Somewhere between 600 to 700 people filled the First Baptist Church in Austin Tuesday, to remember former state lawmaker, US Congressman and Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox. The service was both sad and spirited; friends and family packed pews and a steady stream of friends and family took the podium to talk about Mattox's populism, practicality and penchant for the poor. Here are a few shots from the service, courtesy of my camera phone (my real camera is on the fritz... I think I may have to retire it).
So much cool stuff is for sale on this site, where local governments in Texas are unloading their belongings.
Need a dump truck? The city of Longview has your answer.
What about a rubber boat? Try New Braunfels.
I'm not sure what an eye wash station looks like, but Lubbock has one of those listed with the 55 items it has for sale: Camera, Chairs, Clothing, Conference Table, Desks, Eye Wash Station, Foosball and Air Hockey Tables, Gym Equipment, Organ, Refrigerator, Sand Blaster and Parts Washers, Shelves and Bins, Sinks, Telecom...
In these ever-tightening economic times, local governments are feeling the pinch. So much so that many are rushing to sell stuff on Ebay or government auction sites. I give you the piece from Newsday, and use it as a launchpad to get your help -- where are local governments in Texas unloading their stuff? Send me the links or anything you find on eBay and other sites.
New York state has brought in about $658,000 in online surplus sales through eBay during the 2008-09 fiscal year that ...
An interesting (but sadly, photo-less) backstory about our day in trying to document the construction going on inside the House Members Lounge. To review, the renovation is paid for by state taxpayer dollars, and includes new brass chandeliers, granite countertops and all kinds of cool appliances. It's said to be a joint project between the House and State Preservation Board, but neither entity is taking credit (or blame).
We still can't quite figure out exactly who is calling all the shots in the $140,000 renovation of the Texas House Member's Lounge*. The official answer is "it is a joint project of the State Preservation Board and the House". That's according to Speaker Tom Craddick's press secretary, Alexis Delee. But that just led to more confusion.
1.) When I called the State Preservation Board, they first said no comment. When I asked who was overseeing the project, spokeswoman Julie Fields said, "We're not making any of the decisions".... even though according to the Speaker's office, the SPB is a partner in the proje...
Weird. This is kind of confusing, but the Willacy County grand jury that indicted state Sen. Eddie Lucio also hit VP Dick Cheney and former US AG Alberto Gonzales with some charges related to prisoner abuse in federal detention centers. Here's CNN:
Vice President Dick Cheney, right, and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have been indicted.
The indictment stems from Cheney's investment in the Vanguard Group -- an investment management company that reportedly has interests in the prison companies in charge of the...
A TPIA request filed by the AP's Jay Root led to the actual pricetag for this year's massive renovation of the members-only lounge in the Texas House: $140,000 in taxpayer dollars. Swanky stuff. Here's the AP:
The records reveal new details about the lounge renovation, which comes at the same time Gov. Rick Perry has asked state agencies to "dial back their spending." It also comes as House GOP members, led by Speaker Tom Craddick, have retired to the Lost Pines Resort and Spa for two days of strategizing with lobbyists paying up to $2...
Monday morning Judge Chuck Miller ruled that there was probable cause to arrest but insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction by a jury. Case dismissed.
State Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, won't be returning to the Texas House next session, but he's a lawmaker until his successor, Diana Maldonado gets sworn in. What's he doing with his remaning days as a state lawmaker? Taking care of some personal legal business.
In April, he was charged with driving while intoxicated. A DPS trooper arrested the House Transportation Committee Chair in the Anderson Mill area, and he spent a night in jail. Monday, the case goes to trial in Williamson County.
Sorry, blog readers. I got called out today for leaving the "BREAKING" post up for the last three days, mainly because I'm suffering from my traditional post-election emotional hangover. Also, cause we got into a random car wreck on Veteran's Day (hit by a veteran, natch). Everyone's fine.
To bring you up to speed, the behind-the-scenes wrangling over House Speaker quietly continues, mostly out of sight. Lots of phone calls that we don't get to overhear. Where will the formerly Craddick D's land? How many Re...
DALLAS - Almost a week after the election, the Dallas County Ballot Board reported late Monday night that Linda Harper-Brown won the State House District 105 race by 20 votes.
Incumbent Rep. Linda Harper-Brown led Democratic challenger Bob Romano by 29 votes - Harper-Brown had 19,839 compared to Romano's 19,805.
The Dallas County Ballot Board chose 61 of the 231 provisional ballots, ones with discrepanices, to add to the final vote count.
With all the ballots counted late Monday night, Harper-Brown collected 19,856 to Romano's 19,836 - a 20 vote spread.
An update from the team in Dallas. After military ballots were included, Linda Harper-Brown's lead increased to 34.
The ballot board has decided 61 Provisional Ballots will be included. People are unsealing and copying them now. They were supposed to be done at 9pm... but now the elections administrator says it could be done any minute.
The balance of power in the Texas House still hangs in the... uh, balance.
Members of the Dallas County Provisional and Late Ballot Board are still meeting to meticulously go through the 231 provisional and 17 milltary ballots in the state House race between Republican Linda Harper-Brown and Bob Romano. Apparently they are finished selecting which ballots are going to be included in the count, but the judge in charge of it all is double-checking everything.
If the Democrat wins this showdown, the House will be evenly split at 75R, 75D. If Harper-Brown holds, as she believes she will, the balance of ...
President-elect Barack Obama said at Friday's press conference that he'd like to have his cabinet in place in a matter of weeks, which is sending the speculation mill about who he might pick into overdrive. Which Texans are being considered? We asked our Belo-cohort Wayne Slater of The Dallas Morning News.
The Texas Ethics Commission levies $10,000 in fines against State Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands). The commission ruled Eissler made about $18,000 worth of improper campaign expeditures. Eissler was accused of paying his wife for running his legislative office and paying her rent on a Hyde Park condo.
Did the next Governor of Texas just speak at UT's Center for Politics and Governance? Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Houston Mayor Bill White are talked about as top 2010 gubernatorial contenders from their respective parties. The Senator is a well-liked Texas Republican who has served in Washington since 1993. The three-term mayor was formerly Undersecretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton.
Both addressed students, staffers and other political nerds at a conference today (which came with a free chicken lunch, natch.) We caught up with both of them before they made their speeches.
Jim Dunnam was part of a throng of Democratic lawmakers (newly elected and old) who appeared this morning at a presser held at the Texas Democratic Party headquarters. While state party chair Boyd Richie boasted of their various wins -- the question on the reporters' minds was what's happening to the leadership of the Texas House?
That's a game House Democratic Party Chair Jim Dunnam likes to play, but he didn't want to say much this morning.
Lawyers are on their way to Irving, where the seat of state Rep Linda Harper-Brown may or may not go to her previously unknown challenger, Bob Romano. (Romano reminds me of one of those sleeper NCAA teams that makes it into the Sweet Sixteen. Bob Romano?)
As of last night, Harper-Brown held her seat by 25 votes. But...
280 provisional ballots still need to be counted or thrown out, depending on their eligibility. A ballot board will meet Monday to do that.
Military ballots are still coming in, and they will be counted so long as they are received by Monday.
Democrats net three additional seats in the Texas House, with one race (Linda Harper-Brown in Dallas) still up in the air. If she holds, the split becomes 76 R to 74 D in the House. Speaker candidates need 76 votes to win... the talk swirling around the Capitol today is who will -- and how to -- get there.
Republican speaker-candidate Jim Keffer sent out this release late last night (when I was locked out of my email):
"The Texas House of Representatives will have a new Speaker. Bipartisanship has won a clear victory tonight in the Texas House of Representatives. I now have a consensus group of Re...
Just a quick look at the crowd at the official Travis County Democratic Party party for election night, as Obama begins his victory speech. (Was it just me or did he seem strangely unemotional?)
The crowd went absolutely crazy in the Driskill the moment Obama was elected president... I saw lots of tears in the crowd, a lot of hugging, it was sort of like being at a massive New Year's Eve Party.... It's still so unbearably hot and sticky because of all the body heat - but no one seems to notice.
Larry Joe Doherty's spokesman just came down to say hello, and his face said more than his words. it doesn't look good for the CD-10 challenger, who won Travis County abour 2-1 but lost by a similar margin in Harris County. There are more voters in Harris County than there are in Travis, which means good things for Republican incumbent Michael McCaul.
Shoulder-to-shoulder at the Dems victory party at the Driskill. I think it's about 84 degrees in there with 90% humidity. So you can imagine what it feels like. But no one's down... with each projection for Obama, the room gets so loud it shakes.
Of course, CNN recently called Texas for McCain. That led to a pretty collective boo in here.
Wow, this place got packed after the the polls closed. Not only is the ballroom standing room only, the lobby outside it is so full of people I can smell a faint BO that arises from big crowds.
I'm camped out at The Driskill where Democratic candidates are going to be tonight. My colleague Clara Tuma is holding down the fort at the Four Seasons, where the GOP candidates will watch returns. I'll liveblog in reverse chronological order - most recent posts up top. ***Remember to refresh if you're staying on the page***
8:18pm: Okay things are going to get rough and wild from this point forward, so I will update with new posts instead of individual updates on this one post. Thanks for staying with us so far... stick around.
Ah, the memories. Four years ago on election night, I was at the Columbia Convention Center in Columbia, SC, where Democrat Inez Tenenbaum held a "Victory Party" for her losing bid for U.S. Senate. She lost to current US Senator Jim DeMint. I think everyone at the party knew pretty early in the evening that Tenenbaum had lost, so the party never really got going.
I asked those of you on Twitter to submit your '04 memories as well. Here's a look at what you've said so far, and readers out there, maybe you'll be able to find some new twitter friends in this bunch:
I've asked y'all to participate in my blogging today on twitter and with your photos. Thanks to those who have messaged me already! Here's the first election day photo I received, from J.J. Emerson. His notes about his photo are below the shot. And a note to you out there -- email me your photo to elisehu@gmail.com, and please write a caption and any extra info that you'd like.
Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, longtime Texan and the man dubbed "Bush's Brain" sees an Obama win tonight. The final Rove and Co electoral map predicts a 338-200 Obama victory, which would be the "largest electoral margin since 1996".
Happy Election Day, y'all! If you already voted, good on you, and here's a few things you can do to pass the time until polls close and we collectively fix our eyes on Chuck Todd. (What a hottie!)
Tweet Me
I started something last night I'll call "Where were you in '04"... get on Twitter and send @elisewho a message about what you were doing on Election Day in 2004.
Take Pictures
You have a camera somewhere... now take a picture of your election day experience and email it to me at elisehu@gmail.com. Include a caption and your name. I'll resize it and pu...
Obama's grandmother died today after a long battle of cancer. The senator left the campaign trail a few weeks ago to visit her in Hawaii. It's unclear how the passing will affect the candidate's schedule.
The totals are coming in, and Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir expects the early vote total to exceed 50% of registered voters after outstanding mail-in ballots are tallied.
"Half of all voters have cast their ballots - and we're not done yet," said DeBeauvoir.
49.28% of the county's 609,224 registered voters early voted. With almost five thousand early voting-by-mail ballots outstanding, the total whould be even higher.
In the 2004 presidential election, 38% cast a ballot during early voting.
DeBeauvoir expects Election Day turnout to fall between 150,000 and 200,000 ballots. Th...
