The Brief: May 1, 2015
The decision earlier this week by Gov. Greg Abbott to get involved in the controversy over a planned military exercise taking place across several Southwestern states continues to draw comment. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to reporters at Texas Public Policy Foundation's grand opening of new building on April 21st, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House Advances Bill to Speed Permits, Limit Protests
Contending that Texas is struggling to lure businesses, House lawmakers on Thursday gave initial approval to bill to quicken the pace at which regulators crank out permits for major industrial projects – by limiting public scrutiny. Full Story
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Jade Helm 15: The Black Helicopters Are Coming. Well, Maybe Not.
Gov. Greg Abbott only made matters worse by wading into long-simmering paranoia over a military training exercise scheduled to begin this summer in Texas. He has asked the State Guard to keep an eye on the operation, a fascination of conspiracy theorists. Full Story
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Abbott's Pre-K Bill Headed to Full Senate
The bill that helped spark last week's blowup between the state's top officials is suddenly moving in the Senate, despite fierce opposition from Tea Party conservatives. Full Story
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![TPPF economist Dr. Arthur Laffer and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, at the 2015 Policy Orientation session on School Choice on Jan. 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Bill Makes It Harder to Sue Insurers
A controversial bill that would make it harder for homeowners and companies to recover certain damages from their insurance companies — cheered by the insurance industry and criticized by liberal groups and some businesses — cleared the Texas Senate on Thursday. Full Story
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, speaks during the "House vs. Senate" panel at The Texas Tribune's "On the Road: A Symposium Previewing the 84th Legislature" event on Dec. 5, 2014. Taylor is the chairman of the Senate Education Committee.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce -
With Amendment, Bettencourt Aims to Limit Property Tax Growth
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, managed to add an amendment to a bill Thursday that would make it more difficult for some local entities to raise property taxes. Full Story
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![Paul Bettencourt, now a state senator, is shown on Dec. 5, 2014, during the "What the Tea Party Wants" panel at a Texas Tribune event previewing the 2014 legislative session.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce -
House Approves Use of Sales Tax for Highways
The Texas House gave initial approval Thursday to a major boost in transportation funding from sales taxes, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate over the best way to pay for Texas roads. Full Story
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![State Sen. Robert Nichols R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, speak at a Texas Tribune event on April 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Passes Tax-Free Holiday to Spur Gun Sales
The state Senate on Thursday gave the green light to a proposal to designate one weekend a year when Texas shoppers would not have to pay sales tax on guns. Full Story
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Texas Republicans Push Energy Changes in Congress
At issue is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a stockpile of over 700 million barrels of crude oil stored in Texas and Louisiana. Congressional lawmakers are uncertain of the reserve's role in an age of abundance. Full Story
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Amid Truancy Debate, Whitmire Questions Program's Referrals
State Sen. John Whitmire is asking questions about a program for at-risk youths run by the Texas Military Department where more than half of the applicants are truant students referred by justice of the peace courts or from the schools themselves. Full Story
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House Panel Debates Bills to Rein In Film Incentives
A Texas House committee on Thursday considered a pair of bills taking aim at the state film incentives program. One would block state grants for films and video games containing adult content. Another would abolish the program altogether. Full Story
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![Texas A&M University System Regent Jim Schwertner and former Regent Richard Box participate in an interview for a new movie, produced by John Robison, that revisits the decision to move to the SEC.]()
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Lawmakers Call for End to Controversial Driver Responsibility Program
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday called for the repeal of a state program that requires drivers convicted of certain traffic offenses to pay annual surcharges to keep their driver's licenses. Full Story
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Study: Texas' Rate of Uninsured Falls
The rate of Texans without health insurance has fallen 8 percentage points since enrollment began in the federal Affordable Care Act, according to a new study. Full Story
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![Texas resident Shantell Keller cannot afford insurance and does not qualify for Medicaid.]()
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The Ticket: Rand Paul and Matthew Dowd
In this week's episode of The Ticket, a co-production of the Tribune and KUT, Jay and Ben break down the presidential campaign announcement speech of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and talk with Mathew Dowd, who directed George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Sylvester Turner
Full video of my 4/30 conversation with state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor. Full Story
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T-Squared: It's Our Spring Member Drive!
On day one of our spring membership drive, we're hoping to sign up 100 new members by 7 p.m. Fingers crossed that you'll not only help us reach that lofty number but exceed it. Full Story
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Suit Challenges Medical Board on Telemedicine
Dallas-based Teladoc is fighting tooth and nail to stop an impending rule change by the Texas Medical Board that could undermine the company's business model of having doctors consult with patients over the phone or internet. Full Story
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New in Trib+Edu: STAAR Scores in Texas Hold Steady
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: No change in passing rates since introduction of STAAR test, Obama stresses education as a response to Baltimore unrest and an interview with Colleen Reutebuch of the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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Bills Aim to Speed Up Permits, Limit Protests
Business-friendly Texas still isn't quite friendly enough, Republican lawmakers say, and they're pushing legislation to curtail public input and speed up permits issued by state environmental regulators. Full Story
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Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: April 30, 2015
A gathering of Hispanic evangelicals in Houston on Wednesday attracted two Republicans eyeing a run for the White House who repeated positions on immigration that have gotten them in hot water with party conservatives. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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