Transcript of "Ron Whitlock Reports" for April 5, 2009 from ronwhitlock.com Copyright © 2009 The Shepherd Group. * * * * >>Ron: HELLO. I'M YOUR HOST, RON WHITLOCK. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. RECENTLY, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TRIP TO THE CITY OF LAREDO, DURING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. TALKED TO ALL KIND OF POLITICIANS, SOME RUNNING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SOME RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR. THOSE FOLKS, WHO WE'RE GOING TO BRING BEFORE YOU DURING THE PROGRAM TODAY, PAUL HOBBY, WHO IS THE SON OF WILLIAM P. HOBBY, THE FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS; WE ALSO VISITED AT THE LAREDO COUNTRY CLUB WITH FORMER COMPTROLLER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, JOHN SHARP, FROM VICTORIA; FOLLOWING THAT, ALSO AT THE LAREDO COUNTRY CLUB, WE VISITED WITH HOUSTON MAYOR BILL WHITE, WHO WAS RAISED IN THE ALAMO CITY, SAN ANTONIO. IN THE STUDIO, JIM SOLIS, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A 15 YEAR PERIOD. JIM, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND JOINING US. >>Jim: THANK YOU, RON. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE. >>Ron: DISTRICT 38. THANK YOU FOR COMING. NOW, JIM'S ROLE IN THE PROGRAM TODAY FOR YOU IS GOING TO BE A-, GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BLOW-BY-BLOW, PLAY-BY-PLAY, AFTER WE IN-, WATCH THE INTERVIEWS THAT WE CONDUCTED IN LAREDO WITH THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO INTEND TO RUN NOT ONLY FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION OF KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, WHEN AND IF SHE RESIGNS THE UNITED STATES SENATE SEAT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AGAINST RICK PERRY, BUT, ALSO, PAUL HOBBY, WHO'S TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF RUNNING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HIMSELF. SO, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LA POSADA HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN LAREDO, WHERE WE TALKED WITH PAUL HOBBY - >> MISTER HOBBY, BASED ON YOUR COMMENTS MADE HERE ON THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE BETWEEN LAREDO AND NUEVO LAREDO, I THINK, UH-, MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE RIVER, UH, JOINED HERE WITH US TODAY, WOULD BE LOOKING AT YOU TO, IN HOPES THAT YOU WOULD SOMEDAY ANNOUNCE FOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. ANY PLANS OF THAT KIND ANYWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, IN YOUR OPINION? >>Paul: WELL, IT'S, IT'S FLATTERING TO BE CONSIDERED IN THAT WAY, AND I, I GET ALOT OF PHONE CALLS, UM, AND THOSE ARE ALSO FLATTERING. BUT, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO GET MY TWO TEENAGE BOYS OFF TO COLLEGE. I'VE GOT A GIRL IN COLLEGE. AND, SO, I'VE GOT PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE MORE YEARS OF, OF INTENSE PARENTING, WITH JOB ONE. AND, THEN WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE. I, I LOVE TEXAS. I THINK I KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THERE'S ANY PUBLIC APPETITE FOR THAT, I-, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW. BUT, I'M GLAD YOU'RE CRYSTAL BALL IS BETTER THAN MINE. >>Ron: WELL, THE CRYSTAL BALL OF THE VOTER IN TEXAS HAS BEEN THE REPUBLICANS WHO'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN THE STATE AND BEEN LOSING BIG TIME, AS PER LOOKING AT THE AVERAGES, IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FOR INSTANCE, AND DEMOCRATS ARE BEING ELECTED BIG TIME. SO, THAT MEANS A SWING IS HAPPENING BE-, FO-, UH, AT THIS MOMENT, UH-, SOMEWHAT ADVERSE TO REPUBLICAN OFFICE SEEKERS. >>Paul: WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN SUMMARIZE IT INTO A PARTISAN TREND, BUT THIS MUCH I CAN SAY, I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE TI-, FINISHED WITH THE, UH, THE AGE OF BEING ANGRY AT GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL BE ANGRY AT GOVERNMENT, IT'S EASY TO DO, 'CAUSE GOVERNMENT'S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S TIME TO START ELECTING PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT, THAT WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER, AS OPPOSED TO THAT JUST WANT TO KICK THE DOG ALL THE TIME. BECAUSE, GOVERNMENT'S VALUABLE. AND, I THINK, IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REMEMBER THAT GOVERNMENT'S WHAT PULLS US TOGETHER, IT'S NOT WHAT PULLS US APART. SO, LET'S ELECT PEOPLE TO ADMINISTER GOVERNMENT THAT CARE ABOUT GOVERNMENT, THAT KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GOVERNMENT, UM, THAT KNOW ABOUT GETTING IT, YOU KNOW, SMALLER WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE SMALLER. BUT, AGAIN I THINK A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE IS A SKILL SET. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VALUABLE, AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT'S JUST TO BE HATED AND RAILED AGAINST. I DO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING AROUND TO THINKING, HEY, GOVERNMENT'S IMPORTANT. MAYBE WE OUGHT TO ELECT PEOPLE WHO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND CARE ABOUT MAKING IT BETTER, AS OPPOSED TO JUST DEMAGOGUERY AND, YOU KNOW, LOWERING TAXES AND ELIMINATING AGENCIES WILLY-NILLY JUST TO SAY YOU DID. >>Ron: THE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE WANTING BIPARTISANSHIP AND ELIMINATION OF THE PARTISAN RANCOR BACK AND FORTH. >>Paul: NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM IS A CESSPOOL. UM, YOU KNOW, YOU-, EVERY TIME THAT THERE'S A FINANCIAL SCANDAL, YOU SCRATCH THE SURFACE, AND THIS PERSON WAS VERY POLITICALLY ACTIVE ON BOTH SIDES. WELL, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? WHAT THAT TELLS YOU IS THEY'RE BUYING INFLUENCE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW. THEY'RE JUST PARTICIPATING IN THE SYSTEM TO PERPETUATE THEIR SCHEMES, FRAUDS, CRIMES. AND, UH, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM, I THINK, IS WHAT KEEPS GOOD PEOPLE OUT OF GOVERNMENT, AND I WISH WE WOULD ADDRESS IT HERE IN TEXAS. >>Ron: THERE'S ARE THOSE WHO SAY, WITH A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, A REPUBLIC-, TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THAT WE'RE OUT OF TOUCH BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS ARE NO LONGER IN POWER, WE NEED A DEMOCRAT SENATOR, AND MAYBE A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. YOUR RESPONSE? >>Paul: WELL, LIKE I SAY, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GET PAST THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE LETTER AFTER YOUR NAME? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY FATHER WAS GOVERNOR WITH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, AND WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S DECENCY. IT'S CIVILITY. IT'S THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH EACH OTHER ON THE MERITS. TO DISAGREE HONESTLY, BUT NOT GO OUT THERE AND DO PUSH POLLING AND DO FALSE ADVERTISING AGAINST YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENT. SO, TO ME, THE "D" WORD IS "DECENCY" MORE THAN IT IS DEMOCRATIC PARTY. YOU KNOW, THERE'VE BEEN FOOLISH DEMOCRATS BEFORE, THERE'LL BE FOOLISH ONES AGAIN. THERE'VE BEEN FOOLISH REPUBLICANS, THERE'LL BE FOOLISH ONES AGAIN. BUT IT'S, TO ME, RESTORING DECENCY, AND THE IDEA THAT POLITICS IS A SEASON AND, THEN, AFTER THAT SEASON, WE GET ON TO THIS THING CALLED GOVERNANCE, AND ALLOCATING SCARCE PUBLIC CAPITAL, MAKING GOOD LONG-TERM DECISIONS. UH, I KNOW THAT THAT SOUNDS, UH, UNREALISTIC, BUT, IN MY LIFETIME, I'VE SEEN IT. WHEN MY FATHER WAS FIRST ELECTED, THAT'S THE WAY PEOPLE WENT TO AUSTIN. IT WASN'T ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION RIGHT AWAY. AND, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM, IS WHERE THE POLITICAL CLASS RUNS THE PUBLIC POLICY MECHANISM. >>Ron: NOW, THE ECONOMY TODAY IS, THERE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF A OBAMA STIMULUS PACKAGE COMING TO THE LONE STAR STATE, NUMBER TWO IN FEDERAL DOLLARS TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY ONLY TO CALIFORNIA, AND, YET, THE TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS, CORNYN AND HUTCHISON, NOT ONLY WERE AGAINST IT, BUT MISSED CRITICAL VOTES. GOVERNOR PERRY SAYS THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS SHOULD NOT EVEN BE RECEIVED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. >>Paul: WE NEED OUR SH-, FAIR SHARE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, AS WE, WE'VE GOT A GROWING POPULATION HERE; WE'VE GOT A BIG HIGHWAY SYSTEM; YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR SHARE, FAIR SHARE OF THE MONEY. AND, HOWEVER THE LEGISLATION PASSED, IT PASSED. BUT, NOW EVERYBODY'S GOT TO GO FORWARD AND SAY, "ALRIGHT, WHAT'S FAIR? WHAT'S TRUE? WHAT'S HONEST? WHAT KEEPS TEXAS MOVING FORWARD?" SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE POLITICAL BATTLE'S OVER. THE DOLLARS ARE OUT THERE. WHATEVER WE'RE ENTITLED TO, WE SHOULD GO GET. >>Ron: SO, IF YOU WERE THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION TODAY, YOU'D SAY, "BRING THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS DOWN TO TEXAS?" >>Paul: YOU BETCHA! YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHETHER TO SPEND THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THAT DECISION'S BEEN MADE. THAT HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN. NOW IT'S ABOUT, DO WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE? AND, YOU BETTER ROLL UP YOUR KNICKERS AND GET UP THERE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS WANTING MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE. >>Ron: SO, YOU'RE TELLING ME HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF THE LA POSADA IN LAREDO THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE. WH-, WHEN IS THAT DATE CERTAIN SO THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS CAN CONSIDER YOU AS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF TEXAS? >>Paul: I THINK I HAVE TO GET 'EM IN TO COLLEGE. SO, YOU KNOW, 2014, IF THERE'S ANY M-, MARKET AT ALL FOR RADICALLY MODERATE WHITE MALES, AND, AND I'M SOLVENT AND UPRIGHT.. >>Ron: [Laughing] >>Paul: UM, I'D BE HONORED TO LOOK AT IT. >>Ron: GOOD. >>Paul: GREAT. >>Ron: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR VISITING WITH US. >> NOW, JIM, MISTER HOBBY TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS ARE TIRED OF BEING ANGRY AT GOVERNMENT. THEY WANT TO RETURN TO DECENCY. THEY WANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PULLING US TOGETHER, NOT DRIVING US APART. TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT L.B.J. AND SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN'S OPINION, IN THAT WE, "WE" BEING "TEXAS," NEED TO HAVE ONE UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND ONE UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. MAKE ANY SENSE? >>Jim: IT MAKES ALOT OF SENSE. I MEAN, TEXAS IS DIVERSE, AND TEXAS IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE STATES WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT TO MAKE IT WORK. AND, AND I AGREE WITH, WITH PAUL HOBBY ON THAT. HOBBY'S A GREAT GUY. A GREAT LEADER. HE'S GOT A GREAT HEART. HE'S A GOOD FAMILY MAN. HE'S SMART . HE'S GOT THE FINANCES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IF HE WERE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE. I THINK'D BE, HE'D BE AN AWESOME GOVERNOR FOR THIS STATE. UM, HE'S GOT THE EXPERIENCE, LEARNED IT FROM HIS DAD. YOU KNOW, HIS DAD USED TO BE THE, UH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE. BUT, I AGREE WITH PAUL, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT. BUT, ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT HE MADE WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING GOVERNMENT HELP PEOPLE. FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING GOVERNMENT, UH, OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, FOR WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO. BUT, I BELIEVE PAUL MAKES A GOOD STATEMENT SAYING THAT GOVERNMENT CAN ALSO HELP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AT A TIME OF NEED, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING NOT ONLY IN OUR STATE, UH, BUT THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT, YOU COMPARE TEXAS TO THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES, UH, I THINK TEXAS IS DOING ALOT BETTER, ALOT BETTER OFF THAN OTHER STATES OF THE NATION. >>Ron: YOU KIND OF GET THE FEELING FROM WATCHING WHAT HE TOLD ME THERE IN FRONT OF THE LA POSADA THAT, REALLY, IF HE WAS KIND OF PUSHED, MAYBE EVEN NOW, THAT CONCEPT TO HAVE, MAKE SURE HIS TWO BOYS ARE SETTLED IN COLLEGE.. >>Jim: YEAH. YEAH. >>Ron: THAT MAY KIND OF SETTLE INTO THE WOODWORK A LITTLE BIT AND THEY COULD KIND OF COME HOME TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IF, IN FACT, HE HAD SOME RESPONSE TO WHAT HE S-, SAID ON THIS PROGRAM? >>Jim: I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF PUSH, BUT I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WILL NEED, WILL BE THERE FOR PAUL TO GET THERE. AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT HIS KIDS. