Whitmire Seeks Inquiry Into HHSC-21CT Contracts
State Sen. John Whitmire asked the state's public integrity unit on Thursday to investigate deals between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and 21 Century Technologies. Full Story
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![Irene Williams, CEO of 21CT, and Jack Stick, a top attorney at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Erich Schlegel -
Perry Declines to Have A&M Building Named After Him
UPDATED: Gov. Rick Perry's office confirmed Thursday that Perry has declined the offer of having Texas A&M University's Academic Building named after him. Full Story
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![Rick Perry as a student and a cadet at Texas A&M University.]()
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In Bid for Speaker, Turner Looks to Beat the Odds
The Texas House hasn't held a contested record vote for speaker since 1975, but state Rep. Scott Turner aims to change that. Turner is looking to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus, who has held the office since 2009. Full Story
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![State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, spoke at the RedState Gathering in Fort Worth on Aug. 8, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
Video: A Bid to Attract More Mental Health Workers
A bill filed Monday could create a financial incentive for students to become mental health care providers. Senate Bill 239 would create a loan reimbursement program for certain licensed mental health workers who assist the underserved. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Perry Planning Farewell Speech to Legislators
Gov. Rick Perry has proposed addressing a joint session of the Legislature one more time before he leaves office, a spokesman for the governor's office confirmed Sunday. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry at the final keynote of TribFest on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Playlist: Tears Over Beers
Three Texas breweries filed a lawsuit against the state for allegedly "stifling the craft beer renaissance," so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with "Tears Over Beers" by Modern Baseball. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
Video: New Senators on Transportation
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about the need for and possible sources of greater transportation funding. Full Story
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Video: New Senators on Border Security
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about what the next legislature should handle the issue of border security. Full Story
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Lawmakers Set $7 Billion "Floor" for State Savings Account
Lawmakers on Thursday chose $7 billion as an appropriate minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund in a meeting that took just a few minutes but will have far-reaching consequences. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: New Senators on the Two-Thirds Rule
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about the likely fate of the chamber's two-thirds rule. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation with Three Incoming Senators
Full video of my 12/11 conversation with three incoming members of the Texas Senate: Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano. Full Story
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Future of CHIP Funding Looms Over State Budget
With federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program set to expire next year, children’s health advocates and Gov. Rick Perry are urging Congress to reauthorize it as soon as possible. Full Story
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![Dr. Javier Saenz checks the ear of Viviana Escareño, 6, for infection. The young girl’s mother, Claudia Escareño, has brought “Vivi” to Saenz’s clinic since she was born.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal -
Sunset Commission Backs Bid to Consolidate State Health Agencies
With the endorsement Wednesday of the Sunset Advisory Commission, legislators are set to move forward with a consolidation of the state's five health agencies into a single health commission with seven divisions. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Jessica Schaefers -
New Texas Lawmakers — Along With the Dearly and Nearly Departed
The list of who's in and who's out in the Texas Legislature and in the state's congressional delegation is not quite complete, but it's getting there. Here's the current list. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Says Education Will Be Top Policy Priority
During a news conference in which he announced the selection of his senior staff, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott said Monday that he wants to improve the educational foundation that students receive in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. Full Story
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![During a news conference on Nov. 11, 2014, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced that he's appointing Cameron County Judge Carlos Casco as the next Texas secretary of state.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Inside Texas Politics: Dewhurst's Departure
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey talk about what's next for outgoing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on Dec. 7, 2014.]()
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Abbott's Political Tightrope: Balancing Far Right and Hispanics
After winning 44 percent of the Hispanic vote on Election Day, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott may find himself in turbulent political waters as he attempts to balance the interests of his Republican base and his newfound Hispanic friends. Full Story
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![Gov-elect Greg Abbott at an executive aviation terminal on election eve.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: The Politics of the 84th Legislative Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on what 2014 means for 2015 and beyond. Panelists included Christy Hoppe of The Dallas Morning News; Harvey Kronberg of Quorum Report; Erica Grieder of Texas Monthly; and Ross Ramsey of The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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Video: The Battle over the Budget in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the budget debate. Panelists included state Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Kel Seliger and state Reps. Drew Darby and Donna Howard. Full Story
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Video: What the Tea Party Wants in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on what the Tea Party is seeking. Panelists included state Sens.-elect Paul Bettencourt and Konni Burton, state Rep. Jeff Leach, state Rep.-elect Matt Rinaldi and state Rep. Jonathan Stickland. Full Story
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