The Texas Tribune’s rundown of capitol politics for the week of March 7-11, 2011.
March 2011
Posted in
Congress
Video: McCaul Defends Islam Hearing on PBS
Last night, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, appeared on the PBS NewsHour to discuss a controversial hearing over the perceived radicalization of Islamic youth.
Posted in
Demographics
New Day Rising: Cisneros on the Last 30 Years
At the Tribune’s New Day Rising symposium on Feb. 28, Henry Cisneros, the first Hispanic mayor of a major American city, reflected on three decades of demographic change.
Posted in
Public Education
SBOE: Now With Two-Thirds Approval?
State Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, filed a bill today that would require two-thirds of the State Board of Education to reject recommendations from experts during the approval process for curriculum standards and textbooks.
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for March 11, 2011
Your afternoon reading: another Perry nominee lacks votes for confirmation; Mike Leach wants the Legislature’s help; lawmakers file last-minute spate of abortion bills
Posted in
Demographics
Peña Files Guest-Worker Bill to Address Immigration
State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, has filed legislation he said will explore the possibility of a state-run guest-worker program.
Posted in
Public Education
Deuell: Lowe Lacks Votes for Senate Confirmation [Updated]
Sen. Bob Deuell, who chairs the Senate Nominations Committee, says Gail Lowe has not been scheduled for a hearing as chairwoman of the State Board of Education because she lacks the votes for a confirmation on the floor.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Why Can’t I Buy a Car or Liquor on Sundays?
You can’t buy liquor on Sundays and car dealerships can only be open one day over a weekend because of the last remnants of so-called “blue laws” in Texas. But a state Senate bill would change that for alcohol sales.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Top Texas News for March 11, 2011
A hearing on Thursday, largely meant to look into use of the Rainy Day Fund, played host to drama pitting House lawmakers against Gov. Rick Perry.
Posted in
State Government
Will Lawmakers Cut Their Own Benefits?
As they talk of cutting pension contributions and raising premiums for state employee health care and mandating layoffs and furloughs at state agencies, what are lawmakers doing to their own compensation and benefits?