Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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Calling on Washington to fix the country’s “discriminatory” immigration system, Hispanic Republicans in the Texas Legislature also fired off the first salvos in what could be a divisive battle within the party over immigration legislation. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry, who has 52,000 fans on Facebook, said Tuesday that his 2010 re-election campaign's use of social media could make history. Full Story
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Some small school districts in Texas still paddle poorly behaving students, and protesters at the Capitol today said they want the swatting to stop. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: tentative deal to tap Rainy Day Fund struck; Perry making robocalls for conservative group; Senate approves "Choose Life" license plates Full Story
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The General Land Office has a lot on its plate these days — a controversial property rights lawsuit, the reopening of Texas’ favorite surf spot and an ongoing project to restore Texas’ most fertile fishing pier. Full Story
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The scuffle over tapping the Rainy Day Fund took an awkward turn on Monday. Full Story
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Lobbyists spent more than $1.2 million in the first two months of 2011 trying to influence lawmakers and state officials, according to the latest ethics filings, which are now accessible in our new lobbying data application. Full Story
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I believe people should understand the gravity of their decision — which is why it's too bad there's no sonogram provision for the Texas budget process. Full Story
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Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune sat down with Dominick Chilcott, deputy ambassador for Britain, to talk about what lures companies from across the pond to South by Southwest. Full Story
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The past few days have seen thousands of students, educators and parents at the Texas Capitol to protest the budget cuts they say will do long-term harm to Texas students. Here are some images of the action. Full Story
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House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, thought he had a deal with Gov. Rick Perry and his staff to tap the Rainy Day Fund to close the current biennium shortfall. But with no public support from the governor's office, Pitts adjourned his hearing. Full Story
In an effort to cut administrative costs, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed a group of bills last week that would eliminate four state agencies. Full Story
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Legislation banning “sanctuary city” policies in Texas was voted out of the House State Affairs Committee today, sending the controversial bill to the full House for consideration. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: for once, some good budget news; SBOE member cleared of allegations; why DeLay judge recused himself Full Story
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The Travis County District Attorney's Public Integrity Unit has concluded Thomas Ratliff has not committed a crime in serving on the State Board of Education while employed as a lobbyist. Full Story
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For our latest TribLive conversation, I sat down with the Speaker of the Texas House, Joe Straus, to talk about budget cuts, possible sources of revenue, hot-button social issues and more. Full Story
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The state's budget outlook is improving and lawmakers will have more money to spend than they thought, Comptroller Susan Combs said in a letter to legislative leaders today. Full Story
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Thousands of demonstrators descended on the Capitol on Saturday to loudly protest $10 billion in education cuts. But now what? Full Story
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Who will be blamed for what are expected to be enormous cuts in public education funding? There will be blood. It’s undeniable, especially when the governor goes out of his way to say that he doesn’t have any on his hands. Full Story
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