Inside Intelligence

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked about politics — whether Barack Obama will do as well in Texas in 2012 as in 2008, whether Republicans can lose a statewide election, whether any top officeholders are in danger, and which issues in the Legislature will become issues in the elections, for better and for worse.

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers will agree on a budget and redistricting during the regular session and about what might be left undone.

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers or the courts will end up drawing political maps and who they think is angling for the four new seats in the congressional delegation.

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers ought to revise the state’s main business tax, whether they’ll extend a major small business tax exemption, and what they think are the smartest and dumbest cuts in proposed state budgets.

For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked how the state’s top leaders are doing so far this session and which lawmakers — and which freshmen lawmakers — are standing out, for better or for worse.

For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether the Legislature will finish its redistricting chores or will need help, whether Republicans will be able to ensure future supermajorities, and how lawmakers will split four new congressional seats between the political parties.