For lessons in how to speak positively about bad news — without telling lies — you might consider studying at the feet of the people who write the Texas budget.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
A conversation with Burrows and Darby (video)
Full video of Evan Smith’s 1/19 conversation with state Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, on the campus of Howard College in San Angelo.
Posted in
Politics
On “bathroom bill,” Greg Abbott staying neutral as pressure builds
Two weeks after the high-profile legislation was unveiled in the Texas Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott maintained his largely neutral stance on the “bathroom bill” Thursday as pressure builds on him to weigh in.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Senate leaders propose tuition freeze, elimination of financial aid program
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Kel Seliger, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, unveiled legislation Thursday that they said aims to lower costs for college students.
Posted in
Energy
House, Senate disagree on how to fund the state’s oil and gas regulator
Texas House and Senate leaders unveiled dueling budget proposals this week that are billions of dollars apart.
Posted in
Demographics
Texas lawmaker sends letter to “Islamic Leaders” surveying their beliefs
Freshman state Rep. Kyle Biedermann sent a letter to mosque leaders and Muslim student associations in order to poll them about their beliefs ahead of Texas Muslim Capitol Day.
Posted in
Health care
As Texas debates CPS fix, caseworkers face long days, late nights (video)
The state’s top leaders have vowed to address the woeful shortcomings of the child welfare system. State lawmakers know that even in a tight budget cycle, they’re going to have to spend money to address the problems.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State focuses on anti-abortion group video in Planned Parenthood hearing
Showing multiple clips from a video released in 2015 by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, state attorneys and witnesses said the footage was grounds for dismissing Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.
Posted in
Politics
Dan Patrick makes only one change atop Senate committees
Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee.
Posted in
Politics
Joe Straus: Legislators need to be careful when it comes to “bathroom bill”
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus told the Texas Association of Business that the “bathroom bill,” a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was not his most urgent concern for the 85th Legislative Session.
