Direct Quote: Warren Chisum Among Friends
Under the pink dome of the Texas Capitol, oil man Warren Chisum settles into one of the plush, elevated chairs overlooking the empty committee room. Chisum is used to the view, which he’d enjoyed since...
View ArticlePressure from Perry Ensures Dead End to Auto Registration Fee Hike
Rep. Drew Darby spent more than an hour Thursday afternoon defending his plan to cover transportation costs by raising auto registration fees, before postponing the vote until May 28th—the day after...
View ArticleHot List: Day 123 of the Legislature
The Lead: The House was on the clock last night: Midnight Thursday marked the deadline to pass bills on second reading. House members churned through quite a few bills in the final hours, but dozens...
View ArticleHouse Approves Major Transparency Bill
The House gave initial approval to a bill on Monday aimed at tea party activist Michael Quinn Sullivan. The measure would require politically active nonprofits, like the one Sullivan heads, to disclose...
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Committee Considers Reducing Elementary, Middle School Testing
A week after the Senate voted to reduce standardized testing in high school, the Senate Education Committee took up a proposal to eliminate the STAAR writing test for 4th and 7th graders as well. They...
View ArticleConservative Pastor Comes Up Short in Fight for Reckoning Over Same-Sex...
A conservative faction trying to gain control of the Pflugerville ISD board lost in last weekend’s election, despite a local pastor’s best efforts to get out the vote in his congregation. The challenge...
View ArticleUp Against Deadline, Democrats Blame Perry for Tanking Budget Deal
Until recently, this session’s budget negotiations seemed to be sailing along smoothly, but sudden pressure from Gov. Rick Perry has put negotiations on the rocks as lawmakers argue over $700 million...
View ArticleHot List: Day 130 of the Legislature
The Lead: Just 10 days remain in the legislative session, and negotiations over the budget—the one bill the Lege has to pass—seem at a critical point. The negotiations unexpectedly imploded yesterday...
View ArticleHouse and Senate in Standoff Over Budget Deals
It’s been hailed as the kumbaya session till now, but personal tussles and a major budget standoff between the chambers are rocking the 83rd Legislature in its final days. All Wednesday, the House and...
View ArticleHot List: Day 136 of the Legislature
The Lead: The House and Senate spent most of yesterday at a standoff, waiting for the other to budge on two major pieces of legislation that are key to the state budget. Senate Finance Chair Tommy...
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