The White House, responding to calls for secession from Texas and seven other states, has called for healthy debate, but to not let “that debate tear us apart.”
Politics
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Bidness As Usual
T-Squared: It’s Only Bidness
Twenty journalists have spent nine months researching the personal financial interests of members of the 83rd Legislature. Eyebrows — and hackles — may be raised, but this kind of transparency is good for Texas.
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Bidness As Usual
News App: Exploring Lawmakers’ Personal Financial Interests
The Lawmaker Explorer is a first-of-its-kind interactive tool that gives Texans a window into the personal interests of their state legislators. It is the linchpin of the Tribune’s Bidness as Usual project, a session-long look at ethics and transparency in the Texas Legislature.
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Bidness As Usual
A Part-Time Legislature, but in Whose Interest?
With a lacking conflict disclosure system, virtually toothless ethics laws and a Legislature historically unwilling to make itself more transparent, Texans know little about who or what influences the people elected to represent them.
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Politics
His Job Safe, Straus Now Faces Session’s Hurdles
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.
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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.