While campaigning for office as an opponent of tax increases, congressional candidate Brian Babin’s record in local office have led some to charge him with hypocrisy. Babin says that while local elected officials have to “bite the bullet” and increase
Campaigning to be Texas’ next governor, State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) trekked to west Texas where–according to a local television station–she was met by an “almost empty room” and the sound of “crickets.” KMID reporter Lauren Tropea told her
Despite a federal appeals court upholding the state’s landmark women’s health legislation passed in the summer of 2013–forcing the closure of unsafe abortion clinics–a new round of legal challenges are being brought by abortion advocates like Planned Parenthood. Now, Planned
While her campaign has been mostly silent on issues regarding the state’s lucrative oil and gas business, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis’ legislative record shows her taking positions outside the Texas mainstream. Davis voted against legislation in 2011 that sought
Hailing it as a breakthrough for commuters and an important economic development tool, the mayors of Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston last week announced their support for a privately funded high-speed train between the state’s largest metropolitan regions, according to
Nearly five months after voters approved Proposition 6, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed two Republicans and a Democrat to the State Water Implementation Fund’s advisory committee. The advisory committee is charged under state law with overseeing the Texas Water Development
For five months a family has been separated by a Dallas judge–not for abuse or neglect–but because their children were seemingly educated at home. In March a separate judge ruled that the hearing records must be provided to an advocacy
A leading activist on fuel and transportation tax issues, Terri Hall, says that the 2015 session in the Texas Legislature could focus on a potential gas tax hike due to recent statements she claimed were offered from Republican House leadership
Legislators would be prohibited from serving as “bond counsel” for any public entity in Texas under a policy proposal made by Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott today. At least two Democratic senators currently profit from such arrangements — including Democratic
AUSTIN, TEXAS–An influential establishment GOP lobbyist last week emailed his clients telling them that the Republican primary run-offs for lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller “are over before they start.” The email was obtained by Breitbart Texas. Robert Miller of
AUSTIN, TEXAS–Groups affiliated with the administrators of Texas’ public education bureaucracy took a hit in the Tuesday Republican primary, losing most of the competitive races in which they endorsed. Advocates for education reform say the election results should be a
While the three tea party incumbents who were being challenged by establishment politicians won big, liberal-leaning Republicans closest to House Speaker Joe Straus lost in race after race this week. Defeated Straus incumbents include State Rep. Lance Gooden in House
AUSTIN, TEXAS–The State of Texas’ Legislative Budget Board (LBB) released a report late Monday showing that Texas’ budget has increased faster than population and inflation–while also collecting more than needed to operate government. The report was released after the Wall
It was a harrowing night for liberal Republicans in the Texas Senate, with one entrenched senator losing, another heading for a run-off and a third only narrowly winning. Meanwhile, a tea party incumbent handily won reelection. Freshman State Sen. Donna
Up and down the ballot, Tea Party conservatives in the Lone Star State had a strong showing in Tuesday’s Republican Primary and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz proved that his support means life or death in the GOP. Not a single
State Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland) has spent $750,000 in the 2014 primary election cycle to fend off a challenge from political newcomer Cullen Crisp prior to today’s Joint Primary Election. One of House Speaker Joe Straus’ closest allies has spent three-quarters
While most of the attention in the Texas primaries is focused on the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general, there are notable state senate races that will have equally profound effects on public policy decisions in the years to
For more than 40 years, Texas Right to Life has fought the culture wars in the Lone Star State and become the go-to brand for life issues. Recently, left-leaning Republicans who do not receive their support have begun relying on
Despite an apparent conflict of interest, State Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) has voted on legislation helping clients to his Dallas-based law firm. One of moderate House Speaker Joe Straus’ closest associates, Branch is now running for Texas Attorney General. Branch’s
Long considered reliable donors to the Democratic Party, trials lawyers have begun putting their financial resources into high-profile Republican primary races this election cycle. Some trial lawyer big dollars are flowing into the coffers of Lieutenant Governor-hopeful Jerry Patterson. On
An incumbent legislator has threatened cable companies with litigation if they run advertisements citing his voting record in the Texas House. Meanwhile, the same lawmaker’s chief of staff demanded that a website publishing his votes be shut down, citing a
In the heat of a re-election campaign, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s press office issued a strong statement today condemning the 5-year anniversary of President Obama signing the Democrat-led stimulus package into law. Yet Cornyn was one of two senators —
Despite the national reputation as a reliably red state with a solidly conservative population, Texas’ legislative leadership in Austin does not necessarily share that conservative perspective. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that state government spending in Texas increased 25
After more than 20 years in the Texas Legislature, State Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) is in the fight of his political life against real estate developer Don Huffines in the March Republican primary. According to an analysis conducted of 978
