Analysis: Finding out exactly what the election winners have in mind
It won't change the color of the leaves on the trees, but the civics seasons in Texas have changed. Say goodbye to the elections and hello to the legislative session. Full Story
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![Monday was the first day lawmakers could pre-file legislation for the upcoming 83rd Texas Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
With Trump in D.C., Texas might spend less on border
If President-Elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to dramatically beef up security on the U.S.-Mexico border, leading Texas lawmakers say they might quit spending so much state tax money on it. Full Story
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![From Roma, Texas, Border Patrol Agent Isaac Villegas looks out over the Rio Grande and into Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Mexico, on March 8, 2016.]()
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Analysis: Texas GOP, no stranger to facing off with feds, now faces a shift
They might not have predicted this, but Republicans won full control of the federal government in Tuesday's elections. For Texas Republicans, that removes a major political foil. Full Story
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Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond. Full Story
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![As the doors open at 7 a.m. on Election Day 2016, people stream into the George Washington Carver Library in Austin, Texas to cast their vote.]()
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Analysis: An election without a mandate for Texas lawmakers
Some elections are referendums on issues, public votes that give lawmakers a good idea of what voters want. This election isn't one of those. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are shown on May 21, 2015.]()
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GOP operative John Colyandro to lead "school choice" lobbying group
Longtime GOP political operative John Colyandro has been tapped to head a new organization that will aggressively push Texas lawmakers to approve education savings accounts. Full Story
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![Executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and the Texas Conservative Coalition, John Colyandro gives testimony during a September 13, 2016 Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Texas politicians merely echoing the message they’re receiving
Sure, there's a lot of pushing and shoving going on among the state's elected officials, but there's a lot of pushing and shoving going on with Texas voters, too. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz, flanked by Gov. Greg Abbott and former Governor Rick Perry, campaigns in San Antonio a day ahead of Super Tuesday, Feb 29, 2016.]()
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Texas lawmakers mulling addition of paper backups to voting machines
Amid concerns about "rigged" voting machines, both Gov. Greg Abbott and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst have expressed interest in legislation to add paper trail backups to the state's electronic voting machines. Full Story
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![An election judge in south Texas tests a voting machine for accuracy after the end of voting hours on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Abbott, Patrick disagree on special session for school funding
Gov. Greg Abbott turned down Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's suggestion that he call a special session to overhaul school funding. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
UT/TT Poll: Bathrooms, the Constitution and other hot Texas issues
A slight majority of Texas voters — and an overwhelming majority of Republican voters — think transgender people should use the restrooms that match their birth gender, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Texas Republicans want to narrow scope of same-sex marriage ruling
Texas Republicans are asking the state Supreme Court to reconsider a case about benefits in what appears to be an attempt to narrow the scope of the landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Full Story
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![Couples embrace at the conclusion of the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol on July 4 after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June.]()
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UT/TT Poll: Texas voters give tough grades to top officials, institutions
Texas voters give tough grades to federal officials and better grades to state officials. Full Story
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Despite boasts, state has not blocked Planned Parenthood funds
Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials are largely silent on why they haven't fulfilled their vow to cut off funds to women's health programs offered to poor Texas women by Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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Court's immigration ruling could affect Texas "sanctuary city" debate
An Illinois judge ruled that federal officials can't ask local jails to hold on to possible criminal immigrants without a warrant. Full Story
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Analysis: In Texas, Lawmakers Regulate Their Own Regulators
The Texas Ethics Commission regulates legislators. Legislators control the commission's laws and budget. It's a complicated relationship. Full Story
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![State Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, listen to testimony at a Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing reviewing current ethics laws governing public officials and employees on Oct, 5, 2016.]()
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Supreme Court Won't Rehear Immigration Case
The Obama administration suffered another setback on Monday in its effort to change the country's immigration laws. Full Story
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![Group gathered from all around Texas and marched to the Governor's Mansion to show their support fro DACA and DAPA]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Officially Withdraws from Refugee Resettlement Program
Texas has officially withdrawn from the nation’s refugee resettlement program, according to Gov. Greg Abbott's office. But that won't stop the federal government from continuing to help refugees relocate here. Full Story
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![A child walks in a United Nations refugee camp in Turkey where thousands of Syrian refugees reside.]()
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Ignoring Anti-Refugee Rhetoric, Texans Rush to Help in Resettlement
Texas nonprofits that resettle refugees say volunteer turnout has increased — in some cases dramatically — since the state's elected officials started trying to bar Syrians fleeing violence at home. Full Story
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![A group gathered at Wooldridge Park in Austin on Nov. 22, 2015, to protest Gov. Greg Abbott's decision not to accept refugees from Syria.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Threatens to Withdraw from Refugee Resettlement Program
As part of its fight to keep Syrian refugees out of the state, Texas is threatening to withdraw from the nation's refugee resettlement program if federal officials don't “unconditionally approve” a state plan requiring additional vetting. Full Story
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![Rally at Wooldridge Park in Austin to protest Gov. Abbott's decision on Syrian refugees on Nov. 22, 2015]()
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Abbott Reveals Severe Burns Came From Shower
Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday revealed new details about how he was severely burned earlier this year, saying it happened in the shower. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference on the Dallas shootings on July 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Robert Hart for The Texas Tribune