The Weekly Recap: Jan. 17 - Jan. 21
Take a look back at the top political news from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21. Full Story
The latest voter ID news from The Texas Tribune.
Take a look back at the top political news from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21. Full Story
Usually dormant for its first two months, the Legislature could get cracking as soon as next week. Full Story
Today, Gov. Rick Perry added two more issues — voter ID legislation and a call for a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget — to his list of "emergency items" that state legislators can begin deliberating on right away. Full Story
In a party-line vote, the Texas Senate adopted its rules today without making any changes to the rule that requires the consent of two-thirds of the body to bring an issue to the floor. Of course, no change means that controversial legislation on voter ID — as it was last session — is exempt. Full Story
Texas alternates election years with governing years, with legislative sessions set in the odd-numbered years after voters choose their leaders. There are variations, but it’s got a rhythm: Choose them, watch them govern, choose, watch. The elections behind us, it’s time to see what this particular bunch will do. Full Story
On the heels of a defection by state Rep. Tan Parker, R-Denton, House GOP chairmen release a letter supporting the re-election of House Speaker Joe Straus. Full Story
Republican state lawmakers, buoyed by their party’s resounding victories on Election Day, have filed several bills ahead of the next legislative session that signal how far they're willing to go in tackling illegal immigration. State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, filed a nine-bill bundle that included a proposal to require picture IDs at polling places. Full Story
Monday was the first day that state lawmakers could file bills for the 2011 session. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the substance of the legislation is a reflection of conservative success on Election Day. Full Story
When a party wins everything, as the GOP has in Texas this year, it gets almost everything its way. It also has everything to lose. Full Story
Whether you call it a wave, a rout or a tsunami, one thing is clear: Republicans in the Texas House won a massive mandate for conservative bills — and budgeting — in the coming legislative session. Full Story
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state's voter ID law. What does that mean for Texas? Full Story
In what might just be the toughest letter you'll see exchanged among legislative colleagues, state Rep. Burt Solomons today attacked state Rep. Leo Berman over his "conspiracy theories" regarding illegal immigration. Full Story
The issue that nearly derailed the 2009 session could be back in 2011, according to the chairman of the House Elections Committee. Full Story
Remember that long, heated voter identification debate last session? State Rep. Debbie Riddle is working on a sequel. Full Story
The Republican state senator from Houston explains why the longstanding parliamentary tradition is "arbitrary" — and why his party should better exercise its power. Full Story