state government

I.D. Overreach?

By Julián Aguilar July 10, 2011

The idea was to rein in the amount of unauthorized immigrants with IDs or driver's licenses. But steps lawmakers took in that direction have some concerned they cast too wide a net. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith July 9, 2011

Aguilar on a change in law that affects applications for state-issued IDs, Galbraith on how the drought is taking its toll on wildlife, Hamilton on an outsider's attempt to lower the cost of higher ed, Murphy visualizes the partisanship of House members, Ramsey on who becomes Lite Guv if David Dewhurst takes another job, Ramshaw on life in the colonias and three stories about Rick Perry — Grissom on how his death penalty stance might play in a 2012 presidential race, Root on how he cemented his reputation as one of the state's most powerful governors and Tan on the growing demand for him to speak elsewhere: The best of our best content from July 4 to July 8, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Perry Names Smitherman to Railroad Commission

By Ross Ramsey July 8, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry is moving Barry Smitherman from the Public Utility Commission to the Texas Railroad Commission, replacing Michael Williams, who resigned earlier this year to run for Congress. Full Story
Guest Column: How Partisan are Texas House Members?

By Mark P. Jones July 8, 2011

Who are the most liberal and conservative members of the Texas House? Mark Jones, chair of the political science department at Rice University, breaks it down with his 2011 analysis. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy
Red Tape, Catch-22s Slow Progress in Texas Colonias

By Emily Ramshaw July 8, 2011

Conditions have clearly improved in Texas' colonias since devious developers first established them for migrant workers in the 1950s. But many efforts have fallen short, the result of bureaucratic nightmares and a spiral of confusion and fees. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Redistricting Fights Move From Capitol to Courthouse

By Ross Ramsey July 8, 2011

Texas lawmakers actually finished their redistricting work this year, drawing new maps for Congress, the Texas House and Senate, and for the State Board of Education. But the fight is just starting, and could last beyond next year’s elections. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Supreme Court Gives OK to Leal Execution

By Morgan Smith July 7, 2011

Despite the Obama administration's plea for a stay, the U.S. Supreme Court won't stand in the way of Texas' plans to execute Mexican citizen Humberto Leal Jr. tonight. Full Story
Proof of Legal Status Now Required for State-Issued ID Cards

By Julián Aguilar July 7, 2011

An amendment attached to SB 1 during the special session will require applicants for driver's licenses and other state-issued identification cards to produce government-issued documents affirming their legal status. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texas 12th Most Obese State, Study Finds

By Ioanna Makris July 7, 2011

They say everything's bigger in Texas — and apparently, that includes the people. Texas ranks as the 12th most obese state in the U.S., according to a new study by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Courtroom Battle Begins on Abortion Sonogram Law

By Chris Hooks July 6, 2011

Opposing legal teams presented arguments at the first courtroom hearing on Texas' new abortion sonogram law on Wednesday, and U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks said he hoped to rule by September on whether the measure could take effect. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Lobo
Perry's TWIA Nemesis Loses Battle but Promises War Isn't Over

By Brandi Grissom and Jay Root July 6, 2011

Trial lawyer Steve Mostyn insists the governor and the GOP-led Legislature punished him for donating millions to Democrats by putting his clients — coastal homeowners — in the crosshairs. "It's straight-up vendetta politics," he says. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bob Daemmrich / Caleb Bryant Miller
Texplainer: What are the State's Events Trust Funds?

By Chris Hooks July 5, 2011

Hey, Texplainer: What are the State Comptroller’s Events Trust Funds, and how do they work? Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: In Closing...

By Ross Ramsey July 5, 2011

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether this will be the last special session, how many lawmakers will return for another term and what issues from the session will play in the elections next year. Full Story
For Perry, Support of Death Penalty May Be Mixed Bag Nationally

By Brandi Grissom July 5, 2011

In tough-on-crime Texas, Rick Perry has overseen the executions of 230 prisoners — more than any other modern governor. As he eyes a White House bid, his support of the death penalty could have mixed consequences. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Jacob Villanueva
Attacking the Cost of College, From the Outside

By Reeve Hamilton July 4, 2011

Michael Crosno is working on lowering the cost of higher education by applying pressure from the outside. He is not a policy wonk. He is a businessman who has built and sold a string of successful companies. His latest is called MyEdu. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
If Dewhurst Isn't Lt. Governor, Who's Next?

By Ross Ramsey July 4, 2011

If Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst moves into another job — and he’s got two ways to do that — the 31 senators will elect one of their own to serve the rest of his four-year term. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Perry Throws His Weight Around Lege and Comes Out a Winner

By Jay Root July 3, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry may or may not try to become the leader of what was once called the free world. In the meantime, he has cemented his reputation as one of the most powerful governors ever to walk the corridors of the Texas Capitol. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: The Week In Texas Politics: June 27 - July 1, 2011

By Justin Dehn July 2, 2011

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey July 2, 2011

Tan on how it all came out in the special session, Tan and Dehn on what the Tea Party folks thought of the results, Aguilar on Rick Perry's uneasy relationship with Latinos, Root on Perry's past positions on various controversies and how those would figure into a presidential race, Ramshaw on a $90 million health care mistake, yours truly on the candidates falling out of the race for the U.S. Senate, Hamilton's exit interview with former University of Texas advisor Rick O'Donnell, Grissom on Anthony Graves' payday, and Galbraith on the Texas drought's effect on hallowed athletic grounds: The best of our best content from June 27 to July 1, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson
Perry Chooses New Forensic Science Board Chairman

By Brandi Grissom July 1, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry today announced he has appointed Dr. Nizam Peerwani, a well-known Fort Worth medical examiner, to lead the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He replaces Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley as leader of the panel that has been embroiled in controversy practically since its inception. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera