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  • Watch for Stowaways

    By Ross Ramsey

    The sanctuary cities bill filed by Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, was a victory for conservative lawmakers who called for state enforcement of immigration laws. But the bill, which would prohibit cities, counties and other governmental entities or special districts from adopting a policy that prevents law enforcement from asking persons lawfully detained or arrested if they are in the country legally, could be the only victory in that category as time winds down in the current session. Full Story 

  • Laughing in the Face of Death

    By Ross Ramsey

    In what may be the Democrats' first concrete victory of the session, the House at last sent HB 400 to its grave when it failed to take up the controversial legislation before its midnight deadline. Full Story 

  • Late Homework

    By Ross Ramsey

    The deadline for approving bills in the House came and went this week without a vote on Rep. Scott Hochberg's school finance legislation. Meanwhile, in the upper chamber, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is struggling to find one more Democrat to get her proposal heard. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Aaronson on pork choppers, Aguilar on sanctuary cities legislation, Galbraith on Brownsville's ban on plastic bags, Grissom on Delma Banks and prosecutorial misconduct, Hamilton on a tough week for higher education in Texas, Philpott on wildfires and politics, Ramshaw on the state's pursuit of a federal Medicaid overhaul, M. Smith on what would happen if lawmakers don't rewrite school finance formulas, yours truly on the Lege as schoolyard and Stiles with interactive graphics on how the proposed Senate redistricting maps compare with current ones: The best of our best content from May 9 to 13, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Guest Column: Why "Loser Pays" is a Loser

    By Tom Melsheimer and Craig Smith

    The Governor, with the help of the Legislature, seems driven to dilute one of our most enduring constitutional bulwarks: the ability of Texas residents to get a fair shake in court. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • Guest Column: Why "Loser Pays" is a Winner

    By Leo Linbeck Jr.

    Forget the hyperbolic editorial rhetoric. The Governor’s proposals for improving our civil justice system will help make lawsuits less expensive and less time consuming. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • House Approves Four Loko Ban

    By Becca Aaronson

    The Texas House passed a bill today on malt liquor drinks that contain caffeine, ginseng, taurine or guarana. The bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, import and possessing of alcoholic energy drinks, like the infamous Four Loko. Full Story 

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  • The Midday Brief: May 13, 2011

    By David Muto

    Your afternoon reading: Perry pushing House budget in robocalls, angry senators say; Senate Redistricting Committee votes to split Travis County; conservative ads target East Texas Full Story 

    Gov. Rick Perry (l) gestures toward Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, during his visit to the Senate floor on May 5, 2011.
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • Video: Outnumbered Democrats Struggle

    By Todd Wiseman and Thanh Tan

    This session, Texas Democrats are a frustrated bunch. From sanctuary cities to the state budget, they have so far lost every battle they've waged against the GOP. Texas Politics Project Director Jim Henson analyzes the struggle between the majority and the minority. Full Story 

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