2011 Texas Legislature
August 30th, 2013
Update: New Article "Stop Texas 20% Tax on College Students! Repeal Tuition Set Aside Law!" explains in detail how and when we got this tax...
December 3rd, 2012
The administration that was just reelected is plagued by a tremendous lack of leadership, honor and morals. We have been abandoned and conservatives must move forward against this obstruction. We have to clean house in...
March 6th, 2012
Today is “Super Tuesday,” and Texans SHOULD be voting. However, due to the redistricting challenges, Texas voters will be voting almost three months later on May 29 and will likely have little to say about our presidential...
February 23rd, 2012
It’s not just right wing, Christian “anti-choicers” (we really prefer to be called “pro-life”) who understand that paying abortion providers and those who refer to them under Medicaid and Title X funds enables them to do...
October 18th, 2011
You and I have an opportunity this fall to weigh in on changes proposed to the state’s constitution. State lawmakers meet in regular session in each odd-numbered year. During this time, they often propose changes to the...
June 1st, 2011
AUSTIN – The Hispanic Republican Conference (HRC) of the Texas Legislature has named John V. Garza “Freshman Legislator of the Year.” The Hispanic Republican Conference consists of 32 Representatives (17 of whom are freshmen...
May 27th, 2011
(Austin) – Despite overwhelming support from the public for HB 1937, a bill to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of Texas citizens, the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) succeeded in intimidating the Texas Senate into...
May 27th, 2011
As I sit in the Capitol of Texas today, I am saddened to learn that The Texas Senate has completely blown an opportunity to tell the TSA and the Federal Government that Texans will not stand for their liberties to be...
May 24th, 2011
UPDATE: For the record, I would be against any national regulations. This is a state level law. I would also be against any requirements to specifically target people who are bullied based on their sexual preference. I...
December 20th, 2012
Texas State Representative Jason Villalba has announced that he will file a bill to allow teachers to have concealed handguns at schools. Should Teachers pack heat at Schools to be able to protect kids from mass shootings? I...
September 20th, 2012
Today, I held a hearing to examine the Obama Administration’s expansion of government regulations that burden businesses, stifle job creation and stall economic growth.According to the Heritage Foundation, in his first three...
March 23rd, 2012
Planned Parenthood (“PP”) for years has used the media and fraud to bring in clients when those women could have gone to a family doctor or OB/Gyn. Below are three ways to find a local doctor who participates with the Women’...
March 1st, 2012
AUSTIN—Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (San Antonio) today issued additional interim charges that build on the priorities he set forth in October. These priorities include ways to attract more manufacturing jobs and build on...
November 9th, 2011
Mississippi passes Voter ID requirement: Mississippi voters passed a constitutional amendment, Amendment 27, to require that voters present government-issued identification at the polls.The amendment seeks...
June 29th, 2011
AUSTIN—Today, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst praised legislators for their distinguished service and thanked them for their hard work in shaping a historic legislative Session."I want to congratulate all of our Members,...
May 31st, 2011
Did Texas just adopt a loser-pays rule for all lawsuits? Not quite, but it is a good start!HB 274 will now head to the Governor's desk for signature. It is officially known as the 2011 Omnibus Tort Reform Bill and makes...
May 27th, 2011
The following interview with Art Martinez de Vara, Chief of Staff for Texas Representative John Garza, was conducted during the series of interviews conducted by VOCES Action and TexasGOPVote with members of the Hispanic...
May 25th, 2011
The following came in from State Representative David Simpson (HD-7):Yesterday, Tuesday the 24th, the Texas legislature was visited by federal agents from the TSA and the Dept. of Justice to lobby against HB 1937, my bill to...
May 20th, 2011
The following interview with Texas Representative Wayne Smith is one of a series of interviews conducted by VOCES Action and TexasGOPVote with members of the Hispanic Republican Conference in the 82nd session of the Texas...