Latest Contributions

• Analysis: A teen’s death — and a failure of policy

  By Ross Ramsey April 5, 2017

  The death of a teen on the run from the state's foster care system stirs deeper questions: Why aren't these programs working, and who will be held to account for that? Full Story 

• Analysis: At the Texas Capitol, a bill is merely dead, not sincerely dead

  By Ross Ramsey April 3, 2017

  You might rejoice or bewail the death of a piece of legislation, but remember this time-proven adage: Nothing is really dead while the Texas Legislature is still in Austin. Full Story 

• Analysis: In Texas, principles matter, but exceptions may apply

  By Ross Ramsey March 31, 2017

  Things almost never come out of the Texas Legislature — if they come out at all — in the same shape they went in. Principles give way to exceptions and compromise, and the final product can differ greatly from the original idea. Full Story 

• Analysis: One (Texas) official to rule them all

  By Ross Ramsey March 29, 2017

  If you got the states together to take power away from the federal government, as Greg Abbott hopes to do, and if you increased the state's powers over laws passed by cities and counties and local voters, the most powerful office in the state capital would really be something. Full Story 

• Analysis: Don’t fret — it’s too early to say Texas lawmakers will blow this

  By Ross Ramsey March 27, 2017

  The denizens of the Texas Capitol are already talking about the possibility of a special session if lawmakers haven't finished the budget and other bills by Memorial Day. They might be worried, but you shouldn't be. Full Story 

• Analysis: Is this Texas state budget trick constitutional?

  By Ross Ramsey March 24, 2017

  The Texas Senate is proposing a new accounting trick to balance its 2018-19 budget. The contrivance would work, mathematically speaking, but it raises constitutional questions and faces derision from the House. Full Story 

• Analysis: Can Abbott assemble an army for this session’s pre-K fight?

  By Ross Ramsey March 22, 2017

  Gov. Greg Abbott has hit tough sledding with his call for more spending on early education in Texas. Lawmakers aren't warm to the idea, to say the least, and the governor hasn't assembled an army of supporters to back up his position. Full Story 

• Analysis: Cutting the Texas budget, even with money on hand

  By Ross Ramsey March 20, 2017

  If Texas legislators cut the state budget this year, it won't be because they didn't have the money. It'll be because they didn't want to spend the money they have. Full Story 

• Analysis: State boosts local accountability while eroding local control

  By Ross Ramsey March 17, 2017

  At about the same time this week, one set of Texas lawmakers was working on ways to limit the growth of property taxes that fund local governments while another was considering legislation that could cost local governments a lot of money. Full Story 

• Analysis: Texas could find itself back in the voting rights penalty box

  By Ross Ramsey March 15, 2017

  The federal judges who said the state's congressional maps are invalid last week are in position to take another step — to require Texas to get federal permission whenever it wants to change election and voting laws. Full Story