State leaders are sending a signal that lawmakers are going to continue walking the margins between church and state, and religion and politics, through another election and legislative cycle.
Dan Patrick
Posted in
State Government
Patrick Puts Religious Liberty, Ethics on Senate To-Do List
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday began to detail interim charges for the Texas Senate, signaling he would like members to revisit some unfinished business from the most recent legislative session.
Posted in
Economy
Property Tax Relief Comes With Big Cost to State
Texas voters will probably give themselves a small dose of property tax relief when they vote on Proposition 1 in November. But if it passes, the state will be on the hook for $600 million a year to help school districts make up the lost revenue.
Posted in
Health care
Amid Lawsuit, Patrick Defends Medicaid Cuts to Therapy
Amid an ongoing lawsuit over deep cuts made by lawmakers this year to a therapy program for children with disabilities, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday offered a sternly worded defense of the Legislature’s move.
Posted inState Government
Racing Commission Future Still Unclear
Unless lawmakers come up with a deal soon to keep it funded, the Texas Racing Commission is prepared to close down tomorrow. That means all Texas racetracks will be forced to close as well.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
“Cops’ Lives Matter,” Says Sheriff After Houston Killing
Following the killing of a Harris County sheriff’s deputy late Friday night, a local law enforcement leader said the “rhetoric” of anti-police brutality protestors had ramped up “to the point where calculated, cold-blooded assassination of police officers happens.”
Posted in
State Government
Hegar Lets Abbott Vetoes Stand, Asks AG to Settle Dispute
Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Wednesday he will not authorize more than $200 million in funds approved by the Texas Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott as he waits for Attorney General Ken Paxton to settle the issue.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: 2016 GOPers, Dan Patrick, Baylor, Susan Hawk
On this week’s TribCast, Evan talks with Ross, Patrick and Matthew about the state of the Republican presidential campaign, Dan Patrick’s about-face on Senate primary endorsements, what Baylor knew about Sam Ukwuachu, and the whereabouts of Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Reasserting Power, by Working to Concentrate It
An open-seat endorsement from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick could strengthen a conservative core in the Texas Senate, and with it Patrick’s position in the Legislature and the Legislature’s position in state government.
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Employee Outsourcing Firms Get Tax Break
A politically connected group of businesses will soon be getting a tax break, but all the other employers in Texas will have to pay for it through slightly higher unemployment insurance tax rates. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
