Changes

In addition, Leach supported another amendment and enabling legislation which would have allowed for casino gambling.  However, those items never made it out of the House, due in part to Democrats who pushed to give priority on casino placement to Indian tribes located in Texas (similar to how casinos operate in neighboring Oklahoma) over large money interests (as casinos in neighboring Louisiana operate; a major donor to several political campaigns including Leach's was the "Texas Sands PAC", funded by Las Vegas Sands, a major gambling operation in Nevada and other states).

In addition, Leach supported another amendment and enabling legislation which would have allowed for casino gambling.  However, those items never made it out of the House, due in part to Democrats who pushed to give priority on casino placement to Indian tribes located in Texas (similar to how casinos operate in neighboring Oklahoma) over large money interests (as casinos in neighboring Louisiana operate; a major donor to several political campaigns including Leach's was the "Texas Sands PAC", funded by Las Vegas Sands, a major gambling operation in Nevada and other states).

At a recent fundraiser attended by some pro-gambling interests, speakers blamed Paxton for supposedly blocking the gambling bills from passing, and the speakers demanded that he must be removed as Attorney General.  The gambling market in Texas is expected to be worth billions of dollars if increased legalized gambling were legalized there, and it is not as if Texas needs the increased revenue: the Comptroller of Public Accounts estimated that for the upcoming biennium (the two year period beginning September 1, 2023 and ending August 31, 2025) the state would have a '''''$32.7 billion surplus'''''.<ref>Based on that estimate -- the largest surplus in Texas history -- the Legislature passed several bills which reduced taxes, such as removing the sales tax on various baby items (e.g. diapers and baby bottles, even including maternity clothes and breast milk pumps) and female menstrual products (a long-standing wish by feminist organizations, which finally received enough conservative support to pass this session), as well as exempting certain items from property tax such as fertilizer, pesticides, and rainwater harvesting structures.  These actions -- which passed both chambers by significant bipartisan votes -- clearly would not have been taken if the Legislature had concerns about adequate revenue for operations.  Further, the Legislature is attempting to lower overall property taxes; though the chambers disagree as to approach, again these actions would not be taken if the Legislature had concerns about adequate revenue for operations.</ref>

At a recent fundraiser attended by some pro-gambling interests, speakers blamed Paxton for supposedly blocking the gambling bills from passing, and the speakers demanded that he must be removed as Attorney General.  The gambling market in Texas is expected to be worth billions of dollars if increased legalized gambling were legalized there, and it is not as if Texas needs the increased revenue: the Comptroller of Public Accounts estimated that for the upcoming biennium (the two year period beginning September 1, 2023 and ending August 31, 2025) the state would have a '''''$32.7 billion surplus''''', the largest in Texas' history.<ref>Based on that estimate, the Legislature passed several bills which reduced taxes, such as removing the sales tax on various baby items (e.g. diapers and baby bottles, even including maternity clothes and breast milk pumps) and female menstrual products (a long-standing wish by feminist organizations, which finally received enough conservative support to pass this session), as well as exempting certain items from property tax such as fertilizer, pesticides, and rainwater harvesting structures.  These actions -- which passed both chambers by significant bipartisan votes -- clearly would not have been taken if the Legislature had concerns about adequate revenue for operations.  Further, the Legislature is attempting to lower overall property taxes; though the chambers disagree as to approach, again these actions would not be taken if the Legislature had concerns about adequate revenue.</ref>

== Dick Weekley ==

== Dick Weekley ==