The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
In the 2015 Texas legislative session, state lawmakers frequently used their religious beliefs to defend their policymaking. Take a look back at "God & Governing," our documentary-style series on the role lawmakers' personal faith played in their legislating. Full Story
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The U.S. armed forces should not serve as a "cauldron for social experiments" U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in Iowa, expressing skepticism about the military's move to end its ban on transgender soldiers. Full Story
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Fetal tissue used for scientific research tops the list of topics Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked Texas senators on the Health and Human Services Committee to study before the Legislature reconvenes in 2017. Full Story
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The presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is fiercely guarding its libertarian base against GOP rival Ted Cruz. Full Story
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A recent high-profile battle over funding therapy services for poor and disabled kids has been cast as budget-ax-wielding lawmakers against suffering children. But there's plenty at stake for some for-profit companies as well. Full Story
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As part of our "God & Governing" project, we sat down with two-dozen Texas elected officials to hear how their faith guides their decision-making. Check out the full, unedited interviews with everyone from Attorney General Ken Paxton to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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Seeking to fight scandal-plagued Volkswagen alone, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking two Texas counties to halt their lawsuits against the automaker. Full Story
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The Democratic Party has done a better job than the Republican Party connecting with low-income voters frustrated by a persistent “wealth gap,” GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum said in North Texas Monday. Full Story
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Hillary Clinton's visit to San Antonio later this week will kick off a concerted outreach to Latino voters nationally. But supporters say the campaign is also hoping to run the table in the Texas primary in March. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz opened a packed swing through early-voting Iowa on Monday by blasting leaders in his own party for contemplating changes to the presidential primary calendar, calling it “lunacy” and a “terrible idea.” Full Story
U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, said Monday he intends to seek the gavel of the United States House of Representatives if his colleague, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, doesn't. Full Story
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Ted Cruz is preparing for an aggressive schedule of events in Iowa as his presidential campaign increases its overall focus on the first early-voting state. Full Story
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Legislation that would have blocked public employees from paying union or association dues with paycheck deductions failed last session. But the Senate is reopening the issue, and it could play against a powerful House chairman up for reelection next year. Full Story
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As part of our "God & Governing" documentary series, we've collected short video clips of two-dozen Texas lawmakers explaining how their personal religious beliefs drive their policymaking in the state Capitol. Take a look. Full Story
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At The Washington Post's "Bridging the Digital Divide" event, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor and Abby Livingston, D.C. bureau chief for The Texas Tribune, discuss how critical digital literacy is to the economic growth of cities. Full Story
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Ted Cruz's presidential campaign is making the case to Libertarian voters that as Rand Paul’s campaign has floundered, the junior Texas senator is viable — flush with cash and able to go the distance. Full Story
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Check out "God & Marriage" — part 4 of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' personal religious beliefs drove the same-sex marriage battle during the 2015 Texas legislative session. Full Story
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A bipartisan team of Texans rounded up an overwhelming majority of U.S. House votes on Friday to back a bill repealing the nation's long-standing ban on exporting domestic crude oil to the international market. But the final House tally wouldn't be enough to overcome a threatened presidential veto. Full Story
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The Texas Republican U.S. House delegation is in a holding pattern until U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin decides whether to run for speaker. Full Story
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A federal appeals court has blocked a major Obama administration clean water rule, handing a victory to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other states trying to drown it in court. Full Story
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