My staff in the Capitol office is continuing to analyze the 7,437 bills filed in the 86th Legislature. The Senate is responsible for just under 3,000 of those, while our counterparts in the House filed an incredible 5,733 separate pieces of legislation. This does not include emergency bills that could be added later by Governor… Read more
News
Honoring and Serving Our Veterans in Texas
Honoring and Serving Our Veterans in Texas As an veteran myself, I am honored this session to be Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Border Security. Last week in the first meeting of the committee we heard testimony from multiple state agencies about the services that they provide to veterans. Texas… Read more
Protection of Texas’ Foremost Monument: The Alamo
The narrative at the Alamo grounds must tell the truth about her defenders and the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. The Battle of the Alamo was a defining moment in the history of Texas and illustrates the passion the early settlers had for freedom and independence. The battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” still stirs the… Read more
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
Let’s keep your tax dollars from funding support for causes you don’t agree with Governmental entities and non-profit organizations currently funded with public taxpayer dollars are using those dollars to hire lobbyists to advocate against Texas Legislature bills intended to protect taxpayers. That is right, your tax dollars are being used to lobby against reductions… Read more
Driver Reform: Keeping Texas Motorists Behind The Wheel
Government exists to serve the people. When government claims a need to regulate certain activities or aspects of our lives, it is imperative that it do so in the most non-intrusive way. The Department of Public Safety (DPS), who administers Texas’ driver licensing program, has lost sight of that principle. The vast majority of adults… Read more
Advances of the Culture of Death in America
How the Left’s recent actions and reactions in New York and Virginia have renewed the battle between life and death. Nearly seven decades ago, beloved children’s writer, Dr. Seuss, penned Horton Hears a Who about the adventures of Horton the elephant trying to save the tiny citizens of Whoville. Because his peers could neither see… Read more
Senator Hall Appointed Chair of Senate Agriculture Committee
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced today that he has appointed Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Upon his announcement the lieutenant governor made the following statement: “No one works harder for the people of his district than Sen. Hall and I am confident he will bring the same work ethic and… Read more
Sustaining Economic Prosperity Through Resilient Energy Communities
Sustaining Economic Prosperity Through Resilient Energy Communities The Resilient Communities program, which will protect our electrical grid from natural and manmade threats -(EMP/GMD/Cyber/Physical) – is, by far the single best opportunity to ensure sustainable economic prosperity for future generations of Texans. There was a time when life without electricity was the norm. By the 1930s,… Read more
Capitol Hall Report – Property Tax Relief
Property Tax Relief Property tax relief must be a top priority for the 86th Legislature. According to the Tax Foundation, Texas now has the sixth highest property tax burden in the nation. Not only are the inordinately high property tax rates oppressive to tax payers, but they are fundamentally unhealthy for the Texas economy. The… Read more
Capitol Hall Report – Time to End Social Security Inequity for Teachers and Other Public
Time to End Social Security Inequity for Teachers and Other Public Servants Correcting the inequity created by the federal government wherein retired public school teachers cannot receive the full benefit of Social Security is long overdue. This inequity was created by the federal government, and only the federal government can correct it. In 1983, the… Read more