Analysis: Skill or Luck, It Has Worked for Perry
Thirty years is a lot to attribute to mere luck. Like Rick Perry or not, his considerable political skills have sustained him throughout his career in state politics. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry laughs at a question during the final keynote of 2014 TribFest.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Five — and a Half — Things We Won't Forget About Gov. Rick Perry
Boiling down Gov. Rick Perry’s legacy into a few bullet points isn’t easy. But reporters Reeve Hamilton and Jay Root look at some things people will surely remember years after Perry has left office. Their feature kicks off our 10-part series, The Perry Legacy. Full Story
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Roundup: Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Texas' Oil Futures
This week in the Roundup: The fate of Texas’ same-sex marriage ban is in question, as is the state’s budget as oil prices continue to tumble. Meanwhile, South Texas counties plan to lobby lawmakers to allow them to negotiate mineral rights leases. Full Story
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Analysis: With New Officeholders, a Possible Legislative Power Shift
The lieutenant governor used to be the most powerful official in state government, but with a record-setting term in the governor's office, Rick Perry moved that post into the top spot. With new people in the top jobs, will the power shift back? Full Story
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![Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston, listens to Attorney General Greg Abbott during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Feb. 5, 2013. What will the balance of power look like between the incoming lieutenant governor and governor?]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Picking Straus, Taking Names
Legislators hate to be pinned down — unless they're keeping score. In the race for speaker of the House between incumbent Joe Straus and challenger Scott Turner, both sides want to know who lines up where. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (l) faces a challenge from Frisco state Rep. Scott Turner]()
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Old Ruling Keeps Counties From Tapping Oil Money to Fix Roads
A 54-year-old state attorney general’s opinion keeps counties from making money on mineral leases under their roads. But officials say they need the money to fix the damage caused by oil field traffic. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Perry, Abbott and Straus
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics: Gov. Rick Perry and the renaming of a building, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott tours the state and more on the race for speaker of the state House. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on Sept. 21, 2014.]()
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Gay Marriage Ban on Precarious Legal Ground
Almost a decade after voters overwhelmingly added it to the Texas Constitution, the clock may be running out on the state's gay marriage ban. Full Story
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![Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman, plaintiffs in the Texas same-sex marriage lawsuit, pose before a a town hall discussion about the upcoming hearing before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.]()
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Roundup: Funding Mental Health and a Perry Proposal
This week in the Roundup: With just a few weeks left in office, Gov. Rick Perry is planning an official farewell address to lawmakers, a Texas A&M proposal to honor Perry is pulled and the state is poised to weigh another sizable investment in mental health care. Full Story
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Analysis: Who Actually Owes State Sales Tax? Hint: It's Not Retailers
When an out-of-state retailer doesn't add Texas sales and use taxes to your bill, it's not because no taxes are owed — and it's not because the retailer is doing something illegal. Texas consumers fail to pay almost $1.8 billion annually. Full Story
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At Alma Mater, Perry Hints at 2016
Texas' outgoing governor told Texas A&M graduates on Thursday evening that he needs a job, too — preferably one with a big jet and travel to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Full Story
![Gov. Rick Perry laughs at a question during the final keynote of 2014 TribFest.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
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.]()
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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.]()
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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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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.]()
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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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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