Gov. Greg Abbott tasked the Texas Legislature with passing 20 items in 30 days. State lawmakers have completed 22 of those days so far, at a cost of $736,000 and rising. The grounds of the Capitol have played host to hundreds of amendments, dozens of hours of debate and numerous rallies. And zero bills have made it to Abbott’s desk.
August 2017
Posted in
State Government
Are lawmakers’ business ties with public entities a conflict of interest?
Since 2016, public entities have had to reveal the businesses they have large contracts with. These “1295 disclosures” reveal numerous legislators among the contractors — and some of those lawmakers have sponsored or voted on bills that help those same public entities.
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: Even the losers get lucky sometimes
With a little more than a week left for this special session of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers are preparing closing arguments — and obituaries — for their pet issues.
Posted in
Politics
With 8 days left in special session, Texas House and Senate remain far apart
Not a single measure has made it to the governor’s desk despite a steady drumbeat from his office urging lawmakers to go “20 for 20.” A “bathroom bill” is on life support, but a property tax measure still has momentum, supporters say.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Judge approves temporary relocation of 1,000 hot prisoners
A federal judge signed off on Texas’ proposal to temporarily move more than 1,000 inmates from one hot prison to 11 different facilities around the state.
Posted inState Government
Texas backs Wisconsin in battle to protect partisan gerrymandering
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is backing Wisconsin in a high-profile case asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether lawmakers can go too far when drawing political maps to advantage one party.
Posted in
Public Education
Senate education chair: House school finance plan “not a long-term solution”
Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor said he would not accept the House’s proposal to put $1.8 billion into public schools, comparing it to driving a broken car into the ground.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Will Hurd’s on a Texas town hall tour. Here’s what’s happened so far
Congress is out for the summer, and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is on a six-day, 20-stop swing across his sprawling swing district.
Posted in
Politics
In town halls, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd juggles district priorities in Trump era
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd logged hundreds of miles Sunday and Monday to hold town halls during Congress’ summer recess, and his interactions with constituents illustrated the fine line he must walk in his massive swing district.
Posted inState Government
New Texas law allows merchants to decline card purchases without ID
A law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will let store owners refuse to process credit or debit card transactions if the buyer won’t show ID. Some say the law won’t override contracts that currently bar merchants from doing so.