The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Emblems of Jack Stick’s days as the state health agency's deputy inspector general remain: roughly 300 high-dollar badges he designed and ordered for his investigators at a cost to taxpayers of $36,000. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/06/Stick-Badge.jpg){kind=icon}
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Tuesday that drug cartels are ramping up efforts as the Texas National Guard is preparing to leave the Rio Grande Valley next month. He's hoping to extend the Guard's presence in the region. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9205c94afd9b24b955c3c48d74b8c3ea/.negativedan)
Texas and the 33 other states that refused to set up their own insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act are especially vulnerable to an impending U.S. Supreme Court decision. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SupremeCourt-HealthCare.jpg)
A handful of former HHSC employees are suing for wrongful termination in the aftermath of revelations over the awarding of a no-bid Medicaid fraud contract. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/18/jack_and_Irene_copy.jpg)
In this nascent presidential cycle, there is no issue that has done more to light up the public health vs. personal freedom debate within the Republican Party than vaccinations. And former Gov. Rick Perry walked straight into it last week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/05/Rick_Perry_WaPo_Interview_2.jpg)
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talked presidential politics and foreign policy in a pair of appearances on Sunday morning talk shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/18/BestOf-2014-017.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: a widely shared video in which a Florida congressman calls Texas a "crazy state." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/08/Ross_Inside_Feb_8.jpg)
Republican presidential flirts Rick Perry, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are cozying up to their positions on fixing, or dumping, the federal income tax. Get ready for much discussion of what's flat, what's fair and whether the twain shall meet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81305d15d0b9a208e9b3d951c08cdab5/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Osceola%20525%20CMS%202011)
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
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)