State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Senate Passes Proposals to Mandate Counties Assist ICE & Verify Citizenship to Vote
Texas senators tackled issues related to illegal immigration on Tuesday.
Texas Senators Approve Religious Freedom, Transparency Measures
A proposal to allow teachers to pray on duty sparked heated debate over the U.S. Supreme Court’s position on the separation of church and state.
Abbott: Islamic Compound Lacks Construction Permits
The agency has ordered EPIC and its affiliated entities to confirm within seven days that no construction activity has taken place.
Texas Lawmaker Proposes Sending Illegal Alien Inmates to El Salvador Prison
The move would aim to cut costs and ease pressure on Texas prisons.
State Archive
Straus Attacks Abbott Agenda
Throwing what can best be described as a wide-ranging temper tantrum in the face of unease among his inner-circle, House Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday lashed out at many of Gov. Greg Abbott's marquee proposals and attacked the conservative Senate led by Lt. Gov. Dan...
Lawmakers “Force Fed” Pay Raise, Both Literally and Figuratively
The Texas Ethics Commission is poised to give Texas lawmakers a raise they never even asked for. To add insult to injury, the proposal would also further allow lobbyists and special interests to wine and dine legislators without reporting the expenses. While the Texas...
Establishment to Conservatives: Play the Game or Get Played
In attempts to defend those in power, Texas’ political media establishment often portrays members of the conservative movement – especially those critical of House Speaker Joe Straus – as extremists, seeking to turn Austin into a Washington, D.C.–style polarized...
Nominees to UT System Unqualified to Serve
Not much time has passed since Governor Greg Abbott announced his first series of appointments to the University of Texas Board of Regents and more and more information is coming to light on his two new additions, Sara Martinez Tucker and David Beck. The information...
Support for Straus Yields No Gains for Liberty
During the race for Speaker between Joe Straus and Scott Turner, conservative members who supported Straus teetered between claiming that Straus’ record was already a conservative one and claiming that, despite past failings, Straus’s decisions during the 84th session...
Straus Again Empowers Democrats, Liberal Republicans
Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker Joe Straus released his committee assignments for the 84th Texas House of Representatives. In the appointments, Straus continued his track record of marginalizing conservatives, engaging in cronyism with elites, and compromising with...
Last Exit to Servitude
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s announcement of committee assignments in the Texas House, the establishment political media scrambled to use the assignments to promote their traditional narrative of how fealty to “leadership” results in access to “power.” The...
No Excuses for Inaction on Conservative Reform
When the Texas Constitution was adopted, the intention was to safeguard the people from government—to encourage legislatures led by citizens rather than career politicians. In an effort to achieve that end, sessions of the state legislature were limited to 140 days...
Straus House: Tax Cuts Are ‘Gimmicks’
One of House Speaker Joe Straus’ closest advisors, State Rep. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, has come out in opposition not just to a tax cut plan proposed by the Senate, but any tax relief. Indeed, Larson is describing tax relief efforts as "gimmickry." Meanwhile, Gov....