In a June 22 letter, Abbott’s office directed agencies to run rules by him before publishing them. In a letter this week, state Rep. Byron Cook questioned the governor’s authority to do that.
Byron Cook
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Hard-line conservatives lose big in Texas House runoffs
Most of the seven Texas House Republican primary runoffs fell along familiar ideological fault lines in the Republican Party. The more moderate candidates won in most cases.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
They failed to unseat Joe Straus and Byron Cook. Now, can they best the House leaders’ favored successors?
Republican challenger Thomas McNutt lost to Byron Cook in 2016, and Matt Beebe couldn’t topple Joe Straus in two attempts. They’re running again this year, but with those two powerful incumbents out of the way.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: A conniption fit disguised as a legislative study
A score-settling Texas House report on economic development policies was published Tuesday — after the elections it might have influenced, ordered up by lame-duck legislators who won’t be in Austin to see it through.
Posted in
Politics
In Texas House, uncertain fate of bathroom bill could reverberate
The Texas “bathroom bill” has made it to the House but chamber leaders are hinting that the controversial legislation may never reach the chamber’s floor for a vote.
Posted inState Government
Key chairman says House will take its time on “sanctuary” legislation
A day after hearing from peace officers largely opposed to the state’s current proposal to outlaw “sanctuary cities,” the chairman of the House committee that controls the proposal’s future said he’d like to see some significant changes.
Posted in
Politics
Advocates urge House panel to amend fetal remains bill by outlawing abortion
What started as a state House committee hearing hearing on a bill that would require Texas hospitals to bury or cremate fetal remains turned into a heated debate over whether the proposal should be amended to abolish abortion completely.
Posted inState Government
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hangs on politically as criminal trial looms
In less than three months, Texans will watch as their attorney general stands trial on securities fraud charges, facing up to 99 years in prison. Yet Ken Paxton’s Republican base is standing by him.
Posted in
Politics
Texas AG Asked to Investigate Hill County Elections
The Texas Attorney General’s office has been asked to launch an investigation into allegations of voting misconduct in a county that included the hotly contested GOP primary challenge to state Rep. Byron Cook of Corsicana.
Posted in
Health care
With Planned Parenthood Cleared, Lawmakers to Mull Fetal Tissue Laws
Texas lawmakers will meet Thursday to examine policies on how human fetal tissue can be used for scientific research.