Senate bill would curb home insurance rates without approval
Lawmakers in the Texas Senate are considering a measure that would require home insurers to get approval from regulators before increasing rates more than 10%, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Senate backs prayer time, Ten Commandments in classrooms
The Texas Senate last week passed a bill to allow school districts to set aside time for in-school prayer and gave initial approval to requiring all schools to post a copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Texas farmers concerned over growing trade war
Texas farmers are voicing growing concerns about tariffs being enacted by President Trump adversely affecting their ability to sell agricultural goods overseas, the Houston Chronicle reported. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said the tariffs could be especially tough on younger farmers.
With bill filing going full-bore for the legislative session, Texas Press Association’s Mike Hodges and Donnis Baggett report that the pace is as brisk it has been in the past. They expect that 8,000-9,000 bills will be filed by the March 14 deadline.
By BILL PATTERSON, TPA President
As youths we all likely tried to hide bad behavior from our parents. The truth inevitably surfaced, and we bore the brunt of punishment. Lesson: Be up front with circumstances and repercussions typically are minimized.
By Jim Pumarlo, consultant
Newspapers should communicate the same lesson to public officials who try to keep secret what they deem sensitive or unwelcome news: Be forthright. Make it standard procedure to volunteer the news and minimize rumors.
House proposes $7.5 billion in new school funding
Critics say a House bill proposing $7.5 billion in new funding for public education doesn’t go far enough, The Dallas Morning News reported. House Bill 2 would raise the per-student allotment by $220, to $6,360 a year. It would also invest $750 million in teacher pay and $450 million in teacher training.
Voucher bill has backing of House majority
A slim majority of Texas House members have indicated they will back House Bill 3, which creates education savings accounts that allow families to use taxpayer money for private school education. The Dallas Morning News reported that 75 Republican legislators have signed on with the bill’s author, state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, to support the measure.
House unveils its voucher version
EDITORS: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate early deadlines for the President's Day holiday. It will be updated Sunday if needed.
Lawmaker calls for probe into $95 million lottery jackpot
One of my greatest satisfactions sitting behind the editor’s desk was appreciating the newspaper had a pulse of the community. Credit extended beyond the newsroom; all employees served as our collective eyes and ears.
By JIM PURMARLO, Consultant
Delivering news is hard work, as editors well know. Stories don’t just fall in your lap. You must develop news sources, which can be a painstaking process. Sources willingly share good news. When bad news surfaces, they often create detours and roadblocks.