Legislators balk at giving up power.

Consolidating local governments is as difficult a political task as it ever was.

In the closest elections, there are issues impossible to resolve.

Does that bother anybody? Not the voters, at least so far.

Mayor Bill White's efforts to speed traffic on Houston's freeways spawned the "Safe Clear" program, under which any car stalled on a city highway would immediately be towed away, even if it were in an emergency lane and the driver could fix the problem. Cost of the tows: $75. The public response was overwhelmingly negative. After a few weeks, White softened the program, directing that people with flat tires would be towed for free.