It was a decade ago that then-Gov. Rick Perry stood on the banks of the Rio Grande in his Carhartt jacket, promising in a TV commercial that “If Washington won’t protect our border, Texas will.” At that time, Texas Republicans were treating President George W. Bush as an apostate who was weak on the issue […]
Trump Victory Could Pressure Gov. Abbott to Lay Out an Agenda
by Scott on November 17, 2016 in Border Security, Immigration, Joe Straus, Politics, Rick Perry
Flashback: TPPF revised estimate in Texas budget growth down to 9% from nearly 30%
by Scott on June 30, 2016 in Economy, Joe Straus, Politics, Religion, Tea Party
Note: This story originally appeared in The Quorum Report in 2014 after the Texas Public Policy Foundation dramatically revised its analysis of the budget passed by the Legislature in 2013. The information here is worth considering after TPPF this week released its “Conservative Texas Budget.” Bottom line: Once the GOP primaries were concluded in 2014, […]
Perry took a shot at appearing as the elder statesman from Texas at exactly the wrong time
by Scott on September 12, 2015 in Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Ted Cruz, Texas
While still fighting a criminal indictment in Travis County and – as a direct result – unable to make inroads in fundraising or the polls, former Gov. Rick Perry on Friday became the first in the crowded Republican presidential field to suspend his campaign. Unlike his first run for the presidency Perry tried something new: […]
Trump intensifies proxy war between Cruz and Perry
by Scott on July 26, 2015 in Border Security, Immigration, Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Ted Cruz, Uncategorized
Following Donald Trump’s visit to the Texas-Mexico border and after his comments that Sen. John McCain was not a real war hero because he was captured in Vietnam, it is worth taking the time to think through what his campaign might mean for the presidential contenders from the Great State. What Trump said about Sen. McCain […]
Speaker Straus Hints at What’s to Come in Texas Legislative Session
by Scott on February 17, 2015 in Border Security, Dan Patrick, Economy, Education, Immigration, Joe Straus, Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Texas, Video
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said this past week that he is “personally” against repealing in-state tuition for undocumented students, he wants to work with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on border security, and that The Legislature should avoid “gimmicks” when deciding how to pay for critical infrastructure like roads. In a […]
2014: The Year of Tom Delay’s Permanent Republican Majority
by Scott on December 31, 2014 in Dan Patrick, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
As 2014 draws to a close, one thing of which I am certain is you do not need to read another story about the variety of reasons Texas did not turn blue – or mauve or any shade of purple – this year but instead went from pretty darn red to “red concentrate” with a […]
Breaking Down the Election on WFAA
by Scott on November 9, 2014 in Border Security, Dallas, Dan Patrick, Immigration, Latinos, Politics, Rick Perry, Texas
The way some of the down-ballot races in Texas played out this past week put a fine point on just how powerful a wave the GOP was riding heading into Tuesday’s election. Not only did Republicans sweep every statewide race, which was expected, but their margin of victory was way higher than even the party’s […]
Texas Voters to Decide on Taking a Step Forward for Road Construction
by Scott on October 5, 2014 in Dallas, Economy, Houston, Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Citizen. Texas is an economic engine unlike any other, but there are things that could put the brakes on our dynamic growth. Congested highways and the unreasonably long commutes that go along with them have the potential to slow commerce in a way that promises to be detrimental […]
National Guard Deployment Along the Rio Grande is Now Underway
by Scott on August 26, 2014 in Border Security, Economy, Immigration, Latinos, Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared on The Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas politics and government. BASTROP – The “force multiplier” for the border surge touted by Gov. Perry and other members of the state’s Republican leadership is now becoming a reality as up to 1,000 Texas National Guard troops begin […]
National Guard Theatrics Jeopardize Billions in Potential Growth Along the Texas Border
by Scott on August 15, 2014 in Border Security, Economy, Immigration, Politics, Rick Perry, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared on The Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas politics and government. While Gov. Perry continues his national cable TV tour talking about the influx of migrant children along the border and his decision to deploy as many as 1,000 Texas National Guard Troops to the region, […]
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Scott Braddock is a journalist and political analyst based in Austin.
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