We all love Texas. And there are certain areas in which all of us who love Texas should agree that Texas can do better. One of those is healthcare. And Texas had a golden opportunity this session to increase … Continued
Featured Posts
Missed Opportunity? Ending Diversions and Creating an Honest Budget
For a generation, Texas budget writers have been taking your taxes and fees, promising to spend the money on worthy causes such as clean air, utility bill relief, parks, clean air, or trauma care, and then quietly diverting that money … Continued
Missed Opportunity? Funding Texas Schools
One of the clearest, most dramatic areas in which Texas can do better is with our public schools. But with less than two weeks left in this legislative session, it isn’t clear whether the state will seize this chance to … Continued
Senate vote represents new “political” budget diversion
“This legislation represents another diversion, another broken promise, an admission of defeat and resignation” Texas Senator Kirk Watson released the following statement Monday regarding the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill 1655 and Senate Joint Resolution 55, allowing the near-liquidation of … Continued
We need better payday regulations in this session.
There’s a very controversial bill before the Senate right now over the issue of payday lending. Frankly, it’s appropriate that it’s controversial. This has been a tough issue for a while now. But we need better regulation of the payday … Continued
Restore trust, don’t let redistricting undermine it
Texas Senator Kirk Watson issued the following statement on Thursday to the Senate Committee on State Affairs regarding Senate Bill 1524, which would address redistricting for Texas House, Senate and Congressional districts. Redistricting is a famously divisive, partisan, contentious issue. … Continued
Bastrop County receives help it needs to rebuild
Senator Kirk Watson, who represents Bastrop County in the Texas Senate, released the following statement Tuesday regarding $1.6 million in grant funds that Bastrop County has been awarded for recovery efforts stemming from the 2011 wildfires (the grant was announced … Continued
Modernizing the Open Meetings Act Will Make Government More Efficient AND Transparent
Senator Watson issued this statement today after joining with Attorney General Greg Abbott to discuss Senate Bill 1297, which allows local governments to create publicly viewable message boards for government officials to discuss public business in a public way: “Government … Continued
Save Texas Schools Rally – 2013
Today’s lesson: Wise investment makes a difference
Senator Kirk Watson, Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, released the following statement Tuesday regarding the Senate’s passage of the supplemental appropriations bill and other fiscal matters: “I congratulate the Senate for beginning to make up for the damage … Continued