State
GOP Runoff Victors Secure Open Texas House Seats
The Republican runoff winners are set to face Democrat challengers in the November general election.
Despite Residency Questions, Brent Hagenbuch Wins Republican State Senate Runoff
Primary opponent Jace Yarbrough is challenging Hagenbuch’s eligibility to represent Senate District 30.
Gonzales Holds US Congressional Seat, Goldman Wins District 12 Race
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales beat challenger Brandon Herrera to hold onto his congressional seat, while Craig Goldman became the GOP nominee in the 12th Congressional District.
David Lowe Defeats Incumbent State Rep. Stephanie Klick
With no Democrat challenger, Lowe will win the November general election.
State Archive
Policing Potential Conflicts
Shortly after Houstonians found out their red light camera program is back, word got out that a local police officer and vocal advocate for the program was also on the payroll for the company that operates them. In an attempt to defeat a potential state-wide red light...
Bottom of the Barrel
At the conclusion of the 82nd Legislative Session three Republican House members found themselves with voting records that abjectly failed Texas taxpayers. Reps. John Davis, Allan Ritter, and Dee Margo were the bottom of the barrel - all scoring a failing "F" on the...
Stripping Away Transparency
During the special session, State Representatives Erwin Cain (R-Como) and Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) successfully added amendments to SB 1, the omnibus fiscal matters bill, which respectively increased transparency in the state budget and local school districts....
Higher Ed Is Burning
Much like the story of the Roman Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the UT administration is standing idly by while the cost of tuition continues to skyrocket. Instead of offering a plan of their own, they’re choosing to “fiddle” away with rhetoric designed only...
Index: Fresh Faces Shine
With a hefty number of new faces added to the ranks of Texas' legislative body politic this session in the wake of what could be described as a "conservative landslide" in November 2010, many folks want to know, "How did the freshmen do?" This legislative session...
Index: Legislature’s Wasted Opportunity
In a legislative session controlled by a rhetorically conservative super-majority, they accomplished the bare fiscal minimum but did little to control future government growth. This is reflected on the 2011 Fiscal Responsibility Index, with legislators averaging a...
Tax Hike Protections
Here’s another California vs. Texas comparison: One state requires a 2/3 majority of both legislative chambers to pass a tax increase, and one state attempted to create the same type of taxpayer protection, but couldn’t even get it to the floor for a vote. Sadly, it’s...
Decisive Indecisiveness
Here’s the breakdown of how Rep. Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock) has voted throughout the course of the latest debate on auto-spending the Economic Stabilization Fund. It's a case of legislative votes not meshing with political words. Last Friday, Rep. Phil King...
Health Care Common Sense
Health Care Compact legislation championed by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst and Sen. Jane Nelson has been called many things, but perhaps the best way to describe the Compact is the difference between the one-size-fits-all approach to health care policy of the Federal...