In the pantheon of Texas royalty, there are few politicians with more cachet than State Senator Sarah Eckhardt (D-14). Her mother, Nadine, worked as assistant with LBJ and legendary political firebrand Molly Ivins, and was also the first wife of author Billy Lee...
Search Results
back to archiveGreg Abbott and Dan Patrick failed — again
Sniping tweets. Public critiques and blistering feuds. And the leader of one chamber of the Legislature being denied entry to another. The tension between top Texas Republicans has been impossible to ignore over the past week, a stretch that’s proven to be one of the...
Texans deserve better than the ERCOT reform they got
After Winter Storm Uri and the subsequent blackout killed as many as 700 Texans, one would expect that preventing another such tragedy would be a top priority for the state legislature. Yet the 87th legislative session was largely defined by right-wing red meat issues...
87th session ends with few victories for GOP, Texans
The walkout by Democratic lawmakers on Sunday night to kill Gov. Greg Abbott’s favorite voter suppression bill was a fitting end to a dramatic legislative session that had no business being dramatic. Entering session amid a pandemic, economic recession, recovering oil...
Progressive local leaders announce creation of ‘Our Future Texas’
Local progressive leaders met virtually on Friday to tout the launch of Our Future Texas, a new nonprofit political action group that will work to elect and support grassroots activists and community leaders. Lawmakers and officials backing the new organization...
What Texans need to know about abortion access in the wake of Senate Bill 8
Even before the legislature convened, Texas Republicans were hyping legislation that would severely restrict abortion access in Texas. Last week, Gov. Abbott made it official by signing one of the most extreme anti-abortion bills in the country. Senate Bill 8 would...
Texas loses chance to send stimulus checks to residents (unlike California)
Low-income residents in California have until October of this year to receive their “Golden State Stimulus,” a one-time payment of $600 for residents making under $30,000. A similar proposal in the Texas Legislature to deliver between $1,000 to $2,500 to...
Anti-trans sports bill revived in house committee
Senate Bill 29, which many had assumed died a few days ago, was revived in the Public Education Committee where it passed 8-5, and now heads to the state house. SB 29, a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would essentially ban transgender students from...
Op-Ed: Texas is about to ban abortion. And Texas Republicans aren’t done yet.
Texas is about to ban abortion, and while they’re at it, they are emboldening rapists to sue their victim’s abortion providers and family members. SB 8, known as HB 1515 in the House, would ban abortion as early as 6-weeks gestation. Most abortions can’t even happen...
Texas could lead a geothermal energy boom
When people think of renewable energy they usually think of wind and solar power. In spite of its association with fossil fuels, Texas is already a leader in wind with more installed capacity than any other state by far. Yet there are several other forms of renewable...