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I RETIRED FROM THE LEGISLATURE, IS TO ALLOW MY KIDS A, TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY KIDS, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HIM WAITING. AND, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S, UH, HE'S GETTING THERE. SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GETTING THERE. >>Ron: SURE SOUNDS THAT WAY, DOESN'T IT? >>Jim: SURE DOES. >>Ron: STAY TUNED. COMING UP NEXT, FORMER COMPTROLLER JOHN SHARP, RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION WHICH WOULD HAPPEN WHEN AND IF KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON RESIGNS HER POST. WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM. AT OUR VISIT AT THE LAREDO COUNTRY CLUB WITH FORMER COMPTROLLER JOHN SHARP, WHO'S CONTEMPLATING RUNNING WHEN, AND IF, U.S. SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON RESIGNS HER POST TO RUN FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE NOW OCCUPIED BY RICK PERRY, WE TALKED TO FORMER COMPTROLLER SHARP ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD DO IF ELECTED FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE. >> MISTER SHARP, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE? >>John: WELL, UM, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE. THE UNITED STATES SENATE, UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE STATE OF TEXAS, IS WHERE EVERY PROBLEM THAT YOU CAN NAME THAT'S BEEN CAUSED BY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY WASHINGTON, D.C. AND, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE, IF I WERE, UH, 40 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER, I WOULD BE WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT WHAT WAS FIXING TO HAPPEN TO ME AND THE DEBT THAT, THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO, UH, INCUMBER. NOT JUST FROM THE BAIL- OUT, THE BAIL-OUTS THAT ARE OCCURRING NOW, JUST NOT FROM THAT MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT, BUT FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MEDICAID, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, UH, THOSE INDEBTEDNESS THINGS. FORGET THE NATIONAL DEBT, BUT THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE OBLIGATED, UH-, A 29 YEAR-OLD TO RIGHT NOW, AMOUNTS TO $477,000 PER FAMILY. NOW, SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN. SOCIAL SECURITY IS GONNA START TURNING NEGATIVE IN THE YEAR 2017 AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS. AND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK I WAS PRETTY GOOD AT WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHEN PEOPLE WERE CALLING FOR INCOME TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IS I FIGURED OUT A WAY TO SAVE EIGHT AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS BY CUTTING SPENDING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. UH, KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN WHEN EVERYBODY THOUGHT THE SCHOOLS WERE GONNA CLOSE AND I THINK I CAN, UH, TAKE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN SAVE SOME MONEY UP THERE. >>Ron: YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD AT IT, BECAUSE THE EN-, BEST ENDORSEMENT YOU'VE HAD WAS, UH, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RICK PERRY CALLED ON YOU FROM ACROSS THE AISLE TO COME IN AND HELP THEM FIX SOME PROBLEMS. >>John: WELL, THEY HAD A BASKET CASE. I MEAN, THEY HAD A, THIS IS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SCHOOLS WERE FIXING TO CLOSE. UH, THE GOVERNOR HAD TAKEN HIS BEST SHOT AT IT; THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DEWHURST, HAD FAILED IN WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO PROMOTE; SPEAKER CRADDICK HAD FAILED IN WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO PROMOTE. AND, SO, I FIGURED I COULDN'T DO ANY WORSE. BUT, WE, WE DID MANAGE IN COMING UP WITH A COMPROMISE THAT ALLOWED THE SCHOOLS TO STAY OPEN AND, UH, AND FUNDED. SO, WE WERE, WERE PRETTY PLEASED WITH THAT. >>Ron: YOUR REACTION TO THE TWO UNITED STATES SENATORS, HUTCHISON AND CORNYN, UH, MISSING KEY VOTES ON THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, UH, BEING OPPOSED TO IT, OBVIOUSLY, THOSE DOLLARS NOW COMING TO THE LONE STAR STATE THANKS TO YOUR PARTY AND TO YOUR PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT OBAMA, UH, NUMBER TWO IN ACTUAL FUNDS COMING TO THE LONE STAR STATE, BEHIND CALIFORNIA. UH, THOSE STIMULUS DOLLARS, UH, ARE GONNA BE IMPORTANT, AND YOUR REACTION TO THE TRIUMVIRATE OF PERRY, HUTCHISON, AND CORNYN BEING OPPOSED TO IT? >>John: WELL, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WITH, WHETHER YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE THE PARTISANSHIP THAT EXISTS IN, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT KIND OF PARTISANSHIP, WHETHER IT'S THE REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE OR DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE, BUT, RIGHT NOW, THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE, AND IF YOU'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON FUNDING FOR I-69, OR YOU'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON FUNDING FOR KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THE ROOM BECAUSE THOSE TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS AREN'T INVITED TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LYNDON JOHNSON ALWAYS SAID, AND, AND JOHN TOWER SAID, AND, AND, UH, LLOYD BENTSEN ALWAYS SAID, THE ONE THING THEY ALL AGREED ON WAS THAT YOU NEED ONE REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO MAKE SURE TEXAS' INTERESTS ARE SERVED, AND I HOPE TO BE THAT ONE DEMOCRAT. AND, UM, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME GOOD THINGS FOR TEXAS. >>Ron: TIME FOR A BIPARTISAN REPRESENTATION AT THE U.S. SENATE. >>John: WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, I THINK THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THAT PARTISANSHIP IS GONNA WRECK THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK WE'RE JUST ABOUT THERE. AND, UM, THAT, THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO START GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. CONSIDERING THE COUNTRY FIRST AND THEIR PARTY SECOND. THAT'S JUST, THAT, THAT, THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW, AND HAS BEEN FOR 30 YEARS. >>Ron: MISTER SHARP, WHY IS EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT AT THE BORDER? >>John: UH, SAME REASON IT'S IMPORTANT EVERYWHERE, UH, BECAUSE IF, UM, UH, THE, THE FUTURE OF WHAT TEXAS IS ABOUT IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT OUR OIL, AND CATTLE, AND COTTON, AND THOSE THINGS WERE REAL IMPORTANT, THEY MADE TONS OF MONEY FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, BUT, THE FUTURE OF WHAT THE STATE IS ABOUT, UH, IS HUMAN RESOURCES, NOT NATURAL RESOURCES. AND, TEXAS, PARTICULARLY SOUTH TEXAS, IS GONNA HAVE MORE 18 TO 21 YEAR-OLDS FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE THAN ALMOST ANY PLACE IN THE NATION. IF THEY ARE WELL-EDUCATED 18 TO 21 YEAR-OLDS, WE'RE GONNA CREATE AN ECONOMIC BOOM BIGGER THAN OIL, BIGGER THAN CATTLE, BIGGER THAN COTTON EVER WAS. IF THEY'RE NOT EDUCATED, WE'VE GOT REAL PROBLEMS. >>Ron: AND, THESE YOUNGSTERS PRIMARILY LIVE SOUTH OF I-10, BETWEEN I-10 AND THE BORDER. >>John: YOU BET. YOU BET. AND, IT'S A HUGE ASSET FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS IF WE MAKE DARN SURE THAT THOSE KIDS ARE HEALTHY AND THAT THEY'RE, UH, WELL- EDUCATED, GOT GOOD TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. >>Ron: BUT, THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SHORT-CHANGED, A LA THE LAST UNCOMPLETE, INCOMPLETE INTERSTATE, UH, IS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IN SOUTH TEXAS, I-69 IS STILL NOT COMPLETED. >>John: YEAH. FOR, WELL, FOR INF-, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION, ALOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SOUTH TEXAS, UH, INCLUDING THE AREA THAT I'M FROM AROUND VICTORIA, UH, HAS KIND OF COME FROM BEHIND. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD TO SORT OF SCRATCH FOR EVERYTHING IN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT, BEGINNING IN THE, IN THE LATE 80's AND EARLY 90's, UM, SOUTH TEXAS AND OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION STARTED KIND OF STRUTTING THEIR, UH, THEIR STUFF, AND, AND IT HELPS. JUDY ZAFFIRINI IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THAT HAS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR SOUTH TEXAS. AND, SO, WE'VE COME INTO OUR OWN, AND I THINK THAT, UH, ALOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT SOUTH TEXAS IS GONNA PLAY A BIG ROLE IN WHATEVER ELECTIONS COME UP FOR ANYBODY IN THE FUTURE. AND, SO, THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO US. >>Ron: JOHN SHARP, AN IMPRESSIVE GUY. >>Jim: HE IS. VERY IMPRESSIVE. >>Ron: WHAT DID HE SAY THAT REALLY STRUCK A CHORD WITH YOU THAT YOU THINK THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS WATCHING THE PROGRAM MIGHT ALSO BE INSPIRED BY? >>Jim: WELL, ONE THING ABOUT JOHN IS HE'S EXPERIENCED. UH, YOU KNOW, HE FOCUSSED ON HUMAN RESOURCES. EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN JOHN AS COMPTROLLER, ON HIS REPORTS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, CA-, NAMED THE, UM, AGAINST THE GRAIN, UH, THE RESPO-, THE REPORTS THAT HE'S PUBLISHED AND, UH, ACTUALLY UTILIZED AND IMPLEMENTED WHILE HE WAS COMPTROLLER, ARE GONNA BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE U.S. NEEDS TODAY, IS SOME OF JOHN SHARP'S IDEAS. HE'S A NUTS-AND-BOLTS KIND OF GUY, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED FOR SOMEONE IN THE U.S. SENATE. >>Ron: EVEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RICK PERRY MADE SOME SIMILAR REMARKS ABOUT THE PEOPLE CAPITAL.. >>Jim: MM HM. >>Ron: ..OF THE STATE, PREDOMINANTLY IN THE, SOUTH OF I-10, IN A SPEECH IN NEW BRAUNFELS WHERE I WAS IN, IN ATTENDANCE. AND, SO, EVEN, UH-, TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY UNDERSTANDS AND SIMILARLY SPEAKS IN THE SAME KIND OF VEIN THAT JOHN SHARP JUST DID. >>Jim: HE DOES. HE DOES. BECAUSE, WE SEE THAT HUMAN CAPITAL, HUMAN RESOURCE, IS A KEY. YOU GET FOLKS EDUCATED AND GET 'EM INTO THE WORKFORCE. UM, AND, OF COURSE, YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE OTHER INCIDENTALS AND PERIPHERAL- TYPE OF ISSUES WHERE YOU NEED TO ALSO FOCUS ON THAT, I.E., NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ETCETERA. BUT, THE HUMAN RESOURCE HAS BEEN ONE OF JOHN SHARP'S STRONGEST ARGUMENTS EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN COMP-, COMPTROLLER, AND, AND WE'VE AGREED WITH HIM ON THAT. WE'VE SEEN SOME OF HIS, HIS, UM, HIS PROJECTS, WHERE HE'S WORKED ON, IN, IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN. >>Ron: WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM. YOUR HOST, RON WHITLOCK. IN THE STUDIO WITH US, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM SOLIS, WHO SERVED FOR 15 YEARS IN DISTRICT 38. NOW, HOUSTON MAYOR, BILL WHITE, CAME ABOARD AND VISITED WITH US AT THE LAREDO COUNTRY CLUB, AND TOLD US WHY HE THINKS HE WOULD MAKE A FINE UNITED STATES SENATOR, REPLACING KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON WHEN, AND IF, SHE RESIGNS HER POST AS SENIOR U.S. SENATOR. >> MAYOR WHITE, WHY IS IT YOU INTEND TO RUN IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO HOPEFULLY BECOME THE NEXT UNITED STATES SENATOR? >>Bill: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, OUR COUNTRY IS FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES, AND TEXAS NEEDS A VOICE, A STRONG VOICE WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP IN D.C., SOMEBODY WHO'LL HAVE AN INFLUENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE NEW LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS AND I THINK I CAN DO THAT. >>Ron: REPRESENTING WHAT PARTY? >>Bill: WELL, I'LL BE A DEMOCRAT. BUT, I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS, UH, I HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FROM INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS WITHIN HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, I SERVED IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY I'M PROUD OF THAT. BUT, WE NEED PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE. MOST, MOST FOLKS THINK THAT. AND, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN HOUSTON. >>Ron: UH, JOHN SHARP TELLS US THAT HE THINKS THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS NEEDS ONE REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND ONE DEMOCRAT SENATOR. DO YOU AGREE? >>Bill: WELL, IT NEEDS THE RIGHT, UH, SENATOR. BUT, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE BETTER AS A STATE WHEN WE'VE HAD SOME BALANCE. AND, CERTAINLY, THAT'S TRUE NOW, WHEN WE HAVE THE PRESIDENCY AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IN THE DEMOCRATIC HANDS. UH, I'M NOT SAYING THERE OUGHT TO ALWAYS BE A QUOTA. BUT, I'LL TELL YOU THIS, UH, I'VE WORKED AS A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF A CABINET DEPARTMENT. I'LL BE THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE SENATE WHO'S RUN ONE OF THE TEN BIGGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. I HAVE GOOD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE. AND, I GREW UP IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ORGANIZING THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO WITH NAMES THAT ARE NOW LEGENDS. I THINK I CAN REPRESENT OUR STATE WELL. I WAS JUST, UH, IN THE WHITE HOUSE, UH, AND, UM, IT W-, AND THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I SHARE THE VALUES OF TRYING TO MOVE THE CI-, UH, OUR WHOLE COUNTRY FORWARD, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US NOW IN TEXAS. >>Ron: TELL ME ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE, AND WHERE DOES THAT SPEAK TO YOU? >>Bill: WELL, FOR ME, UH, IT STARTS WITH MY PARENTS. MY PARENTS TAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UH, FOR OVER 70 YEARS. MY DAD.. >>Ron: WHERE? >>Bill: IN SAN ANTONIO. MY DAD'S A DISABLED VET. UH, THEY WERE, UM, PURSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CENTERED ON FAMILY AND FAITH. UH, I'VE TAUGHT IN MY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR YEARS. I THINK THAT POLITICIANS, AND OTHER, FOR THAT MATTER, YOU BE A BUSINESS LEADER, OR A PRINCIPAL, OR A POLICE CAPTAIN, SHOULD BE SERVANT LEADERS. THAT'S MY TYPE OF STYLE. I'M NOT THE RAZZLE- DAZZLE SELF-PROMOTER, OR THE PERSON WHO'S ALWAYS RUNNING FOR SOMETHING, UH, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN OFFICE TO BE SOMEBODY. I'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND BLESSED IN LIFE IN MANY WAYS. I JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE AND SERVE. >>Ron: HOW WOULD YOUR EXPERIENCE FOR FIVE YEARS, HAVING BEEN THE C.E.O. OF THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY, UH, TRANSFER INTO BEING A GOOD SERVANT AT THE UNITED STATES SENATE, IF ELECTED? >>Bill: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE WHO'VE COME THERE. I CAME FROM SAN ANTONIO. MOST OF US HAVE COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND, THE CITY ITSELF IS BIGGER THAN 16 STATES. IT HAS THE STRONGEST, WHAT'S CALLED "STRONG-MAYOR" FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH MEANS THAT THE MAYOR HAS MORE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY THAN OTHER MAYORS, AND WE'VE RUN THE CITY WELL. I JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CALL PEOPLE IN HOUSTON TO ASK 'EM HOW THEY THINK THAT I'VE DONE. I'VE BEEN RE-ELECTED WITH MARGINS OF AVERAGE TO 88 PERCENT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF MAYORS IN ANY OF THE TOP BIG CITIES FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS IN OUR COUNTRY. AND, SO, UH, I THINK THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP I COULD PROVIDE. >>Ron: HOW WOULD YOU STACK UP AGAINST JOHN SHARP, WHO HAS ALREADY APPEARED ON THE PROGRAM, ASSUMING THERE'S A SPECIAL ELECTION, SPOILERS WHO HAVE COME OUT OF THE WOODWORKS AND WON OVER SOMEWHAT BETTER CANDIDATES? UH, YOUR COMPARISON TO CANDIDATE SHARP, AND ALSO TO THESE OTHER WHO COULD BE SPOILERS, PERHAPS? >>Bill: WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'LL BE UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE, IN PART. UH, I'LL TELL YOU THIS, UH, THAT, UH, I'VE WON EVERY ELECTION THAT I'VE RUN IN. UH, THAT I HAVE SUPPORT FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY. UH, THAT I'LL BE ONE OF THE FEW SENATORS THAT HAS HAD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE. I'LL BE THE ONLY SENATOR WHO'S BEEN IN THE ENERGY BUSINESS. THE ONLY SENATOR WHO'S RUN A TOP TEN CITY. THE ONLY SENATOR THAT'S EVER BEEN A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF A CABINET DEPARTMENT. THE ONLY SENATOR THAT HAS HAD, UH, GREAT EX-, EXPERIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY, UH, BEFORE GOING INTO THE SENATE. UM, THAT'S MY BACKGROUND. AND, I'VE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. AND, THEN, PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT THOSE QUALITIES, OR THEY WANT SOME OTHER QUALITIES. YOU KNOW, I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE, UH, UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A UNIQUE TIME IN OUR COUNTRY. UH, THE POLITICS OF FEAR AND DIVISION ARE ON RETREAT. THE POLITICS OF COMPETENCE, JUST GETTING THINGS DONE, OF HOPE, IS ON THE RISE. I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN REPRESENT, UH, THIS WHOLE STATE, AND THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY. UH, YOU SAW IT DURING THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR, PROVIDED FOR THIS STATE, DURING HURRICANE IKE, AND IN RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF HURRICANE KATRINA. I THINK THAT I'LL BE A SENATOR THAT PEOPLE CAN HA-, BE PROUD OF, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. >>Ron: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Bill: THANK YOU. >>Ron: UH, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT BILL WHITE? >>Jim: BILL WHITE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. >>Ron: HAVE TO BE, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE THE C.E.O. AND MAYOR.. >>Jim: YES, SIR. >>Ron: ..OF THE BIGGEST CITY IN TEXAS. >>Jim: DEFINITELY. DEFINITELY, AND I'LL SEE THAT AS A MAJOR ASSET THAT, IN-, IN BILL WHITE. I JUST REALLY SAW HIM REALLY SHINE ON THIS, UH, THE KATRINA INCIDENT, WHERE HE, AS A MAYOR, UH, WAS ABLE TO ASSIST OUR FELLOW STATES, UH, NEIGHBOR S-, NEIGHBORING STATES, ON THEIR, ON THEIR PROBLEM. BUT, I THINK THAT BILL WHITE'S ONE OF THESE GUYS THAT CAN ACTUALLY BRING ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO RESOLVE A PROBLEM, TO JUST LOOK AT THE SOLUTIONS. AND, HE'S, HE'S GOT LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT I THINK WE NEED IN, DESPERATELY NEED IN D.C. FOR TEXAS. >>Ron: WE'LL BE BACK WITH A WRAP-UP IN A MOMENT. STAY TUNED. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US. FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, JIM SOLIS, DISTRICT 38, 15 YEARS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE YOU'VE SEEN PAUL HOBBY YOU'VE SEEN JOHN SHARP. YOU'VE SEEN HOUSTON MAYOR BILL WHITE. ALL DEMOCRATS, YOUR PARTY, STANDING IN THE WINGS, READY TO RUN FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT SOME POINT IN TIME, OR READY TO RUN FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE WHEN KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON RESIGNS. WHERE DO YOU STAND IN THE PARTICULAR ON THE TWO CANDIDATES, SHARP AND WHITE, REGARDING AN ENDORSEMENT? WHO WOULD BE THE BEST TO FILL THE POSITION OF UNITED STATES SENATOR? >>Jim: WELL, LET'S SEE, WELL, THAT'S A TOUGH CALL. BUT, I'LL TELL YOU THIS, WE HAVE TWO GOOD GUYS THAT HAVE, UH, GOOD INTENTIONS, HAVE SH-, HAVE A PROVEN RECORD, UH, BOTH, UH, JOHN SHARP AND, AND, UH, BILL WHITE. AND, THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD TALENT. WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD TALENTS INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE. EITHER ONE OF THOSE, THOSE TWO GUYS, WOULD DO A GREAT JOB. THEY, THEY'VE SHOWN THAT THEY CAN DO IT. THEY HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. UM, WITH HOBBY ALONE, I THINK HE'D BE AN EXCELLENT GOVERNOR, AN EXCELLENT GOVERNOR. HE'S GOT THE DEMEANOR. HE'S GOT THE, THE PASSION FOR THAT, AND I'VE SEEN IT IN A CAMPAIGN WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS DOWN HERE, WHEN HE RAN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK. >>Ron: YOU'D BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS CALLING PAUL HOBBY AND SAY, LOOK, PAUL, WE NEED YOU TO RUN.. >>Jim: I'D BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS. >>Ron: ..IN T-, IN 2010, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR 2014. >>Jim: LETS DO, LET'S DO IT NOW. >>Ron: ONE FOURTEEN. DO IT, DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER? >>Jim: RIGHT. I'D BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS CALLING HIM, YES SIR. >>Ron: YOU'D BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS? >>Jim: YOU BET. >>Ron: NOW, AS THE RATES, AS THE RACES STACK UP, YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON "RON WHITLOCK REPORTS," RIGHT HERE, TO BRING THESE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU, THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, EITHER HERE ON OUR T.V. TELECAST, OR AT RONWHITLOCK.COM. FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM SOLIS, 15 YEARS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, DISTRICT 38, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BEING WITH US. >>Jim: THANK YOU, RON. APPRECIATE IT. >>Ron: WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR PROGRAM IN FUTURE, UH.. >>Jim: YES SIR. >>Ron: ..TELECASTS, AS A COME ALONG. >>Jim: IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN. >>Ron: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON THE PROGRAM. TILL NEXT TIME. ADIOS.