Texas Comptroller Signs Giant Order To Begin Normal-Sized Rulemaking

Don Huffines held up a jumbo printed executive order. The paper, at least, had acquired additional powers of visibility.

The Texas Tribune reports that the comptroller’s directives tell his staff to begin the formal process of changing agency rules—work his office can largely initiate already. His marketplace-tax proposal has since appeared in the Texas Register. It could have real effects, including less state revenue. The accomplishment is not imaginary. The extra executive grandeur is available separately.

Consider his Flock-camera directive. Its text explicitly says it is not a rule and imposes no obligation on grantees, contractors or others until rules are adopted through the required process.

The comptroller’s office did not answer the Tribune’s questions about these directives. A University of Houston political scientist described them as internal housekeeping.

Texas has not acquired a second governor. It has acquired a larger memo.