House and Senate Adjourn; Special Session to Begin Tuesday
Both the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. But without a school finance deal in the Senate, Gov. Rick Perry is expected to call a special session for 8 a.m. Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33dfe13b698d8a69566a77330fbc5170/BD%20INC%20Repiblican%2001%202011)
Julián Aguilar
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Julian_gt6QdKD.jpg)
Julián Aguilar reported for the Tribune from 2009 to 2021, most recently on politics and on the Texas-Mexico border. He focused on immigration reform and enforcement, voter ID, international trade, border security, and the drug trade. His political coverage has included local, legislative and congressional races in Texas, as well as local and national elections in Mexico. Before joining The Texas Tribune, he was a freelance writer for the Fort Worth Weekly, a government and crime reporter for the Laredo Morning Times, and a political writer for the Rio Grande Guardian. A native of El Paso, he has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas and a master's degree in journalism from the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas.
Past Contributions
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Thing at the End
It simultaneously looks as though they will finish on time and as though they'll come to pieces, forcing a special session. Full Story
-
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20110524-_CBM4523-Edit.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol in the twilight of the 82nd legislative session.]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Southbound Checkpoints Face Uphill Battle
A measure eyed by some lawmakers as a means to stop the flow of illicit cash and weapons into Mexico via the Texas border is on life support. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA5938.jpg)
![Texas Department of Public Safety patch worn on a uniform during an April 7, 2011 graduation ceremony in Austin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Reyes Fires Back at Perry After TV Appearance
A border congressman today lashed out at Texas Gov. Rick Perry after Perry's appearance Tuesday on Fox News, where he proclaimed that the southern border is under siege while the federal government stands idly by. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Reyes.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
Senate Blocks Sanctuary Cities Bill
The state’s contentious sanctuary cities bill failed to move out of the Senate late Tuesday — a move some senators said effectively killed one of the most controversial measures the Texas Legislature has considered this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Sanct-City-Solomons2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / John Carleton / Marjorie Cotera -
Southbound Checkpoints Given New Life in Senate
Legislation that would grant the state authority to erect southbound checkpoints near the Texas-Mexico border was successfully revived today after lawmakers attached it as an amendment to a bill concerning record sharing by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DPS130TTCMS.jpg)
![Three of 44 Department of Public Safety troopers graduating from cadet training pause for prayer on April 7, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Secure Communities Provision Added to House Bill
A portion of a multi-faceted homeland security bill that appeared near dead earlier was successfully attached tonight to a House bill relating to the deportation of illegal immigrants who have been incarcerated and released from prison. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prisoners_CM.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
With Clock Ticking, Immigration Bills in Limbo
A homeland security bill that was a major factor in whether the state’s sanctuary cities legislation — one of Gov. Rick Perry's emergency items — would be signed into law failed to get placed on a House calendar for this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/No-Arizona-Hate-In-Texas.jpg)
![Protesters hold signs reading "No Arizona Hate in Texas" — a reference to a recently passed law in that state — during a 2011 demonstration against "sanctuary city" legislation in Austin.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Cliffhanger
The media (and we do include ourselves, thanks) loves the sort of legislative or political story line that goes like a cliffhanger episode of a TV show. And the Lege always seems to provide at least one during the session. Will they finish in time? Will they fail and go into overtime? Full Story