State
STAAR Results Show Texas Students ‘Held Steady’ Academically
2024 end-of-course assessments reveal academic performance has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels across all subjects.
ANALYSIS: Turning Texas Into a Refuge From Lawfare
As institutions deteriorate across the U.S., Texas is increasingly viewed as a safe haven.
Texas Officials Address Ballot Secrecy Concerns
Texas’ attorney general and secretary of state confirm personally identifiable information on voters’ ballots and other election records must be redacted.
Doctor Indicted By DOJ For Exposing Ongoing Chemical Castration Procedures
He is asking for public support as he faces a legal battle for blowing the whistle on a Texas hospital.
State Archive
Culture of Clout-Abuse?
In less than 24 hours Texans heard the voice of our lieutenant governor trying to get his “step-niece-in-law” out of jail, and read the words of a powerful House committee chairman all-but admitting he used his influence to get his son into law school. Frankly, Lt....
Remembering Who Supported Medicaid Expansion
A recent trip to Texas by U.S. Health and Human Services Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius has prompted proponents of ObamaCare to beat a dead horse regarding Medicaid expansion. Remember, the Legislature issued a resounding “NO!” to the Obama administration this session...
Hilderbran for Comptroller?
Straus-appointed Ways and Means Chairman Harvey Hilderbran has officially thrown his name into the race for Texas Comptroller. What exactly should taxpayers expect if he’s elected as the chief steward of the state’s finances? You may recall earlier this session where...
Put Administrators Ahead Of Students
With more than 84 percent of Republican primary voters saying they wanted more academic freedom and parental choices in education, GOP members of the Texas House decided to maintain the status quo … and explicitly forbid any efforts to expand options for students and...
A Most Unethical Commission
It went about how you would have expected. We were in front of a kangaroo court accustomed to operating far outside the sunlight of public review. Thursday night’s “hearing” by the Texas Ethics Commission on the abusive complaints filed as political vendettas by two...
Joe Straus’ Lawyer Wants to be Your Next Ag Commissioner
Recently, Austin attorney Eric Opiela announced that he will be running to replace Todd Staples as your next Agriculture commissioner. “Who is Eric Opiela?” you might ask. He’s a twice-failed candidate for the Texas House, and a lawyer for Joe Straus. Mr. Opiela would...
Sarah Davis’ Misguided View of Government
State Rep. Sarah Davis of Houston—the only unabashed pro-choice Republican in the Texas House—remains adamant that “government has no place in the abortion debate.” It’s too bad she doesn’t apply that same philosophy to areas where government actually should be...
Big, Bad Growth
You know how we Texans like to brag about being a limited government, low-tax state? New analysis from the Tax Foundation says otherwise. From 2001-2011, real per-capita direct government spending rose 32.9 percent in the Lone Star State, putting us at #15 in the...
Is the Legislature at a Roadblock on Transportation?
It appears legislators stand at a roadblock regarding transportation funding. While both chambers officially stand in recess for a week, informal discussions on how to move forward are already underway. A quick recap of what’s taken place so far: The Senate passed SJR...