Tag Archives: Jason Villalba

Hispanic Policy Foundation poll: Abbott 44, Beto 43

At long last, some new polling data, and this one is eye-catching. A year before they could meet in a showdown for the state’s top office, Gov. Greg Abbott and expected Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke are virtually tied, according to … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Time to investigate

So, hey, that conversation we now know Dennis Bonnen had with MQS? The subject of that conversation, which involved a quid-pro-quo access-for-political-activity proposal, may be a violation of house rules. So, the relevant committee will have a look-see to check … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our typically feckless state leaders

Way to set an example for the rest of us, y’all. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick frequently talk tough about illegal immigration, but they refuse to publicly support the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy that’s spurred outrage for … Continue reading

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

2018 primary results: Legislative

Statewide Dem totals Statewide GOP totals Harris County Dem totals Harris County GOP totals (Please note that all results were coming in very slowly. I expect there will still be some precincts not yet reported by the time this publishes. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Going beyond “thoughts and prayers”

There are things we could do to reduce the prevalence of gun violence, if we wanted to. At a news conference organized by Texas Gun Sense at the state capitol on Wednesday, state Reps. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, and Nicole … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LGBT anti-discrimination bills voted out of House committee

One bit of good news this week. In an unprecedented vote, a House committee on Wednesday approved two bills to prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Dallas Republican Rep. Jason Villalba split with his … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on LGBT anti-discrimination bills voted out of House committee

Still talking vaccines and measles

Because it keeps needing to be talked about. Earlier this month, Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a pediatrician at Baylor College of Medicine and director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, detailed a disturbing prediction for 2017 in … Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still talking vaccines and measles

The coming measles outbreak

I hope we’re wrong about this. Peter Hotez used to worry mostly about vaccines for children in far-away places. An infectious diseases researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Hotez is developing shots against diseases in poorer countries … Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The coming measles outbreak

First rideshare legislative hearing

There will be a lot more where this came from. Representatives from Uber and Lyft urged lawmakers to adopt statewide regulations for the ride-hailing industry during a Texas Capitol hearing on Wednesday, citing what they called burdensome local ordinances that … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Anti-vaxxers gain ground in Texas

There’s a lesson in here that we need to learn. On a Friday night little over a year ago, a Texas mother of three was attending a school dance when she got a text message that stopped her cold. A … Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Anti-vaxxers gain ground in Texas

On succeeding, and defending, Ken Paxton

Ross Ramsay: While Ken Paxton fights to avoid convictions and jail time on indictments alleging securities violations — and to keep his job as Texas attorney general — a muted and unofficial conversation about who will succeed him is already … Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The new closet

From this Observer story about how Democrats finally managed to put a stake through Rep. Cecil Bell’s awful anti-same-sex-marriage-license bill, comes word of the legislative preference that dare not speak its name: [Rep. Jason] Villalba’s statements were a clear reminder … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Joining together for equality

Good to see. Standing alongside Democrats, a representative for the state’s powerful business lobby Tuesday denounced two proposed amendments to the state constitution aimed at bolstering protection for people acting on religious beliefs, which detractors say would legalize discrimination against … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let Indiana be our guide

Chron business columnist Chris Tomlinson has a warning for us. Watching Indiana Gov. Mike Pence call for a revision to a week-old religious freedom law this morning should be required viewing for every Houston politician and business person. After refusing … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Targeting straight ticket voting

From Trail Blazers: Texas is one of only 10 states still doing straight-ticket voting but a North Texas legislator is hoping to change that. At a hearing today, Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) told the Elections Committee that doing away with … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Krause re-files Villalba’s anti-gay bill

Alas. One of the state’s most anti-gay lawmakers is going forward with a “religious freedom” amendment dropped by another representative earlier this week amid opposition from the Texas Association of Business. Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) announced Monday he would “reconsider … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Krause re-files Villalba’s anti-gay bill

One anti-gay bill pulled

One down, too many to count to go. A House Republican will no longer seek to amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit state and local governments from “in any way” restricting the free exercise of religion, leaving several conservative legislators … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on One anti-gay bill pulled

Discrimination is bad for business

Good for TAB. The Texas Association of Business has come out against two religious freedom resolutions that critics say would enshrine a “license to discriminate” against LGBT people in the Texas Constitution. TAB, which is the state’s powerful chamber of … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Discrimination is bad for business

