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March 06, 2007
More Trouble For Perry
Texas Governor Rick Perry's new term has had a rather bumpy beginning, to say the least. Since winning reelection with a commanding 39% of the vote, Landslide Rick has taken a cue from his predecessor, George W. Bush, and begun spending his enormous political capital.
Readers will recall that Perry did an immediate immigration-180 after the election, ditching his anti-immigrant TV ads and supporting a guest worker program. Next came proposals to sell the state lottery to establish funds for education and health care, and his much discussed plan to require Texas girls to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted HPV virus. Nothing like rewarding the right wing base that returned you to office, no?
Last week the Guv's political troubles deepened, as a sexual abuse scandal at the Texas Youth Commission exploded -- and this story, as they say, appears to have legs.
Amid all the recent excitement, another large political problem seems to be brewing for Perry -- the Trans Texas Corridor. In a perhaps little-noticed blog entry in today's Austin American-Statesman, Jason Embry noted that Members in both the House and Senate have filed legislation to put a moratorium on the TTC.
Defying common sense and political reality, Perry has pursued the Trans Texas Corridor as his great legacy for the state. Rural property owners have a slightly different view, and have been raising hell about the issue for months. While much of the media have seemed preoccupied with other business at the Lege, apparently the Members are feeling the heat.
Add the TTC to the growing list of headaches for Governor Good Hair. As if he needed another one.
Posted by houtopia at March 6, 2007 10:13 PM