This Week in Texas March 18, 2015

Posted March 18, 2015 in The Mignon Memo

No Spring Break for the Legislature

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  • Bills, Bills, Bills. The bill filing deadline has come and gone for the 84thTexas Legislature. The dust has cleared and the final numbers have been tallied. A record-breaking 6,000+ bills have been filed between the House and Senate, the most in recent history.
  • South by Southwest is underway bringing a deluge of musicians, celebrities, business moguls, and tourists to Austin. This year politicians have gotten into the mix, hosting SXSW events of their own. Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a reception at the Governor’s Mansionto pitch Texas to 300 entrepreneurs and CEOs assembled for the SXSW Interactive Festival.
  • After approving legislation for the open carry of handguns yesterday, the Senate looks ready for another partisan shoot-out over gun rights: this time over campus carry, which would allow people on university campuses to carry handguns. The bill will be debated on the Senate floor this afternoon.
  • Top O’ the Morning to ye’! St. Patrick’s Day festivities took place yesterday, with many sporting green and feigning Irish heritage. TheTexas-Irish connection is alive and well in the Capitol City as the 6th Irish consulate in the country officially opened on Sixth Street.

Only in Austin…

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Jimmy Kimmel has returned to Austin, for SXSW and is currently taping shows at the Long Center through Friday, March 20. Texas legends and celebrities making an appearance include: Robert Rodriguez, Dale Watson, Spoon, Kanye West, Willie Nelson and the cast of “The Walking Dead.”

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