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Making an Impact
“The Lone Star Project … hammers Republicans whenever it gets a chance, promoting strong local Democratic candidates and even bringing lawsuits.”
(Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg,
March 12, 2009)
“Anyone who questions whether [The Lone Star Project] can make life difficult for a Republican legislator should talk to former Sen. Kim Brimer.”
(Austin American Statesman, February 17, 2009)
“[The Lone Star Project] is responsible for the aggressive stance the party has taken toward DeLay and other Lone Star State Republicans since the 2004 election.”
(The Washington Post, March 6, 2006)
"David Dewhurst has said most Texans don't have much sympathy "for someone who that can't fill out a two page [health insurance] application every six months".
The Democrat-supported Lone Star Project in Washington reported this week that Dewhurst failed to file necessary forms at least six times in recent years.
(San Antonio Expres News,, 4/12/2007)
"The Justice staff memo was obtained by the Lone Star Project ...The story broke the same day the U.S. Supreme Court was considering legal challenges to the plan brought by Democrats and minority groups."
(Houston Chronicle, 12/3/2005)
"The Texas chapter of the NAACP, along with the Lone Star Project, have analyzed the amicus brief filed by the Justice Department and have concluded, justifiably, that the Voting Rights section of the Justice Department is now controlled by partisan political appointees."
(Roll Call - Donna Brazile, 2/28/2006)
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Rick Perry – A One-Man Ten Worst List
Rush Limbaugh and Rick Perry
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Texans would have been a lot better off if Rick Perry had done a Mark Sanford-style disappearing act rather than staying and irresponsibly killing a whole slate of critical bills that would have improved the lives of most Texans. Perry’s partisan meat-axe fell without warning. Many of the bills killed had broad or even unanimous bipartisan support and the Governor’s opposition was never expressed during their consideration. Others, he killed during the session with partisan veto threats and political posturing.
There have been several “best and worst” lists published since the Legislature adjourned. Rick Perry, however, qualifies as a Ten Worst list all by himself. Perry's actions as Governor don’t reflect the mainstream views of most Texans or even the mainstream view of many in his own party. Perry has turned his post as Texas Governor into a platform for the Mean Wing of the Republican Party, pursuing an “off the edge” ideology appealing only to the most impractical and intolerant in our society.
Ten Bills Perry Killed/Vetoed that Hurt Texas
Kids, Kindergarten and Healthcare
1. Killed SB841 and HB2962 – Near the end of the session, Perry threatened to veto Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) legislation that had passed each Chamber with bipartisan support. Perry’s threats and posturing intimidated Dewhurst and Straus, who used it as an excuse to let the legislation die rather than stand up to Perry. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 28, 2009)
2. Vetoed HB130 – This bill would have made full day pre-kindergarten available to more at-risk kids and enacted new quality standards to improve pre-Kindergarten classes, including teacher training and class size limits. This conservative investment would have targeted common-sense help to kids who need it most. (Sources: Austin American-Statesman, June 19, 2009 and Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
3. Vetoed SB1440 – This bill would have strengthened the ability of Child Protective Services to protect kids from physical and sexual abuse. It also would have more clearly defined the rights of parents and families by ensuring strong, uniform judicial oversight. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
4. Vetoed HB 3485 – This bill would have made it possible to seek a doctor’s care across wide areas of rural Texas that are medically underserved, including 27 West Texas counties that don’t have a single physician. The veto blind-sided bill supporters who had been told the Governor would accept the measure. (Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, June 23, 2009)
Taxes Promoting Toll Roads
5. Vetoed HB2142 – This bill would have stopped the use of taxpayer funds to promote the construction of highly unpopular toll roads. It passed the House and Senate with only one dissenting vote. Perry’s veto ensures that tax dollars will be spent to build toll roads while trying to convince voters that toll roads are good for them. (Source: Texas Legislature)
Unsafe Water, Dangerous Roads
6. Vetoed HB821 – This bill would have prevented ground water contamination and other dangerous pollution by requiring the recycling of discarded televisions that contain hazardous materials like lead. HB821 had overwhelming
bipartisan support, passing the Senate unanimously and the House by a 135-11 vote. (Source: Texas Legislature)
7. Vetoed SB 488 – This bill would have improved safety for riders, walkers and drivers by requiring drivers to allow bikers and pedestrians a three-foot berth when passing on public streets. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2009)
Rick’s Special Interest Revolving Door
8. Vetoed (SB2468) – This bill closed a lobbyist/government employee revolving door loophole by requiring that individuals wait at least two years before moving from a Harris County government job to a job lobbying the county. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and by a 135-13 House vote. The same day Perry vetoed the bill, he named a lobbyist to be his Chief of Staff. 17 former Perry aides are now lobbyists. (Sources: Dallas Morning News, June 19, 2009 and Dallas Morning News, January 7, 2009)
Ideology Over Jobs/Small Businesses
9. Killed SB1569 – Perry surrendered over one-half billion in Texas federal tax dollars to other states by threatening to veto and ultimately helping to block key legislation to keep the Texas Unemployment Insurance fund from going broke. Perry’s partisan actions will require unemployment tax rates to be raised on Texas businesses. This new “Perry tax” will double rates on many small businesses by year’s end. (Source: Dallas Morning News, June 10, 2009)
10. Vetoed HB1293 – This bill would have cracked down on Life Insurance and Annuity companies preying on seniors and other citizens with unfair and deceptive marketing practices. (Source: Texas Legislature)
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