Free Republic

Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled the state on Monday, potentially torpedoing an ongoing special session called by Republicans to take up new voting restrictions and other GOP priorities. At least 50 House Democrats landed in Washington late on Monday. The exodus denies Republicans the required two-thirds attendance level to conduct business, calling into doubt whether plans to take up voting legislation this week could proceed. In the statement, Democratic leaders said they planned to pressure Congress to pass new federal voting legislation. “Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led...

During a legislative session where hardly any services were spared the budget ax, funding for border security actually increased. Despite major cuts across most state services, from education to health care, lawmakers increased funding for border security in the next biennium by tens of millions of dollars.The biennial budget for border security nearly doubled, from $111 million to $219.5 million. Border security and the debate over whether Texas is home to spillover violence is a big concern for state leaders. And it's an increasingly hot topic as Gov. Rick Perry launches his presidential campaign. Perry has long said the federal government...

The Texas Legislature gave final approval on Monday to a cut to its business margins tax aimed at reducing the burden the tax places on small businesses.The legislation, House Bill 4765, raises the exemption to the tax from $300,000 to $1 million. The margins tax was passed in 2006 as a replacement to the outmoded franchise tax, which was so ineffective that five out of six Texas businesses were not paying it. But the new tax soon became a large burden on small business. Calls to reform it were so great that a key Democrat shoved aside multiple Republican bills...

Why? YOU make equality happen. Rallies and protests may get 15 to 20 seconds on the nightly news. Sadly, they don't often change policy and they don't often change laws. The single most powerful force in changing public policy is the collective voice of an engaged electorate. When lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans have face-to-face conversations with State Representatives, State Senators, and their staffs, hearts and minds are changed. Suddenly, LGBT people are more than stereotypes and generalizations. They become real people who are deeply affected by existing policy, or the lack of policy. When straight allies have face-to-face...

Our friendly neighborhood liberals over at BurntOrangeReport feel compelled to praise State Rep. Juan Garcia in HD 32, claiming he’s one of the “strongest voices” in our Texas legislature today. Fascinating. A strong voice he may be---but the real question is: Is anyone listening? In 2007 out of the 15 pieces of legislation that Garcia managed to scramble together two of them managed to make it by their respective committee’s and onto the legislative floor. Although Garcia’s website boasts his agenda as being increasing: public resources, public safety, & public education, his record doesn’t show him being successful. Sure it’s...

Local toll authority likely to carry more of the burden for designing, building second wave of Austin-area toll roads The Texas Department of Transportation after February will cease awarding contracts for new or expanded roads, a belt-tightening that probably will indefinitely delay a number of Central Texas highway projects. Work on some local projects, such as widening FM 1460 between Round Rock and Georgetown, RM 2338 in Williamson County, and Texas 195, which runs from Interstate 35 in Williamson County to Killeen, will be shelved for now. In addition, the edict will force Central Texas' local toll authority to carry...

Much-touted rate cut has not lowered school taxes bill as much as was hoped. By Jason Embry , Marty Toohey AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Monday, October 22, 2007 In many Central Texas school districts, the tax bill due on an average-value home has decreased 15 percent or less over the past two years. That drop may seem paltry to home-owners who remember that state lawmakers reduced tax rates for school operations 33 percent not too long ago. A variety of factors have blunted the much-ballyhooed rate cut, including rising home values, voter-approved debt to build schools and school boards' decisions to inch...

Watch the attached video and see if you're surprised. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

Sullivan hitting small groups around the state to question Legislature's performance. By Jason Embry AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Monday, September 24, 2007 CANTON — During an evening speech to about three dozen of the Republican faithful in this East Texas antiquing town last week, Michael Sullivan mentioned somewhat casually that Republicans had controlled state government since 2003. "That calls for a hand," one member of the audience interrupted. But that wasn't meant to be an applause line. In fact, it was a setup. "I'm sorry to say that when you look at what Republicans have delivered in control of state government, it...

Texas CHIP changes coming Sept. 1 Children will be able to stay longer in the health insurance program By Corrie MacLaggan AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Starting Sept. 1, Texas families will be able to stay in the Children's Health Insurance Program for a full year rather than having to reapply every six months, and, in most cases, they won't have to wait 90 days to enroll. The changes, which are expected to expand enrollment, come as debate in Washington continues on federal funding of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. In Texas, families will be able to deduct...

PASSED, SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOV. RICK PERRY May 29, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m. Castle Doctrine: Allows Texans to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, cars and workplaces. Firearms in Disaster: Prohibits law officers from confiscating firearms and ammunition during a state of disaster, such as a hurricane, except in cases of a clear threat. Elderly Drivers: Requires Texans ages 85 and older to renew their drivers' licenses and pass a vision test every two years. Handgun Records: Reclassifies as nonpublic records the state licenses granted to residents to carry concealed handguns. PASSED, HEADED TO TEXAS...

Legislative session ends House Speaker Tom Craddick remains in power. By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, May 29, 2007 The 80th Legislature was ending Monday the way it began: with Speaker Tom Craddick clinging to power. The House returned Memorial Day, the final day of the session, hours after dozens of members walked out of the chamber about 1 a.m., temporarily shutting down the House with more than 30 bills pending. On Monday afternoon, the House returned and picked up the agenda where it left off, passing legislation to provide $56 million in new money for state parks, to increase...

Voter ID appears dead in Senate Republicans still favor the bill. By Mark Lisheron AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, May 17, 2007 After a day of closed-door meetings in which not a single bill was considered, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Wednesday pronounced all but dead in the Senate a measure that would require Texans to present identification before voting. The bill, which Senate Democrats oppose, will almost certainly not be considered before Wednesday's deadline for that chamber's bills to be passed, Dewhurst said. "Right now, only 20 members are willing to vote for this bill," he said. "Regrettably, unless somebody's absent,...

Talk of ousting speaker grows Possible rebels weigh political consequences and fate of legislation. By Jason Embry, Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Members of the Texas House returned from the Mother's Day weekend Monday to rampant speculation that an effort to dethrone Speaker Tom Craddick would not wait until the next legislative session, but rather would play out before this session ends in two weeks. And although several of the Republicans named as possible rebels distanced themselves from that notion, the man at the center of the talk remained coy. "Everything is extremely premature to be guessing...

House votes to put teacher pay before tax cut By KELLEY SHANNON Associated Press Writer AUSTIN — The Texas House, faced with a decision on further reducing school property tax rates, gave tentative approval Thursday to a measure that would give teachers a $6,000 pay raise before the reduction could kick in. There's no money in the bill for the teacher pay raise, which also would apply to full-time librarians, counselors and school nurses. The leader of the Senate declared the raise proposal dead. Democratic Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco added the teacher pay provision, with the overwhelming approval of...

In dealing with scandal, questions of pace, politics Perry stalled and lawmakers pressed until face-saving strategies worked out, some say. By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, April 05, 2007 For almost six weeks, Gov. Rick Perry resisted state lawmakers every step of the way toward nuking a state agency with a culture of denial that for years did not address allegations that workers might be molesting youths in their custody. The governor has blamed a West Texas prosecutor for sitting on a Texas Ranger's investigation and insisted that neither his appointees to the Texas Youth Commission's board nor his own...

Medicaid lawsuit could cost state billions Legislators want to delay decisions till case ruling By Jason Embry and Corrie MacLaggan AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, March 07, 2007 A pending lawsuit expected to cost the state millions — perhaps billions — of dollars threatens to prevent lawmakers from spending more on a range of services, the Senate's chief budget-writer said Tuesday. The uncertainty could slow, or halt, efforts to increase spending on the Children's Health Insurance Program, college financial aid, pre-kindergarten and other programs. "What the Legislature probably needs to do is to hold back some money and avoid expanding any discretionary...

Republican lawmaker's bill could gut Austin's home-size ordinance Seguin representative wants to limit cities' zoning restrictions By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, February 28, 2007 A state lawmaker wants to rehab Austin's so-called 'McMansion' ordinance outlawing larger homes in central neighborhoods. Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin, said he filed the legislation at the behest of builders to get city officials negotiating on how the ordinance might be changed to better protect homeowners and landowners. "It's certainly not Austin-bashing in any way, shape or form," Kuempel said. "We just wanted to let everyone know we're still interested in private property rights." It's...

Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, stunned Democratic supporters Wednesday by endorsing fellow Republican Rep. Jim Pitts for the Texas House speaker's job after insisting for nearly a week that he had the House votes to defeat Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland. Pitts of Waxahachie scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. today. The McCall-Pitts switch caught many of McCall's Democratic supporters off guard. Instead of resolving the speaker's race, the surprise announcement may have muddled the campaign as Democrats pondered whether they would shift their support to a Republican that they had not anticipated backing. The election will be Tuesday, when the...

It's funny what you'll find when you actually read legislation. House Bill 2702, a lengthy transportation bill the Legislature passed in 2005 to tighten various toll road elements and make a number of other changes, contains this gem on Page 133: "(c) A legislative member of a policy board may not be counted as absent at a meeting of the policy board during a legislative session." We're not sure who inserted this into the bill, which was sponsored by state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County. But it's a good bet it had to do with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning...