The Brief: Sept. 10, 2014
State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, a Tea Party favorite, cruised to an outright win on Tuesday night in the special election to fill the West Texas Senate seat formerly held by Robert Duncan. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
For Van de Putte, Questions About Private Work, Public Role
As Sen. Leticia Van de Putte reaches for one of the most powerful jobs in Texas, the blurred lines between her private work and public role are giving rise to familiar questions in a part-time Legislature. Full Story
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![Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio (center) on the House floor on Feb. 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New in TribTalk: Mark P. Jones on the Patrick-Van de Putte Political Divide
Rice University political science department chairman Mark P. Jones writes that while it's not news to say the 2014 lieutenant governor’s race provides Texas voters with a stark contrast in political ideologies, now the numbers back it up. Full Story
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![Sen.Leticia Van de Putte D-San Antonio and Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston during during a joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking in La Joya, Texas on July 24th, 2014. Both Senators are candidates to become the next Lt. Governor of Texas]()
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Van de Putte Hits Patrick on School Finance Votes
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said Wednesday that her GOP opponent, Dan Patrick, was “rewriting history” by taking credit for the restoration of some education funding cuts. Patrick's campaign hit back at the criticism. Full Story
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![State Sens. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Dan Patrick, R-Houston, will face off against each other in the general election for lieutenant governor.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney / Michael Stravato -
Inside Texas Politics: Lawyering Up
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, we talked about Thursday's ruling that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional, the delay in raising standards on school tests, Gov. Rick Perry's newest lawyer and more. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on August 31, 2014.]()
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Analysis: To Debate or Not to Debate?
UPDATED: A televised statewide debate between Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis fell apart on Friday, and another one popped up in its place, raising questions about whether voters will get many chances to compare the two candidates for governor. Does it matter? Full Story
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Credit: Majorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Aug. 27, 2014
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis released her full 2013 tax return on Tuesday, changing course after previously not allowing the document to be shared or published in full. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis addresses supporters before they canvass for her in East Austin.]()
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Education Commissioner: "The System Needs to Catch Up"
UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
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![Education Commissioner Michael Williams, a former railroad commissioner, is shown at a TribLive event on Jan. 27, 2011.]()
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Van de Putte Calls for Expanded Medicaid Coverage
Hoping to overcome Republican opposition to expanding Medicaid, Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said Friday she would seek a Texas-specific plan to cover poor, uninsured adults if elected lieutenant governor in November. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor of Texas, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, speaks during a campaign swing in Austin on June 4.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lt. Gov. Race Could Be Good for Business
State Sens. Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte have taken to promoting their business credentials while campaigning to become the state's lieutenant governor in a race that influential groups say should be good for business. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dan Patrick, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, speaks at the Texas Business Roundtable candidate forum on Jan. 14, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee, addresses delegates at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention on June 27.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Alyssa Banata -
The Brief: Aug. 15, 2014
One of the most intractable questions in Texas politics in recent years is why the state hasn't moved blue despite drastic demographic changes. A new analysis from The New York Times sheds new light on why this is so. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Van de Putte Calls for State-Subsidized Community College
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, wants the state to pay college students’ tuition and fees for two years if they attend a public community college in the state. Full Story
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![Supporters of Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, rally behind her at the University of Texas on April 7, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Timing of Mayoral Speculation Not on Van de Putte's Side
Last week, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, shot down speculation she was considering a run for San Antonio mayor. The rumors could hurt her prospects on multiple fronts. Full Story
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![Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Leticia Van de Putte speaks at the Democratic state convention in Dallas, Texas on June 27, 2014.]()
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Van de Putte Calls for Reducing High-Stakes Testing
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, calls for reducing high-stakes testing in a new plan for Texas schools. The campaign of her Republican opponent, Dan Patrick, said the plan would do nothing to help turn around underperforming schools. Full Story
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![State Sen. and Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Leticia Van de Putte at the Democratic state convention on June 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Alyssa Banta -
The Brief: July 29, 2014
At a special University of Texas System regents meeting on Tuesday evening, they are expected to name a sole finalist for the system's next chancellor. And their choice is expected to be Admiral William H. McRaven. Full Story
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![Admiral William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, was named the sole finalist to be chancellor of the University of Texas System on July 29, 2014. McRaven holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.]()
Credit: Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey, U.S. Air Force -
Analysis: Senate Decks Shuffled a Little Early
Lame-duck Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst had to make a few committee assignments to replace members who resigned. But he didn't stop there. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst delivering his concession speech after losing his re-election bid on May 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texplainer: Does New AP U.S. History Curriculum Contain Common Core?
Hey, Texplainer: If high school students take AP U.S. history, does that mean they are studying Common Core? Wouldn't that be illegal in Texas? Full Story
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![The new U.S. history framework is the first of what will be updates to all 34 AP subjects offered as a result of a redesign effort launched by the College Board in 2006.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: July 18, 2014
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is on his way out in a few months, but on Thursday he moved to fill some key Senate leadership slots to help the chamber prepare for the coming legislative session in January. Full Story
![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst delivering his concession speech after losing his re-election bid on May 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Patrick, Van de Putte Take Aim at Border Crisis
As the recent surge of Central Americans entering the country illegally through Texas’ border with Mexico has drawn national attention, it has also become a major talking point for the 2014 candidates for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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![Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick, who are facing off in a fiery race to become the state's next lieutenant governor, address delegates at their respective party's state conventions in June.]()
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Fact Check: Dan Patrick at the State Republican Convention
With help from The Washington Post’s Truth Teller, we’re analyzing the speeches that Texas’ candidates for lieutenant governor gave at their respective state political party conventions. Here we focus on Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Patrick speaks to the Texas Republican Convention on its final day June 7, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich