Opinion

LT. GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK, as leader of the Texas Senate, conducted a sham trial while claiming to be unbiased in the impeachment hearing of Ken Paxton and had us all fooled.

Immediately following the vote to acquit Paxton on the 16 charges, and from the dais where he presided as the "impartial" Judge in the case, Dan Patrick revealed to Texans his bias immediately with an emboldened speech admonishing the House for their handling of the impeachment.

Paxton trial completes first week
The first week of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Senate ended with his former lead law enforcement officer testifying an Austin developer alleged to have bribed Paxton constructed a “conspiracy theory” that federal officials altered a search warrant for his property, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Child care centers closing across state

An unprecedented number of child care centers are expected to close across the state as pandemic relief funding ends, the Texas Standard reported. A survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children of about 1,600 child care programs indicated 44% were likely to close their doors without additional funding. Federal pandemic relief funds ended for most centers in June.

Wildfire chances increasing across state
The risk for wildfires across the state has risen along with the hot and dry conditions, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Patrick issues gag order ahead of trial
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick last week issued a sweeping gag order ahead of the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Houston Chronicle reported, saying “out-of-court statements” by both sides threaten to jeopardize the trial.
The trial is set to begin Sept. 5.

IT’S NO SECRET that recent years have been tough on small businesses and on newspapers. A bipartisan bill—the Community News & Small Business Support Act—that has been introduced in Congress would offer relief to both newspapers and local businesses. For too many newspapers, help can’t come soon enough.

Tax-relief plan headed to governor
Proponents are calling it the “biggest property tax cut in Texas history.” Both chambers of the Texas Legislature passed an $18 billion package during the second special session, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

House Democrats’ tax plan would help renters

Texas House Democrats unveiled a $20.9 billion plan for property tax relief that drops tax rates, increases the homestead exemption, gives annual rebates to renters, and includes pay raises for teachers, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

The newest proposal comes as the Legislature continues wrangling over the issue in the second special session this year.

Dear Texas Panhandle,

Abbott vetoes bills; feud with Patrick grows
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claimed last week that Gov. Greg Abbott is sabotaging the Senate’s work because of their ongoing feud over which approach to property tax reform is best, The Dallas Morning News reported. Abbott vetoed three bills by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who has been Patrick’s point senator on increasing homestead exemptions in order to provide tax cuts. As of Friday afternoon, he had vetoed 31 bills.