Politics

A decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow openly gay scouts in their ranks is drawing a lot of reaction here in Texas. 

Gov. Rick Perry is an Eagle Scout and for years he has pressured the Boy Scouts of America not to allow openly gay members. He issued a statement saying the decision “contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness.” He said he will always cherish his time as a scout, but says he is “greatly disappointed” with the decision. 

The Boy Scouts of America has agreed for the first time to allow openly gay boys as members, but a vote of the organization's National Council left in place a ban on gay Scout leaders.

The Associated Press reports that of the local Scout leaders voting at their annual meeting in Texas, more than 60 percent supported the proposal. The policy change approved by the 1,400-member National Council would take effect Jan. 1, 2014, the organization said.

Let’s count it down folks, four days left until the end of the 83rd Texas Legislative session.

Budget Deal Ain't Done

Just because we’re almost at the end doesn’t mean things are ending nicely. The “on-again-off-again” squabble over the final version of the state budget has, like any good Taylor Swift song, ended in a breakup.

Update (May 23, 2013): A slew of gun bills that passed out of the House earlier this month did not make it to the Senate floor by the deadline to consider all House bills.

It all ends Monday for the 83rd Texas Legislative session.

The final round of deadlines hit the House and Senate this week. Ending debate on some bills, leaving a trail of dead campaign promises, broken legislative dreams, and a long line of disappointed advocates and lobbyists. That’s right folks...it’s time again for Bill Kill - Volume 2!

The Texas House split on a couple of bills that would drug test recipients of state aid. A midnight deadline passed before lawmakers could vote on a bill that would drug test recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

But earlier in the day lawmakers did pass testing for unemployment benefits.