If you were interviewing Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday morning, what would you ask him?
Joe Straus
Posted in
Health care
No Country For Health Care, Part 3: Shrinking Rural Ranks
It’s no time to be an advocate for rural health care. Rural lawmakers say they’re consistently outnumbered and under-represented — and that redistricting will only make matters worse.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Time’s Up
The political window is about to close: Today’s the last day to become a candidate in the 2010 state elections. What we know so far is that the ballot will have a fireworks show at the top, with contested and well-financed gubernatorial primaries on both sides. A couple of statewide Democratic races will be competitive, but with incumbents seeking reelection on the Republican side, there’s little action there.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: December 21, 2009
Just like Santa needs Rudolph et al. to get him through Christmas, Democrat Farouk Shami needs a good team to carry him to the March gubernatorial primary.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Mapmaker, Mapmaker
Think like the political pros and your mind will go to the long game instead of the short one. The short game is the elections of 2010. The long game is redistricting in 2011, when maps are drawn that corral the voters into the districts that will elect legislators for the next ten years.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Interim Charges
Speaker Joe Straus has given committees their assignments for the next year.
Posted in
Economy
Math Anxiety
Will there be enough money to cover the current state budget? “Fortunately, it’s too early to tell,” jokes House Speaker Joe Straus. He and other state leaders are well aware of the numbers, and although they think it’s not yet time to act, they’re focused on the big question.
Posted inState Government
Working Overtime
Kay Bailey Hutchison used to like term limits. And then she didn’t. And then she did. Not surprisingly, her rivals are quick to point out the contradiction.
Posted in
State Government
2010: McCall won’t seek reelection
Brian McCall, a key member of House Speaker Joe Straus’ leadership team, won’t seek reelection next year
Posted in
Politics
The Brief: November 10, 2009
If Williamson County DA John Bradley is sick of the spotlight, then he got appointed to the wrong commission. Of course, many people would argue that regardless.