State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Senate Records Reveal Lawmakers’ Taxpayer-Funded News Sources
Newly obtained records provide a closer look at the news sources Texas Senators are subscribing to using taxpayer funds.
Lawmaker Confronts State Agency on DEI, Democrat Chair Melts Down
Speaker Dustin Burrows quickly weighed in, issuing a statement suggesting Harrison’s questioning had crossed a line.
Could Fourth Time Be the Charm for Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban?
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony for a proposed ban on the practice, which has passed the Senate three times previously.
State Vendor IGT Violated Its Contract With the Texas Lottery Commission
With all eyes on the lottery, IGT’s political contributions present another problem.
State Archive
Stripping Away Transparency
During the special session, State Representatives Erwin Cain (R-Como) and Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) successfully added amendments to SB 1, the omnibus fiscal matters bill, which respectively increased transparency in the state budget and local school districts....
Higher Ed Is Burning
Much like the story of the Roman Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the UT administration is standing idly by while the cost of tuition continues to skyrocket. Instead of offering a plan of their own, they’re choosing to “fiddle” away with rhetoric designed only...
Index: Fresh Faces Shine
With a hefty number of new faces added to the ranks of Texas' legislative body politic this session in the wake of what could be described as a "conservative landslide" in November 2010, many folks want to know, "How did the freshmen do?" This legislative session...
Index: Legislature’s Wasted Opportunity
In a legislative session controlled by a rhetorically conservative super-majority, they accomplished the bare fiscal minimum but did little to control future government growth. This is reflected on the 2011 Fiscal Responsibility Index, with legislators averaging a...
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...