LONESTAR — 5.12.2025 — Burrows Fires General Counsel — Paxton Wins Big Against Skull Creek Polluter — and More...

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Dustin Burrows Fires General Counsel Amid Allegations of Improper Influence

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) has dismissed his General Counsel, Jimmy Skipton IV, following allegations that Skipton was directing legislative actions to benefit his wife’s lobbying clients. The accusations suggest Skipton was using his position to influence committee chairmen on behalf of Texas Lobby Partners, a firm where his wife, Carrie Simmons, is employed. READ MORE.

Rep. Pat Fallon: "Under the Trump admin, we've FINALLY turned the page on Biden's horrendous open border policies. A 95% decrease in border apprehensions is proof that securing the border only requires enforcing laws already on the books. Thank you President Trump for securing the border!"

Rep. Brandon Gill: "We are incredibly blessed to welcome to the world our second child, Winston Joseph Gill! My wife Danielle and baby are happy and healthy!"

Rep. Chip Roy: "Establishment GOP don't want me to say 'reform Medicaid' because their political machine says 'polling - blah, blah...' - yet you literally cannot balance the budget or save healthcare freedom in America without reform. So - to be clear: REFORM MEDICAID. HEALTHCARE FREEDOM."

Rep. Beth Van Duyne: "Bailing out high tax, poorly run, Democrat dominated states by increasing federal SALT tax deductions only encourages more socialism and pushes well run, lower tax states."

Dustin Burrows Fires General Counsel Amid Allegations of Improper Influence — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) has dismissed his General Counsel, Jimmy Skipton IV, following allegations that Skipton was directing legislative actions to benefit his wife’s lobbying clients. The accusations suggest Skipton was using his position to influence committee chairmen on behalf of Texas Lobby Partners, a firm where his wife, Carrie Simmons, is employed.

Paxton Wins $60M Judgment Against Skull Creek Disaster Polluter — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has secured a court judgment of more than $60 million against David Polston and his companies, Inland Environmental and Remediation, Inland Recycling, and Boundary Ventures, for illegal dumping that severely polluted Texas land and waterways, including the Colorado River tributary known as Skull Creek.

Proxy Advisors Escape Scrutiny in Texas ESG Inquiry — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — Senator Paul Bettencourt (R) moved to subpoena investment giants BlackRock and State Street, demanding they testify before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee regarding their investment practices and policies. The move is part of an ongoing effort by Texas lawmakers to scrutinize ESG-aligned investment strategies and advance proxy advisory reform, particularly concerning the influence of firms like Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis.

SCOTUS Temporarily Allows Military Transgender Ban — By Texas Politics' Mateo Guillamont — The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has temporarily permitted the continuation of the US military’s recent policy of banning transgender individuals from joining the military.

Dustin Burrows Fires General Counsel Amid Allegations of Improper Influence — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield

Texas Renaissance Festival owner 'King' George Coulam forced to sell for $60 million — By Graig Graziosi for The Independent

LONESTAR is written by Javier Manjarres and Daniel Molina

Daniel Molina

Daniel Molina is a managing editor and legislative correspondent with a decade of experience covering the evolving political landscape of the American South and Southwest.