State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Budget Amendments Put Spotlight on Illegal Immigration’s Burden to Taxpayers
393 amendments have been pre-filed ahead of Thursday’s budget debate.
Texas House Committee Hears Parent-Driven Education Reforms
Lawmakers are considering more measures requiring Texas schools to protect students and respect parental rights.
Texas Teachers’ Retirement System Funded Chinese Firms
State agency hides how much it has indirectly invested in Chinese businesses.
Texas House Overwhelmingly Rejects Motion To Remove Speaker Burrows
The motion was tabled 141-2, with five members present but not voting, and two absent.
State Archive
City Spending Trends Reveal Need for Limits
The majority of Texas’ largest cities are growing core government spending faster than their population, according to public data collected by the Texas Scorecard. While the magnitude of the problem varies, it’s clear taxpayers would benefit from local spending...
House Democrat Offers Tax Relief Proposal
With Texans begging for relief from sky-rocketing property taxes, a Laredo Democrat is proposing to use surplus dollars to provide one-time tax relief for homeowners. State Rep. Richard Raymond wants to take $3 billion from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund to...
Parker Shows Support for Straus by Lying to Texans
After a whirlwind of criticism from citizens relating to the Texas House leadership’s obstruction of Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda of conservative reforms, House Republican Caucus Chairman Tan Parker (R–Flower Mound) is trying to provide cover for his colleagues by...
House Insults Abbott by Advancing Bill He Vetoed
Betting on Gov. Greg Abbott reneging on his pledge to Texans to hold lawmakers accountable for obstructing his agenda, the Texas House fast tracked and gave initial approval to a bill that he explicitly told them not to pass. House Bill 7 by State Rep. Dade Phelan...
House Rejects Return to Property Rights
Imagine Bill. Bill has a home on the outskirts of Austin proper. He would like to cut down a tree that’s grown over the 40 years he’s lived in his house because it’s damaging the foundation, creating cracks in the walls, causing leaks, and sinking the value of his...
Senate Hears Case for Strengthening the Constitutional State Spending Limit
Several democrat-controlled states are on the brink of financial disaster. With Illinois narrowly averting a budgetary crisis and junk-bond rating, several other states like New Jersey and Massachusetts are experiencing the predictable result of years of fiscal...
Local Spending Limits Considered in Senate Hearing
Local property taxes and debt levels are reaching the breaking point in Texas, and both Gov. Greg Abbott and lawmakers are taking note. Today, approximately 41 states impose some form of tax and expenditure limit on their political subdivisions. However, while...
Court Issues Injunction Against Byron Cook
A Travis County District Court has issued a temporary injunction pending trial against State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) preventing him from obstructing citizens wishing to film meetings of the House State Affairs Committee he chairs. Earlier this month Amy Hedtke...
Taxpayers Outnumber Government on Property Tax Reform, Again
At a recent Senate hearing, taxpayers overwhelming supported an overhaul of Texas’ property tax system, including requirements that governments obtain voter approval to significantly raise taxes. While numerous city and county officials remain opposed to the bill, it...