AUSTIN – Today, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced the appointment of two Senate members to the Texas Judicial Council and one to the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families. Sen. Royce West has been appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and… Read more »

AUSTIN – The senate members of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) today unanimously agreed to keep the agency open through the first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year. The Legislature has already appropriated $15.4 million to the agency but voted to make the Commission’s administrative funds totaling $1.5 million subject to LBB approval. The Senate… Read more »

AUSTIN – “Overnight tragedy struck in Northwest Harris County. A deputy from the Harris County Sheriff’s office was ambushed, shot and murdered in cold blood after stopping for gas at a convenience store near Houston. “This senseless act is a reminder of the danger our men and women in law enforcement face everyday and the… Read more »

AUSTIN – “Today the Texas Racing Commission met to continue their push for an expansion of gambling that the court’s have ruled, exceeds their statutory authority. I will have a comment on their vote at the appropriate time. “However, I do have a statement at this time on the inappropriate and offensive comments concerning Chairwoman Jane… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick along with Senator John Whitmire held a news conference announcing an interim study on jail safety standards in Texas. “I have called on Criminal Justice Committee Chair Sen. Whitmire to conduct an interim study on our jail safety practices,” said Patrick. “Our criminal justice system assumes a… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the following statement regarding widespread anti-Semitic vandalism in a North Side San Antonio Jewish community: “Today’s discovery of racially-targeted and anti-Semitic vandalism in a San Antonio Jewish community is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Texas. “This criminal and cowardice act has no place in any Texas… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the following statement regarding a Department of Public Safety (DPS) shooting incident in Odessa, Texas: “Today, in Odessa, Texas, four DPS officers were assisting a Texas Ranger in pursuit of a suspect; two officers were shot. Their condition is not known at this time. The suspect has been… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the following statement regarding the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling related to Texas’ Voter ID law: “As joint author of Texas Voter ID law, I strongly disagree with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which rejected a portion of that law. Texas’ Voter ID law was… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the following statement regarding the fifth video made public involving activities related to Planned Parenthood: “A fifth undercover video has been released by the Center for Medical Progress discussing the gruesome and barbaric work of Planned Parenthood and what appears to be it’s profiteering from selling body parts… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the following statement regarding President Obama’s ‘Clean Power Plan’: “On Monday, President Obama announced his ‘Clean Power Plan,’ which will require a significant reduction in carbon emissions across the nation. During his speech he stated, ‘No challenge poses a greater threat to our future and future generations, than… Read more »