Abortion restrictions bill heads back to committee after sparking a Texas House rules debate

AUSTIN – A bill on new abortion restrictions was postponed for a day after the House became entangled in a rules debate. The proposal could give Texas one of the most restrictive abortion procedures in the nation by mandating that women receive a sonogram, view the image, hear a fetal heartbeat and listen to a description of the development before receiving the procedure.

Hoppe: http://dallasne.ws/gFgbHs

Barricade appears in front of Perry's office after disabled Texans' sit-in

This morning, a movable barricade appeared in front of Gov. Rick Perry's office on the Capitol's second floor. In the same public space last night, dozens of wheelchair-bound Texans protesting budget cuts to social services staged a five-hour sit-in.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/g8ea96

New barricades in front of governor's office

One day after a sit-in was staged outside Texas governor Rick Perry's office by disabled persons in wheelchairs, these barricades were raised between the columns leading to the foyer outside his office.

House Democrats question costs of Texas voter ID bill

 AUSTIN — House Democrats, facing an uphill battle against a Republican-backed bill to require Texans to show photo identification to vote, Tuesday questioned whether the state should spend money implementing the measure when the Legislature is grappling with a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall.

Stutz: http://dallasne.ws/eBDRkV

Disabled Texans stage sit-in to protest planned cuts

 AUSTIN — About 35 Texans in wheelchairs, denouncing proposed state budget cuts, staged a sit-in outside Gov. Rick Perry’s Capitol office late Tuesday.

Protesters with the disability rights group Adapt of Texas vowed to stay until they were removed or arrested.

Garrett, Hoppe report: http://dallasne.ws/fkvn84

House Higher Education leaders to hear measures to improve college productivity

The House higher education committee will focus on the state's slow completion rates Wednesday.
Two bills filed by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas are on the line up. One measure would change the formula funding for each college and university to allow the state to tie a portion of the funding to graduation rates and other outcomes. The funding for colleges and universities is currently based on enrollments.

Mulvaney: http://dallasne.ws/fYgnuN

Sanctuary cities gets first hearing

House lawmakers debate the first major immigration proposal on Wednesday that would ban "sanctuary cities" by allowing law enforcement officers to ask about a person's legal immigration status and arrest them for being in the country illegally. The State Affairs Committee takes up several bills designed to punish cities or other entities that adopt policies limiting police or sheriff's officials from enforcing federal immigration laws. The bill would withhold state grant money and other funding and allow the Attorney General to sue if such policies become known.

Hoppe: http://dallasne.ws/ezoM9b