Uber and Lyft are returning to Austin on Monday, the same day Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign ride-hailing legislation passed by Texas lawmakers.
Governor’s Office
Posted in
State Government
Dozens of Abbott appointees surpass donor threshold targeted by stalled “pay for play” bill
At least 71 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s nearly 800 current state board and commission appointees appeared to have donated more than $2,500 to the governor’s campaign account since 2013.
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Demographics
El Paso County files lawsuit seeking to halt Texas “sanctuary” law
A lawsuit in federal court charges that Senate Bill 4, if enacted, would violate several provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
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Politics
Analysis: Patrick takes hostages — and control of legislative session
Amid rumors of a special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put out a short list of bills he wants the House to pass if he’s going to let the Senate advance must-pass legislation. And he appears to have the upper hand in the last days of the session.
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Demographics
List of local governments planning to fight Texas over “sanctuary” bill growing
Leaders from El Paso County and the cities of Dallas and Austin plan to move forward with resolutions or litigation against Senate Bill 4, the state’s controversial immigration law, as soon as this week, according to local officials.
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Demographics
Advocates call for more “sanctuary congregations” ahead of new Texas law
Before Senate Bill 4, a far-reaching immigration law, goes into effect on Sept. 1, opponents are mobilizing across Texas, including those hoping to see more Texas churches offer “sanctuary” to the undocumented.
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State Government
Powerful Abbott appointee’s lobbying sparks blowback in Legislature
In an ironic twist for Gov. Greg Abbott, who has made ethics reform an urgent political priority, the Texas House is taking aim at what critics call a “pay to play” culture among his appointees.
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Health care
State fraud investigator forced to resign over ties to Iraqi government lobbying
Stuart Bowen, inspector general for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, resigned amid revelations that he was moonlighting for a private firm that provided services for the government of Iraq.
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Criminal Justice
Houston Police Chief ready to reluctantly enforce “sanctuary” law
Once Senate Bill 4 goes into effect on Sept. 1, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he’s prepared to lead a police force that allows officers to inquire about the immigration status of people they detain.
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State Government
Analysis: As the legislative session winds down, who will be king of the hill?
As the Legislature grinds its way through the final three weeks of the regular session, the state’s top three leaders are pushing and shoving, figuratively speaking, to the finale and beyond — to the 2018 elections.
