The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Taken together, Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions in the early days of his gubernatorial administration seem to belie the notion — circulated by opponents during the 2014 campaign — that he would be Rick Perry 2.0. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/19/_S3R8601CMS.jpg)
This week in the Roundup: The new University of Texas System chancellor takes a stand on educating undocumented students, there's a renewed push for a statewide ban on texting while driving, and a proposed bill could land more funding for Texas roads. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/020615_Roundup_Still.jpg)
State officeholders cannot raise money for their own campaigns during legislative sessions, but they can ask supporters to back their favorite charities, or even the political parties that support them during election season. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/15/PerryFinal453.jpg)
Rick Perry had some choice words in an interview Thursday with the Tribune and the Washington Post on what separates him from Ted Cruz. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/23/PerryCruz.jpg)
As the new chairman of an influential GOP caucus, U.S. Rep. Bill Flores could position himself for a seat at the U.S. House's leadership table. But in an interview with the Tribune, the Bryan Republican talked more about term limits than leadership posts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/21/004_Flores.jpg)
In an interview with The Texas Tribune and The Washington Post, former Gov. Rick Perry talks about ISIS, vaccinations and 2016. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Rick_Perry_WaPo_Interview_2.jpg)
Asked about what separates him from potential presidential rival Ted Cruz, former Gov. Rick Perry talked about how executive experience would be a key selling point. Perry touched on several other issues in an interview with the Tribune and The Washington Post. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/05/Rick_Perry_WaPo_Interview_2.jpg)
Besides being potential rivals in the 2016 presidential race, Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry have butted heads in past races. But Huckabee heaped praise on Perry on Thursday and blasted the indictment against the Texas governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/02/Mike_Huckabee_Iowa_Freedom_edit.jpg)
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday will announce that he has recruited more than 80 major donors, including some of the biggest bundlers in Republican politics, to aid his efforts as he prepares for a likely 2016 presidential campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/25/Perry_IA_Freedom_Summit_2.jpg)
House Speaker Joe Straus leaned toward the familiar in filling open spots at the top of the chamber's top-tier committees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/04/_KCA8357.jpg)
At the Senate Health and Human Services Committee's first meeting of the legislative session, Chairman Charles Schwertner shared some tough criticism of the Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/27/D54H4667.jpg)
Twelve years after a major mash-up of state health agencies, the Sunset Commission and several lawmakers say it's time to finish the job and merge the remaining five systems into one. Some veteran Capitol observers say they're feeling déjà vu. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/14/Sunset027Nelson.jpg)
Texas doesn't require magistrate judges to tell immigrants how their pleas on misdemeanor charges might affect their immigration status. Legislation that would change that failed two years ago, but the sponsors are back for another try. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Scotus.jpg)
The ability of Austin tech firm 21CT to secure a $20 million Medicaid fraud software contract through a no-bid program run by the state's Department of Information Resources drew intense scrutiny from Senate budget writers on Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/03/TXTChair-CCR001.jpg)
Texas lawmakers may be leading the charge to derail President Obama’s executive action on immigration. But the White House wants it known: Not everyone in the Lone Star State wants to scrap the policy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/22/Protest-8.jpg)
The state representative at the center of a controversy over treatment of visitors to the Capitol for Texas Muslim Capitol Day last week told the Tribune on Monday that she didn't expect her Facebook post to raise such a ruckus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/02/UP9A0197.jpg)
In an interview with the Tribune, state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, said she didn't intend to ignite controversy with her comments last week about Muslims, but stood by her suspicions of the religion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/02/7C2A0264.jpg)
The weekend saw more lengthy stories on problems in the way the state contracts out services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DollarsinHand.jpg)
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey talk about U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who's showing all the signs that he's gearing up for a presidential run. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/01/Ross_Inside_Feb_1.jpg)
If Rand Paul runs for president — and he's widely expected to — don't expect a campaign that mirrors those of his father. During a weekend visit to North Texas, where he spoke at a pair of GOP events, Paul talked about building a broad coalition. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/31/Rand_Paul_2.jpg)