GOVERNMENT

graphic by: Todd Wiseman

Interactive: 2014-15 School Finance Budget Viewer

by Morgan Smith and Ryan Murphy
May 25, 2013

The budget that awaits the final approval of the 83rd Legislature — and Gov. Rick Perry — adds about $3.4 billion back to public schools from the $5.4 billion lawmakers cut in 2011. With this interactive, explore how your school district fares under Senate Bill 1 as the hours left to pass the legislation dwindle.

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Newsreel: Final Days for Legislature

by Justin Dehn
May 25, 2013 (May 24, 2013 for Subscribers)

This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Only a few days remain in the 83rd legislative session, and everything is up in the air — including whether lawmakers will come back for more when the session ends on Monday.

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photo by: Bob Daemmrich

House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, watches from the sidelines as debate continues on SB 1 on April 4, 2013.

Agenda Texas: Legislative Development

by Ben Philpott
May 24, 2013

On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: It's the final weekend of the 83rd legislative session. Lawmakers still need to finish up the budget, and we answer more listener questions.

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photo by: Bill Bouton

Rio Grande as seen from Chapeno, Starr Co.

Texas Asks Feds for Help in Water Dispute With Mexico

by Julián Aguilar
May 24, 2013

The State of Texas is asking the U.S. State Department for help resolving a long-running dispute between Texas and Mexico over water from several rivers — a dispute made more urgent by the long drought.

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Newsreel: Final Days for Legislature

by Justin Dehn
May 25, 2013 (May 24, 2013 for Subscribers)

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Agenda Texas: Legislative Development

by Ben Philpott
May 24, 2013

photo by: Bob Daemmrich

House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, watches from the sidelines as debate continues on SB 1 on April 4, 2013.

On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: It's the final weekend of the 83rd legislative session. Lawmakers still need to finish up the budget, and we answer more listener questions.

Full Story

Texas Asks Feds for Help in Water Dispute With Mexico

by Julián Aguilar
May 24, 2013

photo by: Bill Bouton

Rio Grande as seen from Chapeno, Starr Co.

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Featured Data

Government Salary Database Updated

by Ryan Murphy, Noah Seger and Gerald Rich
10/9/2012

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Interactive: How the Next Budget Continues Growth in State Spending

by Ryan Murphy and Aman Batheja
May 24, 2013
3 Comments

photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman / Paul Hudson

Texas lawmakers are poised to pass a two-year state budget that is $7 billion higher than the current one. Use this interactive to explore how state spending has grown since 2004.

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News App: Tracking the Status of House and Senate Bills

by Ross Ramsey and Travis Swicegood
May 24, 2013

graphic by: Todd Wiseman

The deadline for bills to win approval from the House and the Senate passed earlier this week, resulting in the death of a lot of legislation. Most of what remains is to reconcile differences between versions of legislation passed by both chambers. Our updated bill apps — one for House bills and one for Senate legislation — detail the results.

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Dewhurst's Run to the Right Falls Short

by Ross Ramsey
May 24, 2013 (May 23, 2013 for Subscribers)

photo by: Bob Daemmrich

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst listens to Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, during the Senate session on April 2, 2013.

David Dewhurst, the state's lieutenant governor for the past decade, started this legislative session looking for some momentous conservative victories. He's still looking.

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Liveblog: What's Left for the 83rd Legislature

by Texas Tribune Staff
May 24, 2013
12 Comments

photo by: Todd Wiseman

Crowds of visitors, lobbyists, and lawmakers turned out to the Texas capitol for the opening day of the 83rd legislative session, Jan. 8, 2013.

The clock is ticking for lawmakers hard at work to pass prize bills in the final days of the 83rd legislative session. Here's a look at what's still outstanding. Check back often: We'll update this story as deals are brokered or broken.

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House Halts Attempt to Expand Lawmakers' Gun Rights

by Alana Rocha
May 23, 2013
5 Comments

photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman

Many self-proclaimed gun enthusiasts in the Texas House aren't ready to expand their own gun rights if they can't do the same for their constituents.

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TribLive: Branch on the 2014 AG Race

by Evan Smith
May 23, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, addressed the rumors that he plans to run for attorney general in 2014.

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TribLive: Branch and Martinez Fischer on Medicaid

by Evan Smith
May 23, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, talked about the Legislature's resistance to expanding Medicaid.

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Will Lawmakers Save the Railroad Commission?

by Kate Galbraith
May 23, 2013
7 Comments

graphic by: Todd Wiseman

UPDATED: If lawmakers don't do something quickly, the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas in the state, could disappear.

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TribLive: Branch and TMF on Transportation

by Evan Smith
May 23, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, talked about why the Legislature has made so little progress on transportation funding — and what happens now.

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Budget Agreement Leaves About $8 Billion in Fund

by Aman Batheja
May 23, 2013
4 Comments

photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman / Matt Howe

The budget deal that took a step closer to passage Wednesday evening would spend $3.9 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund. That would leave more in the fund than many lawmakers or Gov. Rick Perry had earlier proposed.

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TribLive: How'd the House Do?

by Evan Smith
May 24, 2013

Full video of my 5/23 TribLive conversation debriefing the 83rd Legislature with state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio.

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For Perry, Veto is a Seasonal Power

by Ross Ramsey
May 24, 2013
14 Comments

photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman

Who is really in power in state government? According to the calendar, the clout is days away from moving firmly to the governor's office.

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Term Limits Crusade Unites Unlikely Allies

by Reeve Hamilton
May 24, 2013
3 Comments

photo by: Mark Graham

Kathleen Thompson led an unsuccessful fight for term limits in Grapevine TX.

It's been a disappointing month in state and local politics for proponents of term limits in Texas — a group whose supporters come from both the Republican and Democratic parties.

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Perry Condemns Decision to Admit Openly Gay Scouts

by Maurice Chammah
May 23, 2013
180 Comments

UPDATED: Gov. Rick Perry has condemned the decision by Boy Scouts of America's national leadership on Thursday to admit openly gay scouts.

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Agenda Texas: Constitutional Slowdown

by Ben Philpott
May 23, 2013

photo by: Todd Wiseman

Crowds of visitors, lobbyists, and lawmakers turned out to the Texas capitol for the opening day of the 83rd legislative session, Jan. 8, 2013.

On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Budget negotiators may have hit another speed bump, and we answer your questions about the session.

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Altered Fixed-Tuition Bill Heads to Conference Committee

by Reeve Hamilton
May 23, 2013
5 Comments

photo by: Spencer Selvidge

The Texas Tribune Festival 2012 Opening Session: A conversation with Gov. Rick Perry and Evan Smith, Sept. 21, 2012.

UPDATED: House Higher Education Dan Branch, R-Dallas, has opted not to concur with significant changes made by the Senate to a bill requiring universities to offer incoming students optional four-year fixed tuition plans.

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GOVERNMENT

Interactive: 2014-15 School Finance Budget Viewer

Newsreel: Final Days for Legislature

Agenda Texas: Legislative Development

Texas Asks Feds for Help in Water Dispute With Mexico

Newsreel: Final Days for Legislature

Agenda Texas: Legislative Development

Texas Asks Feds for Help in Water Dispute With Mexico

Featured Data

Government Salary Database Updated

Interactive: How the Next Budget Continues Growth in State Spending

News App: Tracking the Status of House and Senate Bills

Dewhurst's Run to the Right Falls Short

Liveblog: What's Left for the 83rd Legislature

House Halts Attempt to Expand Lawmakers' Gun Rights

TribLive: Branch on the 2014 AG Race

TribLive: Branch and Martinez Fischer on Medicaid

Will Lawmakers Save the Railroad Commission?

TribLive: Branch and TMF on Transportation

Budget Agreement Leaves About $8 Billion in Fund

Featured Video

Newsreel: Final Days for Texas Legislature

TribLive: How'd the House Do?

For Perry, Veto is a Seasonal Power

Term Limits Crusade Unites Unlikely Allies

Perry Condemns Decision to Admit Openly Gay Scouts

Agenda Texas: Constitutional Slowdown

Altered Fixed-Tuition Bill Heads to Conference Committee