The regular Texas legislative session was notable for bipartisan coalitions and harmony. The special sessions have been notable for partisan battles and stalemates. To understand what’s going on, just look at the voters.
abortion
Posted in
State Government
Evidence of Excrement Remains Elusive
Debate continues over whether visitors to the Capitol on July 12 attempted to sneak in containers of human feces. The Department of Public Safety is seeking to withhold information about the alleged incident.
Posted in
Politics
Abortion and the Economic Argument Behind the Political One
The state’s abortion and health care policies intersect in the budget — even though that might not always be part of the debate — and the budget is where the impact of decisions on abortion and Medicaid will be revealed.
Posted in
State Government
Visibility Climbs for Groups on Both Sides of Abortion Debate
Since state Sen. Wendy Davis’ June 25 filibuster, organizations on both sides of the abortion debate say they have seen a surge in donations as well as increased engagement on social media.
Posted in
State Government
Some Democrats’ Political Accounts See Boost in Donations After Filibuster
State Sen. Wendy Davis’ filibuster against abortion legislation gave Democrats across the country a rare red-state rallying point, and some of them responded by opening their checkbooks.
Posted in
Health care
Perry Signs Omnibus Abortion Bill Into Law
With a few dozen protesters chanting outside and a Capitol auditorium full of supporters, Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 2 — the omnibus abortion legislation — into law Thursday morning.
Posted in
Health care
Reproductive Rights Groups Weigh Legal Challenge to Abortion Bill
With Gov. Rick Perry expected to sign House Bill 2 into law, abortion rights groups are considering a lawsuit against the state as one option to attempt to block implementation of the legislation.
Posted in
State Government
The Policy and the Politics of the Abortion Debate
The Texas Capitol has been full of protesters and demonstrators off and on for the last month as lawmakers considered abortion legislation. And activists on both sides fight have put some R-rated signs in the hands of children.
Posted in
Health care
Abortion Bill Finally Bound for Perry’s Desk
UPDATED: With a vote of 19-11, the Senate on Friday night sent controversial abortion legislation to Gov. Rick Perry. While the crowd outside of the chamber chanted, there were none of the eruptions inside that helped kill the abortion bill in the first special session.
Posted inState Government
Capitol Scenes During Abortion Debate
As Senators debate House Bill 2, the Tribune’s Todd Wiseman collects iPod videos and interviews in and around the Capitol.
