Legislative Highlights For 82nd Texas Legislature
Jul 14, 2011
Learn more about the most successful conservative Legislative Session in Texas history (PDF)
Conservative Victories of the 82nd Legislative Session
Jun 29, 2011
I'm proud to report that the 82nd Legislative Session will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most successful legislative sessions in Texas history. We conservatives cut state spending by nearly $15 billion, balanced the budget without raising taxes, saved enough money in the Rainy Day Fund to balance the budget in the future, enacted a strong Voter ID law and passed legislation to reduce frivolous lawsuits and protect the unborn. But that's not all I have to report.
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Michael Reagan: Reagan’s vision lives on in Texas
Jun 24, 2011
Ronald Reagan's brand of limited government, reduced spending, low taxes and
free market conservatism "is still alive and well - deep in the heart of
Texas." I couldn't agree more. Michael Reagan, the son of President
Reagan, goes on to write in his *Washington Times* editorial:
"If you don't believe Reaganomics can still work in this day and age, for
whatever reason, I say you should look no further than the state of
Texas...By almost any measure, Texas survived the global economic recession
in dramatically better shape than any other state, continuing to add
employers seeking to expand or relocate from across the country or around
the world. What's the secret behind the Texas Miracle? Low taxes,
predictable and limited regulation and restrained government spending. Sound
familiar?"
Texas High Schools Top Newsweek’s Best List
Jun 22, 2011
[...] Schools in [Texas] ruled Newsweek's annual Best High School List — including two Dallas ISD magnets that claimed the top spots.
Dallas ISD's School of Science and Engineering and School for the Talented and Gifted ranked first and second on the 2011 list; both have been in the top five for the past four years.
14 Texas schools made the top 100 of the 500-long list, including Irving's North Hills Preparatory and Houston's Carnegie Vanguard at 10 and 11 and Austin's Liberal Arts and Science Academy at 21. By comparison, New Jersey and California had 7 in the top 100. New York had 15.
Here's Newsweek on their methodology:
Rather than focus, as in the past, on one metric (AP tests taken per graduate), we consulted a group of experts to develop a yardstick that fully reflects a school’s success turning out college-ready (and life-ready) students.
Our new criteria have six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), and AP tests taken per graduate (25%), plus average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%), and AP courses offered per graduate (5%).
TSA Anti-Groping Bill is Back on the Table
Jun 21, 2011
In a recent exclusive interview with Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, we discussed his solid support for [the TSA anti-groping bill]. Gov. Dewhurst told me, "This is a problem that’s too serious not to solve. I don’t want anybody or their family members or friends to go through a traumatic experience, especially when it’s a random search without probable cause."
Dewhurst continued, "I’m a law-and-order man. A random search without probable cause, to me, is unconstitutional and it's a violation of the 4th Amendment."
When someone enters the secured area of an airport they are subject to the rules of that screening process. If you don't go through the scanning device you are subject to being patted down by the TSA agent. Dewhurst said, "What we're talking about is different from a pat-down. We're talking about invasive groping that causes trauma to men, women and children."
"I feel very strongly about stopping unwarranted and unconstitutional violations of our privacy. I find the TSA’s policies of random, invasive, and intrusive searches with no probable cause to be horrific. I don’t normally curse, but I’d be mad as hell if my wife was groped or my little girl was groped, because I know there is no probable cause there," Dewhurst continued.
Dewhurst concluded by saying, "We all want our skies to be safe. We all want to fight terrorism. But, let’s focus on the bad people. Our main interest is to send a message to TSA to change your policies."
Currently the bill has 112 House members who have co-authored the bill. It passed unanimously out of the House committee on Criminal Jurisprudence on June 14th.
In a written statement yesterday, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst added, "I'm very pleased that Governor Perry agreed to add this legislation to his Special Session call. Addressing unreasonable and unlawful searches of innocent travelers by some TSA employees is an issue that affects all Texans who use air travel, and it should not wait until next Session."
"The Obama Administration overstepped its bounds by implicitly threatening to shut down air traffic in Texas if we passed this bill. After working closely with the Attorney General's Office the last few weeks, I'm confident that we can pass legislation that addresses these threats, while protecting innocent passengers and preserving our state's rights."
Happy Father’s Day
Jun 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day to all Texas dads, especially those in uniform, fighting
for freedom, far away from their families today.
In Memory of a True Texas Hero
Jun 17, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Terry Hasan, who drowned
yesterday attempting to rescue two children at Canyon Lake. The children
were unharmed, but Terry's sacrifice underscores a level of courage to which
all Texans can aspire.
Senate Passes Ban on Sanctuary Cities
Jun 15, 2011
Drug traffickers and transnational gangs should think twice before they step
foot in Texas. Prohibiting sanctuary city policies will make the
apprehension, detention and deportation of dangerous criminals more uniform
-keeping us all safer and Texas more secure. Be sure to share your thoughts
and comments.
Texas on List of Fastest-Growing State Economies
Jun 13, 2011
Daily Finance: "6. TEXAS. It is extraordinary that Texas makes this list
because its GDP is second in the country at $1.1 trillion. That is more than
the GDP of South Korea or Mexico. Texas has been helped by the tremendous
diversity of its economy. While energy is the dominant sector, as both Exxon
Mobil and ConocoPhillips are headquartered there, the state also includes
several huge technology companies including Dell, AT&T, and Texas
Instruments. Fifty-one of the Fortune 500 companies are located in Texas.
Texas also does not have a state income tax, which tends to stimulate
consumer spending. Texas' population grew 27% from 1970 to 1980, 19% from
1980 to 1990, 23% from 1990 to 2000, and 21% from 2000 to 2001. Over that
entire 40-year period, it's population grew by 116%."
NRA-ILA: 2011 Texas Regular Session Wrap-Up
Jun 13, 2011
At a time when our Constitutional rights are being trampled by the Obama
Administration, I'm proud that the Texas Legislature continues to pass laws
that protect our right to keep and bear arms. Read the National Rifle
Association's 2011 Regular Session Wrap-Up, and let me know what you think
about Texas' efforts to reinforce our freedom under the 2nd Amendment.
Remembering D-Day
Jun 06, 2011
Today marks the 67th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion when Allied troops
began the liberation of Hitler's Fortress Europe. My dad, Lt. Col. David
Dewhurst, was among the thousands of brave Americans who helped make history
on that fateful day. Watch some of his story from NBC Nightly News:
http://www.daviddewhurst.com/blog/davids_father_lt_colonel_david_dewhurst/
Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Religious Freedom
Jun 03, 2011
VICTORY! I'm very pleased that the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided
with the Constitution. This case was a clear-cut abridgement of religious
liberty, and I'm proud that Texans took such a strong stand to protect all
of our rights from being trampled by one activist liberal judge.
Prayers removed from Texas public school graduation
Jun 01, 2011
The First Amendment right of students and families to freely practice their
faith is once again being challenged by an activist federal judge - this
time, right here in Texas. This unbelievable encroachment of our
Constitutional rights is a blatant attack on our shared Judeo-Christian
values and is just another example of what's wrong with liberal activist
judges' legislating from the bench.
My Letter to Governor Perry
May 31, 2011
Yesterday, I sent a letter to Governor Perry asking him to consider several
important bills that failed to pass before Sine Die so the Legislature can
take them up again in Special Session.
Special Session Provides Opportunity
May 31, 2011
This Special Session is a golden opportunity to build on all that we've
accomplished. Texas is a great state, and this is our chance to make it even
better. We're not going to retreat from our principles, we're not going to
raise taxes and we're not going to renegotiate the budget. We are going to
move Texas forward.