CORPUS CHRISTI — Corpus Christi voters last November sent three Republicans to Austin — two of them for the first time — on a wave of support for conservative Tea Party groups calling for fiscal overhaul and transparency in government. They arrived in Austin confronted with a gaping budget deficit, a politically charged redistricting process and a laundry list of emergency items from Gov. Rick Perry. Led by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, as chairman of the influential Calendars Committee, Coastal Bend lawmakers succeeded in passing several state and local bills before the regular session ended Memorial Day.{read more}
Corpus Christi representatives successfully navigated 14 bills through a process that kills far more bills than are passed, including one that will give government efficiency a foothold in Austin and another that will help officials prosecute those who alter disabled placards.
