The Brief: July 25, 2014
Can those National Guard troops being sent to the border arrest people? The latest word is they can. And the reason why is that Rick Perry sent them, and not the federal government. Full Story
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![Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cuellar: "Failure is Not an Option" on Border Crisis
If lawmakers do not act to address the immigration crisis on Texas' southern border before their August break, smugglers will get the message that the government does not take the crisis seriously, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar says. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) speaks with state Rep. Doug Miller R-New Braunfels, during a visit to the Texas Capitol on Feb. 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Study: Gay Marriage Would Boost Economy
Texas could add $180 million to its economy if it allowed same-sex couples to get married, according to a new study. But odds are that Texas lawmakers won't repeal the ban on gay marriage anytime soon. Full Story
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The Brief: July 24, 2014
The Rick Perry Presidential Watch has revved up in a big way. Full Story
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Analysis: A Border Plan — and a Political One
Gov. Rick Perry said a plan to send National Guard troops to the state's border with Mexico was necessary because the federal government isn't doing enough there. The move could also address a political weak spot he discovered in his 2012 presidential run. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry, flanked by State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and Texas Adjutant General John Nichols, announces the deployment of National Guard troops to the Texas border on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Series: Falling Behind
Check out Falling Behind, our 10-part series on the flip side of state leaders' aggressive pursuit of the "Texas Miracle" — from water woes and backed up traffic to missed opportunities in public education and climate change. Full Story
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The Brief: July 23, 2014
Story lines continue to spin out from Gov. Rick Perry's Monday announcement that he was activating up to 1,000 National Guard troops to back up existing DPS border operations. Full Story
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![DPS chief Steve McCraw outlines plans for the National Guard role securing the Texas border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listen on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Border Surge Prompts Perry to Scale Back Governors Conference
Gov. Rick Perry’s office said on Tuesday that because of the surge of illegal immigration on the southern border, a planned binational border governors conference will be scaled back to only a dinner with the elected officials. Full Story
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![Criticizing a lack of federal response on border issues, Governor Rick Perry announces deployment of up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Future of ACA Subsidies for Texans Unclear After Court Rulings
The future of federal subsidies for Texans who buy insurance under the Affordable Care Act is unclear after two courts on Tuesday issued opposite rulings about eligibility for assistance. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Amid Lawsuit, Farmers Insurance PAC Gives Thousands to Abbott
Critics of Attorney General Greg Abbott say he has not fairly represented Texas homeowners who were charged too much by an insurance company whose employees' PAC has given generously to his campaign. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott speaks to supporters at Lavazza Espression on Congress Avenue in Austin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: July 22, 2014
The words of the day on Monday were "force multiplier," as in what Gov. Rick Perry said the activation of up to 1,000 National Guard troops would do for the border surge effort already underway by the Department of Public Safety. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry announces the deployment of National Guard troops along the Texas border as Texas Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listens at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Ethics Commission Slaps High-Profile Activist With $10,000 Fine
The Texas Ethics Commission has ordered Michael Quinn Sullivan, leader of the conservative advocacy group Empower Texans, to pay a $10,000 fine for failing to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011. Full Story
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![Republican activist Michael Quinn Sullivan visits at the State Republican Convention trade show on June 6, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Cities Pushing Back on Border Surge
A handful of Texas communities have passed resolutions barring immigrants from being housed there on an emergency basis. Full Story
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![Councilwoman Heidi Thiess during a League City Council meeting on July 14, 2014.]()
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The Brief: July 21, 2014
Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will make a border security announcement at 2 p.m. at the state Capitol. The two are expected to announce the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry and DPS Director Steve McCraw spoke at a June 23, 2014, news conference following a tour of a federal facility housing unaccompanied minors in Weslaco, Texas. The state is providing $1.3 million per week to step up border patrols.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lost in a Pressing Crisis at the Border: Perpetual Immigration Issues
As attention centers on the thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the Texas-Mexico border, activists in the Rio Grande Valley are working hard to ensure that their ongoing campaigns continue to gain traction after the current crisis subsides. Full Story
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![U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling in the Rio Grande Valley.]()
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The Brief: July 18, 2014
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is on his way out in a few months, but on Thursday he moved to fill some key Senate leadership slots to help the chamber prepare for the coming legislative session in January. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst delivering his concession speech after losing his re-election bid on May 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Schwertner to Lead Senate Health and Human Services Committee
After appointing Sen. Jane Nelson to chair the Senate Finance Committee, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has picked Sen. Charles Schwertner to replace her as the head of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown, at a February Texas Tribune event.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Cruz Files Alternative Border Bill
UPDATED: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz filed a bill Thursday that he says would immediately halt the flow of unaccompanied Central American children who are now crossing into the United States. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas rallies the Republican delegates at the Republican Convention in Fort Worth June 6, 2014.]()
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Fact Check: Dan Patrick at the State Republican Convention
With help from The Washington Post’s Truth Teller, we’re analyzing the speeches that Texas’ candidates for lieutenant governor gave at their respective state political party conventions. Here we focus on Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Patrick speaks to the Texas Republican Convention on its final day June 7, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Patrick, Van de Putte Take Aim at Border Crisis
As the recent surge of Central Americans entering the country illegally through Texas’ border with Mexico has drawn national attention, it has also become a major talking point for the 2014 candidates for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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![Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick, who are facing off in a fiery race to become the state's next lieutenant governor, address delegates at their respective party's state conventions in June.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Alyssa Banata
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