Texas Legislature forces Harris County to change its ways
With a full Texas legislative session in the books, multiple measures have made their way to the Governor's desk which will have a direct impact on how we do things in Harris County moving forward. House Bill 2127 may well place severe limitations on how far Judge Lina Hidalgo and Democrats on Commissioners Court can deviate from standards established by the state. As for the "democratic process", Harris County's experiment with an appointed election administrator is officially "toast". The post abolished in Austin after gross mismanagement of back-to-back major elections.
With a full Texas legislative session in the books, multiple measures have made their way to the Governor's desk which will have a direct impact on how we do things in Harris County moving forward. House Bill 2127 may well place severe limitations on how far Judge Lina Hidalgo and Democrats on Commissioners Court can deviate from standards established by the state. As for the "democratic process", Harris County's experiment with an appointed election administrator is officially "toast". The post abolished in Austin after gross mismanagement of back-to-back major elections.
TEA takeover of HISD begins
Mike Miles, former Army Ranger, former diplomat and as of Thursday - the new superintendent of the largest school district in Texas. Miles will lead a controversial state take over which includes a brand new appointed slate of board members. This week Miles said that he will initiate an unprecedented surge of resources aimed at HISD 's most academically troubled campuses.
Mike Miles, former Army Ranger, former diplomat and as of Thursday - the new superintendent of the largest school district in Texas. Miles will lead a controversial state take over which includes a brand new appointed slate of board members. This week Miles said that he will initiate an unprecedented surge of resources aimed at HISD 's most academically troubled campuses.
TEA takeover of HISD begins
Mike Miles, former Army Ranger, former diplomat and as of Thursday - the new superintendent of the largest school district in Texas. Miles will lead a controversial state take over which includes a brand new appointed slate of board members. This week Miles said that he will initiate an unprecedented surge of resources aimed at HISD 's most academically troubled campuses.
Mike Miles, former Army Ranger, former diplomat and as of Thursday - the new superintendent of the largest school district in Texas. Miles will lead a controversial state take over which includes a brand new appointed slate of board members. This week Miles said that he will initiate an unprecedented surge of resources aimed at HISD 's most academically troubled campuses.
DeGuerin and Hardin picked as Paxton prosecutors
If suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton hasn't been worried, he certainly "should be" now because the Texas House has unleashed "the big guns" to prosecute his Senate impeachment. Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin are nothing short of courthouse icons in the lone star state - and both have won a whole lot more than they've lost.
If suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton hasn't been worried, he certainly "should be" now because the Texas House has unleashed "the big guns" to prosecute his Senate impeachment. Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin are nothing short of courthouse icons in the lone star state - and both have won a whole lot more than they've lost.
Public Facility Corporations and low income housing deals
Developer incentives for providing public housing came under scrutiny in the Texas Legislature this session and with House Bill 2071 waiting to be signed by Governor Abbott new restrictions are about to fall into place The bill would impose conditions for financing, owning or operating a multifamily residential development and revising the requirements that must be met for a multifamily residential development approved by a public facility corporation to get beneficial tax treatment.
Developer incentives for providing public housing came under scrutiny in the Texas Legislature this session and with House Bill 2071 waiting to be signed by Governor Abbott new restrictions are about to fall into place The bill would impose conditions for financing, owning or operating a multifamily residential development and revising the requirements that must be met for a multifamily residential development approved by a public facility corporation to get beneficial tax treatment.
3 Republican leaders and the property tax reduction bill still stalled in the Texas legislature
The once joyful process of re-bating surplus tax dollars to Texans has eroded into Republican-on-Republican acrimony pitting House Speaker Dade Phelan and Governor Greg Abbott against Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, leader of the Texas Senate. The $17 billion dispute breaks down like this Patrick and the Senate want to raise the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 permanently. Speaker Phelan and the Governor want to cut Texas businesses and corporations in on the rebate by substantially paying down their share of local school taxes for at least the next two years.
The once joyful process of re-bating surplus tax dollars to Texans has eroded into Republican-on-Republican acrimony pitting House Speaker Dade Phelan and Governor Greg Abbott against Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, leader of the Texas Senate. The $17 billion dispute breaks down like this Patrick and the Senate want to raise the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 permanently. Speaker Phelan and the Governor want to cut Texas businesses and corporations in on the rebate by substantially paying down their share of local school taxes for at least the next two years.
Gov. Abbott signs bill granting Houston Firefighters mandatory arbitration
The new law effectively ends a 6-year impasse between the City and the Firefighters Union.
The new law effectively ends a 6-year impasse between the City and the Firefighters Union.
Gov. Abbott signs bill granting Houston Firefighters mandatory arbitration
The new law effectively ends a 6-year impasse betwen the City and the Firefighters Union.
The new law effectively ends a 6-year impasse betwen the City and the Firefighters Union.
What did we miss?
Marcus Davis talks about the board at TSU and Charles Blain discusses city of Houston spending on disparity studies
Marcus Davis talks about the board at TSU and Charles Blain discusses city of Houston spending on disparity studies
Arbitration mandate from the legislature
State Senator John Whitmire and future candidate for Houston mayor speaks about his legislation forcing the city of Houston into binding arbitration with first responders who have been waiting a very long time to negotiate a contract. The measure drew bipartisan support from every single member of the Harris County delegation.
State Senator John Whitmire and future candidate for Houston mayor speaks about his legislation forcing the city of Houston into binding arbitration with first responders who have been waiting a very long time to negotiate a contract. The measure drew bipartisan support from every single member of the Harris County delegation.
Crime fighting legislation
It was a tough week for crime fighting measures at the Texas Legislature. Bills which would have given judges more discretion to deny bond to violent offenders and felons in possession of firearms -were among hundreds which lost a brutal race against the clock. One bright note - legislation mandating judges prioritize murders and capitol murders on their dockets - made it though both chambers and is headed to the governor.
It was a tough week for crime fighting measures at the Texas Legislature. Bills which would have given judges more discretion to deny bond to violent offenders and felons in possession of firearms -were among hundreds which lost a brutal race against the clock. One bright note - legislation mandating judges prioritize murders and capitol murders on their dockets - made it though both chambers and is headed to the governor.
A second session on the horizon
While there is still time to do some heavy lifting at the state capitol...It is almost certain that this summer will feature at least one....and maybe more special sessions. Why? Feuding House and Senate lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on multiple priority items - including Governor Abbott's proposal for "education saving accounts" which Democrats call "vouchers". The governor has already signaled his not folding his cards on "school choice'.
While there is still time to do some heavy lifting at the state capitol...It is almost certain that this summer will feature at least one....and maybe more special sessions. Why? Feuding House and Senate lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on multiple priority items - including Governor Abbott's proposal for "education saving accounts" which Democrats call "vouchers". The governor has already signaled his not folding his cards on "school choice'.
Uvalde- one year later
A year after the Uvalde mass shooting. After a full session of opportunity to respond - Texas lawmakers have offered money to harden campuses....and funding for more mental health services. However...The big "ask" from those who lost loved ones in Uvalde was turned away - legislation raising the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
A year after the Uvalde mass shooting. After a full session of opportunity to respond - Texas lawmakers have offered money to harden campuses....and funding for more mental health services. However...The big "ask" from those who lost loved ones in Uvalde was turned away - legislation raising the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
Senator Cornyn on the debt ceiling and our national budget
Greg Groogan spoke exclusively with Senator Cornyn this week about the debt ceiling and the budget impass just hours before President Biden and Senator McCarthy held a 90- minute phone call ending in an agreement in principle.
Greg Groogan spoke exclusively with Senator Cornyn this week about the debt ceiling and the budget impass just hours before President Biden and Senator McCarthy held a 90- minute phone call ending in an agreement in principle.
Competition for Trump
The GOP presidential primary now has more candidates with both Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott throwing their hats in the ring and raising campaign funds.
The GOP presidential primary now has more candidates with both Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott throwing their hats in the ring and raising campaign funds.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton impeached by the Texas House
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975.
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975.
Transgender bills in the Texas Legislature
From banning birth gender males from competing in women's collegiate sports, to prohibiting transgender youth from gender-affirming medical treatment the Texas legislature is moving forward on what many feel is series of bills with an anti-transgender agenda
From banning birth gender males from competing in women's collegiate sports, to prohibiting transgender youth from gender-affirming medical treatment the Texas legislature is moving forward on what many feel is series of bills with an anti-transgender agenda
Fired for refusing to take sexual harassment training
Harris County's top technology officer, Rick Noriega is out of a job, fired this week for refusing to take sexual harassment training. A former state representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Noriega said in a statement that he intends to sue Harris County Jjudge Lna Hidalgo for retaliation and defamation. Hidalgo claimed during Tuesday's meeting that she'd been inappropriately "groped" in Commissioners Court and that sexual harassment in Harris County would not be tolerated.
Harris County's top technology officer, Rick Noriega is out of a job, fired this week for refusing to take sexual harassment training. A former state representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Noriega said in a statement that he intends to sue Harris County Jjudge Lna Hidalgo for retaliation and defamation. Hidalgo claimed during Tuesday's meeting that she'd been inappropriately "groped" in Commissioners Court and that sexual harassment in Harris County would not be tolerated.
Telling it like it is- Texas Senator John Cornyn on Trump
Texas' Senior Senator John Cornyn says former President Donald Trump can not win a general election, "Trump's time has passed." and that the Republican Party needs to select a candidate who can. Cornyn went on to say, "I don?t think President Trump understands that when you run in a general election, you have to appeal to voters beyond your base."
Texas' Senior Senator John Cornyn says former President Donald Trump can not win a general election, "Trump's time has passed." and that the Republican Party needs to select a candidate who can. Cornyn went on to say, "I don?t think President Trump understands that when you run in a general election, you have to appeal to voters beyond your base."
The Durham Report and confirmation bias
The long awaited (4 years) much anticipated report by Special Council John Durham regarding the FBI's probe into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump 2016 campaign, was released this week, and the What's Your Point panel has a lot to say.
The long awaited (4 years) much anticipated report by Special Council John Durham regarding the FBI's probe into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump 2016 campaign, was released this week, and the What's Your Point panel has a lot to say.