State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas Senators Tackle Squatter Problem
Legislative proposals include an expedited eviction process and allowing law enforcement to remove unauthorized occupants.
Federal Judge Blocks Voter ID Requirement for Texas Mail Ballots
Judge Xavier Rodriguez has ruled against several provisions of a comprehensive election integrity measure enacted in 2021.
Cornyn and Cruz Warn Texas Lobbying Law Threatens Political Speech
Texas’ senators say the time has come for the Supreme Court to provide clarity on how lobbying regulations should be reviewed when they implicate First Amendment rights.
Audit Shows $5.1 Million Price Tag for Failed Paxton Impeachment
The audit was requested 550 days ago by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
State Archive
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...
Protect Power or Serve the People
Close allies of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus were rejected by Republican primary voters last March, and his Democratic allies were routed in their efforts to “turn Texas purple” in November. Yet Straus refuses to relinquish power and give the people of Texas the...
Dead Money
The Texas Capitol can often be the scene of strange phenomena. Enter funds consolidation—this government accounting gimmick actually allows liberal-leaning legislators to spend more of your money by first hoarding it. First some background. The state...