State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
‘The Man Behind the Curtain’: Democrat Obama Lawyer Retains Power in Texas House
Hugh Brady is still advising the Texas House under a new title: “parliamentary counsel.”
House Committee Unilaterally Raises Office Budgets, Gives Democrat Vice Chairs $3.6M in New Pay
The House Administration Committee unanimously approved increased office budgets, including a new stipend for Democrat vice chairs.
Texans for Vaccine Choice Rally Celebrates Medical Liberty
The rally was held in celebration of Texans for Vaccine Choice’s 10th anniversary.
Texas Senate Committee Mulls Measure Establishing Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Senators on the Business and Commerce Committee heard testimony from Comptroller Glenn Hegar, nonprofits, and industry specialists regarding the proposal.
State Archive
Thousands of Texans Demand Budget Reform
Real Spending Limits, Budget Transparency Highlighted In Letters AUSTIN, Texas – By the thousands, Texans are demanding that the legislature act now on significant budget reforms that will provide for a strong spending limit and real spending transparency. Thousands...
House Votes to Stop Appraisal Districts from Suing Taxpayers
While little has been accomplished this session for taxpayers so far, some good news came today when the House unanimously passed HB3490 which will prevent appraisal districts from suing property taxpayers when they win their appeal before the Appraisal Review Board...
House Passes an Appraisal Relief Bill – Will the Senate Follow?
Last week, the Texas House finally passed a piece of property tax relief legislation, voting in favor of HB216 by Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton) by a margin of 87-53. This bill allows appraisal districts a margin of error of 10 percent, instead of the current 5 percent,...
Super-Subsidize Me
 It's getting increasingly easy to get on the government gravy train. From movie studio execs to Ph.D. families, the hand-outs just don't end in this Republican-controlled legislature. Small government. Right... This week, the Texas Senate's Finance Committee is...
Pauken Tries to Push Property Tax Relief Up the Hill
The Tyler Morning Telegraph has a revealing story today (see link or below) in which Tom Pauken, the chair of the Governor's Property Tax Reform Task Force, is quoted stating how disappointed he is with the lack of progress so far. He speaks candidly about what he...
Senator Patrick Goes to Bat for Taxpayers – Identifies Nearly $3 Billion in Spending Cuts to Save Taxpayers’ Money
Senator Dan Patrick has once again demonstrated that he is not afraid to rock the boat in order to stand up for taxpayers.  He not only voted against a $152 billion Senate budget ($2 billion more than the House version) but further listed over $2.9 billion in...
State, Texas Scorecard Podcasts
The Elephant In The Room
Take the Scissor to Big Government: Tuesday’s Blockbuster Hearing on Tax and Spending Limits
If you can come to the Capitol only once this session, tomorrow Tuesday, April 10 is a great day to do it. Vitally important legislation to limit the growth in government will be heard by the House Appropriations Committee beginning at 12:30 in Capitol Extension Room...
‘Cut and Run’ Republicans?
So the cut-and-run retreat of Republicans from conservative values and principles continued this week. While the modern French are widely known for a willingness to surrender before a battle is fought, it seems Republicans in the Texas House are even willing to...