A conversation with Joe Straus (video)
Full video of my conversation with Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at our 11/29 symposium previewing the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
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Analysis: Pulling the Texas House, pushing the Texas Senate
The differences in the House and the Senate aren't solely because of the personalities of their leaders. It's also in how those leaders are elected, and whom they answer to. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (left) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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House Speaker Joe Straus vows to reverse cuts to disabled children's therapy services
In a wide-ranging interview with the Texas Tribune's Evan Smith, House Speaker Joe Straus shed light on his priorities for state lawmakers. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was interviewed by Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 17, 2015.]()
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Abbott: Campus carry could have prevented Ohio State attack
Commenting on the knife attack at Ohio State University that left 11 people injured, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that someone would "think twice" about carrying out such an attack in Texas due to its campus carry law. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a Rotary Club of San Antonio luncheon on March 23, 2016.]()
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Texas moves forward with cuts of therapy services for disabled children
In two weeks, Texas will officially enact cuts of Medicaid reimbursement rates for disabled children's therapy services. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
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Analysis: Some politicians want your attention and some don’t
It makes political sense for statewide officials like the governor and the lieutenant governor to do things that attract favorable attention from voters. Speakers of the House live a little farther from the limelight. Full Story
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![Joe Straus, Texas Speaker of the House, at an 85th Legislative Session preview at the Dallas Regional Chamber on Sept. 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Susan Combs' next act? Inspiring Texas women.
After decades in Texas politics, Susan Combs is focused on building safe spaces for women to exchange ideas and experiences. With a new memoir and a new nonprofit, she hopes to encourage more women to take on leadership roles. Full Story
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![Former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has started a project to help women called HERdacity and written a book, "Texas Tenacity: A Call for Women to Direct Their Destiny." The project is an online community aimed at empowering women and the book will be released in early 2017.]()
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Despite ethics questions, these Texas lawmakers easily won re-election
Three members of the Texas Legislature easily won their re-election bids earlier this month despite a cloud of ethics questions hovering over their campaigns. Full Story
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![State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, and state Reps. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, and Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City.]()
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For fifth time, lawmakers to decide ban on texting while driving
Texas remains one of four states without a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Rep. Tom Craddick and Sen. Juddith Zaffirini plan to try again. Full Story
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Texas argues it can fix foster care without judge's oversight
A new legal filing from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has put Texas leaders in a delicate position of conceding problems in foster care but arguing against a federal judge's proposed reforms. Full Story
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Analysis: Live by the party, die by the party
Straight-ticket voting is generally popular with the political party in power, but not all Texas Republicans like it. The advantages and disadvantages vary widely by county. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas blows bid for funds to combat opioids, tries to keep records secret
Health workers and first responders hoped Texas might be awarded $1 million to buy an anti-overdose drug, but state officials never submitted the grant application. Full Story
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![Naloxone is used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.]()
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Watch Texas DPS troopers in riot gear separate dueling protests at the Capitol
Department of Public Safety troopers in riot gear were brought in to separate dueling protests between white nationalists and anti-fascists outside the Texas Capitol on Saturday. Full Story
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![White Lives Matter rally and opposing protest at the Texas State Capitol Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texans remember, rejoice during African-American monument's unveiling
State officials joined hundreds of other dignitaries Saturday in celebrating the unveiling of the Texas African American History Memorial at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![Hundreds of guests gathered on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol to mark the unveiling of the Texas African American History Memorial, which depicts the more than four centuries of contributions of blacks in the state's history.]()
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Bill filing begins, textbook rejected, Cruz meets Trump (video)
In the Roundup: Lawmakers begin filing bills ahead of the 85th Legislature, Ted Cruz and President-elect Donald Trump reunite in New York and the State Board of Education rejects a new social studies book. Full Story
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Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn't everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
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A conversation with Isaac and Murr
Full video of my 11/14 conversation with state Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, and Andrew Murr, R-Junction, on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville. Full Story
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Lawmaker to try again with bill banning "sanctuary cities"
Backed by the lieutenant governor, Sen. Charles Perry filed legislation Tuesday to eliminate sanctuary cities. Full Story
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![Sen.Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, continues debate with Sen. Kirk Watson on HB3994 an abortion reform measure on May 25, 2015.]()
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Help us understand the impact of college tuition rates in Texas
The Texas Tribune is exploring the impact of rising tuition costs in Texas. We want your help. Full Story
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Analysis: Finding out exactly what the election winners have in mind
It won't change the color of the leaves on the trees, but the civics seasons in Texas have changed. Say goodbye to the elections and hello to the legislative session. Full Story
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![Monday was the first day lawmakers could pre-file legislation for the upcoming 83rd Texas Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa