Blackridge is an Austin-based governmental-affairs practice featuring consultants Rusty Kelley, Carol McGarah, Michael Johnson, and Sara Kemptner.
This results-oriented team uses experience and diligence to successfully interact with the state legislature and relevant Texas agencies.
This results-oriented team uses experience and diligence to successfully interact with the state legislature and relevant Texas agencies.
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Use of electrical device on state hospital patients draws scrutiny
The Department of State Health Services has prohibited the use of a controversial treatment at its public psychiatric hospitals after officials say they learned that a doctor performed unauthorized research on aggressive patients with serious mental disabilities. Austin American-Statesman -
Conservative group Club for Growth trying to flex its muscle in Texas’ Senate race
In the “strange bedfellows” department, the most jarring development last week in Texas politics came when Gov. Rick Perry blasted the Club for Growth as a bunch of insiders using “D.C. double-talk” to smear his pal David Dewhurst as a tax-loving moderate. Dallas Morning News -
Front-runner Dewhurst in for a fight
Armed with deep pockets, the backing of Texas' GOP establishment and a record that he says makes him the state's most conservative lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst is locked in the highest-profile fight of his political life. San Antonio Express-News -
Round Rock medical school expands, keeps eye on UT
At the same time, A&M officials are looking over their shoulders at moves by the University of Texas System Board of Regents to establish medical schools at the Austin flagship and in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. They are wary of the competition that such schools could pose for scarce state dollars. Austin American-Statesman -
Cameron Todd Willingham Exoneration Was Written But Never Filed By Texas Judge
A Texas judge who reviewed the controversial 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham planned to posthumously exonerate the father who was put to death for killing his three daughters in a house fire. Huffington Post -
Patterson, Combs F1 spat unresolved
Whether Texas Comptroller Susan Combs broke the law when it comes to offering state funding for Formula One will not have answer anytime soon – or perhaps ever. KXAN-TV -
Planned Parenthood v. Texas hearing set for Oct. 19
Austin American-Statesman -
Social conservatives seek to increase clout on State Board of Education
A once-a-decade opportunity to win seats on the State Board of Education has spurred several socially conservative candidates to run in Republican primaries, including races in two high-profile Dallas-area districts that could alter the balance of power on the board. Dallas Morning News -
Prisons system ordered to release details on execution drugs
In a victory for open government, Texas prison officials on Thursday lost their latest attempt to keep secret details about its stock and suppliers of lethal injection drugs. Austin American-Statesman -
College Tuition Fight Surges in Texas
The national debate over the cost of a college degree is roiling the University of Texas's flagship campus, where the school's president has been at odds with board members and with Gov. Rick Perry over the wisdom of raising tuition. Wall Street Journal -
Endorsement: Michael Williams best in District 25; Lamar Smith for District 21
We think the answer is Michael Williams. The former Railroad Commission chairman has deep experience on energy issues. He also knows Washington, where he served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He's a confident public official who will quickly assert himself in Congress. He's mostly saying the same things other conservatives in the race are saying, but it's impossible to ignore Williams when he says them. Austin American-Statesman -
Endorsement: Dewhurst best for GOP Senate nod
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is best prepared for the job, and we recommend that Republican voters give him their party's nomination. San Antonio Express-News -
House GOP clash on contempt in 'Fast & Furious'
House GOP conservatives are pushing for immediate passage of a contempt-of-Congress resolution over Operation Fast & Furious, a position that puts them at odds with House Speaker John Boehner. San Antonio Express-News -
Rep. Pete Sessions accuses Rep. Jim McGovern of drinking on job
One congressman accused another of drinking on the job in the midst of a tense exchange Wednesday night over whether the House would debate an amendment aimed at bringing the war in Afghanistan to a close. Politico -
Minn. GOP faces Paul insurgency at convention
About 2,200 Minnesotans will gather as delegates to this weekend's state Republican Convention, but former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman won't be one of them. His bid was rejected by supporters of Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Associated Press -
State officials wrestle with how best to use — and police — social media
A survey of 98 state agencies and universities indicates almost all of them are among Facebook's 900 million users and most have added Twitter as well. YouTube is the third choice among the cubicles. Older forms of communication, such as blogs and podcasts, are not deployed as often. Austin American-Statesman -
Majority-minority nation? Old hat for Texas
Texans, however, may be forgiven for responding with a collective yawn. After all, the Lone Star State passed this milestone back in 1989. San Antonio Express-News -
UT mum on details of Chavez-Lee fight decision
The University of Texas System has declined to release information that led to the later reverse decision by Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa to cancel the Julio César Chávez Jr. and Andy Lee championship fight. El Paso Times -
Leppert hopes to benefit from Dewhurst-Cruz slugfest in Senate race
Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is the odd man out in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, which has been cast as a clash between the GOP establishment and the tea party insurgency. Austin American-Statesman -
Texas must secure a reliable, long-term water supply
The drought that began in October 2010 demonstrated the vital importance of water to our economy, our health and our natural environment. The mere threat of water shortages can be enough to send tourists scurrying away and cause businesses to look for more reliable water supplies elsewhere. Houston Chronicle