Advocates for ethics reform say Gov. Greg Abbott has a rare chance to help spearhead improved lawmaker disclosures and reduce conflicts of interest. Abbott is expected to address ethics reform Tuesday in his State of the State address.
Governor’s Office
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Politics
Analysis: Tension Goes Beyond Border Security
After Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a proposal to extend the National Guard’s stay along the Texas-Mexico border, House Speaker Joe Straus said in effect that such power lies with Gov. Greg Abbott. That’s not the only issue causing a potential House-Senate divide.
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Politics
Inside Texas Politics: “Crazy State”
On this week’s edition of WFAA-TV’s Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey: a widely shared video in which a Florida congressman calls Texas a “crazy state.”
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Politics
Analysis: Raising Political Money the Indirect Way
State officeholders cannot raise money for their own campaigns during legislative sessions, but they can ask supporters to back their favorite charities, or even the political parties that support them during election season.
Posted inState Government
Abbott, Hegar Propose Overhauling Subsidies for Events Funds
Gov. Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar are calling for the Legislature to overhaul controversial taxpayer-funded programs used to lure sporting events to Texas and move them from the comptroller to the governor’s office.
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State Government
Analysis: It’s a Mess, but It’s Someone Else’s Mess
Government misadventures, like the current contracting scandals in Texas, don’t make voters happy. But they don’t necessarily hurt the people in office — especially when it’s easy to hang the blame on the officeholders they replaced.
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State Government
Families Urge Support for Texting-While-Driving Ban
More than 30 families who have lost someone to distracted driving gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to rally support for legislation that would ban texting while driving in Texas.
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State Government
Abbott Aide: Maintain Film Incentive Program Funding
While state lawmakers have expressed interest in a widespread curtailing of the state’s economic incentive program, Gov. Greg Abbott is requesting $95 million for the state’s film incentive program in the next budget.
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Contract High
The HHSC-21CT Contract Investigations: How Did It Get to This Point?
A now-canceled deal between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and a software maker is the subject of scrutiny and is also causing greater talk of state contract reforms. Here’s a look back at the deal and what led to the current investigations.
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Public Education
Abbott: Common Core Users Experiencing “Buyer’s Remorse”
On Fox News Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott and former U.S. Education Secretary Bill Bennett debated Common Core – standards overseen by the National Governors Association that Texas lawmakers refuse to use.
