Pratt on Texas

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Teacher pay; election cheating penalties; crony taxpayer handouts; rogue district attorneys; air conditioning Texas prison; wasteful huge handouts for rural Internet broadband; budget conferees named, and; much more for the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Stories on how promotion of child sex changes and homosexuality are indeed part of our public schools, a very small rural district in this case, as well as in our major hospitals in Texas.Oh, and there is this: UT Arlington attempts to charge conservative students $26,000 for security over an event hosted last year that only needed security because of campus Leftists.Border and immigration news including this latest Democrat ploy: Democrats Float Bill To Allow LGBTQ Migrants [Homosexual Illegal Aliens] To Walk Into U.S. Unrestricted. And as if that was absurd enough, note the provision about not being English language proficient!Oil and gas rig count unchanged in Texas. Exxon ups oil production; Iran seized Chevron-chartered tanker headed for Texas, and; why a takeover boom looms for the Permian Basin.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Weak charges against an Abilene candidate for mayor are even more odd given who is making the charges and that little but personal assertions are being give such deep coverage in the local newspaper.A refresher on Michael Bob Starr:Starr’s reaction to exposure as bad as what was exposedWant to see the so-called “malicious” material about Michael Bob Starr?Starr disobeyed some orders but offered no resistance to promoting LGBTQ’s mainstreaming in the service.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas wins again! Best state for business for record-shattering 19-years in a row.The hyperbole, already overdone years ago on voter I.D., continues from the Leftist Texas press over having better run elections in the Lone Star State.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Gun bills, protecting children on-line, armed guards in public schools, and more including a Speaker, who has not moved the House to get much done, is talking about vacation and going surfing!A Listener Club member from Burkburnett asks me to explain HB 2705 on short-barrel firearms. I spoke with the author, Rep. Richard Hayes, and explain why this bill exists and why its good.I also comment on HB13 which pays school folk a stipend to be armed and HB3, the big school security bill.And in the media malpractice file we have a big Austin American-Statesman piece whining about how Uvalde gun-control backers had to wait so long, just like everyone else, to testify before a committee. Funny how the entire story tries, and fails, to lay it on Republicans including the committee chairman but carries the truth within: The wait was completely a function of the Democrats chubbing a bill on the House floor last week.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Midland’s terrible District Attorney strikes again and fails again. Voters need to sweep this woman out of office soon.Cuban commies run out of fuel, have to cancel May Day parade!And, other news of Texas. Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: On Saturday, 29 April, all who can attend need to be present for the HOW MANY MORE? rally. This Saturday Texans will assemble at the Texas Capitol in Austin to demand that our elected leaders take action to end the humanitarian crisis at our southern border.The How Many More Rally will demand that lawmakers take these actions to save our nation:Declare an invasion of our southern border Legally. Officially. And completely without reservation.Define Mexican cartels as terror organizations Take all actions possible to eradicate the cartels in our country.Seize cartel bank accounts and assets American money is their lifeblood. Stop the flow of funds through U.S. banks and financial technology companies that benefit the cartels.Establish a Texas Border Defense Unit to protect TexansMake this new force permanent with broad powers to confront the cartels. It’s up to Texans to save Texans and our nation.South Texas veterinarian, DR. MIKE VICKERS who founded Texas Border Volunteers years ago, speaks with me today about the problem we are facing. He will be one of the guest speakers at the rally along with TED NUGENT, LARA LOGAN, REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ, U.S. REP. CHIP ROY, CJ PEARSON, MARK MORGAN, VIRGINIA KRIEGER, JAESON JONES, CRAIG SAWYER, VICTOR AVILA, SHERIFF ROY BOYD, GEORGE RODRIGUEZ, JEFFREY STAMM, and MARK MECKLER as Master of Ceremonies.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.A 4-in-1 Anti-Wimp Update!Texas economic news from the Dallas Fed shows a less than robust economy. Manufacturing sector update and service and retail sector update.From the 88th Legislature: Bill protecting your gasoline tools from local bans moving toward full passage: House passes HB3, the big school security bill that I think is not as wonderful as its backers think; anti-gun rights bills need opposition – a call to voters to contact reps, and more.From TSRA:Please CALL AND EMAIL committee members and urge them to OPPOSE bills that deny Second Amendment rights to young adults and track legal firearms purchases by law-abiding citizens. Be sure to put in the subject line of your email or make the point in your call that you OPPOSE HB 22, HB 106 & HB 2744.