The contentious rule that allows a minority of senators to block legislation is again under fire, but Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the two-thirds rule will continue in the Senate for another session.
Texas Senate
Posted inState Government
Inside the 83rd Session: Find Your Lawmaker
As 181 members of the Texas Legislature work during the 83rd session, use this application to navigate the Capitol and locate lawmakers’ offices.
Posted inState Government
For the 83rd Session, An Updated Directory
The Legislature is back for the 83rd time, and we’ve refreshed our directory of statewide officials and legislators. Many of the old names are here, and so are the names of the numerous freshmen.
Posted in
State Government
Opening Day: Chambers to Set Rules, Pick Speaker
House Speaker Joe Straus faces a challenge on the first day of the 83rd Texas Legislature, and the Senate gets another run at a rule that empowers political minorities and sometimes frustrates majorities.
Posted in
Politics
(Many) Members of the 83rd Legislature on Twitter
Here’s a list of the Twitter handles of the 120 state lawmakers who do the communications thing 140 characters at a time.
Posted in
Health care
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Villarreal and Campbell
At our Hot Seat conversation at Trinity University in San Antonio, state Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, and state Sen.-elect Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, sparred about public education, health care and other issues in play in the upcoming 83rd session.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribLive: A Conversation with Kel Seliger
Full video of my December 6 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
Posted in
Economy
TribLive: Seliger on the Cost of a College Education
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, discussed the prospect of tuition reregulation and whether the state is adequately funding higher ed.
Posted in
State Government
Reorganization Yields Early Reward for Senators
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst upset the normal order of things when he announced his committee leaders four months early. But he did the senators a political favor in the process.
Posted in
State Government
Dewhurst Tears Up the Seating Chart
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, fresh off a stinging loss to Ted Cruz in the race for the GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate, reshuffled the Senate committee chairs.
