In the Roundup: The 84th Legislature’s long-awaited kickoff, gun rights advocates make weapons at the capitol and Gov. Rick Perry bids lawmakers farewell after more than a decade in office.
Governor’s Office
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Perry Says Goodbye — and Hello
Rick Perry will only be the governor of Texas for a few more days, but as he considers another run for president, his last speech to the Legislature was as much about the next 18 months as about the last 14 years.
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Health care
Sources: Abbott Will Wait to Decide on Janek’s Future
Amid calls for Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek to resign over a contracting scandal, sources close to Gov.-elect Greg Abbott say Abbott won’t decide on Janek’s future until after the completion of state investigations.
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State Government
In Last Hurrah, Perry Encourages Compromise
In what some saw as a tune-up for his next presidential bid, Gov. Rick Perry bade farewell to lawmakers with a rhetorical highlights reel of his record-setting tenure.
Posted in
State Government
Video: Perry Bids Lawmakers Farewell
Watch full video of Gov. Rick Perry’s speech Thursday to a joint session of the 84th Legislature at the state Capitol. After 30 years of public service, including 14 as governor, Perry officially leaves office on Tuesday.
Posted in
Health care
Greg Abbott Gives Back 21CT Campaign Donation
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott’s office has confirmed that he returned a $10,000 campaign contribution from the CEO of the beleaguered company at the center of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracting woes.
Posted in
Politics
Straus Aims to Expand Authority for House Investigations
When members debate the proposed rules for the House on Thursday, they’ll discuss a plan from House Speaker Joe Straus to expand one committee’s jurisdiction in investigating state agencies and practices.
Posted in
State Government
Former Abbott Deputy Named Insurance Commissioner
A deputy from former Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office will be running the Texas Department of Insurance, Gov. Rick Perry’s office announced Monday. But he appears to just be a temporary replacement for outgoing Commissioner Julia Rathgeber.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: For Session, a Mix of New Faces and a Heavy Dose of Suspense
Another legislative session is starting, with a twist. Texans, accustomed to the same players in the same offices for years and years, will see something new as this unfolds: change.
Posted in
Energy
The Playlist: Brand New Day
With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a “Brand New Day” in and around the Capitol, so that’s how we started this week’s playlist off of the week’s news.
