The Brief: Nov. 18, 2014
A new controversy could crop up this week as the State Board of Education is expected to adopt new social studies textbooks. Full Story
The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
A new controversy could crop up this week as the State Board of Education is expected to adopt new social studies textbooks. Full Story
Legislation reviving the fight over "sanctuary cities" was filed Monday by Lubbock Republican Sen. Charles Perry. Full Story
As authorities arrive in LaPorte to find what caused the methyl mercaptan gas leak that killed four DuPont plant workers on Saturday, information is emerging about the safety record of the plant. Full Story
State Sen. Glenn Hegar sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry Friday resigning his Senate seat as of Dec. 5. The Katy Republican will be sworn in as comptroller in January. A Dec. 6 special election for his seat was announced later Friday. Full Story
This week in the Texas Political Roundup: Could state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte be eyeing a run for San Antonio mayor? Gov. Gov. Rick Perry's attorneys ask a judge to dismiss his charges. And state lawmakers have begun filing bills ahead of the coming legislative session. Full Story
Seeking to quell a revolt before it has time to develop, allies of House Speaker Joe Straus late on Thursday night claimed to have the backing of an overwhelming majority of House GOP members. Full Story
Seven Republican members of the Texas House issued a joint statement late Thursday claiming Speaker Joe Straus has the support of nearly the entire Republican caucus for the next legislative session. Full Story
Federal requests to hold undocumented immigrants in Texas jails longer so they can possibly be deported have dropped by the thousands, according to report released Wednesday. Full Story
A special election has yet to be called for the vacant House District 123 seat, but two San Antonio Democrats are already lining up to replace state Rep. Mike Villarreal, who stepped down to run for mayor of the city. Full Story
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott’s pick for Texas secretary of state voted for a local resolution last year endorsing the expansion of Medicaid — a central tenet of the federal Affordable Care Act that Abbott fiercely campaigned against. Full Story
Wendy Davis' rout was foretold by a couple of Democratic strategists who despaired nearly a year ago over the direction in which the Democratic gubernatorial candidate was taking her campaign. Full Story
Consultants for Democrat Wendy Davis warned her campaign months ago that the Fort Worth senator was headed for a humiliating defeat in the Texas governor’s race unless she adopted a more centrist message and put a stop to staggering dysfunction. Full Story
Scott Turner, the freshman state representative challenging Joe Straus for House speaker, affirmed on Tuesday that he will insist on a floor vote the first day of session, come what may. Full Story
In his bid to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus, Frisco state Rep. Scott Turner is making it clear that he plans to force a vote on the first day of the legislative session. Full Story
Next session, lawmakers will have 29 billion reasons to reconsider Medicaid expansion. That's how many federal dollars the Obama administration could hold hostage in exchange for some solution for 1 million uninsured Texans. Full Story
Lawmakers filed 365 bills and joint resolutions on Monday, the first day they could pre-file legislation for the upcoming legislative session. Full Story
Two months ahead of the first day of the 84th legislative session, eager lawmakers on Monday filed bills addressing issues including guns, texting while driving, health, transportation and much more. Full Story
State Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and José Menéndez both said Monday they will consider running for Leticia Van de Putte’s seat in the Texas Senate if she leaves it behind for the top spot in San Antonio. Full Story
A bipartisan group of lawyers led by former Texas Solicitor General James C. Ho filed an amicus brief Monday in Austin, asking a judge to dismiss the case against Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
Examples are starting to pile up of the arrival of social media as a force with an effect on political campaigns as influential as traditional media coverage and advertising buys. Full Story