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  • Would GOP Balk if Dems Back Bid to Oust Straus?

    By Ross Ramsey

    Speaker Joe Straus won his leadership post with the support of Democrats — which gives some conservatives fits. If his just-announced challenger, David Simpson, builds a similar bipartisan coalition, can he hold on to conservative support? Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • Tea Party Touts Ethics, Transparency Reforms

    By Jay Root

    Tea Party activists are releasing their priorities for the upcoming legislative session on Tuesday, and a top leader says they will call for ethics reform, an end to double-dipping by elected officials and better disclosure on personal financial statements. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Incentives for Business Scrutinized in Texas

    By Aman Batheja

    Two legislative committees are set to hold hearings on state programs designed to encourage businesses to invest here, about a week after a New York Times series brought increased attention to Texas' approach to such incentives. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Simpson Files for Speaker, Wins Backing of Hughes

    By Ross Ramsey

    State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, filed papers to challenge Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, for speaker of the House, he said in a letter to colleagues Monday morning. Shortly after, state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, dropped out of the speaker's race and endorsed Simpson. Full Story 

    State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, at a TribLive event on Jan. 26, 2012
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • Perry Helps Key Advisers Take a Big Next Step

    By Emily Ramshaw

    “Career coach” is not listed on Gov. Rick Perry’s résumé — but it might as well be. In the 12 years he has held Texas’ highest elected office, he has helped align the professional stars for many of his key advisers. Full Story 

    Surrounding Gov. Rick Perry are (clockwise, from bottom left) Jeffrey Boyd, Mike Toomey, David Medina, Deirdre Delisi, Mike McKinney, Phil Wilson, Jay Kimbrough and John Steen.
    Credit: Illustration by Tamir Kalifa, Bob Daemmrich and Spencer Selvidge

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ayan Mittra

    Batheja looks at the impact of the Trans-Texas Corridor proposal, Aaronson on Democrats' hopes for a Medicaid expansion deal, Galbraith and White on a $17 million payment approved for Oncor's CEO, Ramsey describes the challenge facing the House speaker, Chammah looks at a bill requiring police to record interrogations, Batheja and Murphy detail accounts holding dedicated state revenue, Hamilton reports on plans for a new Rio Grande Valley university, Aguilar examines 20 years of NAFTA, and E. Smith talks to the Texas Senate's new Higher Education Committee chairman: The best of our best from Dec. 3 to 7, 2012. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • The Evening Brief: Dec. 7, 2012

    By David Muto

    Your evening reading: lawmakers may revisit family planning cuts; Abbott voices support for federal measure increasing child porn penalties; Hensarling chimes in on Boehner committee purge Full Story 

    State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, on June 16, 2011
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • TribuneFest: High-Tech Higher Ed

    By Evan Smith

    At the Trib's November 29 symposium on higher education at Texas A&M University, I talked about innovations in online curriculum and the use of smartphones and other devices in and out of the classroom with Steve Klingler of Western Governors University, Steven Mintz of the University of Texas System, Renee Patton of Cisco Systems and Phil Schubert of Abilene Christian University. Full Story 

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