state government

Senate Approves "Pork Chopper" Bill

By Brandi Grissom May 11, 2011

The newest competitive sport coming to Texas just might be pork choppering. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Seal
Update: Planned Parenthood Rallies Against Funding Cuts

By Becca Aaronson May 11, 2011

At a Capitol press conference this morning, Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and daughter of the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards, said her organization is under siege by GOP lawmakers. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Elderly, Disabled Fight Pay Cut to Service Providers

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez May 11, 2011

Advocates for the elderly and disabled are fighting a proposal in the Legislature that they say would reduce the wages of the personal care attendants who provide services through the Medicaid Community-Based Alternatives waiver program. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune
Ellis Urges Lawmakers to Act on Innocence Bills

By Aziza Musa May 11, 2011

Charles Chatman and other former prisoners who have been exonerated of their crimes are joining state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, in urging House lawmakers to act quickly and pass bills intended to reduce wrongful convictions. Full Story

Credit: The Dallas Morning News
House Poised to Pass Insurance Sunset Bill

By Emily Ramshaw May 10, 2011

House lawmakers voted Tuesday night to continue the duties and operations of the Texas Department of Insurance, giving early approval to the agency’s Sunset bill. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
House Gives Initial OK to Windstorm Insurance Reform

By Emily Ramshaw May 10, 2011

Lawmakers have given early approval to a bill to reform the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, a quasi-governmental insurer of last resort that has been the subject of ethics concerns. Full Story
More Debate, Same Result: House Passes Sanctuary Cities

By Julián Aguilar May 10, 2011

In a last-ditch effort to tweak one of their most despised bills of the session, House Democrats tried — and failed — to adopt several amendments today to the “sanctuary cities” bill first passed by the House late Monday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Wildfire Politics Grip State as Disasters Strike Elsewhere

By Ben Philpott, KUT News May 10, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry has unsuccessfully tried to get a meeting with President Barack Obama, who will be visiting Texas today, to discuss the federal government's denial of a wildfire disaster declaration in Texas, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
30 Years Later, Banks, Prosecutor Face Off Again Over Death Penalty

By Brandi Grissom May 10, 2011

In a Texarkana courtroom Monday, Delma Banks Jr. faced again the district attorney's office that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled committed misconduct when it successfully fought to send him to death row in 1980 for the shooting death of 16-year-old Richard Whitehead. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texplainer: How Does a Special Session Work?

By Andrew Weber May 10, 2011

Hey, Texplainer: How does a special session work? And how is it different from the regular session? Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
After Emotional Debate, House Passes Sanctuary Cities Legislation

By Julián Aguilar May 10, 2011

After hours of contentious and often emotional debate, the Texas House passed HB 12, the controversial "sanctuary cities" legislation. The measure was passed on a 100 to 47 vote just after midnight. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Sanctuary Cities Bill Still Stuck in House

By Julián Aguilar May 9, 2011

What will happen next in the debate over the contentious “sanctuary cities” bill is anyone’s guess. As the afternoon bleeds into night, Democrats in the Texas House are still huddling on the floor to discuss their next move. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Amendments Piled Onto Education Finance Bill

By Becca Aaronson May 9, 2011

Senators today amended an education finance reform bill to allow community college students to carry concealed handguns on campus, increase the cost of cigarettes and allow drastic changes to university administration. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Wentworth Gets a Win for Campus Carry

By Aziza Musa May 9, 2011

Sen. Jeff Wentworth is relentless with campus carry, and today, the San Antonio Republican got his way. Full Story
Texplainer: Are There Deadlines for Considering Legislation?

By Ross Ramsey May 9, 2011

Hey, Texplainer: What's all the talk about deadlines at the Legislature this week? Aren't there three weeks left in the session? Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Birdwell Tries, Fails to Hike Tuition for Undocumented

By Becca Aaronson May 9, 2011

An effort by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, to require undocumented Texas students to pay out-of-state tuition rates sparked emotional debate in the Senate today, and forced Birdwell to pull the measure down. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
Senate Adopts Voter ID Report

By Aziza Musa May 9, 2011

The state Senate today approved a conference committee report on the voter identification bill that includes changes that would allow citizens to use a new form of documentation to cast their ballots. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Fraudulent Fishermen Could Face Felony

By Becca Aaronson May 9, 2011

Fraudulent fishermen better reel it in. The Senate passed a bill today to make cheating in a fishing tournament up to a third-degree felony, sending the measure on to the governor. Full Story

Credit: John Menke
Senate OKs Concealed Carry for Lawmakers

By Becca Aaronson May 9, 2011

Texas lawmakers — current and former — may soon be able to pack heat at church, the hospital, a sporting event or even bars. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Inside Intelligence: With the End of the Session Looming...

By Ross Ramsey May 9, 2011

For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers will agree on a budget and redistricting during the regular session and about what might be left undone. Full Story