March 2011

Opening the Umbrella

By Ross RamseyMarch 14, 2011

Jim Pitts will ask his Appropriations Committee to vote out a supplemental budget bill on Monday to cover the $4.3 billion deficit in the current biennium, and to fund it with money in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

State Government

Anchia vs. Berman on Adoption by Same-Sex Couples

By Evan SmithMarch 13, 2011

This morning on Austin’s KXAN-TV, state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and that “compassionate young fella,” state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, discussed adoption by same-sex couples — and whether there’s a difference between “transvestite” and “transgender.”

Criminal Justice

VIDEO: Out On Their Own

By Caleb Bryant MillerMarch 13, 2011

Sights and sounds from Huntsville when prisoners were released from the Walls Unit on March 4.

William Crow, 41, who did two years for drug possession, crouches in the shop adjoining the bus station where recently released inmates are buying new clothes, shoes and cigarettes in Huntsville, Texas on March 4, 2011.

Criminal Justice

Budget Cuts Would Undo Prison Recidivism Reforms

By Brandi GrissomMarch 13, 2011

Criminal justice advocates say proposed cuts from rehabilitation and treatment programs would reverse years of reforms in Texas that have helped reduce recidivism and drive down the size of the prison population.

William Crow, Elliott Cornett and Daniel Barraza, all recently released inmates, walk away from the Walls Unit in Huntsville, Texas on March 4, 2011. State legislators are considering halving the $100 given to inmates upon their re-entry to society.

Criminal Justice

VIDEO: Out On Their Own

By Brandi Grissom and Caleb Bryant MillerMarch 13, 2011

Sights and sounds from Huntsville when prisoners were released from the Walls Unit on March 4.

A "Come and Take It" flag depicting an apple instead of the traditional cannon at the Save Our Schools rally at the Texas Capitol on March 12, 2011.

Public Education

Thousands Protest Education Cuts at Texas Capitol

By Morgan SmithMarch 12, 2011

Want to get the attention of 11,000 Texans? Propose a $10 billion spending cut to public education.

Congress

Tommy Lee Jones for U.S. Senate?

By Reeve HamiltonMarch 12, 2011

A Houston attorney and radio commentator is floating the idea on a Facebook page and a website. No other Democrat can win, he says.

Demographics

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan SmithMarch 12, 2011

Conversations about the coming Hispanic majority and the 82nd session from our New Day Rising symposium, M. Smith on the latest tort reform battle, Galbraith on greater scrutiny of the gas industry, Ramsey on whether lawmakers will cut their own pay and benefits, Ramshaw and Aguilar on what’s holding up abortion sonogram legislation, Aguilar on the ag commissioner’s controversial new website, Philpott on what $9.8 billion in public education cuts looks like, Hamilton on a snippy exchange of higher ed letters and Grissom on the latest court decision in the Hank Skinner case: The best of our best content from March 7 to 11, 2011.

Criminal Justice

“Loser Pays” Bills Filed in the House and Senate

By Morgan SmithMarch 11, 2011

In advance of today’s bill filing deadline, lawmakers have introduced two bills that would require losing parties to pay attorneys’ fees in a variety of civil lawsuits.