Capital Highlights
by ED STERLING
Gov. Rick Perry on Jan. 19 publicly announced the decision he made to end his presidential campaign.
Perry, who was polling in single digits in South Carolina two days before that state’s Jan. 21 Republican primary, immediately endorsed rival Newt Gingrich, an author, political consultant and former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 1995-January 1999).
With Perry’s departure, the GOP field of presidential aspirants is reduced to four: Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.
While Perry outperformed the field on fundraising, his performance in live, televised debates proved to be his weak suit. The Paint Creek native is in the second year of his third four-year term as governor. So far, he has served more than 11 years as Texas’ chief executive.
Jobless rate drops in December
The Texas Workforce Commission on Jan. 20 reported Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent in December, down from 8.1 percent in November and down from 8.3 percent in December 2010.
Also in its monthly report, the agency stated the civilian labor force grew by more than 17,000 in December, and now stands at more than 12.3 million Texans.
According to statistics published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate is 8.5 percent.
Patterson at front of opposition
Earlier this month, the state’s General Land Office announced Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is leading an effort to unite 23 western states to oppose the federal government’s process for adding “birds, bugs, lizards and other critters to the list of protected endangered species.”
According to a Land Office news release, the Western States Land Commissioners Association, whose members manage about half a billion acres of public land and mineral rights for public education, passed a resolution urging Congress to alter the Endangered Species Act at its annual winter conference in Austin.
Ed Sterling works for the Texas Press Association and follows the Legislature for the association.
