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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Suit Challenges Medical Board on Telemedicine
Dallas-based Teladoc is fighting tooth and nail to stop an impending rule change by the Texas Medical Board that could undermine the company's business model of having doctors consult with patients over the phone or internet. Full Story
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Coerced Abortion Bill Sent Back for Rewrite
The craftsmanship of a measure by state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, intended to address coerced abortions was met with skepticism on Wednesday by the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee. Full Story
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![Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, in her Capitol office.]()
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House Moves to End High-Stakes Writing Tests
The Texas House Wednesday moved a step closer to changing end-of-course writing assessments for high school students that critics say are overly burdensome and prevent too many students from graduating. 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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Abortion Bills Gaining Momentum in Legislature
After months of little movement in the Texas Legislature on proposals to further restrict abortion, the pace is picking up as a flurry of bills moves to the House and Senate floors. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond -
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.]()
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Running for Office? Urine for a Surprise
Any candidate seeking elected office in Texas would be required to take a drug test when he or she files to run, under a proposal that the state Senate approved Tuesday. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Panel of #txlege Members "Likes" Texas Hashtag Proposal
Members of a House committee used "Twitter language" as they discussed legislation Tuesday to designate three official social media "hashtags" for the state, including the widely used #txlege. Lawmakers voted "hashtag yes" on the measures. Full Story
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House Passes $4.9B Tax Cut Plan That Includes Sales Tax Cut
The Texas House tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax relief plan Tuesday that includes a cut to the state’s sales tax, marking a clear line in the sand against the Senate, which favors property tax cuts. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, celebrates passage of his tax cut measures during the House session April 28, 2015.]()
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Medical Marijuana Bill Considered by Texas Lawmakers
A bill that that would allow epilepsy patients in Texas to use medicinal oils containing a therapeutic component found in marijuana was considered by state lawmakers in an emotional hearing on Tuesday. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Legislative Guide: Cutting Margins Taxes
The House on Tuesday took up legislation on cutting the business franchise tax, also known as the margins tax. Learn more about the issue at hand in the Tribune's Texas Legislative Guide. And watch the action in the House and Senate using our livestream. Full Story
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Gay Marriage Cases Give Republicans the Jitters
With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments in four same-sex marriage cases on Tuesday, Texas Republicans are already looking for loopholes in hopes of getting around a possible decision that effectively legalizes gay marriage. Full Story
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![During the Defense of Texas Marriage Amendment Rally on Mar. 23, 2015 at the Texas Capitol, a protester raises questions of marriage sanctity noting celebrities who've been married multiple times.]()
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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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Health Agency Mergers Get House Look
The House Human Services Committee heard testimony Monday evening on a bill that would partially consolidate the state’s massive health and human services system. Full Story
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Lawmakers Look to Ban Abortion From Health Insurance Plans
Health insurers could be prohibited from offering Texans plans covering abortions under a proposal by Republican state Sen. Larry Taylor of Friendswood. Full Story
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Analysis: Legislative Overtime? Look to the Federal Courts
If the Texas Legislature has to come back for special sessions after its current session ends, it might not be because state lawmakers left something unresolved. It might trace back to election lawsuits pending in federal courts. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Breakfast Blowup
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 talk about last week's "breakfast blowup." Full Story
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![Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey talks to WFAA "Inside Texas Politics" host Jason Whitely on April 26, 2015.]()
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Guardianship Reform Could Offer New Freedoms
Dawn Carlton is intellectually disabled, but she says she manages fine on her own. The 38-year-old woman is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas. Full Story
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![Dawn Carlton is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas.]()
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The Playlist: Canary in a Coal Mine
How the House and Senate resolve their budget differences could offer clues about toxicity levels between the chambers for the balance of the session, so here's The Police, playing "Canary in a Coal Mine." Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by John Jordan