“For the first time in 31 months following the end of the pandemic restrictions, monthly state sales tax collections failed to grow on an annual basis,” said Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Thursday, noting that State Sales Tax Revenues totaled $3.81 billion for the month of October, down 0.3% from October 2022.  At 57% of all tax collections, Sales Taxes represent the largest source of funding for the State Budget.

"Unfortunately, never has freedom in Israel been more threatened than it is right now – and the people of Israel are vigorously fighting to defend it," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott earlier this morning, as he arrived in Israel to reaffirm Texas’ enduring and unwavering support of the State of Israel, the Israeli people, and Israel’s right to self-defense amid acts of war by the brutal terrorist organization Hamas. ​​​​​​​

"Today a substantial bipartisan majority of senators voted to support this common-sense legislation, and I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to address the crisis that Lone Star State farmers and ranchers face – which is driven in part by Mexico’s noncompliance," said Sen. Ted Cruz, a member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier today after a majority voted to support his Texas water rights amendment.

Today begins the Texas Workforce Commission’s 12th annual "Hiring Red, White & You!" statewide hiring event, which provides veterans, transitioning military members and military spouses opportunities to connect with employers from across Texas.  Since 2012 the free hiring event has served more than 20,000 employers, and connected more than 114,000 job seekers to meaningful job opportunities.

“Working with Speaker Phelan and his House leadership team, the Speaker and I reached an agreement on school choice for Texas families – and I'm now expanding the agenda for Special Session #3,” said Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today, issuing a proclamation to add the items of school finance, teacher pay raises, school safety, and special education to the Special Session's agenda.

“As a young student studying history, I never understood how the world could remain silent during the rounding up of Jews in Europe. We all know what happened next. Because I believe it was the right thing to do, I announced last week that my campaign would purchase $3 million in Israeli Bonds to help our friends and show my strong of support of Israel. The positive response was overwhelming," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

"The Biden White House has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the Gaza Strip – despite knowing this would benefit Hamas terrorists – and allowed roughly $100 billion to flow to the Iranian regime. They knew the Ayatollah would pass this along to Hamas," said Sen. Ted Cruz earlier today, introducing the "Hamas Sanctions Act" as the first piece of legislation needed to comprehensively target the internationally recognized terrorist group.

"It's been an incredible privilege to work with employers, local communities, and partners across Texas to develop workforce solutions that ensure the state's economy stays on top," said the Commissioner responsible for representing Texas employers at the Texas Workforce Commission, Aaron Demerson, as he was recently  appointed to serve as the new President & CEO of Texas Economic Development Corporation. 

“The federal government’s outrageous escalation in response to our lawsuit demonstrates Biden’s disturbing contempt for the State of Texas, for the citizens of the United States, and for our country’s entire foundation of the rule of law," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, securing an emergency restraining order after Federal Agents were documented destroying barrier fencing and waving aliens through to facilitate the surge on the Texas-Mexico Border.

As a result of a marathon floor session last Wednesday, the Texas House approved three monumental border security bills – and legislation banning COVID-19 vaccine requirements by private employers. They also designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations and increased penalties on fentanyl smuggling coming across the border.  Here's what's next for those bills

During his first speech as Speaker of the House, Cong. Mike Johnson laid out seven "Core Principles" to guide the House of Representatives and set a clear agenda for helping the American people. Also, as I reflect on the tragedy unfolding in Israel, its clear our own Southern Border is far from secure and poses real threats and significant danger to the United States. House Republicans will act on this problem as well.

For decades, our Israeli allies have sought to counter Hamas's terrorism while the international community — including, and far too often, the United States — urged engagement and appeasement. Those approaches inevitably strengthened and emboldened Hamas, forcing Israel to deploy military force, which quickly and inevitably led to international pressure on Israel to accept inconclusive outcomes.

I was honored to have my resolution supporting Israel and condemning Hamas and its sponsors for their atrocities be the very first piece of legislation brought to the House floor under Speaker Johnson. This resolution condemns in the strongest possible terms the atrocities of Hamas and reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself. It also condemns Iran for its support for Hamas and terrorist proxies.

Before performing the coin toss at the Harmony School of Innovation – Sugar Land vs Cornerstone Christian Academy football game, Gov. Greg Abbott called on Texans to get in the game and contact their legislators to pass school choice.

Wyoming has traditionally had the lowest energy costs of any state in America. It used to get more than 95% of its energy from Coal & Gas, but now that’s down to 70% thanks to mandates that the utilities purchase more of their power from windmills. Because wind power is so inefficient and costly, costs there are rising dramatically.

Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), for Speaker of the House. Speaker Johnson is a strong conservative who believes in the Constitution. I look forward to working closely with him to secure the border, stand by Israel, hold the Biden administration accountable, and get America's fiscal house in order. There's a lot of work to be done, but I'm confident Speaker Johnson is the right leader at the right time.

“Democracy can certainly be messy, but I never doubted for a second that we would come together as a conference to elect a true conservative as Speaker. Today, I was incredibly proud to have supported my good friend and Louisiana neighbor, Congressman Mike Johnson, for Speaker of the House.”

Earlier this month, Massachusetts Democratic governor Maura Healey touted the tax cuts she signed into law, stating in a press release: “$1 billion in tax cuts includes savings for seniors, businesses, renters, and the most generous Child and Family Tax Credit in the country.”

​​​​​​​The Biden administration has prioritized the well-being of blind catfish over the needs of people in San Antonio and south-central Texas for clean drinking water. If the Department of the Interior deems a species endangered, then it grants unelected federal bureaucrats power over Texans’ land even though scientists have never directly observed either species in their natural subterranean habitat.

“There are Democrats in D.C. who're openly supporting the Hamas terrorists. Let me put this as clearly as I can — if you are anti-Semitic, if you admire Hitler and don’t believe the Holocaust happened, if you hate Jews you are NOT a Republican and you are not welcome in our party. Every Republican group in the state, including our State Party... Those who are anti-Semitic are not welcome in our party."