Dems expect to chip away at GOP House

[sonias]

Houston Chronicle 10/7/12

Dems expect to chip away at GOP House

AUSTIN - Democrats are virtually guaranteed to snatch back some legislative seats they lost in the 2010 election bloodbath, but Texas Republicans will retain a stranglehold on the state House after the November election.

The Democrats' horrendous election showing two years ago left them with only 49 seats in the 150-member state House. A South Texas Democrat changed parties last year to create a 102-48 GOP super majority.

Texas political experts expect Democrats will gain at least seven House seats.

"If the Democrats don't get to 55 seats or more, the party has committed malpractice," said GOP campaign consultant Eric Bearse.

Most of the competitive legislative races feature state House races. The lone state Senate seat in play involves a Fort Worth area district with Democratic incumbent Sen. Wendy Davis battling Republican state Rep. Mark Shelton. The GOP holds 19 of the Senate's 31 seats.

No where to go but up. I certainly hope that this is rock bottom for the Dems and we don't want to hit the floor again.

[Javaman]

1. On the local "news 8" channel here in Austin, they were interviewing some crazy...

house repub who was projecting a "super majority" for the repukes this november.

as always, he was on copious amounts of acid.

I wait patiently for the day we Dems take back the gov here in Texas.

[sonias]

2. I'd like not to have to wait patiently

Can we accelerate the take over by the Dems? How I wish I could hit fast forward on some parts of life.

Not all just some.

[DhhD]

3. Democrats need to let the public know about the facts on the TEA Policies here in TX

How many voters know that most school districts in Texas have taken the Legislators to court for refusing to follow the Texas Constitution about proper funding of schools. Everybody that I have talked to did not know about the State law to deni credit to their high school aged child if they do not pass an End of Course STAAR exam.

Most people do not realize that they are paying increased Hospital District taxes so the poor can see a doctor from the method of using the emergency room as well as the low income people signing up to use the county as a way to get medical services. We pay income tax so that part of it will go to other states who have accepted the Medicaid benefits of the ACA-Affordable Care Act instead of getting our share of the federal money set aside. And then pay additional state and county taxes to take care of the low income/poor. This so TEA government can claim that they are Conservative. What a joke. They laugh at Texans all the way to the State House in Austin were they are seated election after election.

And there are many more issues where most Texans are progressive but refuse to get out and vote to make their middle class come back to power. What will it take before the populous is awakened? A straight Democratic ticket vote would be so easy.

A Message to GET OUT AND GO VOTE for Obama would be so helpful.

[efhmc]

4. Having some of the rovenstein money would help.

[ashling]

5. I hope Wendy Wins

That sleazepit running against her has got some pretty stupid, but infuriating, ads

[NoPasaran]

6. Any ground we regain will be no thanks to El Paso Reps Marisa Marquez and Naomi Gonzalez

State Reps. Marisa Marquez and Naomi Gonzalez, both Democrats, were featured in a mailed political advertisement supporting Republican state Rep. Dee Margo in his reelection campaign against Democrat Joe Moody.

-snip-

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa called the support "an absolute aberration" that does not reflect Democratic backing for Moody.

"Everybody is just totally floored," Hinojosa said. "We don't understand where they're coming from and why they would do this. It is totally contrary to the interests of their constituents and it's also contrary to the importance of this election in terms of their ability to be able to get things done in Austin."

-snip-

Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a group that lobbies for limits on lawsuits and settlements, funded the bulk of Gonzalez's campaign against former state Rep. Norma Chávez two years ago. The group also helped fund campaigns for Margo and Marquez.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/election/ci_21652148/two-el-paso-democratic-state-reps-break-from

[sonias]

7. What is up with that

Both of those Reps are basically creeping over to the R side. I don't even think DINO would be a description for them anymore.