UPDATED: Gov. Greg Abbott, delivering his first major policy address to the Texas Legislature, laid out an ambitious agenda, including an expansion of pre-kindergarten, massive tax cuts and roads as far as the traffic-glazed eye can see.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
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Politics
Abbott Expected to Renew Push for Ethics Reform
Advocates for ethics reform say Gov. Greg Abbott has a rare chance to help spearhead improved lawmaker disclosures and reduce conflicts of interest. Abbott is expected to address ethics reform Tuesday in his State of the State address.
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State Government
Watson Wants More Disclosure of Wining and Dining
Sen. Kirk Watson has filed three bills that would close a gaping loophole in state ethics law — one that allows lobbyists to avoid naming names when they fill out their mandatory spending and entertainment reports.
Posted inState Government
Ethics Bill Would Shed Light on Contracts
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a leading advocate of ethics reform in the notoriously unrestrained Texas Legislature, filed legislation Tuesday designed to shed more light on lawmakers who make money off of government contracts.
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Politics
Abbott Signals a Break From the Perry Era
Taken together, Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions in the early days of his gubernatorial administration seem to belie the notion — circulated by opponents during the 2014 campaign — that he would be Rick Perry 2.0.
Posted inState Government
Perry Lands Corporate Board Spot
Former Gov. Rick Perry has snagged a corporate board position with Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline company headed by Republican mega donor Kelcy Warren of Dallas, according to regulatory filings made public Thursday.
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Politics
In Austin, Huckabee Blasts Perry Indictment
Besides being potential rivals in the 2016 presidential race, Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry have butted heads in past races. But Huckabee heaped praise on Perry on Thursday and blasted the indictment against the Texas governor.
Posted inState Government
Sole Finalist for A&M President Chosen
Michael K. Young, president of the University of Washington, has been named the sole finalist to become the next president of Texas A&M University.
Posted inState Government
Abbott Says Budget Must Include Business Tax Cuts
If the state budget doesn’t include tax cuts for businesses, he’ll veto it, Gov. Greg Abbott told business leaders Tuesday. The new governor also wants to pare back state regulations.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Demographics, Economy, Immigration, Politics, State Government
Five — and a Half — Things We Won’t Forget About Gov. Rick Perry
Boiling down Gov. Rick Perry’s legacy into a few bullet points isn’t easy. But reporters Reeve Hamilton and Jay Root look at some things people will surely remember years after Perry has left office. Their feature kicks off our 10-part series, The Perry Legacy.
