The Republican senator’s comments on “Face the Nation” came days after two Texans became ensnared in the unfolding political scandal surrounding Trump.
Brandon Formby
Brandon Formby works with The Texas Tribune’s beat editors and reporters to bring Texans the news, analysis and explanatory journalism they need to put pressing issues into perspective. Previously, as an editor on the news desk, he helped steer coverage of legislative sessions, natural disasters, prolonged power outages, mass shootings and the coronavirus pandemic. As a reporter, he covered urban affairs. Before joining the Tribune in 2016, he reported on transportation, politics and local government for The Dallas Morning News. Brandon grew up in Plano and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University. He is based in Austin.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Republican lawmaker to Beto O’Rourke: “My AR is ready for you”
State Rep. Briscoe Cain’s tweet was taken as a death threat against a presidential candidate from a state that recently experienced two mass shootings.
Posted inState Government
Reports: Odessa shooter bought gun via private sale without background check
ABC News reported that the shooter had failed a previous gun purchase background check because he had been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Posted in
Broken Border
A widely circulated photo shows the bodies of a man and his toddler daughter who drowned trying to seek asylum in the U.S.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the photograph “highlights the perils” that thousands of Central Americans face as they travel through Mexico in hopes of reaching the U.S. border.
Posted in
Graphics and data reporting
In Texas, property tax levies can be as individual as homeowners themselves
State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments.
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Graphics and data reporting
Texas officials call it “property tax relief” — but legislation won’t lower tax bills or decrease budgets
The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in.
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Graphics and data reporting
How do Texas governments calculate your property taxes? Here’s a primer.
Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Days after heated meeting, Texas Senate property tax committee passes 2.5-percent rollback rate bill
The Senate panel’s vote came despite fierce pushback from city and county leaders, who say a lower election threshold on increased property tax revenues could hamstring their budgets.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas leaders want voters to OK property tax revenue growth over 2.5 percent. They couldn’t get 4 percent in 2017.
The leaders of both legislative chambers say they will be united this year — even if cities and counties push back — and that local officials should come to Austin with solutions in hand if they don’t like new proposals.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Domestic abusers can trap their victims with financial debt. This Texas bill seeks to provide a way out.
A bill authored by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would make it a felony to threaten a romantic partner into taking on debt or financing expensive items like cars.