House Backs Bill Denying Pensions to Lawbreakers
Texas politicians convicted of major public corruption crimes would lose their lucrative pensions under a bill that the Texas House tentatively passed Thursday in a unanimous vote. Full Story
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![The House of Representatives on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
With Midnight Deadline Looming, Democrats Drag Their Feet
Facing a midnight deadline in the House to take initial votes on that chamber's bills, Democrats dragged their feet, working to delay a vote on a bill forbidding the use of state or local funds to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Full Story
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![House Reading Clerk Elizabeth Milam carries signed bills to the podium during the House session May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Making a Deal on Tax Cuts That Voters Might Not Care About
As they try to agree on tax cuts that are the major obstacle to a state budget, lawmakers could find themselves wishing the cuts they deliver are as big as they sounded to the public. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: House Members Get By With a Little Help From Their Friends
Your state lawmakers are keeping busy in these final weeks of the 84th Legislature — negotiating bills, debating on the floor and, in the House, probably helping the representatives seated near them cast votes. Here's a look at the rules that govern House votes. Full Story
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Analysis: Candid Cameras at a Critical Moment in the Legislative Session
Without showing their hand, conservatives outside of government have captured the attention of every nervous conservative in the Legislature at exactly the right time. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Video Shows Tense Exchange Between Pickett and Stickland
A week after a dramatic committee hearing that culminated in state Rep. Joe Pickett throwing fellow Rep. Jonathan Stickland out of the committee room, video of the hearing was posted online. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, being escorted out of a House Transportation Committee hearing chaired by Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, on April 30, 2015.]()
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House Panel Refers Witness Registration Inquiry to Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers will investigate allegations that witnesses were improperly registered to testify on a bill banning red light cameras at a transportation committee hearing last week. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Rep. Fletcher to Leave Post in Bid to Be Harris County Sheriff
Republican state Rep. Allen Fletcher of Cypress confirmed on Thursday that he will abandon his House seat for a bid to replace Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, who is running for mayor of Houston. Full Story
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![State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, stands among House members during the consideration of a point of order on a campus carry bill on May 4, 2013.]()
Credit: Bob Daemrmich -
Stickland Responds to Claims He Broke Rules
Responding to claims that he improperly registered witnesses at a committee hearing, state Rep. Jonathan Stickland released a statement Monday standing by his actions. Full Story
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![Rep. Jonathan Stickland R-Bedford speaks during the Texas Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Texas Capitol on April 15th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: For Bills, May Marks the End of the Line
May is the final full month of the 140-day regular legislative session, which concludes June 1. And the deadlines that start in a week form a bottleneck that will ultimately block most proposed legislation. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Panel to Investigate After Lawmaker Ejected From Committee Hearing
The chairman of the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics said he plans to investigate allegations that witnesses were signed up improperly to speak at a meeting from which state Rep. Jonathan Stickland was escorted out. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, during the gun bill debate on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Does "Voucher" Label Fit the Bill?
You can slow down or even kill a piece of legislation with a single word or phrase, if it's poisonous enough. Full Story
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House Panel Debates Bills to Rein In Film Incentives
A Texas House committee on Thursday considered a pair of bills taking aim at the state film incentives program. One would block state grants for films and video games containing adult content. Another would abolish the program altogether. Full Story
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![Texas A&M University System Regent Jim Schwertner and former Regent Richard Box participate in an interview for a new movie, produced by John Robison, that revisits the decision to move to the SEC.]()
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Video: A Conversation With Sylvester Turner
Full video of my 4/30 conversation with state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor. Full Story
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Analysis: How Private Opinions Can Diverge From Public Votes
Tax cuts and politics ethics legislation have this in common: When lawmakers have to vote in public view, they're often forced to set aside their private opinions. Full Story
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Budget Panel Breakdown: Democrats Short on Slots, Long on Experience
The budget conference committee will hash out a compromise of the chamber’s respective 2016-17 budget plans. Committee members include two Democrats who rank as the most experienced budget negotiators on the panel. Full Story
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![Sens. Lois Kolkhorst, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Jane Nelson, Charles Schwertner, Joan Huffman and Reps. Larry Gonzales, Sarah Davis, Sylvester Turner, John Otto and Trent Ashby make up the 2015 budget conference committee.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick
Here's an updated breakdown of House Bills 1-20 and Senate Bills 1-20, showing where House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are placing their priorities for the 84th legislative session. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (left) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Analysis: Tax Cuts an Easy Way to Grade State Lawmakers' Work
The Texas Legislature has fewer than six weeks left in this session and thousands of bills to consider. But you can get a pretty good feel for how things are going by watching their efforts to cut taxes. Full Story
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![State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a budget press conference on Jan. 27, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
A Look at How House, Senate Budgets Compare
This week, the House and the Senate named the members of a conference committee that will resolve the differences between the two chambers' budget plans. Here’s a look at how the two proposals compare, with details on some areas where the plans diverge. Full Story
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Grassroots Advisory Panel Creates Drama for Patrick
The panel of conservative activists that is advising Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is putting him in a tricky spot as he navigates leadership politics under the dome. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during inaugural parade up Congress Ave. on January 20th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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