Ross Ramsey

Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.

Latest Contributions

School Finance Lawsuits Give Lawmakers an Out

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 24, 2012

The courts aren't expected to finish their work on school finance until after the regular legislative session, giving lawmakers an excuse for leaving some expensive work incomplete for now. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Corey Leopold
The State of the Gun

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 21, 2012

Texas is a gun state, more likely to expand gun rights after a mass killing than to restrict them. While there are proposals to buy back guns or restrict sales, Texas leaders are pushing to allow guns in more places. Full Story
A Show of Strength, Either Way it Goes

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 21, 2012

A successful challenge to House Speaker Joe Straus would be a serious show of strength for outside activists. A big defeat, however, could undermine their influence just as the 2013 session begins. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: About Those Outside Activists...

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 18, 2012

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the influence of outside activists — in general, and then specifically on the race for speaker and proposals to change the Senate's procedural rules. Full Story
Talk of Term Limits is Back, With Tea Party Help

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 17, 2012

Limiting the terms of lawmakers and other officeholders was a sexy idea 20 years ago, when Republicans were trying to unseat Democrats. Now it's back. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 15, 2012

M. Smith finds school choice already under way in some local districts, E. Smith grills a top energy regulator on conflicts of interest, Root reports on ethics reforms proposed by Tea Party activists, Ramshaw looks at elective surgery’s correlation to the state map, Galbraith and Murphy update the mapping data on the state’s lingering drought, Grissom finds fewer convicts being sent to Texas’ death row, Batheja reports on criticism of state economic incentives from the business community, Aguilar finds political activists in Texas organizing to watch Mexico’s government and Aaronson has details on the governor’s support for banning abortions after 20 weeks: The best of our best from Dec. 10 to 14, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
House Speaker's Race is Bluffing Game for Now

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 14, 2012

In the race for speaker of the Texas House, everybody has the votes they need. Or they're well on their way. Or at least that's what they're telling the rest of us. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Close the Window

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 14, 2012

Election season ends Saturday, in a way, with the start of the biennial blackout on campaign contributions during a legislative session. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Steven Leggett
Speaker Race: Simpson Praying, Hughes Staying

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 14, 2012

House Speaker Joe Straus has the votes to win reelection, according to his loyalists. But he's got a declared opponent and another in the wings, and they've got a month to work with. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: About the Leadership...

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 11, 2012

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the power of the three leaders in the Capitol, and a ranking of who's strongest and weakest among the statewide elected officials in Texas. Full Story