Former Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson died in Lufkin today at age 76.
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.
The Capital Gang
The six Texas congressional candidates who ended the year with $1 million or more on hand are incumbents. Only two of the candidates with the 20 biggest bank accounts are not.
TribBlog: Be it Resolved
When aimed at a government agency, a resolution of disapproval isn’t just a collective scowl from the direction of Capitol Hill: it can block an agency ruling from becoming law.
2010: McDonald’s Rewind
Democrat Jack McDonald surprised his supporters last month by dropping his 10-month bid for Congress. He said at the time he’d give money back to donors who want it back. Now come the details, in an email from the candidate to supporters.
2010: A Theory About the Democrats and Waco
It’s not about Kip Averitt. It’s about Chet Edwards.
2010: Jack McDonald Drops Bid Against Michael McCaul
Jack McDonald isn’t running for Congress after all.
Data App: Frequent Flyers
Search the privately funded trips taken by Texas congressmen and their staffs during the last two years.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Stiles and Thevenot collaborate on the salaries paid to superintendents, and even compare them on price per student… Ramsey’s look at redistricting and next year’s elections… Aguilar’s report on jails, brought to you by the federal agency that’s in the ag business… Rapoport’s peek at the power behind Texas pre-kindergarten programs… Smith’s conversation with Dan Patrick, in three parts… Grissom’s narrative on a circular immigration and deportation route financed by two governments… Ramshaw finds doctors agreeing on public policy and split on strategy and tactics… Hu’s latest Stump Interrupted puts the camera on Farouk Shami… Hamilton’s story on two retired cops who are taking on cargo theft in Texas… And Kreighbaum and Stiles pop open the itineraries of your folks in Congress. The best of our best from December 12 to 18, 2009.
On the Records: Digging Through Disclosure
Writing about congressional travel required days of tedious work because the information isn’t easily accessible.
Frequent Flyers
Members of the Texas congressional delegation took more than 200 privately funded trips, at a cost of more than $350,000, in 2008 and 2009.

