"One explanation would be Democrat-friendly leadership within the House. As shown in the graph, only 39% of the bills coming out of the Senate were Democrat-written or co-written, but 51% of the laws sent to the governor’s desk from the House were Democrat-written or co-written. This means the MINORITY party in the House, outnumbered by nearly 2-1, was the MAJORITY when it came to laws passed. How can this be? There is one probable answer: Speaker of the House Joe Straus. He was elected as House Speaker in 2009 by every Democrat and 11 Republicans and has remained in power ever since. How? You see, to become Speaker of the Texas House, you only need 76 votes. So, with 55 Democrats, Straus only needs 21 out of the 95 Republicans to side with him. In order to keep Democrat support, he has appointed many of them to chair and vice chair committees."
The Ann Arbor of Texas LOL
Most of the people who live in Austin used to live in California.
Doesn’t surprise me one bit. It’s the one, unwashable stain on a nice red carpet.
Not surprising.
Just another instance of keeping Austin Weird.
The “word” “CalifAustin” springs to mind.
I have read that there is a concerted effort to ‘recolonize’ Texas with Democrats. The Dems have been pretty successful at getting their ‘’own’ to move to previously Red states and turn them. Colorado, etc. Stay strong, Texas!
Keep in mind a lot of Texas Republicans used to be Texas Democrats. Rick Perry for instance.
Here’s my answer: PRIMARY THE MAN (Strauss)! Go!
If mass immigration continues, Texas is eventually bound to go blue, because Mexican-Americans vote overwhelmingly Democratic.
Good observation. There is absolutely no question that THE problem in the Texas House is RINO Joe Straus. You correctly state how he gained power. Basically, his support base in the House is Democrats.
One standard by which to measure how weak Texas is with respect to enacting laws that truly further liberty: Texas still does not permit open carry (of hand guns, that is), and — as far as I know — it still does not allow CHL holders to carry on college campuses.
For that matter, why do we require a CHL, with all its red-tape and nonsense: It is a closed door for many without the money to both register and attend a class which forces firearms instructors to teach phoney psychology lessons as part of the regimen. How about “Constitutional Carry,” as Vermont, Alaska, and some other states have.
Joe Straus is, unfortunately, a McCain-type Republican, and a very wiley political tactician to boot..
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is a Democrat in all but name, he was only made speaker by Democrat votes.
Red states are Democrat / progressive / communist / socialist states.
Blue states are Reagan / conservative / democratic-republican states -— see either election map for 1980 or 1984.
Austin, TX is messed up, and leftists have been messing with Texas for 100 years, contrary to protests.
I have never understood why the Reds are considered blue.
Weak GOP leadership!
Like cancer cells spreading to other organs, these highly motivated libturds will relocate to targeted blue states until they have sufficient numbers to shift it to purple then red.
You conservative/libertarians or just those who have read the Constitution in Texas and the other red states had better think about that.
The bills will still have to be signed by Gov Rick Perry....and that dude is no conservative.
NAFTA Superhighway....In State Tuition for Illegal Aliens...Forced STD vaccination of little girls....Perry is no conservative.