State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas’ Most Wanted Illegal Alien Captured in San Antonio
This comes as illegal border crossings around the state continue to drop.
Responding to Parents’ Concerns, Senators Tackle ‘Obscenity Exemptions’
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved eliminating “loopholes” that let Texas schools expose students to harmful material.
Texas House Keeps Democrat Adviser Hugh Brady on Payroll at $233K
Records obtained by Texas Scorecard confirm that Brady is continuing to receive a $233,730 salary—more than the governor’s.
Trump Renames Texas Wildlife Refuge in Honor of Murdered 12-Year-Old Jocelyn Nungaray
Under the directive, the Department of the Interior has 30 days to update all federal references to reflect the new name.
State Archive
Structured Against Transparency
A lack of program-level transparency in the biennial state budget prevents legislators and citizens from knowing exactly what programs an agency supports in each appropriations cycle. Often, the only folks who know this information have an incentive to keep it from...
Ken Paxton Sworn in as Attorney General
This afternoon, conservative champion Ken Paxton was sworn in as Texas' 51st Attorney General today before a crowded chamber of conservatives including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Perry, Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dan Patrick, and Governor-Elect Greg Abbott....
Rolling Stone
Thanks to big-spending legislators’ creative accounting and over-eagerness to spend your money, the 83rd legislature increased appropriations 26% over the previous legislature. Even though this represents a major increase, it would shock many taxpayers to know that...
Experts and Yes Men: The Making of the Budget
In little over a week, the 84th session of the Texas Legislature will begin. Chief among the legislature’s responsibilities is the passage of a biennial state budget—even though a vast majority of legislators have no role in its formulation. Under the...
Introducing The Series
In a six-part series beginning on Sunday, Jan. 4, Christopher Paxton will explore Texas' biennial budget process. His series will provide insight on how the state's budget is drafted, how much input lawmakers really have, and how citizens can be more engaged in the...
Transportation Diversions Are the Enemy of Transparency
Lazy politicians maintain that Texans should pay higher taxes, fees and tolls if we hope to meet roadway demand spurred by population growth. However, they fail to mention the gas tax revenue we already pay is diverted to unrelated programs with billions more spent by...
THSC Looks To Score On Access
While most states allow home school students to access athletic programs in their local schools, Texas does not. Saying that those taxpaying parents should be allowed to access the extracurricular programs offered through the schools, the Texas Home School Coalition...
Straus v The Truth (And Perry)
Numerous reports came in last week and over the weekend from activists saying that the calcium-challenged supporters of Joe Straus — knowing their man has been categorically rejected by GOP and conservative activists around the state — are now actually telling...
Texas Citizens: “We’ll Be Watching You”
What happens in Austin no longer stays in Austin, with Texans more engaged than ever in their government. And those citizens have a simple message for those in public office: "we'll be watching you." Lyrics: Every hand you shake, Every cent you take, Every vow you...