The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Senate advanced a municipal annexation bill to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, the fifth bill sent to the governor’s desk during the special legislative session set to end in no more than three days. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/13/_95I9204_Campbell.jpg)
The lower chamber wants to set the threshold requiring voter approval of some property tax collection increases at 6 percent. The Senate put the trigger at 4 percent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/12/7C2A0348.jpg)
Hundreds of Texans gathered at a historic mission a few hundred yards from the Rio Grande on Saturday to protest President Trump's proposed border wall. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/12/La_Lomita_Mission_07_TT.jpg)
With just days left in the special legislative session, controversial proposals to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans appear to have no clear path to the governor’s desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/21/Bathroom_bill_protesters_MKC_TT.jpg)
A bill that advanced in the Texas Legislature this week would require women to pay an additional insurance premium if they want their health plan to cover abortions not considered medical emergencies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/081117_Roundup_Still.jpg)
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, is using his congressional recess for a 34-day tour of Texas in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz next year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/10/Beto_on_the_road.jpg)
Not a single measure has made it to the governor’s desk despite a steady drumbeat from his office urging lawmakers to go "20 for 20." A "bathroom bill" is on life support, but a property tax measure still has momentum, supporters say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Straus_and_Patrick.jpg)
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd logged hundreds of miles Sunday and Monday to hold town halls during Congress' summer recess, and his interactions with constituents illustrated the fine line he must walk in his massive swing district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/07/Hurd_2_PS_TT.jpg)
Every week, a prominent Texan or politico records a funny, quippy introduction to the TribCast, our political podcast. Want to join their ranks? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/22/TTE-tribcast_leadart.png)
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, who currently leads the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russia election-meddling, told the Tribune he is interested in chairing that powerful committee in the future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/01/APrice-FarmBill-9.jpg)
It would be unconstitutional to impose a statewide property tax. Even if one was enacted, however, that wouldn’t solve the structural issues with the state’s school finance system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/02/10/iStock-153532596.jpg)
Lawmakers have yet to send Gov. Greg Abbott a single bill to sign from the special session, and with less than two weeks left, it’s highly unlikely Abbott will get his entire 20-item agenda through the process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/080417_Roundup_Still.jpg)
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday unveiled a $15 billion border-security bill. The Building America's Trust Act would fund parts of a wall or fence, add Border Patrol and ICE agents to current ranks, and punish "sanctuary" jurisdictions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/13/Cornyn_TPPF_LS_TT.jpg)
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is voicing agreement with two House members who want Gov. Greg Abbott to expand the special session agenda to include ethics reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/18/Straus_gavels_in_2_BD_TT.jpg)
Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, is launching a bid against U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, who is widely viewed as the most vulnerable Republican member of Congress from Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/01/Gina_Ortiz_Jones-May_TT.jpg)
A new report says Rick Perry is in consideration to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/28/APrice-RickPerryatDaikin-2.jpg)
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price talked about their Tuesday meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott about several local control issues he put on the agenda for the special legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BDP7102_entrance.jpeg)
At the likely halfway point of a 30-day special session, the Texas House and Senate are taking very different approaches to the governor's sprawling agenda, and they could be headed for another standoff on a so-called "bathroom bill." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/31/Halfway_special.jpg)
The Travis County District Attorney's office has told state Rep. Dawnna Dukes it would drop corruption charges against her if she agrees to resign from office and agree to a drug and alcohol assessment by the end of business Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/06/30/_95I2868_Dukes_in_Court.jpg)
"The idea that the American people need to be paying for these types of operations to change your sex is not very wise from a standpoint of economics," U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said during a stop in Waller, Texas, on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/28/APrice-RickPerryatDaikin-3.jpg)