Items of Interest Compiled by Arnold Public Affairs While the 82nd Session is just getting underway, the political season is never over. Debate on the Voter ID bill took center stage this week, which passed the Senate in just two days after regular committee hearings were skipped and rules were ... Keep Reading

I have done political training sessions for both Egyptian political parties and for Tunisian women activists in the last several years.  To watch what is going on in these two countries now is fascinating.  It makes me wonder if any of the people in those training sessions are involved in the ... Keep Reading

From The Texas Tribune: The voter ID legislation passed by the Texas Senate on Wednesday night may be controversial, but it’s a familiar debate, as is the issue of “sanctuary cities.” Gov. Rick Perry has declared both to be “emergency items” that demand immediate attention by the Legislature. Less ... Keep Reading

From Texas Monthly's Burka Blog: Senate Finance chair Steve Ogden says that Senate leaders are considering naming a subcommittee of Finance to review tax exemptions. “In order to get to 21 votes, I’ve got to look at everything — including cuts, using the Rainy Day Fund and finding non-tax ... Keep Reading

From Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report: Rule suspension today opens the door Today’s Voter ID bill discussion opened the floodgate for Senate committees to start meeting on bills prior to the conclusion of the first month of session. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst named the Senate Finance Committee earlier ... Keep Reading

Jay Arnold of Arnold Public Affairs and other Austin insiders gave The Texas Tribune their thoughts on the 2012 Senate race to fill U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat. Read more here. ... Keep Reading

The Austin American-Statesman reported over the weekend that Governor Perry would announce emergency legislation requiring women seeking abortions to have sonograms first. An excerpt: "In 2009, the state Senate passed legislation requiring that doctors offer women sonograms, but it died in the ... Keep Reading

Items of Interest Compiled by Arnold Public Affairs The Legislature’s ongoing proposals to address the budget shortfall continue to dominate the attention of Texans, but political turnover, additional emergency legislation from the Governor, and relations between new and incumbent politicians, ... Keep Reading

From Harvey Kronberg's  Quorum Report: School finance experts does computer runs on budget cut implications based on several funding models Financial consultants estimate the $10 billion shortfall in the baseline House budget could mean a loss of between 80,000 to 100,000 jobs in districts across ... Keep Reading

Ellen Arnold gave a presentation to the One Voice Central Texas organization at Meals on Wheels and More on Thursday January 20. One Voice is a network of human service organizations whose mission is to "convey the human service needs of the Austin area community to policy makers and the public and ... Keep Reading