Measuring the progress of legislation is easy: This one passed, that one didn’t. Political success in a legislative session is different: A mediocre legislative record can be a victory for all sides.
Joe Straus
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Politics
Radio made Dan Patrick powerful in Texas. And it’s helping him stay that way.
As a political outsider, radio launched Dan Patrick’s career. But now that he’s mostly off the airwaves and in the lieutenant governor’s seat, Patrick’s station continues to push his conservative agenda.
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State Government
Analysis: In special session, Texas Senate’s the hare, House is the tortoise
This summer’s special session is a little like this spring’s regular session, only in miniature. The Senate has big plans and is in a hurry. The House? Not so much.
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Politics
As Abbott launches ambitious special session, ill will flows between Straus, Patrick
The coming weeks will reveal whether the ongoing hostility between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus has paralyzed state policymakers as they take up the 20 items on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda.
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State Government
Analysis: Special session sniping underway before the opening gavels
The Texas Legislature is returning to Austin, but the leaders of the Senate and the House appear to be starting the new session on the same sour notes with which they ended the regular session seven weeks ago.
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State Government
Austinite and former intern for House Speaker Straus killed in Greece
A 22-year-old Austin native on vacation with friends on the Greek island of Zakynthos was killed Friday in a bar fight; seven Serbians and a Greek have been arrested.
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State Government
Analysis: Talk of taking on Straus simmering, but nowhere near a full boil
Between a contentious regular session of the Texas Legislature and a special session that starts in less than four weeks, some lawmakers are talking about the people in leadership, starting with the speaker of the House.
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State Government
Abbott plots aggressive approach to special session
Gov. Greg Abbott is plotting an aggressive approach to the upcoming special session of the Legislature, diverting from his above-the-fray style to try to see through an ambitious 20-item agenda.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters grade state’s top elected officials
Gov. Greg Abbott remains Texas voters’ favorite state official, with more voters giving him good grades than bad, and the Republican voters he depends on heaping him with approval they’re not giving to potential rivals, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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State Government
Analysis: Texas leaders couldn’t agree during the regular session. What’s changed?
Texas lawmakers will return to Austin in a month to take another swing at more than a dozen issues they couldn’t resolve during the regular legislative session. So what has changed?
