Like parents threatening to withhold allowance from a misbehaving child, proponents of Senate Bill 9 are warning local authorities across the state: Comply or face the fiscal consequences.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
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Demographics
Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: June 13 to June 17, 2011
Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We’ve made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome.
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Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson and Murphy visualize what happened to the nearly 5,800 bills introduced in the 82nd Lege, Aaronson, Hasson and Swicegood interactively recap the budget battle, Aguliar on the surge in illegal re-entry cases prosecuted by the Obama administration, Galbraith on a coal plant that wants a water deal from the LCRA, Grissom interviews a man wrongly imprisoned and nearly executed — twice, Hamilton on a controversial UT regent who wants a do-over in the debate over higher ed reform, Ramshaw on the continuing fight over pre-abortion sonograms, Root on Rick Perry’s newsmaking trip to NYC and M. Smith on whether cash-strapped school districts will raise taxes: The best of our best content from June 13 to 17, 2011.
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Demographics
Feds: Secure Communities Under Review
The controversial Secure Communities initiative, aimed at deporting criminal aliens but criticized for removing mostly minor offenders of lesser crimes, may undergo considerable changes, according to the director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
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Demographics
Video: Did Democrats Bungle Sanctuary Cities Bill?
One of the most emotional and controversial issues of the year centered around the sanctuary cities bil. Senate Democrats managed to block SB 9 during the regular session, but it’s found a new life in the special session. Behind the scenes, some question whether the Democrats are now reaping what they sowed when one of their members pushed the Legislature into overtime.
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Criminal Justice
Poll: Obama Almost as Popular as Perry in Texas
Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders.
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Demographics
Video: Protestors Rally Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, speaks to a crowd protesting the sanctuary cities bill at a rally held by the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance at the Texas Capitol.
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Demographics
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 84
On this week’s episode, Reeve, Julian, Morgan and Jim discuss Texas Monthly’s list of the best and worst legislators, education and immigration in the special session, and Gov. Rick Perry’s still-hypothetical presidential bid.
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Demographics
Illegal Re-entry Cases Surge Under Obama
Texans are hammering away at Barack Obama for failing to secure our borders and for refusing to put forward a comprehensive immigration-reform plan, but the number of federal prosecutions for “illegal re-entry” has quietly skyrocketed under his administration.
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Demographics
Sanctuary Cities Bill Clears Texas Senate
Texas peace officers will be allowed to inquire into the immigration status of any person arrested or legally detained under legislation passed by the Texas Senate early Wednesday morning.