The Trib’s multimedia team highlights some of the most memorable — and surprising — moments from the 82nd Legislative Session. Our lawmakers sure do love to make a statement, complete with finger pointing, yelling and props. (Some video courtesy the Texas House, the Texas Senate and legetv.org.)
Thanh Tan
Thanh Tan was a multimedia reporter/producer for the Tribune from 2011 to 2012. She previously worked at Idaho Public Television, a PBS station that serves a statewide audience. While there, she was an Emmy award-winning producer/reporter/host for the longest-running legislative public affairs program in the West, Idaho Reports, moderator of The Idaho Debates, and a writer/producer for the flagship series Outdoor Idaho. Prior to joining IdahoPTV, she was a general assignment reporter at the ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. and a political reporter for KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho. Her work has also appeared on the PBS NewsHour and This American Life. She graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with degrees in International Relations and Broadcast Journalism.
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State Government
Video: GOP Leaders Tout Budget Cuts; Perry Demurs on 2012 Run
Gov. Rick Perry, House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Tuesday touted the accomplishments of the regular session: cutting the state budget without raising taxes or tapping the Rainy Day Fund.
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Demographics
Day One, 1st Called Session of the 82nd Legislature
Your lawmakers, after 140 days in Austin, didn’t finish their budget work for 2012-13 during the legislative session that ended Monday, and Gov. Rick Perry called them back for another crack at it, starting this morning.
Posted in
State Government
Video: GOP Praises Fiscally “Responsible” Session
Republican members of the Texas House reflected on the end of the regular session late Monday. Speaker Joe Straus praised lawmakers for showing “great discipline” and focus, while GOP Caucus Chair Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, warned Democrats they made a “bad strategic” move by pushing for a special session.
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Health care
House and Senate Adjourn; Special Session to Begin Tuesday
Both the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. But without a school finance deal in the Senate, Gov. Rick Perry is expected to call a special session for 8 a.m. Tuesday.
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Congress
Patrick Considering U.S. Senate Run With Exploratory Committee
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, appeared on conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham’s show Friday morning to announce he is considering a run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
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Higher Education
Budget Deal Preserves Much, but Not All, of TEXAS Grants
A proposal adopted by the Legislature’s budget conference committee Thursday would provide funding for TEXAS Grants for about 33,100 incoming freshmen — far less than the number of eligible students but better than what the House originally proposed.
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State Government
Video: Thompson “Disgusted” by Flyers
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, gave an impassioned personal privilege speech on the floor of the Texas House this afternoon in response to graphic flyers passed out in the House chamber about an insurance bill, HB 2093. The women in the chamber stood up with Thompson. “We have not earned this kind of disrespect!” she said. Afterward, state Rep. Debbie Riddle accused some of the men in the chamber of having pornography on the House floor. (Video courtesy legetv.org)
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Economy
Budget Negotiators Pass $15 Billion in Cuts for 2012-13
Budget negotiators adopted a report Thursday that cuts state spending by $15 billion. The measure is scheduled for a vote on the House and Senate floors as early as Saturday afternoon.
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State Government
Perry: “Can’t Say I’m Not Tempted” to Run for President
On Fox News’ On the Record with Greta van Susteren, Gov. Rick Perry admitted that running for president is tempting but said it isn’t something he wants to do.