Watson Wire
The Bad-News Budget
Thursday, April 21, 2011
This budget proposal really paints a grim picture – one that’s far removed from Texans, their priorities, and their history. It strips billions of dollars from schools, universities, and millions of Texans who don’t have as much political power in the Capitol as they should. But even more than that, it just throws a rug over the cracked foundation of the state's finances. It doesn’t shore up the structural problems that have become an open secret at the Capitol. Nor does it address the shifting sand that's already threatening to create another budget crisis in two years.
The Agenda Advances
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Some weeks are just good. Who knows why. Sometimes it's hard work that starts bearing fruit. Sometimes it's that the stars align or karma decides to give a little lift or you just get lucky.
I sort of had one of those weeks. Yeah, a bunch of my legislation is moving forward. But the best part of the week, without question, was the discovery of my new favorite career . . .
Junior varsity lacrosse announcer.
Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map . . .
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
I've noted before how surprising it is (amazing, really) that more people don't know that I starred as Tevye in the now legendary W. E. Boswell High School production of Fiddler on the Roof. (In fact, I'm holding out hope that I'll be called away from this oh-so-fun legislative session to play the part in a Broadway revival. Really. Please. Someone call.)
The Truth Hurts
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
First the fun part.
Long time readers of the Watson Wire know that the Watson family is sort of goofy for high school lacrosse.
When he was an 8th grader, our eldest child, Preston McDaniel Watson, now a 21-year-old junior in college, showed up with a lacrosse stick in his hand and said he wanted to play the game. His old man, who fancies himself as a sort of sports savant, didn't know anything at all about the game. (I have a theory about why lacrosse is said to be the fastest growing sport in Texas: there's a whole generation of boys whose fathers can't say to them, "Let me tell you how good I was at this when I played in high school.")
Good Luck, From a Hero
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Folks talk a lot about things like sacrifice and heroism up in the Texas Capitol. But right outside, every day, there’s a guy who’s seen more of those things than most of us can imagine.
His name is Robert Bernal, He's 85-years-old, and he works as a parking guard on the driveway running around the east side (which is the Senate side) of the Capitol. I see him pretty much every day during a session. He’s always smiling. And every time I've seen him for more than four years now, he always shakes my hand, we exchange the standard "how're you doing," and then, without exception, he wishes me good luck.
New Media, New Bills
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
First thing’s first:
Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Japan who’re coping with the terrible destruction caused by the tsunami and nuclear problems.
If you haven’t already, or even if you have, head over to the American Red Cross and consider contributing to disaster recovery efforts there.
The Reckoning
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
This is going to be a busy week. The deadline for filing legislation is on Friday. So expect a flurry of miscellaneous bills and issues and press releases – on top of the committee meetings and headlines and rumors and general bustle.
But if you can get your head above the noise – and if you’ve got a strong stomach – you can get a fascinating look at the state budget, how it’s been broken, and what it’s going to take to fix it.
Putting Some Teeth in Helping the Homeless
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
The long nightmare isn't over. I still don't have a new front tooth.
Yesterday, I went to the dentist thinking it was time to get me a fancy permanent fake toof attached to the implant that was put in my upper jaw. But no. Instead, I started a multi-step process of fittings that rivals buying a wedding gown.
As far too many people know, I lost a tooth (yeah, one of my top front ones) more than seven months ago, leaving a gaping hole in my head. I was given a small prosthetic device to trick people into believing I had all of my teeth while the required bone graft healed.
I’m so, so, so very hungry
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Here's my past Sunday (2/20/11) by the numbers.
13.1: Mileage I ran in the LIVESTRONG Half Marathon.
2: Half marathons I've run since January 30.
Dumb Dogs, Magic Time Machines, and Great Budget Bills
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I’ve been talking about my Honesty Agenda for budget transparency for a few months now, and I’ve got a pretty big announcement about it coming up.