The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The pontiff's itinerary includes many of the Catholic and secular landmarks of the nation’s capital and its largest city. But it’s his joint address to Congress on Thursday that is sparking the most excitement among political junkies – and some anxiety. Full Story
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Weighing in on a case before the FCC, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter signed a letter authored by a pipeline company. Critics say the move illustrates a coziness with the industries he regulates. Full Story
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Well over a dozen names have come up in discussions about who will vie to replace U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, the Lubbock Republican who announced last week that he would not seek re-election. Full Story
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Democratic groups were firing on multiple cylinders Tuesday as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio prepared to drop in on Texas for a presidential campaign fundraiser. Full Story
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Texas' largest health agency says it has not studied how budget cuts will affect children’s access to medically necessary therapy treatments — and appeared this week to place the blame for that on Texas A&M University. The university is denying the state's account. Full Story
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State agencies are now required by law to screen potential hires through the federal E-Verify system to ensure they can legally work in the United States. But does an order by former Gov. Rick Perry still require the same for state contractors? Full Story
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New evidence presented in court on Monday paints a clearer picture of discussions taking place inside the state’s main health agency as it seeks to make deep cuts ordered by state lawmakers to a therapy program for poor and disabled children. Full Story
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had a substantive presence in Texas, even though he was one of the few GOP candidates who had never lived in the state. Rival presidential organizations were courting Walker donors even before his campaign confirmed news reports of his exit from the race. Full Story
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The head of the nation's largest Hispanic business organization said Monday that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has damaged himself in the Latino community by refusing to condemn bombastic billionaire Donald Trump. Full Story
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Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush used a speech Monday before Hispanic business leaders in Houston to chide his party over its attitude toward immigration. Full Story
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In a rare public appearance since his indictment in late July, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made an appeal for more Christian involvement in politics as he addressed the congregation at First Baptist Grapevine Sunday. Full Story
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Thousands of children with disabilities would be harmed by impending state budget cuts to therapy services, several dozen parents told state health officials on Friday. Full Story
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, said on Friday that he does not intend to endorse a successor in the Republican primary for the 19th Congressional District seat he is vacating. Full Story
The Texas General Land Office has dropped its lawsuit against the city’s obliterated ban on hydraulic fracturing and moratorium on new gas drilling, officially resolving all litigation over the North Texas city's vote, which made international headlines. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is making an organized push for the youth vote with the help of a 13-year-old activist named CJ Pearson. Full Story
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A group of super PACs backing former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s now-defunct presidential bid has refunded to donors most of the millions of dollars collected, the groups’ finance chairman said. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, announced Thursday that he would not seek re-election in 2016. Neugebauer has represented his West Texas district in Congress for seven terms. Full Story
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is finding a new pressure point in his proxy war with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: the decision by Bush's brother to nominate John Roberts, a growing target of conservative scorn, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Full Story
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While Texas' rate of uninsured people has fallen below 20 percent for the first time in more than a decade, new U.S. Census data released Thursday shows disparities in access to health insurance. Full Story
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Much like his posture in the previous August debate, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz avoided the verbal combat that took place among Republican candidates on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library debate stage on Wednesday night. Full Story
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