "Heroes- Darby, Otto, S. Turner, • "Williams Hero Patrick Goat" Aycock, Uresti, Williams; Goats- too many -Campbell, Davis, Duncan, • "Van Taylor - our very own resident Huffman; Allen, Alonzo, Elkins, idiot." Farias, McClendon, Moody, T. Parker, Phillips, Reynolds, Riddle, V. Taylor, • "No heroes so stop placating these Vo, Zedler and at least 1/3rd of the bloated politicians." Freshman Class" • "Saw no heroes. Goats-Reps. Carter • "Hero: Chairman Williams, and Phillips" Chairman Pitts - miracle workers. Goat: Rep. Harless for killing the • "Freshmen who recognized shark fin bill while sporting the governing takes work, cooperation world's ugliest leopard print blazer and even compromise." with an actual leopard emblazoned on the back; Rep. Sarah Davis for killing • "Heroes - Harold Dutton & Dan the raw milk bill in Calendars - nanny Patrick on education. Larry Taylor, state nonsense!" Mark Strama for last day speech, Ken
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 King, JM Lozano, Goats. Lance • "Heroes: Sylvester Turner, Robert Gooden, Lyle Larson, Wendy Davis, Duncan. Goats: House Republican Aycock, Yvonne Davis, David freshmen, MQS, Texans for Education Simpson, Alma Allen, Abel Herrero." Reform"
• "Heroes- Williams, Seliger, • "'Heroes - Public Education Whitmire, Hegar, Pitts, Eiland, Darby, advocates. Goats - TLR." Raymond, Ms. T, Geren. Goats- Patrick, Huffman, Campbell, Estes, • "Heroes: Joe Straus, Jim Pitts, Taylor, Stickland, Krause, and the rest Tommy Williams, Robert Duncan, of the TEA Party freshmen" Troy Fraser, Jimmie Don Aycock. Goats: Matt Schaefer, Van Taylor." • "Heroes- Otto, Darby, Nelson and Williams Goats-Tea Party House • "No heroes. But very few goats" freshman, Carona Sticking to their guns- W. Davis and DPatrick" • "Pat Fallon was a waste of space."
• "T Williams / Pitts /s turner" • "Few Heroes. Garnet Coleman (few understood how sick he has been this • "Bonnen was the clear hero on the session, yet still quietly accomplished House side. He turned the Speaker things). Tommy Williams. Chuy Pro-Tem position into one of a whip. Hinojosa (few understand how much He was able to bring Speaker Straus he got done). Goats all over the place. the votes in the freakiest of times. The Dennis Bonnen for being a bully that Dew failed miserably. Enough said." made the house look bad."
• "Heroes - Senators Seliger, Duncan • "Heroes-Straus, Pitts, Aycock, & Ellis. Goats - Senator Huffman." Anchia, Larson, Geren. Senate- Duncan, Seliger! Eltife, Watson, Ellis." • "Williams, Pitts, Hegar and Aycock." • "Tommy Williams, Sylvester Turner • "Obviously, Rick Perry and the and Yvonne Davis = Heroes. Jonathan conservatives made Kel Seliger and Stickland, Matt Krause, Ken Paxton = Charlie Geren the goats. Given the Goats." missed opportunities this session I can't see any positive standouts." • "Goat = Stickland"
• "Hero - Joe Straus. Goats - David • "No hero’s; Texans were the goats!" Dewhurst and Dan Patrick." • "Heroes-Zerwas-rationale • "Hilderbran showed he can move leadership, clear explanations, sound major legislation, unorthodox though judgment; Donna Howard-solid his style may be. Ellis flubbed his performances on immunization chance to knock over the apple cart on issues; Dr. Sheffield-a rising star; Tom HB 500. Van Taylor, Stickland, and Craddick-for fighting the good fight Simpson were the sad clowns of the on texting; Myra Crownover- House." congenital screening champ; Pitts- makes the House budget process
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 work in the tea party era; Larry Dewhurst is the worst Lt. Governor in Phillips, Chuy Hinojosa-the medical modern history. Representatives school in South Texas, long needed. Simpson and Stickland are not goats, Goats; Capriglione-yelling at the more like jackasses." bishop after the advance directives hearing; Branch-the member from UT • "Heroes STurner, Otto, Zerwas, Southwestern runs hard right on Williams, Price, and all the rest who House votes; Van Taylor-Plano came to Austin to get it done. Goats arrogance and all those who fought the tea party freshman, Simpson, V transparency and resisted identifying Taylor, Bonnen, Campbell and the tax breaks embedded in state law." Dew"
