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
A King’s Charge
With property taxes in Texas at near-confiscatory levels, State Rep. Phil King of Weatherford has been leading the charge to eliminate the scheme altogether. He's taken a step in making that happen by introducing a constitutional amendment that would begin devoting a...
Making Sausage
Texans are now officially locked out of the more interesting discussions at the Capitol. House members voted to exclude their caucus meetings from the state's open meetings laws. State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) defended the action, saying the caucuses "are a...
Putting The Gas Tax To Work
Even though we're told the gasoline tax is used to fund highway construction, we know some to non-road purposes. State Rep. David Leibowitz (D-San Antonio) wants to fix that, amending the constitution to require our gas-tax dollars are "used for the sole purpose of...
Less Money To Play With
A worsening national economy means Texas lawmakers are going to have almost $9 billion less in tax money to spend this Session than last. Talmadge Heflin over at the Texas Public Policy Foundation says the "Legislature needs to demonstrate leadership this year by...
Teen Voting
State Rep. Hubert Vo wants to let 17-year-olds vote in party primaries. The Houston Democrat/slumlord introduced a Constitutional Amendment 34 that will let anyone vote in the primaries who "will be 18 years of age or older on the date of the subsequent general...
Trans-Texas Corrosion
A few days ago, Texas Transportation Department director Amadeo Saenz announced, “the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) as it is known, will no longer exist”. The TTC was an extremely controversial toll road plan that has drawn negative attention to both TxDOT and Governor...
Dewhurst Got It Right
Two years ago I was frustrated that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst didn't support using some of the surplus on immediate tax relief. Dewhurst said he was worried that the national economy would continue to decline and it would affect the Lone Star State. As it turns out,...
Lest Anyone Forget
The author of the first tax-killing legislation in recent memory? Joe Straus of San Antonio. He was the lead author of HB735, which eliminated the outdated and no longer needed TIF tax on telephone service. That was one of the best pieces of legislation to come out of...
Everything Should Be On The Table
There can be no sacred cows in the state's budget -- and that includes public education. Lawmakers will come to Austin with a softening national economy and the effects are being felt in the Permanent School Fund, which draws investment income from state mineral...