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The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Redistricting Reality

    By Ross Ramsey

    In 2011, political mapmakers will take the latest census numbers (Texas is expected to have a population of more than 25 million) and use them to draw new congressional and legislative districts. The last time this was done, in 2003, Republican mappers took control of the U.S. House by peeling away seats from the Democrats. This time, Texas is poised to add up to four seats to its congressional delegation — and early numbers indicate bad news ahead for West Texas and other areas that haven't kept up with the state's phenomenal growth. Full Story 

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    Credit: Matt Stiles

  • The Runoffs: HD-127

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Primary night was humming along swimmingly for Humble school board president Dan Huberty, and after the early vote he seemed headed to victory. Then the numbers dipped and his fortunes changed, and now he's in a heated GOP run-off with Dr. Susan Curling. As another Election Day draws closer, the contest is getting personal. Full Story 

    Dan Huberty and Susan Curling

  • No CHIP Shot

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    The just-passed federal health care reform bill would prohibit states from dropping kids off the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid until 2019. Texas budget writers used changes in CHIP eligibility to help balance the state's books in 2003. Ben Philpott, covering politics and public policy for the KUT News and the Tribune, reports on what the "no-drop" provision could mean to a state facing another multibillion-dollar budget shortfall next year. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Grissom on the 1.2 million Texans who've lost their licenses under the Driver Responsibility Act and the impenetrable black box that is the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, Ramshaw and Kraft on nurses with substance abuse problems and rehabilitation that can get them back to work, M. Smith finds it's not easy being Rick Green, Stiles on counting Texans (and everybody else), Rapoport on the State Board of Education's war with itself and the runoff in SBOE District 10, Thevenot's revealing interview with a big-city superintendent on closing bad schools, Aguilar on the tensions over water on the Texas-Mexico border, Hamilton on the new Coffee Party, Hu on Kesha Rogers and why her party doesn't want her, Philpott on the runoff in HD-47, Ramsey on Bill White and the politics of taxes, and E. Smith's conversation with Game Change authors Mark Halperin and John Heleimann: The best of our best from March 15 to 19. Full Story 

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  • A Border Runs Through It

    By Julián Aguilar

    At the heart of America's symbiotic relationship with Mexico is a long-standing and sometimes tense agreement over an issue more far-reaching than homeland security and immigration: water. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • 2010: Officially, Sibley's In

    By Ross Ramsey

    Former Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, wants his old job back. The senator-turned-lobbyist has been hinting for a couple of weeks and now says he'll be a candidate for his former seat now that Kip Averitt is resigning. Full Story 

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    Credit: senate.state.tx.us

  • The Runoffs: HD-47

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Republicans in southwest Travis County still need to choose between Paul Workman and Holly Turner before setting their sights on State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, in November. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report. Full Story 

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  • 2010: Al Edwards Calls for Recount

    By Elise Hu

    Who will represent Houston's HD-146 in the Texas House next session is still in question. State Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, filed for a recount after perennial foe and former state Rep. Borris Miles beat him by just eleven votes. Full Story 

    Al Edwards

  • Let the Counting Begin

    By Matt Stiles

    Census Bureau questionnaires arrive at 8.4 million Texas homes this week. "Fill that sucker out," the bureau's regional director says, "so we don't have to come and knock on your door." Full Story 

    A U.S. Census Bureau worker confirms addresses with a hand-held device.
    Credit: U.S. Census Bureau

  • Census and Sensibility

    By Reeve Hamilton

    "You want a good count both because you want to have your representation and because you want to get the resources your community needs," says demographer Steve Murdock. Full Story 

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    Credit: Reeve Hamilton

  • 2010: Sibley, Standing By

    By Ross Ramsey

    Former state Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, is talking to people about getting back into the Legislature when Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, gets out. But he's not out yet, and there are two exits. Full Story 

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  • Who Won, Who Lost

    By Brandi Grissom and Emily Ramshaw

    For the last two months, we've brought you news and analysis on 20 hotly contested primaries. Here's a look at who won, who lost, and who's headed for a runoff in the top legislative and congressional races. Full Story 

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    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller