McALLEN, RGV – What does the Republican landslide victory in Texas mean for the Rio Grande Valley with the 84th legislative session just around the corner?
Texas has a new Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and a new Republican Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick. Will this make a difference for South Texas?
The state’s coffers have been swelled by severance tax receipts from the oil boom in the Eagle Ford Shale? Does this mean there will be more funding for education and healthcare?
These and other questions will likely be pitched to Ross Ramsey, executive editor and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, at the third and final Fall breakfast event hosted by Futuro McAllen on Wednesday, November 12. The Texas Tribune is a non-profit, non-partisan, online news publication based in Austin that focuses on state government, state politics, and public policy.
The discussion with Ramsey takes place at the Texas A&M Health Science Center from 8 to 9 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be available. The breakfast event is free and is open to the general public, not just Futuro McAllen members.
Asked what he might talk about in his legislative preview, Ramsey told the Guardian:
“The gist of this will be a sort of autopsy of what happened in the election and what it means as we go into a new legislative session. One huge difference this time is that we’ll have a completely new roster of statewide officials following a group of Republicans that includes a governor and an attorney general who set records for their time in office.
“What did voters seem to be saying? How did the Democrats do in their first election after the start of vote-production groups like Battleground Texas? Are the Republicans splitting into a two-parties-in-one — a battle best illustrated by the coming campaign for speaker of the House, driven by conservatives who think Joe Straus is too moderate.”
Before joining the Tribune, Ramsey was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly for 15 years. He also had a 28-month stint in government as associate deputy comptroller for policy and director of communications with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. He has also reported for the Houston Chronicle from its Austin bureau and for the Dallas Times Herald, first on the business desk in Dallas and later as its Austin bureau chief. Ramsey got his start in journalism in broadcasting, covering news for radio stations in Denton and Dallas and has worked as a Dallas-based freelance business writer, writing for regional and national magazines and newspapers.
KURV Radio presenter Davis Rankin is a committee member for Futuro McAllen. As someone who once worked at the state Capitol in Austin, Rankin said he is looking forward to hearing what Ramsey has to say.
“Ross Ramsey is a much-sought after journalist. He will talk about and analyze how the new power structure in Austin will affect all Texans with an emphasis on how the Valley will fare. People attending Ross Ramsey’s talk will get analysis and insights they can’t get anywhere else,” Rankin said.
The Texas A&M Health Science Center is at 2101 South McColl Road in McAllen. People attending should enter from the east side, or rear, of the building.
Ramsey’s appearance is also made possible by McAllen’s Courtyard by Marriott, IBC Bank, Texas A&M, ERO Architects and CopyZone of McAllen.
For more information about the event contact Futuro McAllen President Nedra Kinerk at 956-330-2071.
