Your evening reading: Cruz says gun control efforts will backfire on Obama; at least 20 gun-related bills filed so far in Legislature; Democrats question women’s health provider list
2013
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Variety of Gun-Related Bills on Table for Session
At least 20 bills have been filed or proposed by Texas lawmakers on the subject of guns, with most of the legislation aiming to widen access to guns. Here’s a roundup of the proposals.
Posted in
Energy
TribLive: Ritter on Water as a Local Issue
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, talked about what it will take to make local communities recognize the magnitude of the state’s water crisis.
Posted in
Energy
TribLive: Ritter on Funding the Water Plan
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House National Resources Committee, talked about his desire to withdraw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to jump-start the state water plan.
Posted inState Government
TribCast: Legislator Transparency and Budget
This week on the soon-to-be-award-winning TribCast (it could happen): Ben, Evan, Ross and Aman dive into the Tribune’s new Bidness as Usual data app and ongoing series. The group also goes over the House’s and Senate’s base budgets.
Posted in
State Government
Legislating Goes Social: Lawmakers File Bills Addressing Web Postings
Legislators concerned about online privacy and safety have filed bills that could change the way some Texans use social media. Such regulations are becoming more widespread as states take on questions of online privacy.
Posted in
Demographics
Mexico’s Choice for New Ambassador Wins Praise From Texas Lawmakers
Republicans and Democrats say the appointment of Eduardo Medina Mora as Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. opens an opportunity for the nations to forge a new relationship.
Posted in
Health care
Democrats Raise Questions About Texas WHP Provider List
Democratic legislators are questioning whether the Texas Women’s Health Program has an adequate network of health care providers in light of a state agency’s decision to pull the list of providers from a state website.
Posted in
Demographics
Bill Targets Companies That Misclassify Workers
A veteran lawmaker has filed legislation that would penalize businesses that misclassify workers as independent contractors. Leaders of construction firms have said their industry is rife with companies that purposely misclassify employees.
Posted in
Politics
Business Group Offers Tax Cut Plan
After Texas lawmakers were told they’d be working with a budget surplus this session, some immediately began calling for tax cuts. Now, one prominent business lobbying group has unveiled a plan for what those cuts could look like.