Texas Weekly Online

Missouri lawmakers vote to expand tax credit-backed private school scholarships

Missouri lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to expand private school scholarships statewide, an effort made possible by extensive compromises including a commitment to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on public schools. The GOP-led House voted with a bare-minimum margin of 82-69 to send the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Parson. If signed, Read More

Mike Johnson: The wartime Speaker battling on multiple fronts

“I regard myself as a wartime Speaker,” declared House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Only, we’re not sure if Johnson was referring to the internecine war among Republicans over whether he should keep his job. Many members wear pocket squares with their suits. But not Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. He walks around with a self-made, diode Read More

Alabama lawmakers advance bill to strengthen state’s weak open records law

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate on Thursday advanced legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s weak open records law by setting deadlines to respond to requests to view public documents. Senators voted 29-0 for the legislation. The bill now moves to the House. “Right now, under current law, it’s the wild west. We don’t Read More

Florida bill allowing public school chaplains becomes law

Florida school districts will soon have the option of allowing volunteer chaplains to counsel students under a bill signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who dismissed critics opposed to mixing religion with public education. The only requirements for a chaplain to participate would be passing a background check and having their name and religious Read More