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The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Williams: Dewhurst Isn't the Frontrunner

    By Evan Smith

    After officially announcing his candidacy for U.S. Senate at our TribLive conversation this morning, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams took issue with the presumed frontrunner status of his potential GOP primary opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Full Story 

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  • Guest Column: Senator Dewhurst Is Not Inevitable

    By Evan Van Ness

    If the race to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison is over before it begins — if the lieutenant governor and his vast personal wealth have this locked up — why are so many credible candidates saying they'll run? Because they see an opportunity. Full Story 

    Governor Rick Perry, Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst after their first weekly breakfast meeting saying they will work together on the state budget.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Climbing the Ladder

    By Ross Ramsey

    What happens if Gov. Rick Perry or Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst decide to run for federal office and win, creating a vacancy — or two — in Texas? That sound you hear is a herd of GOP pols rushing to update their resumes. Full Story 

    Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst shakes hands with Gov. Rick Perry at the 2011 inauguration.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • TribBlog: A Voter ID Emergency

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Today, Gov. Rick Perry added two more issues — voter ID legislation and a call for a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget — to his list of "emergency items" that state legislators can begin deliberating on right away. Full Story 

    House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Silvestre Reyes: The TT Interview

    By Julián Aguilar

    The Democratic congressman from El Paso on what life will be like with the Republicans in control of the U.S. House, why the information released by WikiLeaks shouldn't be public, whether we should be sending troops to Mexico and why Gov. Rick Perry talks so much about spillover violence. Full Story 

    U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso
    Credit: Julian Aguilar

  • Lamar Smith on the New Congress

    By Jennifer Stayton

    The 112th Congress will convene Wednesday with new faces at the helm of a number House committees. Jennifer Stayton of KUT News talked with U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, who will take over as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, about the issues on which he expects to find bipartisan support, the assertion that Americans won't work certain jobs and why he supports a repeal of the new health care law. Full Story 

    Congressman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio. 

  • National Treasure

    By Matt Largey, KUT News

    Texas lawmakers have vowed to cut their way to a balanced budget, in the face of a shortfall that could be as high as $25 billion. But their task pales compared to the federal government, which ran a deficit of almost $ 1.3 trillion last fiscal year. As KUT’s Matt Largey reports, a lot's at stake for Austin when the next Congress gets down to business on the next federal budget. Full Story 

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  • Congressional Clout

    By Matt Stiles

    For the seventh consecutive decade, Texas will gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the decennial apportionment process, which means extra clout after the 2012 elections. With Republicans in control of redrawing the state's congressional districts — and adding the four new seats — they stand to benefit the most. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • HuTube: Gohmert on "Overt Homosexuality"

    By Elise Hu

    U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, speaks out against "don't ask, don't tell" with a story about his time in the military — when an “overt homosexual” soldier misread a signal, apparently, and went to the wrong “straight” soldier’s bunk. Full Story 

    U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler.

  • Now the Fun Begins

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Texas won big Tuesday with the release of 2010 census data. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune takes a look at the numbers, which will have legislators redrawing state maps to add four new congressional seats. Full Story 

    Texas gained four seats in the 2010 congressional apportionment process, more than any other state.
    Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles

  • Now the Fun Begins

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Texas won big Tuesday with the release of 2010 census data. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune takes a look at the numbers, which will have legislators redrawing state maps to add four congressional seats. Full Story 

    Texas gained four seats in the 2010 congressional apportionment process, more than any other state.
    Credit: Graphic by Matt Stiles

  • 2012: Congressman for Life?

    By Evan Smith

    In his first competitive House race analysis for 2012, Nostradamus-on-the-Potomac Charlie Cook only lists two Texas congressional seats as potentially in play. One of them is not CD-17. Full Story 

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    Credit: Morgan Smith

  • Kay Será, Será

    By Ross Ramsey

    For lower-ranking Republicans who would like to be higher-ranking and Democrats who barely remember ever having a shot at winning a statewide office, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's inscrutability about her future plans is getting to be a bit much. Full Story 

    March 31, 2010. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in San Antonio, announcing she will keep her Senate seat through 2012.
    Credit: Elise Hu

  • Hosed in Waco

    By Ross Ramsey

    It was a bad Election Night for residents of the largest city in McLennan County. After years of regional dominance, their congressional seat belongs to Bryan, halfway to Houston; their state senate seat is 86 miles away in Granbury; and one of their House seats has moved three counties east, to Centerville. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich/Marjorie Cotera/Todd Wiseman