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: In the legislature, there are even Republicans who do not want voters to be told the truth on bond elections – that each when passed is effectively a tax increase. As Rep. Brian Harrison asked in the Public Education Committee hearing last week: “I hear this, that bonds don’t increase taxes. But I mean, are buildings free? Somebody’s paying for the buildings, right?”I have long said on Pratt on Texas that many people, including many who should know better, actually believe bond debt money is magical free money because they are so often told by officials that passing a bond debt issue will not raise their taxes. This is simply untrue. It is bothersome, and maybe indicative of a fundamental problem (?), that some Republican lawmakers want mislead voters on the issue.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Behindtheblack.com’s Robert Zimmerman is right to be upset with our horrible press. I noticed the exact same thing about misreporting on the Space X test of Starship/Superheavy in Texas last week.Texas attains new records in March 2023 with the largest civilian labor force and greatest number of people employed in state history. Unemployment rate flat at 4%. See full report and local numbers here.Oil and gas drilling rig count up last week in Texas.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: I interview Representative Brian Harrison on his impressive and highly relevant set of bills filed for this session. From the beginning, Rep. Harrison’s bills have shown him to be among the most informed about the actual political and social struggles in which we find ourselves.Also, I talk more with James Quintero about the competing property tax relief plans from the Senate and the House. This is a follow-up discussion to our interview on Monday.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Victory! Texas is born! Celebrate San Jacinto Day!Celebrating San Jacinto Day with Battle of San Jacinto from The Silent Generation by The Dimes. Hear the song here: https://thedimes.bandcamp.com/track/battle-of-san-jacintoThanks to Belle’s Chicken Dinner House in Abilene for sponsoring our week of broadcasts from Austin!Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: From the Texas Capitol in the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, I visit with freshman state Rep. Carl Tepper (HD84) about happenings in the legislature, property tax relief differences with the Senate, and his hopes that the House will move on serious bills to end the menace of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in our state institutions.House Calendars Committee chairman, Rep. Dustin Burrows (HD83,) joins me to talk about the passage of, and big Democrat fight against, his major bill (HB2127) stopping Texas cities from imposing regulations of their own in areas where state law is supreme. This fight on the House floor this week was the first major fight with the liberal Democrats of the session.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Thanks to Belle’s Chicken Dinner House in Abilene for sponsoring our week of broadcasts from Austin! Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: From the Texas Capitol in the 88th Regular Texas Legislature, I interview state Representative Jared Patterson about his efforts in leading the cleanup of our public school libraries by removing the sexually explicit smut that has found its way into so many.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Also we talk with Senator Drew Springer (SD30) about a variety of bills including a bill to aid rural law enforcement (SB22,) unemployment indexing (SB150,) adding fines for certain violations of election law (SB1807,) land owner damage bill from illegal immigration (SB815,) and SB471 to add a fee to pay for investigation by those repeatedly make unwarranted complaints to TCEQ. Here is the media story about SB471 that I mention in the interview.In the last segment of today’s show, I speak with Zach Whiting of the Texas Public Policy Foundation about efforts to protect children from online addiction and privacy violations.Thanks to Belle’s Chicken Dinner House in Abilene for sponsoring our week of broadcasts from Austin!Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: From the Texas Capitol in the 88th Regular Texas Legislature, I interview state Senator Charles Perry, chairman of the Senate committee on Water, Rural Affairs, Agriculture. Senator Perry talks about his major work to benefit securing water resources for Texas’ future (SB28.) We also discuss the budget, differing versions of property tax relief, behavioral health, public school classroom discipline (SB245,) power grid issues, and more. Representative Dustin Burrow’s bill, HB 2127, to further prevent Texas cities from trying preempt state law and regulate businesses with differing rules took up most of the House session today. Democrats, the tools of the Texas Municipal League and others, have clearly decided to fight hard on this bill and spent most of the day on obstructionist tactics.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Thanks to Belle’s Chicken Dinner House in Abilene for sponsoring our week of broadcasts from Austin! Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Big issues before the 88th Regular Texas Legislature include property tax relief; public school choice; energy policy, and; court mandated reform of the Texas foster care system.Today’s show orginates from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and I talk with James Quintero about the competing property tax relief plans from the Senate and the House; former state Rep. Jason Isaac about the Left’s attack on plentiful energy; Mandy Drogin on parental empowerment and school choice, and; Andrew Brown on the progress on reform of the foster care system.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Thanks to Belle’s Chicken Dinner House in Abilene for sponsoring our week of broadcasts from Austin!Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com