Perot endorses Hutchison
Billionaire and former Reform Party presidential nominee Ross Perot wrote a piece in Wednesday’s Dallas Morning News in favor of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Perot used the column to praise Hutchison for her work on veteran’s issues.
Senator Hutchison listened to folks who were passionate about this cause. She refused to accept the official explanation that those affected were all victims of stress, and she aggressively pursued research to provide better answers. As a result, $15 million was directed toward research, and the VA established a Gulf War Research Committee to direct additional research into the causes and treatment of Gulf War Syndrome.
To read the full column, click here.
Hutchison under fire from pro-life group
While gaining praise from Perot, Hutchison is under fire from Texas Right to Life, a group that has endorsed Gov. Rick Perry, for missing a vote in the Senate on a judicial nominee.
Hutchison missed the closure vote to stop a filibuster on Judge David Hamilton’s nomination to the Seventh Court of Appeals. Texas Right to Life describes Hamilton as a “rabid pro-abortion activist nominee.”
Hutchison did vote against Hamilton’s actual nomination, but Hamilton was confirmed 59-39 anyway.
Kilgore secedes from election
Secessionist Larry Kilgore has dropped out of the governor’s race and is throwing his support to Tea Party activist Debra Medina.
Kilgore, who believes that Texas should secede from the union, said that he wants to draw enough support to Medina, who comes in a distant third in polling behind Perry and Hutchison in the Republican primary, to force an April runoff election.
Turnover for state employees down
State employee turnover is down to its lowest level in five years, according to a new report released by the State Auditor’s Office.
The report shows that turnover of part-time and full-time employees is down to 14.4 percent after it was 17.3 percent in Fiscal Year 2008.
The rate, excluding retirements and separations, is 8.1 percent, which is also a decrease over the previous year.
The report attributes the decreasing rate to increased salaries, higher unemployment rates, and increased efforts to retain workers.