Megan Headley
A Draw’s a Win
The good news on reproductive rights is that nothing bad happened
In the two previous sessions, abortion rights and family planning advocates resisted to no avail as pro-life lawmakers restricted access to abortions and siphoned off money from women’s health programs. There was little reason to believe this session would be … Read More
For God and Profit
Religious expression bill blesses the lawyers who wrote it
Some folks worship God. Others favor mammon. Those who try to combine the two are usually worth keeping an eye on. A case in point this session was House Bill 3678, on its face an effort by Sugar Land Republican … Read More
Being Warren Chisum
Inside the mind of the state's most powerful fundamentalist
Nervous tremors were evident when the announcement came that state Rep. Warren Chisum would take the helm of the House Appropriations Committee this session. The Republican from Pampa—author of the state’s gay marriage ban and an adept at using House … Read More
Northward Ho!
How the Immigration Debate Left Texas
Last year it seemed undeniable that the 80th Texas Legislature was headed for an ugly, divisive, and possibly epic battle over illegal immigration. Washington lawmakers had deadlocked on comprehensive federal immigration reform. Gov. Rick Perry was dispatching Texas National Guard … Read More