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Texas Senate

The latest Texas Senate news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Rodney Ellis on Bringing Gaming Back

    By Elise Hu

    Could casino gaming be coming to Texas? State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who's tried and failed to pass gambling legislation in recent sessions, thinks the coming budget crisis gives him and other supporters an opportunity. Full Story 

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  • Stolen Bases

    By Rachel Kraft

    If you're wondering about the economic impact of the federal military base realignment and closure effort, look only as far as Texas, where two cities with shuttered bases are struggling to keep residents employed and spirits up, while one city with an expanded base is booming. Full Story 

    Building 500 area of Fort Bliss.
    Credit: Creative Commons

  • The Weekly TribCast: Episode 26

    By Elise Hu

    In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Elise and Reeve consider the impact of Arizona's tough immigration law on Texas, the upcoming special election in Central Texas, the debate over debates and Rick Perry's run-in with a coyote. Full Story 

  • Isn't That Special?

    By Ross Ramsey

    On May 8, voters in Senate District 22 will choose one of these candidates as Kip Averitt's successor: a veteran lawmaker-turned-lobbyist in a bad year for that kind of hyphenate, a 9/11 Pentagon survivor with residency questions dangling over his campaign, a Tea-steeped nullification fan and ... a Democrat. Full Story 

    Gayle Avant

  • 2010: Wentworth Says It Ain't So

    By Ross Ramsey

    Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, says he isn't going anywhere. A hot rumor has him quitting office or giving up his bid for reelection to pursue other ventures, but the senator says there's nothing to it. Full Story 

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    Credit: Texas Senate

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Grissom on her two hours in Juárez, Grissom, Ramshaw and Ramsey on four of the runoffs on Tuesday's ballot, Ramshaw on the religious experience that is voting for Dallas County's DA and an energy regulator's play for a job at the entity he regulates, Mulvaney on the Texas Senate's biggest spenders, Aguilar on whether — as U.S. officials claim — 90 percent of guns used in Mexican crimes really flow south from Texas, M. Smith on the continuing Texas Forensic Science Commission follies, Stiles on how inmates spend their money behind bars and how counties are responding at Census time, Hamilton on the creative accounting and semantic trickery that allows lawmakers to raise revenue without hiking taxes when there's a budget shortfall, and Hu on Austin's first-in-the-nation car-sharing program. The best of our best from April 5 to 9, 2010. Full Story 

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  • 2010: What's on the Special?

    By Ross Ramsey

    Voters in Central Texas, Dallas and Plano will get to vote for the third month in a row in May, in special elections for the Texas House and Senate. Three officeholders — Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, and Reps. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, and Brian McCall, R-Plano — resigned before their terms were up. Today was the deadline for candidate filing. Full Story 

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  • The Senate's Biggest Spenders

    By Erin Mulvaney

    The 31-member body spent nearly $16 million last fiscal year on travel, staff and office expenses, according to records from the office of the Secretary of the Senate. Overall spending by individual senators ranged from $206,000, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, to $637,000, by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles

  • HHSC Chief Testifies on Health Care Costs

    By Elise Hu

    Is the health reform price tag in Texas $1.4 billion... or more like $24 billion? State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, asks HHSC Commissioner Tom Suehs to explain why his agency's estimate is so much higher than a federal estimate. Full Story 

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  • 2010: Flo Says No

    By Ross Ramsey

    State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is no longer a candidate for U.S. Senate and says she'll refund about $1 million to her contributors. Full Story 

    State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano
    Credit: Shapiro campaign

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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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  • Primary Color: SD-5

    By Brian Thevenot

    Forget about issues. The GOP primary for this Senate seat in Central Texas is all about honesty and integrity. Incumbent Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, says of his challenger, Ben Bius, "I can't remember the last time he said something truthful." Bius says of Ogden, "I can forgive a man a policy difference if he keeps his word." Full Story 

    Steve Ogen (left), Ben Bius (right)
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich and benfortexas.org