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Bowing Out Of Gubernatorial Run, Van De Putte Says Sen. Kirk Watson Is Her Man For Top Spot

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/23/bowing-out-of-gubernatorial-run-van-de-putte-says-sen-kirk-watson-is-her-man-for-top-spot/)

State Sen. Leticia Van De Putte (D-San Antonio) today ended months of speculation concerning whether or not she will run for Texas governor by saying she won’t do so, and instead will work to draft fellow state senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin) into the race.

Prominent Democrats must put personal ambitions aside and very pragmatically nominate the person best equipped to win in November. Just because one can win the Democratic nomination for Governor doesn’t mean one should, unless he or she is best positioned to defeat the Republican nominee in the fall. That’s why I think Senator Kirk Watson should raise his sights and run for Governor. I’ve watched as Senator Watson has emerged as a leader in the state Senate on the issues of most importance to Texans. While staying true to Democratic values, he is a bipartisan pragmatic leader solidly focused on addressing the priorities of all Texans. I intend to lobby Senator Watson to run for governor, and I’ll wholeheartedly support him if he does. But if he declines, Democrats should recruit and support someone who, like Watson, is energetic, pragmatic, focused, and smart; and who can fully energize Democratic supporters while also attracting a broad range of independent voters in every region of the state. The Republicans have had their day, and Texans have realized that the Republicans can’t lead. I will be working hard to elect a Democrat to the Governor’s office.

The remainder of Van De Putte’s statement is at the end of this post.

If Watson were to enter the fray, he would have company. Tom Schieffer, brother of CBS Newsman Bob Schieffer, a Dallas businessman and former Ambassador and intimate of George W. Bush, is set to announce his plans to run tomorrow. Former Travis County DA Ronnie Earle is also reportedly considering a run for the spot.

It would also not be Watson’s first statewide race. He ran for attorney general in 2002 on the “Dream Team” ticket that went down to defeat up and down the ballot.

However, since entering the Senate, Watson has raised his statewide profile and could potentially be a viable candidate.

REMAINDER OF VAN DE PUTTE STATEMENT:

Five months of speculation regarding the possibility of me running for Governor has, quite frankly, been surprising. It started with nothing more than me not immediately saying ‘no,’ unlike in past election cycles, when asked if I would consider such a run. The reactions of thousands of Texans who encouraged me to give it serious consideration has been flattering.

“I have, indeed, given it very serious thought, and while I would love to believe, tongue firmly planted in cheek, that this pent-up desire on the part of so many Texans for me to run for governor is solely because of some perceived superior leadership ability and vast intellect of mine, I have to reluctantly admit that it’s not as much about me as it is about Republican failures.

“This is about Texas’ stunning lack of current leadership. Large and growing numbers feel betrayed by the Republicans they voted into statewide office, and who can blame them? While Texas families remain concerned about genuine priority issues, Republicans led by Rick Perry continue to instead obsess about hyper-partisan issues, in order to grab more power for themselves. “Texans still pay the highest homeowners insurance premiums in the country. Texas still has the highest percentage in the country of those without access to health care. Texas still has the second highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation, and the highest rate of teens with a second pregnancy. And after years of Republican ‘leadership,’ not only has Rick Perry failed to address these challenges, but he and his minions have done everything they can to avoid addressing them in any meaningful way. Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and others in the Republican leadership have turned their backs on 25 million Texans, instead opting to curry favor with a handful of fringe Republican primary voters.

“If I believed for a second that it would result in a healthy debate of the issues of most importance to Texas families, I would today be announcing my candidacy for Governor of Texas. But we have all watched over the years as Perry, Hutchison, and other Republican politicians have launched their scorched earth ‘say anything to win’ vicious attacks against political opponents. To mask their utter lack of leadership, they’ll do so again, and I decline to put my family through it. That I am a Latina would only serve to amplify their attacks. “I will gladly work hard to ensure that a Democrat prevails in the election for Governor, so that Texas families can have a better shot at having a state government focused on the needs of Texans, instead of state Republican leadership obsessed with their own political futures, at Texans’ expense.

Will The Special Session Become A Texas-Sized Christmas Tree?

