The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unapologetically stuck to his guns in an on-stage interview Friday evening — and his religious views, and the Legislature’s conservative budget and the state’s reluctance to embrace Medicaid expansion and the federal health care law. Full Story
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Here's full video of my conversation Friday with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
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A federal district judge Friday declined to order Texas officials to institute a temporary fix so children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States can get their birth certificates while a lawsuit filed by their parents is being tried. Full Story
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President Obama’s plan to combat climate change will cause higher power prices in Texas and threaten electric reliability, but not as much as originally feared, operators of the state’s main grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas say in a new analysis. Full Story
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A band of powerhouse congressional Democrats is headed to South Texas this weekend to headline a fundraiser bolstering the campaign coffers of U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela's re-election campaign. Full Story
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The next round of signups for health insurance under the Affordable Care act is two weeks away, and federal officials are lowering their estimates of how many will enroll. But uninsured Texans are a particular target. Full Story
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With Ben Carson and Donald Trump lodged at the top of the GOP presidential polls, Ted Cruz's campaign is signaling its readiness for a long-haul effort to prove he is the true vessel of anti-Washington sentiment. Full Story
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In its final weeks, former Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign spent nearly four times as much as it took in, and by the time he withdrew only $45,000 was left, according to new federal election reports. Full Story
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Emphasizing her early activism in South Texas, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton rallied supporters Thursday with a promise to continue the work she started in the state more than four decades ago. Full Story
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Accepting Julián Castro's endorsement Thursday, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton addressed the speculation he could serve as her running mate, saying she plans to "really look hard at him for anything." Full Story
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Full video of my 10/15 conversation with political commentator Paul Begala, a senior adviser to the pro-Hillary Clinton SuperPAC Priorities USA Action. Full Story
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Full video of my 10/14 conversation with former United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Full Story
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This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk with Evan Smith about how Texas could play a defining role in both party primaries. And Jay and Ben offer their analysis of the first Democratic presidential debate. Full Story
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Former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday he still supports Hillary Clinton, who lauded the Trans-Pacific Partnership he helped negotiate during her tenure as secretary of state but has more recently opposed it. Full Story
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Following a legislative session in which lawmakers debated whether to cut property taxes, business taxes, sales taxes or a combination of the three, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an interest Wednesday in continuing the conversation. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, maintained a financial advantage over his likely Democratic rival for Texas' 23rd Congressional District — the man he unseated, former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego — in the most recent campaign period. Full Story
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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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