The Love-Hate Relationship With Transparency
One Texan's transparency is another’s right to privacy, and people in politics generally find it easier to demand openness than to provide it. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bill That Would End "Double Dipping" Gets Hearing
The obscure law that allows Gov. Rick Perry to collect both his pension and salary was the subject of a hearing Monday. A proposed bill would prevent future state officeholders from using the provision. Full Story
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Straus Picks Lead Budget Negotiators
The House on Monday sent five members to negotiate a budget with the Senate, with instructions to avoid anything that looks like it would expand the state's Medicaid program. Full Story
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Perry Stuns Lawmakers by Urging House to Bust Spending Cap
UPDATE: Gov. Rick Perry told House Republicans in a private meeting this week that he could support a budget that breaks the state's constitutional spending cap, according to several attendees. But many are still wary of doing so. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
A Rumor of Peace
It’s a little funny to talk to people at the Capitol who have been steeled in a culture of political warfare about the outbreak of peace. Many differences remain, but those blood veins that were sticking out on everyone’s foreheads and necks in 2009 and 2011 have smoothed out. For the moment, Texas civics is downright civil. Full Story
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![January 14th, 2013: Senator John Whitmire D-Houston smiles as fellow Senators praise his 40 years in the Texas legislature]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Playlist: We Can Work It Out
This week's news-inspired playlist is entirely dedicated to Thursday's budget debate in the Texas House. To set the stage, we begin with Stevie Wonder singing "We Can Work It Out." Full Story
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A House Less Susceptible to Political Stampedes
In 2011, state lawmakers fresh from a Tea Party election surge were hypersensitive to the opinions of and instructions from conservative activists. But as Thursday's House budget debate showed, this session isn't quite the same. Full Story
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Video: Freshman Lawmakers Seek Common "Purple" Ground
The freshmen in the Texas House wear something purple every Thursday as a symbol of their willingness to compromise across the aisle. Now that the bill-filing deadline has passed, it's time to identify which issues are negotiable. Full Story
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![Rep. Ron Simmons R-Carrollton and Rep. Oscar Longoria D-Mission show off their purple ties on Purple Thursday at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Interactive: Sorting Lawmakers With the Texas Weekly Index
Going by the Texas Weekly Index, which is based on the results of contested statewide elections over the 2010 and 2012 political cycles, the state's most conservative districts are in the Panhandle. Use this interactive to see charts that illustrate the political climate of each district. Full Story
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Former Rick Perry Aide Got $162,500 Bonus
Days before she became Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff, Ann Bishop — already the highest-paid executive officer at a state agency — received a $162,500 bonus from the Employees Retirement System, records show. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry meets with senior staff members at his office in the state Capitol on Jan. 9, 2013.]()
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TribuneFest: A Conversation with Aycock and Patrick
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked school finance, accountability, choice and other hot-button issues with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Public Education Committee. Full Story
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Bill Seeks to Protect Religious Groups
State Rep. Matt Krause's bill would require public schools to give religious and nonreligious groups the same access to facilities during noneducational time. Full Story
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Austin's Strama, Mulling Mayoral Bid, Won't Seek Re-election
UPDATED: Austin Democrat Jade Chang Sheppard said Wednesday that she will run for the Texas House seat that will open after Rep. Mark Strama's current — and last — term in office next year. Full Story
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![Incumbent Democratic State Rep. from Austin, Mark Strama.]()
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First Impressions
The Texas House is about to hold its first debate, and on a spending bill, to boot. It will pass, because it must. But watch how they work. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House Democrats Aiming to Get Back Into the Game
In 2011, Texas House Democrats were dejected, demoralized and badly outnumbered. Their numbers have improved. Now the question is whether they can move as a bloc. Full Story
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Interactive Map: House Committees in the 83rd Legislative Session
Want to know what parts of the state are best represented on certain House committees? Use our interactive map to explore the geographic distribution of the lawmakers appointed to each committee for the 83rd legislative session. Full Story
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House Committee to Focus on Criminal Code
Last week, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed a committee to examine the state's Code of Criminal Procedure. Committee members and relevant interest groups were caught by surprise, but they say the code is long overdue for revisions. Full Story
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Updated: Straus Offers Details on Transparency Panel
House Speaker Joe Straus says a new Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations will delve into the finances, compensation packages and public-private partnerships across state government Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Straus Makes House Committee Assignments
House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature's lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills. Here's his list. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Charting the Budget
The first budgets from the House and Senate are out, marked by their authors as mere starting points. Here's how they compare to each other, and to the current budget. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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