Politics
They don't get it — it's about changing politics
By Jonathan Gurwitz, San Antonio Express-News, 22 April 2009
SAN ANTONIO – Nancy Pelosi doesn't get it.
Hints at secession embarrass Texas
San Angelo Standard-Times, 21 April 2009
SAN ANGELO – Gov. Rick Perry apparently made a calculated political decision in hinting that Texas might secede from the United States if Washington doesn't straighten up.
Government
Legislators consider telling the U.S. government to 'cease and desist'
By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN — Note to Washington, D.C.: Texas is a sovereign state.
Senate OKs bill backing solar energy
By Janet Elliott, Houston Chronicle, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN — Solar energy could have a brighter future under a Texas Senate-passed bill that would invest a half billion dollars into the industry over the next five years.
Senate OKs first major piece of Barnett Shale legislation
By DAVE MONTGOMERY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN — In a boost to property owners in the Barnett Shale, the state Senate voted 30-0 Tuesday to allow drilling companies to place natural gas transmission pipelines along state highway rights of way, as an alternative to routing them through residential neighborhoods.
Rios Ybarra's ecotourism bill wins House approval
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN – Attending an ecotourism convention in Kingsville last October gave incoming state Rep. Tara Rios Ybarra an idea on how to help boost the industry.
Bills address cloning ban
AP, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN — Two bills aimed at banning human reproductive cloning in Texas came up for public hearing in a House committee Tuesday.
Nolan Ryan throws Rangers heft behind transportation bill
By DAVE MONTGOMERY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN – Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan threw his team's support behind a major transportation funding bill on Tuesday, saying the legislation is needed to relieve traffic congestion that he said hurts attendance at Rangers games.
House gives preliminary approval to teen tanning restrictions
By Corrie MacLaggan, Patrick George, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 22 April 2009
Children younger than 16 1/2 years old wouldn't be allowed to use tanning beds under a measure the Texas House tentatively passed Tuesday.
Texas bill would require doctor's note for tanning-bed users under 16
By JACKIE STONE, AP, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN — Getting their time in a tanning bed may soon be much harder for some teens under a proposal that got initial approval from the Texas House on Tuesday.
Measure in Texas Legislature would add ultrasound to abortion procedure
By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN — Texas women getting abortions would have to undergo an ultrasound — and choose whether to see the images or hear the fetal heartbeat — under a bill considered by state lawmakers Tuesday.
Abortion bills running short on time
By JIM VERTUNO, AP, Waco Tribune-Herald, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN – After months with little or no action, Texas lawmakers are stirring up the emotional cauldron that always brews with abortion-related bills.
Legislature slow to deal with Ike-induced insurance problems
By W. Gardner Selby, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN – When two hurricanes slapped Texas last year, they took more than lives and property.
Power companies can recoup Ike losses
By Rhiannon Meyers, Galveston County Daily News, 22 April 2009
GALVESTON – The Texas Legislature gave two power companies the green light to seek reimbursements for Hurricane Ike recovery costs by charging Galveston County customers more per month.
Opinions sharply divided on bills impacting immigrant communities
By Julian Aguilar, Rio Grande Guardian, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN – An attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said state lawmakers are trying to enact legislation that would allow the Department of Public Safety to deny driver’s licenses to legal residents.
Bills get tough on businesses, sanctuary cities
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN – Businesses could lose their licenses for hiring undocumented workers, so-called sanctuary cities would be banned in Texas, and motorists would have to prove their legal status to get a driver's license under a series of bills a panel of House lawmakers discussed Tuesday.
Legislators treated to a taste of S.A. politics
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 22 April 2009
AUSTIN — San Antonio politics spilled into a Texas legislative hearing Tuesday over a “meet and confer” proposal for municipal workers that the House Urban Affairs Committee ultimately embraced on a 9-0 vote.
Oliveira's satellite tax gets no reception
By Aaron Nelsen, Brownsville Herald, 21 April 2009
BROWNSVILLE – A bill to increase taxes on the sale of direct broadcast satellite service in incorporated areas appears to have stalled, pending further review in the Ways & Means House Committee.
Dan Branch: Tier One universities are key to Texas' future
Dallas Morning News, 21 April 2009
DALLAS – With more than 24 million Texans and only three national Tier One academic research universities – UT-Austin, Texas A&M and Rice – it's no wonder that our top schools have more outstanding applicants than they can admit.
House should kill unsafe freedom bill
By Heber Taylor, Galveston County Daily News, 22 April 2009
GALVESTON – We’re in an age when it’s not only acceptable but fashionable to support laws that trade freedoms for safety — or the illusion of safety.
Bad bills undermine public's right to know
Waco Tribune-Herald, 22 April 2009
WACO – At a time when most American taxpayers seek greater transparency from those who run our state and federal governments, some lawmakers are maneuvering to close off access for both the public and its proxy-at-large, the news media.
Shield law: Texas Senate should approve measure
El Paso Times, 21 April 2009
EL PASO – A shield law that will promote transparency in government and help to preserve the public's right to know is getting closer to approval in the Texas Senate.
Texas Legislature looks at preventing schools from assigning artificial grades
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 April 2009
FORT WORTH – Grades are an imperfect measurement of a student’s achievement, retention of knowledge and intellectual potential.
Making the grade: Texas bill would prevent 'gifts'
El Paso Times, 22 April 2009
EL PASO – Texas senators have approved a bill that would ban the practice of giving minimum grades to students. Good.
Gang crackdown: Laud Texas Senate action
El Paso Times, 22 April 2009
EL PASO – County Attorney José Rodríguez now has some hefty backing in his crusade against street gangs – the Texas Senate.
News
Colleges backing help on tuition for immigrants
By Hope Yen, AP, San Antonio Express-News, 22 April 2009
WASHINGTON — Wading into the politically charged immigration debate, a prominent group of more than 5,000 colleges and universities is supporting legislation that would offer some unauthorized immigrants tuition aid and a path to citizenship.
Texas consortium to sue over S.A.'s loss of biolab
By Elizabeth Allen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 April 2009
SAN ANTONIO – The consortium that lobbied to bring a $650 million research lab to San Antonio's Texas Research Park announced Tuesday that it plans to sue over losing out to Kansas.
More volunteers may head to colonias
By Gary Martin and Lynn Brezosky, San Antonio Express-News, 22 April 2009
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama signed a national service bill Tuesday that could bring more volunteers to help the 500,000 residents of impoverished border colonias in Texas.
People
Perry to have private meeting with ministers
By R.G. RATCLIFFE, Houston Chronicle, 21 April 2009
AUSTIN — Behind a hotel ballroom’s closed doors Thursday, some of Texas’ most conservative Christian ministers will have exclusive access to Gov. Rick Perry and other top elected Republican officials so pastors can “engage our leaders on behalf of Texas families and our God.”
Craig Eiland named Citizen of the Year
Galveston County Daily News, 22 April 2009
GALVESTON – State Rep. Craig Eiland has become the face of the island’s hurricane recovery effort, especially in Austin, where he has advocated Galveston’s cause daily with fellow lawmakers.
