State news in Texas
State
Texas on Track To Crack Down on Chinese Influence
Gov. Abbott has already been addressing foreign influence in the state, and lawmakers are expected to take additional action.
School Choice Plans Gain Energy in 2025
Lt. Gov Dan Patrick says the Republican-majority Legislature is poised to pass school choice in 2025.
Republican Incumbents Knocked Off in 2024 Primaries
In this year’s primary season, grassroots Republicans claimed victory over more moderate incumbents in the Texas House and Court of Criminal Appeals.
Conservatives Urge Abbott to Fast-track ‘Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids’ Legislation
Texans are asking the governor to make protecting children from sexually explicit material an “emergency” item, since local policies are failing to fix the problem.
State Archive
Saying ‘No’ To ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion Was Good For Texans
Conservatives have taken heat in Texas for refusing the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion favored by Democrats and liberal Republicans. But that decision is looking better every day with the Associated Press this weekend reporting that more than a dozen states now face...
Scoring Straus
One of the most common questions I get about the Fiscal Responsibility Index is “Why doesn’t Joe Straus have a session rating?” Much of the answer lies in simply the way the Index is calibrated – we only rate lawmakers based on the votes they take. By tradition,...
Abbott Brings Fresh Scrutiny to Crony Carve-outs
Adopted amidst controversy in 2001, Chapter 313 of the Tax Code – titled the “Texas Economic Development Act” – has grown over the past decade to become a favored carve-out for politically connected businesses. Under the program, big businesses are empowered to...
Bullseye on Final Passage
While the “token victory” of licensed open carry legislation was moving through the legislature, campus carry was left languishing by the coalition government of liberal House Republicans and Democrats. The measure was passed by the Senate but its House counterpart...
A World Without Labels?
Can you imagine how difficult it would be to shop in a store where none of the products had labels? One Texas politician wants to bring that concept to elections. The newest fad in corporate America is advertising campaigns that use feel-good leftist claptrap to pitch...
Amending on the Hip
Conservative voters are a force to be reckoned with—they demand results. Establishment Republicans tend to understand this, as they often cherry pick one bill from each major issue set that they allow to pass for use during reelection season. By passing one bill as...
First Phoenix Video Shows Confrontation between State Rep. Byron Cook and Cameraman
Did State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) intentionally sideswipe a cameraman working with the American Phoenix Foundation? In what appears to be the first video released by the American Phoenix Foundation in the follow up to their project covertly filming and...
Numbers Don’t Lie: Jones Study Confirms Accuracy of Fiscal Responsibility Index Results….Again
Since 2007, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) has released the Fiscal Responsibility Index following each session. Comprised of almost 100 votes in 2015, the Index provides a review of Texas lawmakers’ commitment to fiscal conservatism. The Index is useful for...
Loading the Legislation
With the groundwork laid for Second Amendment issues during the 84th Texas Legislature, the stage was set for a potentially productive session for gun rights, as long as advocates were able to successfully navigate a stormy sea of process. Newly...