Analysis: Killing a Tax Without Changing Taxpayers' Bills
Senate legislation that cuts property and business margins taxes also includes a clause that would outlaw taxes on real estate transactions. Texas has no such tax. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Post-Scandal, Lawmakers Changing Gears on Health Agency
As the state’s largest health agency reels from a scandal over how it awarded contracts to private vendors, lawmakers on Wednesday said they are slowing down on their ambitious — and controversial — plan to restructure it. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, wraps up the Sunset Advisory Commission hearing on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Costco Joins Wal-Mart, Kroger in Liquor Push
Wholesale giant Costco has joined Wal-Mart, Kroger and other retailers in the fight to loosen restrictions on the state liquor market and let public corporations sell hard alcohol in Texas. Full Story
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Audio: Fiscal Hawk Sid Miller on His Need for Cash
Sid Miller voted for deep budget cuts as a member of the Texas House. But now he’s Texas agriculture commissioner, and he wants the Legislature to dramatically increase funding to his cash-strapped agency. Full Story
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![Sid Miller speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez -
Map: Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Providers
The Senate's proposed changes to the state's breast and cervical cancer screening program — intended to cut funding for Planned Parenthood clinics — could hit low-income women in rural and West Texas hardest. Use our map to see how. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Michael Stravato / Becca Aaronson -
Bill Would Bar Doctors From Asking About Guns
State Rep. Stuart Spitzer is afraid the federal government can use medical records to identify gun owners. Over the objections of the medical community, he has filed a bill that would prohibit doctors from asking patients whether they own a firearm. Full Story
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Property and Business Tax Cut Measures Head to Full Senate
The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to send proposals cutting property taxes and business taxes to the full Senate, though some senators questioned whether the property tax cuts could be better spent in other ways. Full Story
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![Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, confers with Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, during a March 11, 2015, committee hearing on state contracting issues.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Committee Takes Up Open Carry, Campus Carry Bills
One day after the Texas Senate voted to loosen state handgun regulations, a House committee Tuesday considered proposals to allow the open carry of handguns with a license and the concealed carry of handguns on college campuses. Full Story
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![Former House member Suzanna Hupp, who lost her parents in the Killeen Luby's massacre, testifies for open carry bills in House Homeland Security Committee on March 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bill Moving Public Integrity Unit to AG's Office is Senate-Bound
A measure that would yank the state's public corruption-fighting unit out of the Travis County district attorney's office and stick it in the Texas attorney general's office is headed for the full Senate. Full Story
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![Sen. Joan Huffman R-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: When a Disclosure Report Doesn't Do Much Disclosing
State law requires lobbyists to report what they spend on legislators and other state officials. But the loopholes are big: Less than 5 percent of the lobby's reported spending on food and beverage names the eaters and the drinkers. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Inside Texas Politics: Setting the Stage
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, the show is given over to setting the stage for the remainder of the session as the state Legislature moves into a higher gear. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on March 15, 2015.]()
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Abbott Discusses Trade Relations With Irish Prime Minister
Gov. Greg Abbott met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Sunday morning to discuss trade and economic relations. It was Abbott's first meeting with a foreign prime minister since becoming governor. Full Story
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![Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny receives a Texas belt buckle from Gov. Greg Abbott at the Governor's Mansion on March 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz Heavy on Border Rhetoric, Light on Trips
As he feels out a possible presidential bid, Ted Cruz has made border security and immigration his calling cards. But Texas' first Hispanic U.S. senator has only made three trips to border since taking office. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security.]()
Credit: Doug Young -
State Medicaid Probes Produce Paltry Results
Three years ago, the office responsible for rooting out Medicaid fraud and abuse set a goal of finding $1 billion a year in misspent funds. But it's collecting about $995 million less than that. Full Story
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Legislators File Flurry of Bills Ahead of Deadline
Texas lawmakers added more than 800 proposals Friday to the agenda ahead of the bill-filing deadline. After Friday, lawmakers have to get approval from their chambers to file a bill. Full Story
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![Signs on the office of Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown on the last day of bill filing Mar. 13, 2015 for the 84th Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: What Does the Parliamentarian Do?
In each of the Texas Legislature's chambers, a nonpartisan voice plays a pivotal role in how lawmakers conduct state business in the Capitol. As part of an occasional series explaining the Legislature’s inner workings, we provide you a look at the job of the parliamentarian. Full Story
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Video: Price and Rawlings on Property Taxes
At our 3/12 conversation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings reacted to the possibility of the Legislature engineering a cut in property taxes. Full Story
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Analysis: When Local Control is Remote
A big, central government wants to override laws approved by the people in the provinces. That might sound like the federal government bossing states around, but it's the Texas Legislature trying to rein in the cities and counties. Full Story
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![Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings took part in an interview with The Texas Tribune on March 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senators Share Concerns About A-F Grades for Schools
During a Senate Education Committee hearing Thursday, lawmakers questioned whether A-through-F ratings for schools would provide a clear picture of a school's performance. Full Story
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![A reading assistant reads on the classroom floor with a small group of fourth graders at Wanke Elementary School in San Antonio on March 9, 2012.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Isaac Jumping Into Hays County Water Fight
With a four-bill cocktail, state Rep. Jason Isaac hopes to stop, or at last slow, a Houston-based company's plans to pump huge amounts of water from beneath Hays County. Full Story
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![Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the House floor, February 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera