The Evening Brief: Aug. 14, 2012
Your evening reading: Hutchison responds to conservative critics; A&M trying to distance itself from shooting; state lawmakers debate additional tax for small tobacco companies Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Additional Tax for Small Tobacco Companies Debated
The state House Ways and Means Committee heard discussion Tuesday on a possible extra tax on small tobacco companies to equalize what the big tobacco companies call a competitive advantage because of pricing. Full Story
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A&M Trying to Distance Itself from Shooting Incident
With move-in day less than one week away, Texas A&M University officials are working to address the fallout from Monday's deadly College Station shooting — even though it did not actually occur on campus. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
Interactive: West Nile Virus Cases Statewide
State officials are reporting more than 380 human cases of the West Nile virus in Texas so far this year — and no region has been harder hit than North Texas. Here’s an interactive look at reported West Nile cases and deaths by county. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman -
Inside Intelligence: About Those Personal Finances...
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the Senate in general and its two-thirds rule in particular, and about personal financial disclosures by public officials. Full Story
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Video: KBH on "The Daily Rundown"
As part of his series on retiring members of the U.S. Senate, MSNBC's Chuck Todd interviewed outgoing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, on this morning's edition of The Daily Rundown. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Guest Column: Why Democrats Should Support a Tax Cut
When it makes sense, we shouldn’t act as if we will never consider tax cuts as an economic stimulant. In fact, if Democrats really want to shed our image as the taxing party, there’s a tremendous opportunity staring us in the face. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Guest Column: Why Republicans Should Support a Democrat
All that’s standing between Texas and an absolute one-party rule is a traffic jam or a sick day. I don’t care what your politics are — that’s not good. Full Story
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Credit: Ross Ramsey -
The Brief: Aug. 14, 2012
Monday's deadly shooting near Texas A&M University has inevitably touched off yet another round of national debate over gun rights. Full Story
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Credit: Gage Skidmore -
In Fight Between Texas and EPA, Who's Winning?
A federal appeals court on Monday handed Texas a victory in its long-running battle with the Environmental Protection Agency. But after years of squabbling between the two sides, who's winning — and at what cost — remains unclear. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TDCJ Faces Ongoing Staffing Challenges
During the 1990s, many Texans believed prison construction would help boost the economies in rural areas. Today, ongoing staffing shortages in rural units are causing legislators and other officials to reconsider that assumption. Full Story
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Ryan's Health Care Plan Has Familiar Feel to It
The Republican vice presidential hopeful's controversial plan for reforming Medicaid and Medicare bears strong similarities to bills Texas Republicans advocated for — and eventually passed — during the last legislative session. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Aug. 13, 2012
Your evening reading: Perry reasserts support for gun rights after shooting near A&M; Obama administration backs UT's admissions policy; appeals court sides with Texas in its fight against EPA Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Updated: Words of Support for UT's Race-Based Admissions Practices
More than two dozen groups, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 38 members of the Texas Legislature, filed amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in support of the University of Texas' admission policies. Full Story
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Court Faults EPA's Rejection of Flexible Permits Program
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency unfairly disapproved of a Texas permitting program for air emissions. The opinion says the EPA must further consider the program. Full Story
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Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be U.S. President?
After Ted Cruz's win in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, his name is being thrown around as a future presidential candidate. But is the Canadian-born Cruz eligible to run for the United States' highest office? Full Story
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One Year Later, Revisiting Perry's Presidential Bid
One year ago today, Gov. Rick Perry made national waves by jumping into the GOP race for the presidency, a bid that ended five months (and a few infamous debate debacles) later. Revisit our interactive timeline of the highs and lows of his run for the White House. Full Story
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The Brief: Aug. 13, 2012
Intended to shake up the presidential race, the announcement of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate has set Texas Republicans aglow. Full Story
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Credit: Gage Skidmore -
Long Shots Carry On Despite Stacked Deck
Two-thirds of the candidates for Texas House don’t face major opposition in November. Only about a dozen races are truly competitive, in the sense that either party might win. Full Story
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In Hard Times, Staffing at Schools Closely Watched
How school districts manage personnel costs will be increasingly monitored as debate over efficiency progresses — as will the ways they have coped with the loss of roughly 25,000 employees they shed before the 2011-12 school year. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman
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