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/23/will-the-special-session-become-a-texas-sized-christmas-tree/) With anticipation building about the impending Special Session of the Texas Legislature that Governor Rick Perry is set to call, lawmakers are asking Perry to add a lot of items to the call. Perry, who has said he will call a short special session to deal with the reauthorization of various state agencies whose Sunset Review bills were stalled (and to protect the state’s bond rating), still hasn’t specifically said what will or won’t be on the call. That hasn’t stopped lawmakers from asking Perry to hang as many ornaments as possible on the tree:

Keller Rep. Vicki Truitt said yesterday she was going to ask Perry to bring up local-option transportation funding during the special session. Houston Sen. Rodney Ellis has requested Perry add both criminal justice AND green energy issues. And the latest comes from Sen. Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso, who wants Perry to add expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to the special session agenda.

That is, of course, just a handful of the items lawmakers are talking about asking the governor to address. If history is any indicator, Perry won’t add any additional items to the call of the special session until the issues he is actually calling the session for are addressed. We saw this during the 2006 special session on education funding reform when Perry waited until his property tax plan passed before adding items to the call dealing with damages the state suffered from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The danger in asking Perry to add items to the call, of course, is voter identification. Perry may decide that voter ID is worthy of being added to the call, which could result in more paralysis in both chambers of the legislature. Given an election year is approaching and Perry does need to cozy up to his right-wing base, he could well decide adding Voter ID to the call is the way to go. We’ll have to wait and see.

Three Vetoes That Will Come Back To Haunt Rick Perry

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/23/three-vetoes-that-will-come-back-to-haunt-rick-perry/) Taking a look at the list of vetoes issued last week by Texas Governor Rick Perry’s office, it isn’t hard to see the direction he is trying to take his 2010 campaign. Perry skillfully used his veto pen to cozy up to his Republican base. He vetoed bills he can claim make him look tough on crime (even teenage nookie). He vetoed bills that he can claim make him look like a champion sensible tax reform, and even vetoed bills that show him to be anti-gambling. That vast majority of Perry’s vetoes make no sense except when taken in the context of his looming 2010 GOP primary battle with U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Most of what he vetoed passed both legislative chambers by decent margins and was fairly non-controversial stuff. Taking a look back through all of those vetoes, there are several that stand out as being tailor-made to be highlighted in any opponent’s opposition research dossier. These vetoes could come back to haunt Perry in a significant way. House Bill 1293. On the surface, it looks like another boring insurance bill. However, for a potential opponent, it is gold. In one veto, Perry showed he was anti-consumer and, worse, okay with letting the elderly get screwed by big business. The nuts and bolts of this bill may not seem like that is the case, but check this from the bill analysis:

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has worked for a number of years to develop model laws to prevent unfair and deceptive sales practices in the sale of annuities.  In 2007, Texas passed the NAIC model annuity suitability act which requires agents to determine the suitability of a particular annuity for the individual consumer before it is sold.  This model act is now codified in Chapter 1115 (Suitability of Certain Annuity Transactions), Insurance Code. In addition to the model standards for suitability, the NAIC developed a model regulation to provide standards for the disclosure of certain critical information to consumers, such as the benefits and limitations of annuity contracts, to protect consumers and foster consumer education. Adopting the model regulation by statute will permit the Texas Department of Insurance to adopt the Buyer’s Guide and Disclosure document by rule and permit changes as those are changed. [Emphasis added]

Annuities are typically used as vehicles to add income to a person’s retirement, hence AARP’s testimony in favor of the bill. Perry vetoed the bill to give insurance companies (some of his best contributors) cover from lawsuits:

This legislation designates any violation of these standards as an unfair or deceptive act or practice, which would expose agents and insurers to private claims for damages, attorney fees and costs for any such violation. Because the Texas Insurance Code already addresses suitable remedies for such offenses, I am opposed to this bill, which creates greater opportunities for frivolous litigation throughout the state.

The bill analysis may sound innocuous and the reality may very well be that the veto isn’t a complete sky-is-falling disaster for consumers, but to the skilled opposition researcher or campaign staffer, this veto is gold—notwithstanding the fact that Perry actually ordered the Texas Department of Insurance to implement some of the “beneficial” aspects of the bill. Given that the mainstream media is often slow on the uptake when it comes to dissecting attack nuggets (especially since something as specific as a veto like this can be painted with very broad strokes and it can be hard to figure out what bill, exactly, an ad references), Perry could find himself quickly on the defensive and trying to explain away this veto. Consider how an opponent might frame this veto to attack Perry:

Rick Perry took thousands of dollars from insurance companies and then used his veto pen to strip away protections to prevent Texas consumers from being taken advantage of by big insurance and financial services companies.

Or this:

Planning for retirement is tough, especially in this economy. And Rick Perry won’t make it any easier for working Texans. Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would set standards for educating consumers about investment options, making it easier for big business to take advantage of Texans. Rick Perry: big business’ best friend in Austin.

The list could go on. Are these examples a trite deceptive? Maybe. Are they factual? Yes. Would any opponent who wants to bust Perry’s electoral kneecaps use this to agitate senior citizens? They’d be stupid not to. HB 2142. This veto could literally be the among the dumbest of Perry’s entire administration. The bill prevented the Texas Department of Transportation from engaging in marketing campaigns to promote tolls as a mechanism for funding highway construction. In case Perry hasn’t noticed, the vast majority of the state is against toll roads. Check out Perry’s reasoning for the veto:

House Bill No. 2142 limits the Texas Department of Transportation’s ability to market or advertise the use of toll roads or tolling as a method of paying for highway projects, preventing the state from advertising resources such as toll tags. [Emphasis added]

Say WHAT? This bill will prevent the state from advertising toll tags? That’s just a fabrication. Read the bill. Read the bill analysis:

Provides that this section does not authorize TxDOT to engage in marketing, advertising, or other activities for the purpose of influencing public opinion about the use of toll roads or the use of tolls as a financial mechanism.

Where did Perry and his staff come up with being able to claim that this bill would stop the state from advertising toll tags? The bill was very strictly constructed to stop TxDOT from engaging in multi-million dollar ad campaigns to con Texans into believing that the only way for us to have roads is through tolls. Not in the wildest Wonderland of Legislative Intent Dreamscapes can it be construed that this bill would stop TxDOT from promoting toll tags. That is just a scapegoat excuse to veto a bill that passed the House 132-1 and the Senate 31 to zip. (This is probably what happens when you veto bills on salvia.) HB 130. This one—full-day pre-kindergarten funding—is another opposition researcher’s dream. Imagine video of Rick Perry delivering his 2005 State of the State Address, and this line being delivered:

When our work is done, parents won’t measure our success by how much money we spend, but whether more children learn.

Then imagine pictures of low-income, four-year old kids playing on an abandoned lot somewhere, and the following voiceover:

“How much are our children learning, Governor Perry? You vetoed a bill that would have opened schoolhouse doors to thousands of Texas children, giving them a head start on succeeding in school. Texas has one of the highest high school drop-out rates in the nation, and spends less money per student than almost any other state in the nation. Yet you shut kids out of schools. If you think this is how you measure success, maybe you need to get a new ruler, Governor Perry.”

Again, it passes the truth test just enough to allow Perry to be stabbed in the gut by his own veto pen. The bonus is that you can attack Perry for the veto without actually mentioning the word “pre-kindergarten,” which is an anathema to anti-welfare types who think it is a handout to the poor. These are only three of Perry’s vetoes from this session—and the first one is probably one most folks wouldn’t consider as something he could be easily attacked with. But, one can clearly see that at the bottom of most of his vetoes is some nugget of gold for opponents.

Sources Say Elizabeth Ames Jones To Withdraw From Senate Race

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/17/sources-say-elizabeth-ames-jones-to-withdraw-from-senate-rac/)
Sources tell Capitol Annex that Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones is poised to end her fledgling candidacy for United States Senate.

More as it develops.

Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up For Monday, June 8, 2009

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/08/texas-progressive-alliance-round-up-for-monday-june-8-2009/)
It’s Monday, and that means it is time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance’s weekly round-up.

Neil at Texas Liberal writes about the relocation of the National Cash Register company from Dayton, Ohio to Georgia. Treating people like dirt for 200 years gives Southern states an advantage in creating a so-called business friendly low-tax low-wage climate.

