Texans on center stage in D.C. this week
January 27, 2012
Gary Martin
Updated 07:40 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2012
It was an action-packed blur for Texans in Washington this week as a two-week redistricting trial in federal court wound down and Lone Star State politicians had cameo appearances at the State of the Union address.
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro was invited by President Barack Obama to sit with the first lady in the coveted guest box above a joint session of Congress during the speech. Castro dismissed political motives for his invitation to the partisan-tinged event, suggesting the White House picked him as “a reflection of San Antonio's economic strength.” San Antonio is one of several U.S. cities that have fared well during the recession, and the White House cited solar energy projects recently unveiled by Castro and CPS Energy that will create 800 jobs.
The economy was on the minds of Republicans when they tapped Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San Antonio, to deliver the GOP response to the speech in Spanish. It was a coup for Canseco, who is targeted by Democrats this year.
“In three short years, an unprecedented explosion of spending, with borrowed money, added trillions to our national debt,” Canseco said.
While the Republican chastised Obama, a potential November foe razzed Canseco for putting partisanship before Texas. State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the congressional district Canseco represents. Rather than grab the national spotlight as a GOP mouthpiece, Canseco would better serve constituents “by toning down the rhetoric, focusing on real solutions and not pursuing an extremist agenda,” Gallego said.
Canseco replied that it is “outrageous that my opponent thinks common sense business principles of less government, over-regulation and allowing Texans to keep more of their hard-earned money is pure politics.”
To read the full article, click here: https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/gary_martin/article/Texans-on-center-stage-in-D-C-this-week-2753493.phpGary Martin
Updated 07:40 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2012
It was an action-packed blur for Texans in Washington this week as a two-week redistricting trial in federal court wound down and Lone Star State politicians had cameo appearances at the State of the Union address.
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro was invited by President Barack Obama to sit with the first lady in the coveted guest box above a joint session of Congress during the speech. Castro dismissed political motives for his invitation to the partisan-tinged event, suggesting the White House picked him as “a reflection of San Antonio's economic strength.” San Antonio is one of several U.S. cities that have fared well during the recession, and the White House cited solar energy projects recently unveiled by Castro and CPS Energy that will create 800 jobs.
The economy was on the minds of Republicans when they tapped Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, R-San Antonio, to deliver the GOP response to the speech in Spanish. It was a coup for Canseco, who is targeted by Democrats this year.
“In three short years, an unprecedented explosion of spending, with borrowed money, added trillions to our national debt,” Canseco said.
While the Republican chastised Obama, a potential November foe razzed Canseco for putting partisanship before Texas. State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the congressional district Canseco represents. Rather than grab the national spotlight as a GOP mouthpiece, Canseco would better serve constituents “by toning down the rhetoric, focusing on real solutions and not pursuing an extremist agenda,” Gallego said.
Canseco replied that it is “outrageous that my opponent thinks common sense business principles of less government, over-regulation and allowing Texans to keep more of their hard-earned money is pure politics.”
To read the full article, click here: https://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/gary_martin/article/Texans-on-center-stage-in-D-C-this-week-2753493.php