Tag Archives: Joe Straus
Special Session Edition: Dan Patrick Locks the Legislature in a Bathroom Stall
Dan Patrick is forcing a special session to get his bathroom bill passed.
Sometimes the right questions to ask at the Texas Legislature are the simple ones, like: Dear god, what’s happening? And, Dear god, why is this happening? And...Read More
Bathroom Wars Prove Dan Patrick’s Dominance over Texas Legislature
More than ever, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is pulling the strings at the Capitol.
There was something very peculiar about the proceedings of the Texas House Sunday night, even amid a session that has scored high in casual cruelty and procedur...Read More
In Passing ‘Bathroom Bill,’ Joe Straus’ House ‘Rolled’ By Dan Patrick
“We are being rolled by the Senate, and trans children are part of that bargain,” said Representative Celia Israel.
In the final days of the 85th Texas Legislature, the House bent to the will of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick by approving a version of the anti-transgender ba...Read More
Dan Patrick Is Holding the Legislature Hostage Over ‘Bathroom Bill,’ Property Tax Reform
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he is prepared to force a special session if those two bills aren’t passed.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said Wednesday he will force a special session unless the House passes versions of the anti-transgender bathroom bill and a prop...Read More
With Bill to Abolish Straight-Ticket Voting, Is Texas Hurtling Toward Another Civil Rights Lawsuit?
A GOP-backed bill, which Democrats said would be challenged in court as voter suppression, will be considered by a Senate committee Thursday.
A Republican-backed bill passed the House after two hours of heated debate in which Democrats said it could lead to a civil rights lawsuit....Read More
This Week: ‘Show Me Your Papers’ and ‘Baby Jail’ Bills Advance
Tears, protests and hate filled the Texas House during a marathon debate on anti-immigrant 'sanctuary cities' legislation this week.
Keep up with the Observer’s sharp reporting on the Legislature and throughout Texas with this weekly newsletter. The Texas House jumped off a political cl...Read More
Joe Straus and the House Moderates Could’ve Stopped the ‘Show Me Your Papers’ Bill
Who's to blame for Senate Bill 4? For my money, there is no better place to start than Speaker Joe Straus and the so-called moderates in the Texas House.
Many believed it wouldn’t happen, but on Thursday, the Texas House passed legislation that in spirit and letter is awfully similar to SB 1070, the “show me ...Read More
No More Mr. Nice Guy: Joe Straus Punches Back at Dan Patrick
House Speaker Joe Straus is the last man standing between Texas and Dan Patrick’s plans.
House Speaker Joe Straus is the last man standing between Texas and Dan Patrick’s plans....Read More
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus: ‘Count Me as a No’ on ‘Bathroom Bill’
The San Antonio Republican said Senate Bill 6 is ‘unnecessary’ and the product of a ‘manufactured’ problem.
The San Antonio Republican said Senate Bill 6 is ‘unnecessary’ and the product of a ‘manufactured’ problem....Read More