The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Association of Business, the state's largest business lobby, is adding criminal justice reform to its agenda for the first time. The association says reducing the prison population and increasing the workforce makes business sense. Full Story
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A major new federal immigration proposal has corralled bipartisan support, but Texas Republicans aren't biting. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Texans react to senators' immigration plan; report urges state to expand Medicaid; Boy Scouts may end ban on gay leaders Full Story
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The blocker bill, a tradition of the Texas Senate, gives the minority party power, because it requires that two-thirds of the Senate must agree before a bill is heard on the floor. Full Story
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With the debate over gun rights still raging in Texas and across the nation, the head of one Texas agency, the Railroad Commission, is pushing to provide training for employees so they can carry concealed handguns on the job. Full Story
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The immigration debate about to descend on Washington has already pushed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz into the spotlight. Full Story
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The common practice of lawmakers carrying bills or serving on committees that could directly affect their lives or livelihoods is permitted, so long as their efforts benefit all others in similar circumstances. But it still has vocal critics. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Republicans challenge group hoping to turn Texas blue; White House to begin immigration push next week; conservative groups come out against school security bill Full Story
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Attorney General Greg Abbott announced on Friday the creation of the Choose Life Advisory Committee, a group that will make recommendations for spending money generated by "Choose Life" license plates. Full Story
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Slightly more than 8,200 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period in the special election to replace the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos. Election day is Saturday in the race, which is likely to head to a runoff. Full Story
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Full video of my January 24 TribLive conversation with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Full Story
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The Texas Railroad Commission regulates one of the most advanced industries in the world — oil and gas drilling. Yet the commission’s software systems, many of its rules and even its name are from another era. But change is coming. Full Story
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Texas Democrats have been fighting an uphill battle against Republicans for almost two decades, but a new Washington-based group wants to invest tens of millions of dollars to turn Texas blue. Full Story
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A new group may provide Texas Democrats with an answer to their long-ignored prayers for a political comeback. Full Story
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Your evening reading: state tax-break bill targets federal contraception rule; national Democrats launch Texas initiative; Texas Republicans rebuke Clinton over Benghazi testimony Full Story
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Resuscitating the 2011 redistricting battle, two lawmakers have filed bills requiring the state to count prisoners at their last home address rather than where they are incarcerated. They say it cheats urban districts out of representatives. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about the ongoing investigation into allegations that a longtime campaign aide stole hundreds of thousands of dollars — or more —from his political accounts. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about what he learned in his unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about whether public education funding in Texas is sufficient and where additional money might come from. Full Story
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The 2013 legislative session may have just begun, but for half of the state Senate, the 2014 election season started Wednesday. Full Story
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