Watch our abbreviated version of the daylong Senate debate, the dismissal of three dozen amendments and the ultimate passage of Senate Bill 14, a.k.a. the voter ID bill. The measure’s now headed to the House.
Texas Senate
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Senate Approves Voter ID Bill
As expected, the Texas Senate approved the controversial voter ID bill on Wednesday. Next, the measure will move to the Republican-dominated House, where it is also expected to pass easily.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Why Is There a COW in the Capitol?
Legislation has to go through committees before the entire House or Senate can have a look. It’s a way of dividing up the work and getting things straightened out as much as possible before they get the full treatment from the Legislature. But there’s a pecking order involved. And that’s when the COW gets called in.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Senate Starts Right Away on Budget
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced he will name the Senate’s committees on Thursday or Friday of this week, with one exception. He wants the Senate Finance Committee to get going right away, and named that panel this afternoon.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Senate Would Cut $28.8 Billion from Budget
The Senate’s version of a starting state budget is, at $158.7 billion, $2.3 billion bigger than the House’s, but still would chop overall state spending by $28.8 billion, or 15.4 percent, from current levels.
Posted in
State Government
The Weekly Recap: Jan. 17 – Jan. 21
Take a look back at the top political news from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21.
Posted inState Government
Data App: Lege Seating Charts
Last week we helped you navigate the labyrinth of offices at the Texas Capitol complex. Today we’re releasing an interactive feature that shows where House and Senate members sit in their respective chambers.
Posted in
State Government
ICYMI: The Senate Two-Thirds Debate
In case you missed it, we mashed up Wednesday’s speeches for and against the Texas Senate’s hallowed “two-thirds rule,” which senators ultimately preserved. Members voted to keep an exception to the rules that allows a simple majority to consider changes to voter identification laws.
Posted in
State Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 63
In this week’s TribCast, Ross, Elise, Ben and Reeve discuss budget numbers, Senate rules, the U.S. Senate race and the inaugural buzz heard around Austin.
Posted in
State Government
Data App: Bill Tracker
Our latest data app aims to help Texans make sense of the legislative process, tracking bills as they move through the Legislature.
