Skip to main content

The Playlist: Taxman

This week, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, filed a tax bill. And so, paying homage to that development, our weekly news-themed playlist leads off with Texas' own Stevie Ray Vaughan and his rendition of "Taxman."

Senators (l to r) Royce West, D-Dallas, Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler and Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, listen to testimony from CPRIT officials in Senate Finance on Feb. 5, 2013.

This week, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, filed a tax bill. And so, paying homage to that development, our weekly news-themed playlist leads off with Texas' own Stevie Ray Vaughan and his rendition of "Taxman."

To fully enjoy the experience, you should download Spotify. Don't worry — it's free! But even if you don't have the program, here's the rest of the latest playlist:

Jay Root wrote about an undisclosed A-list lobbyist party and about a big bonus paid to Gov. Rick Perry's former chief of staff. In honor of those stories, our playlist includes Wanda Jackson's "Let's Have a Party" and ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid."

At his State of the Judiciary address, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson encourages lawmakers to create a commission to investigate wrongful convictions. That inspired the selection of Jay-Z's "Guilty Until Proven Innocent." Be warned, that one contains some explicit lyrics.

Texas lawmakers are looking into restricting law enforcement officers' use of individuals' cell phone records, and so we added the Drive-By Truckers' "George Jones Talkin' Cell Phone Blues." The University of Texas System's vice chancellor and general counsel resigned, adding to a list of high-profile departures in the last two years. For the system, we included John Mayer's "All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye."

Brad Paisley's "Online" was included as a reference to Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, filing a bill to allow government officials to communicate in online forums without violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. For Aman Batheja's story on tweaking a law that made penny theft a felony, we have Louis Prima singing "Pennies from Heaven."

In front of a Senate committee, Texas State University System board of regents nominee Vernon Reaser insisted that his private alternative teacher certification program would not create a conflict of interest for his appointment. And so we have The Band of Heathens singing "Nothing to See Here." And we close with Paul McCartney singing "Drive My Car" in honor of a recently filed bill that would regulate self-driving cars.

Enjoy:

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Support independent Texas news

Become a member. Join today.

Donate now

Explore related story topics