AUSTIN – Texas legislators are bitterly cleaved on many issues, but the ability of folks to speak their minds free from intimidation is something lawmakers can agree on, it seems. They like the idea so much that they’ve passed a bill to make losers pay for frivolous lawsuits aimed at stifling criticism. And this measure was so thoroughly embraced it passed the House 142-0 and the Senate 31-0. The main authors were Republican Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi in the House and Democrat Rodney Ellis of Houston in the Senate. Republican Reps. Todd Smith of Euless. {read more}