Abbott waffles on vaccinations

Come on, dude. Weighing in on a national debate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made clear this week that he supports laws that include exemptions to requirements that parents vaccinate their children. “Abbott recognizes the public health benefits of vaccines and … Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ending exemptions for vaccines

Hear, hear. A Texas Republican is taking aim at a provision in state law that allows parents with personal or religious objections to vaccines to opt their children out of school immunization requirements. State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, said Friday … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ending exemptions for vaccines

Tesla brings the lobbyists

Nothin’ but good times ahead if you’re a Republican-connected lobbyist, thanks to Tesla and the auto dealers. Locked in a brawl with auto dealers, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is unleashing some of the most powerful lobbyists and consultants in … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla brings the lobbyists

Villalba gets defensive about his pro-discrimination bill

I don’t know if Rep. Jason Villalba is willfully dense or just confused, but either way this is a big pile of BS. State Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) remains adamant that a proposed constitutional amendment he filed earlier this month … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Villalba gets defensive about his pro-discrimination bill

Republicans will push pro-discrimination bills

I have three things to say about this. Two days after the Plano City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people, a Texas legislator filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the ability of cities to enforce … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yes, Greg Abbott owns the RPT platform

Sorry, Greg. You can mumble all the vague platitudes you want, but this baby’s all yours. In the wake of the GOP’s approval of a platform that includes a hardline stance on immigration, Attorney General Greg Abbott finds himself at … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Yes, Greg Abbott owns the RPT platform

Sriracha post-mortem

The Motley Fool wonders if State Rep. Jason Villalba should get the credit for the resolution of the Great Sriracha Dispute of 2014. In early January, Texas state representative Jason Villalba made a public invitation to David Tran to pack … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sriracha post-mortem

Sriracha dispute settled

The City of Irwindale’s long national nightmare is finally over. Sriracha’s spicy relationship with the City Council cooled off a bit Wednesday after officials unanimously dismissed a lawsuit and public nuisance declaration against manufacturer Huy Fong Foods. The standoff between … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Sriracha dispute settled

The other reason why Huy Fong won’t move to Texas

In a word, water. Huy Fong Foods, which is staying put for now, is different from Toyota and other companies that have recently been wooed or moved to Texas. It is an agribusiness, relying on thousands of tons of local … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The other reason why Huy Fong won’t move to Texas

The Sriracha delegation arrives in California

Can you feel the excitement? The self-styled “sriracha delegation” of Texas lawmakers heads to Irwindale, Calif., on Monday to woo the maker of a popular hot sauce to the Lone Star State. And the makeup of the delegation makes clear … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Sriracha delegation arrives in California

Sriracha for San Antonio?

State Rep. Jason Villalba will finally make his pilgrimage to California to visit Huy Fong Foods and try to convince them to pick up stakes and move to Texas. State and city officials are hoping to woo the CEO of … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sriracha for San Antonio?

Even if the Sriracha factory moves, that doesn’t mean it will move to Texas

There’s a lot of competition for them. After months of heated negotiations with the city of Irwindale over the smell of Sriracha hot sauce, Huy Fong Foods Chief Executive David Tran is appealing to a higher power: a member of … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Even if the Sriracha factory moves, that doesn’t mean it will move to Texas

Sorry, the Sriracha factory will not be coming to Texas

The ongoing battle between the makers of Sriracha sauce and their hometown flared up again last week. The Irwindale City Council has voted unanimously to declare the spicy smell of Sriracha hot sauce production a public nuisance. Once the council … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Sorry, the Sriracha factory will not be coming to Texas

Still seeking Sriracha for Texas

State Rep. Jason Villalba has a dream. Rep. Jason Villalba wants to move production of his favorite spicy condiment to the North Texas area. A plant in Dallas, Richardson, Plano, or another Texas community could help bring jobs to the … Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Still seeking Sriracha for Texas

Monday House action

The main action on Monday in the House was the House Redistricting Committee hearing. Where there’s a redistricting hearing, there’s Greg with a liveblogging session. Pay close attention to the stuff Greg writes about the questions that the Dems, in … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

White Ds and non-white Rs

A few points to make about this. White Democrats are an increasingly vanishing species in the Texas Legislature, where there will be only 10 when the new legislative session starts in early January. The face of the Legislature has undergone … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments