Politics & Policy
April 30, 2015
An Unstable Economy Is Not the Time for Tax Cuts.
With oil and gas production declining, state legislators are unwise to chase tax cuts.
Burka Blog
Politics & Policy
April 29, 2015
The Politics of Jade Helm
A partial defense of the conspiracy theorists
Politics & Policy
April 29, 2015
A Hail of a Storm Is Brewing in the Senate
The insurance industry backed by Texans for Lawsuit Reform is taking on the state’s trial lawyers over hail damage lawsuits.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2015
Advantage: House
On fiscal issues, at least, they have a unified front.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2015
Accusations of Political Payback Rise in Senate Ethics Debate — Updated
Senator John Whitmire accuses two Republican senators of trying to use a new ethics bill as political payback.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2015
High Noon on Tax Cuts
The Texas House today is taking up its sales tax cut package, setting up a showdown with the Senate and its property tax cuts.
Politics & Policy
April 27, 2015
Tea Party Nears Its Peak in the Legislature
If the 2012 GOP primary results between Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst are any indicator, tea party strength in the Texas Legislature has peaked.
Burka Blog
April 23, 2015
The Plot Against Public Education
The Lieutenant Governor’s Internet Commenters Council is misreading history, and the Pre-K bill.
Politics & Policy
April 23, 2015
Former Lieutenant Governor Argues Against Tighter Spending Cap
Democrat Bill Hobby was lieutenant governor in the 1970s when the current state spending cap was adopted. Today, he argues against making it tighter.
Politics & Policy
April 22, 2015
The Big Three Breakfast Blows Up
A contentious breakfast between the state leadership today ended with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick declaring he was tired of Governor Greg Abbott and Speaker Joe Straus “picking on me.”
Politics & Policy
April 22, 2015
A Governor Campaigns at Blue Bell
The final sweet spot in Governor Mark White’s 1986 re-election campaign was a trip to Blue Bell Creameries.
Politics & Policy
April 22, 2015
Stickland’s Sneaky Open Carry Amendment
Representative Jonathan Stickland apparently is the mastermind behind an amendment that would bar police from actively enforcing bans on the unpermitted carrying of handguns.
Politics & Policy
April 21, 2015
GOP Presidential Candidates are Banking Their Billionaires
The unlimited billionaire funding of Republican presidential candidates may actually keep the race alive until the Texas primary next March.
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2015
The Senate Gets a Voucher
The bill passed today would either save the state money or provide thousands of scholarships to Texas students.
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2015
Medicaid Hardball
Could the state’s refusal to expand the program ultimately cost billions of dollars?
Politics & Policy
April 20, 2015
Cartel Violence in Reynosa and the Border Security Bill
Drug cartel violence in Reynosa on Friday is not necessarily an argument for passing the Texas border security bill.
Politics & Policy
April 17, 2015
How to Check Whether Anyone, Including Me, Is Telling You the Truth
I’m a lot more credible than Judicial Watch. But don’t take my word for it.
Burka Blog
April 17, 2015
For Greg Abbott, Charity Began at Home
Texas Governor Greg Abbott paid only $1,718 in federal income taxes in 2014 on an income of $131,118.
Politics & Policy
April 17, 2015
Michael Quinn Sullivan, Tax Cuts and the DPS Connection
Legislative influencer Michael Quinn Sullivan is running a pro-Senate property tax cut telephone campaign to convince Republican legislators who voted for Speaker Joe Straus to support Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s plan over the House sales tax cut. But there’s also a back-door link to the state ethics bill.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2015
DPS Chief Goes Political on Ethics Investigation
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw today proved he can be every bit as political on ethics issues as any Travis County district attorney.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2015
The Lopsided Fight Over Tax Cuts
The House’s proposal is better than the Senate’s, for at least half a dozen reasons
Politics & Policy
April 15, 2015
The Governor Behind the Curtain
Governor Greg Abbott insisted today that he is more involved in the legislative leadership than some people think.
Politics & Policy
April 15, 2015
Remembering Arthur “Buddy” Temple
His passing marks the end of an era in Texas.
Politics & Policy
April 15, 2015
Abbott Gets His Signature Pen Going
Governor Greg Abbott already has warmed up his signature pen by turning two bills into law.
Politics & Policy
April 14, 2015
Grinding Down Local Control for Oil and Gas
The Texas House this week will debate a bill that puts gas driller property rights ahead of homeowner rights.
Politics & Policy
April 14, 2015
Senate and House Budgets Side by Side
A quick look at General Revenue spending by the House and Senate.
Politics & Policy
April 13, 2015
Tesla Pokes Its Nose Into the Auto Dealers’ Tent
The fight between Tesla and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association is about anything but free markets.
Politics & Policy
April 13, 2015
Big Bucks Deer Hunting and The Bad Boys
High dollar deer hunting is in the news, and so are some of the state’s political bad boys.
Politics & Policy
April 9, 2015
House Tax Plan Gives Big Steel a Seat at the Table
The wealth the Texas House and Senate want to share is expensive but small when spread statewide.
Politics & Policy
April 9, 2015
Is DPS Inflating Its Border Success?
The pressure is mounting on Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw to quantify exactly what his officers are achieving on border security.
Politics & Policy
April 9, 2015
Grand Jury Goes Rogue on Attorney General Ken Paxton
If the Collin County district attorney won’t investigate Attorney General Ken Paxton for securities violations, a rogue grand jury will.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2015
In Answer to Paul’s Question
With the Legislature in session, Governor Greg Abott is worrying about Congress and the president.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2015
Texas Senate Votes for Local Control of Statewide Political Corruption
Texas Senate votes 20-11 to turn prosecution of state officials corruption cases over to hometown judges, juries and prosecutors.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2015
Whither the Governor?
If you find out what Greg Abbott is up to, let the rest of us know.
Politics & Policy
April 8, 2015
The Senate’s Get Out of Jail Card for Politicians
The Senate today is set to consider a bill that could end all ethics prosecutions in Texas.
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2015
Bill Hammond Is One Not Like the Others
Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond’s appearance at a news conference of Democrats and human rights activists to oppose anti-gay legislation raises the question: Has the Republican Party moved too far to the right?
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2015
The Politics of the Minimum Wage
The issue isn’t as partisan as it may appear.
Politics & Policy
April 6, 2015
Rick Perry: “I don’t think you have a heart”
The Senate Subcommittee on Border Security today heard legislation to eliminate in-state college tuition for undocumented children who graduate from Texas high schools.
Politics & Policy
April 3, 2015
A Week Full of Texas Political Scandal
This week’s Texas political scandal roundup.
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2015
DPS Makes a Border Bust
The Texas Department of Public Safety has faced questions about whether the border surge made the rest of the state less secure and whether it is taking credit for other law enforcement agencies actions, but now the DPS has announced a major border bust all of its own.
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2015
Dr. Spitzer May Abstain, But Teens in His District Don’t
State Representative Stuart Spitzer wants Texans to abstain from sex out of wedlock, but the statistics show the teens have their cars a-rockin’ in his district.
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2015
141-5
It’s hard to argue with results of the House debate over the budget bill.
Politics & Policy
March 31, 2015
The Legislative Boiling Pot
The strange dynamics of this Legislature started moving from simmer to boil with Tuesday’s House debate on a $209.8 billion budget.
Politics & Policy
March 31, 2015
Texas DPS Needs Greater Disclosure on Border Security
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw needs to come clean on just what his agency is doing on the border.
Politics & Policy
March 30, 2015
State Budget at High Noon on the House Floor
The House takes up its proposed $209.8 billion budget at noon Tuesday. I’m offering up some essential documents you may need to follow the proceedings.
Politics & Policy
March 30, 2015
The Civil War Ended 150 Years Ago. Let’s Move On.
From a statue of Jefferson Davis to license plates with the Confederate battle flag, Texans just can’t seem to let go of the Civil War.
Politics & Policy
March 29, 2015
Border Surge Makes the Rest of Texas “Less Safe”
Border security was the battle cry of Texas politicians in 2014. Will the theme become “misplaced priorities” in 2016?
Politics & Policy
March 26, 2015
So Long, Texas Senate
If the chamber isn’t taking things seriously, why should we?
Politics & Policy
March 25, 2015
Budget Wizardry
The House and Senate are tying themselves into budget and tax cut knots just to avoid spending the money they have.
Politics & Policy
March 24, 2015
Ted Cruz Blazed a New Trail to Higher Office
Ted Cruz proved you don’t have to be a millioinaire or an elected officeholder to grab the brass ring in Texas.