By Byron York DUBLIN, N.H. — Senate Republicans who advocate defunding Obamacare admit they don’t have the votes to make it happen and are having trouble convincing fellow GOP lawmakers — much less any Democrats — to join their cause. With an end-of-September deadline approaching, their last remaining option is to somehow persuade millions of ordinary […]

“Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act” would ensure victims receive the same honors and benefits given to counterparts serving in combat zones overseas KILLEEN—U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), Congressman John R. Carter (R-TX31) and Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX 25) will hold a joint press conference the morning of Monday, September 2, to announce new legislation […]

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday afternoon Texas Governor Rick Perry hosted a formal signing ceremony for SB 162, continuing the effort to help ease employment challenges for active duty military members and their spouses.  SB 162 was developed by State Representative Dan Flynn (R-Van), who also is a Commander in the Texas […]

Ben Lancaster promoted to Chief of Staff, Eric Stratton leaving for Health and Human Services  Texas Insiders Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Representative Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) today announced changes to his leadership team in Austin. Ben Lancaster, who has served as Legislative Director, will become the new Chief of Staff. Eric Stratton, outgoing Chief of Staff, […]

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced today’s sale of $7.2 billion in Texas Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) received an interest rate of 0.201 percent – a historic low interest rate for the state’s one-year notes.

Only Certified Public Accountant in Race Would be First to Manage Texans’ Tax Dollars Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Raul Torres, Republican from Nueces County, released a video on his website officially launching his campaign for the office of Texas Comptroller. Torres, a Certified Public Accountant who served one term […]

By Cal Thomas “Oh, when will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?” — Peter, Paul and Mary By the time you read this, U.S. missiles and bombs may be falling on Syria. Why? Syria hasn’t attacked us. It does not pose a security threat to the United States. These were arguments made against […]

By Michael Barone Evidence of the astonishing incompetence of the Obama administration continues to roll in. It started with the stimulus package. One-third of the money went to public employee union members — a political payoff not very stimulating to anyone else. Billions went to green energy loans, like the $500 million that the government lost […]

By Ann Coulter The media’s fixation on the Trayvon Martin case, while ignoring much more brutal crimes with clearer racial motivations, is a return to pre-O.J. America. The thesis of my book, “Mugged: Racial Demagoguery From the Seventies to Obama” — out in paperback this week! — is that after decades of liberals play-acting Racist America, […]

By Sean Lengell The State Department’s decision on the proposed Keystone XL transcontinental oil pipeline is in danger of being bumped to next year, as the agency’s internal watchdog says it needs more time to finish an ongoing investigation of the project. The State Department Office of Inspector General said its months-long probe of whether the contractor the department […]

By Susan Ferrechio  House Speaker John Boehner has met with the White House regarding Syria, his spokesman said Monday. “This afternoon, the Speaker had preliminary communication with the White House about the situation in Syria and any potential U.S. response,” Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said. “The Speaker made clear that before any action is taken there […]

By Michael Barone When two foreign policy experts with quite different perspectives produce interestingly similar analyses of a president’s foreign policy, it’s usually wise to take notice. The two authors are Robert Kaplan, chief geopolitical analyst at Stratfor, writing in realclearworld.com, and Elliott Abrams, an appointee in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations now at […]

Staffers in the Department of Veterans Affairs have been reaping millions of dollars in bonuses despite a huge backlog of cases that has veterans waiting hundreds of days for compensation. The bonuses were reported Monday by journalism project News21, whose findings were published in The Washington Post. 

By Conn Carroll – Washington Examiner Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, Monday informing him that the Treasury Department has exhausted available “extraordinary measures” to fund federal government spending without increasing the nation’s current borrowing limit, and that by mid-October, Treasury will not be able to guarantee that all of the […]

Land Commissioner to share vision at Groundwater Summit Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (SAN MARCOS) – This year’s Texas Groundwater Summit will be held not far from where the Texas General Land Office launched a major effort to convert brackish water to drinkable water last year.

Vice Chair of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee and Local Small Businessman Seeks Re-election Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (TEMPLE) – Republican Representative Ralph Sheffield announced today his intentions to seek re-election to the Texas House representing District 55. Sheffield is the owner and operator of the local restaurant and catering service, Las […]

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (PLANO, Texas) – Today, State Representative Jeff Leach announced strong community support for his re-election to the Texas House of Representatives, receiving endorsements from 80% of the Republican Precinct Chairs in House District 67.  

Open enrollment in the federal Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1 Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (Houston) – Congressman Gene Green invites media and the Houston community to his Affordable Care Act Forum tonight.  Congressman Green will be joined by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Marjorie Petty and representatives from […]