Tan and Dehn talk to some of Gov. Rick Perry’s allies about his return to Texas, Aaronson maps (interactively!) the insured and the uninsured among us, E. Smith’s TribLive interview with state Rep. David Simpson on Perry’s race and TSA pat-downs, M. Smith on a Texas school so broke it’s shutting down sports, Whitney on a split in the legal community over divorce forms, KUT’s Philpott on abuse in state hospitals, Ramshaw reports on the governor’s decision not to repay taxpayers for protection during his presidential campaign and Aguilar on the state’s attempts to put its voter ID law in force: The best of our best content from January 23-27, 2012.
voter ID
Voter ID Mudslinging Continues
The U.S. Department of Justice is keeping Texans guessing as to whether they will have to furnish photo IDs before casting their ballots. But a fresh lawsuit has spurred a new round of mudslinging directed at the law’s Republican backers.
Abbott Sues Feds to Get Voter ID Implemented
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has made the next move in the state’s face-0ff with the federal government over the state’s voter ID law, which the Justice Department is reviewing. Abbott is suing to have the law implemented without further delay.
Voter ID Still Languishing at the Department of Justice
Two weeks after it was originally scheduled to go in to effect, Texas’ voter ID law is back in the hands of the U.S. Department of Justice.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root’s scoop on Rick Perry’s working retirement, Aaronson maps poverty in Texas, Aguilar on a voting rights warning shot from the U.S. Attorney General, Galbraith on the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking operations, Grissom on the drop in executions, Hamilton and M. Smith on UT-Austin President Bill Powers’ rough year, Murphy and Tan and Dehn on the shortage of psychiatrists and Ramshaw on the federal refusal to exclude operators like Planned Parenthood from family planning programs: The best of our best content from December 12 to 16, 2011.
Voter ID, With a Wisconsin Twist
Interested in Texas’ Voter ID law? Watch Wisconsin.
Attorney General Holder: We Must Uphold Voting Rights Act
The warning from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was polite but firm: The U.S. Department of Justice will not stand idly by if it feels Texas intends to halt or reverse gains for minority voting rights.
Voter ID Hits a Snag
Jan. 1, the date the controversial voter ID law is scheduled to take effect, is fast approaching. But a decision from the federal government on whether the bill will disenfranchise voters is not.
Updated: DOJ Tells Texas It Still Needs More Data on Voter ID
The U.S. Department of Justice informed the Texas secretary of state’s office it has yet to provide the federal government sufficient information about the contentious voter ID law, which could possibly affect the bill’s scheduled implementation date of Jan. 1.
Voters to Decide City Elections, Amendments
It’s Election Day, and voters across the state will decide whether to add 10 amendments to the Texas Constitution. Voters in several cities also will be picking mayors and city council members.



