Legislation
05/10/2016

Larson Proposes to End Election of Some ‘Cabinet’ Positions

TXElects

The San Antonio Express-News’ Peggy Fikac reported that Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) plans to file legislation that would give the governor the authority to appoint several offices currently elected statewide:

  • Commissioner of Agriculture
  • Commissioner of the General Land Office; and
  • A new commissioner of energy, which would replace the three Railroad Commissioners.

In the late 1940s, the Texas Legislature replaced the elective office of State Superintendent of Public Education with the appointed Commissioner of Education. This is the most recent such change that we are aware of. The last statewide elected office removed from the ballot in Texas was the State Treasurer. In 1995, voters approved a constitutional amendment abolishing the office and transferring its responsibilities to the comptroller’s office. A year earlier, voters elected Martha Whitehead to the position after she campaigned to abolish the office.

Changing a statewide elective office to an appointed one appears to be an uncommon practice across the nation. In 2011, Oregon made the superintendent of public education an appointed office. In 2003, Florida shifted the comptroller, education commissioner, secretary of state and treasurer from elected to appointed offices. Minnesota made the state treasurer an elective office in 2002.

In many states, their statewide elective offices are established by their constitutions. In Texas, the General Land Office (Art. 4. Sec. 1) and the election of the Railroad Commissioners (Art. 16, Sec. 30) are constitutionally established. Voters would need to approve changing these offices to appointed positions.

At least 12 states elect their top agriculture official. At least six states elect their top land official, and at least 13 states elect their top energy and/or utility regulator official(s).

Some of the offices appointed by the Texas governor are elected in a number of states.

  • 34 states elect their secretary of state
  • 23 states elect a top auditor
  • 14 states elect their top education official (Others, including Texas, elect a policy board.); and
  • 10 states elect their top insurance official.

Four states – Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oregon – elect their labor commissioner. Arizona elects its mine inspector. Montana elects its Supreme Court clerk. South Carolina elects its adjutant general. Michigan elects the regents for the University of Michigan and Michigan State University (Wrap your head around that in Texas.).

Texas is one of seven states to elect its highest court(s) in partisan elections. Another 15 use non-partisan elections, and 16 use the “Missouri Plan,” which involves an independent commission providing a list of names, a gubernatorial appointment and a retention election. Ten states’ governors appoint their highest court(s), and two states’ (South Carolina and Virginia) legislatures elect them.

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Texas Political Spotlight
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Texas Sen. José Menéndez is defending a 2023 law that lets cities like San Antonio reinvest state tourism and hotel tax revenue into major projects, including a proposed $1.3 billion Spurs arena, saying it keeps the city competitive with others that have used similar funding to spur growth. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, speaking in Fort Worth recently, cast himself as an independent voice challenging both parties and billionaires’ influence, as his tight primary race with Colin Allred gains national attention. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Indiana resident Malcolm Tanner, accusing him of trying to take over Loving County by luring out-of-state residents with false promises of free homes in unsafe desert conditions.

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Texas Political Spotlight
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Austin-based energy startup Base Power announced it has raised $1 billion in new funding to expand its residential battery leasing business, positioning itself at the center of Texas’ fast-growing clean energy sector as demand surges nationwide. Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott has authorized hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have been deployed to Illinois to assist federal immigration authorities in Chicago. And in education, Texas selected Odyssey, a national tech firm, to design and administer its new $1 billion school voucher program, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

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TXBIZNEWS
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Walmart has announced plans to eliminate synthetic dyes and over 30 other ingredients from its U.S. private brand food products such as Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and Bettergoods, with a target completion date of January 2027, as outlined in a recent corporate statement.

The Details:

  • The initiative removes 11 synthetic dyes, such as Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5, along with preservatives and artificial sweeteners, responding to customer demand for simpler ingredients while maintaining taste and value.
  • The move affects all Walmart U.S. food private brands, supporting a more transparent food system and aligning with evolving health-conscious trends.
  • Walmart President and CEO John Furner said, “Our customers want products with familiar ingredients, and we’re delivering on that promise.”
  • The transition will leverage natural alternatives, with the company collaborating with suppliers to meet the 2027 deadline.

“Our customers have told us that they want products made with simpler, more familiar ingredients - and we’ve listened. By eliminating synthetic dyes and other ingredients, we’re reinforcing our promise to deliver affordable food that families can feel good about.”

- John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart U.S.

Why It Matters:
This shift could set a new standard for the U.S. food industry, boosting consumer trust and influencing market trends.

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