The legislative session is over, the new maps have been drawn, and candidates are starting to make their decisions about whether to run, and for what offices.
Politics
Stay informed with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth political coverage, including Texas elections, state government, policy debates, and the leaders shaping the future of the state.
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Politics
Rick Perry: The Democrat Years
Gov. Rick Perry, a no-apologies conservative known for slashing government spending and opposing all tax increases, is about as Republican as you can get. Except when he wasn’t.
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Health care
Perry’s Pact With Social Conservatives Vaulted Him Atop His Party
Rick Perry has forged a coalition of economic, religious and social conservatives that helped him become the state’s longest-serving governor, poised to run a national race.
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Politics
Americans for Rick Perry Super PAC Files With FEC
Dave Carney, Perry’s top political consultant, told the Tribune on Thursday that the Super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited money on political contests, isn’t affiliated with the governor of Texas or with his explorations of the presidential race.
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Higher Education
The Pundit vs. the Professor: A Debate About Academic Tenure
Naomi Schaefer Riley, author of the book The Faculty Lounges … And Other Reasons You Won’t Get the College Education You Pay For, and Daniel Hamermesh, economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin, debate the merits of tenure.
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Higher Education
A&M System Nixes Controversial Teaching Awards Program
Today, in one of his first acts as the new Texas A&M University System interim chancellor, Jay Kimbrough discontinued a controversial Teaching Excellence Awards program.
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Higher Education
Updated: Governor, Others Respond to UT’s “Seven Solutions” Response
Randy Diehl, the dean of the University at Texas at Austin’s College of Liberal Arts, has released a response to the so-called “seven breakthrough solutions” for higher education, calling them “the wrong approach.”
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Politics
Video: Martinez Fischer, Texas Redistricting on CNN
CNN is anticipating another redistricting showdown in Texas. The Mexican American Legislative Caucus, led by state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, is preparing for a court battle over the newly-passed congressional map.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: In Closing
You can let your children out of the storm cellar — the Texas Legislature has gone home. Better still, our insiders don’t think lawmakers will be back in session before January 2013, when the 83rd Legislature will convene.
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Demographics
Sine Die Report: What Survived, What Died
The Trib’s been keeping track of the key issues throughout the special session. From budget measures to school finance, health care and airport groping, here’s our final rundown of bills that passed, and the ones that died.