The Evening Brief: May 27, 2013
Your evening reading: Dewhurst says special session to begin this evening; redistricting committee assigned; Democrat criticizes House for inaction on immigration reform Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05623f8c501286e65b6e041ada51b734/BD%20INC%20Sine%20Die%20621%202013)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Best & Worst Lawmakers: Your Turn to Choose
Texas Monthly's list of the best and worst legislators of the 83rd session doesn't come out until June 12, but why should Paul Burka and his colleagues have all the fun? Use this interactive between now and 6 p.m. Tuesday to select your own personal list. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/24/BestWorst-2-b.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmaker Transparency Bills Got Little Traction
Lawmakers talked a big game about improving transparency this session, but when push came to shove, they did next to nothing to advance it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Cleaning-Capitol-Bidness.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy -
Interactive: Bills Sent to the Governor's Office
Hundreds of bills that have been signed by both the House and the Senate are arriving at Gov. Rick Perry's office. Use our interactive to see which measures he has signed, which he has vetoed and which have become law without his signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/24/VetoApp-Art.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 27, 2013
With the Legislature hours away from adjournment, special session speculation continues to swirl. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Cap_sized9.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
As Session Ends, Campus Construction Bonds Appear Dead
UPDATED: The Senate adjourned on Sunday night without any movement on a bill that would have approved nearly $2.7 billion in what are called "tuition revenue bonds" for campus construction projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-TSU-026.jpg)
![Texas Southern University campus, Feb. 22nd, 2012.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Major Education Bills Headed to Governor's Desk
Two major education bills — Senate Bill 2, which expands the state's charter school system, and House Bill 5, which changes high school testing and graduation requirements — are headed to the governor's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/26/IMG_0335-fix.jpg)
![House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
This Session, Lawmakers Put Down Their Swords
If Texas’ less-than-theatrical 83rd legislative session is remembered at all, it will be known for accords, not discord. Here's a look at top storylines from this session and what they could portend for the future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/24/Overview.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Perry Vetoes "Dark Money" Bill
Gov. Rick Perry has vetoed a divisive measure that would have forced some tax-exempt, politically active nonprofits to disclose their donors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/01/BidnessCpaitolMoney.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Interactive: 2014-15 School Finance Budget Viewer
The budget that awaits the final approval of the 83rd Legislature — and Gov. Rick Perry — adds about $3.4 billion back to public schools from the $5.4 billion lawmakers cut in 2011. Explore how your school district fares under Senate Bill 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/08/Desk-Money-2_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
House Approves Changes to Ballot Harvesting Bill
The final version of a controversial bill filed to prevent so-called ballot harvesting was approved by the House on Friday, but not before a key provision was diluted in the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CallieRichmondPhoto-0002.jpg)
![Paper-ballot boxes flood Reliant Center, where Harris County officials convened to count thousands of paper ballots.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
House Rejected Late Senate Proposal for Roads Money
In the final days of the session, Senate budget leaders came up with an ambitious proposal to find more money for road construction and maintenance. House leaders made it clear they weren't interested. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/16/Construction-1.jpg)
![Part of the elevated section of Chisholm Trail Parkway that is under construction near downtown Fort Worth TX.]()
Credit: Mark Graham -
The Playlist: The Final Countdown
With mere days left in the legislative session — the regular session, at least — we're kicking off our weekly playlist based on Texas politics and policy news with Europe's "The Final Countdown." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Newsreel: Final Days for Legislature
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Only a few days remain in the 83rd legislative session, and everything is up in the air — including whether lawmakers will come back for more when the session ends on Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/052413_Newreel_ART.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Bill, Budget Expand Authority of Forensic Science Commission
Legislators are planning to give the Texas Forensic Science Commission authority to review many more labs and types of forensic analysis and to double the agency’s budget, hoping it will become a national model. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Grissom and Rocha on a boost in mental health care funding, Root looks at a blurred line between public duties and personal ambition, M. Smith on a CSCOPE change, Aaronson and Hooks compare Perry and Cruz in an interactive, Galbraith on challenges for the state's power grid, Ramsey on a committee's pricey end-of-session dinner, Ramshaw on Abbott making some campaign moves, E. Smith talks with Branch and Martinez Fischer, Batheja on Texas' tax system, and Hamilton on the issue of term limits uniting unlikely allies. The best of our best content from May 20-24, 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/24/05242013-Tribweek.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
New Twist in Budget Agreement Would End System Benefit Fund
A fee paid by millions of Texans and businesses on their electric bills would be abolished in September under a deal made Friday, the Senate's budget writer said. The fee goes to a fund that helps low-income Texans with their utility bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BudgetTexas.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Senate Confirms Nominees to UT System Board
Gov. Rick Perry's nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents successfully completed a rocky journey to confirmation by the Texas Senate on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/12/BoardOfRegents-Hildebrand-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Agenda Texas: Legislative Development
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: It's the final weekend of the 83rd legislative session. Lawmakers still need to finish up the budget, and we answer more listener questions. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Evening Brief: May 24, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry comes out against part of budget deal but stays quiet on special session; insurance commissioner announces resignation; Cruz invited to speak in New Hampshire Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7a4b30946ec66c0bfacabf067451fb9a/BD%20INC%20Straus%20Gavel%2001%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1795845919c6619c0f085fc9f2f1554d/BD%20INC%20Hinojosda%2002%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08276f2ef27a5af61f3ce141135f5dba/BD%20INC%20Pitts%20HB1%20Debate%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aeb88227c503fd00b4f3c08544712d9e/BD%20INC%20Perry%2003%202012)