Current law requires inmates to make a copayment of $3 per doctor visit. HB 26, by state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, seeks to offset some of the prison health care costs that taxpayers now absorb by requiring inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to pay an annual fee of $100 if they use prison medical services. Full Story
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When the Senate passed her two signature education bills, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, made an effort to keep her colleagues from weighing them down with extra amendments. The lower chamber took a different approach. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Republicans reverse Democrats' Rainy Day win; the Ten Best/Worst writers explain themselves; Perry polling in single digits in Texas survey Full Story
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Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, the authors of Texas Monthly's biennial Best and Worst Legislators story explained why they put Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on the Ten Worst list. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry's swing through the U.S. this week has left some Texas Democrats — still holed up in Austin — less than enthused. Full Story
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The SBOE needs to think realistically and strategically about whom we serve and how we serve them. We need to keep children at the center of every last decision, big and small. And we need to put in place safeguards to keep us off The Daily Show. Full Story
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Following a legislative session that sought more accountability, monitoring and oversight of public education, the capacities of the State Board of Education will be severely tested. The good news is that the board’s 15 members are up to the task. Full Story
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We have a special update to the Tribune's government employee salary database, adding recently acquired salary data from the last six agencies missing from the the University of Texas System, Texas Woman's University and the Sabine River Authority. Full Story
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A border lawmaker has written Gov. Rick Perry in the hopes of adding another item to the agenda for the current special session. Full Story
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A powerful group of individuals — including former regents, former university system chancellors and former university presidents — from around Texas have joined together to address the state's ongoing higher education controversy. Full Story
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In a trip to New York City on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry replaced Donald Trump to speak at the Manhattan GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Here's the full audio of his speech before prominent Republican New Yorkers at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn demanded today that President Barack Obama take "concrete steps" to address Medicare's funding crisis. By not doing so, Cornyn said, Obama is "violating federal law." Full Story
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On this week's episode, Reeve, Julian, Morgan and Jim discuss Texas Monthly's list of the best and worst legislators, education and immigration in the special session, and Gov. Rick Perry's still-hypothetical presidential bid. Full Story
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House Democrats — stirred up in a day of partisan battles over windstorm insurance and a health care compact — took the opportunity to question the whereabouts of the man who called them back for a special session. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Texas Monthly reveals its best and worst list; House gives early OK to windstorm bill; the national press and Perry Full Story
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House lawmakers gave early approval to a bill designed to let Texas take control of Medicaid and Medicare from the federal government after a high-decibel argument between the measure’s Republican author and Democratic lawmakers. Full Story
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The bill has pitted Republican Gov. Rick Perry and trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, the largest Democratic donor in Texas, against one another, and it is a key reason that lawmakers are in a special legislative session. Full Story
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Texas Monthly's list of the Ten Best and Ten Worst Legislators in the 82nd session has finally been released. Who made the cut — and how did our Texas Tribune insiders do with their predictions? Full Story
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The current controversy dominating the higher education headlines in Texas is nothing if not nuanced. See if you can read between the lines and figure out who made what comment in our latest quiz. Full Story
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