A weekly leadership breakfast went sour Wednesday as the state’s top three officials complained to one another about legislative packages and the tensions between a House and Senate that have just weeks left to complete their work.
Governor’s Office
Posted in
Politics
Patrick Advisers Blast Abbott’s Pre-K Plans
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s grassroots advisers are blasting Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to enhance pre-kindergarten programs, a move sure to increase tension between the top two Republican leaders.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Bickering Over Investigations, With a Legislative Audience
As the Texas Legislature debates moving ethics investigations out of Travis County, an exchange between prosecutors and state police illustrates some of the problems ahead.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Abbott Wants a Tax Cut Without Picking Sides on Proposals
As the House and Senate continue their “robust discussion” over whether to cut sales or property taxes, Gov. Greg Abbott touted his own preference, along with a way to avoid the fight: business tax cuts, along with whatever legislators decide.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: When It Comes to Tax Cuts, Does Size Really Matter?
The House and Senate have some differences over which taxes to cut, but their plans have one thing in common: When they trickle down to average taxpayers, the benefits are small.
Posted in
Demographics
Asked About In-State Tuition Law, Perry Defers to Legislators
Former Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday deferred to state lawmakers on whether they want to repeal Texas’ in-state tuition law, a measure he signed into law in 2001 and has defended to varying degrees ever since.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Shock Therapy From an Ethics Reformer
A frustrated regulator’s letter suggesting the state drop enforcement of its ethics laws might spark some legislative action. That would be a gift for Gov. Greg Abbott, who wants ethics to be a signature issue this session.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Uncertainty on Abbott’s Maiden Voyage
Rick Perry, after all of those years as governor, was pretty predictable. With Gov. Greg Abbott two months into his new job, there is a fresh vibe at the state Capitol: uncertainty. The next 10 weeks should be telling.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Inside Texas Politics: Setting the Stage
On this week’s edition of WFAA-TV’s Inside Texas Politics, the show is given over to setting the stage for the remainder of the session as the state Legislature moves into a higher gear.
Posted in
Economy
Abbott Discusses Trade Relations With Irish Prime Minister
Gov. Greg Abbott met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Sunday morning to discuss trade and economic relations. It was Abbott’s first meeting with a foreign prime minister since becoming governor.
