Politics & Policy
May 4, 2019
More STAAR? The Texas Senate Proposes Even Higher-Stakes Testing for Students.
On Monday, the Senate passed a proposal to add four more writing tests and tie school funding directly to third-grade test results.
Larry Taylor
Politics & Policy
November 8, 2011
VIDEO: The Colbert Report on “Larry Taylor’s Anti-Semitic Slur”
The Friendswood state representative's "Jew 'em down" comment is put through Stephen Colbert's "Bigot-O-Tron 9000."
Politics & Policy
September 2, 2011
Taylor opts for the Senate
The pending departure of the chair of the House Republican caucus removes someone who was well positioned to challenge Straus for speaker. It will also touch off a scramble for a successor. I thought the most likely challengers to Straus would be Taylor and Hancock, but both have their sights
Politics & Policy
July 13, 2011
What does Larry Taylor want? [UPDATE]
On Tuesday [I tweeted (based on various reports) that Larry Taylor, the House GOP caucus chair, was going to run for Ron Paul’s congressional seat–the point being that if he did so, this would be highly beneficial for Joe Straus, as Taylor could emerge as a potential rival for speaker,
Politics & Policy
November 9, 2010
Meeting today could clarify speaker’s race
A meeting is scheduled this afternoon at the building occupied by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. It is probably taking place as I write. My information is that representatives of Straus and some of his adversaries, including Michael Quinn Sullivan, are having discussions that could result in the shaping of
Politics & Policy
May 24, 2009
All not quiet on the Western Front
A mostly mind-numbing day during which Democrats slow-played the local calendar by asking questions for just short of ten minutes on every bill ended with Republicans and Democrats defending their parliamentary maneuvers as being consistent with the rules of the House. Republican caucus chairman Taylor produced a lengthy list of
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2009
Taylor elected chairman of Republican caucus
Other officers: Geanie Morrison, vice-chairman Linda Harper-Brown, secretary Tan Parker, treasurer Larry Taylor is a solid upper-tier member. Morrison was a Craddick rubber stamp as Higher Ed chair. Harper-Brown is very fortunate to be here. Tan Parker hasn’t set the world on fire. So here is my question: Do the
Politics & Policy
January 30, 2009
The rules debate: The way it’s supposed to be
It was an amazing thing to be in the House for Wednesday’s rules debate. It was as if someone had taken a giant vaccuum cleaner and sucked all the tension out of the air. The House went about the business of adopting its rules without dramatics. Speakers come and speakers