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 […]
As hardliners push Texas House GOP to flex muscle in selecting speaker, Abbott works to reduce their numbers
by Scott on November 19, 2017 in Houston, Politics, Tea Party
Hotze’s Bathroom Bill Campaign Just Latest Episode in Long-Running Anti-Gay Crusade
by Scott on March 27, 2017 in Dan Patrick, Economy, Joe Straus, Politics, Texas
As the Texas Senate was getting down to work on the “bathroom bill,” Dr. Steve Hotze, an anti-gay activist and longtime business partner of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, began running television ads against Speaker Joe Straus in his district demanding the measure receive a vote in the House. After Senate Bill 6 passed the full […]
Houston’s leadership on workforce can be a model for the nation
by Scott on June 22, 2016 in Economy, Houston, Workforce
Business leaders in Houston seem well-positioned to set the tone for how the rest of the nation addresses workforce challenges, experts agree. During a town hall-style event hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership, health care leaders, construction executives and others discussed ways the private sector is taking the lead to ensure that a quality workforce […]
Defeat of HERO signals a campaign cycle of social conservatism ahead for Texas GOP
by Scott on November 6, 2015 in Dan Patrick, Houston, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
The defeat of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance Tuesday night came as a surprise only to those who had paid exactly zero attention to the politics on the ground – and for most of the campaign, the clueless seemed to include much of city leadership. Prior to and after the vote, many HERO supporters had […]
AUDIO Flashback: Dan Patrick vs Ted Cruz
by Scott on March 23, 2015 in Audio, Dan Patrick, Politics, Tea Party, Texas, Uncategorized
As mentioned on the West Texas Drive this afternoon, here is the audio of then-Sen. Dan Patrick and Sen. Ted Cruz on Patrick’s radio show in Houston. This was during the GOP primary in 2012. The two really get into it about the way the Texas Senate operated under former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Tweet […]
Texas Education Reforms are Key in Promoting the Middle Skills
by Scott on November 30, 2014 in Construction, Economy, Education, Politics, Texas, Workforce
Sweeping education reforms passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013 will be a great help to business leaders in Houston as they embark on an unprecedented push to promote “middle skills” jobs. Those are well-paying jobs that, as the Construction Citizen team has been telling you, require more than a high school diploma but less […]
Houston Up For Grabs in the Race for Governor?
by Scott on November 3, 2014 in Dan Patrick, Houston, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared on The Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas politics and government. As I’ve said from time to time: If Texas is a battleground, Harris County is ground zero. Perhaps never before has that seemed so true. Conservative activists, including the local GOP’s new and old leadership, […]
In high-level talks, Texas business leaders press the White House to act on immigration
by Scott on August 3, 2014 in Houston, Immigration, Obama, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared on The Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas politics and government. Amid the chaos on Capitol Hill and the crisis on the border, Texas construction executives pushing for immigration reform traveled to Washington and met late Friday with senior advisers to President Obama. Houston construction executives […]
Houston Equal Rights Fight Could Have Statewide Electoral Consequences
by Scott on June 26, 2014 in Dan Patrick, Houston, Politics, Texas
Note: This story originally appeared in The Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas government and politics. Time is running short for opponents of Houston’s recently passed equal rights ordinance, which supporters call HERO, to gather signatures on a petition to try to overturn it. Opponents led by longtime – and now […]
Thursday Morning Reading: Dewhurst Loses His Cool
by Scott on May 17, 2012 in Audio, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
Good morning, everybody. I’m trying to wake up but the coffee is still dripping into the pot. I’m also trying to figure out whether Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst hurt or helped himself in his bid for the Senate by lashing out at his top opponent: Ted Cruz. Tweet Share
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Scott Braddock is a journalist and political analyst based in Austin.
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