It's no secret Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is worth millions, after his company sold three power plants for about $226 million. But how many millions he's worth today is unclear.
Texans for Public Justice, the campaign finance watchdog group led by Craig McDonald, wants to know what is in Lt. Governor David Dewhurst's trust fund. This comes after the AP wrote a story two weeks ago, focusing on Dewhurst's lack of detail on his personal financial disclosure forms (required of Texas public officials by state law).
TPJ filed the complaint with Travis County attorney David Escamilla, asking the prosecutor to determine whether Dewhurst broke disclosure laws by failing to report assets in the Dewhurst trust.
"One of the most powerful state officials should not be allowed to hide his assets from the public. When you're the Lt. Governor, the public has an absolute right to know how many cattle or other assets you own. It's time for Lt. Governor Dewhurst to drive his cattle out of the shadows and into the sunlight," said McDonald in a statement.
State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is getting in early for a U.S. Senate run. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is widely expected to make a run for governor in 2010, and if not, her senate term is up in 2012. Shapiro has formed a committee to explore a run in 2012 "or sooner", and it's headed by former Cowboys QB Roger Staubach.
"Florence Shapiro's passion and commitment to public service is unsurpassed. Should the opportunity arise, I am confident Florence's proven leadership on the local and state legislative government levels have prepared her well to be a great United States Senator for Texas," Staubach said in a statement.
Full Disclosure: "Flo-Shap", as many have nicknamed her, was my State Senator growing up. In fact, I dug up this picture from my Student Council class coming to Austin to visit her when I was in 11th grade, and took a grainy photo of the photo.
Happy 29th Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Watson! I always enjoy Fridays because the Slate political gabfest updates every Friday, and I get a "Watson Wire" (the State Senator's weekly newsletter) in my inbox. They are a mix of personal life and policy, and this week, we get a story from way-back-when:
While we started dating when I was 14-years-old, she turned me down the first time I asked her out.
It was Boswell High School Homecoming. 1972. I worked up some courage, caught up with her near the library, looked her straight in the eye, and said, "Liz, will you go to homecoming with me?" Without hesitating, she looked me equally straight in the eye and replied, "No. I'm waiting on someone else to ask me."
My father sort of warned me that might happen. When I was in the eighth grade the year before, he and I were driving home past the house Liz grew up in. I pointed to her house and proclaimed, "Daddy, you see that house? That's where Liz McDaniel lives. Next year, I'm going to date her."
He shook his head and said, "Son, I wouldn't get my hopes up."
Liz and I have known each other since we both attended Saginaw Elementary School in Saginaw, Texas. I initially got goobered up over her when I was in the sixth grade and she was a seventh-grade cheerleader. I remember distinctly going to my first pep rally in the Wayside Middle School gym, which was exciting enough in its own right. But when she came running out on the floor, well, let's just say she had me at "Go Wildcats."
Anyway, I'm thinking that I can declare a victory now that we've been married 29 years. Besides, I'm obviously over the fact that she turned me down for the first date.
Governor Rick Perry picked general election day, November 4, 2008, for voters in State Senate District 17 to choose outgoing State Senator Kyle Janek's replacement.
Candidates must file applications with the Secretary of State no later than 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2008.
Democrat Chris Bell, the party's 2006 nominee for Governor, is thinking about making a run for it.
But for State Reps Charlie Howard and Scott Hochberg, who are also said to be considering a run, this special election date kinda stinks. It means they would have to resign their house seats in order to take a chance at the senate seat.
Polygamist Case Cost to State? $5.5 Million.. So Far
About $5.5 million in the last month. That's what state agency leaders reporting to the Senate Finance Committee this morning estimate is the total cost of goods, services and "things at Walmart and Target" for the Eldorado raid and response. (That's $5.3 mil not budgeted for in the agency budgets, and already invoiced. There's another two million or so that they expect to be filed in the next few weeks.)
Ongoing monthly costs are expected to be about $1.7million a month, assuming all the children remain in state care... these are foster care placement costs, staffing, etc.
"We haven't even talked about the legal costs, and that's going to be a big number," said State Senator Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who chairs the committee.
I recycle an old high school cheer from Plano Senior High School to bring you DMN reporter Wayne Slater's hot-off-the-presses piece on State Senator Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, and her possible run for U.S. Senate.
AUSTIN -- State Sen. Florence Shapiro of Dallas* is considering setting up an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate in anticipation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison running for governor.
Mrs. Shapiro was not available for comment but her political consultant, Bryan Eppstein, said people around the state are urging the Dallas Republican to seek the Senate if Mrs. Hutchison resigns or retires. "Right now, she's strongly considering it," said Mr. Eppstein.
He noted that a year ago, former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach was among those touting the idea and volunteered to help if Mrs. Shapiro ran for an open Senate seat.
