Texas Legislature
What a Ban on Insurance for Abortions Means for Women with High-Risk Pregnancies
Never Say Sine Die: Legislature Returns to Ideological Special Session Agenda
As if the regular session wasn’t terrible enough, Governor Greg Abbott has called lawmakers back for another 30 days of hell.
If your town suddenly seems emptied of crooks, scoundrels and liars, it’s probably because state lawmakers are trickling back into Austin for a very special l...Read More
Small Government Crusader Wants $35 Million to Fix a Battleship in His District
Representative Briscoe Cain wants to slash taxes and government spending on social services, but he’d like $35 million for a home district problem.
During the regular session, Representative Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, voted against funding for Texas’ struggling public schools. He also helped tank a measur...Read More
It’s a Trump Miracle! There are Signs of Life Among Texas Democrats
For the last 15 years, Texas Democrats have been accusing Republicans of overreach. This time, they might be right.
November 8, 2016 should have been a night of unmitigated joy for the Harris County Republican Party, the largest local GOP organization in Texas. After all, Lie...Read More
Greg Abbott’s Latino Problem
The governor is looking strong in his re-election bid but his support for Senate Bill 4 may be doing serious damage to the Texas GOP.
Greg Abbott announced his re-election campaign in San Antonio on Friday. Despite my eternal mystification as to why Abbott wants to be governor (he seems to be ...Read More
Why We Hired a Civil Rights Reporter
Introducing Michael Barajas, the Observer’s new civil rights reporter
Over the last five years, federal courts have repeatedly ruled that the Texas Legislature intentionally discriminated against racial minorities. That’s a high...Read More
Dan Patrick Accuses Joe Straus of Ponzi Scheme Ahead of Special Session
Patrick seemed to suggest that spending money on ESL and special needs students is a waste and should be spent on teacher pay.
For once, Dan Patrick didn’t mention bathrooms at a press conference. Instead, the lieutenant governor stepped into the spotlight ahead of next week’s speci...Read More
Five New Laws that Will Likely Get Texas Sued (Or Already Have)
The Texas Legislature passed at least 5 arguably unconstitutional bills this year, and the special session hasn’t even started.
Infighting, red-meat politics and parliamentary revenge characterized this year’s Texas Legislature. Amid the fray, legislators failed to reauthorize basic st...Read More
Texas Lawmaker Files Bill to Repeal SB 4 During Special Session
A House representative hopes to emphasize new arguments against the “sanctuary cities” ban in the upcoming special session, including economic impact....Read More
Report: Loopholes Allow Polluters to Get Away With Worsening Air Quality
A new report finds TCEQ only issued fines for about 3 percent of unauthorized air pollution releases from 2011 to 2016.
Every year petrochemical refineries, chemical plants, oil and gas wells and other facilities emit thousands of tons of pollutants illegally into the air. The Te...Read More