Latest Contributions

• Redistricting is Harder Than It Looked at First

  By Ross Ramsey June 7, 2013

  Texas lawmakers set out to do a quick fix on the state's political maps. They soon found out there was nothing quick about it. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: Grading the 83rd Legislature...

  By Ross Ramsey June 4, 2013

  For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked for grades on the state's top leaders, on the House and Senate, about the heroes and goats of the session, and about how many legislators won't be back. Full Story 

• The Never-Ending Story

  By Ross Ramsey June 4, 2013

  Politics is fast. Redistricting is slow. A rare set of openings has candidates wrestling for advantage at the same time that redistricting debates are raising some of the same questions that stalled the 2012 primaries. Full Story 

• Combs' Exit Spurs a Political Stampede

  By Ross Ramsey June 3, 2013

  The comptroller's announcement that she won't seek re-election prompted a flurry of declarations of interest, which in turn prompted other flurries, and so on. In the minds of Texas politicians, it's already 2014. Full Story 

• TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

  By Ross Ramsey June 1, 2013

  Root considers Rick Perry’s next move, Rocha and Dehn take a fast look back at the regular session, KUT’s Philpott on the return of redistricting, Murphy’s interactive look at 40 years of special sessions, Aaronson on calls for conservative issues in the special session, M. Smith on the education bills in front of the governor, Ramshaw on the fate of transparency legislation, E. Smith’s TribLive review of the Senate’s session, Hamilton finds the work of UT regents undisturbed by the session, Galbraith on new obstacles for water planning, Batheja reports on a revived search for highway money, and Aguilar on increasing numbers of naturalized citizens: The best of our best for the week of May 27-31, 2013. Full Story 

• Sharper Elbows in a Special Session

  By Ross Ramsey May 31, 2013

  The comity of the regular session might disappear in a special session: The rules change to the disadvantage of the Democrats, and the agenda changes to the advantage of the governor. Full Story 

• Redistricting Lawyers: Keep the Senate Maps for 2014

  By Ross Ramsey May 29, 2013

  UPDATED: At a federal redistricting hearing in San Antonio, lawyers for the state and the various plaintiffs agreed that the state Senate maps used in 2012 should be left as is for the 2014 elections. But they still differ on the House and Congress plans. Full Story 

• Interactive: How Perry Uses His Veto Power

  By Ross Ramsey and Ryan Murphy May 29, 2013

  As the longest-serving Texas governor, Rick Perry has vetoed his share of bills — 275 of them since taking office in December 2000. Use our interactive to see the history of Perry's veto power. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About The 83rd Legislature...

  By Ross Ramsey May 28, 2013

  For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the clout of partisan groups in the Legislature, about the biggest issues left undone and about how we’ll remember this group of lawmakers. Full Story 

• Redistricting Special Session: The Districts in Question

  By Ross Ramsey and Ryan Murphy May 28, 2013

  Lawmakers are deciding whether to ratify political maps drawn by federal judges for the 2012 elections and to use those maps in 2014. Based on the last two elections, we've calculated the political environment in each district. Full Story