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 bathrooms, Patrick speaks for Abbott because Abbott lets him
by Scott on February 24, 2017 in Audio, Dan Patrick, Politics, Texas, Uncategorized
On restrooms, Patrick sides with Texas House foe Steve Hotze over business
by Scott on February 2, 2017 in Dan Patrick, Economy, Houston, Politics, Texas
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. […]
Texas Lt. Gov. asks schools to risk funding while laying groundwork to redirect their funds to vouchers
by Scott on June 2, 2016 in Dan Patrick, Politics, Schools, Tea Party
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday announced he is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in with an official opinion on whether the Fort Worth ISD’s policy on protections for transgender students is legal under Texas law. My fellow former radio talk show host acknowledged that he is “not a lawyer,” so he’s asking […]
Activists rail against gays and Texas House leadership as Woodfill announces for RPT Chair
by Scott on February 1, 2016 in Abortion, Dan Patrick, God, Houston, Joe Straus, Politics, Religion, Tea Party, Texas
HOUSTON – A day after once again stepping onto the national political stage by inserting himself into the Planned Parenthood video fight, former Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill last week formally announced he is running to lead the Republican Party of Texas. He is running alongside Texas Eagle Forum President Cathie Adams, who has […]
Defeat of HERO signals a campaign cycle of social conservatism ahead for Texas GOP
by Scott on November 6, 2015 in Dan Patrick, Houston, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
The defeat of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance Tuesday night came as a surprise only to those who had paid exactly zero attention to the politics on the ground – and for most of the campaign, the clueless seemed to include much of city leadership. Prior to and after the vote, many HERO supporters had […]
The Texas Senate Stands
by Scott on June 7, 2015 in Border Security, Dan Patrick, Immigration, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
As the 84th Texas Legislature concludes, there will be plenty of talk about which lawmakers were the best and worst, which made a difference, which made no difference at all, and what new laws will make Texas a better or worse place. I’ll leave that kind of list-making to wiser folks for the moment. Instead […]
Texas House and Senate in a Budget Showdown
by Scott on April 19, 2015 in Dan Patrick, Economy, Joe Straus, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
Facing criticism from Texas House Republican leadership and despite the concerns of one key GOP senator about certain tax cuts, the Texas Senate this past week passed its version of the state’s two-year spending plan on a vote of 30 to 1. Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, cast the lone “no” vote. The $211 billion budget, […]
AUDIO Flashback: Dan Patrick vs Ted Cruz
by Scott on March 23, 2015 in Audio, Dan Patrick, Politics, Tea Party, Texas, Uncategorized
As mentioned on the West Texas Drive this afternoon, here is the audio of then-Sen. Dan Patrick and Sen. Ted Cruz on Patrick’s radio show in Houston. This was during the GOP primary in 2012. The two really get into it about the way the Texas Senate operated under former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Tweet […]
Speaker Straus Hints at What’s to Come in Texas Legislative Session
by Scott on February 17, 2015 in Border Security, Dan Patrick, Economy, Education, Immigration, Joe Straus, Politics, Rick Perry, Tea Party, Texas, Video
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said this past week that he is “personally” against repealing in-state tuition for undocumented students, he wants to work with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on border security, and that The Legislature should avoid “gimmicks” when deciding how to pay for critical infrastructure like roads. In a […]
2014: The Year of Tom Delay’s Permanent Republican Majority
by Scott on December 31, 2014 in Dan Patrick, Politics, Tea Party, Texas
As 2014 draws to a close, one thing of which I am certain is you do not need to read another story about the variety of reasons Texas did not turn blue – or mauve or any shade of purple – this year but instead went from pretty darn red to “red concentrate” with a […]
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Scott Braddock is a journalist and political analyst based in Austin.
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