Donna Howard

TX State Rep. D-48, Democrat, UT, former critical care nurse & school board member, mom & grandmom w/ 3 great kids & 7 perfect grandkids! Staff tweets = "TH."

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

"Texas House rules (nor the 10 commandments) do not prohibit member relationships with lobbyists or staff." But I believe I've heard that the 10 commandments include thou shalt not commit adultery. #txlege

[Lauren McGaughy @lmcgaughy]

IN THIS STORY:

- James Talarico explains why he’s not commenting on Ken Paxton’s personal life,
- Angela Paxton declines to say who she’ll vote for in the Senate race,
- Senate history involving “spinsters,” “widows” and Bob Kerrey.

https://t.co/VYNqdR1MKm

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Starting Friday, August 7, families can purchase most back-to-school essentials, including clothes, footwear, supplies, and backpacks (under $100), without paying sales tax!

Learn more here: https://t.co/pUr8QMKy0h -TH

[Team Talarico @TeamTalaricoHQ]

.@JamesTalarico: The young people here might not remember this, but those of you who are a little older might. Not so long ago, you could afford to live a good life here in America.

You could buy a home in your 20s. You could go to college for cheap or free. You could support a whole family on one paycheck. You could afford to get married, have kids, and retire comfortably. You could fulfill your God-given potential.

We called it the American Dream.

In the middle of the 20th century, we invested in healthcare and education. We built homes and highways. We protected workers' rights and paychecks. We blocked consolidation and encouraged competition. We built the largest, strongest middle class in the history of the world.

But today that middle class has disappeared. For too many of our neighbors, the American Dream has become an American Nightmare.

We can't afford a home, but Jeff Bezos has at least a dozen. We can't afford to fill up our tank, but Mark Zuckerberg is launching helicopters from his mega-yacht. One in five Texas children live in poverty — but one of our residents became the world's first trillionaire.

The top 1% put the American Dream behind a paywall.

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

“Republicans feel that they have had the religious upper hand for so long, that it’s pretty threatening to see someone like @jamestalarico running for office.” Let’s flip some tables. #txlege

[Kelsey Dallas @kelsey_dallas]

One of the most depressing parts of working on the faith beat was routinely dealing with people who felt like half the people I covered didn't even "count" as religious....

https://t.co/XO8I4I9qp9

[T.L. Langford @tlangford]

Arrests made, room cleared during chaotic Tarrant County meeting on voting site cuts https://t.co/0m9B5QXxZi

[Adam Loewy @LoewyLawFirm]

Damn

Rep @plesafortexas rolled this lady.

Brutal.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Everyone wants lower property taxes. Almost no one wants to explain how Texas would actually pay for schools without them.

Rep. @DonnaHowardTX breaks down the real numbers: what happens if the state eliminates school property taxes, why sales taxes would have to more than double, and why the popular solutions (THC, gambling, etc.) don’t come close to filling an $80 billion hole. We also dig into school funding realities, the $14,000-per-pupil myth, inflation-adjusted spending, and concerns around Education Savings Accounts.

Guest: State Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin, HD-48)
Vice Chair, House Appropriations (Article II) | Chair, Texas Women’s Health Caucus
Host: @bradswail| Texas Talks

If you care about school funding or property taxes in Texas, this is required viewing.

[Michael E. Webber @MichaelEWebber]

This is fundamentally wrong.

Expanding and improving the grid will improve reliability, lower costs and enable significant economic growth.

Not expanding the grid will hobble our ability to attract modern factories, electrify the oil and gas sector, and improve reliability.

We have enough power plants —what we lack is the ability to effectively move power around.

[Mayor Kirk Watson @KirkPWatson]

Latest #WatsonWire: Austin and Travis County has been preparing for a potential wildfire event for years. We know that extreme weather events are increasing.

We understand that the most effective way we can protect our community from wildfires is through education, prevention, and preparation.

That’s where you—the public—comes in. If people prepare and take precautions now, they can protect themselves, their families, neighbors, and community.

Next Wednesday, August 5, I’m co-hosting a Wildfire Symposium at City Hall.

Learn more: https://t.co/gc11VahSXi

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

When Texas overhauled how it funds community colleges in 2023, the state made a bet: pay for results — credentials earned, students transferred, workforce needs met — instead of enrollment. The colleges took the bet seriously, says Rep. @DonnaHowardTX . Under House Bill 8, dual credit enrollment surged and campuses across the state met or exceeded the new performance metrics. Then, says Howard, the state didn’t hold up its end.

https://t.co/FAUZ0qr8Z7

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

I was honored to meet with @TheArcofTexas to discuss disability policy, the same week as the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I’m grateful to the Arc and the late Bob Kafka for guiding this important work.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

How can Texas improve healthcare access, strengthen public education, and prepare its workforce while balancing competing budget priorities?

On this episode of @TXTalksPodcast, host @bradswailwelcomes State Representative @DonnaHowardTX, who represents House District 48, for a wide-ranging conversation on healthcare, higher education, workforce development, public school funding, and the state's fiscal outlook. As Vice Chair of both the House Higher Education Committee and Article II Appropriations, Howard offers insight into some of the biggest policy debates facing Texas ahead of the next legislative session.

The discussion explores the challenges of funding public education, improving rural healthcare access, expanding workforce training through community colleges, and addressing shortages of nurses and healthcare providers. Howard also discusses property tax relief, the Sunset Commission's ongoing review of health agencies, dementia research, and how lawmakers are preparing for the state's next budget cycle.

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Agree freedom OF and FROM religion. Should be inclusive of all religions and those who practice no faith tradition. "look at whether state laws line up w/ 'establishment' and 'free exercise' clauses of the First Amendment and determine if 'additional protections are needed.'"

[Texas Tribune @TexasTribune]

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick directed state lawmakers to study ways to further infuse religion into public life, as part of a new crop of interim charges unveiled by the Texas Senate leader. https://t.co/nHcq4ff58j

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

Big news for future Longhorns! 🤘

@CockrellSchool and @UTexasMcCombs are launching a first-of-its-kind five-year honors program where students can earn both a B.S. in Engineering and an M.S. in Business.

Applications open Aug. 1. Learn more below. ⤵️

[quorumreport @quorumreport]

Former Speaker Joe Straus on the passing of Tom Luce #txlege

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Despite environmental scientists calling the study’s methods “inappropriate and misrepresented...it’s part of the broader movement’s willingness to experiment and try a variety of tactics until one succeeds — the same strategy that ultimately toppled Roe." #txlege

[POLITICO @politico]

Abortion opponents have a new weapon in their fight for pill bans: wastewater data https://t.co/YHPqaE0YIu

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Should honor commitment & not make changes mid-biennium after local budgets set. Community colleges met/surpassed #txlege outcomes metrics. Promised funding can be found thru budget execution. If funding formula needs adjustment, that should be done in the next biennial budget.

[Texas Tribune @TexasTribune]

Three years after Texas reinvented how community colleges earn state funding to reward them for getting more students to graduation, the schools are delivering.

But now their successes have outpaced what state lawmakers budgeted. https://t.co/GEoU6DFk4L

[Lower Colorado River Authority @LCRA]

LCRA has determined it will not need to open a floodgate at Buchanan Dam on Sunday afternoon, July 19.

Flood operations continue at Wirtz, Starcke, Mansfield and Tom Miller dams, due to recent heavy rains throughout the Highland Lakes watershed.

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Thanks to @PinkGraniteTX for sponsoring today’s incredible performance of “Annie” at ZACH Theatre. What a treasure!

[Donna Howard @DonnaHowardTX]

Joined my friends @hmsheffield and Dee Carney at the @txcase annual conference to discuss sped finance. Biggest takeaway: there is a lot more that the #txlege needs to do to fully fund & support our sped students.