Analysis: Texas, the Biggest Red State, Isn’t Feeling GOP Love
The largest red state of them all is effectively sitting on the sidelines as Republicans begin their national convention in Cleveland. Full Story
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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.
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![Ted Cruz thanks Texas Republicans for supporting his presidential bid in a Dallas speech on May 14, 2016.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: A Friend With a Check is a Friend Indeed
If it's legal to give money to a state officeholder without violating Texas bribery laws — as is apparently the case with gifts reported by Attorney General Ken Paxton for use in his legal defense — what keeps rich folks from sprinkling money on their favorite public officials? Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a May 25, 2016, press conference.]()
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Analysis: Cutting the Texas Budget, But Only Hypothetically
It’s routine for top state leaders to ask government agencies to tighten their belts, but don’t get the kooky idea that the state budget will shrink. This is just an exercise. Full Story
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Analysis: Texas Leaders Have Lesson to Learn from Dallas Attacks
Texas politicians and community leaders must do what the police courageously did on Thursday night in Dallas: Somebody has to run toward the trouble. Full Story
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![A Dallas Area Rapid Transit police officer receives comfort at the Baylor University Hospital emergency room entrance following a sniper attack that targeted law enforcement.]()
Credit: Ting Shen/The Dallas Morning News -
Analysis: Cornyn Wants FBI to Open Clinton Files. And Then What?
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn thinks it would be a great idea to open the FBI’s investigative files on Hillary Clinton. But there's a reason for separating police and prosecutors and courts — and for separating all of them from politics. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen John Cornyn details his meeting with Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump during a press conference May 13, 2016 in Dallas]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune/Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Abortion Stats Reveal Texas Lawmakers' True Intentions
State lawmakers' 2013 abortion regulations — an effort to circumvent what was spelled out over time by the U.S. Supreme Court — would have been easier to defend with some evidence. But that wasn’t part of the sales pitch. Full Story
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![Demonstrators celebrated at the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016, after the court struck down a Texas law imposing strict abortion regulations.]()
Credit: Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS -
Analysis: No Political Benefit if Voters Can't Feel Property Tax Relief
Texas lawmakers want to get a leash on property taxes, which requires them to restrain local governments. The local governments point to expensive state government mandates that drive up their costs. It's hard to fix blame, or credit. Full Story
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![Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Speaker Paul Ryan Comes Calling for Cash in Texas
Also, Tom Harrison wants to resign his spot on the Ethics Commission but he can't leave just yet and the race for Rodney Ellis' SD-13 seat starts to come into focus. Full Story
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![U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan at the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C. on April 12, 2016.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston -
Analysis: Anti-Regulation Party in Texas Has a Strong Taste for Rules
Monday's Supreme Court ruling against two key provisions of the state's anti-abortion law was the latest setback for a band of Republicans who abhor regulatory constraints on business but who regularly try to control the behavior of individuals in Texas. Full Story
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![An anti-abortion protester demonstrated outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016, before the court struck down two key provisions of a Texas abortion law.]()
Credit: Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS -
Analysis: Taking Direct Aim at Legislative Business as Usual
Maybe the overnight sit-in that captured Washington’s attention will keep gun control in the news. House Democrats' effort fell short, but as Wendy Davis showed three years ago in Texas, the end of the spectacle isn’t necessarily the end of the fight. Full Story
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![Left: Wendy Davis is shown during her 2013 filibuster in the Texas Senate. Right: U.S. House Democrats staged a sit-in on June 22, 2016, in their bid to pass gun control legislation.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / U.S. Rep. David Cicilline/REUTERS