Texas governor may be thinking of California
AUSTIN, Texas – Could Texas Gov. Rick Perry be California dreamin’?
The Republican has made persuading top employers around the country to move to Texas a centerpiece of his administration, even leading a series of job-poaching missions in Democratically controlled states. And California has been a prime target, with Perry bashing what he calls the Golden State’s high-tax, over-regulated ways.
But a New York Times Magazine story released Tuesday says Perry’s so enamored with California that he could move there when his term ends.
“Perry told me that he loves California, vacations in San Diego annually, visits the state about six times a year and might even move here in January when he’s done with his 14-year stint running Texas,” writer Mark Leibovich says in the article, which was based on comments the governor made while visiting Los Angeles.
“I would live in California if I could afford it,” Perry said according to a partial transcript of the interview with Leibovich, which Considine provided Tuesday. “Why wouldn’t you want to live out here? Seriously?”
Many Cuban-Americans back ending embargo
MIAMI – About half of Cuban-Americans surveyed in Miami support an end to the U.S. embargo of Cuba. Even more support resuming diplomatic relations with the communist island’s government. That’s according to a Florida International University poll released Tuesday.
It’s the latest in a series of polls conducted by the university since 1991 that mark a steady evolution of Cuban-American views. Just a decade ago, electoral success in Miami depended in part on candidates’ support for the embargo. But newer Cuban arrivals and second generation Cuban-Americans tend to back more diplomacy.
The poll of 1,000 Cuban-American Miami-Dade County residents adds weight to recent efforts to loosen travel and trade restrictions with Cuba.
Court to hear several gay-marriage cases
CINCINNATI – A federal appeals court will hear arguments in gay marriage fights in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee in a single session, setting the stage for historic rulings in each state.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, scheduled arguments in five cases from the four states for Aug. 6. Though the cases are unique, each deals with whether statewide gay marriage bans violate the Constitution.
The 6th Circuit is the third federal appeals court to weigh recent challenges to state gay marriage bans, though the first to consider cases in several states at the same time. Arguments were held in the 4th Circuit in Virginia in May and the 10th Circuit in Denver in April. Rulings are expected soon.
In Cincinnati, a three-judge panel will hear arguments in each case one at a time. It’s unclear whether it will issue a large ruling encompassing all the cases or separate ones. Any losing side could appeal the circuit court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Associated Press
