Video: Todd Staples Still Eyeing Lt. Gov. Seat
Texas Agriculture Comissioner Todd Staples says he is looking forward to running for lieutenant governor in 2014 — regardless of who else is on the ticket. Full Story
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Dewhurst Plans to Run for Re-election
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, after getting a standing ovation by the Texas Republican delegation in Florida, announced Tuesday that he plans to run for re-election. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talking with reporters while campaigning for U.S. Senate in Houston on July 31, 2012.]()
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Dewhurst Taps Williams to Chair Senate Finance Panel
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has appointed Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, to chair the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee. He'll replace Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who isn't seeking another term. Full Story
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Senate Hearing Tackles Vouchers, School Choice
In a preview of a likely battle in the upcoming legislative session, state lawmakers on Friday heard testimony on school choice programs, including vouchers that would allow students to use public money to attend private schools. Full Story
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Integrity Unit Investigating Top Aide to Rep. Kleinschmidt
John Higgins, a top aide to state Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, is under criminal investigation for alleged improprieties related to travel reimbursements he got from the state, a prosecutor told the Tribune on Friday. Full Story
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![John Higgins, chief of staff to state Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, can be seen on the far left of this photo with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Higgins pleaded guilty following a Travis County District Attorney Public Integrity Unit investigation into improprieties involving travel reimbursements.]()
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Inside Intelligence: About Those Personal Finances...
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the Senate in general and its two-thirds rule in particular, and about personal financial disclosures by public officials. Full Story
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Guest Column: Why Republicans Should Support a Democrat
All that’s standing between Texas and an absolute one-party rule is a traffic jam or a sick day. I don’t care what your politics are — that’s not good. Full Story
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Texas Weekly Newsreel: Guide to Texas Races
This week on the Newsreel, check out our guide to upcoming Texas political races. And, with the runoffs out of the way, lawmakers start talking about the session ahead — and the state budget. Full Story
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When It Comes to Transparency, There's Room for Improvement
Lawmakers say they want transparency and that the public should be able to see their finances. But state requirements allow officeholders to report their financial interests vaguely enough to hide conflicts. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, the head of the House Administration Committee, wrote a letter to his fellow House members saying that they were "under no legal obligation"to accommodate a Texas Tribune request to submit three years of tax returns.]()
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Group Targeting Child Mortality Rates Hits Roadblocks
Every year, almost 1,000 Texas children die from unnatural causes, including accidents, homicides and suicides. A volunteer group studying such deaths has called on state lawmakers to make changes, but legislation has stalled. Full Story
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Geren Tells Colleagues They Don't Have to Release Tax Returns
House Administration Committee Chairman Charlie Geren has sent a letter to his House colleagues saying he would not accommodate a request by the Tribune to release his federal income tax returns. Full Story
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San Antonio Republicans Export a Senate Seat
San Antonio Republicans who wanted a new state senator got what they asked for — but they didn't really mean to move the seat's home base from San Antonio north to New Braunfels. Full Story
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For Two State Leaders, an Uncomfortable Return
Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are set to be back for another legislative session in January, in spite of their plans and ambitions. Full Story
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Straus Names Senior Staff
House Speaker Joe Straus has appointed two top aides, one from his current staff and another from outside. Full Story
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![July 9th, 2012: Speaker Joe Straus speaks to reporters]()
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Guest Column: How Conservative is David Dewhurst?
The state's lieutenant governor has clearly sided with and protected the Republicans in the Texas Senate, but has he presided as a conservative? That's in the eye of the beholder. Full Story
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Rodriguez, Gallego Make Final Arguments in CD-23
With the July 31 runoff around the corner, the Democratic candidates in Congressional District 23 are busy rallying voters across the district. And the size of CD-23 is only adding to the challenges for Pete Gallego and Ciro Rodriguez. Full Story
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Unlikely Tea Party Candidate Challenges State Senator
State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, expected a tough fight in the GOP primary for Senate District 25. But instead, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, Wentworth has instead been tussling with a political newcomer who has broad Tea Party support. Full Story
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Interactive Map: Texas Senate Committees in 82nd Legislative Session
Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Texas Senate, by committee, to see who's got what clout, geographically speaking, on what subject. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: In the Open Seats...
For this week's nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked about a dozen open House races on the July 31 ballot and found the insiders mostly in agreement, wrong or right. Full Story
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Straus: Process to End Budget Diversions Starts Now
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus called on lawmakers Monday to start figuring out how to stop diverting billions of dollars in dedicated taxes and fees that are being used to balance state budgets. Full Story
![July 9th, 2012: Speaker Joe Straus speaks to reporters]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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