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• If the Legislature's in Town, Bills Aren't Dead

  By Ross Ramsey May 6, 2013

  The legislative session is in its last month and most bills will die. But setbacks for the big stuff — water, transportation and the like — are usually temporary. Full Story 

• TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

  By Ross Ramsey May 4, 2013

  M. Smith on a shock awaiting the state’s fifth- and eighth-graders, E. Smith’s interview with two of Washington’s Gang of Eight, Dehn and Rocha on legislative inquiries into the explosion and fire in West, Ramshaw on state leaders’ apparent disinterest in transparency, KUT’s Philpott explains points of order, Murphy and Ramshaw on the current status of ethics bills, Hamilton finds that not all college degrees are equal, Galbraith on the budget and the shale boom, Batheja on the Legislature’s do-over votes, Aguilar on a Texas application for more border drones: The best of our best for the week of April 29-May 3, 2012. Full Story 

• For Fire Departments, More to State Budget Than Numbers

  By Ross Ramsey May 3, 2013

  Budget decisions revolve around numbers, but talking about money is just a way to talk about policy. Consider the case of volunteer fire departments. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About the Prosecution...

  By Ross Ramsey April 30, 2013

  For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics in Texas, we asked about prosecutors being prosecuted, flawed prosecutions and whether and when to remind defendants of their rights. Full Story 

• Democracy and Texas Voters — By the Numbers

  By Ross Ramsey April 30, 2013

  Texas politicians can easily represent the people who elect them without necessarily representing the people of Texas. To get re-elected, they have to please their voters, not the general population. Full Story 

• Plenty to Spend, and Plenty of Anxiety About It

  By Ross Ramsey April 29, 2013

  Two years ago, lawmakers couldn't find the money they needed to run the government they had promised their voters. Now they have the money — and a completely different set of political problems. Full Story 

• The Political Hazards of Changing High School Standards

  By Ross Ramsey April 29, 2013

  Voters asked lawmakers to cut down on the high-stakes standardized tests in schools and to replace some of the budget cuts made in 2011. Will they soon be asking why lawmakers made it easier to get a high school diploma? Full Story 

• Texas Prosecutors No Longer Unassailable

  By Ross Ramsey April 26, 2013

  One of the most exalted elected positions in Texas politics — that of the law-and-order district attorney — doesn't come with as much job security as it used to. District attorneys in some of the state's biggest counties are fighting for their jobs. Full Story 

• Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Lawmaker

  By Ross Ramsey April 25, 2013

  Giving up 20 weeks of every other year to serve in the Texas Legislature is a lot easier if you don't have to worry about the paycheck you're missing at home. It is easier, in other words, if you're rich. Full Story 

• Perry Withdraws Texas Prison Board Nomination

  By Ross Ramsey April 24, 2013

  Gov. Rick Perry withdrew his nomination of Annette Raggette of Austin to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Wednesday afternoon, citing conflict-of-interest concerns. Full Story