Legislation pushed by a politically connected company would increase unemployment taxes for Texas employers. Proponents say it would help outsourcing companies avoid “double taxation.” Critics say it’s a special interest perk.
Dan Patrick
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 22, 2015
Four large donors to the nonprofit currently documenting Texas lawmakers this session are well-known backers of conservative causes.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Wants Property Tax Cut This Year; House Wants to Delay It
The House and Senate negotiations over a tax cut deal have narrowed to a single sticking point: when a proposed property tax cut should go into effect.
Posted in
State Government
Senate’s Procedural Change Has an Impact, but Not a Dramatic One
When the Texas Senate changed requirements on bringing legislation up for debate, Democrats said a process intended to encourage compromise would suffer. Several bills have been unblocked, but the conservative steamroller that Democrats feared hasn’t emerged.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 19, 2015
Lawmakers are quick to say that the incident that left nine biker gang members dead wasn’t relevant to the discussion of open carry despite some committee witnesses who attempted to draw a connection.
Posted in
Economy
Video: Bonnen on Dan Patrick
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, talked about his relationship with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — and the prospect of compromise with the Senate on taxes.
Posted in
Economy
Video: A Conversation With Dennis Bonnen
Full video of my 5/13 conversation with state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 12, 2015
The nonprofit group that has been secretly videotaping legislators this session has drawn the scrutiny of the Texas Rangers, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 11, 2015
The news organization Breitbart Texas confirmed that it has received footage of lawmakers shot by a nonprofit tied to conservative causes, but it has no plans to release any of it before the end of the legislative session in three weeks.
Posted in
Politics
Pre-K Bill Faces Last Hurdle in Senate Vote
After surviving Tea Party-backed opposition in the House, the early education bill that Gov. Greg Abbott has called his top priority this session could face its final test in the Texas Senate as early as Thursday.
