TribLive: Patrick and Watson on the Budget
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin, explained their different votes on the state budget. Full Story
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Redistricting Lawyers: Keep the Senate Maps for 2014
UPDATED: At a federal redistricting hearing in San Antonio, lawyers for the state and the various plaintiffs agreed that the state Senate maps used in 2012 should be left as is for the 2014 elections. But they still differ on the House and Congress plans. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Muliadi Soenaryo/Todd Wiseman -
Perry Hails Water Bill, is Evasive on His Future
Gov. Rick Perry signed a major water infrastructure bill into law on May 28. Speaking to reporters afterward, he remained coy about his political future and wouldn't say if he will add any items to the special session agenda. Full Story
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![Texas Governor Rick Perry ceremonially signed House Bill 4, which lays the foundation for Texas' future water needs. He is joined by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Speaker Joe Straus, Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland and Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay on May 28, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
This Session, Lawmakers Put Down Their Swords
If Texas’ less-than-theatrical 83rd legislative session is remembered at all, it will be known for accords, not discord. Here's a look at top storylines from this session and what they could portend for the future. Full Story
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News App: Tracking the Status of House and Senate Bills
The deadline for bills to win approval from the House and the Senate passed earlier this week, resulting in the death of a lot of legislation. Most of what remains is to reconcile differences between versions of legislation passed by both chambers. Our updated bill apps — one for House bills and one for Senate legislation — detail the results. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Dewhurst's Run to the Right Falls Short
David Dewhurst, the state's lieutenant governor for the past decade, started this legislative session looking for some momentous conservative victories. He's still looking. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Budget Agreement Leaves About $8 Billion in Fund
The budget deal that took a step closer to passage Wednesday evening would spend $3.9 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund. That would leave more in the fund than many lawmakers or Gov. Rick Perry had earlier proposed. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Matt Howe -
For 83rd Lege, More Civility Than Drama
Texas lawmakers have 10 days left in the regular session. They haven't embarrassed themselves, spent much time in bitter fights or generated the sorts of headlines that have made voters think so little of Washington. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on the opening day of the 83rd legislative session, Jan. 8, 2013.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Guest Column: An Early Look at Legislative Partisanship
A political scientist's analysis of Texas legislators' votes through April, and where those votes locate lawmakers on the partisan scale. Spoiler alert: The Republicans and the Democrats don't overlap much. Full Story
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Credit: Tommy LaVergne of Rice University -
Senate's High School Graduation Measure Differs From House Plan
The Senate version of House Bill 5, which it approved Monday, still allows students to complete diplomas in specialized areas, or "endorsements." But it changes the courses required to graduate under those endorsements. Full Story
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![Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston, speaks during budget bill SB1 discussion on March 20th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Love-Hate Relationship With Transparency
One Texan's transparency is another’s right to privacy, and people in politics generally find it easier to demand openness than to provide it. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
A Rumor of Peace
It’s a little funny to talk to people at the Capitol who have been steeled in a culture of political warfare about the outbreak of peace. Many differences remain, but those blood veins that were sticking out on everyone’s foreheads and necks in 2009 and 2011 have smoothed out. For the moment, Texas civics is downright civil. Full Story
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![January 14th, 2013: Senator John Whitmire D-Houston smiles as fellow Senators praise his 40 years in the Texas legislature]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: A Conversation About the Texas Senate
Full video of my 4/11 TribLive conversation with state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. Full Story
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TribLive: Three Senators on the Latino Vote
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, weighed in on outreach to Latino voters. Full Story
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TribLive: Three Senators on the "Kumbaya" Session
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, talked about the sudden outbreak of peace and comity in the 83rd legislative session. Full Story
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GOP Senator Challenging His Party on Debt, Taxes
State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, is engaged in a long-term campaign to convince his fellow legislators that the state's bond debt is an urgent problem and that tax increases are part of a conservative solution. Full Story
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![Kevin Eltife in his office in 2013, when he was a state senator. Eltife now serves as a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
At 43 Hours, Senator Set Filibuster Record in '77
Thirty-six years before U.S. Sen. Rand Paul held a nearly 13-hour filibuster, a Texas senator filibustered for 43 hours in the Texas Senate, setting a world record. Full Story
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Interactive: Sorting Lawmakers With the Texas Weekly Index
Going by the Texas Weekly Index, which is based on the results of contested statewide elections over the 2010 and 2012 political cycles, the state's most conservative districts are in the Panhandle. Use this interactive to see charts that illustrate the political climate of each district. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribuneFest: A Conversation with Aycock and Patrick
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked school finance, accountability, choice and other hot-button issues with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Public Education Committee. Full Story
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State Senate Finishes Starting
The beginning, at least for the Texas Senate, came to an end this week. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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