… is Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio — or at least that’s what the big spenders at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee seem to think.
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.
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Congress
TribBlog: Nothing to See Here
Federal and military officials say Texans needn’t worry about 17 Afghan military trainees who disappeared from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Many of the Afghans, who were studying English, have been located — and they say none of them pose the national security threat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and other lawmakers fear.
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Demographics
HuTube: Texas Congressman Warns of Terrorist Babies
U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, isn’t the only Texas congressman making headlines in Washington. Citing a “retired F.B.I. agent” as his source, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, said on the floor of Congress last week that terror cells are plotting to breed future terrorists inside the United States.
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Congress
Congressmen Push Bill to End Offshore Drilling Moratorium
Congressional Republicans — led by members of the Texas delegation — are poised to file a bill lifting Barack Obama’s moratorium on offshore drilling. Ben Philpott filed this report for KUT News and the Tribune.
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State Government
Data App: Hey, Big Spenders
It’s not only rich people and lobbyists and interest group activists who make political contributions. Texas congressional candidates gave at least $1.3 million to other campaigns and causes over the last 15 months, according to itemized records of campaign expenditures released for the first time by the Federal Election Commission. Topping the list of big spenders in the Texas delegation were U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, who contributed at least $240,000 — the highest dollar amount — and Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, who gave more than 60 contributions — the highest number. Search our database to see who gave what to whom.
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State Government
On the Records: FEC Drops New Data
On Tuesday, the Federal Election Commission for the first time released detailed records for all congressional candidates’ campaign spending. These records tell us who the candidates hire for advertising, consulting, etc., and can often be more interesting to politics junkies than lists of campaign donations. We’ve made spending by the Texas delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives searchable.
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Criminal Justice
On the Records: Mapping U.S. Attorney Vacancies Nationwide
President Obama and the U.S. Senate haven’t yet installed U.S. Attorneys in any of Texas’ four federal court districts. As our national map shows, more than half of the country is in the same situation.
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State Government
Texas Sees Red
The Port of Houston Authority is poised to make the Lone Star State the top U.S. trade partner with communist Cuba after gaining permission for its container vessels to sail there.
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State Government
Net Neutrality Neutralized
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell on why people who use more bandwith should pay more, what he thinks of the recent court decision preventing restrictions on “information service” providers, and more.
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Congress
The Runoffs: CD-23
Cut through the routine Republican primary rhetoric about government spending and job creation and a narrative about the new and old guard emerges in the April 13 runoff in Texas’ 23rd congressional district.