El Paso County files lawsuit seeking to halt Texas "sanctuary" law
A lawsuit in federal court charges that Senate Bill 4, if enacted, would violate several provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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![Monserrat Garibay of Education Austin speaks in front of the Texas Governor's Mansion on May 8, 2017, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4, known as the "sanctuary cities" bill, the night before.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim. Full Story
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![Champion Baptist Church in Roscoe, west of Abilene, is among several West Texas churches grappling with high power line prices.]()
Credit: Pastor Bruce Parsons -
In private meeting, Sid Miller says hog poison safeguard not "doable"
In a March 3 meeting with a constituent, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller suggested that his agency could change the label on a hog poison to eliminate important warnings and a requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned animals, which he said simply wasn't "doable." Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in his office in Austin, Sept. 14, 2016.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
"Sanctuary cities" bill clears latest hurdle, heads to Abbott for signature
The Texas Senate on Wednesday voted to send to Gov. Greg Abbott a bill that would ban "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas and allow police to inquire about the immigration status of people they lawfully detain. Full Story
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![Protesters block the doors to the State Insurance Building, on the Capitol grounds in Austin, in protest of Senate Bill 4 — known as the "sanctuary cities" bill — on Monday, May 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate debates "sanctuary city" bill and ethics reform (live video)
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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![Parliamentarian Karina Davis watches as new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Texas Senate on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
In party-line vote, Senate committee advances sanctuary cities bill
After hearing more than 16 hours of testimony, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 along party lines early Friday morning to advance a bill that would punish local government entities and college campuses that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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![Critics of Senate Bill 4, a bill banning sanctuary cities, protest at the Texas Capitol as the bill is scheduled to be debated before the Senate State Affairs committee on Feb. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Watch live: Texas Senate committee weighs sanctuary city ban
The Senate State Affairs committee meets Thursday beginning at 8:30 a.m., CST, to hear state Sen. Charles Perry's bill banning sanctuary cities and sanctuary college campuses in Texas. Hundreds are expected to testify. Full Story
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![Crowds gathered inside the Texas Capitol when SB 4, the sanctuary cities bill, was considered in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Feb. 2, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick makes only one change atop Senate committees
Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee. Full Story
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Credit: Rick Mach -
Six years later, fight over anti-sanctuary cities bill has changed
Bills targeting "sanctuary cities" failed to pass the Texas Legislature in 2011 and 2015, but similar efforts this session have better chances of making it to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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![Protesters hold signs reading "No Arizona Hate in Texas" — a reference to a recently passed law in that state — during a 2011 demonstration against "sanctuary city" legislation in Austin.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers draw battle lines on border security, sanctuary cities
On the same day that Texas House Republicans doubled down on border security efforts and announced plans to send an invoice to the federal government, Senate Democrats said they were committed to fighting bills to eliminate sanctuary cities. Full Story
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![Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on the House floor on May 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Video: The Future of Higher Ed
On 1/26, I talked about the future of higher education in Texas with Robert Duncan, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System; Juliet Garcia, the former president of the University of Texas at Brownsville; state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock; and Wynn Rosser, president and CEO of the Greater Texas Foundation. Full Story
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Updated: The 2012 Holdouts List
Some are waiting to see what the courts will do. Others want to see if any opponents surface. Regardless, with six days to go until the filing deadline, how many incumbents haven't filed yet? A whole bunch. Full Story
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![Former state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, shown in 2011, took the reins as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System in 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Defeated Candidates Ask Voters for Another Shot
They lost in 2010, but some candidates are hoping by now that voters have changed their minds. The 2012 ballot will be stippled with officeholders who were cast out by voters last election but want to try again. Full Story
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That $6 Billion Left in the Rainy Day Fund? Already Used, Some Say
Gov. Rick Perry’s neon-light promotion on the national stage of the $6 billion left in the Rainy Day Fund exposes a disconnect with the conservative lawmakers battling for his principles at home, where his party is working to divert negative public sentiment about the deep budget reductions. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas House Gives Initial OK to Redistricting Plan
The Texas House tentatively approved new political districts early this morning on a 92-52 vote after hours of nips and tucks that left the proposal they started with mostly intact. Full Story
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![Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, waits out the point of order.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Compare How the 2010 Candidates Spent Their Campaign Money
How did the candidates on the ballot last year compare in their political spending on advertising, polling and staff? Use our interactive bubble chart to explore category data released recently by the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidates Rick Perry and Bill White spent more than any other candidates on the ballot in 2010.]()
Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles/Many Eyes -
Green House
The biggest caucus in the Texas House is the Republicans', now with 101 members. Next? The Democrats', at 49. And then there’s the freshman class — one of the biggest in years — with 38 members. All but six are Republicans, and many of them replaced Democrats. They face some challenges. Full Story
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![Members of the freshmen class of 2011 at their new member orientation in December 2010.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
Who's It Gonna Be?
John Frullo, Jim Landtroop, Charles Perry and Four Price each won election to the Texas House last month, representing districts in a part of the state where the population is dwindling. At least one of them should leave the car running at the curb. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
2010: Goodbye, Green Party?
If today’s court ruling stands, there will be no Green Party on the November ballot in Texas. Full Story
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![Green Party officials drop off about 93,000 signatures to the Texas Secretary of State.]()
Credit: Courtesy KUT News -
The Middle-Finger Vote
It's embodied in the Tea Party movement, in this week's runoff election results from Lubbock and Plano, in last month's primaries, in Gov. Rick Perry's embrace of states' rights and the 10th Amendment, even in Barack Obama's campaign against the status quo in 2008. Voters are furious, and politicians are listening. Full Story
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Credit: Jacqueline Mermea
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