/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/ramsey-ross_TT.jpg)
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.
Texans want local governments to get permission for property tax hikes over a set amount and don't think such a restriction would hobble services, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/87dec3568f7f78707416eb259c802f86/UTTTPoll-March_01-LEGISLATIVE.png)
David Whitley's tortured path to Senate confirmation as the Texas Secretary of State — whether or not he is confirmed at all — could play out in the state's next round of redistricting in 2021. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1bd9b50e93d18dc07d703d3c1f3df522/10_David_Whitley_Confirmation_MG._TT.jpg)
The two Texans interested in the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 don't have to choose between running for national office or running for U.S. Senate. The law allows them to do both. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b8b54554d51b918813fbfcf6e0cb90e3/Castro_Beto_side_by_side_TT.jpg)
One-fifth of the incumbents in the Texas House serve in districts where less than 10 percentage points separated average Democrats from average Republicans in statewide races. That's more than enough contested turf to put control within reach of either party. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/311cb7d5c4ced880216604fb0c07ac4e/01_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
Sorted by congressional district, the 2018 general election results illustrate which members of the Texas delegation will be on Democratic and Republican target lists leading into the 2020 election cycle. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9f18709206743264ea6369a3934de57/2018-05-22_Lizzie_Fletcher_Runoffs_Pu.Ying.Huang0349.jpg)
On this week’s TribCast, Ross talks to Emma, Aliyya and Edgar about Sen. Angela Paxton's controversial bill that could impact her husband, efforts to get property tax legislation passed, a status check on the promised school finance bill and bidding out the state's data storage to private companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a730116c669ffbe766c5c2aad64897b9/TribCast_2_14_19_LS_TT.jpg)
Sometimes, the way around the established traditions of the Texas Senate is to be found in the least obvious place: the Senate's own rulebook. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35a407f7d05a5e64faad232d84ed4796/01_Texas_Senate_Floor_MG.jpg)
Texas legislators are filing more property tax bills — several of which would require approval from voters. Among other things, that could shift any blame for new taxes away from lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/24/PropertyTax-DollarSigns.jpg)
A new proposal to cut school property taxes in Texas perfectly outlines the political problem facing lawmakers: It's terribly expensive, and other taxes have to be raised to pay for it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6a4280911abb90f92fa7c5f6a33418d/21_State_of_the_Judiciary_EW.jpg)
What started as unity at the top of Texas government is now in the hands of state legislators, who are better known for killing bills and changing the original intentions. Case in point: property taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2ecb09a0f7ec0c13e845f652d170ba92/01_Abbott_Bonnen_Patrick_Property_Tax_Presser_MG.jpg)