The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Efforts to ban double dipping by longtime politicians went nowhere in the last legislative session. That could change now that the two leading candidates for governor have expressed support for banning the controversial practice. Full Story
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Full video of my 12/5 TribLive conversation with Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, defended his decision not to release his tax returns and his plan to collect his pension while still a salaried state employee. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a 2014 candidate for lieutenant governor, accused one of his opponents, state Sen. Dan Patrick, of lying and said he'd be a "disaster" if he won the office. Full Story
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At our 12/3 Hot Seat conversation at Texas State University, state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, talked about water, transportation, public education and other issues in play in the 83rd session. Full Story
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UPDATED: Gov. Rick Perry, who had missed a legislative deadline for making his appointments to the Red River Boundary Commission, announced his picks for the five-person panel on Friday. Full Story
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Some Texas Republicans would like to change a rule that allows Democrats to block bills favored by the majority of the state Senate. They have a new ally, at least on the idea: Democrats in the U.S. Senate. Full Story
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In the first ad of his campaign to unseat state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, businessman Donald Huffines slams the 22-year incumbent for being a "career politician." Full Story
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How Texas state senators rank, from liberal to conservative, based on nearly 1,000 nonlopsided votes during the regular and special legislative sessions in 2013. Full Story
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A 2011 settlement between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Union Pacific could play a role in ending the current stalemate over the transfer of a Cameron County rail scanning machine. Full Story
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UPDATED: A 19-year-old Honduran injured on the job is at the center of a workplace safety controversy. The Workers Defense Project says he was fired for speaking to investigators. His former employer says the firing was unrelated. Full Story
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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Gov. Rick Perry says the Mexican energy industry may solve America's immigration problems, the LCRA gets a new leader and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte signals she's running for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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What had been a private battle over whether and when a nonprofit political group has to register as a lobbyist — or list the donors to its political purse — is slowly edging toward public hearings. Full Story
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The Automobile Club of Southern California is negotiating with the governor's office over a Texas Enterprise Fund grant. The company's CEO is a longtime contributor to Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry discussed the fiscal policy differences between Texas and California at a luncheon hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation on Monday, Nov. 18. Full Story
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Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott made their candidacies for governor official on Saturday by filling out the paperwork and paying the $3,750 fee to file in their respective primaries. Full Story
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This week in the Newsreel: The voting is over for now, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll is out, and a statewide candidate questions the loyalty of anyone who loves Texas but hates fracking. Full Story
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After months of speculation, two Democratic candidates have emerged to campaign for the contested Senate District 10 seat Sen. Wendy Davis has vacated to run for governor. Libby Willis and Mike Martinez have officially entered the race. Full Story
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In a new ad for Americans for Economic Freedom, an organization aimed at helping Gov. Rick Perry champion Texas' economic model, the possible presidential contender talks job creation. Full Story
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The health commission’s Office of Inspector General, which says Texas has misspent hundreds of millions of dollars on Medicaid orthodontic and dental fraud, has now lost its first three court battles against accused providers. Full Story
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