Election Impact on Texas Leg | November 16, 2012

Watch November 16, 2012 | The Election Results and the Texas Leg on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

The impact of the November election on the upcoming Texas Legislative Session in January. The demographics are now known and the issues may be changing. We turn to the Editor in Chief of the Texas Tribune for a discussion of how things may play out in Austin next year.

Election Analysis | November 9, 2012

Watch November 9, 2012 | Election Analysis on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

An analysis of the recent election results from the November General election, featuring two partisan political strategists and the Executive Editor of the Texas Tribune.

23rd Congressional Race Issues | November 2, 2012

Watch November 2, 2012 | Issues in the 23rd Congressional Race on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

The issues in the race for Congress for District 23. The district stretches from here to El Paso and is almost evenly divided by Democrats and Republicans. The race is between incumbent Republican Representative Francisco Canseco of San Antonio and state Representative Pete Gallego of Alpine.

Christie and Perry in 2016 | Casey's Last Word

Much has been made this week of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s effusive praise – day after day and on every network, including Fox – of President Obama’s leadership in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

Christie has been one of Mitt Romney’s most effective surrogates, up until now.

Pre-K Debate | October 26, 2012

Watch October 26, 2012 | Pre-K Debate on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

Residents of San Antonio are voting on whether to raise their sales tax by one eighth of a cent in order to fund Pre K for SA which is a plan pushed by Mayor Julian Castro. It would raise money for the city to set up its own pre-school program to serve children who are in danger at arriving unprepared in public schools.

Drugs, Money and Voting | Casey's Last Word

It is my good fortune that no teacher ever assigned “Moby Dick” while I was in school.

I’m only now reading Herman Melville’s masterpiece and regularly feeling gratitude to my teachers for not attempting to teach it.

I wouldn’t have known enough about life to get the jokes.

Chances are that if you haven’t read it you aren’t aware, as I wasn’t, of how funny this classic is.

Or how wise.

Bexar County Sheriff Debate | October 19, 2012

Watch October 19, 2012 | Bexar County Sheriff Debate on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

Forty-year law enforcement veteran and Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz faces a Republican Challenger. Retired Major General Susan Pamerleau has 40 years experience in leadership roles such as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Air Force Headquarters in Washington DC. Ortiz says he has made significant improvements to the department while Pamerleau argues he has not done enough.

State House District 117 | October 12, 2012

Watch October 12, 2012 | State House District 117 on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

The two candidates for State Representative in District 117 appear together to discuss the issues in advance of the November 6 general election. Former San Antonio City Councilman and Democrat Philip Cortez faces incumbent State Representative and Republican John V Garza.

When Democracy Gets Stupid | Casey's Last Word

Today we have another installment in the American epic: “When Democracy Gets Stupid.”

The last installment had to do with Bexar Met, the late and unlamented water utility.

Its elected board defined the concept of dysfunction so vigorously that its ratepayers voted it out of existence.

Now we turn to an area of governmental function about as important as the delivery of potable water.

Castro's Post-Racial Politics | Casey's Last Word

Mayor Julian Castro had his moment in the sun this week and I thought he did a very good job with it.

But while being in the spotlight, he was also in the shadow of Barack Obama, whose 2004 keynote address to the Democratic Convention set an unrealistic standard:

It was absurd for supposedly serious journalists to raise the possibility that this speech could lead to Castro’s becoming the first Latino president.

But on one count, the comparison between the two speeches was appropriate.

Texas Voter ID Law Rejected | August 31, 2012

Watch August 31, 2012 | Texas Voter ID Law Rejected on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

A panel of federal judges has rejected the Texas Voter ID law while another Federal Appeals Court panel has ruled against redistricting maps approved by the Texas Legislature. The Texas Attorney General says he will appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The Full Story on Medicare Cuts | Casey's Last Word

If you’ve been watching the Republican National Convention this week, you’ve repeatedly heard the allegation that the Obama Administration is stealing more than $700 billion from Medicare.

It’s taking money from seniors to help fund coverage for low-income folks under what Republicans call Obamacare.

This is much like some other political statements – such as the pro-Obama super-PAC’s commercial suggesting that Mitt Romney’s closing of a plant caused a woman’s death by cancer.

The reality is a bit more complicated.

Early Education – Who Benefits | Casey's Last Word

Government spending is often cast as an investment, and sometimes it is.

Roads and bridges are public investments in commerce, as were the generous land grants on which railroads were laid.

The Internet wouldn’t exist without government investment.

And, of course, schools are absolutely an embodiment of the old cliché: an investment in our future.

A man once called me and in all seriousness asked why he should pay school taxes, since his children had graduated years ago.

Pre-K Initiative & Towing Dispute | August 10, 2012

Watch August 10, 2012 |Pre-K Initiative & Towing Controversy on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

A panel of local journalists discusses the new Pre Kindergarten Initiative that will use a one eighth sales tax to fund an expansion of programs. In addition, the panel will discuss the recent controversy over Bexar Towing versus the city of San Antonio over towing fees.

Donna Campbell's Media Rule | Casey's Last Word

Donna Campbell, the woman who is very likely to be one of San Antonio’s powerful state senators come January has instituted a new rule for dealing with the media.

In response to a request from Express-News metro columnist Brian Chasnoff for a brief telephone interview, her campaign spokesman e-mailed Chasnoff that “it is the campaign's policy not to accept interview requests with opinion columnists.”

As such a columnist for more than a quarter of a century, I find myself reacting emotionally to this policy and this candidate.

If I could get an interview with her, here is the first question I would ask:

Message of the Primary Elections | August 3, 2012

Watch August 3, 2012 | The Message of the Primary Elections on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

The 2012 Texas Primary election results are now known and the focus for all of the candidates is now set for the first Tuesday in November when the General Election will be held. What message were voters sending on July 31 and what will be the impact on the upcoming Texas Legislative Session in January 2013.

Democrats Need Julian Castro | Casey's Last Word

During his fundraising visit to San Antonio last month, President Obama told supporters about the millions of dollars that would be spent on TV ads painting the faltering economy as his fault.

Then he said this: “The next four months, you guys won’t see them, because, you know, you’re not considered one of the battleground states, although that’s going to be changing soon ...”

The Democratic crowd roared.

Was Obama pandering or engaging in wishful thinking, or both?

Bexar County Sheriff Runoff Election | July 27, 2012

Watch July 27, 2012 | Bexar County Sheriff Runoff Election on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

The July 31 runoff election will feature Democratic incumbent Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz facing Democratic competitor Andy Lopez. Sheriff Ortiz is running for a second term while Lopez is running for the office a second time as well. The winner will face Republican candidate and retired General Susan Pamerleau in November.

23rd Congressional Runoff Preview | July 20, 2012

Watch July 20, 2012 | 23rd Congressional Runoff Preview on PBS. See more from Texas Week.

A July 31 runoff for the 23rd Congressional seat will test the strengths of Democrats Ciro Rodriguez and Pete Gallego. The winner will face Republican incumbent Francisco Canseco in November. Rodriguez served in Congress for 12 years and lost to Canseco in 2010. Gallego has served for more than 20 years as a state House representative.

Extra Security for Obama | Casey's Last Word

About six weeks ago, when plans for President Obama’s political bag-dragging visit here this week were just beginning to materialize, Democratic operative Christian Archer paid a visit to the chief of security at the Dominion.

That’s where lawyer Mikal Watts would be hosting 75 of the president’s most generous friends at a function that has been reported to raise $1 million.

It’s a typical Dominion home – the gathering met in the gymnasium, according to the Express-News.

Archer was eager to work with the Dominion’s security chief to ease the president’s motorcade and donors through the guarded gate.

“We had an event for Lloyd Doggett a couple of months ago at Mikal’s house for 250 people and it took an hour and a half to get everybody through,” said Archer.

According to Archer, the conversation with the Dominion security chief went something like this: