Early Tremors in 2010 Texas Gubernatorial Race

Last week, Senate Bill 1317 passed the Senate in a highly partisan vote thanks in large part to lobbying efforts by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. The bill itself, if made law, would limit the scope of a city's jurisdiction by making it illegal for any city to regulate air pollution (or, presumably, anything else) beyond its borders. However, despite what many Senators who voted for this bill will tell you, this bill isn't about municipal jurisdiction. Nor is it about air pollution. It's all about the next Texas governor's race, which will take place in 2010.

The true underlying purpose of this legislation is to prevent Houston Mayor Bill White from using a Houston nuisance ordinance to fight air pollution whose source is outside the city's jurisdiction. Why, you ask? Because Bill White and David Dewhurst have both made it clear that they're running for governor in 2010, and Dewhurst's Republicans don't want White (a Democrat) to have an advantage on environmental issues in that race.

Paul Burka lays out the whole story here.

Images of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Houston Mayor Bill White courtesy of Wikipedia