The Brief: Feb. 10, 2015
A handful of former HHSC employees are suing for wrongful termination in the aftermath of revelations over the awarding of a no-bid Medicaid fraud contract. Full Story
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![Irene Williams, CEO of 21CT, and Jack Stick, a top attorney at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Erich Schlegel -
The Brief: Feb. 9, 2015
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talked presidential politics and foreign policy in a pair of appearances on Sunday morning talk shows. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the 2014 RedState Gathering at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth on Aug. 8, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
The Brief: Feb. 5, 2015
House Speaker Joe Straus leaned toward the familiar in filling open spots at the top of the chamber's top-tier committees. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, in the Texas House of Representatives, Feb. 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Patrick, Nichols: Put Car Sales Tax Toward Roads
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, unveiled a plan Wednesday to boost transportation funding by dedicating some of the sales tax already collected on car sales to road work. Full Story
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![State Sen. Robert Nichols.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Feb. 4, 2015
The ability of Austin tech firm 21CT to secure a $20 million Medicaid fraud software contract through a no-bid program run by the state's Department of Information Resources drew intense scrutiny from Senate budget writers on Tuesday. Full Story
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![This is a photo of one of two $2800 chairs ordered by Jack Stick's office when he was deputy inspector general. The chairs which resemble the ones used in the Texas Legislature committee hearing rooms, were discovered after the resignations of Stick, and Doug Wilson, inspector general.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Inside Texas Politics: Rand Paul's Recent Moves
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey talk about U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who's showing all the signs that he's gearing up for a presidential run. Full Story
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![Tribune executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on Feb. 1, 2015.]()
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School Choice Supporters Rally at Capitol
UPDATED: State Sen. Donna Campbell and Land Commissioner George P. Bush were among the speakers who addressed a gathering of school choice supporters Friday just outside the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![A school choice rally, part of National School Choice Week, drew advocates to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Jan. 30, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Roundup: Perry, Guns and Protests at Muslim Event
In the Roundup: Rick Perry comments on the rejection of his bid to dismiss criminal charges, there was a moment of uncertainty surrounding open carry legislation in the Senate, and Texas Muslim Capitol Day draws loud protests. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 30, 2015
In a week where the news was driven to a large degree by rallies on the Capitol grounds — from open carry activists to anti-Muslim protesters — it's perhaps fitting that the week closes with another one. Full Story
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![A look at the Texas Capitol before the inaugural festivities begin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
McRaven: Campus Carry Would Create "Less Safe" Environment
Allowing concealed weapons to be carried on college and university campuses would create "less safe" environments, University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven wrote in a letter to legislative leaders on Thursday. Full Story
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![Retired Admiral William McRaven, shown last year, took over as chancellor of the UT System on Jan. 5.]()
Credit: Sean K. Harp -
The Brief: Jan. 29, 2015
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave the green light Wednesday on a push for open carry legislation in the Senate, a day after he indicated in a Texas Tribune interview that the votes weren't there for passage. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, with State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, sponsor of the resolution that changed Senate voting rules on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Open Carry Survives Despite Its Supporters
The session has barely begun, and the prospect of a new law allowing Texans to openly carry handguns first appeared to be inevitable, then dead, then alive again. Oddly, it's the idea's supporters who keep scrambling its political fate. Full Story
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![Activists who support a legislative proposal that would lift the state's handgun licensing requirements stand outside the state Capitol on the opening day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 28, 2015
A judge's decision on Tuesday not to dismiss two indictments against Rick Perry has both legal and political implications. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry on the House dais in his final speech to the Texas Legislature as governor on Jan. 15. The state's longest-serving governor went on launch a second presidential bid but exited the race in September.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Patrick on Open Carry
At our 1/27 conversation, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talked about why open carry legislation isn't necessarily going to pass in the 84th session. Full Story
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Video: Patrick on Vouchers
At our 1/27 conversation, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talked about vouchers — and whether the 84th session's outcome on the issue might differ from that of the 83rd. Full Story
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Nelson Emphasizes Property Tax Relief in Senate Base Budget
Nearly two weeks after the House's base budget was released, Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson presented the Senate's plan, which she said sets aside $3 billion for "meaningful" property tax relief for Texas homeowners. Full Story
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![State Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the Senate's base budget plan at a Jan. 27, 2015, news conference.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Patrick on Tax Relief
At our 1/27 conversation, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talked about the possibility of tax relief as a component of the budget that will be passed by the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Dan Patrick
Full video of my 1/27 conversation with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who talked about the change in Senate rules, vouchers, tax relief, transportation funding, open carry and more. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 27, 2015
Guns were a big topic of conversation inside the Capitol and outside of it on Monday. Full Story
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![Chris Way and his son Ryan, 2, participate in an open carry march on March 12, 2014 during the South by Southwest festival. The event was led by the Austin chapter of Come and Take It.]()
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Tea Party Leaders Will Advise Patrick on Key Issues
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has formed a new advisory board to focus on border security, education reform and tax relief. Its members? Tea Party leaders from across the state. Full Story
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![New Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listens to State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. D-Brownsville, during debate on the two-thirds rule Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich