News

Toplines & Key Points: Republican lawmakers used the last legislative session to double-down on their gerrymandered maps, packing and cracking Texas to the point of being unrecognizable. To maintain power and excuse blatantly discriminatory maps, Texas Republicans are using terms like “race...

April 12, 2013

Head of Texas Oil & Gas Industry Threatens Noose for Those Who Vote For Background Checks

Accountability

The head of Texas' Oil & Gas Industry, Barry Smitherman, sent out a disturbing tweet through social media that depicted a photo of a threatening noose with the word "TREASON" above for those U.S. Senators that voted for background checks for purchases...

April 11, 2013

My Tax Dollars Pay for WHAT?!?!

Accountability

Progress Texas is proud to announce a new campaign to increase revenue in our state so we can better invest in our future. The campaign, which starts today and will likely last for years (more details below), is built around a simple idea: we need to...

April 9, 2013

Woohoo! Bill to cut early-voting period likely to be pulled

Hot Topics

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...

April 5, 2013

Greg Abbott Doesn't Want Fair Remedial Redistricting Maps

Justice

Attorney General Greg Abbott either doesn’t understand the Constitution, or just doesn’t care. In the last week, he has rejected the separation of church and state - a founding American principal - and has called for making the 2011 interim redistricting...

April 5, 2013

They want to do what?

Hot Topics

UPDATE - Read the letter signed by 33 state and national groups opposing this legislation below! This coming Monday, April 8 th , three bills will be heard in the Texas House Elections Committee that might leave observers scratching their heads in wonder...

April 5, 2013

12 Texas House Members Stand Up to Vote "No" on the Budget

Hot Topics

Late Thursday night, the Texas House voted out their version of the state budget - and it was just as disappointing as the Senate's version that passed a few weeks prior . While an amendment was added to prohibit vouchers, the House budget failed to...

April 4, 2013

First Uteruses... Now Breasts: Republican Lawmaker Takes Issue with Breastfeeding Mothers

Hot Topics

Since 2011, it has become painfully obvious that the Republican Party in Texas is not a fan of the uterus. We got that loud and clear. Now, it seems some in the Republican Party are not fans of breasts. Longtime progressive champion and pro-lady advocate...

April 4, 2013

UPDATE - Amendment Withdrawn. ORIGINAL - Rep. Lon Burnam Passes Amendment to Provide Guidance on Medicaid Expansion

Health Care

UPDATE - Texas Tea Party conservatives, scared of primary voters, determined that their common sense vote to support guidelines for Medicaid expansion - not expansion itself, but guidelines - went too far for their primary race. The vote was reconsidered...

April 3, 2013

ACT NOW: House budget debate tomorrow

Health Care

Tomorrow is one of the most important days in the Texas Legislature. All day and late into the night, the Texas House will debate and vote on the next two-year state budget and its 267 amendments . Decisions made tomorrow are not the final say on the...