The latest Griffin Perry news from The Texas Tribune.
Voters of all political stripes will be receptive to a story about low taxes, restrained spending, reasonable regulations and a fair legal system. He doesn’t just understand that story — he wrote the book. The nation is primed to listen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdff1055012e79769385034f6f5fdb5e/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Triumphant%2001%202011)
Are non-Christians bound for the gates of hell? The topic has generated heated discussion since Tim Wildmon, the president of the American Family Association, which Gov. Rick Perry has tapped to stage his Aug. 6 prayer vigil, told the Tribune that he believed only Christians will escape eternal damnation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/twildmon_AFA.jpg)
In this week's TribCast, Evan, Reeve, Ben and Emily harp on health care, speculate about the special session and respond to The Reponse. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
Republican lawmakers in Texas, unfazed by state governments across the country opting out of a controversial immigration enforcement program, are instead seeking to expand it here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Jail-Crowding.jpg)
Hey, Texplainer: Can the Lege override the governor's veto of legislation passed in the regular session — once the regular session is over? The governor says no. But it's murky. Two expert opinions offer somewhat conflicting views. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PerryVetoStamp.jpg)
GOP lawmakers have gone to great lengths to try to force Planned Parenthood out of Texas’ Medicaid Women’s Health Program. The Obama administration may have headed off their plans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PlannedParenthood_vs_Feds.jpg)
The sponsor paying the tab for Gov. Rick Perry's just-announced Aug. 6 "Day of Prayer and Fasting" is a controversial anti-gay group whose president told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday that non-Christians will "go to hell" unless they accept Jesus Christ as their savior. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7a10bb8a036a8c9db3cb88695ebcdb2b/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Prays%2001%202011)
Gov. Rick Perry has added controversial immigration and homeland security measures to the agenda for the special legislative session that began last week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c088a4290c67bad3bfe286cb75ce0771/BD%20INC%20HB12%2002%202011)
Gov. Rick Perry, who’s eying a possible run for the White House, released a proclamation Monday declaring Aug. 6 a “Day of Prayer and Fasting for our Nation’s Challenges." Perry plans to give up food on the day of the event, which is being paid for by the American Family Association. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB0198.jpg)
If you wanted to know where the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House would stand at the end of the legislative session, you could have seen it all months ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9a35300edf588ad8e790dd0d2f4043e3/BD%20INC%20Trio%2002%202011)
During the regular session, Gov. Rick Perry’s top legislative priority for higher education was the implementation of a new financing system that rewards universities for graduating more students, not just for getting students into classes. Why didn't that happen? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f3e6b03ac6a0ff45fa9a94b23393a022/BD%20INC%20Paredes%2001%202011)
State Sen. Wendy Davis' controversial decision to torpedo the 82nd Legislative session with a filibuster has catapulted the Fort Worth Democrat into the spotlight, which she has seized to try to mobilize the state’s downtrodden and outnumbered Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA0456-mcs.jpg)
Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/06032011_Tribweek.jpg)
State GOP leaders want quick action on a new congressional map that would transform the district of Tea Party godfather Ron Paul. Paul says he doesn't feel "targeted" by the proposal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PLANC130.jpg)
Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/CapitolWest.jpg)
School finance likely hits the Senate floor this afternoon. Will anything change? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DuncanRobert.jpg)
Texas lawmakers are back for a special session that started the day after their 140-day regular session. That’s something like sprinting to the finish of a long race and having your coach yell, just as you break the tape, “One more lap.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/60393be0c19e4092d429d429d702d321/BD%20INC%20Davis%20Leaves%2001%202011)
Texas politicians with mistakes on their campaign finance reports will be able to correct them without penalties if the governor signs a bill approved during the regular legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA0016.jpg)
Three contentious and broad-based immigration and homeland security issues have been rolled into one bill filed today by a Republican state senator. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7d041d350653ac3860644966aea582f/BD%20INC%20Williams%2001%202011)
Early in the session, there was much talk about how the time was right to invest in new university campus facilities. But a bill to issue bonds to get projects off the ground never managed to do so itself. Could it get another chance in the special session? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/mccombs-photo-3a.jpg)