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2010 General Election 2010 Party Primaries Party Leaders Political Analysis Legislative Session A voter marks a ballot. Photo by Lars Plougmann (CC). Elections Texas Almanac 2012–2013 450 The Texas Senate chamber from the visitors gallery. Photo by Robert Plocheck. Legislative Budget Cuts School Funds, State Jobs By Carolyn Barta An overwhelming Republican majority influenced by the grassroots tea party movement dominated the 82nd Legislature, resulting in a no tax-increase budget with record spending cuts and a conservative social issues agenda. Gov. Rick Perry said Texas stood in stark contrast to other states after lawmakers approved a $172 billion two-year budget that slashed $15.2 billion or 8.1 percent from previous spending levels. Lopsided elections in 2010 reflecting an antiWashington sentiment and a recessionary economy with lowered anticipated sales tax revenue set the stage for a contentious 140-day regular session and an immediate 30-day special session required to finish the work. Republicans won an impressive 99 Texas House seats in 2010, and two party-switches provided a super majority of 101 House members to the Democrats’ 49 – compared to a previous 76-74 Republican majority. In the Texas Senate, Republicans maintained a 19-12 edge. Perry – campaigning for states rights and against an over-reaching, spendthrift federal government – easily won re-election to become the nation’s longest serving governor, beating GOP challenger Kay Bailey Hutchison in the primary and then defeating Democrat and former Houston mayor Bill White. Presiding officers for both houses also were Republican . David Dewhurst was re-elected lieutenant governor and held the Senate gavel. Joe Straus of San Antonio won a second term as House speaker. The governor and dozens of legislators were backed by tea party activists, who demanded a leaner government and more conservative approach to issues such as immigration and abortion. Some called this Legislature the most conservative ever, albeit it activist conservatism. While lawmakers delivered on less spending, they were unable to pass two of Perry’s priorities, a “sanctuary cities” bill that would have denied state funding to cities that prohibit its law enforcement officers from asking the immigration status of people they arrest, and an “anti-groping” bill that would have criminalized intrusive airport pat-downs by Transportation Security Administration agents. Republican successes included new laws requiring unsuccessful plantiffs to pay for meritless lawsuits, voters to present photo identification at polling places, and women seeking abortions to have a mandatory sonogram . Perry’s austerity stance, promotion of Texas’ job growth, national presence as head of the Republican Governors Association, and his evangelical/conservative appeal led to speculation of presidential aspirations . The grueling budget battle that consumed the regular session resulted from a projected shortfall of $23 [54.242.191.214] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 06:07 GMT) Elections 451 The voting age population (VAP) refers to the total number of persons of voting age regardless of citizenship , military status, felony conviction or mental state. The Bureau of the Census is the source for the VAP estimates. Since the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, non-voters cannot be removed from registration rolls of a county until two federal elections have been held. So, for instance, if a person moved in December 2004 from one county to another, that person could be counted as a non-voter in the previous county of residence through the general election of November 2008. These are called “suspense voters” on county rolls and have affected the statistical reports of the percentage of registered voters participating in elections. In the early 1970s, various election reforms were enacted by the Legislature, including eliminating the requirement for an annual registration and allowing for a continuing voter registration system. The presidential elections have a larger voter turnout than off-year and state elections. — RP Sources: Federal Election Commission and the Texas Secretary of State office. Year 2008 2004 2000 1996 1992 1988 1984 1980 1976 1972 Major Candidates Obama McCain Bush Kerry Bush Gore Clinton Dole Clinton Bush Perot Bush Dukakis Reagan Mondale Reagan Carter Carter Ford Nixon McGovern Percent of VAP that voted 45.6 46.1 44.3 41.0 47.6 44.3 47.6 45.6 46.1 44.9 Percent of registered voters that voted 59.5 56.6 51.8 53.2 72.9 66.2 68.3 68.4 64.8 66.6 Texas Election Turnout by Voting Age Population billion to maintain current services with inflation and population growth. The Senate and Democrats in...