As the new president and vice president were taking their oaths in Washington, D.C., the state’s top lawyers were promising to legally challenge the new administration at every step.
Ross Ramsey
Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: While his powers are questioned, Texas governor reaches for more
While some lawmakers are working to limit the governor’s powers, curtailing what he can order during a pandemic, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has another project: Taking over law enforcement in cities that reduce police budgets.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Is the Texas Capitol a government building or a petri dish?
Legislating is a social enterprise. It draws crowds of Texans who want to testify, to be heard, to sightsee and to watch government in action. And it’s tailor made for spreading a contagious disease.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: The odds for legal pot and casinos in Texas just got worse
One argument for legalizing casino gambling and marijuana sales in Texas is that they would produce tax revenue for the state during the recession started by the pandemic. But a new, optimistic economic forecast for the state takes some wind out of those sails.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: Make government boring again
The Texas Capitol had its defenses ready for the start of the legislative session after last week’s riots in the U.S. Capitol. But opening day was nice and quiet.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: The Texas Legislature isn’t like Congress, right?
The Texas Legislature is more bipartisan than Congress, historically speaking. But a unique set of issues to address and an atmosphere of division emanating from Washington, D.C., could test that in the session that starts Tuesday.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: A frustrating vaccine rollout in Texas that should’ve been smoother
The vaccine rollout in Texas is bumpier than it ought to be, especially because the federal and state governments in charge of distributing vaccines have known for months that they’d be doing this as soon as the drugs were developed.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Analysis: As Ted Cruz argues for the president, Donald Trump’s supporters are the real prize
The senator from Texas is among legislators questioning the validity of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump. What’s at stake? The hearts of the Republican voters who strongly back the incumbent president.
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State Government
Analyzing 2020: Some things Texans didn’t expect
We’ve selected some columns from 2020 on assorted topics.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Analyzing 2020: Shock the vote
We’ve selected some columns from 2020 on voting and elections.
