Perry disappoints, Texas primary elections in limbo and prospects of a state property tax

Perry could undo some of the consequences of his policies, but the best thing he can do for Texas in the time left to him is to resign

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Update: Washington Post – Less than 12 hours after he announced he was heading to Texas to “reassess” his campaign, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) tweeted Wednesday morning that he plans to compete in the South Carolina primary.

Texas Monthly Burkablog | By Paul Burka Surrender Jan. 4, 2012 – Is Perry history? It would seem so. It’s hard to imagine a reassessment that would result in his resuming his campaign. He could start over, moving forward with a new team, but he has already tried that once, and the new team had no chemistry. Move forward to what? He is nowhere in New Hampshire and in single digits in South Carolina. Florida is no better. He’s done.

As others have pointed out, Perry is still governor, and will be until his term expires in January 2015. Unless he decides to run again, the 2013 legislative session will be his last. In a perfect world, Perry would settle back into the governor’s office and try to redeem himself for the damage he has inflicted on Texas during the ten years of his governorship.

The Texas Tribune | By Ross Ramsey Texas Primaries Await Supreme Court Ruling (Jan. 4, 2012) – If Texas is going to hold primary elections on April 3, the federal courts will have to pick up the pace.

A panel of federal judges in Washington, D.C., is deciding whether congressional and legislative district maps drawn by the Legislature last year give proper protection to minority voters under the federal Voting Rights Act. At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether an interim map drawn by federal judges in San Antonio is legal.

In the meanwhile, there are no maps in place for the impending Texas elections.

Amarillo Globe News | By Enrique Rangel Legislature Prepares For Next Session Austin TX (Dec. 25, 2011) — Few state legislators command as much attention as Steve Ogden, the outgoing chairman of the Texas Senate Finance Committee.

When the Bryan Republican suggested at a recent business forum that Texas voters should weigh in on some critical issues the lawmakers will face in the next session, his audience paid close attention.

Ogden, who has chaired the finance panel for four sessions, proposed asking the Texas electorate to pass a statewide property tax to fund the public school system and to revamp the franchise tax. The latter would leave the door open for a state income tax on businesses.

He also suggested increasing the state’s gasoline tax — which despite sharp fuel price increases in recent years has been set at 20 cents per gallon for the last two decades — to pay for maintenance and construction of roads.