Phil King

The Brief: April 22, 2015

By John Reynolds April 22, 2015

A shift in the public debate over the relationship between oil and gas production and earthquakes happened Tuesday with a new study in Texas and a turnabout by the Oklahoma government on the issue. Full Story

Credit: KQED QUEST
The Brief: April 21, 2015

By John Reynolds April 21, 2015

The House gave the OK on Monday to legislation overhauling the way public corruption cases are handled in the state, but not before criticism that the new mechanism creates "a new protected class" of elected officials. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Politicians Pick New Way to Get Prosecuted

By Jay Root April 20, 2015

State politicians, high court judges and top bureaucrats would get public corruption cases against them moved to their home counties under a controversial bill that cleared the Texas House on Monday. Full Story
A Debate Over Fracking and Local Control

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn Jan. 23, 2015

After Denton voters decided to ban fracking, other Texas cities could weigh similar moves. Legislators are expected to look at ways to avoid a city-by-city fight over drilling regulations. This is the fourth video in our eight-part State of Mind series. Full Story
The Brief: Sept. 24, 2014

By John Reynolds Sept. 24, 2014

The special prosecutor overseeing the criminal case against Gov. Rick Perry let his frustration be known on a request by Perry's attorneys to excuse him from appearing at an Oct. 13 pre-trial hearing. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Analysis: The Hunt for a Different Spot to House Political Watchdog

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 29, 2014

Lots of people want to take prosecutions of state officials away from the Travis County district attorney's office. But agreeing on a place to put it is not going to be easy. Full Story
The Brief: June 17, 2014

By John Reynolds June 17, 2014

The value of a four-year college degree is becoming less apparent to Texans, according to the latest installment of the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Landowners, Utilities Keep Eye on Rancher's Bid to Move Power Line

By Jim Malewitz May 14, 2014

UPDATED: The Texas Public Utility Commission on Friday heard oral arguments in the case of a Wise County rancher protesting a power line that he says was built in the wrong place on his property. The commission is poised to vote on the line’s fate on May 30. Full Story

Credit: Robert Hart
Mayors: State Must Act Faster on Earthquake Study

By Jim Malewitz May 12, 2014

More than six months after a series of earthquakes surprised parts of North Texas, the mayors of two shaken-up towns told a state House subcommittee Monday that the state has moved too slowly in investigating what’s behind the phenomenon. Full Story

Credit: Jennifer Whitney
Tax Relief or Targeted Spending Hikes? Surplus Projections Fuel Debate

By Aman Batheja April 8, 2014

With expectations that state lawmakers will have a budget surplus of several billion dollars, lawmakers, activists and business groups are already discussing what to do with the money. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Stuart Seeger
King Pulls Measure on Public Integrity Unit Oversight

By Emily Ramshaw May 7, 2013

State Rep. Phil King on Tuesday pulled an amendment that would transfer power over the state’s public integrity away from Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg. But King said he has the support to attach it to future bills. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Bills Would Consolidate State Agencies to Cut Cost

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 14, 2011

In an effort to cut administrative costs, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed a group of bills last week that would eliminate four state agencies. Full Story
Speaker's Race, Anyone?

By Ross Ramsey June 8, 2010

Nobody's openly campaigning right now, but there's talk of who might succeed Joe Straus if he stumbles before January. Attribute the speculation to inertia: The House's top job was in play for at least four years before Straus won it 17 months ago, and members and the lobby and the press and other gawkers have been trained to study every new complaint, slight, reward and compliment for signs of a coup. While he appears to be on solid ground going into his second session behind the podium, don't erase the possibility of a contest. It's an uncertain environment: It's an election year, Straus is green and the Capitol is full of people who are constantly looking for a better deal than the one they've got. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
And They're Off!

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 4, 2009

It's time to harvest the political speculations of the last several months: Democrats and Republicans have until January 4 to put their names on the ballots, or not, in anticipation of the March 2 primaries. Full Story