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The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Audio: Todd Staples at TribLive

    By Todd Wiseman

    At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers, what he thinks about the Senate's two-thirds rule, his nascent campaign for lieutenant governor in 2014 and more. Full Story 

    Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples at TribLive on May 12, 2011.
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Video: Todd Staples at TribLive

    By Evan Smith

    At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers, what he thinks about the Senate's two-thirds rule, his nascent campaign for lieutenant governor in 2014 and more. Full Story 

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  • Guest Column: Mary and Joseph Were "Undocumented"

    By Eddie Lucio Jr.

    As a Christian and a lawmaker, biblical stories form something of a lens through which I try to find focus when making public policy decisions — particularly as anti-immigrant bills have gained a disturbing momentum in Austin over the last few weeks. Full Story 

    Texas Senator Eddie Lucio
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Inside Intelligence: In 2012, Obama's Chances in Texas Are...

    By Ross Ramsey

    For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked about politics — whether Barack Obama will do as well in Texas in 2012 as in 2008, whether Republicans can lose a statewide election, whether any top officeholders are in danger, and which issues in the Legislature will become issues in the elections, for better and for worse. Full Story 

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  • Lawmakers Target Prison School for Makeover

    By Brandi Grissom

    Texas could save money, and prisoners could get a better education, some lawmakers say, if inmate learning programs were provided online. But correctional education experts and teachers say lawmakers’ ideas — particularly about online programs — show a lack of understanding about prison life. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Laughing in the Face of Death

    By Ross Ramsey

    In what may be the Democrats' first concrete victory of the session, the House at last sent HB 400 to its grave when it failed to take up the controversial legislation before its midnight deadline. Full Story 

  • Instant Maps

    By Ross Ramsey

    Kel Seliger decided to run the redistricting marathon by saving up his energy until the end and then running a sprint. The Amarillo Republican's Senate Redistricting Committee met less than three weeks before end of the session to consider Senate district maps that had at that point been public for less than 24 hours. He told members — this was on Thursday — that they had until 5 p.m. to get their amendments to him and to make sure they were legally vetted and so on. And he said he planned to vote on the plan, along with a House plan already approved on the other side of the rotunda, on Friday. That sets up a full Senate vote for as early as next week. Full Story 

  • Situation Normal

    By Ross Ramsey

    The House has blown its stack and made up again a couple of times since our last conversation, all within the rules, and all — if you take a long view of things —right on schedule. Senators, who had a group conniption fit last week, have remained clear to partly cloudy and calm. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Aaronson on pork choppers, Aguilar on sanctuary cities legislation, Galbraith on Brownsville's ban on plastic bags, Grissom on Delma Banks and prosecutorial misconduct, Hamilton on a tough week for higher education in Texas, Philpott on wildfires and politics, Ramshaw on the state's pursuit of a federal Medicaid overhaul, M. Smith on what would happen if lawmakers don't rewrite school finance formulas, yours truly on the Lege as schoolyard and Stiles with interactive graphics on how the proposed Senate redistricting maps compare with current ones: The best of our best content from May 9 to 13, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Guest Column: Why "Loser Pays" is a Loser

    By Tom Melsheimer and Craig Smith

    The Governor, with the help of the Legislature, seems driven to dilute one of our most enduring constitutional bulwarks: the ability of Texas residents to get a fair shake in court. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • Guest Column: Why "Loser Pays" is a Winner

    By Leo Linbeck Jr.

    Forget the hyperbolic editorial rhetoric. The Governor’s proposals for improving our civil justice system will help make lawsuits less expensive and less time consuming. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva