Analysis: The 2023 Texas House, from right to left
Here’s a look at House members, ranked from most conservative to most liberal, based on votes cast during the 2023 regular session. Full Story
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![Members vote to approve an anti-voucher amendment brought by state rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, during a marathon session on the House floor to approve HB-1 at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Angela Paxton will “carry out my duty” and attend her husband’s impeachment trial
Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton faces charges of bribery and obstruction of justice in his upcoming impeachment trial before the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, on the Senate floor, at the Capitol, on May 29, 2023.]()
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Some conservatives’ long-term goal in property tax fight: get rid of school taxes altogether
Gov. Greg Abbott has thrown his weight behind the idea being pushed by an influential conservative think tank. Many school leaders are worried. Full Story
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![A neighborhood in Austin, in 2017.]()
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Llano County libraries case has lawyers and publishers worried about existing legal precedents
Libraries have been at the receiving end of book challenges, threats and new laws. Now, some worry a federal appeals court could chip away at long-standing protections. Full Story
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![Protestors outside the Llano County Sheriffs office on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The county ruled that the library will remain open after a vote on whether or not to close it due to disagreements over book banning.]()
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Tarrant County picks deputy county clerk to run elections, eschewing GOP activist
The county’s Election Commission unanimously appointed Clinton Ludwig to the job. None of the three finalists had any election administration experience. Full Story
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![Cases of ballots and equipment at the Tarrant County Elections Administration building in Fort Worth, Texas. on May 6, 2023.]()
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TribCast: Why can’t Texas Republicans get along?
In this week’s episode we check in with radio host Mark Davis and politics reporter Patrick Svitek about the GOP intraparty fighting over property taxes and Ken Paxton’s impeachment. Full Story
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![Flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference at the Capitol on June 16, 2021 to provide more details on his plan for Texas to build its own border wall.]()
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Staff for U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia take first step toward forming a union
Employees for the Houston Democrat become the first congressional office from Texas trying to unionize under rules adopted last year. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, at a hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 13, 2023.]()
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As Texas swelters, local rules requiring water breaks for construction workers will soon be nullified
Gov. Greg Abbott approved a law this week that will eliminate city and county ordinances like Austin’s and Dallas’ mandated water breaks. Full Story
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![Construction laborers work in Downtown Austin on June 29, 2021.]()
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Meet the 4 whistleblowers behind most of the impeachment allegations against Ken Paxton
Once high-ranking officials in the attorney general’s office, the four were fired after reporting concerns about Paxton’s behavior to law enforcement. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton steps to the podium to make a statement to the press on May 26, 2023, a day before a scheduled impeachment vote. Behind him, from left: Tommy Tran, executive assistant; James R. Lloyd, associate deputy attorney general for civil litigation; Austin A. Kinghorn, associate deputy attorney general for legal counsel; Ryan Fisher, director of government relations; Joshua Reno, deputy attorney general for criminal justice; and Suzanna Hupp, special adviser.]()
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Here are the top allegations that led to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment
In 2020, deputies in the attorney general’s office met with FBI agents to accuse their boss of misconduct. Their accusations would form the backbone of articles of impeachment against one of the state’s most powerful officials. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes more than 70 bills amid property tax impasse
The governor says other issues aren’t as important as breaking a House-Senate stalemate over the best course on reducing property taxes. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press before signing eight bills during a public safety bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 6, 2023]()
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As Paxton allies press to avoid impeachment trial, House managers warn against “sham” proceeding
All eyes are on a secretive Senate committee that is drafting rules for an impeachment trial. Those rules are expected to be presented to the Texas Senate on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, speaks during a press conference at the Republican Party of Texas headquarters in Austin on June 7, 2023.]()
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Texas Democrat leads renewed push in Congress to grant citizenship to DACA recipients
With support from several Republicans, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia hopes migrants brought illegally to the country as children can get out of “limbo.” Full Story
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![After being detained and released by law enforcement, an undocumented immigrant wears an ankle monitor at the Catholic Charities relief center in McAllen on April 6, 2018.]()
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GOP donor, voter fraud activist is a finalist to run elections in Tarrant County
Karen Wiseman previously sued former election administrator Heider Garcia and participated in a right-wing group’s search for 2020 voter fraud. She’s one of the three finalists, none of whom have experience running elections. Full Story
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![Karen Wiseman comments on an item concerning the current electronic poll book system in place during a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cuts
With several hundred bills awaiting action by the governor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the veto threat an affront to Texans and the legislative process. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
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Ken Paxton’s securities fraud trial will remain in Houston, court rules
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling overturns lower-court decisions that had moved the case back to Collin County, where the suspended attorney general lives. Full Story
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![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton giving a speech in the Senate chamber during his swearing-in ceremony.]()
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Texas Democrats aim for unity ahead of expected primary to take on U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz
Lose Cruz, a new super PAC, promises big spending to help the party’s eventual nominee in the 2024 campaign. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, departs the Senate Republican's policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2023.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan join forces on property taxes. It might help the push for school vouchers.
Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes. Full Story
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![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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At Humble ISD, Mexican graduation stoles sparked a dress code controversy
What a Houston-area school district calls a mistake points at deeper problems related to dress codes. Advocates say it also amounts to systemic racism. Full Story
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![A decorated cake for a graduation party, hosted for a high school graduate, on June 6, 2020.]()
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In U.S. House, the far right gains a powerful spending-cuts ally in Texas Republican Kay Granger
The chair of the House Appropriations Committee vows to hold spending bills to 2022 levels to counter “years of out-of-control spending.” Full Story
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![Incumbent U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, speaks to supporters at the Blue Mesa restaurant in Fort Worth during the 2020 primary election on March 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune