State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
State Representative to Texas Lottery Director: ‘I Want My Money Back’
Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers on the online courier issue and shady jackpot winnings.
Senators Approve Constitutional Amendment Protecting Parental Rights
The constitutional amendment would codify common law on parental rights.
Texas Senators Consider Proposal to Align State IDs with Biological Sex
The hot-button issue was at the front and center of a lengthy Senate State Affairs Committee hearing.
State Representatives Quiz Texas Election Officials, Vendors
Members of the House Elections Committee heard from state and county officials and voting system vendors.
State Archive
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,...
Protecting the ESF Needs ‘Special’ Attention
During the regular session of 83rd Texas Legislature (and very prominently, during the debate over Senate Joint Resolution 2 in the first called session), the issue of how large of a balance the State should maintain in the Economic Stabilization Fund took...
House Set to Take Step Back With Transportation Funding
Today the House will take up House Joint Resolution 2 and its enabling legislation, House Bill 16. These bills relate to the Governor’s call for the Legislature to identify funding sources for transportation infrastructure projects. This particular package of bills...
Perry Mails In Budget Vetoes
If you were looking for Governor Perry to make a statement about the excess spending and little tax relief in the state budget, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Outside of a political swipe at the embroiled head of the state’s Public Integrity Unit, the...
And … They’re Off!
After spending your tax dollars at record-breaking and bank-busting levels, legislators are now hitting the streets looking for campaign cash. Republicans will wow you with tales of just how conservative they have been. They might think they are, but the results of...