Julian Castro Endorses Wendy Davis; Wendy Urges Van de Putte;
TTARA Says O&G Revenue will Replenish Rainy Day Fund;
Councilwoman Elisa Chan Resigns to Run for State Senate
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Good morning from Austin.
JULIAN CASTRO ENDORSES WENDY DAVIS
SAEN’s John Gonzales reports:
Four days into her 2014 Democratic quest for governor, state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth stumped in San Antonio on Monday, collecting the endorsement of Mayor Julian Castro and mingling with phone bank volunteers from Battleground Texas.
She also reaffirmed her preference for a running mate, urging state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, to seek the lieutenant governor nomination.
“She has shown how smart she is, how much she cares about veterans, about public education. She would make a formidable opponent in the lieutenant governor’s race, and I’m excited and hopeful that she’ll be joining this race,” Davis said.
The Fort Worth senator toured the Rackspace Hosting Inc. facility on the Northeast Side — even riding down a two-story tube slide. She appeared with Castro before assembled employees, where he surprised no one by formally backing Davis.“Today I am very proud to stand here with Sen. Davis and to endorse her for governor of Texas,” Castro said.
“Wendy is such an impressive candidate whose values reflect the values of all Texans — hard work, strong faith and great aspirations,” Castro said. “It wasn’t the right time for me (to run), but I’m so happy that Sen. Davis will be our next governor.”
Davis praised the mayor for his efforts to enact the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance and its pre-K initiative. She thanked him for his support and spoke of the long campaign road ahead.
“This will be a 13-month journey, and it won’t be an easy one,” Davis told the audience of “Rackers.”
“San Antonio has an incredible story to tell, about how much it values education, how much it values creating public private-partnerships to keep our economy strong. It’s a shining example of what we want to be happening all over the state,” she said.
Monday evening, Davis mingled with volunteers at the San Antonio Firefighters Banquet Hall as they called potential supporters to draw them into the campaign effort.
Cultivating support in South Texas, with its large number of potential Latino voters, is a crucial part of Davis’ strategy. In November 2014, she would face the victor of the March GOP primary, whose candidates so far include Attorney General Greg Abbott and former Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken. Formal filing for the primaries begins Nov. 9.
Abbott is considered the GOP front-runner with an advantage in fundraising and in head-to-head polls with Davis. But Davis told volunteers she doesn’t mind a challenge.
“We’re not that far behind,” she said, adding, “I’ve been the underdog in so many things that I’ve attempted to do in my life.”
Even before she declared her candidacy on Thursday in Haltom City, Davis had two campaign-style appearances in San Antonio following the filibuster that earned her national attention. On July 11, Davis drew several hundred Democratic supporters for a women’s rights rally at Sunset Station, where Castro joined her on the stage. On Aug. 2 she spoke at a La Villita event sponsored by the Bexar County Democratic Party.
Davis campaigned in the Dallas area and Austin over the weekend, but Monday’s trip to San Antonio is her first in South Texas as an announced candidate. On Tuesday she’s expected to make private campaign stops in San Antonio.
TTARA ANALYZES O&G IMPACT ON RAINY DAY FUND
In a press release yesterday, the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association said:
(Austin, TX) – Thanks to a tremendous rebound in oil and gas drilling and production, the Texas Rainy Day Fund will be flush for years to come, according to a study released today by the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. The Rainy Day Flood: What Oil and Gas Comeback Means for Texasdocuments the tremendous increase in oil and gas activity and the corresponding growth in the state Treasury—particularly the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund.
Under the Texas Constitution, 75 percent of all oil and gas severance tax revenue in excess of what the state collected in 1987 is to be deposited into the Economic Stabilization Fund, commonly referred to as the Rainy Day Fund. The Fund is capped at an amount equal to ten percent of the state’s general revenue fund.
“To date, the new investment in oil and gas has generated over 300,000 new jobs in Texas—accounting for one-third of our recession recovery,” Craymer noted.“Those trends will continue over the next several years,” TTARA’s President, Dale Craymer noted, “because the investment is not being driven by price speculation but by cost effective new technologies. Previously uneconomical plays in the Barnett, the Eagle Ford and those around the Permian Basin are fueling new investment, new jobs, economic growth and substantial growth in tax revenues.”
Next month voters will be asked to validate a $2 billion appropriation for new water projects. In November 2014, voters will be asked to authorize a portion of oil and gas tax collections that would otherwise be deposited into the Rainy Day Fund be used to fund a portion of the state’s transportation infrastructure needs.
ELISA CHAN RESIGNS FROM CITY COUNCIL, EFFECTIVE OCT. 18
San Antonio City Councilwoman Elisa Chan has resigned, effective Oct. 18.
She has said she will run in the Republican primary for the State Senate seat held by Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels).
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#txlege
– The SAEN editorial board says Texas is “dysfunctional” on health insurance, as the Obamacare exchanges roll out.
– This year’s Texas Tribune Festival brought in $720,000 in revenue — a fantastic accomplishment.
2013 / 2014 / 2016:
– Chron’s Mike Morris reports (behind paywall) on fundraising in this year’s race for Houston Mayor, with the incumbent having raised nearly $3 million and the challenger primarily self funding.
Other stories of interest:
– Politico’s Jennifer Haberkorn reports from Houston on the importance of Texas in whether Obamcare works or not.
– FEMA says federal disaster assistance to West, TX is now over $16 million.
Lighter clicks:
– Swino lived quite a life.
– Will Ferrell shot 70 ads as Ron Burgundy for the Dodge Durango.
– I had higher hopes for this Jay Pharoah impression of Shannon Sharpe. (His Stephen A. Smith wasstellar).
– Some photos of Apple’s new Austin campus currently under construction.
– Dallas is one of six cities who have applied to host the 2018 Super Bowl.
– No, courtside seats for Lakers-Heat are not worth $1 million.
– You won’t be surprised which Texas stadium made the list of college football’s 5 best home stadiums.
Your Daily Source of Inspiration:
– An impressive Dallas 12 year-old.
– An inspiration to people around the world. (Likely Nobel Peace Prize winner on Friday?)
