State news in Texas

While State Rep. Todd Smith (R-Euless) has said it was Republicans who killed the recent legislative effort to require photo identification when voting, he is getting it partially right. He's a Republican (sort of), and he made sure it died. We offer here a timeline...

While the average voter may not remember the redistricting fights every 10 years, political insiders know what is at stake this next election: drawing the lines that will lead to a majority of one party or another in the state house. But can anyone do it with honesty,...

This week Speaker Joe Straus created four select committees. All of these committees will to varying degrees be dealing with fiscal policy but two of the committees are chiefly focused on taxing, spending, and accountability. Straus tasked the House Select Committee...

Texas has obviously not been immune from the effects of the global recession -- brought on in no small part by the sheer fiscal irresponsibility of Congress. But as Ray Perryman, the Waco economist noted recently, Texas is the "last in, first out" of the recession....

In 2008 Democrat Carol Kent picked off incumbent Republican Tony Goolsby to win House District 102. This year there are two Republicans vying to retake that seat Geoff Bailey and Stefani Carter. On the campaign trail you can recognize Bailey pretty easily; he is the...

Pratt on Texas listener David sends this today: Pratt, Heard KBH in last night’s debate negatively comparing Texas’ employment performance vs. its neighboring states. I updated the spreadsheet I sent earlier. Look at sheet 2 for a comparison of Texas to its neighbors...

LUBBOCK – Candidate for the Republican nomination for Texas governor Debra Medina, in a Thursday appearance on radio show Pratt on Texas, refused to commit to support the Republican nominee for Texas governor if she is not the Party’s nominee. Medina hinted at there...

In the latest Rasmussen Poll, the Texas Republican Primary gubernatorial race is getting hotter than Laredo in the summer. The poll shows Gov. Rick Perry at 43%, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison at 33%, and Debra Medina at 12%. The Houston Chronicle is reporting it as...

While he hasn't been good on conservative issues in recent years, State Sen. Kip Averitt (R-Waco) is a gentleman who honorably served the people of Texas. His decision yesterday to end his re-election bid, citing unspecified health concerns, came as a surprise. All of...