The Evening Brief: Sept. 20, 2013
Your evening reading: Cruz pushing Senate Republicans to block funding bill; Cornyn says he opposes government shutdown over Obamacare; two Texas congressmen leave immigration talks Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/885d7cb95939515ea554c521bf0b4e30/BD%20INC%20Cornyn%20Medicaid%20Expansion%202013)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
West Texas State Representative Won't Seek Fourth Term
State Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, announced Friday that he is retiring from the Texas House at the end of his current term. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New Immigration Bill Filed; 2 Texas Lawmakers Leave Talks
As the co-chairmen of the Congressional Border Caucus introduced an omnibus immigration bill Friday, two Texas congressmen left a House group working on immigration after saying they could no longer trust the president. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100501-DSC_3196.jpg)
![An estimated 25,000 demonstrators attended a rally in Dallas to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform on May 1, 2010.]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
TribLive: A Conversation With Dan Patrick
Full video of my 9/19 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Dan Patrick, Republican of Houston, a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PatrickDanBD067X.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A Conservative Maverick Tries to Stay in the Picture
If Debra Medina doesn't run for comptroller in 2014, it will be because of a lack of money, not will. The former gubernatorial candidate said grass-roots supporters can't contribute enough funds to wage a serious statewide bid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/19/TxTrib-Medina-021.jpg)
![Debra Medina hosts a monthly potluck with Tea Party activists at her home in Wharton on Sept. 6, 2013. Medina is exploring a run for state comptroller.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Gender Gap Emerges as 2014 Ballot Starts to Fill
It's easy to see how gender might become a point of contention in an election where Democrats accuse Republicans of waging a war on women — starting with the number of women running statewide on the two parties' tickets. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Eyes PACE Loans to Boost Energy Efficiency
A diverse coalition is racing to institute a plan to increase energy and water efficiency upgrades that supporters say could help Texas improve its conservation record. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/19/TxTrib-Energy-007.jpg)
![The Rose, a nonprofit based in Houston, upgraded its building’s windows, light switches and roof, above, to make them more energy efficient.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Imagining Davis' First Week on the Campaign Trail
With political observers saying state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, appears likely to run for governor, that got us wondering: How might she begin her campaign in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide in decades? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DSC_4960.jpg)
![State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, at the Haranbee Festival in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2012.]()
Credit: Ariel Min -
The Brief: Sept. 20, 2013
A quixotic effort to dismantle Obamacare has turned into into a crucial test for newly embattled Ted Cruz. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/31/TedCruz03.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaking at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., on March 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Gage Skidmore -
The Evening Brief: Sept. 19, 2013
Your evening reading: DeLay's conviction overturned; abortion opponents hit Patrick over past investment; Cruz answers criticism from House Republicans Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Delay_Tom_Face.jpg)
![Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Nov. 1, 2010, before opening arguments in his trial.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
"I Am Texas Ag," Carnes Says in Campaign Video
In his first campaign video as a candidate for agriculture commissioner, Uvalde Mayor J Allen Carnes touts his farming roots and the importance of agriculture to the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_Shot_2013-09-19_at_2.59.07_PM.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Patrick on the Abortion Filibuster
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, Republican of Houston, a candidate for lieutenant governor, criticized David Dewhurst's handling of the 83rd session's now-famous abortion filibuster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PatrickDanBD171X.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Patrick on Democratic Chairmen
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a candidate for lieutenant governor, revealed how he'd dole out the chairmanships of Senate committees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PatrickDanBD126.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Watson Responds to Perry's Move to Regulate Insurance Navigators
In a letter Thursday, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, says Gov. Rick Perry's move to establish strict rules for so-called health insurance navigators defies the intent of a law legislators passed this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/06/7C2A9606.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry attends a groundbreaking ceremony for the CRIT Texas Teletón USA children's rehabilitation center in San Antonio on Aug. 6, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: Patrick on the Two-Thirds Rule
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a candidate for lieutenant governor, explained his ongoing opposition to the Senate's two-thirds rule. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PatrickDanBD015.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Appeals Court Overturns Tom DeLay's Conviction for Money Laundering
Former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s political money laundering conviction was overturned Thursday by the state’s 3rd Court of Appeals, which said the state's evidence in the case was "legally insufficient." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Polling Center: Lies, Damn Lies and Campaign Polling
An ever-expanding niche market of political junkies — and the specialized media that feeds it — finds news in polling results and in conflicts over polling practice. The release of internal polls becomes as much about shaping public opinion as it is about measuring it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_ElectionDay_Tamir.Kalifa006.jpg)
![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at a location across the street from the University of Texas at Austin campus on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
TxDOT Banking On "Don't Mess With Texas" to Provide More Cash
The cash-strapped Texas Department of Transportation is hoping to partner with a vendor to launch a new line of merchandise that takes advantage of the company's intellectual property — most notably, "Don't Mess With Texas." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/18/DontMessWithTexas.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Jamie Golden -
Abortion Foes Criticize Patrick's Past Investment
Dan Patrick has made his opposition to abortion a centerpiece of his campaign for lieutenant governor. But two prominent abortion opponents are criticizing the Houston senator for once owning stock in the maker of the "morning after" pill. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Ahead of Health Care Rollout, Groups Seek to Answer Questions
As Gov. Rick Perry pushes for tighter rules on workers trained to help uninsured residents purchase health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, Texans can still turn to counselors, hotlines and websites for answers to lingering questions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/17/TX_Organizing_04.jpg)
![Zoila Chaver, second from right, a member of the Texas Organizing Project, giving health care information to Dallas resident Graciela Garcia at Garcia's home on July 10, 2013.]()
Credit: Mark Graham
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f3c1ce7b6c8f0fdcb40bbf219aef39da/BD%20INC%20Lewis%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/763558b3dfa166d1823e2a2272174ef1/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20201%202013%20)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc3c79e9c231be233473989ed2304d76/BD%20INC%20Delay%202010)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81b1210c5f2d624f9ed6949a19421ceb/BD%20INC%20House%20Floor%20003%202013%20)