A real treat to join ⁦‪@HannahNorton89‬⁩ and ⁦‪@James_Barragan‬⁩ on James’ inaugural “Reporters Roundtable” as host on Spectrum’s Capital Tonight. It airs at 7. Tune in. #txlege

Latest column: New podcast makes the case that Lloyd Bentsen should be remembered for more than just his withering putdown of Dan Quayle all those years ago. www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of LBJ, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett at an anti-Trump rally at the Texas Capitol. #txlege

Despite 3 of 4 TX teachers being women, many school districts don't offer paid maternity leave. That didn't surprise me too much. Most Texans dn't hve it. But what I didn't know - & I'd guess much of the public doesn't - is they can also DOCK teachers' pay 🧵 www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

The course reversal by the Texas Lottery comes just hours before a Senate committee hearing on a bill to outlaw the online ticket brokers. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Burrows said HB3's companion is HB2, the educations savings account. Calls the tandem the "Texas Two Step." He says "We have the votes to get it done." #txlege capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...

At #TPPF, Speaker @Burrows4TX says HB3, the voucher bill, has been filed. capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...

Not one to mince words, here's what @DanPatrick had to say about the controversial lottery courier companies operating in Texas and elsewhere: "A courier is nothing more than a phony baloney name for an app." statesman.com/story/news/p... #txlege

Great interview from the wonderful @pamelacolloff.bsky.social with some very very good research/writing advice!

All politics is local, as the saying goes. But sometimes it also gets personal. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p... via @statesman

The Senate Finance Committee had some harsh words for the management and oversight of the state agency that oversees the Texas lottery. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

"This is going to be a federal government obligation," @GregAbbott_TX says about his recent offer to Trump. www.statesman.com/story/news/p... #txlege

Vouchers also an emergency item, Abbott says, but also promises a pay raise for teachers. And says school security needs a $500 million investment.

"I want at least $10 billion in new property tax relief," @GregAbbott_TX says at the top of his state of the state address where he said the issue will be a legislative emergency. #state

Sad news from the Olympics ice skating rink ... www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

The Texas House pauses to remember the life of former Rep. and Sen. Joe Bernal of San Antonio, who died Saturday at 97. Here's the @ExpressNews obit: #txlege www.expressnews.com/news/article...

The operations were launched from bases in Fort Worth and Houston. Includes C-130s and Chinook helicopters. The force will join thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers already deployed as part of Abbott's ongoing $11 billion Operation Lone Star. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Exactly two months before her death, Richards was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is remembered as a committed organizer for progressive causes. www.statesman.com/story/news/l...

The House adjourn until 2pm Wednesday for long MLK Day weekend and, presumably, the inauguration on Tuesday. #txlege

Some of the hardworking members of the Capitol Press Corps in the House chamber #txlege

Secretary of State Jane Nelson is preparing to gavel in the House and will preside over any drama in the speaker race. #txlege

Show time for Day 1 of the 89th #txlege session is at noon. But press and some House already in place.

Top photos were taken yesterday. Bottoms, two years ago almost to the day. Conclusion: I have only one available facial expression in the presence of a camera. #txlege #presscredentials

Check out this First Amendment Watch interview with @pressfreedomtracker.us' Senior Reporter @stephaniesugars.bsky.social about the Tracker's annual arrest report and threats journalists faced in 2024.

Sad news from the folk festival… Peter Yarrow, founding member of Peter, Paul and Mary, dies at 86 www.usatoday.com/story/entert...

Casinos bring the potential for state revenues, but the it would hardly be free money, a study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation finds. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Sad news from Mel's Diner. And before that, from Barney Miller's 12th Precinct. www.usatoday.com/story/entert...

Sad news from the broadcast booth. #nfl www.cbsnews.com/news/greg-gu...

Something we all had assumed was done forever ago is actually being done for the first time now. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

A bit of a media presence in place ahead of the House committee meeting where condemned inmates Robert Roberson has been called to testify. An open question on whether he shows as the Texas AG has filed a court action against it. #txlege

Wonderful and informative photo essay by Jay Janner of the @austin-statesman.com. www.statesman.com/picture-gall...

Just in: Gov. Abbott announces a half-billion dollars in grants for public safety projects. Seat-of-the-pants math shows more than 20% of the $$ goes for Operation Lone Star and homeland security items. #txlege gov.texas.gov/news/post/go...

NEW: The worst school bus crash in Texas in nearly a decade happened against a backdrop of declining enforcement of commericial vehicles as the state DPS diverted officers to Operation Lone Star, among other reasons. Enforcement was lowest where the crash occurred: www.statesman.com/story/news/s...

The normally members-only campaign for speaker of the Texas House is growing increasingly public with GOP-on-GOP attack ads and social media back-and-forths. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Should news outlets continue the turn-the-other-cheek tradition when public officials try to control or event prevent their reporting? Erik Wemple of @washingtonpost.com offers some insight and provides examples. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Rep. J.M Lozano, aka @texasreplozano, is asking the attorney general to weigh on whether someone call himself "speaker-elect" without having clearly demonstrated that all the necessary votes are all locked down. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Sad news from the poet’s pen … www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/o...

A brave and touching personal story from Elly Dearman, a fine human being and a stellar #txlege reporter. Give it a read. www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-...

Rep. David Cook won the GOP Caucus vote with 26 members not participating. He still has just 48 committed votes. “This race is not over,” he told reporters. #txlege

From the House Democrats: “After extensive discussions with Chairman Burrows, Democratic members have been released to support the Speaker candidate of their choice, except for David Cook.” #txlege

Fun fact in the Texas House speaker's race. Democratic state Rep. John Bryan last month filed a longshot bid the job. That comes 44 years after Bryant made a longshot challenge to then-Speaker Billy Clayton. Bryant returned to the House in 2023 after a 40-year absence. #txlege

House Republicans will meet tomorrow in an effort to chart a new way forward as outnumbered Democrats keep their powder dry to see what leverage they have in shaping the chamber's leadership 40 days before #txlege session starts. www.statesman.com/story/news/s...

"Well, guess what? It was the progressive caucus that brought to the floor — over our own party's opposition, at times — wages, housing and child care," @repcasar.bsky.social says in the report by @baylisswagner.bsky.social www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

Texas House Democrats elect Rep Gene Wu as their next Chairman

Sports betting passed the House in 2023, but the author says this time he's waiting to see if the Senate plans to move the legislation. #txlege www.statesman.com/story/news/p...