Politics & Policy
May 5, 2015
An Undercover Assault on Legislators
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that a right wing political group has been secretly recording Texas legislators, apparently with an aim at unseating Speaker Joe Straus.
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151-200 of 295 Articles
Politics & Policy
May 1, 2015
The Senate Passed a Property Tax Reform!
In an amazing plot twist, the Texas Senate passed a real property tax reform bill yesterday.
The Daily Post
April 30, 2015
The #txlege Is Considering Making #Texas the First #State to Have Its Own #OfficialHashtags
Seems like a #GreatUseOfTime, #right?
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2015
Advantage: House
On fiscal issues, at least, they have a unified front.
Burka Blog
April 23, 2015
The Plot Against Public Education
The Lieutenant Governor’s Internet Commenters Council is misreading history, and the Pre-K bill.
The Daily Post
April 23, 2015
Texas’s Problem With Truancy Is Getting Some Well-Deserved Attention
The way Texas punishes truancy is downright Kafka-esque—and it’s finally getting a lot of attention.
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2015
The Senate Gets a Voucher
The bill passed today would either save the state money or provide thousands of scholarships to Texas students.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2015
The Lopsided Fight Over Tax Cuts
The House’s proposal is better than the Senate’s, for at least half a dozen reasons
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2015
Don’t Blame Medicaid
The case for Medicaid expansion.
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2015
The Politics of the Minimum Wage
The issue isn’t as partisan as it may appear.
Business
April 6, 2015
Uber’s Petition to the Texas Legislature Has Nearly 100,000 Signatures
The transportation company seeks a change in the way it’s regulated on a statewide basis, and it’s managed to mobilize a lot of supporters—both in and out of Texas. But does a statewide regulatory platform for Uber make sense?
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2015
141-5
It’s hard to argue with results of the House debate over the budget bill.
Politics & Policy
March 20, 2015
At-Risk Ideas
Texas should take a look at the franchise tax
Politics & Policy
March 18, 2015
Guns, Ho-Hum
The Senate passes open carry and campus carry.
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2015
What’s at Stake
Putting the spending cap at risk is damaging more than just that
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2015
State Representative Proclaims His Status as a Former Fetus
A miniature controversy erupted Wednesday at the state capitol, when a Republican lawmaker covered the name plaque outside his office with a paper sign labeling him as a “Former Fetus.”
The Daily Post
March 10, 2015
Texas Considers a Law Mandating Training for Police on How to Deal With Dogs
Few things rally people to a cause more quickly than the unjustified shooting of a dog.
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2015
A State Representative Filed a Bill That Would Harm His Openly Gay Son
Rick Miller, a Republican from Sugar Land, introduced legislation that would reverse local non-discrimination ordinances—like the one in Houston, where his openly gay son works as an attorney.
Politics & Policy
March 9, 2015
Bad Reasons to Sacrifice the Spending Cap
The Senate’s proposals on property tax relief and debt service aren’t worth it
Politics & Policy
March 4, 2015
So Much for Fiscal Responsibility
The Texas Senate offers a proposal to scrap the Texas Model.
Politics & Policy
March 4, 2015
Turn Out for What?
Trey Martinez Fischer has a pointed explanation of why he lost the runoff in SD26
Politics & Policy
March 2, 2015
Come and Take It, or Not
Dan Patrick and the Senate Republicans celebrated Texas Independence Day by throwing down the gauntlet on Medicaid.
The Daily Post
February 24, 2015
State Representative Debbie Riddle’s Crappy Bill to Police Who Gets to Use Which Bathroom
The Harris County State Representative wants to ensure that your DNA matches the gender designation for each bathroom before you go.
Politics & Policy
February 21, 2015
Texas Might Have Married Its First Same-Sex Couple
What started as a small wedding ceremony outside a Travis County office resulted in a political storm that left the couple, and the rest of the state, confused.
The Daily Post
February 13, 2015
The State of Texas: February 13, 2015
After hearing eight hours of testimony yesterday, a Senate committee approved two controversial gun bills in a 7-to-2 vote.
Bum Steers
February 12, 2015
Next Up: Repealing the Tax on Steam-Powered Cotton Gins
Congratulations to new ag commission Sid Miller.
Politics & Policy
February 12, 2015
Capitol Gains
A new era for the Capitol—and for Texas Monthly’s Capitol bureau.
Politics & Policy
February 10, 2015
Welcome News
R.G. Ratcliffe will rejoin BurkaBlog for the session
Politics & Policy
February 4, 2015
The House Committee Assignments
Joe Straus’s picks for the 84th session include lots of new chairs and not much drama.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2015
A New Day, This One With Muslims and Bigotry
Texas Muslim Capitol Day is marred by some unwelcoming behavior.
Politics & Policy
January 25, 2015
Patrick’s Committee Assignments
Technically speaking, every day is A New Day.
Politics & Policy
January 22, 2015
A New Day, Day 2
The Texas Senate’s vote to abandon the 2/3rds rule is all about campaign promises.
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2015
The Coming Debate Over Medicaid Expansion
Let’s all agree on one this much: Medicaid is supposed to be a health care program, not a jobs plan.
Politics & Policy
January 13, 2015
Governing Time
On the first day of the Eighty-fourth Legislature, the Texas House voted for order.
Politics & Policy
January 12, 2015
Last Man Standing
Despite all the exits and entrances around him, House speaker Joe Straus plans on staying right where he is.
Politics & Policy
January 9, 2015
Through the Looking Glass
How Erica Grieder learned to stop worrying and look forward to the Eighty-fourth Legislature.
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2014
Could Texas Decriminalize Pot in 2015?
A surprisingly uncontroversial bill to convert the penalty for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana to a civil offense with a $100 fine may find some success in the legislature.
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2014
Taking on tuition deregulation
Charles Schwertner makes the conservative case against tuition deregulation
Politics & Policy
November 21, 2014
Friday Afternoon Open Thread
The border surge, extended. Immigration action, executed. Hispanic voters, considered. And more!
Politics & Policy
November 11, 2014
The Dan Patrick Profile
A look at Texas's next lieutenant governor
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2014
Master of the Senate
The next lieutenant governor is a former radio shock jock who became one of the most conservative members of the Legislature. How will Dan Patrick act now that he is one of the most powerful officials in Texas?
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2014
The Next Four Years
Free advice for Greg Abbott, the new governor of Texas.
Politics & Policy
August 26, 2014
What Social Conservatives (and Liberals) Can Learn from Kyleen Wright
When it comes to policy making, reasons matter.
Politics & Policy
May 20, 2014
Brain Drain
Looks like San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro may be heading to Washington, and Texas Senator Robert Duncan is bound for Texas Tech. What does that mean for local politics?
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2014
As UT Likes It
The university's chancellor wars.
Politics & Policy
November 22, 2013
The Political Outlook For 2014
Texas politics in 2014 is certain to be interesting.
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2013
Jerry’s Daughter
Among the many Texans transfixed by Wendy Davis's June 25th filibuster was her father, Jerry Russell. In July, he shared some memories about Davis's childhood, her challenges, and what he was thinking on the day that shook up Texas's political scene.
News & Politics
July 11, 2013
The Best and Worst Legislators 2011
For the Eighty-second Legislature (our twentieth at the Capitol), everything old was new again: the state faced a budget deficit; the governor harbored presidential ambitions; the members of the Best list were hard to find; and the names on the Worst list picked themselves.
Politics & Policy
July 8, 2013
Rick Perry’s Long Goodbye
Rick Perry isn't running for re-election in 2014
Politics & Policy
June 30, 2013
Jonathan Stickland Knows He’s “That Guy”
Freshmen, per Texas tradition, should be seen and not heard—unless they're passing a first-in-the-nation email privacy measure.