Shortly after filing to run for governor in the March 2 Republican primary, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison promised to “clean up” the Texas Department of Transportation.

She said Texans are fed up with traffic congestion and blamed the “arrogance and inefficiencies” of TxDOT’s leadership.

Hutchison said, if elected governor, she would push for a highspeed rail line connecting Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

In a campaign swing around the state, Hutchison also said the Texas Transportation Commission should be expanded from five to nine members.

Katz files for Lt. Governor

Austin restaurateur Marc Katz has filed to run for lieutenant governor in the March Democratic primary.

Katz, owner of Katz’s Deli and Bar in downtown Austin, will face former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who also filed to run for lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary.

Katz said he would spend millions of dollars of his own money to win the primary race against Earle.

The winner likely will face incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who filed to run for reelection in the Republican Party primary.

Licenses for immigrants OK

A Texas appeals court has ruled that the restriction on driver’s licenses issued to immigrants is lawful.

The 3rd Court of Appeals ruled against a Dallas landscaping company that has said the Texas Department of Public Safety does not have authority to establish requirements for immigrants seeking driver’s licenses.

Under DPS rules, a driver’s license cannot be issued to someone with a visa valid for less than a year or if there is less than six months remaining on the visa.

If a visa is valid for more than a year, the driver’s license says “Temporary Visitor.”

Those licenses are vertical, not horizontal like standard Texas licenses.

Although the plaintiffs argued that truck drivers can’t enter certain areas with a temporary license, the court said the plaintiffs did not prove any negative effects caused by the temporary-visitor licenses.