The Brief: Jan. 2, 2014
The political conversation is wasting no time in 2014 pivoting to what is expected to be the biggest story of the year — the November clash between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis. Full Story
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Credit: Davis: Marjorie Kamys Cotera | Abbott: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Selected for Drone Program
The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a test site to further study the uses of unmanned aircraft systems. Full Story
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![Micheal Cincienne of Absolute Aerospace and Texas A&M Corpus Christi, engineering student Adam Ersepke, and lab coordinator Jack Edward Esparza carry the University’s RS-16 unmanned aerial vehicle, otherwise known as a drone, back to the command center after a test flight over the Kennedy Ranch near Sarita, Texas on January 18, 2013.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal -
U.S. House Leaders Reject Senate Immigration Bill
Republican leaders in the U.S. House have publicly rejected the U.S. Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill, calling it a rushed-through measure with too many flaws and not enough security guarantees. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bobby Fiend -
More Helicopters, Fewer Troops to Patrol Border
Aerial surveillance in the form of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft will replace about 900 National Guard troops on the U.S.-Mexico border as early as next year, a strategy not all Texas lawmakers like. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Matthew High -
Perry Blasts Obama Over National Guard Drawdown on Border
A decision by the White House to reduce the number of National Guard soldiers on the country’s border with Mexico has provoked a fierce but expected reaction from Gov. Rick Perry, a longtime advocate for more boots on the ground in Texas. Full Story
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![A U.S. Army soldier of the Texas Army National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol Agent Chad Wamsley observe as Ricky I, a Belgian Malinois detection dog, checks a tractor-trailer for indications of drugs or concealed people at the U.S. Border Patrol's Interstate 35 checkpoint north of Laredo, Texas, on July 14, 2006.]()
Credit: Sgt. Jim Greenhill -
Blame and Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In
The breakdown raised new questions about the way forward for Congress and the trickle-down effects for politics and federal spending in Texas. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas.]()
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Gohmert Votes No on Balanced Budget Amendment
A balanced-budget constitutional amendment fell short in the U.S. House today. Only one Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, of Tyler, voted against the measure. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler.]()
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Lawmakers Want Defense Technology on Border
With American troops leaving Iraq and an eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan expected, advocates for tighter border security hope to bring military technology — and soldiers' expertise — to the border. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bobby Fiend -
Cornyn Presses for Fast and Furious Probe
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has asked congressional colleagues to investigate whether federal officials ran a gun-walking program in Texas similar to the controversial and now defunct Fast and Furious operation. Full Story
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Q3 Fundraising Could Mean Tight House Races
Texas congressional incumbents raised more than $4.7 million during the third quarter of the year, but some of them face challengers who also displayed a knack for raising political cash. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers React to Mexican Ties to Alleged Terror Plot
Accusations that Iranian citizens allegedly planned a terrorist plot in the U.S. and engaged people they believed were Mexican cartel operatives to help carry out the attack brought swift reactions from Texas lawmakers. Full Story
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Credit: Esparta Palma -
Texas Republicans Pile On Job Numbers
Texas’s congressional Republicans seized on new unemployment numbers to decry President Obama’s economic policies days after he stopped in Mesquite to sell his jobs plan. Full Story
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Gallego Will Challenge Canseco for Congressional Seat
State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, says he is filing papers this week to run for the congressional seat now held by Republican Francisco "Quico" Canseco of San Antonio. Full Story
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![State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, during State Affairs Committee Hearing on March 14th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Democrats Attack Lamar Smith Over HALT Act
Republican U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s attempt to strip the Obama administration of its immigration enforcement powers has drawn a harsh rebuke from Texas Democrats in the U.S. House. Full Story
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Credit: Edmond Meinfelder -
Trucking Program Raises Border Policy Questions
Some Texas Republicans are embracing a cross-border trucking agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that labor unions worry could kill jobs and drastically reduce border security. Full Story
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Updated: Do Mexican Cartels Qualify as Terrorist Organizations?
A Texas congressman is seeking to designate seven of the top Mexican cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations." Critics of the proposal fear such a designation could harm Mexico’s ability to wage its own fight against the cartels. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas’ Clout in Congress Rises Along With GOP
Texas has the largest GOP delegation in Congress, and those members have high seniority, spots on key committees and seats at the leadership table — evidence, observers say, of the state’s sway inside the Capitol. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
No Timeline to Replace U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual has agreed to stay in Mexico City to help the two governments organize a transition. Full Story
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Credit: Esparta Palma -
On State Website, Calls for Vigilante Justice
Texans advocating extreme solutions to secure the border — including land mines and booby traps on Texas farmland along the Rio Grande — have a new forum to share their views: a website operated by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
TribBlog: "Hell No!" to Party Switching
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who survived the GOP rout last November, didn’t mince words Wednesday when asked if he’d considering throwing in with the other guys. Full Story
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