Apr. 26--U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, just got back from the Middle East -- Israel, the West Bank and Egypt -- where she and other members of the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on state and foreign operations took an information tour over the congressional Easter break.

They were led by the panel's chairwoman, Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. -- Granger is the ranking Republican -- and got the red-carpet treatment, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, West Bank Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The trip will help the congressional leaders evaluate President Barack Obama's pending budget requests for fiscal 2009 and 2010.

Where's what?

As a state House committee heard testimony last week about irrigation requirements, Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, explained his knowledge about his personal sprinkler system.

"I know where my heads are," he said.

He was interrupted by committee Chairman Edward Kuempel, R-Seguin.

"Sometimes, you don't know where your head is," he said, drawing big laughs.

Petition for Bo

Some locals are campaigning for a certain White House resident to pay them a visit.

Fort Worth Democrat Jason Smith, a member of the Fort Woof Dog Park Association, is hoping to get Bo, the Obamas' new dog, to stop at the city's dog park the next time the family is in North Texas.

"It would be nice if the Obama family came, but we really want Bo Obama to come," Smith said.

A Facebook group Smith started to encourage the first puppy to visit Fort Woof had 95 members as of Friday.

"You know he has Texas roots," Smith said, referring to how Bo came from a Boyd breeder.

Smith said the campaign is nonpartisan. A visit from Bo would publicize the value of fenced off-leash dog parks in communities around the country, he said.

More information on the campaign is at FortWoof.org.

Ron Kirk hits big time

Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk's move to U.S. trade representative has its perks: He's in Ebony magazine's annual list of the most influential black Americans. Kirk is one of 10 high-level Obama administration officials pictured at the White House in the current issue. Also on the "power behind the power" list are Texas' three African-American members of Congress: Democratic Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas and Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green of Houston.

Of course, Kirk had to give up quite a lot to take the trade post -- like the lucrative job he had at Vinson & Elkins' Dallas office. According to his financial disclosure form, Kirk received a partnership distribution of $556,740 last year and was due to get a $150,000 bonus from the firm this year just before he started his government service.

And there were those lucrative stints as a corporate director: At PetSmart he got more than $150,000 and stock; at Dallas-based Dean Foods, he received more than $128,000 and stock and stock options valued between $250,000 and $500,000; at Dallas-based Brinker International, he earned over $180,000 and stock options worth between $50,000 and $100,000.

Maria Recio, 202-383-6103 mrecio@mcclatchydc.com Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610 atinsley@star-telegram.com Dave Montgomery, 512-476-4294 Showing: Oldest firstNewest firstMost-recommended firstLeast-recommended first

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