Note: This article first appeared in the Quorum Report in September of 2016. Given the fact that Lt. Gov. Patrick reportedly brokered the deal for President Trump to campaign for Sen. Cruz in Texas, it seemed appropriate to revisit this analysis – SB A clear-eyed assessment of the long-term strength and influence of the Tea […]
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Flashback: Lt. Gov. Patrick gives Sen. Cruz a lesson in how to lead Texas Republicans
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Maybe the GOP Civil War in Texas Really is Over
Perhaps every column should now start like this: Before you’re done reading, the president may tweet something that changes almost everything I’m about to say. In his speech at the Texas GOP convention last month and again in emails to supporters, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick – who finished about 15 points behind Gov. Greg Abbott […]
Abbott’s New Hampshire-based consultant Dave Carney pulls back the curtain on the governor’s disdain for all Texas House members
Gov. Greg Abbott has now traveled to two Republican Texas House members’ districts to campaign against them, repeatedly call them “liberals,” and make clear that even uttering opposition to a key mechanism for his fundraising will be severely punished. Even if they win their races on Tuesday, Chairmen Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, and Lyle […]
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As hardliners push Texas House GOP to flex muscle in selecting speaker, Abbott works to reduce their numbers
HOUSTON – Confession: Few things in this world are as fascinating and fun as the literal and figurative swamp of Harris County politics. The creatures lurking here in the murky bayou waters are powerful and petty, colorful and crazy. And they’ll get you if you’re not careful. That’s why it was especially striking that as […]
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Straus retirement may set the stage for a responsible redistricting cycle
During the 2007 session of the Legislature, Rep. Byron Cook took to the front mic of the Texas House to rally the troops against then-Speaker Tom Craddick. Longtime observers will remember Cook’s words included a call to arms from Shakespeare, quoting from the Saint Crispin’s Day speech in Henry V: “We few, we happy few, […]
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With Patrick in Background, Abbott Has Chance to Lead After Harvey
Gov. Greg Abbott has said in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey that a second special session to address the needs of communities along the coast is not necessary while paradoxically pointing out that fiscal hawks have been wise to leave plenty of cash in the Economic Stabilization Fund, or “Rainy Day Fund.” That, of course, […]
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Patrick meets Straus on the Speaker’s preferred battlefield
Throughout his ascendancy at the Texas Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proven time and again the ability to adapt to the political environment. Unlike many in the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party from which he derives his support, Patrick comes to government to govern, not to protest. As Patrick rolled out his […]
Group of TPPF board members spent heavily against Texas House GOP leadership
The Texas Public Policy Foundation promotes itself – and has been promoted in various media outlets – as merely a conservative free market think tank. The group, founded by “school choice” advocate James Leininger of San Antonio, says its “mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the […]
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Audio: A tragedy unfolds in Dallas
Mike Ward, the Austin Bureau Chief for the Houston Chronicle, and I recently started a weekly podcast to bring you all the latest news from the Texas Capitol. Click here to subscribe to the show and have it instantly delivered to you each week. This week we did our 7th show, in which we discussed the ambush […]
Flashback: TPPF revised estimate in Texas budget growth down to 9% from nearly 30%
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, […]
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About Scott
Scott Braddock is a journalist and political analyst based in Austin.
