Root and Galbraith on a Dallas billionaire’s radioactive waste dump victory, Grissom on the passage of eyewitness ID reform, Hamilton on the old grudges bedeviling the debate over higher ed, Philpott on the status of congressional redistricting, Ramsey on Rick Perry’s un-campaign for president, Ramshaw on why medical schools are the scorned children of the state’s education budget, my session-wrap interview with three veteran Democrats, M. Smith on why Rob Eissler can’t pass mandate relief for school districts and Stiles on who’s giving what to which Texas candidates in 2011-12 congressional races: The best of our best content from May 16 to 20, 2011.
Sylvester Turner
Posted in
Demographics
TribLive: Three Veteran Democrats on the 82nd Session
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session.
Posted in
State Government
TribLive: Turner on Straus
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, critiqued the leadership of GOP Speaker Joe Straus during the 82nd Legislative Session.
Posted in
Demographics
VIDEO: Ellis, Turner and Van de Putte at TribLive
At last Thursday’s TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session.
Posted in
Health care
House Tentatively OKs Medicaid Fiscal Reform Bill
The House tentatively passed a health care bill that intends to increase efficiency and cost savings in Texas’ expensive Medicaid and other health programs today — but not before adding a far-ranging variety of amendments.
Posted in
State Government
TribLive: “We’re Not a Crazy State,” Turner Says
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, warned his House Republican colleagues about overreaching in exercising their supermajority power.
Posted in
Public Education
Attempt to Lift Class Size Ratio Stumbles Again
Lawmakers in the House took a second swing at state Rep. Rob Eissler’s school mandate relief bill late Friday night. And once again, they whiffed.
Posted in
State Government
Texas House Gives Initial OK to Redistricting Plan
The Texas House tentatively approved new political districts early this morning on a 92-52 vote after hours of nips and tucks that left the proposal they started with mostly intact.
Posted in
State Government
Representatives Move Back Redistricting
House lawmakers will get another day to pore over redistricting maps, after Democratic members vehemently opposed an effort to change the deadline for submitting amendments.
Posted in
Energy
Lawmakers Question Tax Exemption for Natural Gas
In a Texas House Appropriations Committee hearing this morning, natural gas producers fought back against suggestions that a major tax exemption they receive be rolled back.
