The Brief: April 9, 2015
Republicans leery of granting more eminent domain authority acted to fast-track to nowhere a proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas. Full Story
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New Super PACs Backing Cruz Expect $31 Million First-Week Haul
A quartet of super PACs is coming to the aid of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz as he embarks on his 2016 presidential campaign, and they expect to raise a whopping $31 million during their first week. Full Story
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Credit: Matt McClain, The Washington Post -
TedTracker: Follow Cruz on the Campaign Trail
Use the TedTracker to check the public events — past and future — Ted Cruz has announced since making his run for president official. Full Story
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The Brief: April 8, 2015
Lawmakers are talking about giving taxpayers billions in tax relief this session. But in a state with 27 million residents, it turns out that even $4.5 billion doesn't stretch as far as the politicians would like it to. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: April 7, 2015
A Senate subcommittee hearing legislation that would repeal the state's 2001 law offering in-state tuition to certain undocumented Texas high school graduates lasted well past the midnight hour as dozens of witnesses testified against the bill. Full Story
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![Dreamer Jesus Trevino, waits his turn to testify during the Senate committee hearing on April 6th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: April 6, 2015
The House's chief tax writer is dropping some clues on how his chamber's approach to tax relief this session will differ from their counterparts in the Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
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Cruz Won't Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation
In a brief statement, the school said it was notified that Sen. Ted Cruz is "regrettably unable to join us" at the May event. No reason was given. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, his wife Heidi and their children outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Roundup: The House Budget Marathon and Cruz's Campaign
In the Roundup: The House debates hundreds of budget amendments, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz raises money and moves up in the polls in his first couple of weeks as a 2016 presidential contender. Full Story
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The Brief: April 3, 2015
A state auditor's report that looked into the controversial no-bid fraud detection software contract awarded to the technology firm 21CT revealed "operational defects" in how the state's health and human services agency awards contracts. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek asks questions during the first public hearing of the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 23, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Cruz Courts Young Voters in Iowa
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz this week began his first swing through Iowa as a declared presidential candidate. He started out at a college in Sioux City, hoping to attract young people to his fledgling campaign. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at a Texas Public Policy Foundation legislative conference on Jan. 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz Offers to Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has approached Texas A&M International University about speaking at the Laredo college's spring commencement, the A&M System confirmed Thursday. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security.]()
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Cruz Gets Double Digits in Washington Post/ABC News Poll
In the contest for the Republican nomination, Jeb Bush tops the field with 20 percent of voters who lean Republican, followed by Ted Cruz at 13 percent. Rick Perry is down around 2 percent, the poll found. Full Story
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Credit: Matt McClain, The Washington Post -
The Brief: April 2, 2015
The blowback experienced by Indiana over its religious freedom law has Texas' largest business organization worried about efforts this session to update this state's law on the subject. Full Story
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![Bill Hammond is the CEO of the Texas Association of Business.]()
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Poll: Cruz in "Top Tier" of GOP White House Hopefuls
A week after becoming the first major candidate to announce he's running for president, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has risen to the "top tier" of Republican White House hopefuls, according to a poll released Wednesday. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, left, and wife Heidi, back, outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
The Brief: April 1, 2015
It took more than 17 hours, but the House gave preliminary OK to a budget. Anticipated fights over vouchers and in-state tuition for undocumented students failed to materialize. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, carries literature laying out House Bill 1 as he prepares to discuss the appropriations bill on the House floor March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Aiming for Upset, Cruz Brings Presidential Campaign Home
Ted Cruz returned home Tuesday evening to a hero's welcome, rallying hundreds of supporters outside the headquarters of his week-old presidential campaign with an impassioned plea to replicate the energy that propelled him to Congress in 2012. Full Story
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to supporters with his father Rafael, his wife Heidi and their children outside his new presidential campaign headquarters in Houston on March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Texas a Key Host for 2016 Fundraising Scramble
Texas is quickly settling into its role as a lucrative state for White House hopefuls, playing host this month alone to several candidates looking to tap the state's deep pool of donor dollars. Full Story
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The Brief: March 31, 2015
A busy day is on tap as the state's two-year budget comes up for debate on the floor of the Texas House and a special election takes place to fill the last vacancy in that chamber. Full Story
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![Rep. John Otto R-Dayton, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, during Tribune Conversation event on February 12th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Promise, Pitfalls in Cruz’s First Week as a Candidate
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s New Hampshire debut, much like the rest of his first week as a candidate, demonstrated both the promise of his presidential candidacy and the potential hurdles facing his uphill campaign. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns in a Barrington, N.H. manufacturing plant.]()
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The Brief: March 30, 2015
The reviews are in for Ted Cruz's first campaign swing this weekend through New Hampshire, a key early presidential primary state. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz attends a "Politics And Eggs" breakfast in Manchester, N.H. on March 16, 2015.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston