Key House Leader: Union Dues Bill is Dying
State Rep. Byron Cook confirmed that he does not plan to schedule a vote on legislation that would end automatic payroll deductions for union and non-union dues of most public employees. Full Story
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![Byron Cook speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
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Ethics Bill Hits Dark Money, Secret Recording
An ethics overhaul package, dramatically reworked, now takes aim at people who secretly record lawmakers inside the Texas Capitol. It also would require certain politically active nonprofits to disclose large donations. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, on the House floor on May 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 20, 2015
House and Senate negotiators are down to one final challenge: working out the timing on their complicated tax cut dance. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Conservatives See Payroll Deduction Bill as Key on Two Fronts
A Senate bill that arrived in the House less than two weeks ago would let Republicans put the hurt on unions and on Democrats, if it can move through the legislative gauntlet this late in the legislative session. Full Story
![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, on the House floor on May 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 14, 2015
The long hours this week are a direct result of one of the first big end-of-session deadlines that hits today. The House has until the end of today to take initial action on any bill or resolution coming out of that chamber. Full Story
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![Texas House Parliamentarian Chris Griesel and Speaker Joe Straus with several other House members on dias May 1, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lawmaker Slams "Superficial" Senate Ethics Reform
The already tortuous path for ethics reform at the Texas Capitol took another sharp turn Wednesday when a powerful House leader criticized the package passed by the Senate and praised by Gov. Greg Abbott two weeks ago. Full Story
![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, on the House floor on May 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 5, 2015
Early voting in the San Antonio mayoral election wraps up today ahead of Election Day on Saturday. And the gloves have come off in the increasingly rough-and-tumble election. Full Story
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![State Sen. Leticia Van De Putte and state Rep. Mike Villarreal — both Democrats from San Antonio — will face-off in the race to become the city's next mayor.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Coerced Abortion Bill Sent Back for Rewrite
The craftsmanship of a measure by state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, intended to address coerced abortions was met with skepticism on Wednesday by the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee. Full Story
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![Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, in her Capitol office.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: April 2, 2015
The blowback experienced by Indiana over its religious freedom law has Texas' largest business organization worried about efforts this session to update this state's law on the subject. Full Story
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![Bill Hammond is the CEO of the Texas Association of Business.]()
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The Brief: March 23, 2015
As you read these words over your morning coffee, Ted Cruz is already a candidate for president. He announced about 11 p.m. Texas time via Twitter. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on the Republican stage election night Nov. 4, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Gay Rights Activists Find Unlikely Republican Ally
Corsicana Republican state Rep. Byron Cook, who has an adopted child, says both same-sex adoptive parents should be listed on a Texas birth certificate. He believes it's best for the children, though it puts him at odds with his party's stance on gay rights issues. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Liveblog: Open Government at The Texas Tribune Festival
We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Open Government track. The sessions include panels on disclosures by legislators, open records in Texas, transparency and the Texas budget, and the issue of donor privacy. Full Story
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"Dark Money" Hearing Centers on Transparency vs. Free Speech
A hearing on Thursday examining whether some nonprofits engaged in political activity should have to reveal their donors drew sharp comments from activists as well as input from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Measure Allowing Driver's Permits for Undocumented Immigrants Stalls
An amendment that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain a permit to legally drive and purchase insurance in Texas was derailed Friday on a point of order. Full Story
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Will "Sanctuary Cities" Debate Galvanize Latino Voters?
The contentious sanctuary cities legislation debate left a bitter aftertaste for some Texas Latinos, but will it translate into change at the ballot box next year? Full Story
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With Little Help From Austin, Texas' Solar Use Grows — Slowly
Renewable energy companies are looking to this big, sunny state as the next frontier for solar power. But solar is expensive, and once again the Legislature did not pass a statewide solar incentive. Some companies and communities are forging ahead nonetheless. Full Story
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![A number of homes an Austin's Mueller development have added solar panels, thanks to hefty local and federal incentives.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Special Session, Court Decision Could Give E-Verify New Life
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court last week upholding an Arizona law that punishes employers who hire illegal immigrants may give Texas lawmakers some newfound momentum to file immigration-related legislation. Full Story
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Solar Backers Place Hopes in House Bill
Advocates of solar power made their case last night for passage of a bill that would add a dollar each month to residential electric bills to fund solar projects. Opponents worry about costs. Full Story
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House Fights on Familiar Ground: The Rules
In the House, what starts with substance — abortion sonogram legislation, in this case — often ends with procedure. Full Story
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Battle Brewing Over Mandatory Meningitis Vaccine
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling this week that vaccine manufacturers are protected from lawsuits by parents who believe that vaccines harmed their children is sure to energize anti-immunization advocates working to thwart attempts to expand meningococcal vaccine requirements for college students. Full Story
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