State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas Senate Passes School Choice Legislation, Sending it to the House
The Texas Senate passed the bill largely along party lines after fielding questions and several amendments to the measure.
EXCLUSIVE: Protestors Rally Against ICE at Texas Capitol
The anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstrators waved foreign flags and marched around the city.
Report: Divest From America’s Enemies
American states—including Texas—have invested a total of $68 billion in China.
Gov. Abbott Pushes $10 Billion in Property Tax Relief, $4 Billion More Than Legislature
The tax relief proposal also includes increasing the business personal property tax exemption and closing loopholes exploited by local jurisdictions to raise taxes.
State Archive
Confirmed: Margin Tax Drags Down Texas
The Tax Foundation released a report today that analyzed the Texas Margin Tax and confirmed its insidious consequences for Texas’ business environment. The margin tax was created in 2006 as an attempt to haul in extra revenue for school financing after the statewide...
A Glimpse at Patrick’s Session Priorities
At a press conference in the Texas Capitol, Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Patrick delineated major items on his legislative agenda for the 84th session. Naturally, news outlets across the state bewailed the conservatism of Patrick’s checklist, suggesting recklessness...
Conservative Mandate Gets Red-Light
The Texas House gaveled the 84th Legislature into session Tuesday afternoon and the election of a speaker headlined the agenda. Conservative and Tea Party Republicans, frustrated with a moderate-to-outright-liberal speaker with a proven track record of killing...
With Surplus, Tax Breaks First
With the comptroller having now forecasted that lawmakers will have $113 billion in general revenues, Texans should expect meaningful tax breaks from the Legislature. As Cary Cheshire reported yesterday, this forecast includes an 8.9% increase in sales tax revenues....
Comptroller Releases Revenue Estimate
Monday morning, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE). Because the Texas Constitution requires a balanced budget, this estimate will set a total spending cap for the legislature as it comes into session this week. Hegar expects...
Speakership Victory
At noon on Tuesday, the question of who will be the Speaker of the Texas House in the 84th Session will be resolved. Members of the Texas House will vote for the status quo, or for bold leadership. They will stick with the Austin establishment, or side with the people...
Abbott Calls For Regulatory Reform
At the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott presented a number of regulatory reforms designed to increase economic competitiveness. Each must be acted upon by lawmakers. For example, Abbott said the oil and gas boom from the...
Straus Happened
Since the grow-government establishment in Austin cannot win when they take their case to the voters, as witnessed by this year's elections, they must rely on deception and strategic power plays to keep their noses in the taxpayers’ trough. Lately, some of these...
Medicaid Expansion: More Fraud, or More Corruption
Last month, Austin was rocked by the latest in a slew of scandals suggesting widespread corruption in state government. Health and Human Services Commission Chief Counsel Jack Stick resigned after newspaper investigators revealed that he had been funneling no-bid...