The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
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
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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
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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
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A new report says Rick Perry is in consideration to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Full Story
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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
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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
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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
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"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
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President Trump set off even more confusion than usual at the U.S. Capitol this week by announcing he would ban transgender people from the military. Take a look at where Texans in Congress stand on the issue. Full Story
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As a political outsider, radio launched Dan Patrick's career. But now that he's mostly off the airwaves and in the lieutenant governor's seat, Patrick's station continues to push his conservative agenda. Full Story
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The Texas Senate has approved a bill aiming to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud, largely by beefing up criminal penalties — a response to voting irregularities in Dallas County. Full Story
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Texas women would have to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions under a bill passed by the Texas Senate. Full Story
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The rift over the bathroom bill in the Texas Legislature won't end with the special session; it's a prelude to the March 2018 primary elections. Full Story
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Texans in the U.S. House on Tuesday uniformly backed sanctions against Russia and limited President Donald Trump's power to ease them. Full Story
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A Texas GOP congressman says if the three female Republican senators who oppose a bill repealing Obamacare were men from South Texas, he might challenge them to a duel. One of those senators was caught on a hot mic mocking him. Full Story
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A bill that largely relies on increased penalties to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud is headed to the Senate floor. Its movement is a new path for lawmakers who previously focused on rare in-person voter fraud. Full Story
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For the third time this year, state lawmakers on Friday held a marathon hearing on measures to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas told a panel of Senate lawmakers on Thursday that she will take a hard line on Russia if she is confirmed as ambassador to NATO. She appears to be on track for confirmation. Full Story
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The national Episcopal Church is urging Texas House Speaker Joe Straus to remain "steadfast" in his opposition to legislation to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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A fast-moving Senate gave approval to critical “sunset legislation” after midnight Thursday, using two bills to extend the life of five state agencies held political hostage at the end of the regular legislative session. Full Story
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