After exploratory dry runs in 2002 and 2006, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison formally announced her bid for governor of Texas before a sparse crowd in La Marque, starting a 19-stop, week-long tour of the state with a series of broadsides at the incumbent and a promise to return the state to Republican glory. Full Story
Kay Bailey Hutchison's political two-step gets under way next week with an 18-city tour — starting in her old high school in La Marque — to announce that she'll seek the Republican nomination for governor against an incumbent who's held the job longer than anyone in state history. Full Story
If U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison really does step down in October or November, as she said recently on WBAP-AM, the election to replace her could land anytime between December and May. It'd be in May unless Gov. Rick Perry — the guy Hutchison hopes to unseat — declares an emergency and sets an earlier date. Full Story
It's midsummer. Hot. Time for vacations. But first: The campaign finance reports are in, and you can start to see where (some of) the money is going. Full Story
Texas Republicans are starting a critical election cycle with a gaggle of competing political action committees, a muddle that could hamper efforts to hang onto the slimmest possible majority in the Texas House. Full Story
For a Texas governor — especially for one embarking on a reelection bid — that headline perfectly describes a successful special session. Voters didn't get hurt, weren't aroused, and have no real reason to give it another thought. Full Story
There aren't any real surprises on Gov. Rick Perry's agenda for the special session starting next week, and not much controversy, either: He clearly wants to get lawmakers through this thing in a hurry. Full Story
An interview with Katherine Youngblood Glass, the Libertarian Party of Texas' candidate for governor. Full Story
We're entering the last days available to the governor to consider bills. Anything not vetoed by midnight on Father's Day will become law, with or without Rick Perry's signature. Full Story
There will be a special session to finish work left undone by the Legislature, but the final date hasn't been chosen, and Gov. Rick Perry has declined to say what's going to be on the agenda. Full Story
The legislative session ended like a bad marriage, with the House walking out before the argument was over and the Senate, in a sulk, staying behind to break all the plates. Full Story
It's down to fixing the differences between House bills and Senate bills and getting final sign-offs and sending them to the governor for signatures, vetoes, or approval without fingerprints (unsigned bills go into law automatically). Full Story
This is the season when the Legislature's power wanes and the governor's power waxes. Full Story
Remember the cartoons where the sheepdog and the coyote would meet at the time clock every morning, say hello, ask about the families, punch in, harass each other all day, then greet each other pleasantly as they punched out for the evening? Full Story
You get the feeling that this legislative session is just like the last one, run in reverse. Instead of starting with a whimper and closing with a bang, it started with a bang. It shows no signs of ending with one. Full Story
If you're not under pressure, the House is sort of an interesting Petri dish right now. Full Story
Check your rear view mirror. Full Story
Six weeks left. It's getting busy. Full Story
Coming soon to a House near you: The first real look at how this bunch votes on tough issues. Full Story
The Texas Senate approved a $182.2 billion budget that includes over $10 billion in federal stimulus money, avoids across-the-board cuts in state agencies, and leaves the state's $9.1 billion Rainy Day Fund untouched. Full Story