State news in Texas
State
‘Goodfellas’ Controversy: Dan Patrick Links Lawmakers’ Bank Ties to Texas Speaker Race
Patrick accused a small of group of lawmakers of running the Texas House like a “personal business.”
Analysis: Report Exposes Rogue Texas Lottery Commission Leadership
A full criminal investigation of the Texas Lottery is needed.
Legislation Filed To Stop Out-of-state Gender Mutilation of Children
State Sen. Mayes Middleton’s measure would prohibit physicians and healthcare providers from referring children to out-of-state doctors for gender-related surgeries.
Former Russian Mercenary Arrested After Crossing Rio Grande River
Timur Praliev was reportedly carrying a Russian passport, a drone, and cash with him as he crossed the river.
State Archive
Senate Interim Charges Holding Local Government Accountable
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in his third set of Interim Studies released yesterday, is asking the Senate to focus on local governments. In particular, he’s charged the Inter-Governmental Relations Committee chaired by State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), to examine...
Dan Patrick Charges Senate to Study Border Security Solutions
Members of the Texas Senate are being charged by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to study a series of issues surrounding illegal immigration in preparation for the next legislative session. Specifically, he has directed the subcommittee on Border Security to study cooperation...
Patrick Continues Leadership on Ethics Reform
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is signaling that he will not let House leadership’s end-of-session sabotage of a major ethics reform package stand in the way of reform efforts in 2017. Patrick today released an interim charge calling on the Senate Committee on State Affairs to...
Senate Seeks to End Crony Handouts
If his first interim charges are any indication, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick might be looking for ways eliminate crony capitalist programs in the next legislative session. Interim charges are assigned to House and Senate committees at the discretion of the speaker of the...
Bennett Ratliff Touts “Values” Endorsement of LGBT, Muslim-outreach Activist
Former state rep. Bennett Ratliff is drawing fire from his opponent after Ratliff released an endorsement from an LGBT and Muslim-outreach activist praising Ratliff for his “conservative values.” In a press release issued by the Ratliff campaign, former Carrollton...
Susan King Seeks to Continue Failing Record in Senate
Despite having failed taxpayers throughout her legislative tenure, State Rep. Susan King (R – Abilene) is asking voters for a promotion to the State’s upper chamber. Earlier this week, King formally announced her candidacy for State Senate District 24’s Republican...
Democratic Strategist: Boehner Should Have Used Straus Model
One Democratic Strategist thinks he knows how John Boehner could have remained Speaker of the United State House, and his answer is in Texas. Specifically, that Texas’ current House leadership is run not by the GOP majority, but by a coalition of Democrats and liberal...
Lawmaker Caught on Tape: “You Can Kill Somebody If You Want”
Is this what Texas House leadership had in mind when they tried to pass laws banning the release of undercover videos in the Texas Capitol? The American Phoenix Foundation has finally released one of their long-awaited undercover videos taken of legislators during the...
Ethics Commission Continues Fight Against Texas Churches
Churches in Texas could lose their right to act in accordance with their faith if the Texas Ethics Commission is successful in federal court. The agency would force churches to register and report as political action committees before speaking on issues affecting...