Republicans give Democrats lots of ammunition

For months, Republicans across the state have been predicting major victories in November, particularly in the Texas House of Representatives where they currently have a slim 77-73 majority.

Texas Republicans plan to make the most of what they see as the growing public discontent with President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress.

But some events this week have given Texas Democrats just as much ammunition and none more welcome than the comments of U.S. Rep. Joe Barton.

As anyone who watches Texas politics knows, the Ennis Republican was harshly criticized even by fellow Republicans for apologizing to BP. The congressman called the $20 billion the company has agreed to pay for economic loss claims in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a "shakedown" by Obama. The Democratic National Committee and the Texas Democratic Party have made the most of Barton's comments saying Republicans only care about big donors like Big Oil and not average folks.

Another potential gift to the Democrats is a story in the Dallas Morning News about state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown. The story raises ethical questions about the Irving Republican because it says she drives a luxury car owned by a company that makes millions of dollars through state transportation contracts. Harper-Brown is a member of the House Transportation Committee.

The state Democratic Party has already called on House Speaker Joe Straus to remove her from the influential 11-member panel. Incidentally, in the 2008 election Harper-Brown won re-election by only 19 votes.

There were a few other events, like Mark Miner, spokesman for the re-election campaign of Gov. Rick Perry who was shouted down by dozens of supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White as Miner tried to hold a press conference in front of White's campaign headquarters in Austin. But the Barton apology and the Harper-Brown story, some Democrats say, are just what they needed as they head for their biennial convention in Corpus Christi next weekend.