The senators who will help finalize the state budget—which affects 28 million Texans—are all white and Republican, and four of the five are from the Houston area.
In a powerful floor speech Monday, Senator Kel Seliger offers a demonstration of decency that diminishes the lieutenant governor’s raw power play.
Unless a compromise can be reached next week, Patrick's decision to move forward will upend decades of Senate tradition.
The governor, lieutenant governor and speaker line up behind a penny increase to the sales tax to provide property tax relief.
One of the most anticipated lists in Texas politics will be publicly deliberated for the first time.
The move by the lieutenant governor comes amid escalating tensions with Amarillo Republican senator Kel Seliger.
The first step in that direction came from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who announced a bill that would give Texas teachers a $5,000 pay raise.
The Angleton Republican takes control of the lower chamber as the 86th Legislature convenes.
The 86th Legislature convenes at noon on Tuesday. Here's a primer on some of this year’s action.
After the Santa Fe shooting, the lieutenant governor suggested hardening security at our schools.
The South Texas town’s new leader is part of a wave of LGBT candidates vying for political seats across the state.
Texas Democrats had their best off-year primary turnout since 2002 and still had fewer voters than the Republicans.
”They’ve already disgraced it once. I’m not going to let them do it a second time.”
Abbott and Patrick are bringing the power of incumbency to bear against a Rebellion of educators, business leaders and moderate Republicans.
Our lieutenant governor, for his eagerness to squander his power, waste our time, and drag Texas politics into the bathroom, is our Bum Steer of the Year.
Guest Column: Don’t keep Texas on the same dangerously anti-business, discriminatory path.
The anti-transgender bathroom bill debate is a strike against any Texas city getting the Amazon HQ2.
A cartoon about the current state of the gubernatorial race.
Dan Patrick’s defense of state education spending is also a pretty good argument for an income tax.
Dan Patrick’s Scorched-Earth Potty Politics.
Readers respond to the February 2017 issue.
One transgender woman's effort to demystify who uses what bathroom.
Fact checking the governor’s state of the state address.
In his second session as lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick has become the most influential person in Texas politics. Will his attempt to legislate who uses which bathroom slip him up?
Is the new study by Dan Patrick’s Senate a cover for private school vouchers?
In jab at Senate, House budget proposal makes $1.5 billion in property tax relief contingent on school finance overhaul.
House Speaker warns that transgender restrictions could cost San Antonio $243 million.
So-called bathroom bill could undermine cities' non-discrimination ordinances.
At a press conference, the lieutenant governor reveals some details of bill aimed at limiting transgender access to restrooms.
Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick have a lot to say about protecting police lives—but the biggest threats to officers aren’t toting guns.
Senfronia Thompson has a few things to say about Hillary Clinton, Dan Patrick, and the foster care system.
Too many Texas schools are failing, yet our elected officials would rather discuss who’s using which toilet.
The Lieutenant Governor foreshadows a statewide war over bathrooms.
Patrick’s apparent reversal on Medicaid cuts is a victory for poor and disabled children.
Three more examples of our elected leaders staying the crazy course.
The Legislative Budget Board is correct about the limits of the line-item veto—but Governor Abbott has plenty of power.
He tipped his hand by backing the governor over the Lege.
The lieutenant governor responds to our selections.
Governor Greg AbbottOf all the leaders entering the legislative session, the biggest question mark centered on Greg Abbott, the first new governor in Texas in fourteen years. The attorney general since 2002, he led the Republican ticket last November and walloped Democrat Wendy Davis in the
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick held a three-city “Bold New Day in Texas” tour using an aircraft owned by the Texas Department of Transportation. Official communication or perk of office?
Hannah Giles, who has been leading a hidden-camera investigation of the state legislature, appeared in the past on Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s talk radio show, and Senator Paul Bettencourt once raised money for her.
No offense to Michael Quinn Sullivan, but he’s never even won a Republican primary runoff, has he?
The Senate has already lost the fight over tax cuts.
One of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s grassroots advisory committee members apparently was a promoter of the Garland event that came under gunfire on Sunday. According to his Facebook page, Ken Emanuelson, a member of Patrick’s advisory panel, was present at the event when the shooting occurred and was locked down
In an amazing plot twist, the Texas Senate passed a real property tax reform bill yesterday.
On fiscal issues, at least, they have a unified front.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Internet Commenters Council is misreading history, and the Pre-K bill.
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.”
The House’s proposal is better than the Senate’s, for at least half a dozen reasons
Fundamentalist Christians rallied at the Texas Capitol today, preparing themselves for the expectation that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn bans on same-sex marriage.
