The Brief: Feb. 9, 2015
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talked presidential politics and foreign policy in a pair of appearances on Sunday morning talk shows. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the 2014 RedState Gathering at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth on Aug. 8, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
New in TribTalk: Luci Baines Johnson on "Selma"
"I was deeply saddened that the film does not convey the message of hope that the historical Selma does," writes Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Full Story
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![Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of former President Lyndon Johnson, gives a reading prior to a speech by former President Bill Clinton during the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library on April 9, 2014.
Deborah Cannon / Austin American Statesman]()
Credit: Deborah Cannon / Austin American Statesman -
Inside Texas Politics: "Crazy State"
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey: a widely shared video in which a Florida congressman calls Texas a "crazy state." Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on Feb. 8y, 2014.]()
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The Playlist: All A-Twitter
The week’s news, told through songs … and tweets! First up: Bobby Day singing “Rockin’ Robin.” Full Story
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GOP Taxonomy: The Flat Taxers and the Fair Taxers
Republican presidential flirts Rick Perry, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are cozying up to their positions on fixing, or dumping, the federal income tax. Get ready for much discussion of what's flat, what's fair and whether the twain shall meet. Full Story
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Medical Marijuana Advocates Say Proposal Doesn't Go Far Enough
Medical marijuana advocates say that a proposal to allow epilepsy patients to use medicinal oils that contain a therapeutic component found in marijuana wouldn't do enough to help patients like Alexis Bortell, 9. Full Story
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![Epilepsy patient Alexis Bortell of Rowlett, at the Texas Capitol in 2014.]()
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
The best of our best content from Feb. 2-6, 2015. Full Story
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Texas Justices Skirt Underground Trespassing Question
Texans must wait for an answer to a vexing question: How far below the earth’s surface do property lines extend? The Texas Supreme Court evaded the issue Friday, deciding a case that pitted petroleum interests against property rights advocates. Full Story
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![Fracking water during different stages of a purification and recycling process.]()
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"American Sniper" Trial in Texas Tests Limits of Sympathy for Vets
This week, jury selection began in the trial of Eddie Ray Routh for the murder of Chris Kyle, whose career as a soldier in Iraq (and “the most lethal sniper in U.S. history”) is dramatized in the film “American Sniper.” Full Story
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![Navy Seal Sniper Chris Kyle signs a copy of his book “American Sniper” for a Camp Pendleton sailor in 2012.]()
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Abbott Signals a Break From the Perry Era
Taken together, Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions in the early days of his gubernatorial administration seem to belie the notion — circulated by opponents during the 2014 campaign — that he would be Rick Perry 2.0. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott shake hands after reviewing Matthew 20:25-28 in the Gov. Pat Neff Bible on Jan. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Issues of the 84th Lege: School Choice and Vouchers
As we follow bills on public ed during the 84th legislative session, we'll keep you updated on legislation addressing school choice and vouchers. Stay caught up with our 84th Lege page, and subscribe to our Trib+Edu newsletter for more education news. Full Story
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Texas Republican Calls for Limiting Vaccine Exemptions
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, said Friday he will propose legislation to eliminate "conscientious exemptions" because of the re-emergence of diseases like measles attributed to growing numbers of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children. Full Story
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![Rep. Jason Villalba R-Dallas, files the Protection of Texas Children Act on February 6th, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Raising Political Money the Indirect Way
State officeholders cannot raise money for their own campaigns during legislative sessions, but they can ask supporters to back their favorite charities, or even the political parties that support them during election season. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry delivers a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
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Roundup: McRaven, Texting and Driving, Road Funding
This week in the Roundup: The new University of Texas System chancellor takes a stand on educating undocumented students, there's a renewed push for a statewide ban on texting while driving, and a proposed bill could land more funding for Texas roads. Full Story
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For State's Seismologist, Earthquakes Will Be the Easy Part of the Job
A peripatetic seismologist and son of McCamey has been hired to figure out whether oil and gas drilling is causing earthquakes in Texas. No matter what he says, some people will not believe him. Full Story
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![Each day, dozens of trucks hook up to the Gulf Coast-run fracking fluid disposal well site near Gonzales, Texas.]()
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New in Texas Weekly: New House Committees Named
House committee assignments are handed out, a historical look at women in the Lege and hints appear as to the Abbott agenda — all that and more in the latest issue of our subscriber-only newsletter for political insiders ($). Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 6, 2015
Rick Perry had some choice words in an interview Thursday with the Tribune and the Washington Post on what separates him from Ted Cruz. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz]()
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Flores Doesn't See New Post as a Springboard
As the new chairman of an influential GOP caucus, U.S. Rep. Bill Flores could position himself for a seat at the U.S. House's leadership table. But in an interview with the Tribune, the Bryan Republican talked more about term limits than leadership posts. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, in his House office in Washington, D.C.]()
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Perry Lands Corporate Board Spot
Former Gov. Rick Perry has snagged a corporate board position with Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline company headed by Republican mega donor Kelcy Warren of Dallas, according to regulatory filings made public Thursday. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry during a press conference with his legal team on Jan. 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Asked About Cruz, Perry Trumpets His Own Experience
Asked about what separates him from potential presidential rival Ted Cruz, former Gov. Rick Perry talked about how executive experience would be a key selling point. Perry touched on several other issues in an interview with the Tribune and The Washington Post. Full Story
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![Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a video interview in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, 2015.]()
Credit: Washington Post
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