Welcome back, friends
Mike Toomey has been appointed as Chief of Staff for Texas Speaker Dade Phelan, succeeding Enrique Marquez and bringing decades of experience in Texas government. Meanwhile, in the 2024 presidential race, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has endorsed Donald Trump and withdrawn from the ballot in Republican-leaning states, including Texas. These developments are expected to impact both state leadership and the national election landscape.
Today’s News:
- Mike Toomey Named Chief of Staff for Texas Speaker Dade Phelan
- RFK Jr. Withdraws from Texas Ballot and Endorses Trump
Mike Toomey Named Chief of Staff for Texas Speaker Dade Phelan
Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan has appointed Mike Toomey as his new Chief of Staff, effective August 26, 2024. Toomey, a seasoned veteran of Texas politics with over four decades of experience, replaces outgoing Chief of Staff Enrique Marquez, who served Phelan's office with distinction through some of the most impactful legislative sessions in recent memory.
Speaker Phelan praised Toomey’s extensive background in both public and private sectors, noting his reputation as a strategic leader well-suited to guide the Speaker's office and the Texas House. Toomey’s career highlights include serving as Chief of Staff to two Texas governors—Bill Clements and Rick Perry—and providing strategic counsel within Governor Greg Abbott's administration. Phelan expressed confidence that Toomey’s leadership will significantly benefit the state and the Texas Legislature moving forward.
RFK Jr. Withdraws from Texas Ballot and Endorses Trump
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who began his 2024 presidential bid as a Democrat before switching to run as an Independent, has now endorsed Donald Trump and decided to withdraw his name from the ballot in all Republican-leaning states.
Quote of the Day
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
More in Texas Politics
Presented by All Texas News
Save time and improve advocacy with Custom Texas News Clips: Start your day with the most important Texas news relevant to your client, industry, region, policy area, or trade association. Customize clips from 10 subjects and 8 regions with stories from REAL Texas outlets around the state. Each article includes a concise summary for easy skimming and a link to the full story for in-depth reading — all delivered by 7:00 AM every weekday morning.
Try All Texas News custom news clips for FREE with a two-week trial — just enter your email, no credit card required. Or visit alltexasnews.com every weekday morning for top news around Texas.
Texas, other GOP-led states sue over program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal status (AP)
Texas chief who called Uvalde response ‘abject failure’ but defended his state police is retiring (AP)
Texas sues Biden over new program that would benefit undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens (Texas Public Radio)
A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigation (Texas Tribune)
UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statements (San Antonio Express-News)
Ken Paxton Leads 16 States in Lawsuit Against New Homeland Security Immigration Rule (The Texan)
🎙️We Have a Podcast! 🎙️
Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.
Subscribe on Youtube and Spotify for weekly episodes!
- 01 First
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Read more news
.avif)
#43 - Wes Benedict: Bridging Policy and Community with Texans for Reasonable Solutions
Welcome to Episode #43 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Wes Benedict, Grassroots Manager at Texans for Reasonable Solutions.
Wes brings years of advocacy experience and a steady, practical approach to community engagement. The conversation explores how Texas communities can navigate political tension, build cross-partisan coalitions, and create space for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.
They dive into the organization’s focus on key statewide issues including housing, infrastructure, water, and the evolving relationship between local and state governments. Wes breaks down why these policies matter for both everyday Texans and the business community, and how reasonable, bipartisan solutions can move conversations forward.
The episode closes with insights on how individuals can get involved, what success looks like in grassroots policy work, and what Texans should be watching as the special session unfolds.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.
📲 Follow Laura Carr
🐦 Twitter: @Laura_USLege https://x.com/Laura_USLege
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurauslege/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereallauracarr/
🛍️ ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/lauraluise?Section_title=latest-finds&tab=collections
✍️ Substack: https://lauraluise.substack.com/
🔗 Links: https://lauraluise.carrd.co/
📲 Follow USLege
✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uslege.ai/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USLegeai
🐦 Twitter: @USLege_ai https://x.com/USLege_ai
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uslege-ai/
🎧 Subscribe to Bills & Business
🌐 Website: https://www.uslege.ai/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillsandBusiness
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22ZWg9VVb2AEGqyV14osNi?si=effe3795f8414171
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/bills-and-business-by-uslege/id1781059329
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uslege
📲 Follow Wes Benedict
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/Wes_Benedict
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-benedict/
🎬 Produced by USLege
📞 Want to see USLege in action? Schedule a demo today! https://www.uslege.ai/demo
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back friends,
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