BossKitty at TruthHugger is so amazed at the short sighted policies our state and country continue to pursue. Buy American is a path to destruction. Isolationist Trends Protect US From Reality

Lamar Smith wins South Texas Chisme’s asshat of the week award. Hyper partisan Smith thinks all media should be like Fox News.

Who would have thought that an otherwise-obscure bill about granting homestead exemptions to folks who lost their house in Hurricane Ike would become the most controversial issue in the first week post-sine die, including a threat by the Land Commissioner to refuse to follow the law if it gets signed by the Governor? Off the Kuff has the details.

The Texas Blue looks at the big winners and losers of this year’s legislative session in Sine Die: The Aftermath.

Citizen Sarah over at Texas Vox sheds a tear over good environmental bills lost this legislature… so much for the “solar session”.

Burnt Orange Report writer Todd Hill has been selected as an Archer Fellow by UT-Arlington and will be headed to Washington DC in 2010 for a semester.

Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the former Tyler Mayor looking to replace State Rep. Leo Berman.

Over at TexasKaos, liberaltexan argues that even Christians at Liberty U should be able to dissent. What a radical idea!

A Devon Official strongly suspects a connection between recent North Texas earthquakes and the widespread hydraulic fracturing. Devon and other operators are leaving their mark on TXsharon’s statcounter. She wonders what they are so worried about on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

Teddy at Left of College Station reports on the College Station red light camera debate, and covers the week in headlines.

Bay Area Houston has the scoop on Perry calling a special session on Voter ID.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the excellent first session for Williamson County’s Democratic state representative, Diana Maldonado, Freshman of the Year.

Robert Reich describes how Big Pharma and Big Insurance plan to kill the public health care option, excerpted at Brains and Eggs.

WhosPlayin has AARP’s call for Michael Burgess to act decisively on health care.

This week, McBlogger takes a look at some fashion advice from Details.

COMING THURSDAY: Best & Worst Of The 81st

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/08/coming-thursday-best-worst-of-the-81st/)
On Thursday, Capitol Annex will bring readers its wrap-up coverage of the 81st session of the Texas Legislature, including our list of the best and worst legislators of the Session.

We’ve put ours a bit later than most outlets do, primarily to be able to take a longer and more detailed look at what happened in the session as well as in its immediate aftermath.

Former Tyler Mayor Will Seek Leo Berman's Seat

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/07/former-tyler-mayor-will-seek-leo-bermans-seat/) Former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber has announced that he will seek the state house seat currently held by State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) in the 2010 Republican Primary. Berman announced late last month that it was his intention to continue his likely ill-fated run for governor, meaning his seat would be open in 2010. Although Seeber acknowledged in his press release that Berman was running for governor, he did not indicate he would withdraw from the race if Berman abandoned his bid for governor. Seeber (R-Tyler) served three terms as Mayor of Tyler and several terms on the Tyler City Council. Seeber succeded former Tyler Mayor Kevin Eltife, now a State Senator, and ended his tenure as mayor last year. An attorney with Findlay Craft in Tyler and local businessman, Seeber was a popular Tyler mayor. A Tyler Morning-Telegraph editorial from the conclusion of Seeber’s tenure as mayor tells more about his time in that post:

Also among the notable accomplishments of Seeber’s service as mayor was formation of Tyler 21 Project, an ambitious program aimed at getting city residents actively involved in setting goals and priorities for improvement projects and carrying them out. Seeking public input in a comprehensive way allowed many citizens to offer their input on Tyler’s bright future. Since moving to Tyler 15 years ago Seeber also has been involved in community and civic organizations. He was active in supporting the successful Tyler Independent School District bond issue and has served on boards of the American Heart Association, the Literacy Council of Tyler, the Parent Services Center and Tyler Teen Court. The first five years of his Tyler residency Seeber was in active law practice. He left active law practice and has owned and operated several businesses. Currently he is president of WC Supply Company in Tyler. He and his wife, Kristin, have two sons. He also was honored for his community leadership by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce in 1999 as recipient of the W.C. Windsor Award. While serving as mayor, Seeber has been extremely active in representing the city in support of numerous community activities. He established a reputation of being a good listener and highly effective in getting things done. Seeber’s commitment to open government has been a welcome part of his tenure. One fellow council member suggested the leadership skills Seeber showed as mayor likely will emerge in other areas in years to come, saying, “I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Joey Seeber.” A look at Seeber’s resume even before his service as mayor suggests that assessment is on the mark.

In his announcement press release, Seeber seemed to signal a deprture from Berman’s agenda—which has basically included grabbing headlines for anti-immigration measures for the last four years:

“Leo’s commitment to cutting taxes and fighting for illegal immigration reform is commendable,” said Seeber. “We have different personalities but we are both boot-strap conservatives who have worked side by side in the Republican trenches.” Seeber added that he would offer a campaign platform focused on lower taxes, quality public schools, consumer protections, property owner protections, environmental responsibility and supporting Texas families.

Note that “quality public schools” and “environmental responsibility” are two concepts that are alien to Leo Berman (no pun intended). Note also that Seeber distances himself from Berman’s wingnut ways. Although it is still early in the cycle, expect Seeber to have opposition. If Berman runs again, that will likely be his only oppisition. If Berman doesn’t run again, expect a pile of Republicans who want to play the “look who is more conservative” game to jump out of the wood work—such as former Smith County Commissioner Jo Ann Flemming, who has been rumored to be eyeing a challenge to Eltife or a bid for a seat left open by Berman. One thing about this district is that if Seeber wins the GOP primary, the district will be a write-off for Democrats. Because of the makeup of the district, Democrats only real hope to win the district is if Berman holds it or another right-wing Republican holds the GOP nomination.

Anticipating Tough Campaign, Perry Focuses On What He Knows: Immigration

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/06/07/anticipating-tough-campaign-perry-focuses-on-what-he-knows-immigration/) What do you do when you are Texas longest-serving governor, running for re-election to a third term against a tough-as-nails opponent, and your entire administration has basically been a dismal failure when it comes to any meaningful issues of importance to everyday Texans? Well, you focus on what you know. For Texas Governor Rick Perry, that’s tax cuts and immigration. Never mind that the last one isn’t exactly a responsibility of the state under the constitution, of course. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Texas Governor Rick Perry sent an April letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking for 600 soldiers to be stationed in “reconnaissance platoons” to patrol the Texas/Mexico border:

Perry’s plan would be part of 1,000 Texas National Guard troops called up to full-time duty. Perry could call up the Guard on his own but the state would have to pay for it. The $135.6 million it would cost in the first year isn’t included in the state budget adopted for 2010-11 Under the plan, the soldiers would be deployed in 24 reconnaissance platoons to 20 remote locations. “It is my recommendation that the federal government adopt a proactive, rather than reactive, approach in addressing the threat from spillover violence by immediately increasing the security along the U.S.-Mexico border with an overwhelming uniformed patrol presence on the ground, in the water and in the air,” Perry wrote. Perry asked Napolitano in February for the 1,000 troops to augment efforts along the border. Texas Guard spokesman Col. Bill Meehan said he didn’t know how the “border reconnaissance platoons” would operate but noted similarities to Operation Wrangler.

Don’t be surprised if Perry’s letter is actually a trigger for something much bigger: a special session. If Napolitano denies Perry’s request (which she is likely to do), Perry could call up the Texas National Guard himself. That would send the state budget into an overload mode that the Legislative Budget Board would be reluctant—or perhaps even legally prohibited—from reparing. Then, Perry can use that as an excuse for a Special Session. That will accomplish three things: it will make him look “tough” on immigration to the GOP base, it will create a lot of votes in the legislature that could hurt Democrats against Republicans in 2010, and he would have an excuse to add voter identification to the call for the special session.

Chubbed Into Submission: Why The Last Five Days Will Hurt Republicans And Help Democrats In 2010

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/05/26/chubbed-into-submission-why-the-last-five-days-will-hurt-republicans-and-help-democrats-in-2010/)
The buzz around the corridors of the Capitol this week has been that Republicans are publicly salivating—and Democrats are privately anxious—over the implications the Great Chubbathon of 2009 over voter identification legislation will have on the 2010 election cycle.

House Republican Caucus Chair Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) has already called the Democratic minority “whiny kids;” House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) has called them “obstructionist.” The rhetoric is seemingly powerful, so one could see why Democrats may be a bit anxious.

The fact is, however, that Republicans—not Democrats—have lost the most as a result of the last five days’ labors in the House.

STUFF LESS IMPORTANT THAN VOTER ID

House Republicans have handed Democrats tailor-made issues for the 2010 election on a giant silver platter. How? They managed to prioritize a partisan piece of legislation—voter identification—over and above legislation that could actually help Texans. Consider that House Republicans placed partisan politics above insurance reform, energy efficiency, solar energy initiatives, the Texas Windstorm Insurance program, air quality, and more.

All of those things—from windstorm insurance to air quality are all things Republicans think have less importance than passing voter identification.

In fact, Republicans on the House Calendars Committee made sure that the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association bill ended up on the Major State Calendar instead of the Emergency Calendar—where it was eligible for immediate consideration. Republicans did that because they wanted to create a false choice for Democrats: choose between voter id and insurance reform.

Republicans failed when they pulled that stunt; it makes it abundantly clear they are making voter identification their number one priority.

THERE IS NO WAY TO ADEQUATELY FRAME THE DEBATE TO BENEFIT REPUBLICANS

Republicans will argue that they will be able to use the “Chubbathon” to hurt Democrats in districts across the state by dragging out words like “obstructionist.” The fact is, they can’t.

Saying that Democrats are obstructionist is one thing. Proving that—or summing it up in a 30 second TV spot or direct mail piece in a way that has any shred of credibility—is impossible. Try explaining the legislative concept of “chubbing” to anyone you know. It isn’t easy (not to mention the fact that one segment of the population will think you are talking about something sexual and another segment will think you are talking about a bizarre type of fishing).

All Republicans can say is, “Democrats are obstructionist.” Big deal. They can’t really do much to back up that statement without mentioning that the Democrats were attempting to stop a piece of partisan legislation.

On the other hand, Democrats can say of Republicans, “(Your State Representative) put partisan politics above insurance reform ([or, insert your favorite from “energy efficiency,” “air quality,” or whatever else]”

Finally—and actually, for the first time this session—the Democrats control the agenda in a positive way.

House Democrats can paint themselves as the party that stood up to Republicans attempts to lock the elderly, the poor, and minorities out of the voting booth. It is a powerful narrative—even in spite of Republicans contentions that so many folks in the state allegedly support voter identification.

ALL THAT MATTERS

How it happened is irrelevant. The “Chubbathon” will be remembered by few except historians, capitol insiders, and political junkies by the end of the year. All that matters is this: Republicans put partisan politics above insurance reform, clean air, and a host of other important bills. Democrats stood up to Republican attempts to lock the elderly and minorities and the poor out of the voting booth.

The narrative benefits Democrats, not Republicans. The narrative is all that matters, not necessarily the parliamentary maneuvers that crafted it.

Leo Berman Remains In Race For Texas Governor

Check out this post: http://capitolannex.com/2009/05/26/leo-berman-remains-in-race-for-texas-governor/) Controversial State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler), announced over the weekend that he would remain in the 2010 GOP Primary race for Governor of Texas—a fact that could potentially fatally bleed rightwing support fromTexas Governor Rick Perry. Berman told the Houston Chronicle that he would remain in the race to push forward the issue of illegal immigration:

With plans to join the GOP primary with Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said today he wil announce as a candidate for governor the week of July 4. “I want to run for governor because there’s one major problem in this state that no one seems to be addressing, and in of fact they are completely avoiding it, and that was quite evident in this legislative session as well, and that’s the question of illegal aliens in Texas.”

While money will no doubt be a factor determining how much money Berman can raise, there is some chance he can tap into veins of ultra-conservative cash both in Texas and nationall that Perry—in spite of his conservative record—has been unable to exploit. If Berman is able to raise enough cash, he will no doubt be a serious fly in the ointment for Perry, and could force either Perry or Hutchison into a nasty one-on-one runoff that could fracture the Texas Republican Party once and for all.