• "Heroes - Pitts, Otto, S. Thompson. • "Heroes Pitts Darby Otto Ritter Goats - Stickland, Simpson." Williams. Goats Patrick Aycock Phillips van taylor" • "Hero: Sarah Davis -- she kept the House from cutting itself up in the • "Heroes- Bonnen led with very little appropriations process again over biting sarcasm but still funny, Straus women's health issues" didn't waste time with bills that were DOA, Darby played smart away from • "Heroes: Sylvester Turner, Craig the limelight and always the first to Eiland. Goats: Jonathan Stickland, congratulate his teammates, Otto kept Donna Campbell, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst" everyone straight on revenue, Turner kept the pressure on for schools and • "Hero - Geren. Goat - Stickling, Hero fairness, Kolkhorst matured into a - Watson. Goat - Fraser" states person (Wu should take notes), Zerwas for trying to do the right thing • "Heroes: Tommy Williams, John all the time, Williams led, and Duncan Zerwas, Jim Pitts. Goats??:" and Eltife rounded out senate leadership. Goats- Wu should know • "Hero- Aycock, Pitts and Zerwas. less is more (took Kolkhorst place on Goats- V. Taylor, Campbell, Chen the mica too much), Stickland became button and Paxton" synonymous with fool, Patrick never let a fact stand in his way, Phil King • "Heroes - Sen. Williams, Rep. Pitts, attacking the asst DA from the front Rep. Ritter. Goats - Rep. V. Taylor, mic went from interesting to weird, Rep. Krause, Rep. Sylvester Turner" Toth was scary extreme"
• "Hero: Joan Huffman, Dan Patrick, • "Heroes: Williams, Zerwas, Ritter, tommy Williams, Joe Pickett. Goat: Aycock, Duncan, Seliger, Deuell, Sylvester Turner, Ruth McClendon, Eltife, Nichols, Anchia, Sarah Davis, Charlie Geren" Eiland"
• "Lucio III was the hero for the • "Heroes? Among this crowd? valley." Gimme a break."
• "Aycock will be seen as hero • "Senfronia Thompson, John because Patrick is such a goat. Whitmire-Heroes; Stickland-GOAT"
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013 • "Heroes - Jane Nelson, Wendy • "Rep Otto, Seen Williams were Davis, Joe Straus, John Zerwas, Ruth heroes this session." McClendon, Diane Patrick, Charlie Geren, Lois Kolkhorst, Royce West; • "Hero Sylvester Turner and Geren; Goats - Dan Patrick, North Texas Goats Creighton Kolkhorst Herrero, Freshmen" Phil King, Van Taylor, Yvonne Davis"
• "Heroes?"
Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Brandon Aghamalian, Jenny Aghamalian, Victor Alcorta, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Doc Arnold, Jay Arnold, Louis Bacarisse, Charles Bailey, Tom Banning, Dave Beckwith, Rebecca Bernhardt, Andrew Biar, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Chris Britton, Andy Brown, Thure Cannon, Snapper Carr, Janis Carter, Tris Castaneda, William Chapman, Elna Christopher, Harold Cook, Randy Cubriel, Curtis Culwell, Denise Davis, Hector De Leon, June Deadrick, Roberto DeHoyos, Nora Del Bosque, David Dunn, Jeff Eller, Jack Erskine, Jon Fisher, Neftali Garcia, Norman Garza, Dominic Giarratani, Bruce Gibson, Kinnan Golemon, John Greytok, Jack Gullahorn, Clint Hackney, Wayne Hamilton, Bill Hammond, Ken Hodges, Steve Holzheauser, Kathy Hutto, Deborah Ingersoll, Jason Johnson, Mark Jones, Robert Jones, Lisa Kaufman, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Sandy Kress, Pete Laney, Dick Lavine, James LeBas, Donald Lee, Luke Legate, Leslie Lemon, Myra Leo, Ruben Longoria, Homero Lucero, Vilma Luna, Matt Mackowiak, Bryan Mayes, Dan McClung, Mike McKinney, Robert Miller, Bee Moorhead, Mike Moses, Steve Murdock, Nelson Nease, Keats Norfleet, Pat Nugent, Sylvia Nugent, Nef Partida, Gardner Pate, Robert Peeler, Wayne Pierce, Allen Place, Kraege Polan, Gary Polland, Jay Pritchard, Jay Propes, Ted Melina Raab, Bill Ratliff, Karen Reagan, Tim Reeves, Patrick Reinhart, Grant Ruckel, Jason Sabo, Andy Sansom, Jim Sartwelle, Stan Schlueter, Robert Scott, Ben Sebree, Dan Shelley, Bradford Shields, Jason Skaggs, Brian Sledge, Ed Small, Todd Smith, Larry Soward, Leonard Spearman, Dennis Speight, Bryan Sperry, Tom Spilman, Bob Strauser, Colin Strother, Sherry Sylvester, Russ Tidwell, Trent Townsend, Trey Trainor, Ware Wendell, Darren Whitehurst, Seth Winick, Alex Winslow, Lee Woods, Peck Young, Angelo Zottarelli.
INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 3 June 2013