Who was the woman talking into the Senate presiding officer’s ear during the filibuster watched around the world? Parliamentarians offer nonpartisan and confidential advice about legislative rules and practice.
83rd Legislative Session
Posted in
Politics
Despite Glow of National Spotlight, Davis Still Faces Fight in Texas
Wendy Davis came off the Senate floor early Wednesday as the national Democratic Party’s newest star. But what effect her 11-hour filibuster to stop abortion legislation will have on her political prospects in Texas is an open question.
Posted inState Government
Feud Between Patrick and Williams Escalates
The feud between Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick, R-Houston, grew more heated Friday.
Posted in
Transportation
Guest Column: The Wrong Route to Road Funding
Lawmakers are considering a creative and innovative proposal for highway funding, but it’s the wrong way to go.
Posted in
Public Education
Re-examining High School’s Senior Year to Benefit Pre-Kindergarten
With the help of a new law, the Dallas Independent School District is designing a program that will funnel money saved when students graduate early into expanding pre-kindergarten offerings.
Posted inState Government
With Session Almost Over, Nothing is Complete
The proverbial fat lady hasn’t sung yet, but she is backstage, warming up. And Texas lawmakers haven’t completed work on any of the legislation they came to enact.
Posted in
Health care
Dewhurst Tweet on Abortion Bill Raises Eyebrows
A tweet by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst that uses an advertisement by a reproductive rights group to praise the Senate’s approval of abortion restrictions late Tuesday evening was the subject of plenty of attention Wednesday.
Posted in
Politics
Politics Among the Elephants
The finance primaries started this week and the special session has another week to run, but the season’s first skirmishes among Texas Republicans are starting to appear.
Posted in
Transportation
Senate Takes Step Toward Transportation Funding Solution
Senators on Tuesday tentatively approved a resolution that aims to solve the state’s transportation funding woes by diverting future revenue from the Rainy Day Fund.
Posted in
Politics
Guest Column: Red State, Purple Legislation
Texas Democrats exercised considerable influence over the legislative process during the 2013 regular session, in contrast with their relative impotence last fall. While the November election results were unequivocally red, the legislation passed during the session was decidedly purple.
