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Life or Death Agenda for Texas House
Insurgents Meet To Plot Overthrow of House Speaker
Source: Houston Chronicle, United States – January 2, 2009
AP Texas News By JAY ROOT AP
AUSTIN — It's showdown time in Austin, where renegade Republicans are plotting the overthrow long-serving House Speaker Tom Craddick, one of the most powerful leaders in state government.
Web-sites of Texas House & Senate Leaders
www.ltgov.state.tx.us - Senate led by Lt. Governor, David Dewhearst
www.house.state.tx.us/speaker/welcome.htm - House led Speaker, Tom Craddick (maybe)
Texas Watchdog’s Posts on Tom Craddick, Texas Speaker of the House
The above link cites complaints against Craddick
Another Republican Challenges Craddick
Gattis joins long line of hopefuls for state House speaker post; meanwhile, some Dems vow to withhold votes from House leader
Source: Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau, By GARY SCHARRER, Dec 29, 2008
AUSTIN — In a one-two punch against embattled Speaker Tom Craddick on Monday, yet another Republican — the seventh — entered the race for his job, and Democrats released the names of 64 House members who pledged to withhold their votes from the fiercely partisan leader.
A Perspective on Tom Craddick’s Political Career
Source: Texas Politics at UT Liberal Arts College
When Tom Craddick (1943-) of Midland was elected Speaker of the Texas House on January 14, 2003, he became the first Republican to lead the House in 130 years.
Official Bio on Tom Craddick
Tom Craddick's rise to the Speaker's seat parallels the growth of the Republican Party in Texas. On January 11, 2003 he made state history when, subsequent to his 34-year tenure in the Texas House of Representatives, he became the first Republican Speaker-after helping gain the Republican Majority in the House-for the first time in more than 130 years
Editorial: Smithee may ... or may not
Source: Amarillo.com, TX – January 2, 2009
Call it a Smithee Watch. A lot of Panhandle observers are waiting on a veteran Republican lawmaker to make up his mind on what could signal a tectonic shift
Fort Worth Lawmaker Geren Key in Bid to Oust Texas Speaker
Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - January 2, 2009
By DAVE MONTGOMERY AUSTIN — With the start of the 2009 Legislature less than two weeks away, state Rep. Charlie Geren is picking up where he left off during ...
Ditch Craddick: Vote out Texas House Speaker
Source: El Paso Times, TX - January 2, 2009
Embattled Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick has not been a friend to El Paso. In fact, he has been too control-oriented to be good for the overall well-being ...
Comments From Our Craddick Story
Source: LubbockOnline.com, TX - January 2, 2009
From btxusa, regarding an article about House Democrats saying they've lined up enough opposition to oust Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick (AJ, Dec. ...
Anti-Craddick Republicans to Chose Speaker Candidate
Source: KERA, TX - January 2, 2009
Later today Republican State House members who want to oust Republican Speaker Tom Craddick are expected to announce the candidate they'll back. ...
Midlander Tom Craddick Faces Tough New Years Challenge
Source: NewsWest9.com, TX - January 2, 2009
Midlander Tom Craddick, the longest serving Republican in State elective office, starts the year with a shaky hold on the House Speaker Chair. ...
Official Bio for Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst
 Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst is a native Texan, proud veteran, successful businessman, and rancher. He serves as President of the Texas Senate and is proud of the broad support he has earned during his tenure
Texas 81st Legislature Agenda News
Topics for the 81st Legislature
Source: Texas Speaker of the House, Nov. 26, 2008
The Texas Legislature will consider a wide variety of topics when it convenes in regular session on January 13, 2009. Funding public and higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, and other state priorities will command the attention of state lawmakers, as well as dealing with the aftermath of the devastation from Hurricane Ike. Also, 27 state agencies and programs, including those concerned with transportation, public safety, youth offenders, insurance regulation, agriculture, and parks and wildlife, will be subject to review under the Sunset process. Many other issues, such as revisions to the property tax appraisal system and the business margins tax, enforcement of immigration laws, and the public school accountability system, also will be considered.
This report highlights many, although by no means all, of the topics that the 81st Legislature may consider during its 2009 regular session. The House Research Organization has addressed a number of these issues in more detail in Focus Reports and Interim News articles since the end of the 80th Legislature’s 2007 regular session.
Legislature to weigh bills that address tuition, accountability, cafeteria food
Source: Houston Chronicle, By ERICKA MELLON, Dec. 30, 2008
Texas lawmakers plan to tackle a range of education issues when they convene next month, from slashing the fat in cafeteria food to overhauling the school accountability system. While rising college tuition is likely to dominate much of the conversation in the upcoming Legislative session, school districts are lobbying for an overhaul of the K-12 funding system as well. Lawmakers aren't making any promises.
Agenda '09: Area State Legislators Outline Top Issues Upcoming Session
Source: Waco Tribune-Herald, By Regina Dennis, staff writer, Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco Representing District 22 since 2003
Issues to push through: Securing funding for the State Water Plan, a 50-year plan for managing and preserving the state’s water sources. “We got a good piece of that funded in the last session, but that’s mainly for just the first round of major infrastructure projects, so I’m going to be pushing to have the plan fully funded.”
Session May Be Tinted Green
Source: By Anton Caputo – San Antonio Express-News
Green issues have never dominated Texas politics, but this legislative session promises to be a busy one for environmental organizations who see support building for action on key issues ranging from global warming and solar power to air quality regulation and green jobs. Topping the agenda for most environmental lobbyists is reducing Texans' appetite for energy and jumpstarting the state's fledgling solar industry.
Source: Community Impact News, by Patrick Brendel and Kara Vaught Friday, 19 December 2008
Going into the 2009 Texas Legislative session, lawmakers’ priorities are not radically different from those in past years. Legislators will battle for money in a finite budget. They will wrangle over the interests of preschoolers and post grads alike. They will debate how best to deliver health care to Texans. And they will argue over how much to invest in the state’s aging transportation network.
Other News:
 CSW joins international human rights defenders and organizations in condemning a resolution issued yesterday by the United Nations General Assembly (GA), which represents a threat to freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
I am excited to announce the launch of our National Volunteer Team. Our goal is to identify volunteers nationwide, organize into local groups in every county of the United States and then assist Huck PAC endorsed candidates.
We have divided the country into regions and will begin recruiting leadership in every state and county. Ultimately, these leaders will be responsible for building local volunteer teams, setting up events, organizing phone banks, knocking on doors and much more. Our goal is to have at least one Huck PAC group leader in every county in the nation by the end of 2009.
Government Aid Could Save U.S. Newspapers, Spark Debate
Source: www.reuters.com
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Connecticut lawmaker Frank Nicastro sees saving the local newspaper as his duty. But others think he and his colleagues are setting a worrisome precedent for government involvement in the U.S. press.
Source: By Carol Cratty CNN.com, Dec 31, 2008
Atheists want references to religion removed from inaugural ceremony. Groups object to "so help me God" at end of oath, benediction by pastor. "I have no doubt I'll lose," says California lawyer who filed lawsuit.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A number of atheists and non-religious organizations want Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony to leave out all references to God and religion. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington, the plaintiffs demand that the words "so help me God" not be added to the end of the president's oath of office.
President-elect Barack Obama will use the Bible Abraham Lincoln used for his inauguration.
Lesbian Couple Wins Suit Against Methodist Camp
Source: Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 12/31/2008
The Methodist Church has lost a round over homosexual unions. In March 2007 the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association refused to permit two lesbians -- Harriet Bernstein, 67, and Luisa Paster, 61 -- to stage a civil union ceremony at the church-owned Boardwalk Pavilion, and returned their check for $250. Subsequently, says Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, the lesbians filed a legal complaint against group. However, Association officials countered that the decision was based on their religious beliefs.
How Public Schools Influence Young Evangelicals
Source: One News Now BLOGS by Marcia Segelstein
About one third of 18-to-29-year-old evangelicals voted for Barack Obama. Something does not compute here. Obama’s record on abortion and same-sex unions stands in direct opposition to what the vast majority of evangelicals believe. And it’s not as though this is typical. In 2004, less than half that percentage voted for John Kerry. So what made Obama so appealing to these Christian young people? By their own accounts, it was their belief in “social justice.” And where did they learn about “social justice?” According to Phyllis Schlafly, the answer is simple: public schools.
The Methodist Church has lost a round over homosexual unions.
Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 12/31/2008 4:30:00 AM
 In March 2007 the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association refused to permit two lesbians -- Harriet Bernstein, 67, and Luisa Paster, 61 -- to stage a civil union ceremony at the church-owned Boardwalk Pavilion, and returned their check for $250. Subsequently, says Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, the lesbians filed a legal complaint against group. However, Association officials countered that the decision was based on their religious beliefs.
Christians called to mass exodus from public schools
Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 1/2/2009
Critics of America's public school system have launched a new effort highlighting the need for Christians to xit the system. Te initiative -- dubbed The Call to Dunkirk (video link) -- was launched by Dr. Bruce Shortt, author of The Harsh Truth About Public Schools; Rev. Voddie Baucham, author of Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God; and the founder and director of the Exodus Mandate Project, retired U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. E. Ray Moore.
Moore explains the proposal. "The Call to Dunkirk is a special emergency effort to try to get other ministries, churches, pastors, and the major Christian right and pro-family movement to join with us and the other K-12 home-school ministries in rescuing the children from the public schools during the year 2009," he says.
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