With American troops leaving Iraq and an eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan expected, advocates for tighter border security hope to bring military technology — and soldiers’ expertise — to the border.
Congress
Read the latest Texas Tribune coverage of Congress, from the state’s lawmakers in Washington to key legislation and political debates shaping Texas and the nation.
Posted in
State Government
Updated: Perry Takes Aim at Congress, Courts
Gov. Rick Perry is proposing to bring a little Texas to Washington — with a “part-time citizen Congress” that doesn’t meet so often, and whose members earn only half of what they make now. Perry will also call for an end to lifetime appointments for federal judges, including members of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted in
Congress
Video: In New Web-Only Ad, Perry Bashes Congress
In a new web-only ad posted on YouTube, Gov. Rick Perry takes aim at congressional insider trading — the subject of a 60 Minutes segment last night.
Posted in
Congress
Must You Be a Millionaire to Serve in the People’s House?
For those not as fortunate as U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin — Congress’s wealthiest member — a low net worth poses a challenge.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Cornyn Presses Holder on Alleged Texas Operation
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn confronted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday about allegations of a Texas-based gun-walking operation similar to the controversial Fast and Furious operation in Arizona.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Cornyn Presses for Fast and Furious Probe
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has asked congressional colleagues to investigate whether federal officials ran a gun-walking program in Texas similar to the controversial and now defunct Fast and Furious operation.
Posted in
Congress
Budget Cuts Threaten Food Safety Research Center
Proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s budget could shutter the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center, where researchers work to ensure the safety of products that cross from Mexico to the U.S.
Posted in
Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson interactively asks if stimulus funds created jobs in Texas, Aguilar on new voter registrar rules that could decrease voter turnout, Galbraith on a UT professor’s debunking of climate change “myths,” Grissom on an epic clash of El Paso political titans, Hamilton on the right’s new higher ed guru, Murphy maps household data from the 2010 Census, Ramsey on a coming rules fight in the Texas Senate, Root and M. Smith on Rick Perry’s performance at the New Hampshire debate and M. Smith talks public ed cuts with the state’s Superintendent of the Year: The best of our best content from October 10-14, 2011.
Posted in
Congress
Trade Deals Could Boost Texas Exports
Congress — including much of the Texas delegation — is poised to approve three trade agreements as soon as today that could boost the state’s exports.
Posted in
Congress
Jackson Lee Pressures Perry on Confederate Plates
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, attempted to turn up the heat Tuesday on Gov. Rick Perry by condemning a controversial proposal to offer Texas license plates with the image of the Confederate flag.