The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
There’s a sort of collective disbelief within the Texas political establishment about Republican Gov. Rick Perry testing the uncertain waters of a presidential campaign. But if critics have learned nothing else about Perry, they should know this: Underestimate him at your peril. Full Story
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Under a new congressional redistricting map, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, would lose 60,000 constituents who voted for President Barack Obama in 2008. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune talked with Doggett about the proposal, which the congressman said "plunged a dagger into the heart" of Travis County. Full Story
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Not only is there finally a congressional map in legislative form, but Gov. Rick Perry has added that to the list of issues lawmakers will address during the special session. Hearings on the new map have been set for Friday. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry, House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Tuesday touted the accomplishments of the regular session: cutting the state budget without raising taxes or tapping the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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A bill that seeks to ban “sanctuary cities” in Texas has been filed for the special session of the Legislature that began today. Full Story
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State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, walked the floor shaking hands and receiving hugs from his colleagues in the waning hours of the 82nd regular session, which — after 22 years in the Texas House — will be his last. Full Story
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Your lawmakers, after 140 days in Austin, didn't finish their budget work for 2012-13 during the legislative session that ended Monday, and Gov. Rick Perry called them back for another crack at it, starting this morning. Full Story
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The system is meant to kill legislation: That’s the old line often heard around the Capitol. As the session's end slams the coffin door on a slew of bills, more than a few lawmakers are taking solace in the fact that their dead bills have lots of company. Full Story
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First two items on the call from Gov. Rick Perry: The "non-revenue" and school finance bill, and the Medicaid reforms that were in SB 23. That's where we start, and the governor can add as we go. Full Story
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Republican members of the Texas House reflected on the end of the regular session late Monday. Speaker Joe Straus praised lawmakers for showing "great discipline" and focus, while GOP Caucus Chair Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, warned Democrats they made a "bad strategic" move by pushing for a special session. Full Story
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Both the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. But without a school finance deal in the Senate, Gov. Rick Perry is expected to call a special session for 8 a.m. Tuesday. Full Story
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Texas Democrats, unhappy with the GOP budget, discussed possible strategies today for the coming special session. Full Story
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Republican skepticism about public education spending joined with the governor’s determination to hold the line on spending, including on public education, is likely to carry the day — whether it takes a few hours or 30 more days. Full Story
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House and Senate Democrats said today a special session would bring transparency to the school finance process and a greater awareness of how the deep funding cuts to government services will affect Texans' daily lives. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry remarked Monday on the passing of former Texas Gov. William "Bill" Clements Jr. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry talked this morning about the late-night filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, that kept the upper chamber from voting on SB 1811, a critical piece of the budget puzzle. Full Story
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Lawmakers were hoping to get out of Austin with their business done, without the prospect of a special session this summer. Fat chance. Full Story
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As the 82nd regular session comes to a close, we pause a moment to remember some of the more notable statements of the last 140 days. And we invite you to join us by taking a special quiz we've created to commemorate the occasion. Full Story
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For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked some questions about the governor's flirtation with a presidential run and about the Legislature's decision not to take on congressional redistricting. Full Story
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Several members of the Legislature bucked their parties Saturday night in voting for or against the state budget. In their own words, here's why. Full Story
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