The Latest
ANALYSIS: Conservative Lawmakers, Donald Trump Call for Dade Phelan’s Removal
The full acquittal of Ken Paxton by the Texas Senate is seen as a repudiation of House Speaker Phelan and the Democrats’ control of the lower chamber.
Dan Patrick Condemns House’s Impeachment of Ken Paxton, Calls for Full Audit
“An impeachment should never happen again in the House like it happened this year,” said Patrick.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Acquitted on Impeachment Charges
Paxton had been temporarily suspended from office since the House’s impeachment vote in May.
Leander School District Walks Back Rejection of Pocket Constitutions for Students
The organization facilitating the dissemination of the pocket constitutions called out the district.
The Archive
Houston Reforms
With the first three Houston mayoral debates completed, campaign rhetoric revolving around municipal reforms is heating up. Two ideas in particular warrant a deeper look—one directed at Houston’s crime lab known as the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC), and...
Taking Credit for Gutting Tax Cuts
House Republicans are retrospectively arriving at a sweeping consensus—not enough was done to curb property tax increases. But if members supporting the coalition government of liberal House Republicans and Democrats had their way, Texans would pay even more. That’s...
Straus’ Revisionist History
In a recent interview, liberal House Speaker Joe Straus was asked to respond to allegations from many, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that conservative bills went to House Calendars only to die without a vote. Citing the example of SB 1968 by State Sen. Joan Huffman...
House Tax Revision
In the days since the legislative session ended, House Speaker Joe Straus and his coalition government of Democrats and liberal Republicans has been bragging about passing the very tax cuts they had opposed. “We cut taxes,” Straus bragged in a statement issued by his...
Harless Claims Hijacked Ethics Bill “Was Never Going to Pass”
Just days after the end of the 84th legislative session, one state representative is admitting that provisions added to Gov. Greg Abbott’s landmark ethics legislation by the leadership of the Texas House were designed to kill the bill. State Rep. Patricia Harless...
Midland County and School Board Talk Taxes
In the petroleum-rich town of Midland, TX, the fluctuation of oil prices and population numbers weigh heavily on property tax-dependent entities, such as the school district and county. With last year’s dip in oil prices and the subsequent effect on mineral valuations...
Dan Patrick Got It Done
On his first vote as a state senator, Dan Patrick voted alone. In the recently concluded legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the state senate substantively delivered on every measure he campaigned on last year. A main stay of Patrick’s policy agenda, since...
Abbott: House Hijacking of Ethics Bill Unconstitutional
In an interview with reporters yesterday about the death of his landmark ethics legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott laid the blame for the bill’s death squarely at the feet of State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) and the leadership of the Texas House. “It’s important for...
State Sen Troy Fraser Announces Retirement
A day after the conclusion of the 84th legislative session, State Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) has announced his retirement from the Senate. Fraser leaves office with a lifetime rating of C- on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, and a cumulative 80% on Young...