Top House and Senate negotiators sealed up the final unresolved issues on a two-year budget deal on Thursday evening, including removing controversial language that would have killed a proposed Dallas-Houston bullet train. Full Story
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UPDATED: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus announced late Thursday the terms of a $3.8 billion tax relief package — a move that followed weeks of testy negotiations. Full Story
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Former Gov. Rick Perry is set to emphasize his military experience when he takes the stage next month to announce a second bid for the White House. Full Story
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The Texas Senate voted Thursday to weaken the state’s Driver Responsibility Program, which critics say unfairly penalizes poor Texans. Full Story
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The so-called Pastor Protection Act, which aims to clarify a clergy member's right to refuse to conduct a marriage that violates his or her beliefs, tentatively passed the Texas House 141-2 Thursday. Full Story
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This week on The Ticket: We dive into Bernie Sanders' presidential announcement and speak with a Sanders supporter, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower, about what we can expect from his campaign. Full Story
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If you’ve watched the Texas Legislature in action, you’ve probably heard lawmakers use some terms that sounded foreign. As part of an occasional series explaining the Legislature’s inner workings, we define a couple of key terms and techniques that lawmakers use under the Pink Dome. Full Story
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Four large donors to the American Phoenix Foundation, which has been secretly recording Texas lawmakers, are well-known backers of conservative causes. Full Story
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Businesses are joining consumer advocates in sounding the alarm about a proposal that critics say would stack the deck in favor of insurance companies at the expense of businesses and homeowners. Full Story
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Full video of my 5/21 conversation with state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass. Full Story
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Texas suburbs continue to dominate as the fastest-growing areas of the state, according to new population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Full Story
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The 84th Legislature started with ambitious plans for reforming public education. Now it's make-or-break time for many of the major initiatives still alive. Here's a roundup of where things stand. Full Story
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Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos hopes his tenure represents a shifting tide in the office — away from partisan gridlock over voting, and toward bolstering Texas' relations with Mexico and improving life along the state's southern border. Full Story
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Budget conferees on Wednesday settled on funding levels for public education and border security, but big decisions on property tax cuts and roads funding remain for Thursday. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential campaign will announce the endorsements of four members of the Texas congressional delegation on Thursday. Full Story
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The House and Senate stepped closer to a final deal on a two-year budget Wednesday evening, settling dozens of differences between the two chambers including funding for public education and border security. Full Story
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A budget deal announced Wednesday will oust Planned Parenthood from the state’s program to provide breast and cervical cancer screening for low-income women. Full Story
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The House-Senate budget conference committee adopted its compromise on health and human services funding Wednesday, pleasing fiscal conservatives and giving little cheer to advocates for the poor and disabled. Full Story
In a session that's been kind to business interests, local control might be about to take another hit as the Senate tentatively approves legislation that could make it harder for counties to sue polluters. Full Story
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Wrapping up a swing through Iowa, former Gov. Rick Perry cited the Garland shooting to defend federal surveillance programs, and told a national security forum that enhanced interrogation is okay, though rectal feeding may be over the line. Full Story
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