The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
On the first-ever episode of The Ticket, our presidential podcast, Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk with former Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri, who's now working for Rand Paul, and dissect Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential announcement speech at Liberty University. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/12/TT-theticket_leadart-sside_ou7XD98.png)
In light of a New York Times report that GOP presidential contender Ted Cruz took a different tone on same-sex marriage at a Monday reception at the home of two gay businessmen, here's a look at his comments on the topic to Tribune reporter Jay Root. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screenshot_2015-04-23_13.08.17.png)
Two years after imposing stringent abortion restrictions, Republican lawmakers have set their sights on changing a legal process that allows some minors to obtain abortions without their parents’ permission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/22/Protesters-Split.jpg)
A weekly leadership breakfast went sour Wednesday as the state's top three officials complained to one another about legislative packages and the tensions between a House and Senate that have just weeks left to complete their work. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/21/UP9A8694.jpg)
The House State Affairs Committee has passed a measure that forbids the use of state or local funds for issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/20/Rainbow_gavel.jpg)
Former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez is set to become the next representative from House District 124. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/20/Split.jpg)
The super PAC supporting former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's expected presidential candidacy has hired Glen Bolger, one of the Republican Party's leading pollsters, as a senior strategist and pollster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/10/perrynra.jpg)
A key member of the Texas House’s Republican leadership blasted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a Washington-style politician a day after the Texas Senate passed its version of a sweeping border security bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border245finger.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's grassroots advisers are blasting Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to enhance pre-kindergarten programs, a move sure to increase tension between the top two Republican leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/20/ParadeAbbott1333CMS.jpg)
The Texas House on Tuesday tentatively passed House Bill 21, the “right to try” bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs that have passed at least the first of three FDA trial phases. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/10/IMG_9715.jpg)
Medical groups are tracking more than a dozen bills — some moving, some apparently stuck — that would give more autonomy to professionals like nurse practitioners and physical therapists to operate independently of medical doctors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/020810-medicalrecords.jpg)
A group of lawmakers is trying – again – to change the Railroad Commission's name to reflect what it does. This time, proponents want to call the agency the Texas Energy Commission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal.jpg)
Voters head to the polls Tuesday in Bexar County to chose between two Democrats in the second round of the race to replace former state Rep. Jose Menéndez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
The Texas Senate on Monday passed its own sweeping border security bill, choosing to send its own version to the House rather than taking up the House’s measure, which the lower chamber passed last month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/7C2A4747.jpg)
Pressing Texas leaders to act on climate change, a state lawmaker on Monday appealed to his colleagues' long-held disdain for federal intervention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Anchia.jpg)
Last-ditch efforts to let big cities opt out went nowhere, and the Texas House on Monday moved all Texans a step closer to the public carrying of handguns by license holders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Gun-Holstered.jpg)
Following news that billions of federal dollars for hospitals could be in jeopardy if the state does not expand its public health insurance program to cover more low-income Texans, Gov. Greg Abbott reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/11/Medicaid-Expansion-3.jpg)
As he readies for a 2016 presidential campaign, former Gov. Rick Perry is officially bringing on board a policy team. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/25/Perry_IA_Freedom_Summit_2.jpg)
A crowded Republican race for the 2016 presidential nomination could bring a nationally competitive contest to a state that does not often get to take part. And that could influence state politics even as the state gets a word into the national debate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/23/FourTexasPresCands.jpg)
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Shelly Slater, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey, talk turns to presidential hopefuls and fundraising in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/19/Ross_Inside_April_19.jpg)