Results tagged “texaslegislature”

In case you missed it, the Texas Legislature is now open for business. The Legislature convenes once every two years to carryout state business and represent the interests of the citizenry in the Capitol. The current session, 81, began today with a relatively ceremonial agenda: an invocation, the swearing in of newly elected officials and remarks from Governor Perry. Of course the big news is that we'll have a new Speaker of the House steering the ship as Tom Craddick (R) is replaced by Joe Strauss (D). Let's hope that the 140 days of Session 81 result in solid legislation benefiting our state and communities rather than devolving into petty partisan politics resulting in nothing but a restored lack of faith in the legislative process.

On the heels of HB 2714, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Perry in the last session, comes a brand-new technology recycling center in Houston. The center, Round2 Technologies, is Austin-based and also has a location in Dallas. They are planning four new facilities outside of Texas. HB 2714 requires manufacturers that sell products in the state to finance free, convenient and environmentally-friendly recycling services for televisions, personal computers, laptops and monitors....

Good morning, Houston. We hope you got your fill of the Texas Legislature, because the 80th session is officially over. Your Senators and Representatives have been hard at work since January, passing lots of bills and making even more news, and now they'll be taking a break. The Houston contingent did us proud, from strip club taxes to baby-selling to overcoming liver transplants. We hope all the Texas political blogs can survive until 2009....

The 80th Texas Legislature is proving to be one of the zaniest yet. This week, Senator Glenn Hegar, a Republican from Katy, amended a bill to allow for legalized horse slaughtering in Texas. The bill, SB 911 (ha ha), along with Hegar's amendment, would allow the sale of horsemeat for human consumption, if the animals are tested by the commission. But isn't that illegal in Texas? Well, Hegar has only the most humane interests. He...

Another development in the story of Texas Southern University's ongoing problems: On Friday, Gov. Rick Perry asked all the university's regents to resign and called for the appointment of a state-appointed conservator who would have the sole power to run the school. It's a drastic step — especially in light of the fact that a commission Perry appointed to find a way for TSU to get back on its feet decided a conservator wasn't necessary...

And you thought all that Texas A&M students had to do was put up with the inevitable Aggie jokes. Turns out being an Ag is getting more expensive: a proposal for a 13% increase in tuition and fees is coming up before the school's Board of Regents today, and is expected to pass, writes the Chronicle.

Now we know what the blockbuster private-sector job is that's pulling Robert Eckels away from his post as Harris County judge: Eckels said yesterday that he will be a partner with law firm Fulbright & Jaworski. His position, according to the firm, will draw on his government contacts: At Fulbright, Eckels intends to develop an administrative, regulatory and government relations practice serving clients who seek to be heard with respect to legislation, local ordinances or...

On Sundays, Houstonist runs opinion pieces relevant to life in Houston. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author, so take it up with her if you have a problem. Need to know just a little bit about something? Ask a dilettante. So the Public News is back? Finally, something to read when I’m done with 002. A paper calling itself “Public News” and using a familiar logo made its debut this week,...

Texas doctors who provide abortions illegally could be subject to the death penalty because of the way the relevant legislation is put together, reports the Dallas Morning News. The state Attorney General's Office has been asked to clarify a probe that began when the Texas Legislature declared a fetus "an individual" back in 2003. Then, in 2005, it became a criminal act to perform certain abortions (for doctors without the required certification, for example). Therefore, legislators may have accidentally created a situation i which a doctor could be charged with the death of a child younger than age 6--a capital crime in which the death penalty is on the table as a punishment option, according to the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.

The State Board of Education, known mostly for banning books and debating creationism, is set to scrap current reading and writing curriculums, according to the Chronicle. Many of the members of the Board (composed of fifteen elected officials) want to get rid of current standards, which focus on the student. While under the current guidelines students are encouraged to use their own life experiences, morals, and ideas to interpret texts, the new standard would be a more teacher-centric curriculum focusing on mechanics like grammar and punctuation.

This afternoon, HISD trustees will vote on a proposal to increase property taxes by 4 cents, determining which way the district will fall in a statewide debate over tax hikes. The proposed tax increase would bring HISD an extra $43.5 million, including $12 million from the state, which would be used for teacher pay raises, classroom computers, campus security and building upgrades — all good things, of course, but the school board is divided on...

Houstonist tried to think of an incredibly complicated allegory involving the Texas Legislature, school districts and homeowners to talk about yesterday's school finance ruling, but we realized our poorly funded public education means we don't know what an "allegory" is. So: