It's Opening Day for the 84th Legislature
Got your popcorn ready? The Texas Legislature opens its 84th 140-day regular session today at noon, with ceremonies, a little pomp and a skirmish or two. Here's a look at what's happening today. Full Story
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Day Before Key Vote, Turner Supporters Rally
Tuesday's vote for speaker of the Texas House will provide "a sense of hope" to "the people of America," state Rep. Scott Turner told a small rally of supporters at a La Quinta Inn near the Capitol Monday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Turner, at a rally near the Capitol, faces an uphill battle in his challenge to House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: A Conversation With Huffman and Watson
Full video of my 1/12 conversation with state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin — the chairs of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses. Full Story
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Analysis: For Session, a Mix of New Faces and a Heavy Dose of Suspense
Another legislative session is starting, with a twist. Texans, accustomed to the same players in the same offices for years and years, will see something new as this unfolds: change. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Budget, Quakes and Local Control
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey focus on the 84th Texas Legislature, which starts Tuesday. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on Dec. 11, 2015.]()
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The Playlist: Brand New Day
With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
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Analysis: When Right Doesn't Make Might
Republican challenges to sitting Republican speakers of the House could backfire on the renegades — showing them to be far less numerous or politically powerful than they previously appeared. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, is shown at the annual alumni Aggie Muster on April 21, 2012, at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.]()
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Special Elections for Central Texas Seats Draw Crowded Field
Central Texas voters will return to the polls on Tuesday to fill three vacant legislative posts — one in the Senate and two in the House. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Looking Ahead
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey share some political predictions for 2015 with host Jason Whitely. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics on Jan. 4, 2015.]()
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The Playlist: The Best is Yet to Come
For this week's playlist of the news, we’re using our reporters' own predictions for 2015. Kicking things off: “The Best Is Yet To Come,” by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, backed up by the Count Basie Orchestra. Full Story
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Analysis: Picking Straus, Taking Names
Legislators hate to be pinned down — unless they're keeping score. In the race for speaker of the House between incumbent Joe Straus and challenger Scott Turner, both sides want to know who lines up where. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (l) faces a challenge from Frisco state Rep. Scott Turner]()
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Inside Texas Politics: Perry, Abbott and Straus
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics: Gov. Rick Perry and the renaming of a building, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott tours the state and more on the race for speaker of the state House. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on Sept. 21, 2014.]()
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In Bid for Speaker, Turner Looks to Beat the Odds
The Texas House hasn't held a contested record vote for speaker since 1975, but state Rep. Scott Turner aims to change that. Turner is looking to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus, who has held the office since 2009. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, spoke at the RedState Gathering in Fort Worth on Aug. 8, 2014.]()
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The Playlist: Tears Over Beers
Three Texas breweries filed a lawsuit against the state for allegedly "stifling the craft beer renaissance," so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with "Tears Over Beers" by Modern Baseball. Full Story
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New Texas Lawmakers — Along With the Dearly and Nearly Departed
The list of who's in and who's out in the Texas Legislature and in the state's congressional delegation is not quite complete, but it's getting there. Here's the current list. Full Story
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Video: The Politics of the 84th Legislative Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on what 2014 means for 2015 and beyond. Panelists included Christy Hoppe of The Dallas Morning News; Harvey Kronberg of Quorum Report; Erica Grieder of Texas Monthly; and Ross Ramsey of The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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Video: The Battle over the Budget in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the budget debate. Panelists included state Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Kel Seliger and state Reps. Drew Darby and Donna Howard. Full Story
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Video: What the Tea Party Wants in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on what the Tea Party is seeking. Panelists included state Sens.-elect Paul Bettencourt and Konni Burton, state Rep. Jeff Leach, state Rep.-elect Matt Rinaldi and state Rep. Jonathan Stickland. Full Story
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Video: The Agenda for the 84th Legislative Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on what's in store for big issues on the agenda. Panelists included state Reps. John Zerwas, Joe Pickett and Jimmie Don Aycock and state Sen. Kirk Watson. Full Story
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Video: The House vs. the Senate in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the relationship between the House and the Senate. Panelists included state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, state Sen. Royce West, state Rep. Charlie Geren and state Sen. Larry Taylor. Full Story
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