After successfully fending off another challenge to his speakership, Joe Straus faces a tough task in the session. He will have to tackle issues that have been thorny for Republicans in the past, without further alienating the far right.
Politics
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Politics
The Brief: Jan. 11, 2013
The latest churn of the rumor mill has stoked speculation about the political futures of two prominent Texans.
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Politics
TribCast: Beginning of the Legislative Session
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben talk about the opening days of the new legislative session, including the comptroller’s revenue estimate, the re-election of Speaker Joe Straus and the priorities of the leadership.
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Politics
(Many) Members of the 83rd Legislature on Twitter
Here’s a list of the Twitter handles of the 120 state lawmakers who do the communications thing 140 characters at a time.
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Politics
Incentives for Business Scrutinized in Texas
Two legislative committees are set to hold hearings on state programs designed to encourage businesses to invest here, about a week after a New York Times series brought increased attention to Texas’ approach to such incentives.
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Politics
TribuneFest: A Conversation About the 2012 Presidential Race
At the 2012 Texas Tribune Festival, I talked 2012 presidential politics with Hendrik Hertzberg of The New Yorker, Gwen Ifill of Washington Week and Julie Mason of Sirius/XM’s The Press Pool.
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Higher Education
UT Regents Back Some Tuition Hikes, Commit to New Med Schools
Tuition will go up next year for most students in the University of Texas System, after a Board of Regents vote today. Regents also committed to developing medical schools in Austin and South Texas.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Gets a D+ in Public Integrity Study
Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators.
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Economy
More Texas Children Living in High-Poverty Areas
A new report says the number of Texas children living in areas of high poverty has increased about 40 percent over the past decade. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, advocacy groups hope the data will bolster anti-poverty programs.
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Energy
TPPF Criticizes Upcoming “Avalanche” of EPA Rules
A report released Monday by the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation renewed its criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists say the group’s concerns are misplaced.