When efforts by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and other Senate Democrats to run out the clock on an abortion bill fell short, protesters made enough noise to grind the Senate chamber to a halt.
Aman Batheja
Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In Senate Abortion Fight, Other Bills Became Collateral Damage
Legislation that would create sentencing guidelines for 17-year-old murderers and increase funding for road construction were not the target of state Sen. Wendy Davis’ filibuster, but died amid her high-profile effort.
Posted in
Politics
Most Action in Senate on Session’s Final Day
The last day of the special session could see a Senate filibuster of abortion legislation and the final actions on transportation funding and criminal justice measures.
Posted in
Health care
Liveblog: Abortion, Protests, Transportation as Session Nears End
UPDATED: The Senate is standing at ease as supporters of Senate Bill 5 work to get enough lawmakers in the room to suspend the rules and bring the abortion regulation legislation up.
Posted inState Government
Slideshow: Scenes From Abortion Debate at Capitol
Activists on both sides of the controversial abortion legislation under consideration in the Legislature this weekend came from across the state to fill the Capitol.
Posted inState Government
Feud Between Patrick and Williams Escalates
The feud between Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick, R-Houston, grew more heated Friday.
Posted in
Higher Education
Pitts Working to Impeach Controversial UT System Regent
UPDATED: State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, the House’s chief budget writer and a critic of some current University of Texas System regents, said Friday he is confident he has the support needed to unseat UT Regent Wallace Hall.
Posted in
State Government
Texas Democratic Officials Post “It Gets Better” Video
Seventeen Democrats in the Texas Legislature participated in a new video offering support to gay teens. The video is the latest entry in the nationwide “It Gets Better” campaign, which began in 2010.
Posted in
Transportation
Road Funding, Veto Override Hit Hurdles in Hearing
With just days left in the special session, the House Appropriations Committee met Tuesday evening to take on two politically tricky tasks.
Posted in
Politics
Redistricting Maps Draw Amendments in House
The Texas House went off script Thursday, adopting several amendments to political redistricting maps it initially intended to adopt without changes.