Tribpedia: Judith Zaffirini

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For John Carona, Conflicts and Interests

Sen. John Carona.
Enlarge photo by: Jeff Wilson for Texas Monthly
Sen. John Carona.

The constitutional provision of a part-time Legislature whose members have full-time jobs back home limits the power of state government but blurs the line between public responsibilities and personal ambition — as the story of a rich and powerful state senator from Dallas illustrates.

State Rep. John Carona holds up his right hand during his first swearing-in ceremony for the 72nd Legislature on January 8, 1991.
Enlarge photo by: exas State Library and Archives Commission
State Rep. John Carona holds up his right hand during his first swearing-in ceremony for the 72nd Legislature on January 8, 1991.

Slideshow: John Carona Through the Years

Take a photographic trip through Sen. John Carona's career in the Texas Legislature, from his swearing in as a freshman House member in 1991 to his chairmanship of the powerful Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.  

Demonstration car placed by the Brown family to raise awareness on dangers of texting while driving. March 9th, 2011
Enlarge photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Demonstration car placed by the Brown family to raise awareness on dangers of texting while driving. March 9th, 2011

House Passes Texting-While-Driving Measure

  • by Chris Hooks and Maurice Chammah
  • 67 Comments

UPDATED: A bill that would make texting while driving a crime passed the House on Wednesday after a lengthy debate. The measure now heads to the Senate.

Sen. Judith Zaffirini D-Laredo, peeks over stack of binders at her desk during discussion of budget bill SB1 on March 20th, 2013
Enlarge photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Sen. Judith Zaffirini D-Laredo, peeks over stack of binders at her desk during discussion of budget bill SB1 on March 20th, 2013

Legislator: Regent Behavior "Inconsistent" With Statute

The Texas Education Code lays out the state's expectations for regents of public university systems, and state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, is now questioning whether the University of Texas System board is living up to them.

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas,l, and State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, shake hands upon convening the Joint Committee on Higher Education Oversight on March 19, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas,l, and State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, shake hands upon convening the Joint Committee on Higher Education Oversight on March 19, 2013.

Updated: Panel Discusses UT System Records Request

Sen. Kel Seliger, who co-chairs the Legislature's joint higher education oversight committee, said UT regents should have access to the information they have requested, but the committee wants to make sure it is being gathered and used appropriately.

Jeanne Brown, whose daughter Alex Brown died in a 2009 accident while texting and driving, spoke Jan. 29, 2013, in support of a bill making texting and driving illegal. Texas is one of 11 states without a state-wide ban on texting while driving, though multiple cities have passed ordinances making it illegal.
Enlarge photo by: Tamir Kalifa
Jeanne Brown, whose daughter Alex Brown died in a 2009 accident while texting and driving, spoke Jan. 29, 2013, in support of a bill making texting and driving illegal. Texas is one of 11 states without a state-wide ban on texting while driving, though multiple cities have passed ordinances making it illegal.

Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Texting While Driving

At a briefing Tuesday, lawmakers and relatives of people killed while texting and driving renewed a push to make the practice illegal. A proposal passed during the last session but was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry.