School tax repairs ordered

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Education: "School tax repairs ordered"

The Legislature must fix the state's unconstitutional property tax system for public schools, the Texas Supreme Court ordered Tuesday, but lawmakers are off the hook for a big tax hike to pour billions more into education funding.

The latest decision in the state's long-running school finance litigation was a partial victory for hundreds of school districts that filed the lawsuit because it will force lawmakers to pass a new education funding system before the 2006-07 school year.

Panel begins work of reworking Texas' tax system

Panel begins work of reworking Texas' tax system: "A cloud of uncertainty hung over a panel of business leaders Monday as it began a review of Texas' tax system.

Gov. Rick Perry's 24-member Texas Tax Reform Commission, which held its first meeting Monday, is expected to recommend taxes that lawmakers can create, change or raise to offset cuts in school property taxes."

Star-Telegram.com | 11/22/2005 | Q&A on school finance

Star-Telegram.com | 11/22/2005 | Q&A on school finance: "Q&A on school finance"

It's been more than a decade. When will the GOP figure this one out?

Political Wire: Hutchison Gets Opponent

Political Wire: Hutchison Gets Opponent: "Houston lawyer Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) announced that she will challenge Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in 2006, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Radnofsky though faces a tough fight. As of the end of September, Radnofsky had only $382,000 in the bank while Hutchison had $7.3 million."

Daily Kos: An Evening with Barbara Ann Radnofsky-Texas' Next US Senator

Daily Kos: An Evening with Barbara Ann Radnofsky-Texas' Next US Senator: "On Election Night, while my fellow New Jerseyans were celebrating a well-deserved victory for Jon Corzine and Virginians were rewarding Tim Kaine for his service, I was in our nation's capitol. I had the honor of attending a fundraiser for my dear friend and Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky, who's running for the US Senate against Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Birdbrain). The event was held at the Mott House, across the street from Capitol Hill, and it certainly was worth the four-hour drive to attend. I hadn't seen Barbara in person since the DNC in 2004, so getting to talk to her and her wonderful guests was a true pleasure. Read on if you want to know what happened, and what Barbara Ann will do as Texas' next US Senator."

1:01 pm: Prosecutors argue that prominent Congressman Tom DeLay can get fair trial

1:01 pm: Prosecutors argue that prominent Congressman Tom DeLay can get fair trial

Prominent Republican Congressman Tom DeLay will be able to get a fair trial in Travis County despite its reputation as one of the most liberal areas of Texas, a veteran defense attorney said Monday in a sworn court statement.

The affidavit by Betty Blackwell was filed on behalf of prosecutors who are arguing against DeLay's request that his trial on money laundering and conspiracy charges be moved to another county.

"There is not so great a prejudice against the defendant, nor is there a dangerous combination of any sort, that will interfere with him receiving a fair trial in Travis County," Blackwell stated in the affidavit.

Defense attorneys argue that DeLay has been vilified in liberal Travis County, which was split into three different congressional districts as a result of a redistricting map DeLay engineered.

Why some did not share fate of DeLay

Why some did not share fate of DeLay: "Indictment of players in '02 case hinged on who did what, where."

DeLay blames Democrats, war for runaway federal spending

Delay has enhaled too many pesticides.KRT Wire | 11/03/2005 | DeLay blames Democrats, war for runaway federal spending: "Republicans may control Congress and the White House, but a leading House Republican says they can't be blamed for runaway federal spending on their watch.

Blame it on the war, said Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Or the Democrats.

'The 9-11 recovery, the war on terror, our homeland security buildup and related priorities have required Congress to spend more than we otherwise would have,' the former majority leader of the House of Representatives told an audience Thursday at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

'These things needed doing, and they needed doing quickly. Yes, they were expensive, but they were necessary and time-sensitive, and, given the circumstances, we were right to err on the side of security over thrift.'

He also blamed Democrats, complaining that they haven't offered any suggestions on how to cut spending. He said they created a congressional budget process that makes it difficult to cut spending.

'We've been operating off a Congress designed by Democrats,' he said.

The Republicans took control of Congress in 1995."

The Seattle Times: Politics: DeLay's lingering grip on power divides GOP

The Seattle Times: Politics: DeLay's lingering grip on power divides GOP: "Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's efforts to retain power despite his indictment have angered some rank-and-file Republicans, many of whom say his ethical problems and uncertain status are staining them and destabilizing GOP unity.

Although he was forced to relinquish his leadership post Sept. 28, after the first of two indictments for alleged involvement in money laundering related to the 2002 Texas election, DeLay continues to use an office in the leadership suite, occasionally presides over private meetings with committee chairmen and lobbies members during key floor votes."

AP Wire | 11/03/2005 | County official declines to prosecute Rove on Texas voting

AP Wire | 11/03/2005 | County official declines to prosecute Rove on Texas voting: "A Texas county official said Thursday he would not prosecute presidential adviser Karl Rove after investigating whether he voted illegally in the state.

Kerr County Attorney Rex Emerson said he made the decision after reviewing a report from the county sheriff, who examined documents from Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida and interviewed several witnesses.

'The facts indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Rove are Texans living in Washington D.C. during Mr. Rove's service to the federal government,' Emerson said in a statement.

Emerson said there was no evidence of dual voting or falsified applications with Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife Darby."

Karl Rove still in jeopardy over CIA leak .:. NewKerala - India's Top Online Newspaper

Karl Rove still in jeopardy over CIA leak .:. NewKerala - India's Top Online Newspaper: "The political and legal future of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove is in question over his role in the disclosure of an undercover CIA agent."

Republican Judge Withdraws from DeLay Case

Republican Judge Withdraws from DeLay Case: "Two days after Rep. Tom DeLay won a fight to get a new judge in his case, prosecutors Thursday succeeded in ousting the Republican responsible for selecting the new judge.

Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub withdrew after District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed a request to have him removed. Schraub said he will ask the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court - a Republican - to name a judge to preside over DeLay's conspiracy and money laundering trial.

DeLay is charged with illegally funneling corporate campaign contributions to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature. The Texas Republican was forced to step down as House majority leader after being indicted.

On Tuesday, District Judge Bob Perkins, a Democrat, was removed from DeLay's case at the congressman's request because of his contributions to Democrats.

The district attorney argued that Schraub was objectionable, too, because he has made several contributions to GOP candidates, including Gov. Rick Perry, a DeLay ally. Earle said the contributions called into question Schraub's ability to be impartial."