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February 4, 2025      7:47 PM

Representatives Harrison and Schatzline confronted Black lawmakers during consideration of a resolution honoring Beyonce

When it comes to the antics of Rep. Harrison, there is now dissention even in the ranks of the small group of Republicans who consistently oppose House leadership

Tensions on the Texas House floor stoked by Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Himself, are starting to get so out of hand that even some of his fellow Republicans who consistently oppose the chamber’s leadership are growing uncomfortable with his tactics.

“He’s flat out hurting our cause,” said one of the most ideologically conservative members of the House.

A prime example unfolded today when some Republican critics of newly elected Speaker Dustin Burrows told Quorum Report that Harrison went way too far in confronting African American legislators on the House floor during consideration of a resolution honoring Houston native Beyoncé for her achievements in country music this past year.

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By Scott Braddock

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February 4, 2025      5:29 PM

Listen: Luka Doncic trade sparks conversation about Sands Corp creating leverage for casinos in the Texas Legislature

Quorum Report Editor Scott Braddock and KFYO radio host Chad Hasty got into that and more this week. Listen to the interview below

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February 3, 2025      5:27 PM

Abbott tells the Dallas Morning News he will veto any school voucher bill that is not universal

Gromer Jeffers Jr. has the story in the DMN:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott insisted Monday that he would accept nothing less than a robust, universal school choice voucher program, and he resisted calls to join the plan with blanket increases in public school funding. As he did in Sunday’s State of the State speech, Abbott committed to raising public teacher pay, but on his terms and largely in the form of merit increases.

A plan to allow families to use public dollars on private schools is the centerpiece of his legislative agenda for the legislative session that ends in June. Abbott said his success last year in using the primaries to oust House Republicans who voted against school choice dictates that any plan approved by lawmakers be universal and substantive.

“An overwhelming majority of Texans want school choice,” Abbott said during an interview in the Governor’s Mansion with The Dallas Morning News. “I won all of those races because the voters want school choice, so now there’s no reason for us to ratchet back on what we’re going to do, especially knowing full well that what we’re seeking to achieve here right now is exactly what the voters of Texas want. Most important is what the parents across the state of Texas want.”

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February 3, 2025      10:53 AM

Speaker Burrows staffs up the policy department in his office

A few more personnel announcements today from the Office of the Speaker.

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February 2, 2025      5:04 PM

Gov Abbott unveils emergency items

They include property tax relief, water infrastructure investment, teacher pay raises, career training, Education Savings Accounts, bail reform, and creation of a Texas Cyber Command

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January 31, 2025      12:35 PM

Houston Chronicle reports an army of online bots attacked Speaker Burrows throughout his campaign to preside over Texas House

Reporter Edward McKinley has the details:

An army of automated bots mobilized late last year to attack state Rep. Dustin Burrows on social media as the Lubbock Republican campaigned in a hotly contested race to become the next speaker of the Texas House, according to a data analysis prepared by a Republican social media marketing company and shared with Hearst Newspapers.

The accounts on X blasted Burrows, who went on to win the race, as a “RINO,” “traitor,” and “Democrat shill,” and they promised GOP primary attacks against his supporters.

His main competitor was state Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican who ran as a hardline conservative and promised to sideline Democrats from the policymaking process. Cook was backed by the state party, most of the chamber’s far-right members and some of the party’s most prolific donors.

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January 29, 2025      2:15 PM

Patrick releases top 25 priorities for Texas Senate this year

The list is here.

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January 29, 2025      2:05 PM

McConaughey, Harrelson, Quaid, Thornton, Zellweger star in movie trailer style video pushing film incentives this session

ICYMI: "A small fraction of the Texas budget surplus would turn this state into the new Hollywood," Harrelson says. It might be a tad long for an advocacy piece. Check it out below

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