While most of the state lawmakers in town at the invitation of state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. dressed down to tour this invitational on...............

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Political Pulse: 04.13.08

By Jaime Powell (Contact)
Sunday, April 13, 2008

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CORPUS CHRISTI — Rep. Patrick Rose wears suit, boots to tour sites

While most of the state lawmakers in town at the invitation of state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. dressed down to tour local sights including Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the Port of Corpus Christi and Flint Hills refinery, state Rep. Patrick Rose came slicked up in a suit and cowboy boots.

Rose, D-Dripping Springs, is a Princeton- and University of Texas-educated lawyer and the youngest House member, first elected in 2002 at age 24.

"He's already running for governor," Ortiz joked of Rose. "He's wearing the boots, and he has good hair."

Ortiz spent freshman year at A&M-CC

Detailing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's history, university president Flavius Killebrew told the gathered lawmakers that Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, was a freshman at the school in 1994.

"Is he going to graduate soon?" state Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston, joked.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor Mike McKinney laughed. "There goes the four-year graduation rate," he said.

After attending the local university, Ortiz graduated from Texas A&M in College Station.

Lawmakers show interest in Veracruz

Showing off the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies to lawmakers, associate director Wes Tunnell said top-ranking research scientists will meet in Veracruz, Mexico, in February and pointed out that maybe some of the lawmakers might want to join them.

"Yeah, we'd like to go," state Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, joked about a trip that would fall at the start of the legislative session.

"It's better than Ardmore," state Rep. Jim Murphy said referring to a 2003 exodus to the Oklahoma city by Texas Democratic lawmakers to protest Republican-led redistricting.

"Yes! We can go to Veracruz!" Morrison said.

Learning program simulates conditions

Demonstrating the PULSE!! virtual learning program that, through the use of state-of-the-art technology, will present simulations of medical conditions that include complex combat injuries in the form of a video-game-based learning platform, Claudia McDonald, the university's associate vice president for special projects, explained how the patient on screen reacted to various treatments.

State Rep. Fred Brown's hand shot up.

"Does his heart rate go up if there's a hot nurse working on him?" Brown, R-Bryan, asked.

"We don't have hot nurses," McDonald replied.

Darby suggests attitude adjustment

Touring the university's Early Childhood Development Center, where a group of youngsters performed the song "You Are My Sunshine" for lawmakers, Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, observed quietly that the Legislature should sing the song every day during the session.

"It might help everybody's attitude," he said.

Darby makes sure to clear the air

Offering a welcome to a luncheon held in the lawmakers' honor, Ortiz introduced them individually. When Darby did not stand up, Ortiz noted that he must have stepped out, perhaps to visit the restroom.

A short time later, Killebrew quietly told Ortiz that Darby was back.

Darby waved from the back of the room.

"By the way, I was not in the bathroom. I just want to clear the air on that -- literally," Darby said.

Jokes abound over viewing explosion

Port Commissioner Ruben Bonilla read between the lines during Tuesday's meeting of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission.

John LaRue, the port's executive director, announced port engineers and contractors would be blowing up the support columns of the Tule Lake Lift Bridge. He said commissioners were welcome to watch the demolition.

"You're not encouraging the commission get close to that explosion, are you?" asked Bonilla, smiling, yet shifting in his seat.

"We could set a viewing area very close to the explosion," offered LaRue, causing laughter among the commission and those in attendance.

Commissioner Yolanda Olivarez chimed in, giving LaRue a funny look.

"You say that with such enthusiasm," she said.

"Frank (Brogan, the port's director of engineering services) is already working on it," LaRue said, smiling.

Blue Angels pilots go hunting, eat dinner

Eight wild hogs and three nilgai met their maker when Kleberg County hosted Blue Angels pilots and took them hunting last weekend.

Pilots and other guests went through 2,200 rounds of ammunition shooting skeet and then brought home the bacon, said Dick Messbarger, executive director of the Greater Kingsville Economic Development Council,

"They had a lot better luck than two years ago," he said.

The pilots also got a fried fish dinner complete with jalapeño poppers and fries cooked by AEP crews.

"After we fed them, we put a shotgun in their hands," Messbarger said. "That's one of the reasons Kingsville gets voted one of the top five (air) shows by the Blues."

Ortiz wins award for supporting kids

U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz picked up a Congressional Appreciation Award from Our Military Kids Inc. for supporting increased resources for children of members of the Armed Forces and Reserves.

Our Military Kids Inc. is a nonprofit foundation that has given more than $1 million to the families of deployed or wounded National Guard and Reserve members. The money helps military children enroll in youth activities and tutoring programs while their deployed parent is often earning less than they would be in civilian life.

"While our service members are serving abroad, we must not forget the families they leave behind," Rep. Ortiz said in a prepared statement. "Organizations like Our Military Kids Inc. are dedicated to minimizing the sacrifices their children must make here at home."

Several military dignitaries, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, attended the reception, the statement said.

Political Pulse is compiled and written by Caller-Times politics and Nueces County government reporter Jaime Powell. Powell and Fanny Chirinos contributed this week. Have a tip? Contact Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@caller.com

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Post Your Comments

Post 1 April 13, 2008 at 5:05 a.m.

^---------^--------^------^-----^------^-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Corpus Christi Politics continues to flat line.
(Suggest removal)

Post 2 April 13, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.

Post 1
Like your graphics - it tells it all.
(Suggest removal)

Post 3 April 13, 2008 at 8:42 a.m.

This place is a dump and all the political (leaders?) need to be ashamed for doing nothing about it.
(Suggest removal)

Post 4 April 13, 2008 at 11:49 a.m.

Lighten up, people!
(Suggest removal)

Post 5 April 13, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.

political pulseys

no substance all the way around - ortiz jr. cant do anything without his dad, ortiz sr is only motivated by what and how it can help him, and this column just continues to show how our electorate only work to benefit themselves.
(Suggest removal)

Post 6 April 13, 2008 at 1:44 p.m.

I wish the editors of this column would put in the votes taken in congress and how our elected reps voted. I know it is in the Sunday printed paper, but I am out of town most of the month and do not read the printed paper.

JP
Driving a truck across the country.
(Suggest removal)

Post 7 April 13, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.

Post 5 - Sounds like the white house or the two George's that can't stop flattering each other in public. It's funny how south Texas politics work , if you are not on the opposing team every Joe Blow want's a shot at the title . Be ever so kind to say and give the KID a break today .
pe5157
re-elect J.R.
(Suggest removal)

Post 8 April 13, 2008 at 2:56 p.m.

"He's already running for governor," Ortiz joked of Rose. "He's wearing the boots, and he has good hair."

Yeah, that is all that is required for Governor. That is all we need is another Governor Good Hair.

Hope the boots are high enough for the job.
(Suggest removal)

Post 9 April 13, 2008 at 4:55 p.m.

Post 1 you are so correct. But lets look future into this....................

----^-----^----^----^--------------------^-----------------------------^-------------------------^------------------------------------------------------. Corpus Christi Politics, Building, Road repairs, Health, and Safety, all contune to flat line. Let get real.

^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--^--. Crme, Assauts, Rapes, Murders, Drugs, Graft, and Corruption, all alive and well.............

Thank you city leaders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Suggest removal)