The Brief: Dec. 11, 2013
A day after Steve Stockman pulled the election switcheroo heard around the nation, the question is now: Who knew of Stockman's plans, and when did they know it? Full Story
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The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
A day after Steve Stockman pulled the election switcheroo heard around the nation, the question is now: Who knew of Stockman's plans, and when did they know it? Full Story
In the blink of an eye, Steve Stockman has turned the upcoming Texas GOP primary into a nationally significant contest with his last-minute launch of a conservative insurgency campaign against the state's senior senator, John Cornyn. Full Story
UPDATED: A sworn ethics complaint against state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, has been thrown out, his lawyer said. The complaint alleged Carona failed to disclose various companies to the Texas Ethics Commission. Carona called the complaint a "stunt" by his opponent. Full Story
The candidates have filed for the 2014 elections, and our election brackets — an idea lifted from the NCAA's March Madness basketball brackets — are back. We'll update these as officials from the state and large-county parties update their own lists. Full Story
U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, has filed to run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the March GOP primary, joining at least eight other hopefuls vying for the senior senator's seat. Full Story
Your evening reading: UT regents will discuss Bill Powers in closed-door session; Democrats claim a statewide officer via party switch; Cruz will attend Mandela memorial service Full Story
Efforts to ban double dipping by longtime politicians went nowhere in the last legislative session. That could change now that the two leading candidates for governor have expressed support for banning the controversial practice. Full Story
All eyes are on the Travis County Courthouse this morning as the move to remove the county's top prosecutor, Rosemary Lehmberg, enters the definitive final stages. Full Story
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: It's the final week of filing for candidates in the 2014 primaries, Wendy Davis releases her last three tax returns and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act hits a few more snags. Full Story
Former state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, a GOP candidate for agriculture commissioner, has released his first radio ad, touting touts his "Texas" values as a "true conservative." Full Story
Your evening reading: former CPRIT executive indicted; ag commissioner candidate warned on how he handles his horses; a glimpse into the Joe Jamail box at a UT home game Full Story
Full video of my 12/5 TribLive conversation with Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor. Full Story
Ted Cruz made a big splash during a half-hour speech over lunch on Thursday to the American Legislative Exchange Council, covering a host of topics near and dear to the grassroots conservatives whose allegiance he'll need if he pulls the trigger on a 2016 presidential run. Full Story
Fast-food workers walked off the job in several Texas cities on Thursday as part of a national strike calling for higher wages. But proposals to raise the minimum wage face uncertain odds in Washington and even longer odds in Texas. Full Story
State Sen. Wendy Davis has joined a chorus of lawmakers who are urging the Public Utility Commission of Texas to put the brakes on efforts to transform the state’s wholesale electricity market. Full Story
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, defended his decision not to release his tax returns and his plan to collect his pension while still a salaried state employee. Full Story
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, accused one of his opponents, state Sen. Dan Patrick, of lying and said he'd be a "disaster" if he won the office. Full Story
There is a reason so many Texas Republicans are mentioning the Democratic president in their commercials: He's unpopular with Republicans, and moderates and some Democrats have their reservations, too. Full Story
Both Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott have shared tax returns for the last three years — but they seem to be the exception and not the rule when it comes to candidates disclosing what they make and what they pay in taxes. Full Story
Nearly four-fifths of the candidates currently vying for statewide office either did not respond to a Texas Tribune request to release their tax returns or declined to provide them. Full Story