In 1987, Iowa’s top state income tax rate was 9.98%, and that rate kicked in at an income of $45,000. In California that same year, the top tax rate was 11%, but California Gov. George Deukmejian and the legislature dropped the top rate to 9.3% in 1988. That rate kicked in at $47,000. I don’t know which part of the previous sentence is more surprising: that California’s government dropped the tax rate, or that California once had a Republican governor.

"This  Jobs & Education Grant will help equip Southwest Texas students with the skills and experience they need to thrive in high-demand careers. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission, Southwest Texas Junior College, and our educational partners for their ongoing dedication to bolster Texas' workforce to create more economic opportunities for hardworking Texans," said Gov. Greg Abbott.  

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.1 billion in local sales tax allocations for October, 4.5 percent more than in October 2022.

“Innocent children were gunned down at a music festival. Seniors were slaughtered and kidnapped. Americans are among the lives lost in the deadly attack that's killed more Jews than any attack since the Holocaust," said Gov. Greg Abbott Monday night at the Dell Jewish Community Campus in Austin, asserting Texas’ enduring support of Israel and the Jewish people during a solidarity gathering for Israel.

The Legislature set a target of 1,000 orphaned wells to be plugged in fiscal year 2023, and the RRC plugged a total 1,750 wells – including 730 orphaned wells using federal grants. The Texas RRC’s Oil & Gas Division worked tirelessly to exceed the target in its award winning Well Plugging Program for the 7th year in a row.

The letter, which follows up on multiple letters led by Sen. Cruz on this topic, highlights the project’s ballooning costs over the last decade from $13 billion (2012 estimate) to $37 billion (2022 estimate). In addition, Senators are seeking answers on the redirection of money from federal grant programs intended to help smaller communities to the Gateway Program, which has received the largest federal transportation grant in history.

“On Saturday the world witnessed the largest mass murder of Jews on any day since the Holocaust. Iran-controlled Hamas terrorists used Nazi tactics: house-to-house murders of entire families, the murdering of babies in front of their parents, marching victims through the streets. The United States must be unambiguous about our commitment."

In a complete reversal from Joe Biden's campaign promise that "there will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration," the Secretary of Homeland Security announced last week that the Biden White House would construct some 20 more miles of the border wall in South Texas. I was just in Eagle Pass, and the border is in absolute chaos.

Approximately 9 million illegal immigrants – including  gotaways & apprehensions – have unlawfully entered the United States under Joe Biden. The majority of those have been released into the interior of our country – and reportedly, many have settled in my Texas Congressional District in a community called “Colony Ridge” that's located within Liberty County just northeast of Houston.

Senator Ted Cruz, along with Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and 17 other Senators sent a bi-partisan letter to the U.S. Archives & Records Administration seeking answers to the backlog of Veterans’ Service Record requests – often required to access critical government benefits and services – to ensure requests are expeditiously processed so veterans receive their hard-earned benefits.

“Today’s grant presentation is the Texas Veterans Commission’s final stop on the 'Big Check Tour' that's provided over $36 million in state grants to veterans. From pro bono legal services, to clinical counseling, these grants will help ensure Texas' veterans and their families have the resources and support they deserve,” said Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today, announcing a total of 19 grants across 35 counties.

In his opening statement at today’s full Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “CHIPS and Science Implementation and Oversight,” Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed the importance of a strong U.S. chip manufacturing industry and highlighted how Texas’s business-friendly climate has helped make the Lone Star State the center of semiconductor manufacturing.

“This appears to be another symptom of our nation’s failure to secure our borders. My Texas colleagues and I are incredibly concerned with the reports we’re seeing about Colony Ridge, and believe the state should thoroughly investigate this issue to address illegal immigration and prevent future situations like Colony Ridge,” said Texas Cong. Brian Babin, Co-Chair of the House Border Security Caucus.

According to the National Weather Service, a slow-moving cold front is expected to bring severe storms to Texas through the end of the week. Threats include heavy rainfall, flash flooding, large hail, strong winds and tornadoes. “Texas is readying emergency response resources to assist local officials ahead of the severe weather that's expected to impact their communities," said Gov. Greg Abbott.

“For well over a year now, consensus economic forecasts have indicated a recession this year or next,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. “Despite sharply higher interest rates, household budgets stressed by inflation, and adverse economic conditions, the national economy has continued to grow. Meanwhile, the Texas economy has outperformed and this estimate does not assume a recession in Texas.”

Senators Ted Cruz & Roger Wicker (R-MS,) the Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee – along with 27 of their fellow Senate colleagues – are calling on President Biden's Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to take immediate action after newly released reports revealed that top Biden White House officials had been operatives in, and were linked to, an Iranian Spy Ring.

"If you haven’t checked the State Fair of Texas off your Bucket List yet, be sure to stop by and visit the 'GO TEXAN' Pavilion to see some of the best Texas-made products and businesses. Its the best place to immerse yourself in Lone Star State culture," said Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, encouraging State Fair-goers to stop by and discover the 25,000-square-foot 'GO TEXAN' Pavilion.

One of the Texas Railroad Commission's highest priorities is the protection of groundwater resources. Its a major consideration in many of the Commission's Statewide Rules, and is one of the primary purposes of Statewide Rule 8. The Commission's newly proposed revisions reflect the agency’s mission to serve Texas through stewardship of natural resources, and are posted for public comment below.

"If Texas were a country, it'd be the 3rd-largest natural gas producer in the world – nearly a fourth of domestic natural gas reserves and about 30 of the nation’s 100 largest natural gas fields are in Texas,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar earlier today, visiting the Montgomery County Power Station to highlight Texas' natural gas industry and its significance in creating 100,000+ jobs across the state.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) took on an outsized role in helping America’s businesses keep their doors open. However, the SBA Office of Inspector General now estimates that $200 billion ($200,000,000,000) of your taxpayer dollars were given out to bad actors – almost 20% of all pandemic lending. They must be brought to justice.