Latest Contributions

• Legislative Notebook — Week 2

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 31, 2013

  Lawmakers are still in the “fixin’ to” stage of the session taking a week off after a week on the job — not unusual in the years when presidents are being inaugurated — but the wheels are turning. Full Story 

• State Senate Finishes Starting

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 31, 2013

  The beginning, at least for the Texas Senate, came to an end this week. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About Health Care...

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 29, 2013

  For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about federal health care and the state, about abortion legislation touted by the governor and about state money for Planned Parenthood. Full Story 

• Governor Readies State of the State Address No. 7

  By Ross Ramsey and Jay Root Jan. 29, 2013

  For the seventh time since he became governor in 2000, Gov. Rick Perry will appear before a joint session of the Texas Senate and House on Tuesday to deliver his biennial State of the State speech. Full Story 

• Some Public Business Remains in the Shadows

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 28, 2013

  Politicians love transparency right now — or love to talk about it. But some of their efforts at providing it aren't clear, and some that are clear aren't timely. Some public records just aren't readily available to the public. Full Story 

• TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 26, 2013

  E. Smith’s interview with David Dewhurst, Batheja reports on a battle over budget arithmetic, Dehn and Rocha pay a visit to Gun Appreciation Day, Hamilton on the legislative implications of a college shooting in Houston, M. Smith on what school districts have to say about guns, Galbraith reports on prospective changes at the Texas Railroad Commission, Murphy and Root examine holes in reports filed by state lawmakers, Ramshaw’s talk with Donna Howard and Sarah Davis about women’s health policy, and Aaronson’s interview with Sarah Weddington on the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade: The best of our best content from Jan. 20 to 25, 2013. Full Story 

• The 83rd Comes to Town

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 26, 2013

  Lawmakers came to Austin, took their oaths, started organizing and setting the table for the 83rd time, facing legal and fiscal uncertainties in court and hearing from leaders who want to focus on water, transportation and other infrastructure. Full Story 

• Lobbyists Who Dine From Both Sides of Plate

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 25, 2013

  Lobbyists are competitive creatures, and don't like it when somebody gets an advantage — like political consultants who lobby during the political off-season. But they haven't found a way to regulate the practice. Full Story 

• Lost in Translation: From Legislature to English

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 23, 2013

  The Legislature has its own jargon, and it sometimes feels like members are speaking a different language. Blocker bills? WADA? Chubbing? LARS? Here's a guide — in the form of a multiple-choice quiz — to what they're saying. Full Story 

• Inside Intelligence: About Those Ethics Laws...

  By Ross Ramsey Jan. 22, 2013

  For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about state ethics laws — about lawmakers' disclosure of personal finances, of client lists, and about what laws the insiders would change if they could. Full Story