Governor Greg Abbott hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference earlier today with Senator Brian Birdwell, State Representative Ryan Guillen, and Operation Lone Star officials in the far-South Texas City of Weslaco to survey and provide an update on the state’s ongoing border security efforts after last week designating border security an "Emergency Item" for immediate action this Legislative Session.
“As the 2023 Session kicks into high gear and legislators begin the crafting of a State Budget, the Tax Exemptions & Tax Incidence Report provides them with estimates to help navigate a complex range of revenue & spending issues,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. These graphic-filled reports help determine funding for nearly 5.4 million public school students and health insurance allocations for over 5 million low-income Texans.
The Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition includes 88 healthcare, faith, and community-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Texas women, babies and families by ensuring access to preventative healthcare for all Texas women. They'll be rallying at 1:00 p.m. on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol Building Thursday for access to cancer screenings, birth control, and more.
“Oil and natural gas are an essential part of meeting the energy needs of both our state and nation,” said Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell, adding that “California style restrictions on engines or fuel sources that limit consumers and business owners from being able to access the energy sources they need have no place in Texas,” as he and State Rep. Brooks Landgraf introduced a bill that's gathering a lot of attention.
Joe Biden's "Put Americans Last" policy is on full display at the Chemical Spill Disaster in the small Ohio town of East Palestine. Fearing for their lives, residents were forced to evacuate their homes with eyes burning and their drinking water suspect – yet Biden's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) somehow refused them any type of aid for two weeks. Remember, FEMA gave immediate help when buses of Illegal Immigrants arrived in D.C. & New York City.
Governor Greg Abbott last night spotlighted the need for education freedom and parental rights in children's education at a Parent Empowerment Night with over 380 Texas parents, students and advocates at Central Texas Christian School in Temple.
“School safety is one of the most important issues we will work on this legislative session. Many of the constituents I serve are parents concerned with the safety of their children on school campuses, and I'm grateful Governor Abbott has declared school safety an emergency item,” said State Representative Carrie Isaac, filing her House Bill 2390, the "Texas Campus Protection Bill" to improve safety at public schools.
In 2015, a wealthy former member of China’s People’s Liberation Army purchased 130,000 acres in Val Verde County to develop a wind farm. The land purchased was directly adjacent to Laughlin Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force’s largest training base. This legislation targets efforts by hostile actors from China – as well as Russia, Iran, and North Korea – to acquire U.S. land close to American military installations.
Texas' Attorney General Ken Paxton has joined a legal effort to support a Florida law designed to protect women’s sports by preventing biological males from competing against females. Florida is being sued over the law, and has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The coalition backing Florida's request argues that the desire to expand the definition of “woman” to include biological males is unreasonable and illegal.
Some 40 years ago, a famous national study on America's public schools warned of a "crisis of mediocrity." Today, things have deteriorated so much that "mediocrity" in some areas would be considered an improvement. Test scores reached a several-decades low nationally last year, and all over the country public schools are wasting billions on Lord knows what. Actually, education reform is simple – here's what we do...
The war in Ukraine should be viewed as a sideshow for the United States, just by our nation's U.S. Defense Industrial Base Capabilities alone. This is not a debate about aid to Ukraine, but rather is a debate on U.S. Military Production capabilities. If the United States wants to compete on the world stage in the immediate future, it needs to address this clear weakness in our nation's military capabilities – yesterday.
In 2023, the maximum a person can pay out of pocket for healthcare costs is $9,100–$18,200 for a family. And according to the U.S. Census, the Median Household Income in Texas is $67,321, which means it’s not likely that most families – especially those impacted by chronic disease – can afford to pay that much out of pocket. So, how do people afford their medications?
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his priorities for this year's 2023 Legislative Session in Austin during a 30-minute Thursday evening "State of the State" address, naming seven priorities for Legislators to fast track prior to the middle of March. Unlike other bills, these items designated by Abbott can be voted on ahead of the normal mid-March deadline. Here are Governor Abbott's remarks – and his "7 Priorities."
In addition to creating and supporting thousands of domestic jobs, this legislation would help to fortify our nation’s energy security, reduce emissions at home and abroad, and strengthen America’s strategic and economic relationship with our allies.
Inflation remains at the top of concerns for Americans and small business owners across the country – we are all being forced to decide things such as whether we can afford groceries, housing, or gas. The year-over-year inflation rate of 6.4% is a reminder of the economic headwinds and challenges facing Main Street and hardworking families daily. This can't be allowed to become the "new normal" or status quo.
Attorney General Ken Paxton had an Op-Ed published in Newsweek Magazine the other day that details the work that both he and other Attorney Generals are doing to defend our Southern Border and push back against Joe Biden’s attempts to destroy American sovereignty. It began with an eye-catching, "Lawlessness and chaos reign at the U.S.-Mexico border instead of our commander-in-chief. "
As part of a full-day tour of South Texas' Border Region to examine aspects of Homeland Security and Border Operations near the City of Laredo, House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressman Henry Cuellar will be holding a press availability following their "listening session" with area leaders about the increasing challenges and opportunities facing the region's Border Communities.
“The EPA’s overreaching rules and unrealistic timeline are yet another example of the Biden White House’s attempt to shut down the Oil & Gas Industry in Texas,” said Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick, as the Railroad Commission joined with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to fight against another proposed EPA Rule as prices at the pump and inflation sit at levels not seen in over 40 years.
