The marathon negotiations over the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association failed to produce a bill, probably prompting a special session later this summer over that issue.
May 2011
Posted in
Criminal Justice
20 Weeks in Which the Budget Held Sway
The 82nd Texas Legislature’s regular session ends as it started, with lawmakers arguing about a shrunken state budget and redistricting.
Posted inPublic Education
Final Update: What $4 Billion Less Means For Your School District
A school finance plan has at last emerged from talks between budget and education chiefs in the House and Senate. Here’s what may be the final update to our searchable database.
Posted in
Economy
Liveblog: Lege Passes Budget Cuts of $15 Billion
Texas lawmakers passed a two-year state budget on Saturday that cuts $15.2 billion from current spending — most of that in health and human services — but avoids increased taxes and leaves $6.5 billion untouched in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
Posted in
Politics
Perry: Special Session on Congressional Maps Possible
Gov. Rick Perry opened the door to a special session on congressional redistricting — but only if leaders agree to a map in advance.
Posted in
Health care
Crownover: Smoking Ban Dead, Again
Many thought this was the year. But Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, acknowledged on Saturday that a measure establishing a statewide smoking ban in Texas is dead.
Posted in
Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root profiles conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan, Aaronson on the Senate’s flare-up over an airport groping ban, Grissom on some twisted logic in the state’s same-sex marriage laws, Murphy and Macrander expand and refresh our public employee salary database, yours truly with the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll results on politics, issues, the state’s finances, and race, Ramshaw’s report on how some of the governor’s former aides now represent clients who want more money in the state budget, M. Smith on last-minute efforts to save education legislation that didn’t make it through the process, Tan reports on efforts to finish the state budget before the session ends on Monday, and Dehn with the video week in review: The best of our best from May 9 to 13, 2011.
Posted in
State Government
Is There a Boys Club Under the Pink Dome?
The flap in the House and Senate this week over a political flyer showing an infant nursing at a bare breast has rekindled an age-old discussion: Is there sexism in the Texas Capitol?
Posted in
Higher Education
A&M Regent Willing to Throw Out Controversial “Solution”?
A side comment by Texas A&M University System regent that was caught on camera during Thursday’s board of regents meeting indicates that the group might be willing to eliminate a controversial teaching award program.
Posted in
Demographics
Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: May 23 to May 27, 2011
Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We’ve made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome.