The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas voters approve billions of dollars in new local debt each year. A growing group of critics argues that voters wouldn't be so agreeable if they were more clearly informed of the debt that's already owed in their name. Full Story
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This is the time of a political year when voters start — slowly — to pay attention to the candidates, issues and arguments ahead of a general election. But this year, there is something else to watch instead. Full Story
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UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
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Lawyers for Gov. Rick Perry, saying his indictment is unconstitutional on several grounds, filed briefs Monday asking the courts to strike the charges and stop further prosecution of the governor. Full Story
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Wendy Davis earned significantly less income from her legal work in 2013 than in previous years, according to tax documents released Friday by her campaign. But the Democratic gubernatorial candidate also received a six-figure payment that year for her upcoming memoir. Full Story
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From the charges to a post-booking ice cream stop, we recap the headlines since a Travis County grand jury handed down an indictment against Gov. Rick Perry related to his threat to veto funding for the state’s public integrity unit. Full Story
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Hoping to overcome Republican opposition to expanding Medicaid, Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said Friday she would seek a Texas-specific plan to cover poor, uninsured adults if elected lieutenant governor in November. Full Story
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As Gov. Rick Perry had his mugshot taken and told supporters he would fight the charges, the first lady was recovering from foot surgery. Full Story
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At our 8/18 TribLive conversation in Richardson, I talked with state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton, about health care and the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry gave brief statements before and after he entered Austin's Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, where he was booked on two felony charges related to his threat to veto funding for the state’s public integrity unit. Full Story
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After being booked on two felony counts — a process that took less than 10 minutes — Gov. Rick Perry again stood by his veto of public integrity unit funding and called his indictment "a chilling restraint on the right of free speech." Full Story
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In an ad featuring clips of Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg's conduct during her 2013 drunken driving arrest, Gov. Rick Perry's federal political action committee defends the Texas governor's veto of funding for the state's public integrity unit. Full Story
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The defense attorneys representing Gov. Rick Perry, who faces an indictment related to his veto of funding for the state’s public integrity unit, said Monday that the governor acted "perfectly within the bounds and scope of his job." Full Story
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Michael McCrum, the special prosecutor who secured an indictment against Gov. Rick Perry on Friday, is described by colleagues as faithful and aggressive. One thing they don't call him is partisan. Full Story
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We're livestreaming Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith's discussion on the future of health care in Texas with state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton. Full Story
There is a lot we don't know about how the prosecution of Gov. Rick Perry will take shape. In the meantime, here are five things to remember about this case and its history as things move forward. Full Story
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A grand jury indicted Rick Perry on Friday, alleging he abused his power by threatening to veto funding for the state's anti-corruption unit unless Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg, who had pleaded guilty to drunk driving, stepped down. Full Story
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State Sens. Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte have taken to promoting their business credentials while campaigning to become the state's lieutenant governor in a race that influential groups say should be good for business. Full Story
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Here's full video of Gov. Rick Perry addressing Texas National Guard troops at Camp Swift in Bastrop County. Perry is deploying 1,000 National Guard troops in an operation to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Full Story
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While recommendation letters sent directly by lawmakers to UT-Austin's president have been a source of controversy there, similar letters sent to Texas A&M's leaders are not raising the same type of alarm. Full Story
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