The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
The political action committee of Dallas billionaire waste magnate Harold Simmons is asking 18 lawmakers to return about $65,000 in contributions after admitting that an oversight led to illegal campaign contributions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CampaignFinanceApp3.jpg)
Despite their striking similarities, Texas’ abortion sonogram bill and Virginia’s abortion sonogram bill were debated at very different times, and under very different circumstances — leading to a very different national reaction. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-PlannedParenthood-011.JPG)
Texas has joined six other states and a handful of Catholic organizations in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new health care rule approved by the federal government that would require all employers to include coverage for contraceptives in employees' health care benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BirthControl-Catholocism.jpg)
Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs signed a rule today that formally bans Planned Parenthood clinics and other "affiliates of abortion providers" from the Women's Health Program — likely ending the program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PlannedParenthood_vs_Feds.jpg)
At the national level, voters are concerned about pocketbook issues, while at home immigration is the top problem. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/UT-TexTribPoll-Day4.081.png)
Federal judges have set May 29 as a tentative state primary date. The Tribune's Thanh Tan explains what that date could mean for candidates, voters and the election process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/XMapsTTA.JPG)
Texas' state Senate maps were finalized this week, but the protracted court battle has left state House and congressional districts without boundaries. And as Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, the district-line confusion is costing some candidates time and money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictCourt4.jpg)
There is a date for primary elections, but it's uncertain. And there is one redistricting map done, with two to go. And for what it's worth, the judges seem to be in a hurry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HandsOnRedistricting.jpg)
God and Country, a new Texas-based organization, will hold a rally Saturday at a Tyler church to “draw a line in the sand and aggressively and publicly defend those certain unalienable rights endowed by our creator.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/GodAndCountry.jpg)
UPDATED: Election officials were told to prepare for a possible May 29 primary, as redistricting foes reached agreement on a map for Texas Senate elections this afternoon and continued talks on state House and congressional maps. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictingEraser.jpg)
UPDATED: April primaries are all but impossible for the state's election administrators, a Bexar County elections official said today, as an agreement on political maps remains elusive. Full Story
The state's political mapmakers will be back in court this morning, trying to produce maps in time for April primaries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Redistricting_Map_Tweasers_jpg_800x1000_q100_1.jpg)
Some of redistricting is about getting a good seat in the office. Some is about getting good seats when you're not at the office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Screen_shot_2010-06-17_at_10.45.51_AM.png)
Aguilar on an environmental battle in South Texas, Galbraith on the impact of the drought, Grissom on the latest in the Michael Morton case, Hamilton and Theobald on plans for greater scrutiny of faculty performance, Murphy on Rick Perry's campaign donors and expenditures, Ramsey on where we stand on redistricting, Ramshaw on the intense interest in stem cell rules, Root on a congressman's controversial pipeline holdings, M. Smith on the backlash against student testing and Tan on the fight for a new medical school in Austin: The best of our best content from February 6-10, 2012. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribweek02102012.jpg)
Federal judges told redistricting lawyers Friday afternoon to redouble their efforts to reach a quick settlement — by next week — on interim political maps for the state's congressional and legislative elections. Full Story
Pushing the state's primaries from March back to April (or further) could cheat Texas voters out of a rare chance to choose the next nominee for president. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SuperTuesday2.jpg)
Start here: The judges in charge of the redistricting case in Texas haven't rejected the maps proposed by the state and agreed to by some but not all of the plaintiffs. They simply observed that no deal has been made to satisfy everyone and told everyone to keep talking and get ready for a hearing next week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Textris3d.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry targeted “left-wing, pro-abortion radicals” in a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, blaming the Obama administration for the state’s stand-off over the Women’s Health Program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA7845.jpg)
Animal protection organizations are pushing for legislation in Texas that further regulates ownership of exotic animals as pets, but one East Texas resident says she'll fight to keep her 22-year-old African lion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ExoticAnimalsTexas.jpg)
On this week's TribCast, Ben, Ross, Emily and Morgan discuss redistricting, public school accountability testing and the controversy involving Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)