A legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that facilitating state employees’ donations to Planned Parenthood falls under a 2019 state law prohibiting government entities from entering into “taxpayer resource transactions” with abortion providers or their affiliates.
86th Legislative Session
Posted in
Public Education
Analyzing 2019: The 86th Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers, convinced that 2018’s voters were telling them to get some serious work done, steered (mostly) away from social and cultural issues to concentrate on “meat and potatoes” items voters demanded, starting with schools and property taxes.
Posted in
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to reduce licensing regulations, cut fees
Abbott has set a Dec. 1 deadline for agencies to tell his office how they plan to limit regulations, reduce fees and, “where appropriate,” remove licensing barriers for people with criminal records.
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2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Texas voters approve state income tax ban, most other constitutional amendments
While voters supported most changes to the Texas Constitution, they opposed a measure that would allow elected municipal judges to work in more than one jurisdiction.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen gave Texas legislators a reason to distrust their leaders, too
The quick political demise of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen is the kind of insider news that buttresses what many think about people in politics — and trust.
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Politics
“This is all confidential”: Key excerpts from secret recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen
In the hourlong conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan, the leader of the Texas House is heard offering press credentials and asking for political support for challengers in the 2020 primaries.
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New Texas Laws 2019
Texas raises sentencing for hit-and-run car accidents to equivalent of DWI manslaughter
A new law increased the punishment for failing to stop and render aid to match the sentence for DWI manslaughter. The goal is to deter drunken drivers from leaving the scene of an accident.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Back on the outs, right where Michael Quinn Sullivan thrives
The conservative Empower Texans leader was out of favor with Republican state leaders at the end of the legislative session. Now he’s on the outs with them in a whole new way.
Posted inState Government
Texas told cities they couldn’t fund abortion providers. So Austin is funding abortion access instead.
On Tuesday night, the Austin City Council approved $150,000 for organizations that help women afford incidental costs like transportation, lodging and childcare when they seek an abortion.
Posted in
Health care
Texas has the most people without health insurance in the nation — again
For the second year in a row, the number of Texans without health insurance increased, and fewer people enrolled in Medicaid.