Left-wing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador – often referred to as AMLO – recently praised a visiting Joe Biden by saying: "Just imagine: There are 40 million Mexicans in the U.S. – 40 million who were born in Mexico or who are the children of people born in Mexico!" One sure sign of historic national decline is the collective inability of a government and its people to defend their borders – and national integrity.

Research on the long-term health impacts of marijuana is linked to increased risk of several mental health conditions and respiratory complications. But supporters of state level marijuana legalization tout its economic benefits, including increased tax revenue. Those that have legalized and taxed recreational or medical marijuana, however, show minimal tax revenue benefits. Its the ultimate exercise in public health costs and benefits.

With the recent release of controversial Cong. Adam Schiff's  Twitter files – and disclosures of the F.B.I.'s involvement in Twitter’s censorship program – we now have another rare insight into how government officials attempted to enlist Social Media for election-influencing. It's precisely why so many in the media and the Democrat establishment are mobilizing against new Twitter owner Elon Musk, who continues to release the compromising evidence.

“Everything about this debacle – from the way it trickled out to the public to Joe Biden claiming to be surprised that classified documents were in his possession – demonstrates the compete hypocrisy of Democrats and their allies in the corrupt corporate media," said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz following the U.S. Department of Justice's appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate the classified documents found at various Biden residences.

In the Texas Senate Chamber, Senators took turns drawing lots: in this case, 31 sequentially-numbered sheets of paper drawn out of a bowl. Drawing an odd number won a Senator a 4-year term, and drawing an even number a 2-year term – and the prospect of standing for re-election in 2024. ​​​​It's a fairly high-stakes proposition that members, nevertheless, greet with genial good humor. The following Senators drew 2-year terms.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced the average unemployment insurance (UI) tax rate for all employers will be 1.16% for calendar year (CY) 2023. Last year, the average tax rate was 1.35%.

The left’s increasingly outlandish tendencies are starting to resemble those of the Taliban. The comparison is rarely made, however, because the similarities are subtle – and are done slowly, like heating up a frog slowly in boiling water so it doesn’t realize what’s happening. There are no executions, no hands are chopped off. Instead the left slowly removes the rights of conservatives, while the left is free to do what it wishes in the name of “doing good.”

"This makes it crystal-clear that the author's legislative intent was to have a School Accountability System that works," said Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt of the long-awaited verdict restoring the A-F Accountability System in Texas public schools, which Bettencourt helped pass legislation to create. "This Supreme Court ruling is a much needed step to return to the intent of the Legislature."

"This appointment is significant – it's the first time Midland & Odessa have been represented on the committee tasked with securing our Nation’s energy supply, and it's the first time a West Texan has served on the committee in nearly half a century. This committee will be part of the solution for nearly every major issue currently facing our Nation," said Pfluger.

"I look forward to using this position to help secure our border, to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, and hold the Biden Administration accountable for its foreign policy blunders — especially the withdrawal from Afghanistan," said Cong. Michael McCaul, as he became the first Texan in history to chair the important House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Attorney General Paxton has joined a cert-stage amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear CFPB v. CFSAA (Case No. 22-448), which has important constitutional implications – and the potential to check the unaccountable and out-of-control Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Joe Biden stole classified documents, and now we're finding out his Dept. of Justice has been hiding Joe’s theft of classified property. But, has the Biden White House lost its support from the media in the past week? All three broadcast networks reported – rather angrily – about Biden's obstruction after he campaigned on “transparency.”

“From out-of-control inflation, to broken supply chains, I have first-hand experience dealing with the current problems facing America’s job creators. As the Republican majority works on solutions to these pressing issues, it is essential we have a small business owner at the helm of this committee to be the voice for Main Street America," said Cong. Williams upon being selected by his peers to Chair the House Small Business Committee.

As more people and businesses move to Texas every day and drive energy demand growth across the state – and as progress continues to be made in grid reliability following the bipartisan reforms passed by the 87th Legislature – Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to the Texas Public Utility Commission supporting the adoption of a new reliability standard and design for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market.

Newly sworn in State Rep. Carrie Isaac is wasting no time to fulfill a promise she made during her House District 73 campaign.​​​​​​​ "I've heard story after story of hard-working Texans being forced to give up their family home, to take on boarders, and to go without basic necessities like medication, food or utilities in order to pay their property taxes. My #1 priority is to do something, anything, to help Texans stay in their homes,” said Isaac.

“The oil and natural gas industry makes safety in the workplace a high priority,” said Todd Staples, Chairman of the Board of the Agency and President of TXOGA. “Neal’s character and integrity make him a great fit to lead the Agency forward," said Staples. As President of the Agency, Carlton will oversee the TXOGA Workers’ Compensation Safety Group. 

With the advantage of a week of hindsight, the resolution of the House Republican's Speaker fight was always pretty clear. Yes, Kevin McCarthy had to – and was always going to – compromise to be elected Speaker. And yes, the "Chaos Caucus" Rebels were also always going to accept a compromise at the end of the standoff. In the end, the new rules were passed, and in retrospect... we're going to be off to strong start.

The 88th Texas Legislative Session began earlier this week on Tuesday, January 10th. The Texas House of Representatives Swearing-In Ceremony was held on the House Floor at noon on January 10th, and if you are unable to join us I'd like to invite you to come to Austin during the 88th Session and visit our Capitol Office. We want you to be a part of your Texas Legislature and the decisions that are made.