Analysis: Almost nothing in Texas government has unanimous consent
State officials say local governments shouldn't use taxpayer funds for things some taxpayers don't support. That describes just about everything government does. Full Story
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![A massive protest engulfs the Capitol Rotunda as anti-SB 4 protesters rally on May 29, 2017, the last day of the 85th legislative session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas House is looking for new leadership — and maybe a change in direction
The Texas House is right where it was two years ago, entering an uncertain election cycle with a lame-duck leader. Does that signal a new path? Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives chamber on Nov. 20, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Most Texas voters have heard nothing or little of the scandal that sunk House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, UT/TT Poll says
The recorded conversation that upended a first-term speaker of the Texas House was big news in state politics, but most registered voters barely noticed, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Maybe the Texas House should try something new and completely different
Looking for a new speaker, the Texas House wants a big change. Here’s a modest proposal. Full Story
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen gave Texas legislators a reason to distrust their leaders, too
The quick political demise of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen is the kind of insider news that buttresses what many think about people in politics — and trust. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, is sworn in as House speaker by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Looking on is Speaker Bonnen's wife Kimberly.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen’s long goodbye
The Texas House speaker was always going to leave sometime. But his departure could come much sooner than expected. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony at the Capitol on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
At GOP caucus meeting, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offered resolution calling for his own resignation
The motion was later withdrawn, and after hours of debate, the caucus issued a statement condemning the actions of Bonnen and a top lieutenant. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen at a press conference on Senate Bill 2 at Wallyís Burger Express in Austin on June 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Local Texas officials balk at animus toward cities, plans for sales tax cuts in legislators' secretly recorded meeting
The recording revealed that top Republican lawmakers wanted the 2019 session to be painful for cities and counties — and 2021 to be even worse. Full Story
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![The Houston skyline on Dec. 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
“This is all confidential”: Key excerpts from secret recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen
In the hourlong conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan, the leader of the Texas House is heard offering press credentials and asking for political support for challengers in the 2020 primaries. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen adjourns sine die from the dais on May 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and who? We break down who was in the room and who’s mentioned on the tape.
Here’s who was mentioned in the recording where Republican Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen urged a hardline conservative activist to politically target members of their own party — and suggested he could get the activist's group media access to lawmakers next legislative session. Full Story
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![Michael Quinn Sullivan and Dennis Bonnen.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Give Michael Quinn Sullivan his due — he was telling the truth about Speaker Dennis Bonnen
The long-awaited recording of the meeting between the House speaker and a political operative is now out — and as turns out, Michael Quinn Sullivan's account was mostly on the nose. Full Story
![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen at a press conference on Senate Bill 2 at Wallyís Burger Express in Austin on June 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offered media access to Empower Texans, suggested it target certain Republicans, recording shows
Bonnen also spoke disparagingly about multiple Democrats, calling one House member “vile” and suggesting that another’s “wife’s gonna be really pissed when she learns he’s gay.” Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony on May 25, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Michael Quinn Sullivan’s torment of Dennis Bonnen could end next week
Next week could see the public airing of a secret recording that has had the Texas Capitol twisted in drama for most of the summer. With that, members of the Texas House can decide whether their speaker, Dennis Bonnen, made a big mistake or a little one. Full Story
![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony at the Capitol on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas redistricting is hard enough when politicians trust the mapmakers
Lawmakers get jittery when it's time to redraw their political maps, and the exercise is based on a mix of power, party, clout, tenure — and trust. That last one is a fleeting quality in the Texas House right now. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, looks at redistricting maps at a Senate hearing on May 13, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Release the recording already, and show everybody who’s lying
After a month of allegations and denials about a political meeting between a conservative activist, the speaker of the Texas House and a committee chairman, there's still a missing link: proof. There's a recording of the meeting, but the activist who taped it won't share it with the public. Full Story
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![Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans speaks at a conservative grassroots rally for property tax relief and reform at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After botching one shot at peace, the Texas GOP establishment tries again
After a month of silence, a state representative tangled in a political misadventure in the Texas Capitol emerged to say he'll seek reelection with the endorsement of the governor. But the harmony is tentative, and the scandal is still under investigation by the Texas Rangers. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, on the House floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Dustin Burrows calls for release of secret recording of meeting with Michael Quinn Sullivan
Burrows said he hasn't been contacted by the Texas Rangers about his meeting with Sullivan and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, but said "there was nothing illegal done." Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, on the House floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott endorses state Rep. Dustin Burrows for reelection amid scandal
Abbott's endorsement comes days after Burrows resigned as the leader of the House GOP caucus. Burrows and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen have been accused of asking a conservative activist to target GOP lawmakers in 2020. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, on the House floor on May 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
How a secretly recorded Dennis Bonnen-Michael Quinn Sullivan meeting could raise the stakes for the 2020 elections
Democrats hoping to flip the Texas House are touting the controversy surrounding the meeting as a sign of Republican dysfunction. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Dustin Burrows resigns as Texas House GOP Caucus chairman amid allegations of targeting Republicans
Conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan has said he secretly recorded Burrows and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen asking him to challenge 10 House incumbents in the 2020 elections. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, meet to talk on the house floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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