Episode 201: The New Lege
What's happened in Texas politics since the last legislative session, and what might happen in the new session? We've got the same people in charge. Does that mean business as usual? Also a look back at the 2006 elections.
Panelists:
- Ross Ramsey, Texas Weekly
- Christy Hoppe, Dallas Morning News
- Harvey Kronberg, Quorum Report
Ross Ramsey is the editor of Texas Weekly, the premier newsletter on government and politics in the lone star state. Before taking the reins at Texas Weekly in September 1998, Ramsey was associate deputy comptroller for policy with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. He also did time as the agency's director of communications and as executive assistant to then-Comptroller John Sharp. Prior to that 28-month stint in government, Ramsey spent 17 years in journalism, reporting for the Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Times Herald and, as a Dallas-based freelance business writer, for a number of regional and national magazines and newspapers. He also worked for seven years in broadcasting, covering news for radio stations in Denton and Dallas. Texas Weekly, in continuous publication since 1984, has become a favored and trusted source of information for Texas officeholders, lobbyists, political financiers, reporters and other political junkies from Humble, Texas, to the White House.
Christy HoppeChristy Hoppe is the Austin bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News. She has covered politics and policies in the state Capitol through the terms of four governors. Prior to Austin, Christy worked as a reporter and editor in Dallas. A graduate of the University of Texas, she began her newspaper career with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Harvey Kronberg is the editor of the Quorum Report, the newsletter of political Texas since 1989. Quorum Report is a non-partisan online publication covering state politics and government from an insider's perspective. The site can be found at www.quorumreport.com. Harvey is also a political analyst for News 8 Austin. In February 2005, Texas Monthly declared him one of the 25 most powerful individuals in Texas politics. Harvey is a graduate of the University of Texas with an honors degree in Plan II and History.
More about this topic:
- "Legislature must plan now for Texas of the future," by Dan Branch, Dallas Morning News, January 8, 2007.
- "Under the dome," The Associated Press, printed in Dallas Morning News, January 10, 2007.
- "What's going on in Austin?" by Florence Shapiro, Dallas Morning News, January 26, 2007.
- "Legislature is back to tackling just about everything," by Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman, January 7, 2007.
- "Challenges, no emergencies ahead," by John Moritz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, January 7, 2007.
Governor's Race Re-cap:
- "Divided we stood- independent Texans!" by Linda Curtis, Quorum Report, November 27, 2006. (subscription required)
- "The eye of the storm," by Ross Ramsey, Texas Weekly, November 13, 2006. (subscription required)
New Members:
- Glenn Hegar: "Hegar and Gates square off for round 3," by Harvey Kronberg, Quorum Report, March 3, 2006 (subscription required)
- Dan Patrick: "Second time around," by Clay Robison, Houston Chronicle, February 5, 2007.
- Dan Patrick: "Senator piles $1 million in cash on table," by Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman, February 14, 2007.
