Posted on 03/10/2003 6:06:49 AM PST by Theodore R.
Dewhurst winning over Capitol insiders
Associated Press
AUSTIN (AP) - Bill Stinson of the Texas Association of Realtors did more than just endorse Democrat John Sharp in the fall campaign for lieutenant governor; he and his association campaigned actively, speaking out on Sharp's behalf.
David Dewhurst won the race, though, and now Stinson is full of compliments on his performance as the Senate's presiding officer.
"I think he is doing a very good job," Stinson said. "He wants to create a bipartisan atmosphere and he's got some extremely tough issues facing Texas, and he's got a can-do attitude."
Other Capitol insiders are also quick to commend Dewhurst for his handling so far of contentious issues facing the Legislature. Many say privately they are surprised by Dewhurst's early performance.
"Overall he has provided the biggest bright spot in leadership so far," said Tony Proffitt, a former aide to the late Democratic Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
Dewhurst came to the state's second-in-command post with no legislative experience and had served only four years as land commissioner, a job mostly out of the Capitol spotlight. He was portrayed as an ultraconservative, out of the mainstream of Texas politics.
Some senators were angry with Dewhurst over redistricting plans that he approved less than two years ago. Many of those hard feelings have faded, and senators are generally supportive.
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, said the lieutenant governor "is the guy that herds all the cats. It's a tough job, but he's becoming very knowledgeable about all the issues."
Before he took office, Dewhurst met several times with the senators to seek their opinions, and he has hired a staff that has drawn praise.
"My expectations might have been different, but now, working firsthand with him, he has been nothing but inclusive," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio. She expected Dewhurst to push a political agenda.
"I was totally wrong in my assessment," Van de Putte said.
Dewhurst laughed at the notion that people have been surprised. He believes he had plenty of experience for the job; from a tough campaign against Sharp, his cost-cutting efforts at the General Land Office, and his 21 years in business, including owning an energy and investment firm.
As the presiding officer in the Senate, the lieutenant governor arguably is the most powerful person in Texas government, with the ability to control the flow of legislation and name committee members.
Since taking office, Dewhurst has been working with senators to hammer out compromise legislation on homeowners' insurance regulation. Last week, he and a bipartisan group of senators said they were close to finishing a bill for committee consideration.
Last month, Dewhurst was out front in announcing plans to free up 4,000 prison beds as the state prison system approached capacity.
"While I am committed to letting the Senate work its will ... I will try and head off a train wreck if I see it coming straight at us," he said.
Dewhurst also is trying to hatch a new school-financing plan and play a role in budget deliberations - a difficult task with the state facing a $10 billion shortfall.
Dewhurst said that a few days before he was sworn into office, he and his staff drafted a budget that was balanced "without blood on the floor."
"I wasn't going to wait around and have sleepless nights until late May to see if we could balance our budget without new taxes," Dewhurst said.
But Dewhurst has given few details of his budget plan. In a recent interview, he said that it fully funds the Children's Health Insurance Program and said it improves the delivery of many of the state's "essential services." He has not defined that term.
F. Scott McCown, executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an advocacy group for low-income Texans, said he is pleased that Dewhurst is giving serious consideration to health and human services issues.
But, he isn't ready to applaud the lieutenant governor.
"The question is not whether he feels the pain," McCown said. "The question is whether he alleviates the pain."
Dewhurst considers himself a "populist Republican," owing to his modest upbringing. His mother worked to support her three young sons after her husband died.
Samantha Smoot of the Texas Freedom Network admitted that her group was worried about Dewhurst's politics before the election because of his support of school vouchers and his previous affiliation with conservative groups.
"He's made it clear so far this session that he intends to govern from the center, which is great news," Smoot said. "He has distinguished himself from the governor when it comes to the budget, and most observers at the Capitol have gotten many signs that the Senate is going to pursue a much more thoughtful moderate course than the House."
They call themselves the "Texas Freedom Network", but they obviously prefer servitude to the educrat plantation if they objected to his support of school vouchers.
Check this out -- an elected democrat admitting she was wrong.
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