April | 2009 | TFN Insider

Monthly Archives: April 2009

SBOE Sunset Bill on the Move

UPDATE: The House has postponed consideration of HB 710 until Monday. Another bill designed to rein in the Texas State Board of Education is moving in the Legislature. State Rep. Patrick Rose’s House Bill 710, which would put the state board under periodic “Sunset review,” is headed to the House floor. The bill, which easily passed [...]

Posted in State Board of Education, Texas politics | 2 Comments |


Ed Board Extremists Target Social Studies

Having done what they could to muck up the state’s science curriculum standards, fringe right-wingers on the Texas State Board of Education are now moving to politicize the social studies curriculum for public schools. Texas Freedom Network just sent out the following press release: The Texas State Board of Education is set to appoint a [...]

Posted in Daniel Dreisbach, David Barton, Peter Marshall | 83 Comments |


McLeroy Confirmation Chances Get Slimmer

The Texas Senate Nominations Committee this evening approved all nominees considered at last week’s hearing — except for Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education. Far-right pressure groups have targeted Senate offices with calls and e-mails in support of McLeroy’s confirmation, but opponents in that chamber still appear to have the votes [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Texas politics | 24 Comments |


Sundays of Solidarity

Our friends at Soulforce and Atticus Circle have launched an innovative — and much-needed – project to foster thoughtful discussion between faith communities and activists for gay and lesbian civil rights. Between May 17 and June 28, 2009, groups of LGBT and allied people around the country will attend worship services at a church of their choice – a [...]

Posted in LGBT issues | 2 Comments |


Tincy Strikes Back

The brewing Republican civil war between religious extremists and traditional conservatives is heating up. Now Texas State Board of Education member Geraldine “Tincy” Miller of Dallas is sharply criticizing extremists who attacked her and fellow conservative Republicans during the recent debate over public school science curriculum standards. Ms. Miller is denouncing “ultra-religious extremists” who attacked board members for voting [...]

Posted in Bob Craig, evolution, Pat Hardy, science and religion, Tincy Miller | 22 Comments |


Kooky Conspiracy Theories

Worried about the spread of swine flu? Wendy Wright from the far-right group Concerned Women for America thinks the alarm is all just part of a conspiracy by the Obama administration. Wright charges that the administration declared a “state of emergency” not to make it easier for the government to respond to outbreaks of swine flu [...]

Posted in religious right | 8 Comments |


Breaking News: House Passes SBOE Measures

Big news from the Texas Capitol: the Texas House of Representatives has just passed a constitutional amendment (HJR 77) and enabling legislation (HB 2037) that would transfer authority over the Permanent School Fund from the State Board of Education to an appointed Permanent School Fund Management Council. The author of both is state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. This is [...]

Posted in State Board of Education, Texas politics | 18 Comments |


Is Gov. Perry Abandoning McLeroy?

Is Gov. Rick Perry abandoning Don McLeroy? The Houston Chronicle’s R.G. Ratcliffe asked the governor today whether he’s worried that the Senate would reject his reappointment of the controversial Bryan dentist as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education. The governor hardly offered a ringing endorsement of the man he first appointed to the post in [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Rick Perry, Texas politics | 53 Comments |


What’s Next on McLeroy Confirmation?

Opposition to Senate confirmation for Don McLeroy as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education appears to be hardening. Yesterday, Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, and Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, grilled McLeroy during a grueling hearing that lasted more than two hours. Both senators deserve hearty thanks from parents and other supporters of strong public schools for [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Texas politics | 13 Comments |


Is McLeroy’s Confirmation in Trouble?

From political reporter Kate Alexander’s post at the Austin American-Statesman’s blog, following today’s grilling of Don McLeroy, whom Gov. Rick Perry has renominated as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education: (Senate Nominations Committee) Chairman Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, said McLeroy’s nomination is on shaky ground because he might not be able to get [...]

Posted in Don McLeroy, Texas politics | 1 Comment |