State news in Texas
State

Democrat State Rep. Confirms Burrows Will Continue ‘Bipartisanship’ in House
Republican voters have demanded that House leadership end the practice of awarding powerful committee chair positions to the minority party.

Energy Expert Warns Texas Grid Is More Fragile Than During Winter Storm Uri
Energy Alliance Policy Director Bill Peacock said the reliability of the state’s grid is not keeping up with the demand for electricity, which follows Texas’ economic growth.

South San Antonio ISD Conservator Recommends TEA Appoint Board of Managers
According to Texas law, the trustees of South San Antonio ISD have not been meeting the standards necessary to maintain its status as an independent school district.

Burrows Hemorrhages Support as Harless Backs Cook
With Harless’ announcement today, only one of Harris County’s nine Republican House members—Lacey Hull—remains aligned with Burrows.
State Archive
Do No Harm
When legislators gather in Austin, we might ask they take the Hippocratic Oath usually reserved for doctors. Or at least the part about "never do harm" as it regards our state economy. Texas Workforce Commission chairman Tom Pauken writes this week that while states...
Secret Shenanigans
Texas has led the way in transparency and open-government, from our open meetings and records laws to recent victories in posting expenditures in real-time. Texans enjoy unprecedented sunlight in knowing how tax dollars are used and elected officials act. But now some...
Senate Finance Recommends Property Tax Reforms
The Senate Finance Committee is recommending in its interim report that voters have the opportunity to opt for a higher local sales tax to buy down property taxes. The report also calls for simpler tax notices that are more transparent in revealing the true change in...
Tangible Results
Public policy efforts have real and lasting results, for well or for ill. For years Texans suffered under a hideous tort environment that enriched trial lawyers (who now use those profits to fully underwrite the liberal political movement in Texas and own the...
Perry Sets December 16 For Senate Run-Off
Gov. Rick Perry's office just announced that the run-off election for Houston's Senate District 17 will be on Dec. 16. The race pits conservative Joan Huffman, a former judge, against perennial liberal candidate Chris Bell. Given the tightened dynamics of the Texas...
King Addresses Texas Sub Prime Taxes
Though this is not a new development it warrants repeating that Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is working to reform the Texas property tax juggernaut. The Weatherford Democrat reports that King’s legislative efforts in the upcoming session will be geared primarily...
Legislature Needs Strong Fiscal Leadership
With the national economic outlook continuing to look dim, Texans must insist that the Legislature focus on policies that ensure the state’s fiscal soundness. Whoever leads the Texas House must be committed to spending restraint, low taxes, property tax reform...
Limiting Growth
Kudos are due to the Legislative Budget Board, and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick specifically, for on Friday opting to use a low spending growth estimate. In fact, they chose the lowest growth rate number in the history of the Texas Legislature. This offers...
Legislative Nannies
Hide your wallet, protect the kids and lock the doors, legislators are preparing to invade! Pre-filing of legislation has started in anticipation of the 81st Session of the Legislature. While Texans are worried about skyrocketing property taxes, liberal lawmakers have...