January 11, 2017      5:42 PM

Pauken: Straus and Patrick will drive the legislative agenda this session

From the right: Former RPT Chairman Tom Pauken sizes up the big three this session, in which he expects Gov. Abbott to be largely asleep at the switch

Constitutionally, the office of the Governor of Texas is a weak one.  In my lifetime, the strongest Governor has been Allan Shivers who also served in the Texas State Senate and as Lt. Governor. 

In his position as Lt. Governor, Allan Shivers turned that office into a powerful one as he set the agenda for such basic issues as public education, higher education, and the development of our state highway system.  With the death of Gov. Beauford Jester, Shivers became Governor in 1949 and won election in his own right in 1950.  He served in that office until 1957 when he retired.  

A conservative Democrat, Shivers as Governor relied on his extensive experience in the Texas State Senate and as Lt. Governor presiding over the State Senate to wield enormous powers as Governor.  Under his stewardship, Texas had the reputation of developing the finest highway system in the nation and having an excellent educational system from elementary school through college.  He also fostered a positive climate for business.  

While Texas still maintains a pro-business climate when it comes to tax and regulatory issues, you can't say the same about our highway system or the state of education in Texas. 

The full column from Tom Pauken is in the R&D Department.

By Tom Pauken

Copyright January 11, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved