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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Redistricting talks under way between Texas AG, minority groups as case returns to San Antonio
A lengthy and contentious fight over Texas redistricting plans took a new twist Friday when the state and a minority group opposing the redrawn maps started negotiating over the disputed districts in hopes of preserving its April 3 primary. Washington Post -
Texas Dems, minority groups near huge win with redistricting settlement
The Texas state attorneys defending the state’s GOP-drawn redistricting plans from court challenges have reached out to settle litigation, according to sources in the state. The settlement would give minority groups and Democrats what they’ve been demanding from the start: more heavily minority, Democratic-leaning House seats. The Hill -
As Primary Nears, Florida Poll Favors Romney
Mitt Romney heads into the final four days of campaigning in Florida’s presidential primary having delivered a commanding performance in Thursday’s debate and with a new poll showing him moving past his main rival, Newt Gingrich, in the state. New York Times -
Ron Paul signed off on racist 1990s newsletters, associates say
Ron Paul, well known as a physician, congressman and libertarian , has also been a businessman who pursued a marketing strategy that included publishing provocative, racially charged newsletters to make money and spread his ideas, according to three people with direct knowledge of Paul’s businesses. Washington Post -
In Airport Run-In, Democrats See Help for Obama Among Hispanics
Democrats see the chance that President Obama’s heated exchange with Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona on the airport tarmac in Phoenix could help him with the Hispanic voters he came West to court this week. New York Times -
Ron Paul ignores Florida at Republican debate, on trail
Ron Paul’s not campaigning in Florida, and he didn’t spend any time at Thursday’s debate pretending that he was. The Texas congressman hasn’t held a single event in the state since the race moved there after the South Carolina primary. He hasn’t spent a single dollar on advertising there. Except for the week’s two debates, he wasn’t even in the state — and as the candidates prepare for a busy weekend there, he’ll be taking off for Maine. Politico -
Sewer spat spoils Houston suburban serenity
Was it sewer sabotage or self-defense? That was the question hanging in the genteel air of two of Houston's toniest suburbs Thursday after Hunters Creek Village city officials verbally opened fire on their Piney Point Village neighbors for bricking up a storm sewer, leading to 4-foot-deep flooding on Kemwood Drive during the region's early-January deluge. Houston Chronicle -
Romney comes out fighting in debate; Paul stays cool
There were some moments of levity, including when Paul, 76, was asked whether he would be willing to release his medical records. He said he was, then challenged the other three men on the debate stage to a 25-mile bike race. Associated Press -
Testimony in Texas redistricting trial wraps up
Testimony wrapped up Thursday in a trial before a three-judge panel to determine if redistricting maps drawn by the Texas Legislature violate the Voting Rights Act and discriminate against minorities. San Antonio Express-News -
Texas education officials decry 'over-testing' in public schools
State Board of Education members pressed the Texas education commissioner on Thursday about whether an abundance of high-stakes standardized testing is warping classroom teaching to ensure students spend more time preparing for the exams then actual learning. Associated Press -
Texas cities are low on annual literacy list
Texas has routinely topped the national growth charts, but the Lone Star State's biggest cities are behind the curve in an annual ranking of literacy rates. Fort Worth Star-Telegram -
Romney takes Gingrich to task on immigration, investments
The feud between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich intensified Thursday as the Republican presidential front-runners bickered on issues from immigration to financial transparency and even colonizing the moon in the last debate before Tuesday’s Florida primary. Dallas Morning News -
Boom in wind power may be headed for a bust
Association officials and wind industry executives said in a conference call that 2012 looks like a big year for added wind generation. But 2013 and beyond could be disastrous if Congress fails to quickly approve an extension of a federal production tax credit for wind power, they say. Fort Worth Star-Telegram -
Perry presidential security cost taxpayers $800,000
Texas taxpayers were billed almost $800,000 in travel costs for a security detail to travel with Gov. Rick Perry largely on out-of-state events tied to his presidential campaign from September through November, state figures show. Austin American-Statesman -
Letter: Tech says Leach paid what he had earned, including some bonus money
A Dec. 27 letter to Mike Leach’s attorney from Texas Tech’s general counsel denying the former Tech football coach’s request for settlement states Leach was paid all the funds he was entitled to, including incentive bonuses. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal -
Aaron Peña: 'I have no doubt I could win it'
State Rep. Aaron Peña found a friendly crowd Thursday afternoon at the McAllen Tea Party’s last meeting of January, where he told about 70 people that his political future depends almost entirely on the messy product of redistricting — and his wife’s say-so. McAllen Monitor -
GOP Senate candidate James releases tax returns, others now follow
Wealth, income and tax fairness and transparency have become issues in the Republican presidential campaign, and they're nudging their way into the campaign for U.S. Senate in Texas. WFAA-TV -
Requiem for a campaign: Rick Perry's rise and fall
It was in a cramped Myrtle Beach coffee shop, just hours before the debate that would prove to be his last, when Rick Perry swallowed hard, looked at his wife Anita, and peered into his political future. MSNBC -
Is the Texas Republican primary going winner-take-all?
Though the date of the Texas primary remains in flux, the state could still play king-maker in a drawn-out race for the Republican presidential nomination. Fort Worth Star-Telegram -
Dallas mayor says he'll meet group over gay marriage pledge refusal
The growing controversy between Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and gay and lesbian groups in the city will spill on to City Hall Plaza Friday night. WFAA-TV