State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, says the hullabaloo over his information request to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has been blown out of proportion. “I don’t know why Steve Mostyn has gone off the deep end over this,” he said.
Elise Hu
Elise Hu was a political reporter at the Tribune, focusing on multimedia projects, from 2009 to 2011. She previously worked as the state political reporter for Austin's ABC affiliate, KVUE-TV, from 2006 to 2009. She was recognized by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters three years in a row for her beat reporting on state politics and was named Best TV Reporter Who Can Write by The Austin Chronicle. Before arriving in Austin, she held reporting positions at television stations in Waco; Greenville, S.C.; and Columbia, Mo. She's an evangelist for social media and multimedia journalism — her Political Junkie blog was listed as one of WashingtonPost.com's top Texas political blogs. A native of Plano, she has a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Taylor vs. Mostyn, Part Two
He may still be recovering after a near-fatal four-wheeler accident this summer, but Steve Mostyn’s in a fightin’ mood.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Taylor vs. Mostyn?
The co-chair of the House Committee on Insurance, state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, is asking the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association for details on a massive settlement paid out to 2,400 homeowners and their lawyer, Steve Mostyn. Mostyn, a prolific Democratic donor, says Taylor is targeting him for political reasons.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Still Seeking Justice
The mother of tow truck driver Steven Hardin explains her plight after a jury found her son’s killer guilty of murder but sentenced him only to probation. The killer, firefighter Barry Crawford, completed his probation a few months ago even though he didn’t fulfill the terms.
Posted in
Politics
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 45
In this week’s TribCast, the regular podcast gang is back to talk about the start of campaign season, the latest polls in the race for governor, and the political effect of that $18 billion budget hole.
Posted in
Demographics
Ads Infinitum: White’s “Border Security” Pitch
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White promises 1,000 more security officers on the Texas-Mexico border in his latest TV spot, appropriately titled “Border.”
Posted inState Government
Steve Mostyn: The TT Interview
Already the state’s single largest Democratic donor this campaign cycle, the Houston attorney has pledged to contribute at least $3 million to the party and its causes this year and has no intention of turning off the faucet. The man behind the Back to Basics PAC’s “coward” ad sat down with the Tribune last week to talk about why he feels the need to give, the influence of money in Texas politics, how “trial lawyer” became a perjorative and what he really thinks of the Democrats’ chances this fall.
Posted inState Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 44
In this week’s TribCast, Ross, Elise, Ben and Matt discuss the hottest Texas House races, Perry for president and the ramifications for elections in Harris County after fire destroyed voting machines last week.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Greg Abbott TribLive Interview and Audience Q&A
The full interview and audience Q&A with the Texas Attorney General.
Posted in
State Government
21 House Races to Watch
Only 10 days out from Labor Day — the unofficial start of the campaign season — we bring you a scouting report on the 21 Texas House races to watch. We based our picks on dozens of interviews with politicos and our own analysis of district voting patterns, campaign coffers, the relative strength of the candidates and issues that could turn each contest. Most of the vulnerable incumbents are Democrats, which is no surprise in a Republican year. But a few veteran R’s are at risk, thanks to alleged ethical lapses that could swing voters against the national mood.