Post Date: June 2023
Public Opinion and Texas Republicans’ Property Tax Problem
June 2023 poll ing suggests that campaign promises by Republicans to cut property taxes, followed by the Republican victors’ failure to deliver in the extended legislative session (so far), has likely exacerbated Texas voters’ dissatisfaction with legislative performance on the issue – and fed their low expectations of ever seeing their property taxes go down.
Second Reading Podcast: Unpacking Texans' reviews of legislative action on policy in the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll
In a new Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson and Josh Blank take a closer look at Texans' reviews of the legislature's action on policies in the state, and ways of interpreting reviews of the 88th Legislature (so far).
Second Reading Podcast: The Paxton impeachment & assessments of the Texas Legislature in the June 2023 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll
In a new Second Reading Podcast, Jim Henson talks with fellow members of the Texas Politics Project Poll Daron Shaw and Joshua Blank about Texanss' attitudes toward the impeachment of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and how the Texas legislature has handled major issues, including grid reliabillity, school safety, property taxes, and more.
After a surplus-fueled session, Texans give mixed reviews to legislative policy making
After an active legislative session fueled by a historic budget surplus, the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics project poll finds Texans giving legislative policy efforts mixed reviews amidst complex cross-currents in attitudes about policies, politics, and government.
New University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll finds little confidence in the legislature’s efforts to address key issues
After a regular legislative session that found lawmakers attempting to use a historic budget surplus to address major fiscal issues and infrastructure needs while also pushing some cultural hot buttons, the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll found Texas voters with low expectations of the impact of their actions, and dim views of the legislature’s responsiveness.
When asked in general terms about their confidence in legislative efforts to address areas deemed critical by voters in Texas Politics Project polling conducted earlier in the session, most Texas voters lacked confidence in lawmakers’ efforts. Fewer than one in five voters was willing to say they were ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ confident that the legislature had increased the reliability of the electric grid or the water supply, improved the safety of Texas’ public schools, or improved security along the Texas-Mexico border.
New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll: Half of Texas voters say the impeachment of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton was justified
As the Texas Senate begins the historically unprecedented process of trying the suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton on 31 articles of impeachment, a majority of Texas’ registered voters think the House was justified in impeaching the three-term incumbent, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll.
Asked whether they thought the Texas House of Representatives was justified in impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton, 50% said it was justified, 17% said it was not, and a third (33%) had no opinion.
Second Reading Podcast: Split-screen bill signings and the politics of the Trump indictment in Texas
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, a look at the impact (or lack of it) of the Trump indictment and the Paxton impeachment on public opinion and politics in Texas.
Second Reading Podcast: Patrick vs Abbott & Phelan...for now
In the latest Second Reading Podcast, a look at how the failure to reach a consensus on a property tax plan during the regular session of the legislature has resulted in open conflict between Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Governor Greg Abbott.