Budget Update: House Passes Key Fiscal Matters Bill
After days of debate, the House finally passed a key fiscal matters bill — Senate Bill 1811 — that raises necessary funds to balance the proposed budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1dca8436635fa7e8162403f8399301c0/BD%20INC%20PItts%2012%202011)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: May 16 to May 20, 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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Capsized4_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root and Galbraith on a Dallas billionaire's radioactive waste dump victory, Grissom on the passage of eyewitness ID reform, Hamilton on the old grudges bedeviling the debate over higher ed, Philpott on the status of congressional redistricting, Ramsey on Rick Perry's un-campaign for president, Ramshaw on why medical schools are the scorned children of the state's education budget, my session-wrap interview with three veteran Democrats, M. Smith on why Rob Eissler can't pass mandate relief for school districts and Stiles on who's giving what to which Texas candidates in 2011-12 congressional races: The best of our best content from May 16 to 20, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/052011_Tribweek.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Updated: Forensic Science Commission Bill Revived
A bill that would clarify and expand the jurisdiction of the Forensic Science Commission appeared to have fizzled in the Texas House. But tonight lawmakers revived the bill and voted it out of committee. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Liveblog: The Money Debate
With a deal in the works tonight on the state's two-year budget — the biggest priority of the legislative session — the House and Senate are debating a crucial school finance measure and another critical bill that raises the money to pay for it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA8942.jpg)
![Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, with Speaker Joe Straus R-San Antonio on May 20th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Sanctuary Cities Legislation Back on Track
Sanctuary cities legislation was revived today and will be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration. A Senate committee reversed course, approving the legislation. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Feds Warn Health Care Changes Could Harm Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission is warning that one of the key health care reform bills trumpeted by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, could substantially harm consumers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA8916.jpg)
![Sen. Jane Nelson and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst introduce legislation designed to improve Texas health care.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Updated: Wentworth Blasts Straus Over Campus Carry
State Sen. Jeff Wentworth charged today that his San Antonio colleague, House speaker Joe Straus, used undue influence last night to strip an amendment allowing concealed handguns on college campuses out of a fiscal matter's bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/WentworthCMS.jpg)
![Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, prepares to leave the Senate chamber after he tried to generate support for his guns-on-campus bill SB354 on April 11, 2011]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribLive: Van de Putte on the Outside Groups
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, talked about the influence of so-called outside groups on the work of the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLiveDemos697FTP.JPG)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Three Veteran Democrats on the 82nd Session
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribLive: Ellis and Van de Putte on Sanctuary Cities
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, explained why controversial sanctuary cities legislation may not make it out of the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLiveDemos698FTP.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Turner on Straus
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, critiqued the leadership of GOP Speaker Joe Straus during the 82nd Legislative Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLiveDemos699FTP.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
VIDEO: Ellis, Turner and Van de Putte at TribLive
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLiveDemos696FTP.JPG)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Rick Perry's Un-Campaign for President
Gov. Rick Perry is in a great position in the race for president. His name is in the conversation. He’s in place if there’s a draft, but not at risk of an embarrassing loss. How can you lose a race you’re not running? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/gaggle006CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry (c) speaks with reporters outside the Senate Chamber on May 5, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
There's More Than One Way to Land a Catfish
Hand fishing — that is, sticking your hand down the throat of a fish — is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. But not for long. State lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill to legalize hand fishing, sending it to the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-Noodling-2-007.jpg)
![Avid outdoorsman Brady Knowlton is hoping noodling will become legal in Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Struggle Over Education Bill Breaks Old Alliances, Creates New Ones
State Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, is a widely liked Republican chairman with a supermajority to back him up. So why has his signature education bill this session, a mandate relief package for school districts, stumbled so badly? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Tentatively OKs Medicaid Fiscal Reform Bill
The House tentatively passed a health care bill that intends to increase efficiency and cost savings in Texas' expensive Medicaid and other health programs today — but not before adding a far-ranging variety of amendments. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Medicaid_pills_money.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Ano Lobb / Todd Wiseman -
Budget Update: Campus Handguns Wing Budget Package
The hits just keep on coming. One of the fiscal matters bills critical to the budget got thrown back to the Senate for carrying a concealed weapon; it had been amended there to include legalization of concealed handguns on college campuses. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Balanced Budget Resolution Passes Senate
More symbolic than anything else, House Concurrent Resolution 18, calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a federal balanced budget, passed out of the state Senate today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/112509_constitution001_go.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: Perry On The Budget
Gov. Rick Perry, speaking to reporters outside a ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel, said legislative leaders were moving toward a budget deal that would avoid a special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/051911_PerryPodium.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/de6cca7ae7243e4d3d6f103edcb40517/BD%20INC%20Chuy%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7d041d350653ac3860644966aea582f/BD%20INC%20Williams%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f53bfb54e615637654097a2c388de69/TT%20Event%20Elis%20Turner%20VandePutte%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b6049a7d9af132fcaecafd5ab406310/BD%20INC%20Eissler%20Touching%20Face%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8630b961cbc5d2e0aae83d8d86b0c97/BD%20INC%20Perry%20House%202011)