This analysis originally appeared in the Quorum Report. Join us there daily for coverage of Texas politics and government. The apology tour is on as Speaker Dennis Bonnen and former Texas House GOP Caucus Chairman Dustin Burrows seek to make amends after admitting to saying “terrible things” about members in a private meeting while the […]
Tag Archives: Greg Abbott
Doubling down on sales tax swap, Abbott puts Texas Republicans in a box
Months ago when the Big Three first unveiled this session’s signature property tax “relief” bill, and remember it was introduced as the “Property Tax Reform and Relief Act of 2019,” they were flanked at a news conference by Senate Property Tax Committee Chairman Paul Bettencourt and Ways and Means Chair Dustin Burrows. Without those chairmen […]
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Flashback: Lt. Gov. Patrick gives Sen. Cruz a lesson in how to lead Texas Republicans
Note: This article first appeared in the Quorum Report in September of 2016. Given the fact that Lt. Gov. Patrick reportedly brokered the deal for President Trump to campaign for Sen. Cruz in Texas, it seemed appropriate to revisit this analysis – SB A clear-eyed assessment of the long-term strength and influence of the Tea […]
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Maybe the GOP Civil War in Texas Really is Over
Perhaps every column should now start like this: Before you’re done reading, the president may tweet something that changes almost everything I’m about to say. In his speech at the Texas GOP convention last month and again in emails to supporters, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick – who finished about 15 points behind Gov. Greg Abbott […]
Abbott’s New Hampshire-based consultant Dave Carney pulls back the curtain on the governor’s disdain for all Texas House members
Gov. Greg Abbott has now traveled to two Republican Texas House members’ districts to campaign against them, repeatedly call them “liberals,” and make clear that even uttering opposition to a key mechanism for his fundraising will be severely punished. Even if they win their races on Tuesday, Chairmen Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, and Lyle […]
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Abbott strategy against Texas House Republicans is ready, fire, aim
Note: This analysis originally appeared in The Quorum Report in August. It seems approproriate to revisit it now that Abbott is inserting himself into House GOP primaries. After nearly a solid week of non-stop broadside attacks on Texas House Republicans by Gov. Greg Abbott, a common refrain around the Capitol among lawmakers and lobbyists goes […]
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As hardliners push Texas House GOP to flex muscle in selecting speaker, Abbott works to reduce their numbers
HOUSTON – Confession: Few things in this world are as fascinating and fun as the literal and figurative swamp of Harris County politics. The creatures lurking here in the murky bayou waters are powerful and petty, colorful and crazy. And they’ll get you if you’re not careful. That’s why it was especially striking that as […]
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On bathrooms, Patrick speaks for Abbott because Abbott lets him
There was much chuckling and chatter at the Texas Capitol following the release of Texas Monthly’s cover story featuring Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holding the gavel standing over the words “In Charge.” One recurring reaction went something like this: “Maybe the magazine should have done a vote count on Patrick’s priority bills before making that […]
On restrooms, Patrick sides with Texas House foe Steve Hotze over business
Note: This story originally appeared in The Quorum Report. Join us there for daily coverage of Texas politics and government. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has suggested Gov. Greg Abbott should articulate a clear position on one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priorities for the legislative session: Restrictions on bathroom access based on gender. […]
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Trump Victory Could Pressure Gov. Abbott to Lay Out an Agenda
It was a decade ago that then-Gov. Rick Perry stood on the banks of the Rio Grande in his Carhartt jacket, promising in a TV commercial that “If Washington won’t protect our border, Texas will.” At that time, Texas Republicans were treating President George W. Bush as an apostate who was weak on the issue […]
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About Scott
Scott Braddock is a journalist and political analyst based in Austin.
