Today, behind closed doors in Charlotte, North Carolina, legislators from 15 states will meet with the oil and gas industry to discuss so-called “model legislation” as part of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The result could be laws that handicap renewable energy targets — while creating loopholes for fossil fuels...Read More >>
A staunch Republican judge raised further doubt about his ability to separate politics from the law by suspending a decision benefiting Planned Parenthood just hours after it was handed down by another judge. The judge sits on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is currently suffering from an emergency judicial vacancy.Read More >>
You are incredible! Last month we set an ambitious goal for 35 new sustaining donors in the month of April. I am proud to announce that as of this morning, 37 members of our community answered the call and became sustaining donors. 37 might not seem like much, but that is a 350% increase in the amount of consistent small dollar gifts ...Read More >>
TV stations in Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio will have to start disclosing online the political information of any candidates, campaigns, or PACS - including Super PACS - that purchase commercials on their stations. This is a welcome ruling for transparency in our electoral process.Read More >>
Texas Well and Healthy recently launched a new campaign asking for folks to to share their story about what the Affordable Care Act means to them. For their campaign they released the video below of Liz, a young uninsured Texan, sharing her story.Read More >>
Save the Date! On Thursday April 26th, we will be holding a Proud Progressive event in Austin at the Black Sheep Lodge! Join us and other proud progressives here in Texas. Get your ticket today or sign-up to be a sustaining donor and get in free...Read More >>
Annie-Rose Strasser (Think Progress) - April 17, 2012
At a meeting between media and conservative legislators today, Tea Party firebrand Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) shared his opinions on Mitt Romney, his party’s presumed presidential nominee. Gohmert is a bit apathetic, if not outright disdainful.Read More >>
Today, Progress Texas is formally launching our campaign to urge Texas legislators to leave ALEC. Last week, we wrote about how corporations have begun to leave ALEC - discovering that it's a toxic, overtly ideological organization they'd rather not be associated with.Read More >>
To date, four major corporate sponsors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have indicated they will not renew their memberships to the controversial conservative organization. The question now is - how long until Texas legislators follow suit? Learn more on our blog...Read More >>
Texas Republicans have accused the Tea Party conservative organization Empower Texans - aka Texans for Fiscal Responsibility - for failing to register as lobbyists and for not filing requisite campaign finance disclosure forms. Republican State Reps. Jim Keffer and Vicki Truitt allege that Empower Texans is acting above the law...Read More >>
Rick Perry's failed presidential campaign cost Texas taxpayers at least $3.6 million. The real total of Perry's presidential campaign is inching closer and closer to our January estimates, and analysis by MSNBC suggests Perry's failed run could be twice as costly to Texas taxpayers as then-Governor George W. Bush's run in 2000.Read More >>
Fringe Tea Party Conservative candidate for U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz, started calling us names in a page long, personal post on his campaign website. Cruz also endorsed Rush Limbaugh's hateful speech and called Limbaugh a conservative champion. We respond to Mr. Cruz, and follow his advice to post thoughts on his Facebook wall...Read More >>
Progress Texas is a young, energetic group looking for interns to help fulfill and develop both policy-based and political positions for our communications and research teams. Prospective interns must be willing to work at least 15 hours a week (preferably more)...Read More >>
Save the Date! On Thursday April 26th, we will be holding a Proud Progressive event in Austin at the Black Sheep Lodge! Join us and other proud progressives here in Texas. Get your ticket today or sign-up to be a sustaining donor and get in free...
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For the first time in our organization's history, we are launching a sustaining donor drive. Like everything else, we want to do things just a little different. We have set an ambitious goal to get 35 new sustaining donors over the next 4 weeks. To make things more fun, every 5th sustaining donor will receive a special gift...
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ALEC has pushed the NRA's "Stand Your Ground Law" - also known as the Castle Doctrine Act - to 32 states across the country. After passing in Florida in 2005, ALEC immediately made it one of their model bills. The law made it's way to Texas in 2007, almost identical to ALEC's model bill. Here's how:Read More >>
We need you to show your support for Texas Representatives Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-25) for standing up and fighting to fill the judicial vacancies here in Texas. Join Texans for a Fair Judiciary and U.S. Representatives Charlie Gonzalez and Lloyd Doggett for lunch on April 3rd for a discussion on the vacancy crisis...Read More >>
We need you to take the next step and help us take your actions offline and let the press and your community know about this important issue. Help us reach millions of Texans on this critical issue by taking a few moments and writing a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper...Read More >>
In recent weeks, a large number of organizations have spoken out on behalf of Texas' voting rights. The organizations have issued statements and filed motions to intervene in Texas' photo ID case. These organizations are standing up for Texans' voting rights, and we at Progress Texas stand with them.Read More >>
ACLU Texas has an exciting series of upcoming events this month to promote awareness of potential threats to our civil liberties. Among the topics addressed will be over-incarceration, religious freedom, civil rights, and threats to the state from anti-immigration legislation.Read More >>
Almost a month after Rush Limbaugh's disgusting tirade on air against Sandra Fluke, 142 companies have dropped their advertising on Rush's show. However, not everyone has done the right thing and removed their support of Rush and his comments. This ad for Conservative U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz ran...Read More >>
I guess bad budget proposals come in pairs. On the same day that Congressman Paul Ryan and his fellow House Republicans rolled out their disastrous budget proposal, the Texans for a Conservative Budget Coalition have released their own for Texas. Here is the statement by White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer...Read More >>
If you need any further proof that the Affordable Care Act is working in Texas, here's a simple chart that contrasts the policies of Texas Governor Rick Perry and those of President Barack Obama. Be sure to check back all week for more on how the Affordable Care Act is working in Texas, and sign our pledge to defend the ACA.Read More >>
After nearly 20 years of one party dominance in Texas, some times it is hard to be optimistic, see the value of civic engagement or think your voice matters. Let me tell you, your calls, letters, letters to the editor, tweets, Facebook updates, and emails matter...Read More >>
As ThinkProgress previously reported, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed seventeen petitions to break Senate Republican filibusters on as many judges earlier this week. Initially, McConnell reacted to these petitions with an increasingly implausible list of reasons why the Senate could not vote on these nominees right away...Read More >>
