In 2011, Texas House Democrats were dejected, demoralized and badly outnumbered. Their numbers have improved. Now the question is whether they can move as a bloc.
Texas Legislature
Posted in
Politics
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Spending and Expanding
In this edition of the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The House is off and running with the first of several supplemental appropriations bills. The state might opt out of Medicaid expansion, but counties might take part. And Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson talks about why he’s running for office in 2014.
Posted in
Demographics
Early Into His Tenure, Villalba Makes His Stands
Freshman state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, has been held up by some Republicans as a symbol of the party’s growing popularity with Hispanics. He says he is only motivated by the issues facing his constituents.
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Public Education
Straus on Priorities; More Campaign Woes for Dewhurst
The speaker of the House dampens expectations for vouchers, tax breaks and transportation without ruling any of those things out. And the lieutenant governor unpeels another layer of problems he says arose from a campaign manager’s embezzling.
Posted in
Demographics
TribLive: Patterson on Immigration Reform
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson discussed the GOP’s challenge in attracting Latino voters and his support for a guest worker program.
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State Government
Gay Rights Bill Filed on Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, joined numerous lawmakers who have already filed bills that would extend rights to same-sex couples.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribLive: Patterson on Gun Control
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson — a passionate defender of the Second Amendment — explained his opposition to universal background checks, an assault weapons ban and other gun control measures.
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Bidness As Usual
Part-Time Legislature Can Create Financial Hardship
Texas’ founders wanted a part-time Legislature with no room for full-time politicians. But paltry state pay means today’s lawmakers must hold full-time jobs elsewhere — narrowing the ranks of likely officeholders to those who can afford to do it.
Posted in
State Government
Bill Would Aid Students Seeking Vocational Training
In recent years, state lawmakers have focused on increasing the rigor of high school courses, hoping to prepare students for college. But some business leaders say that has come at the expense of career and technical education, and they’re hoping for legislative change.
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Bidness As Usual
Pension Privacy Gets Attention of Legislators
Texas’ public pension systems — including the one state lawmakers pay into — have an airtight exemption from the landmark 1973 sunshine law that was designed to let taxpayers known how public money is being spent. But some lawmakers want to change that.