Politex

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus weighs in on Supreme Court's health care ruling

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent out a statement today regarding the  Supreme Court's health care ruling.

“The Supreme Court’s decision is a victory for all Americans, including the 16 million uninsured Hispanics. Access to healthcare has been a longstanding concern to the Hispanic community, as Latinos are far less likely to get preventive services but have a greater chance than whites of being diagnosed with diseases like diabetes.

“Already we have seen the benefits of these reforms in the Latino community. Nearly 750,000 young Latinos have been able to get coverage through their parents’ plans and by 2014, when the reforms are fully implemented, 9 million more uninsured Latinos will be eligible to receive coverage.  With the decision, America moves closer to lightening the burden on working families and ensuring that all our citizens will have a brighter future.

“Now, it is time for my Republican colleagues to stop playing partisan politics with Americans’ well-being. Their obstructionist arguments lost in Congress and lost in our country’s highest court, so hopefully Republicans will end their insistence that important policy goals cannot or should not be accomplished. The Supreme Court has announced clearly that our healthcare reforms are constitutional and can deliver coverage to those who need it most, so now Congress must move forward with solutions. If things are done simply for the sake of political advantage, as Republicans have demonstrated to do, the American people will continue to suffer. ”

-- Anna M. Tinsley 

Go to the FWST's Breaking News Updates blog for health care updates

Check out the Star-Telegram's Breaking News Updates for reaction and developments regarding to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the nation's health care law.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Tarrant County Democrat responds to Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's immigration law

Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairman Steve Maxwell responded to the Supreme Court's ruling on the Arizona immigration law today:

"I am pleased with the ruling handed down today by the Supreme Court regarding the Arizona Immigration Law. The Court's majority has made it clear that the racist and xenophobic right wing mentality which has co-opted some states' legislatures and governors' mansions is not going to destroy constitutional rights that took more than a century to establish. The Arizona law was conceived in a frenzy of hatred, which is not the force we want driving legislation. Federal immigration law has been upheld by this decision. The stage has now been set for immigration reform to take place where it is best addressed---at the federal level."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Breaking down the Fort Worth District 8 runoff: Gray over Romero

Morningside, United Riverside, and Highland Hills broke big for Kelly Allen Gray in Saturday’s Fort Worth City Council District 8 runoff, beating Ramon Romero, who took Meadowbrook, Poly, and parts of the district that extend into far South Fort Worth by wide margins.

The results followed the candidates’ strengths in the three-way May election a month earlier, in which Romero and Gray beat Marshall Hobbs to get into the runoff.

A total 2,458 ballots were cast, with 1,268 going for Gray and 1,190 for Romero. Of the total ballots cast, 1,353 were early, again reflecting the May election results. A total 1,991 ballots were cast in the May election. A sampling of some of the district’s precincts that went by wide margins for Gray or Romero in the runoff:

Historic Southside, 1005: 43 Gray, 14 Romero

United Riverside, 1008: 83 Gray, 2 Romero

United Riverside, 1019: 63 Gray, 25 Romero

Morningside, 1090: 96 Gray, 8 Romero

Morningside, 1078: Gray 63, Romero 13

Morningside, 1059: Gray 46, 5 Romero

Greenway, 1061: 27 Gray, 3 Romero

Glen Garden, 1104: 220 Gray, 49 Romero

Highland Hills, 1291: 204 Gray, 12 Romero

Meadowbrook, 1170: 367 Romero, 36 Gray

Meadowbrook, 1066: 216 Romero, 22 Gray

Poly, 1075: 156 Romero, 24 Gray

Poly, 1088: 89 Romero, 12 Gray

South Fort Worth, 1024: Romero 122, 14 Gray

- Scott Nishimura

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Monday's immigration ruling is "one step forward and two steps back"

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the Supreme Court's decision Monday to uphold a key piece of the Arizona immigration law -- that lets law enforcers check people's immigration status -- is "a victory not only for the people of Arizona, but for the rule of law."

But he said that it just isn't enough.

“Today’s ruling is one step forward and two steps back – simply not good enough," Perry said in a written statement. "It is bad enough that the Obama administration picks and chooses which laws it wishes to enforce, but for the United States Supreme Court to deprive states of some of those powers  ... is insulting to the Constitution and our right to govern ourselves.

 “The people of Arizona took action consistent with federal law and in direct response to the failure of this administration to secure our nation’s borders," Perry said. "The absence of federal action on immigration enforcement directly spoils the integrity of our nation’s laws.”

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

After debate, Cruz says Perry just wants Dewhurst "out of Austin"; "False," Perry says

DALLAS -- U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz is questioning Gov. Rick Perry's support for opponent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, saying Perry only supports Dewhurst to "get him out of Austin."

Cruz saved his sharpest comments for reporters after he and Dewhurst exchanged words in an hour-long KERA/Channel 13 debate, dominated by Cruz's criticism of Dewhurst for "negotiating" and "cutting deals" with Democrats in 10 years as the presiding officer in the Texas Senate.

First, Cruz told reporters the "Texas political establishment" is opposing him because "there are a lot of folks in Texas who would very much like to get him out of the state legislature and send him to Washington."

Later in the press conference, Cruz named Perry, saying Perry and Dewhurst "have fought tooth-and-nail" over state budgets but "It is in [Perry's] political interest to get rid of David Dewhurst and get him out of Austin and send him somewhere else."

UPDATE: Perry responded late Friday in a statement to the online Texas Tribune, writing that Cruz "falsely characterized my rationale for endorsing my friend and conservative colleague David Dewhurst" and that Dewhurst will "overhaul Washington, block President Obama's socialist agenda and restore the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Making false statements about my motives or David Dewhurst's conservative record is a disservice to Texas voters."

In the debate, Cruz also criticized Dewhurst for saying he never supported a payroll tax, referring to a 2005-06 discussion about revising the state's business franchise tax to include a tax based in part on the size of a business' payroll. At the time, critics called it a back-door wage or income tax.

"The lieutenant governor looked into the TV camera and told a deliberate falsehood," Cruz said.

Dewhurst left without speaking with reporters.

The debate will be replayed Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 13 and KERA/90.1 FM.

(Photo: LM Otero / AP)

--Bud Kennedy

 

 

 

Website asks, would Obama or Romney make the best sugar daddy?

It may be hard to imagine the political process cheapened any more than it does on its own, but a website calling itself the largest Sugar Daddy “dating” service on the Internet is apparently upping the ante.

In a crass, self-seeking promotional stunt (the website, not a politican this time) 30,000 female members of SeekingArrangement.com were polled on which of the two Presidential candidates, Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, they would rather have as their Sugar Daddy.  

“Even though Romney is ... wealthier than Obama, Obama beat Romney by 3 to 1, winning the hearts of women in all swing states and most Republican strongholds,” the website said.

Shouldn't that be swinger states?

Woman who chose Obama say he is personable, trustworthy and sexy. No such glowing description was given for Romney.

In Texas, Obama beat Romney roughly 32 percent to 13 percent among gold diggers. Another 43 percent of Texas women don’t want either the Republican or Democrat as their own personal Commander in Sweet.

The “poll” likely has a margin of error roughly equal to the IQ of anyone posting on that site.

-- Darren Barbee

 

Name-calling, anyone? Congressional candidates a "squish," supporters "Malinche" (two-faced)

Name-calling escalated this week in the two congressional runoff campaigns in Tarrant County.

In the Republican District 25 runoff for a district stretching from Burleson south through the Hill Country to San Marcos, Wes Riddle of Gatesville called Parker County car dealer Roger Williams an "establishment squish."

On KSKY/660 AM host Mark Davis' show, Williams had mentioned that Riddle was the campaign manager in 2010 for independent gubernatorial candidate Andy Barron of Belton, who received 7,267 votes running against Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic candidate Bill White.

On Facebook and Twitter, Riddle defended his Republican background and wrote: "District 25 needs a true Conservative Constitutionalist Republican in Congress not another Establishment Squish."

Meanwhile, Williams defended his email calling President Barack Obama a "socialist!" The email was rated as "Pants on Fire" untrue by PolitiFact Texas.

In the Democratic District 33 runoff, a Marc Veasey campaign spokesman criticized Domingo Garcia for comparing Veasey supporters state Reps. Rafael Anchía and Roberto Alonso to the 16th-century Spanish conquest figure La Malinche during a Spanish-language interview with KUVN/Channel 23.

The station quoted Garcia saying: "“From the time of La Malinche, there have always been people who support the other group instead of their own." The station indirectly paraphrased Garcia as calling them malinchistas -- two-faced or disloyal.

A Garcia spokesman said he was repeating the wording of a reporter's question.

Garcia's campaign had earlier accused Veasey of characterizing civil rights icon Joseph Lowery as senile for endorsing Garcia. Veasey hadn't used the word, but did write in a campaign statement that Lowery hasn't been "briefed very well about this race" and "I doubt that Rev. Lowery is aware" of Veasey's work on redistricting.

--Bud Kennedy

 

 

Fort Worth City Council's Espino, Hicks endorse García against Veasey in District 33

Fort Worth City Council members Sal Espino and Kathleen Hicks announced support for U.S. House District 33 candidate Domingo Garcia of Dallas Thursday, with Espino saying that Garcia's career of civil rights work outweighs his opposition to Lockheed Martin's F-35 project.

Espino (far left in photo) spoke alongside García Thursday at the new El Vaquero de Fort Worth statue on North Main Street. Former District 33 candidate the Rev. Kyev Tatum (shaking hands) also endorsed García along with eight pastors and community leaders attending as the Black, Brown and Tan Caucus.

Hicks, the third-place finisher in the primary behind Garcia and state Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, did not attend the news conference. Former state Rep. Glenn O. Lewis of Forest Hill also announced support for Veasey this week, becoming García's first prominent African-American supporters from Tarrant County.

"I think the biggest development today is winning Kathleen Hicks' support," García said after the news event.

"She and her campaign team have joined forces with ours. It gives us a fresh infusion of troops in Tarrant County."

In a printed statement, Hicks said the Tarrant-Dallas County district needs a congressman "who will be the voice for the people and not special-interest groups."

Espino said he disagrees with Garcia on the F-35 but supports him because "You can support a candidate and not support him on every issue. Obviously, Domingo supports jobs."

Tatum, a former Fort Worth Republican precinct chairman who endorsed Mike Huckabee for president in 2008 and appeared with him during that campaign, also had opposed the F-35.

García's campaign also announced endorsements by Fort Worth school trustees Juan Rangel and J.R. Martinez and Arlington school trustee Gloria Pena. Garcia was already supported by Fort Worth school trustee Carlos Vasquez.

Runoff opponent state Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth released a statement criticizing García over Lewis' and Tatum's support for private school vouchers.

In the statement, Veasey spokesman Anthony Gutierrez said: "The only way today's anti-jobs, anti-schools press conference could possibly have helped Domingo would have been if he was seeking the Republican nomination."

The announcement comes after Veasey introduced his "Vamos con Veasey" Dallas leadership team Wednesday, including state Reps. Rafael Anchía and Roberto Alonzo plus former opponent Steve Salazar of Dallas.

Veasey also picked up endorsements this week from former Arlington Mayor Elzie Odom and current Fort Worth school board President T.A. Sims, along with former candidate J.R. Molina of Johnson County. Veasey was endorsed earlier by former House Speaker Jim Wright, former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, state Sen. Wendy Davis and former mayors Kenneth Barr and Mike Moncrief.

The candidates will debate at least twice more: June 29 at the Marriott City Center in Dallas before a Dallas Regional Chamber audience, and July 10 at KERA/Channel 13 in Dallas.

They appeared June 3 on WFAA/Channel 8's Inside Texas Politics. That debate is here. 

The winner of the July 31 runoff will face Fort Worth Republican Chuck Bradley in the fall.

--Bud Kennedy

 

García to introduce Tatum, other Fort Worth backers; Dallas' Anchía, Alonzo back Veasey

U.S. House candidate Domingo García of Dallas will announce "several major endorsements" by Tarrant County leaders Thursday morning at the new Vaquero de Fort Worth statue, according to a campaign spokesman.

The announcement comes after runoff opponent state Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth introduced his "Vamos con Veasey" Dallas leadership team Wednesday, including state Reps. Rafael Anchía and Roberto Alonzo plus former opponent Steve Salazar of Dallas.

Former candidate Kyev Tatum confirmed late Wednesday that he and the Black, Brown and Tan Caucus will attend García's announcement. The caucus, a coalition of ministers and community leaders including former City Council candidate Lee Saldivar, is active in Fort Worth school board matters and had originally endorsed Tatum.

García already gained support this week from former state Rep. Glenn O. Lewis of Forest Hill, Veasey's predecessor in the Texas House. García's original Tarrant County supporters also include Fort Worth school trustee Carlos Vasquez, former Mayor Pro Tem Louis Zapata and former City Councilwoman Cathy Hirt.

Veasey also picked up endorsements this week from former Arlington Mayor Elzie Odom and current Fort Worth school board President T.A. Sims, along with former candidate J.R. Molina of Johnson County.

Veasey was endorsed earlier by former House Speaker Jim Wright, former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, state Sen. Wendy Davis and former mayors Kenneth Barr and Mike Moncrief.

The candidates will debate at least two more times: June 29 at the Marriott City Center in Dallas before a Dallas Regional Chamber audience, and July 10 at KERA/Channel 13 in Dallas.

They appeared June 3 on WFAA/Channel 8's Inside Texas Politics (photo, left to right: Garcia, host Brad Watson, Dallas Morning News reporter Gromer M. Jeffers, Veasey). That debate is here. 

The winner of the July 31 runoff will face Fort Worth Republican Chuck Bradley in the fall.

--Bud Kennedy