AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced what some believed to be an unbelievable border crossing statistic on a February episode of “Face the Nation.” Abbott said, “Already this calendar year, since Jan. 1, we have had more than
Texas State Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) introduced a bill on Monday to repeal Texas statutes relating to the prohibition of marijuana. The bill, HR-2156, would strike all language relating marijuana in current Texas laws. “Representative Simpson’s HB 2165 (attached below)
Governor Greg Abbott spoke to Houston business leaders about his legislative agenda to make Texas “even stronger.” In a speech before the Greater Houston Partnership, Gov. Abbott reiterated the key elements of his State of the State speech he delivered to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on February 17th.
A leaked report from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) states that border surge was largely a success. The report cites numbers indicating a reduction in illegal immigrant border crossings and cartel activity. The report lays the foundation for Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to increase the number of permanent DPS troopers along the Texas-Mexico border.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the issuance of a $1.2 million grant to the City of North Richland Hills to establish an anti-gang center. The North Texas Anti-Gang Center will be tasked with combatting organized gang activities in an eleven-county region.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott moved forward with his priority legislation items by declaring five issues to be “emergency items.” The emergency designation allows the Texas Legislature to act on the items within the first sixty days of the session which
Texas State Senator Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) introduced a bill to allow Tesla Motors to directly sell vehicles to consumers. The bill would allow the automaker to bypass franchise dealerships they consider to be an unnecessary middleman. The Texas House introduced an identical companion bill.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) released the appointments of fourteen Senate Committee assignments. The appointments include twelve Republican chairmanships and two Democrat chairmanships. Patrick campaigned on reducing the number of Democrats as committee chairs. The announcement of committee assignments was released by the Lt. Governor’s office on Friday afternoon.
Two Texas Legislators are proposing to amend the Texas Constitution to protect the “Right to Hunt and Fish.” Resolutions to create the amendment have been authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin). If passed, the proposal would place the issue on the ballot for voter approval in November 2015.
Texas State Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) filed a resolution to express the 84th Texas Legislature’s dissatisfaction with the federal government for failing to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas Lt. Governor-elect Dan Patrick was attacked by a left-of-center organization for being transparent about his coming senate administration. In a press conference on Thursday, Patrick announced the formation of the first-ever “Lt. Governor Advisory Boards.” Within hours of the announcement, Patrick was attacked by Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) for creating a “Shadow Government.”
An illegal immigrant was saved from possible starvation or death by exposure recently by Texas State Rep. Tony Dale (R-Cedar Park). Dale was with a group of hunters at a camp north of Laredo, Texas when the Guatemalan man walked into the camp and curled up by their campfire.
AUSTIN, Texas – Despite overwhelming objections from grassroots leaders across Texas, House Speaker Joe Straus was re-elected by a vote of 127-19. Straus’ challenger, State Representative Scott Turner, fulfilled his campaign promise to have a record vote on the Speaker’s race with a challenger on the ballot. Four Representatives were absent. No Representatives voted “Present.”
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar released the Biennium Review Estimate (BRE) on Monday in Austin. He predicted Texas will have $113 billion available for general purpose spending during the 2016-17 biennium. This represents a 9.5 percent increase over the 2014-15 biennium. The new Comptroller predicted a moderate growth rate during the coming two years.
Texas Governor Rick Perry predicted “This is going to be a painful period of time” in regards to the ever falling price of oil. The remarks came Friday as Perry was speaking to a conservative forum in Austin.
Texas State Representative Cecil Bell (R-Magnolia) filed a bill in the State Capitol this week to protect the sovereignty of Texas and to defend traditional marriage in this state. The effect of the bill would be to prohibit the use of state or local funds to be used to license or support same-sex marriage. This would include blocking the salaries of any government employee engaged in subverting Texas law regarding marriage.
Incoming Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) announced border security as his top agenda item for the 84th Texas Legislature. Other priority items included reducing taxes, education, transportation, the Second Amendment, and family and life issues. The announcement came during a press conference held Thursday in Austin, Texas.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) released the results of several interim committee reports ahead of the opening of the incoming 84th Legislative Session.
AUSTIN, Texas — One of the greatest and most consistent challenges for any elected official is resisting the powerful urge to “do something” with political power. Free markets are self-organizing, decentralized, and seemingly chaotic to the outside observer.
AUSTIN, Texas — State Representative Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) is defending a religious liberty bill he filed, saying that critics who claim that it is intended to discriminate against gays are misinterpreting the bill. The bill in question, HJR 55, proposes an amendment
