Today, Gov. Rick Perry added two more issues — voter ID legislation and a call for a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget — to his list of “emergency items” that state legislators can begin deliberating on right away.
voter ID
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: The Two-Thirds Discussion
In a party-line vote, the Texas Senate adopted its rules today without making any changes to the rule that requires the consent of two-thirds of the body to bring an issue to the floor. Of course, no change means that controversial legislation on voter ID — as it was last session — is exempt.
Posted in
Demographics
Now What?
Texas alternates election years with governing years, with legislative sessions set in the odd-numbered years after voters choose their leaders. There are variations, but it’s got a rhythm: Choose them, watch them govern, choose, watch. The elections behind us, it’s time to see what this particular bunch will do.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: GOP Chairmen for Straus
On the heels of a defection by state Rep. Tan Parker, R-Denton, House GOP chairmen release a letter supporting the re-election of House Speaker Joe Straus.
Posted in
Demographics
A Tsunami of GOP Bills
Monday was the first day that state lawmakers could file bills for the 2011 session. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the substance of the legislation is a reflection of conservative success on Election Day.
Posted in
Demographics
The Crackdown Begins
Republican state lawmakers, buoyed by their party’s resounding victories on Election Day, have filed several bills ahead of the next legislative session that signal how far they’re willing to go in tackling illegal immigration. State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, filed a nine-bill bundle that included a proposal to require picture IDs at polling places.
Posted in
State Government
What 99 Means
When a party wins everything, as the GOP has in Texas this year, it gets almost everything its way. It also has everything to lose.
Posted in
Economy
Majority Rules
Whether you call it a wave, a rout or a tsunami, one thing is clear: Republicans in the Texas House won a massive mandate for conservative bills — and budgeting — in the coming legislative session.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Voter ID Upheld in Indiana
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state’s voter ID law. What does that mean for Texas?
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: Solomons to Berman: ‘You are a Liar’
In what might just be the toughest letter you’ll see exchanged among legislative colleagues, state Rep. Burt Solomons today attacked state Rep. Leo Berman over his “conspiracy theories” regarding illegal immigration.
