Analysis: Think Texas has a weak governor? Not in the month of May
A Texas governor's powers peak at the end of a legislative session, as deadline-haunted legislators begin to fear the threat of a veto from the state's chief executive. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawsuit over sanctuary cities bill is just a matter of time, opponents say
Texas' attorneys will be forced to defend Senate Bill 4, the controversial "sanctuary cities" bill in court, its opponents say. Full Story
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![A group of students against SB4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, sit in the rotunda of the Texas Capitol as the bill is being debated in the Texas House on April 26, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House approves Abbott-backed call for convention of states
The Texas House Thursday adopted a resolution calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution — one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items this legislative session. Full Story
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![State Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, holds a copy of the U.S. Constitution while on the floor of the Texas House on May 4, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for 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 -
Protesters on Texas Capitol grounds charged with trespassing
At least two dozen protesters on the grounds of the Texas Capitol on Monday evening were charged with misdemeanor trespassing, the culmination of a day-long sit-in to protest the "sanctuary" jurisdictions bill moving through the Legislature. Full Story
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![Opponents of Senate Bill 4 — which would outlaw “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas — stage a protest at the State Insurance Building in Austin on May 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Warren Buffett visits Capitol and "Buffett Bill" is born
The Texas Senate could soon debate the "Buffett Bill," a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled. Full Story
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![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
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Abbott signals support for House proposal on bathroom regulations
Gov. Greg Abbott is signaling support for House legislation that some hope will serve as an alternative to the Senate's "bathroom bill." Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Six weeks left for the Texas Legislature, with lots to fight over
The Texas Legislature's Easter break ends with a sprint. Only six weeks remain between now and the end of this regular legislative session — and most of the 6,000+ bills under consideration are going to die. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Will Abbott wield sharper veto pen in budget talks?
With some of his priorities on the chopping block this session, Gov. Greg Abbott may be eyeing his recently expanded veto authority in order to get his way. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: One (Texas) official to rule them all
If you got the states together to take power away from the federal government, as Greg Abbott hopes to do, and if you increased the state's powers over laws passed by cities and counties and local voters, the most powerful office in the state capital would really be something. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the House on the opening Day of the 85th legislative session, Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott looks to conference committee to sort out pre-K dispute
Gov. Greg Abbott is looking to the budget conference committee to sort out a dispute over his prekindergarten initiative as it becomes clear he cannot rely on the House and Senate to fully fund the program in their spending plans. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the House on the opening Day of the 85th legislative session, Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott: This country isn't the "United States of Municipalities"
Gov. Greg Abbott raised eyebrows last week when he threw his support behind a "broad-based law" that pre-empts local regulations. On Monday, Abbott did not back away from the idea — but offered more detail about what he meant. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Straus condemns "bathroom bill," talks local control
House Speaker Joe Straus said the controversial bathroom bill felt "manufactured and unnecessary." Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was interviewed by Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 17, 2015.]()
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Abbott joins Trump in announcement of new McAllen call center
Gov. Greg Abbott joined President Donald Trump in Washington for the announcement of a new "fully bilingual" call center in McAllen. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Budget priorities, local control and school choice (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Patrick and Aman about Gov. Greg Abbott's budget priorities, his comments on local control, the school choice drama in the Legislature and AG Ken Paxton's concerns about Muslim prayer in a public school. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Can Abbott assemble an army for this session’s pre-K fight?
Gov. Greg Abbott has hit tough sledding with his call for more spending on early education in Texas. Lawmakers aren't warm to the idea, to say the least, and the governor hasn't assembled an army of supporters to back up his position. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Robin Jerstad -
Abbott wants "broad-based law" that pre-empts local regulations
As local control battles rage at the Texas Capitol, Gov. Greg Abbott is voicing support for a much more sweeping approach to the issues that have captured headlines. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott's top health appointee draws bipartisan fire at hearing
Both Republican and Democratic members of a key legislative oversight committee unloaded on Gov. Greg Abbott’s top health appointee Thursday, putting him and others on the hot seat for hours about alleged contracting abuses. Full Story
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![Charles Smith, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, testified Aug. 15, 2016, before the House State Affairs Committee on contracting procedures.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Key chairman says House will take its time on "sanctuary" legislation
A day after hearing from peace officers largely opposed to the state's current proposal to outlaw "sanctuary cities," the chairman of the House committee that controls the proposal's future said he'd like to see some significant changes. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, listens to the first round of testimony of hundreds signed up against SB 4 the sanctuary cities bill on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
House committee makes changes to anti-"sanctuary" bill
More than 600 people signed up on Wednesday to testify before the House State Affairs Committee on the lower chamber's version of the controversial proposal to outlaw "sanctuary" jurisdictions. Full Story
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![State Affairs Committee member Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, at the hearing on Senate Bill 4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune