Author List | All Tags
Recent Tags
Popular Tags
Elections (764)
Election 2008 (537)
City Council (411)
81st Legislature (314)
Legislature (281)
Politics (207)
State Government (168)
Courts (147)
Democrats (142)
Election 2006 (139)
Environment (137)
Transportation (131)
Texas House of Representatives (126)
Marijuana (124)
Media (119)
Election 2010 (118)
Republicans (117)
Education (115)
Growth & Development (104)
Crime (102)
Election 2008 (537)
City Council (411)
81st Legislature (314)
Legislature (281)
Politics (207)
State Government (168)
Courts (147)
Democrats (142)
Election 2006 (139)
Environment (137)
Transportation (131)
Texas House of Representatives (126)
Marijuana (124)
Media (119)
Election 2010 (118)
Republicans (117)
Education (115)
Growth & Development (104)
Crime (102)
All Chronicle blogs, all the time
The scene turned inside art
Getting in bed with books
Come on in the kitchen
Sizing up screens big and small
Get the wax out
Your base on balls
Elements of style
Steer here, queers
Check back here for Chronicle alerts!
On the Lege
Ogden In, Gattis Out
Richard Whittaker
Mon Nov 30, 9:24am
, 2009
Ogden: Don't change that office name plate quite yet
Ogden is the four-time chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and had announced back in September that he was retiring. Gattis announced that he was running for the vacant Senate seat, starting a rush of replacements for his House seat and his own Senate rival, Huntsville realtor Ben Bius. With Ogden getting back in the race, Gattis has said he won't run for the House again.
So why the reversal? After throwing out the standard line that "too often fulfilling my public obligations meant time away from Shana, our children, and my business," Gattis goes on to explain that
Sen. Ogden and I began discussing the very real financial and budget challenges facing our great State and his interest in returning to the Senate to address these problems should I make the decision to step aside in order to focus on family commitments. It is Senator Ogden’s willingness to return to the Senate that gives me the peace of mind to withdraw from the race at this time.The boildown is that Gattis regards Ogden as the only man with the financial know-how to fix the state budget with the anticipated 2011 deficit. Actually, there should probably be more probing of exactly how culpable the four-time Senate Finance chair is in creating that deficit. The Texas state budget is already in a structural deficit that Ogden et al papered over with federal stimulus money (thereby negating any stimulative effects). Ogden was Finance boss when the abortive business franchise tax reforms were passed in 2006. He's also helped further institutionalize fund diversions (the legislative term for robbing Peter to pay Paul), which tax watchdogs like the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association oppose for disguising real need and real state spending, a practice he's continually defended.
FEATURED IN ON THE LEGE
The Smith Smears
Richard Whittaker, Tue Dec 1
Euless Republican draws primary challenger for "Romeo and Juliet" bill
Richard Whittaker, Tue Dec 1
Euless Republican draws primary challenger for "Romeo and Juliet" bill
MORE IN NEWS
Primary Filings: The Democrats
Richard Whittaker, Tue Jan 5
Breaking down the election filings for the Dems
Richard Whittaker, Tue Jan 5
Breaking down the election filings for the Dems
