August, 2017

• 22 August

  Colonias on the Border Struggle with Decades-old Water Issues

  

  Twenty-three years ago, Olivia Figueroa left her neighborhood in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she didn’t have basic services, and immigrated to the U.S. She paid $40 to cross the Rio Grande, only to arrive to another …
• 21 August

  El Paso City Council Votes Down City ID Program

  

  The El Paso City Council narrowly voted against creating a municipal identification card program amid concerns that the measure would lead to the border city being perceived as the kind of “sanctuary” jurisdiction that has been …
• 16 August

  After Months of Controversy, Texas Bathroom Bill Dies Quietly

  

  In the end, the controversial bathroom bill went quietly. For more than a year, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick led the crusade for a state law to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans — an initiative that …
• 16 August

  Gov. Abbott Slams House, Doesn’t Rule Out Second Special Session

  

  Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday put blame on the House — particularly Speaker Joe Straus — for the shortcomings of the special session and left the door open to calling another one. “I’m disappointed that all 20 items that …
• 15 August

  Texas Legislature Ends Special Session Without Passing Property Tax Measure

  

  The Texas Legislature closed out the special session Tuesday night amid a stalemate on property tax reform, leaving unfinished Gov. Greg Abbott‘s top priority. Hours earlier, the House abruptly adjourned sine die – the formal designation meaning the end …
• 14 August

  Analysis: Broken School Finance System Spawns Wild Solutions

  

  Whether you feel sorry for them or not, Austin ISD property taxpayers will be sending $533 million of their local school taxes to the state for redistribution to poorer districts in the next school year. …
• 12 August

  Texas House Approves “Compromise” City Annexation Bill

  

  Legislation that would allow Texans to vote on whether cities in large counties can annex areas outside of their limits — a contentious issue that prompted a filibuster in May — got one step closer …
• 10 August

  U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke on 34-Day Road Trip in Underdog Senate Bid

  

  Looking to overcome the long odds in his U.S. Senate campaign, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has hit the road for an aggressive 34-day tour of Texas. O’Rourke launched the trip without much fanfare at …
• 10 August

  Texas House Approves Sending First Two Special Session Bills to Governor

  

  The Texas House tentatively approved two bills Thursday that will keep several state agencies from closing, including the Texas Medical Board. If the chamber gives the measures final approval on Friday, they could be the first …
• 9 August

  New Texas Law Allows Merchants to Decline Card Purchases Without ID

  

  A law that takes effect in January will allow Texas merchants to ask for photo identification for credit and debit card purchases – and turn down transactions if a buyer won’t show it. The aim …
• 6 August

  Analysis: Hopes of Going 20 for 20 in Special Session Circle the Drain

  

  Think Gov. Greg Abbott is still glad he called them back? The Texas Legislature’s special “20 for 20” session has predictably bogged down. Abbott put together a to-do list tailored to please Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s Senate and, …
• 5 August

  House Approves $1.8 Billion Package of School Finance Bills

  

  The Texas House on Friday passed a package of bills that would put $1.8 billion into public schools and help out struggling small, rural school districts. House members voted 130-12 to approve the lower chamber’s …
• 4 August

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Blames City Governments for “All our Problems in America”

  

  City governments, particularly those led by Democrats, are to blame for problems nationwide, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a nationally televised interview Friday. “People are happy with their governments at their state level, they’re not …
• 2 August

  In Texas House, Property Tax Proposals Range from Minor Tweaks to Abolishment

  

  Last week, amid a flurry of votes on more than a dozen other issues, the Texas Senate passed its main measure addressing Gov. Greg Abbott‘s call to reform the laws related to property taxes. On Wednesday, …
• 1 August

  Report: Texas Could Lose Billions if New Immigration Enforcement Law Stands

  

  Representatives from Texas’ business, local government and higher education sectors argued Tuesday that the state’s new immigration-enforcement law, which is slated to take effect Sept. 1, could do billions of dollars in damage to the Texas …