Texas Republican lawmaker files bill to turn Austin into state-run district [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas — State lawmakers are reviving an effort to allow the State of Texas to govern the city of Austin.

State Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Republican from Deer Park, filed House Bill 274 ahead of the upcoming legislative session. It would allow the legislature to create a “District of Austin.”

It is a bill that state lawmakers have introduced before, but it has never gained traction. In a press release, Cain cited bad governing, homicide rates, violent crime and other public safety-related concerns as reasons for “Austin’s declining ability to govern as the state capital effectively.” He said it highlights “systemic leadership failures, compounded by the defunding of police and policies that deprioritize public safety, leaving the state capital exposed to unacceptable risks.”

“Our state employees and visitors to the Capitol deserve to feel …