After two decades in the Texas Senate, Plano Republican Florence Shapiro said this afternoon that she won’t seek re-election. State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, starts as a strong replacement candidate.
Ken Paxton
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State Government
Carter, Burkett and Anderson on the Speaker’s Race
At last Wednesday’s TribLive conversation, first-term House member Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, explained why she voted against Speaker Joe Straus. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, talked about losing the North Texas Tea Party’s “approved” status after she voted for Straus. And Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, weighed in on his own vote for Straus.
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State Government
HuTube: Behind the Scenes on Day One
In our latest HuTube video blog post, we take you to the Texas House on day one of the 82nd Legislative session. Come with us as we go through the new security system, visit with lawmakers and witness the election of the House Speaker.
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State Government
Paxton Bows Out
State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, speaks on the opening day of the 82nd Legislative Session about his withdrawal from the race for Texas House Speaker.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: The First Non-Vote
After winning a rough and tumble contest for his seat, freshman state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, got his first chance at a record vote in the Texas House of Representatives today. And when that vote finally came, what did he do? He abstained.
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State Government
TribBlog: Straus in the House
The Texas House formally re-elected San Antonio Republican Speaker Joe Straus. By acclamation, they chose to stick with the moderate, “will-of-the-House” speaker as opposed to overthrowing him with someone more conservative.
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Economy
Opening Day: The Liveblog
And they’re back! Texas lawmakers returned to Austin on Tuesday to launch the 82nd Texas Legislature. Our reporters were there and produced this live play-by-play.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Chisum Supports Straus
State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, is dropping his challenge to House Speaker Joe Straus and will vote for the incumbent when the House convenes later today, he said in a letter released this morning.
Posted in
Economy
Decision Time
The Texas Legislature today starts its 140-day effort to puzzle out a massive budget deficit, political redistricting, immigration and a slew of other gnarly problems. The budget issues came into focus Monday with new numbers from the comptroller, who says the state is recovering, slowly, from the recession. But first, legislators will get organized, voting on new rules, a new Speaker, and getting sworn in.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Paxton Still In Speaker Race
State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, will stay in the race for speaker tomorrow though he got spanked in the Republican Caucus today. More than two-thirds of the caucus membes expressed their support for Speaker Joe Straus in a non-binding preference poll conducted behind closed doors.
