Sen. Dan Patrick's Senate Bill 2 is the most ambitious attempt to expand the state’s charter school system since it was established in 1995. It will have to pass a Legislature that defeated more modest proposals two years ago. Full Story
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In a rousing closing keynote at the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned that "liberty is under assault from every direction.” Full Story
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In this edition of the Newsreel: George P. Bush officially enters the race for Texas land commissioner, the Senate Finance Committee passes a $195.5 billion budget and educators spend spring break at the Capitol. Full Story
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Astute audiophiles noted that George P. Bush initially selected a surprising back-track for the YouTube video announcing his bid for Texas land commissioner. That song — "Halo" by Beyoncé — leads off this week's playlist. Full Story
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Aaronson on the impact of expanding Medicaid on the state budget, Aguilar on immigration-related bills in the 83rd session, Batheja on a GOP senator challenging his party on taxes, Galbraith on concerns about water use for fracking, Grissom on reciprocal discovery, Hamilton on the campus carry debate, Murphy and Batheja visualize the legislator-lobbyist revolving door, Ramsey on the blue dreams of Texas Democrats, Ramsey and Rocha on George P. Bush's big announcement and Ramshaw and Levinthal on Rick Perry's CPAC speech: The best of our best content from March 11-15, 2013. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Democrats raising money off Cruz's exchange with Feinstein; state lawmakers close to deal on ethics bill; Republican senator challenging party on taxes Full Story
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The senior adviser to the new high-profile Democratic group Battleground Texas on what he thinks it will take to make the state politically competitive for Democrats and why he thinks it's possible. Full Story
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The organizers hoping to make Texas a safe place for Democrats to run for office will know how they're doing by how their volunteers answer a simple question: Would they let a friend run as a Democrat, or would they advise against it? Full Story
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A pilot program at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin hopes to show that coordinating care for medically needy children improves the quality of care and reduces costs. Full Story
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State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, is engaged in a long-term campaign to convince his fellow legislators that the state's bond debt is an urgent problem and that tax increases are part of a conservative solution. Full Story
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Amid growing pressure on lawmakers to address the state's water needs, a conservation-focused plan to establish a long-term fund for water projects took a significant step forward on Thursday. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego is taking his GOP colleagues to task on sequestration. In a letter, the freshman congressman tells border hawks they can’t be for the continued sequester and for increased border security at the same time. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday told conservative activists to blame their recent electoral losses on the messengers, not the message. Full Story
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Four bills that would ease restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons on college and university campuses were debated Thursday in the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety. Full Story
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The freshmen in the Texas House wear something purple every Thursday as a symbol of their willingness to compromise across the aisle. Now that the bill-filing deadline has passed, it's time to identify which issues are negotiable. Full Story
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Your evening reading: at CPAC, Perry calls Medicaid expansion "coercion"; El Paso lawmaker arrested on DWI charge; Democrat scolds Cruz at gun hearing Full Story
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It’s easy to admit that those other states need some federal oversight, but here in Texas? Get out of town. Full Story
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State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, D-El Paso, was arrested by Austin police on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and booked into Travis County Jail early Thursday morning, according to Travis County public records. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday called the Medicaid expansion piece of federal health reform “fiscal coercion,” and blamed conservatives who have embraced it for folding "in the face of federal bribery and mounting pressure.” Full Story
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Ahead of his Thursday speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference, Gov. Rick Perry has sent a letter to members of Texas' congressional delegation asking them to fight for flexibility for the state's Medicaid program. Full Story
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