Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) has filed paperwork to run for Speaker of the Texas House. Simpson will challenge incumbent Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio). Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), who announced his speaker’s candidacy six months ago, withdrew from the race after Simpson’s announcement and pledged to support Simpson. The members of the Texas House will elect the speaker on January 8, 2013, the first day of the 83rd Legislative Session.
Today, Governor Rick Perry appointed Christi Craddick to fill out the balance of former Texas Railroad Commissioner Buddy Garcia’s term on the Commission. Craddick won the seat in the November election and her new term of office will begin on January 13, 2013.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced that the state collected $2.34 billion in state sales tax revenue for the month of November, 2012. That is a 13.1 percent increase compared to the month of November, 2011.
In case you haven’t noticed, today is 12-12-12. This is the last sequential date of this century. Hope you enjoy it as much as you did 11-11-11 and 10-10-10.