Texas Senate OKs plan to slow local property tax increases
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas Senate has approved a plan designed to slow the increase of local property taxes as Republicans scramble to deliver on fiscally conservative promises despite a state budget crunch. Tuesday's 18-12 vote sends to the state House a bill by Houston Republican Sen. Paul Bettencourt requiring local governments to seek voter approval via special elections when...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas Senate has approved a plan designed to slow the increase of local property taxes as Republicans scramble to deliver on fiscally conservative promises despite a state budget crunch. Tuesday's 18-12 vote sends to the state House a bill by Houston Republican Sen. Paul Bettencourt requiring local governments to seek voter approval via special elections when...
School voucher plan begins rocky journey through Texas Legislature
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas lawmakers have begun grappling with a hot-button voucher plan offering families public money to send their children to private and religious schools. Friendswood Republican Sen. Larry Taylor's bill would create state-subsidized education saving accounts for parents and offer tax credits to businesses that sponsor children's private schooling via donations.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas lawmakers have begun grappling with a hot-button voucher plan offering families public money to send their children to private and religious schools. Friendswood Republican Sen. Larry Taylor's bill would create state-subsidized education saving accounts for parents and offer tax credits to businesses that sponsor children's private schooling via donations.
FBI director blasted by Democrats after probe revelation
WASHINGTON (AP) - FBI Director James Comey's testimony that the bureau has been quietly investigating possible links between associates of President Donald Trump and Russian officials since the summer enraged Democrats who already blamed him for rattling the 2016 campaign's closing days.
WASHINGTON (AP) - FBI Director James Comey's testimony that the bureau has been quietly investigating possible links between associates of President Donald Trump and Russian officials since the summer enraged Democrats who already blamed him for rattling the 2016 campaign's closing days.
Comey: FBI probing Trump-Russia links, wiretap claims bogus
FBI Director James Comey says the FBI and Justice Department have no information to substantiate President Donald Trump's claims that former President Barack Obama wiretapped him before the election.
FBI Director James Comey says the FBI and Justice Department have no information to substantiate President Donald Trump's claims that former President Barack Obama wiretapped him before the election.
Town hall meeting with Dallas lawmaker turns rowdy
A rowdy and vocal crowd let their opinions be known at a town hall meeting with Dallas Representative Pete Sessions.
A rowdy and vocal crowd let their opinions be known at a town hall meeting with Dallas Representative Pete Sessions.
Lawmaker mocks abortion law with call for masturbation fines
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas lawmaker is making a point about legislation that restricts women's access to health care and abortions by proposing to fine men $100 when they masturbate. Alongside the penalty for wasting semen not resulting in a pregnancy, state Rep. Jessica Farrar's bill would require a "medically unnecessary digital rectal exam" before any man undergoes a...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas lawmaker is making a point about legislation that restricts women's access to health care and abortions by proposing to fine men $100 when they masturbate. Alongside the penalty for wasting semen not resulting in a pregnancy, state Rep. Jessica Farrar's bill would require a "medically unnecessary digital rectal exam" before any man undergoes a...
Trump sidesteps blame over wiretap row with Britain
President Donald Trump defiantly refused to back down Friday from his explosive claim that Barack Obama wiretapped his phones, and sidestepped any blame for the White House decision to highlight an unverified report that Britain helped carry out the alleged surveillance.
President Donald Trump defiantly refused to back down Friday from his explosive claim that Barack Obama wiretapped his phones, and sidestepped any blame for the White House decision to highlight an unverified report that Britain helped carry out the alleged surveillance.
Trump, Merkel try to sidestep differences in first meeting
Though presenting a study in contrasts, President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel took a similar tack Friday in sidestepping differences after their first meeting at the White House. Trump asserted with a smile they had at least one thing in common: being wiretapped by the Obama administration.
Though presenting a study in contrasts, President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel took a similar tack Friday in sidestepping differences after their first meeting at the White House. Trump asserted with a smile they had at least one thing in common: being wiretapped by the Obama administration.
Texas House ethics chair probes anti-abortion group contract
Texas health officials say they're taking a closer look at an anti-abortion group that received $1.6 million to bolster women's health clinics but has fallen short of promises.
Texas health officials say they're taking a closer look at an anti-abortion group that received $1.6 million to bolster women's health clinics but has fallen short of promises.
Texas House again approves texting while driving ban
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas House on Wednesday approved a statewide ban on texting while driving, advancing legislation either fizzled out or was vetoed in previous years. Forty-six states have laws against texting while driving that typically also ban sending or reading email, using apps or engaging in other use of the internet. Dozens of Texas cities also prohibit texting while driving.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas House on Wednesday approved a statewide ban on texting while driving, advancing legislation either fizzled out or was vetoed in previous years. Forty-six states have laws against texting while driving that typically also ban sending or reading email, using apps or engaging in other use of the internet. Dozens of Texas cities also prohibit texting while driving.
Congress votes to allow states to drug-test the unemployed
The Senate on Tuesday sent President Donald Trump a measure to expand the number of applicants for jobless benefits who can be drug-tested.
The Senate on Tuesday sent President Donald Trump a measure to expand the number of applicants for jobless benefits who can be drug-tested.
Meals on Wheels federal funding axed in Trump budget
Meals on Wheels would lose all of its federal funding under President Trump’s newly proposed budget.
Meals on Wheels would lose all of its federal funding under President Trump’s newly proposed budget.
Congressmen wrap up bipartisan road trip, arrive back in Washington
Nearly 36 hours after it started, the bipartisan road trip has ended and two Texas congressmen are back at work.
Nearly 36 hours after it started, the bipartisan road trip has ended and two Texas congressmen are back at work.
Trump budget would gut science, environment programs
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's proposed budget would gut programs for science and the environment, reflecting the Republican's rejection of mainstream science.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's proposed budget would gut programs for science and the environment, reflecting the Republican's rejection of mainstream science.
Intel senators: No indication Trump Tower was surveilled
WASHINGTON (AP) - The top two senators on the intelligence committee say they have seen no indication that Trump Tower was "the subject of surveillance" by the U.S. government before or after the 2016 election. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of wiretapping him and asked congressional committees investigating Russia's interference in the election to...
WASHINGTON (AP) - The top two senators on the intelligence committee say they have seen no indication that Trump Tower was "the subject of surveillance" by the U.S. government before or after the 2016 election. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of wiretapping him and asked congressional committees investigating Russia's interference in the election to...
Trump's budget: Build up military, build the wall
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump unveiled a $1.15 trillion budget on Thursday, a far-reaching overhaul of federal government spending that slashes many domestic programs to finance a significant increase in the military and make a down payment on a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump unveiled a $1.15 trillion budget on Thursday, a far-reaching overhaul of federal government spending that slashes many domestic programs to finance a significant increase in the military and make a down payment on a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Changes to Texas 'sanctuary city' bill don't satisfy critics
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Critics of a Texas bill that would crackdown on so-called "sanctuary cities" say Republican changes to soften the measure don't go nearly far enough. Hundreds of people Wednesday again packed the Texas Capitol to speak against the measure that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a priority. Some spoke only Spanish and urged lawmakers through translators...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Critics of a Texas bill that would crackdown on so-called "sanctuary cities" say Republican changes to soften the measure don't go nearly far enough. Hundreds of people Wednesday again packed the Texas Capitol to speak against the measure that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a priority. Some spoke only Spanish and urged lawmakers through translators...
Federal judge in Hawaii puts Trump travel ban on hold
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) - Hours before President Donald Trump's revised travel ban was to take effect, opponents renewed their legal challenges Wednesday, asking judges in three states to block the executive order that targets people from six predominantly Muslim countries. More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban. Hearings were scheduled Wednesday in Maryland, Washington state...
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) - Hours before President Donald Trump's revised travel ban was to take effect, opponents renewed their legal challenges Wednesday, asking judges in three states to block the executive order that targets people from six predominantly Muslim countries. More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban. Hearings were scheduled Wednesday in Maryland, Washington state...
Trump's allies melting away on wiretapping claims
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's explosive allegation that Barack Obama wiretapped his New York skyscraper during the presidential campaign has left him increasingly isolated, with allies on Capitol Hill and within his own administration offering no evidence to back him up.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's explosive allegation that Barack Obama wiretapped his New York skyscraper during the presidential campaign has left him increasingly isolated, with allies on Capitol Hill and within his own administration offering no evidence to back him up.
Maddow: People disappointed by Trump story expected too much
NEW YORK (AP) - Rachel Maddow says that if people felt let down by her story about President Donald Trump's 2005 tax document it's more because of the weight of expectation than anything she did.
NEW YORK (AP) - Rachel Maddow says that if people felt let down by her story about President Donald Trump's 2005 tax document it's more because of the weight of expectation than anything she did.