The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
New Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was found in 2014 to have violated the Texas Securities Act, will not be prosecuted by the state's office that investigates public corruption, officials said Thursday. Full Story
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UPDATED: A Muslim group at the Capitol has asked Speaker Joe Straus whether state Rep. Molly White violated ethics rules by instructing her staff to ask Muslim visitors to her office to declare their allegiance to the U.S. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott wants to eliminate an incentive program for technology startups in favor of a new program that would make payments to universities that recruit prestigious faculty. Full Story
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On Fox News on Wednesday, Rick Perry told host Sean Hannity that he's been preparing to run for president since late 2012. "So when I stand on the stage and debate this next time, you're going to see a person who is very, very well prepared," he said. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave the green light Wednesday on a push for open carry legislation in the Senate, a day after he indicated in a Texas Tribune interview that the votes weren't there for passage. Full Story
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The session has barely begun, and the prospect of a new law allowing Texans to openly carry handguns first appeared to be inevitable, then dead, then alive again. Oddly, it's the idea's supporters who keep scrambling its political fate. Full Story
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Some of the Legislature's early actions indicate some ambivalence about the agencies and people who enforce state ethics laws. Full Story
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Monopolies are bad for consumers, both sides fighting over whether Tesla Motors should be allowed to sell its cars directly to Texans agreed Wednesday. But monopoly is in the eye of the beholder. Full Story
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After state Rep. Poncho Nevárez kicked gun advocates out of his Capitol office, he received death threats. On Wednesday, Texas House members wore "I'm Poncho" stickers to show support for Nevárez. Full Story
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Four years after a legislative effort to keep Planned Parenthood from receiving state dollars for health care for low-income women, the Texas Senate is back at it — this time over funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Full Story
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In the wake of a contracting scandal at Texas' top health agency, Gov. Greg Abbott has sent a letter to the heads of all state agencies outlining reforms to the bidding and procurement processes. Full Story
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While it's still to be seen how Gov. Greg Abbott will move forward with the state's economic development tools, a team made up of a coalition of municipal economic development organizations is announcing a new effort to recruit businesses to Texas. Full Story
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A judge's decision on Tuesday not to dismiss two indictments against Rick Perry has both legal and political implications. Full Story
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Former Gov. Rick Perry has been fighting the clock since a Travis County grand jury indicted him last summer. With Tuesday's ruling that the indictments should proceed, he has become a candidate with a deadline. Full Story
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UPDATED: Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that a runoff will take place Feb. 17 in the special election for the House seat vacated by Lois Kolkhorst. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/27 conversation with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who talked about the change in Senate rules, vouchers, tax relief, transportation funding, open carry and more. Full Story
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Texas can rebel against Obamacare and Medicaid expansion all it wants, but enrollment in the state's insurance program for the poor is growing, and the federal government will be paying for less of it. An additional $1.3 billion might be needed just to maintain the status quo. Full Story
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Guns were a big topic of conversation inside the Capitol and outside of it on Monday. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has formed a new advisory board to focus on border security, education reform and tax relief. Its members? Tea Party leaders from across the state. Full Story
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On a campaign swing through central Iowa, former Gov. Rick Perry on Monday presented himself to Jewish voters as a man of the world — one who toured Israel and Auschwitz as governor and remains friendly with foreign leaders. Full Story
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