State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texans Applaud Trump Ban on ‘Gender Ideology Extremism’
President Trump’s executive order defends women’s rights and restores “biological truth” to the federal government.
Texas House and Senate Budget Proposals Differ on Tax Relief, Education Funding
Although the two budget proposals are mostly at parity, including on school choice, they differ in how tax relief and broader education funding are allocated.
Senate Legislation Would Create Database for School Bonds, Taxes, and Bond Projects
The proposal comes amid concerns from the grassroots that additional transparency is needed regarding bond elections.
Report: Cody Harris’ ‘Baseless’ Ethics Complaint Dropped Against Texas GOP Chair
Filed by Cody Harris, the complaint sought to put the Texas GOP Chair in jail for urging lawmakers to support the Republican speaker candidate.
State Archive
Tax Hike Protections
Here’s another California vs. Texas comparison: One state requires a 2/3 majority of both legislative chambers to pass a tax increase, and one state attempted to create the same type of taxpayer protection, but couldn’t even get it to the floor for a vote. Sadly, it’s...
Decisive Indecisiveness
Here’s the breakdown of how Rep. Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock) has voted throughout the course of the latest debate on auto-spending the Economic Stabilization Fund. It's a case of legislative votes not meshing with political words. Last Friday, Rep. Phil King...
Health Care Common Sense
Health Care Compact legislation championed by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst and Sen. Jane Nelson has been called many things, but perhaps the best way to describe the Compact is the difference between the one-size-fits-all approach to health care policy of the Federal...
Currently Correct, But Giving Us Policy Whiplash
They were against it before they were for it before they were against it... Sometimes legislators votes are enough to give constituents a case of public policy whiplash. Such is the case with State Reps. Vicki Truitt (R-Southlake) and Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock). ...
Rainy Day Re-Do
Remember those Republicans that voted against protecting the Rainy Day Fund a week ago? You can now add Reps. Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock) and Vicki Truitt (R-Southlake) to the list. We reported last week that Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) attempted to strip an...
Self Congratulations, Paid For By Lobbyists
When it comes to defending the higher-ed status quo, few have done it better than State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo). So, she's throwing a "Statewide Salute"... to herself. In an e-mail her campaign staff sent this week, Sen. Zaffirini is promoting a "Statewide...
Rainy Day Republicans
Despite garnering 79 votes to eliminate a provision that would automatically spend money from the state's Rainy Day Fund in the future, State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) was unable to eliminate this reckless addition to SB2. Here's the play-by-play: Yesterday on...
RDF Double-Cross
Today, the Texas House added a provision to the must-pass "Fiscal Matters" bill that would automatically withdraw money from the Rainy Day Fund as new dollars become available. You'll remember that during the regular Session the House passed a budget that did not...
Spending Reform in the Special Session
This special session of the Texas legislature provides opportunities for commonsense spending reforms that were shunned during the regular session. State Rep. Kelly Hancock (R - Fort Worth) plans to offer an amendment to SB1 that would improve the state's spending...