State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
House Lawmaker Proposes Abolishing State Education Bureaucracy, Transferring Power To Elected Board
The TEA, created in 1949, currently oversees more than 1,200 independent school districts and numerous charter schools.
State Rep. Proposes ‘Save James Act’ to Stop Social Transition of Kids
Freshman State Rep. David Lowe said the law is designed to “put the final nail in the coffin of the child gender transition industry in Texas.”
Report: Property Taxes Consist of Nearly Half of All State-Local Tax Revenue in 2023
Although the number of property-taxing units is rising, school districts still impose the largest property tax burden.
New Measure Could End Taxpayer Funding to the American Library Association
The ALA has faced criticism for its opposition to restrictions on inappropriate materials in children’s libraries.
State Archive
Hilderbran for Comptroller?
Straus-appointed Ways and Means Chairman Harvey Hilderbran has officially thrown his name into the race for Texas Comptroller. What exactly should taxpayers expect if he’s elected as the chief steward of the state’s finances? You may recall earlier this session where...
Put Administrators Ahead Of Students
With more than 84 percent of Republican primary voters saying they wanted more academic freedom and parental choices in education, GOP members of the Texas House decided to maintain the status quo … and explicitly forbid any efforts to expand options for students and...
A Most Unethical Commission
It went about how you would have expected. We were in front of a kangaroo court accustomed to operating far outside the sunlight of public review. Thursday night’s “hearing” by the Texas Ethics Commission on the abusive complaints filed as political vendettas by two...
Joe Straus’ Lawyer Wants to be Your Next Ag Commissioner
Recently, Austin attorney Eric Opiela announced that he will be running to replace Todd Staples as your next Agriculture commissioner. “Who is Eric Opiela?” you might ask. He’s a twice-failed candidate for the Texas House, and a lawyer for Joe Straus. Mr. Opiela would...
Sarah Davis’ Misguided View of Government
State Rep. Sarah Davis of Houston—the only unabashed pro-choice Republican in the Texas House—remains adamant that “government has no place in the abortion debate.” It’s too bad she doesn’t apply that same philosophy to areas where government actually should be...
Big, Bad Growth
You know how we Texans like to brag about being a limited government, low-tax state? New analysis from the Tax Foundation says otherwise. From 2001-2011, real per-capita direct government spending rose 32.9 percent in the Lone Star State, putting us at #15 in the...
Is the Legislature at a Roadblock on Transportation?
It appears legislators stand at a roadblock regarding transportation funding. While both chambers officially stand in recess for a week, informal discussions on how to move forward are already underway. A quick recap of what’s taken place so far: The Senate passed SJR...
House Fails to Protect ESF… Again
To no one’s surprise, the Texas House choose easier spending over common sense protections for the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund. When given an opportunity to put a “floor” for the ESF into the transportation funding bill debated yesterday, 20 moderate...
Transparency Committee Goes Behind Closed Doors
In the coming weeks, the Texas House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations will be meeting in a closed-door session to begin their witch-hunt impeachment against a university regent accused of… seeking greater transparency. And, quite possibly,...