84th Legislative Session

Video: Bridging the Digital Divide

by Evan Smith Dec. 4, 2015

On 12/4, I talked about the digital divide in Texas with Juanita Budd of Austin Free-Net, Becky Garlick of Blinn College, Will Reed of Technology for All and state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. Full Story
Video: The Future of Health Care Policy

by Evan Smith Dec. 3, 2015

On 12/2, I talked about the future of health care policy in Texas with state. Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton; state Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin; and Dr. Paul Ogden of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Full Story
Video: Higher Ed and the 84th Legislature

by Evan Smith Nov. 17, 2015

At our 11/16 symposium on higher education, Matthew Watkins talked to state Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo; state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin; and Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes about how higher ed issues played in the 84th Legislature. Full Story
Video: Seliger on UT's Plans for a Houston Campus

by Evan Smith Nov. 17, 2015

At our 11/16 symposium on higher education, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, expressed skepticism about the University of Texas System's plans for a new campus in Houston. Full Story
Ahead of 2017 Session, Straus Issues Directives for Texas House

by Aman Batheja Nov. 4, 2015

House Speaker Joe Straus issued more than 150 interim charges Wednesday, directing committees to study issues such as the effectiveness of border security operations and the impact of the plummeting cost of oil on the local economy. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Video: Hecht on U.S. Supreme Court "Lawlessness"

by Evan Smith Oct. 29, 2015

At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court addressed the recent pushback against the "lawlessness" of the U.S. Supreme Court's unelected jurists. Full Story
Video: Hecht on the School Finance Case

by Evan Smith Oct. 29, 2015

At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court talked about the timing of a possible ruling on the state's appeal in the school finance lawsuit. Full Story
Video: A Conversation with Nathan Hecht

by Evan Smith Oct. 29, 2015

Full video of my 10/29 conversation with Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court. Full Story
2015 Tribune Festival: Videos of the Keynote Sessions

by Texas Tribune Staff Oct. 28, 2015

During the keynote sessions of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival, we featured one-on-one conversations with Dan Patrick, Joe Straus, Nancy Pelosi and Julián Castro. You can watch those interviews and videos of our other keynote sessions here. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Shelby Knowles
Video: Their Last Sine Die

by Texas Tribune Staff Oct. 28, 2015

Here's video of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival's "Their Last Sine Die" panel, which featured former state Rep. Joe Farias and state Reps. Patricia Harless and Jim Keffer. Full Story
2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the State Keynote Track

by Ayan Mittra and Emily Albracht Oct. 24, 2015

The State Keynote track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival included interviews with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, as well as a pair of panel discussions focused on the Texas Legislature. Full Story
God & Governing: The PBS Special

by Texas Tribune Staff Oct. 24, 2015

Check out the full 30-minute PBS special of "God and Governing," our project on the intersection of faith and politics at the Texas Legislature. Full Story
Video: Joe Straus at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival

by Texas Tribune Staff Oct. 23, 2015

Here's full video of our conversation with Texas House Speaker Joe Straus on Oct. 17 at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
Video: How Conservative Was the 84th Session?

by Texas Tribune Staff Oct. 23, 2015

Here's video of our "Really, How Conservative Was the 84th Session?" panel from Oct. 17 at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival. Panelists included State Sens. Paul Bettencourt and Konni Burton and state Reps. Stephanie Klick, Matt Rinaldi and Jonathan Stickland. Full Story
How Much Do You Save if Proposition 1 Passes?

by Aman Batheja and Miles Hutson Oct. 21, 2015

Among the ballot items that Texas voters are deciding Tuesday: an effort by state lawmakers to lower Texans’ property tax bills. Use our interactive tool to see how much would you save if Proposition 1 passes. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
Analysis: An Election of Low Interest to Voters, High Interest to Others

by Ross Ramsey Oct. 19, 2015

Do the math: The support of two or three out of every 100 people, depending on the year, is all that’s needed to decide the constitutional changes the rest of us have to live by. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
At TribFest Opener, Patrick Makes a Spirited Conservative Pitch

by Ross Ramsey Oct. 16, 2015

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unapologetically stuck to his guns in an on-stage interview Friday evening — and his religious views, and the Legislature’s conservative budget and the state’s reluctance to embrace Medicaid expansion and the federal health care law. Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge/ The Texas Tribune
Video: Dan Patrick at The Texas Tribune Festival

by Evan Smith Oct. 16, 2015

Here's full video of my conversation Friday with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
Patrick Signals Interest in More Tax Cuts in 2017

by Aman Batheja Oct. 14, 2015

Following a legislative session in which lawmakers debated whether to cut property taxes, business taxes, sales taxes or a combination of the three, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an interest Wednesday in continuing the conversation. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Analysis: Patrick Makes An Old Bill Come Due

by Ross Ramsey Oct. 12, 2015

Legislation that would have blocked public employees from paying union or association dues with paycheck deductions failed last session. But the Senate is reopening the issue, and it could play against a powerful House chairman up for reelection next year. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich