Texas House Republicans killed the State Water Plan - House Bill 11 - with their own reckless amendment, the GOP Sequester Plan. The defeated GOP Sequester Plan would have cut $2 Billion - or about 2% - from the bi-annual state budget. It was written to trigger if HB 11 did not pass with the necessary 2/3s vote.Read More >>
In a valiant attempt to extend legal protection for same-sex couples, Rep. González has authored HB 2403 that would remove gender restrictions in the "Romeo and Juliet" defense. On Tuesday, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence advanced Bill 2403 on a committee vote of 5-3.Read More >>
Senate Bill 537 is officially stalled in the Senate - one vote short of the super majority needed to bring it to the floor. SB 537, filed by State Senator Bob Deuell (R), is a thinly veiled attempt to close more than than three-fourths of the abortion clinics in Texas (37 of 42) by subjecting them to unnecessary and burdensome regulations.Read More >>
Woohoo! HB 2093 - that would have cut early voting - will likely be pulled according to the Texas Tribune - "A bill that would slash the number of days allowed for early voting is likely to be pulled after scathing testimony Monday from opponents who said the bill was discriminatory and retrogressive."Read More >>
Sondra Haltom (Empower the Vote Texas) - April 5, 2013
This coming Monday, April 8th, three bills will be heard in the Texas House Elections Committee that might leave observers scratching their heads in wonder (HB 2093, HB 2372, HB 2848).Read More >>
On Thursday, 11 Democrats stood up to vote against a budget that fails to invest in the future of Texas. They - and a lone Republican who believed the budget spent too much money - were the only "NO" votes on a budget that left $13 billion in general revenue and RDF money unspent.Read More >>
Tomorrow is one of the most important days in the Texas Legislature. All day and late into the night, the TX House will debate and vote on the next two-year state budget and its 267 amendments. Will we invest in the future of our state, or cut and divert revenue from programs that help future generations? Read More >>
The powers that be at CPRIT, the cancer research fund that Gov. Rick Perry is using as his slush fund to reward contributors, would like us to forget that it remains under criminal investigation. Read More >>
Our partners at Texas Well and Healthy are asking folks to call members of the Texas legislature and tell them you support Medicaid expansion today! Support for expanding Medicaid in Texas and across the country is gaining momentum. Read More >>
A recent Texas State Teachers Association poll of Texas shows overwhelming support for increasing public school funding, using the Rainy day Fund for education, and reducing standardized testing. Check out our cool infographic breaking down the poll results.Read More >>
Republican State Senator Jane Nelson has pre-filed a ridiculous bill for the upcoming legislative session that requires drug testing just about everyone who applies for TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. But for Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst - this bill just doesn't go far enough in attempting to embarrass and humiliate the most needy Texans.Read More >>
