In a state capital where moving from the Legislature to the lobby — and, sometimes, the other way — is unremarkable, it’s also common to find the relatives of lawmakers lobbying the state government.
Politics
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Bidness As Usual
Despite Reforms, Elected Officials Can Still Lobby
While members of the Texas Legislature can no longer act as lobbyists before state agencies, plenty of lawmakers still manage to lobby local governments. Others find work that critics would classify as lobbying by another name.
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Politics
The Brief: Feb. 8, 2013
The plot in the David Dewhurst campaign fund scandal continues to thicken.
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Politics
The Evening Brief: Feb. 7, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry heading to California for business tour; Morton sees “road to accountability” in inquiry; Poe to help lead GOP immigration caucus
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Bidness As Usual
Bills Renew Push for Ethics Commission to Post Financial Disclosures Online
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, both filed legislation on Thursday that would require personal financial statements submitted to the Texas Ethics Commission to be made available online.
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Politics
House Committee to Focus on Criminal Code
Last week, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed a committee to examine the state’s Code of Criminal Procedure. Committee members and relevant interest groups were caught by surprise, but they say the code is long overdue for revisions.
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Politics
The Brief: Feb. 7, 2013
The sparring match between the governors of Texas and California is starting to take on tones of a full-blown rivalry.
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Politics
TribCast: School Finance, CPRIT and the UT Regents
Ross, Reeve, Ben and Morgan discuss the recent ruling in the school finance lawsuit, ongoing troubles with CPRIT, and the recent emergency meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents.
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Demographics
The Polling Center: Cruz Beats Drum on Immigration
If Ted Cruz seems to be marching out of step with GOP leaders attempting to lower the volume on the party’s immigration rhetoric, results from the last UT/Texas Tribune poll suggest the drumbeat he’s listening to is the one being played by his voters.
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Economy
Watson Has Tough Words for Combs, Tax Subsidy Programs
Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, criticized Republican Comptroller Susan Combs on Wednesday, saying she had a “cavalier” approach to doling out millions of dollars in tax incentives, including the award eventually granted to the promoters of F1 auto racing.