IN MEMORIAM: Molly Ivins

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Only three times in our history have we at Capitol Annex declared a moratorium on posting. In both instances, it was for former state leaders. We did so for the death of former Senator Lloyd Bentsen and for former Governor Ann Richards.

Today, we do so in memory of Molly Ivins. Though she was not a publicly elected official, she was a journalist. And, in our book, journalists and elected officials are both public servants. And there was no more dedicated a public servant to the progressive cause than Molly Ivins.
Following this article, unless there is some breaking news that simply cannot wait, we will "go dark" until 10:00 a.m. Thursday with the exception of publishing additional information about arrangements for Ms. Ivins or reaction to her passing.—VL]

IN MEMORIUM: MOLLY IVINS (1944-2007)

Molly Ivins was born August 30, 1944 as Mary Tyler Ivins. She died today at her Austin home after a seven-year battle with breast cancer.
Molly Ivins completed her secondary education at St. John’s School in Houston and earned a BA from Smith College in 1966 and a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University, one of the nation’s premier journalism schools.

Ivins first media job was in the complaint department of the Houston Chronicle. Later, she worked as a beat reporter for the Chron covering city government. After a stint at the Chronicle, she went to the Minneapolis Tribune where she ecame the first female police reporter in that city’s history.
In 1970, Ivins returned to Texas where she worked at the Texas Observer until 1976, including serving for a time as its editor.

Following her tenure with the Observer, Ivins went to work for the New York Times from 1976 until 1982. After a departure from the NYT, Ivins worked for the Dallas Times Herald until its “fire sale,” in 1992 when she went to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

IN 2001, Ivins became an independent writer and her column, distributed by Creators Syndicate, appeared in nearly 400 newspapers nationwide at the time of her death.

Donations In Memory Of Molly Ivins

If you are so inclined to remember Molly Ivins by giving to one of her favorite causes, the Molly Ivins Fund for Investigative Reporting at the Texas Observer accepts contributions via PayPal.

MOLLY IVINS HAS DIED

Molly Ivins, the snarky, quintessentially Texan, opinionated journalist who every Texas blogger would aspire to be, has succumbed to cancer. She was 62.

This tragic news came the same day that a California newspaper launched a tribute to her.

Wednesday Press Release Fiesta

We’ve got a ton of press releases up over in Capitol Annex’s Press Room. The releases are listed below.

Just an FYI, “Press Room” was designed as a resource for Texas bloggers, journalists, and the public to have easy and no-cost access to press releases from members of the Legislature, advocacy groups and members of Congress. It is non-partisan in that all it does is republish the releases verbatim with no opinion or commentary (you can find that here at CapitolAnnex.com) Lately, it has been receiving a lot of hits. If your group’s releases aren’t shown—of if you are in the Legislature and your releases aren’t shown—please add “pressroom@capitolannex.com” to your email press release distribution list.

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Governor Has Cancelled Lobby Contracts, But TxDOT Continues To Use Same Firm

A few weeks ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry, in a meeting with Congressional Democrats, claimed that the state, through his office, had cut ties with two lobby firms tied to disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

It has recently been reported, however, that the Texas Department of Transporatation has continued to maintain a contract with one of the two lobbying firms in spite of the Governor’s actions. The firm, The Federalist Group, employs Tom DeLay’s former chief of staff, Drew Maloney.

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80th Legislature: MSM A Day Late, Dollar Short

As the “debate” rages over whether or not bloggers are journalists, I can’t resist pointing out when this (and other) blogs have scooped the MainStream Media.

This time, it’s on the bill that would criminlize missing a parent-teacher conference. The DMN has the story. Capitol Annex brought you this story back on January 17. That’s 13 days ago, for those of you keeping count at home (or on the floor of the House).
So now, in my best “Homer Simpson faux whisper,” I must say, “Psssst….hey! Did you know you can get the bill filings by RSS feed now?”

80th Legislature: Why Is The Media Swallowing The Republican Line On HR 4

Check this from the Houston Chronicle:

House members will be collecting $132 a day for expenses while doing little work on legislation until Feb. 8 because a routine rules suspension fell victim Tuesday to partisan acrimony.

Evidently, in trying to be a “consumer watchdog” over taxpayer money, the Houston Chronicle failed to recognize the legislative reality of the first 30 days (and first 60 days) of the legislative session.

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80th Legislature: Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em

I have difficulty believing that Senator Rodney Ellis’s proposed statewide smoking ban could pass even by the narrowist of margins in either chamber, but expect it to be subject to lively debate.

Senator Ellis hints on why it will be a tough row to hoe:

“A broad array of cities in Texas have stepped up and shown leadership on this issue,” said Ellis, D-Houston. “In my judgment you have to make this a public awareness campaign. Members aren’t champing at the bit to vote on this. They will feel as much pressure to vote on it from constituents as they will financial pressure from lobbyists and commercial establishments to vote against it.”

I can hardly wait to see the line of smokers waiting to testify on this one. They’d better have interns handing out Nicorette, since the Capitol is a smoke-free government building.

Capitol Annex Interviews Rep. Mike Villarreal On His HR 4 Amendment

With the intention of helping Democrats “negotiate from a position of strength” on progressive issues important to Texas families, State Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) yesterday extended an olive branch to Republicans in the House of Representatives over the contentious issue of suspending Article III, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution.

[AT LEFT: Villarreal at work in the Texas House]

Instead of being welcomed, however, Republicans tried to take advantage of Villarreal’s amendment and proposed other measures which would have diluted its effectiveness and made the first 60-days of the legislative session a virtual free-for-all in which any legislation could be considered.
Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Villarreal spoke at length with Capitol Annex by phone about his Amendment 1 to House Resolution 4. Rep. Villarreal discussed its intent, what caused him to propose it, and what ultimately made him pull what could have been a worthy compromise to totally suspending the constitutional provision on legislation considered in the first 60 days of the session and giving Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) and Republicans a blank check to steamroller over an enlarged and emboldened Democratic majority.

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80th Legislature: HR 4 Redux?

The old adage, “If at first you do not succeed, try again” is evidently to become the motto of the House Republican Leadership when it comes to trying to suspend Article III, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution relating to what measures can be considered in the first 60 days of the session, which would allow the leadership to have the ability to ram bills onto the floor and to a vote without any real consensus.

Of course, Republicans would have us think that the House will grind to a screeching halt and that legislators will be forced to sit around twiddling their thumbs and playing Texas Hold ‘Em for toothpicks and little containers of Blue Bell Ice Cream in the newly smoke-free Member’s Lounge for the next 60 days. Well, Republicans and Mr. Speaker Pro Tem (did anyone else notice that Craddick said yesterday that Rep. Turner wanted members reminded that, when he’s speaking, he’s the speaker pro tem?):

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