The Brief: June 3, 2015
With legislative business concluded, talk has immediately turned in some quarters to the next election season. Full Story
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John Reynolds was the newsletters editor for the Tribune from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he was a reporter for Quorum Report, a non-partisan online political newsletter focusing on the ins and outs under the Dome, for more than seven years – covering the waterfront from health and human services and redistricting to pensions and elections. A native of Atlanta, Ga., he started his journalistic career one day after the attacks of Sept. 11 in Lubbock, Texas, where he rotated through a slew of beats at The Avalanche-Journal. He received his undergraduate degree from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and studied at the University of Georgia's graduate school in journalism. When not at work, he actively attempts to convince himself he is adept at tennis with varying levels of success. And he has adopted the Austin custom of appreciating smoked meats and listening to music in grassy/muddy fields.
With legislative business concluded, talk has immediately turned in some quarters to the next election season. Full Story
In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights Future Arctic. Full Story
Sine die has now come and gone. But with lawmakers now free to return to their hometowns across the state, the question remains: How'd they do? Full Story
The 84th Legislature closes the books on its 140-day regular session today. As the Tribune's Ross Ramsey writes, it isn't one for the history books. Full Story
The Railroad Commission of Texas is set to go under intense legislative scrutiny next session after all, under an agreement by state House and Senate lawmakers. Full Story
The Railroad Commission of Texas would avoid intense legislative scrutiny until 2023 under a deal reached late Friday, a surprise six-year reprieve that rankled the oil and gas regulator’s critics. Full Story
Moments of emotion and drama emerge in the legislative session's final days, bills die when final deadlines hit and more 2016 maneuvering — all that and more in the latest issue of our subscriber-only newsletter for political insiders ($). Full Story
The Dallas Morning News takes a detailed look at the evolution of the deal on tax cuts this session and finds that at a few critical junctures, the deal almost derailed entirely. Full Story
After much effort, Ruth Jones McClendon was successful this session in passing legislation to create an innocence commission. Full Story
Deciphering partisan intent can be difficult; many motivations can underlie the killing of a bill. Full Story