The freeze on fundraising during the legislative session only allowed nine days of fundraising for lawmakers, but some of them made a big push for funds as the 2016 cycle begins. So did their challengers.
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The Aug. 3 forum in New Hampshire takes place three days before the first debate sanctioned by national Republicans to be televised by Fox News.
Full StoryThis time, the Longview Republican takes state agencies to task for funding benefits for same-sex partners without legislative action.
Full StoryFor this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the GOP presidential field and immigration.
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Key meetings and events for the coming week.
Full StoryU.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said he’s “willing to use any and all procedural tools” to prevent the reauthorization of the federal Export-Import Bank, whose charter expired at the end of June. Some in Congress are looking to attach the bank’s reauthorization to the federal highway bill, but Cruz said he may filibuster the bill if that’s the case.
Both Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry burned through about half of the money they raised from April to June, putting them somewhere in the middle of the GOP field on that measure. Cruz’s $52 million haul is likely to put him second in the GOP fundraising race, while Perry’s network has raised about $18 million, with only $1.14 million of that coming from his campaign.
The U.S. military training exercise called Jade Helm 15 kicked off Wednesday, but there was little evidence in Bastrop of continued anxiety over the operation, which had garnered multiple headlines in April when some citizens warned it could lead to martial law.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined Gov. Greg Abbott in calling for an investigation into Planned Parenthood after an anti-abortion group's release of an undercover video. The video, which Planned Parenthood said misrepresented its work, showed an executive from the organization discussing how aborted fetuses can be preserved for medical research.
The State Board of Education voted Wednesday to seek alternatives to the computer-based General Education Development exam — possibly including paper-based tests. The 14-0 vote came a day after the board heard more than three hours of testimony from test-takers, teachers and advocates who said the only high school equivalency test the state recognizes is too expensive and too difficult.
The Rusk County Commissioners Court formally accepted the resignation of County Clerk Joyce Lewis-Kugle, apparently the first Texas elected official to quit office rather than abide by the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, the U.S. House’s top Republican on homeland security, issued a scathing indictment of Mexican officials for letting Joaquin Guzmán, the world’s most notorious drug lord, tunnel out of a maximum-security prison.
Texas Republicans slammed President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, criticizing almost every aspect of the deal, from the lifting of the arms embargo to doubts on whether Iranians would allow inspectors to enter sites. Perry said that if he becomes president, one of his first actions “will be to fully rescind this accord.”
Disclosure: Planned Parenthood was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune in 2011. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reported bringing in more than $2 million during the 9-day fundraising period last month, which his campaign touted as a record haul. Patrick now has nearly $5 million in cash on hand. He also reported expenditures of nearly $1.1 million.
House Speaker Joe Straus reported raising $282,000 in the 9-day June fundraising period, giving him more than $8.1 million in cash on hand that he said will help his efforts to re-elect GOP House incumbents.
The Glenn Hegar campaign announced that the state comptroller raised $625,000 on his semiannual report, leaving him with $2.7 million in cash on hand.
Reed Williams, a grape grower who retired from the oil industry, announced his candidacy for state Sen. Troy Fraser's open seat. Williams previously served two terms in San Antonio’s city council and currently sits on the San Antonio Water System's board of trustees.
State Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson announced last Friday that he’ll seek re-election in House District 56. The Waco Republican has served the McLennan County district since 2005.
Senate District 1 candidate Bryan Hughes won late last week the endorsement of the Tea Party group Grassroots America — We the People PAC, which is led by JoAnn Fleming.
Justice Cindy Bourland of the 3rd Court of Appeals has nabbed an endorsement from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC. Former Gov. Rick Perry appointed Bourland in January for the seat, which is up for election in 2016.
State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, has endorsed Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman county sheriff seat he once sought. Fletcher is retiring from public service and will not be on the ballot in 2016.
Bill King, the businessman running for Houston mayor, got an endorsement this week from the Spring Branch Republicans organization that hosts forums with prominent Texas GOP politicians.
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has been named a winner of a 2015 National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) Certificate of Impact. The honor was given for the agency's report on the University Interscholastic League (UIL) during the 2014-2015 review cycle.
Disclosure: San Antonio Water System was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune in 2012 and 2013. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
