Texas Legislature

Perry By 10 in New UT/TT Poll

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 25, 2010

Republican Gov. Rick Perry leads his Democratic challenger, Bill White by 10 points — 50 percent to 40 percent — in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Libertarian Kathie Glass has the support of 8 percent of respondents; Deb Shafto of the Green Party gets 2 percent. In the last UT/TT poll, conducted in early September, Perry led by 6 points, 39 percent to 33 percent. In a red state in a red year, GOP incumbents in other statewide races are beating their Democratic opponents by between 13 points and 20 points, the new poll found. Full Story
Where They Stand: HD-52

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Oct. 20, 2010

In House District 52 — southern Williamson County — incumbent Democrat Diana Maldonado faces one of her party's toughest challengers in Republican Larry Gonzales. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at how the candidates would set priorities for a fast-growing part of state. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Dunnam on Trial

By Julián Aguilar Oct. 15, 2010

The trial-lawyer-as-epithet strategy, a perennial favorite of Texans Republicans, is playing big in the effort to oust longtime Democratic House member Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribBlog: Chisum Running for Speaker [Updated]

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 13, 2010

As he was widely expected to do, state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, officially threw his hat into the race for Speaker today. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Where They Stand: HD-47

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Oct. 13, 2010

In House District 47 — which sits entirely within Travis County — incumbent Democrat Valinda Bolton is locked in a tight race with Republican Paul Workman. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at where the candidates stand on the issue of transportation. Full Story
Swing Shift?

By Elise Hu Oct. 11, 2010

In one of the most competitive Texas House races this fall, Republican Cindy Burkett is challenging freshman state Rep. Robert Miklos, D-Mesquite, in a southeastern Dallas County swing district. Full Story
A Sophomore Slump?

By Elise Hu Oct. 11, 2010

Half a dozen Democratic House members first elected in 2008 face an important test this fall: Can they win re-election on their own merits, without the help of high turnout generated by a popular presidential candidate? Republicans believe the combination of the current anti-incumbent mood, the Obama backlash and the built-in advantage that the GOP enjoys in Texas spells doom for Dems up and down the ballot. But the freshmen playing defense point to a few factors working in their favor. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Show Us the Money

By Ross Ramsey and Matt Stiles Oct. 7, 2010

With a month to go before Election Day, challengers in fifteen House races outraised incumbents during the most recent reporting period, according to the most recent filings with the Texas Ethics Commission. In eight of those races, the challengers led in combined spending and saving, a rough measure of each campaign's financial strength. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 49

By Elise Hu Oct. 6, 2010

In this week's skirmish, topics include campaign cash, the latest polls in the governor's race, the hotbed of Texas House activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the consequences of the budget crisis. Full Story
Where They Stand: HD-48

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Oct. 6, 2010

Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at where the candidates running in House District 48 stand on the issue of education. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
2010: The Wages of Sin

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 5, 2010

If the state needs money to balance its budget, it should look first to sin taxes on gambling, alcohol and marijuana. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
TribBlog: Mr. Ten Percent?

By Morgan Smith Oct. 5, 2010

A court filing provides 59 hints as to what the state's case against state Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview, will look like when his trial for ethics charges begins on Oct. 18. Full Story
2010: Moody Hearts Perry?

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 4, 2010

The Republican Party of Texas is accusing Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody, of El Paso, of plagiarizing the text of a State of the State address by Gov. Rick Perry, and it has launched a website to make its case: www.madatmoody.com. Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
TribBlog: A Bill for Asher Brown

By Reeve Hamilton Oct. 1, 2010

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, says it would be "irresponsible" not to act in the wake of the suicide of 13-year old Asher Brown, a student who committed suicide after being bullied for his size, religion and perceived sexuality. Full Story
Where They Stand: HD-45

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Oct. 1, 2010

In House District 45 — which covers Hays, Blanco and Caldwell counties — incumbent Democrat Patrick Rose faces a stiff challenge from Republican Jason Isaac. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at where the candidates stand on two flashpoints this election year: the budget and immigration. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich/Todd Wiseman
Ana Yañez-Correa: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 30, 2010

The executive director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition on how criminal justice austerity measures demanded by state leaders would affect Texas prisons, poor people accused of crimes and the counties responsible for overseeing overcrowded jails. Full Story
In the Soup?

By Emily Ramshaw Sept. 29, 2010

Double-billing taxpayers for travel expenses, driving a luxury car owned by a state transportation contractor and repeatedly failing to pay taxes won’t put a lawmaker in good standing with the ethics police, as state Reps. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco; Joe Driver, R-Garland; and Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, are finding. The three hope the headlines dogging their re-election bids won’t follow them to the polls, while their Democratic opponents are reveling in their misery at every campaign stop. Yet whether a scandal forces an incumbent from office depends on the scenario. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
A Schoolyard Brawl

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Sept. 28, 2010

Tension between Texas and the federal government has been a major focus of Rick Perry's re-election campaign. But on Monday, two top Democratic leaders in the Texas House ganged up on Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott and, by proxy, the governor over the recent federal education funds fight. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports. Full Story
Justice on the Cheap

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Sept. 27, 2010

As part of an occasional series looking into how shortfall-inspired budget cuts could affect different state agencies heading into the 2011 legislative session, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on the likely impact on the state's criminal justice system. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Wind Storm

By Elise Hu Sept. 27, 2010

In a courtroom Monday, a Galveston County judge will decide whether to release details of millions of dollars in fees earned by attorneys in the largest class-action settlement paid out by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Full Story