Among members of Congress, Texans’ reactions to President Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress fell along partisan lines.
February 2017
Posted in
Energy
Trump water directive cheered by ranchers, blasted by environmentalists
State leaders and agriculture groups applauded an executive order issued by President Trump on Tuesday that suggests the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule finalized under President Obama could be reversed.
Posted in
State Government
Businesses oppose legislation limiting public information exemptions
Businesses opposed SB 407 and SB 408 at a public hearing, arguing that open records requests could put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Posted in
State Government
Texas Senate approves convention of states legislation
The Texas Senate approved a resolution Tuesday calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution, one of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s four emergency items.
Posted in
State Government
Top Republican counsels against secret taping
After unconfirmed reports that House members were recording private conversations with colleagues, the Republican who oversees internal affairs in the chamber said he’s asked members to refrain from any surreptitious taping.
Posted inState Government
School choice already dead in Texas House, says public education chair (video)
State Rep. Dan Huberty, a Houston Republican and chairman of the House Public Education Committee, said Tuesday morning that school choice legislation has no path forward in the House during the current legislative session.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Still no timeline for withdrawal of state troopers on border, Texas DPS chief says
The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety told lawmakers on Tuesday the agency can’t predict when it will be able to scale back its border security operations in the Rio Grande Valley.
Posted in
Public Education
Huberty on school finance, school choice, A-F (video)
Full video of Evan Smith’s 2/28 conversation with state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Texas has an alarming maternal death rate. Now what?
Texas’ maternal mortality rates nearly doubled between 2010 and 2014 — but lawmakers have had few conversations around the issue since the legislative session began.
Posted inHealth care
New in Trib+Health: Tracking sports concussions
In this week’s edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: A new registry tracks concussions in Texas middle and high school athletes, heroin overdose deaths are spiking and an interview with Michael Morrisey of Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health.
