Texas Legislature

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By David Muto June 11, 2011

Aguilar on a newly exposed rift in the GOP, Dehn on what summer overtime for lawmakers costs taxpayers, Galbraith on one bright spot for environmentalists this session, Grissom on reports of abuse shrouding a death row case, Hamilton on the long slog toward higher education reform, Ramsey on where the Big Three stand, Ramshaw on the filibuster-induced rise of a state senator, Root on Perry's jump into the culture wars, M. Smith on a new wrinkle in the school finance battle and Tan on the "pansexual" debate that nearly killed the crucial fiscal matters bill: The best of our best content from June 6 to June 10, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
House OKs Bill to Seek Federal Medicaid Waiver

By Becca Aaronson June 10, 2011

The Texas House passed a bill today to take control of Texas health care reform, tentatively passing a bill that will allow the state to petition the Obama administration for a block grant to operate the Medicaid program. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Second Life: Where Do Education Bills Stand in the Special Session?

By Morgan Smith June 10, 2011

Updated: A revised version of Rep. Rob Eissler's class size bill, which expands the Texas Education Agency's authority to grant waivers, quickly clears the House. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Fiscal Conservatives Frustrated With House Votes

By Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith and Becca Aaronson June 10, 2011

Rep. Donna Howard's proposal to direct surplus Rainy Day Fund money to Texas schools for enrollment growth survived to fight another day during debate on the House floor this morning, but not before a Republican attempt to derail it. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: "Pansexual" Amendment Debate

By Thanh Tan June 10, 2011

While you were sleeping last night, lawmakers in the Texas House were engaged in a passionate debate over "pansexual" politics that nearly killed the entire fiscal matters bill, which is pretty much the main reason they're having a special session. Trust us — this is must-see video. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: What Lege Sessions Cost Taxpayers and Lawmakers

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan June 10, 2011

We break down the cost to taxpayers of the regular and special sessions. It's not chump change, but one political science expert argues the relatively low pay for lawmakers keeps many Texans from being able to run for higher office. Full Story
While Perry Rejects Federal Reform, State Agency Quietly Presses On

By Emily Ramshaw June 10, 2011

Despite Gov. Rick Perry's vehement opposition to federal health reform, the state has accepted a $1 million federal grant to plan for a key element of it: a Travelocity-like state insurance marketplace. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
After 16 Hours of Debate, House Tentatively Passes Key Fiscal Matters Bill

By Morgan Smith June 10, 2011

Lengthy debate on a key budget bill featured many retreads of contentious topics from the regular session — but it was Rep. Wayne Christian's revival of his famous "pansexual" amendment around midnight that almost killed the whole thing. Full Story

Credit: Bob
Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: June 6 to June 10, 2011

By Justin Dehn June 10, 2011

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
Sanctuary Cities Causes Rift Between Perry, Some GOP Leaders

By Julián Aguilar June 9, 2011

A series of email exchanges between Republican Party boosters and the office of Gov. Rick Perry indicate some conservatives believe passing the contentious “sanctuary cities” bill may cripple efforts to recruit more Hispanics to their ranks. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Redistricting Map On Its Way to Texas House

By Jay Root June 9, 2011

The Texas House Redistricting Committee approved a new version of the congressional map that makes a few tweaks, mainly in North and South Texas. But the overall goal remains the same: Maintain and expand Republican power in Washington. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Amid School Finance Scuffle, Pre-K Measure Makes a Return

By Morgan Smith June 9, 2011

Expect the Texas House to revisit old battles over school finance — and open a new one, for the lower chamber at least, over pre-kindergarten accountability — when it takes up Senate Bill 1 today on the floor. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Second Life: Bill Becomes Festooned Health Care Christmas Tree

By Emily Ramshaw June 8, 2011

In hours of debate this afternoon, House lawmakers used an omnibus health care bill as their last-ditch effort to get other medical measures that failed during the regular session passed during the special session. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 83

By Reeve Hamilton June 8, 2011

In this week's TribCast, Evan, Reeve, Ben and Emily harp on health care, speculate about the special session and respond to The Reponse. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Texas Moves Ahead With Immigration Enforcement Program

By Julián Aguilar June 8, 2011

Republican lawmakers in Texas, unfazed by state governments across the country opting out of a controversial immigration enforcement program, are instead seeking to expand it here. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Feds May Block Effort to Force Out Planned Parenthood

By Emily Ramshaw June 8, 2011

GOP lawmakers have gone to great lengths to try to force Planned Parenthood out of Texas’ Medicaid Women’s Health Program. The Obama administration may have headed off their plans. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texplainer: Can the Lege Override a Veto After the Session Ends?

By Becca Aaronson and Thanh Tan June 8, 2011

Hey, Texplainer: Can the Lege override the governor's veto of legislation passed in the regular session — once the regular session is over? The governor says no. But it's murky. Two expert opinions offer somewhat conflicting views. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Sanctuary Cities Added to Special Session Call

By Julián Aguilar June 7, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry has added controversial immigration and homeland security measures to the agenda for the special legislative session that began last week. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Redistricting: A Better Way? Many Think So

By Reeve Hamilton June 7, 2011

Tuesday's contentious debate on the state Senate floor over a proposed congressional redistricting map, which passed on a party line vote, was just a hint of why graduate students at Texas A&M University — and even some lawmakers — are studying alternative ways to handle the process. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Special Session Revives Class-Size Debate

By Mose Buchele, KUT News June 7, 2011

Talk of lifting the state's student-teacher class-size ratio has returned after a bill on the matter died in May. As Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, though some say debate on the issue has downplayed the potential harm for students, others call the worries overblown. Full Story