We're experiencing an especially busy morning at Capitol Annex, so we probably won't update you further until lunch. In the interim, please accept the following as your Tuesday Link Dump: Lawmakers Seek Stun Gun Limits (CHRON) Lawmakers Wrangle Over Dedicated Funds (CHRON) TXU Buyout May Be OK'd, But It May Be Complicated (AAS) TXU Deal Pulls In Environmentalists (AAS) (0)
Back In The Saddle
February 28, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
After a couple of days of low-posting due to a heavy workload, we’re back in the saddle, and about to start liveblogging House floor debate.
Link Dump: Tuesday Link Dump
Does The New Dealy Plaza Film Prove There Was No Conspiracy To Assassinate Kennedy?
February 26, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
As an “assassination buff” who has read nearly every book (not to mention seen nearly every documentary, including this one) ever written about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (and who owns a copy of the infamous Zapruder Film) back in 1963 and the various assassination theories, I’m a little skeptical about claims that the new film recently discovered and released from that fateful November day actually debunks conspiracy theories. From the New York Times:
Ron Paul: Not Your “Everyday” Republican?
February 26, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · 1 Comment
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Surfside) is getting more ink for his presidential run and went to New Hampshire this weekend–the one state where they might actually like his ideas about the Gold Standard:
Top 10 Percent Debate Will Begin Before Higher Ed Committee Today
February 26, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
The House Committee on Higher Education today will consider a number of bills that will tinker with the so-called “top ten percent rule.” The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
You will recall that, late last year, we alerted you to the debate and likely assault that would be surrounding the rule this session. I expect today’s Higher Education committee meeting to be the first part of that.
The first bill up for consideration is HB 78 by Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas), which has companion legislation by Shapiro in the Senate.
Branch’s bill would cap the number of top-ten percent students granted automatic admission to Texas’ public universities to 10 percent. In short, the cap would result in universities like UT ending up only admitting the top eight percnt or top seven percent or whatever percentage cutoff would result in 40 percent of the incoming freshman class.
HB 212 by Rep. Beverly Wooley (R-Houston), however, is a full-frontal assault on the top-ten percent rule: it would scrap the program all together.
Those bills aren’t the only ones up for consideration. Check the committee agenda for more information.
TXU Board Approves Sale, New Owners Would Drop Plans For Most Coal Plants
February 26, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · 1 Comment
Over the weekend, we pondered what would happen to the 11 new coal-fired power plants that TXU is planning to build if they were in fact acquired by KKR.
Now, we have the answer. After news came that TXU’s board had agreed to the sale to KKR for $32 billion (and $12 billion in debt), it was also announced that eight of the 11 plants would be ashcanned as part of a deal between KKR and environmental groups:
Obama Mania
February 24, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · 1 Comment
Barack Obama’s Texas trip has made quite a number of headlines in the state.
I can’t say that the cowboy hat did him much justice (or vice versa), but he seemed to have thrilled the crowds:
What Would KKR Buyout Mean For Coal Plant Litigation?
February 24, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · Leave a Comment
By now, you’ve all heard of the likely buyout of TXU by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company (KKR), which would be the biggest-ever leveraged buyout in American history.
TXU’s board is reportedly considering the merger this weekend. Of course, this has caused a massive surge in TXU’s stock shares. The transaction is reportedly worth $48 billion.
So, what does all this mean?Perry Signs Spending Cap Bust
February 24, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · 1 Comment
The Spending Cap has officially been busted.
Texas Governor Rick Perry Friday signed the measures passed by the House and Senate that raises exempts money for his bogus property tax cuts from inclusion in monies that would normally go against the cap. DMN has more:
GLO Working To Preserve 1836 Goliad Letter
February 24, 2007 by Vince Leibowitz · 1 Comment
Later this week, we’ll celebrate Texas Independence Day. And, today happens to be the same day that William B. Travis wrote his famous letter from the Alamo that begins, “To The People of Texas & All Americans in the world.”
But, there is another, though less famous, letter penned that day the General Land Office is working to preserve. This is one of those stories that, as a huge history buff (complete with a degree with the same major), facinates me to no end.
John C. Logan, a Kentuckian fighting at Goliad, wrote a letter to a friend that describes other events of the Texas Revolution:
