State news in Texas
State
Abbott: House Speaker Must Come From Republican Caucus
Gov. Abbott’s statement followed an earlier message denying support for Dustin Burrows.
Texas Ethics Commission Overreach Criticized at Sunset Advisory Commission Hearing
The True Texas Project, attorney Tony McDonald, and former Round Rock ISD Trustee Danielle Weston shared testimony critical of the state agency.
Illegal Alien Smuggler Arrested, Owned Four Colony Ridge Properties
A Guatemalan national was arrested for his connection to a mass casualty smuggling event.
Legislation Filed Mandating Schools Inform Parents of Employee Misconduct
If passed, it would go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
State Archive
Texas Should Forgo Ellis’ Proposal
Now is not the time for state leadership to lose their heads and begin enacting laws that would increase taxation by expanding programs. But that's exactly what State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) is proposing. Ellis suggests that we 1) “modernize” the way we...
the Texas Sovereignty Resolution
Texas has become the latest state to introduce a resolution regarding the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. House Concurrent Resolution 50 simply recognizes that the individual states can claim sovereignty on all matters that are not specifically granted to the...
Or Maybe We Will Take It…
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been one of most vocal critics of the federal porkulus package, so it was a shock to see headlines screaming that Perry was asking President Obama for a big slice. Is it time to pounce on this breach of fiscal faith? As it turns out, Perry is...
Open Schools
How does your school district spend your money? Betcha you can't find out... That's why taxpayers should be contacting their lawmakers in support of legislation filed State Rep. Mark Strama (D-Austin), H.B. 1314, and State Rep. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), H.B. 1307....
Bulked Up
A high school athlete steroid testing program cost taxpayers $6 million, but found the purported problem wasn't all it was cracked up to be. In fact, only four athletics tested positive out of more than 10,000 tested. State Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston has called it a...
Drinkin’ For Dollars
A San Antonio lawmaker wants to ditch the ban on Sunday liquor sales so the state can grab the extra tax money as the legislature grapples with a $9 billion revenue shortfall. He's not the only one looking to balance the books with booze; the Association Press reports...
Committee Communiqué
Setting aside the Select Committee on Federal Pork, the tax-and-spending committee chairmanships granted by Speaker Joe Straus offer little comfort for taxpayers, but there are some bright spots among the appointments. First, it's good to see that State Rep. Rob...
Big Pork, Meet Big Spender
While Texans are overwhelmingly opposed to the pork-fest activities in Washington, our new House Speaker has set the stage for amassing major debt in the Lone Star State by appointing government-grower extraordinaire Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) to chair a select committee...
Blueprint For An Effective Budget
We were one of several research, business, and taxpayer groups holding a press conference at the Capitol today, establishing a set of guidelines for the Legislature in drafting an effective, fiscally responsible state budget. Watch the press conference below. While a...