House Speaker's Race is Bluffing Game for Now
In the race for speaker of the Texas House, everybody has the votes they need. Or they're well on their way. Or at least that's what they're telling the rest of us. Full Story
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Speaker Race: Simpson Praying, Hughes Staying
House Speaker Joe Straus has the votes to win reelection, according to his loyalists. But he's got a declared opponent and another in the wings, and they've got a month to work with. Full Story
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Tax Incentives Could Prove Divisive For GOP
Republican leaders like to say government should just get out of the way and let the private sector do work its unfettered magic. But during the session, they may have a hard time squaring their stated philosophy with their support for tax giveaways to private industry. Full Story
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TribLive: Smitherman on Conflicts of Interest
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman explained his opposition to Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations intended to address perceived conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Bill Renews Debate on Merging Top Two Courts
State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond has filed a bill to abolish the Court of Criminal Appeals and bring all of its related cases under the Texas Supreme Court. He's triggering a debate that goes all the way back to Reconstruction. Full Story
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Straus Says He's Ready for "Serious" Session
Despite organized efforts to unseat him, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday he is confident his colleagues will re-elect him to the post so he can focus the 2013 legislative session on “serious issues” for a fast-growing state. Full Story
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Now What? Capitol Press Vets Look Ahead
On Nov. 8, the Tribune and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project asked four veteran members of the Capitol press corps to forecast the coming controversies in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: About the Leadership...
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the power of the three leaders in the Capitol, and a ranking of who's strongest and weakest among the statewide elected officials in Texas. Full Story
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Now What? Public Policy in the 83rd Session
On November 8, the Tribune and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project asked four experts on state health, water, transportation and education policy to preview the fights over those issues in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Would GOP Balk if Dems Back Bid to Oust Straus?
Speaker Joe Straus won his leadership post with the support of Democrats — which gives some conservatives fits. If his just-announced challenger, David Simpson, builds a similar bipartisan coalition, can he hold on to conservative support? Full Story
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The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Villarreal and Campbell
At our Hot Seat conversation at Trinity University in San Antonio, state Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, and state Sen.-elect Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, sparred about public education, health care and other issues in play in the upcoming 83rd session. Full Story
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Simpson Files for Speaker, Wins Backing of Hughes
State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, filed papers to challenge Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, for speaker of the House, he said in a letter to colleagues Monday morning. Shortly after, state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, dropped out of the speaker's race and endorsed Simpson. Full Story
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For Donors, the Political Season Comes to an End
The "late train" — the rush of supplicants making kiss-and-make-up contributions after an election — ended this weekend with the beginning of a blackout that outlaws political donations during a legislative session. Full Story
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Newsreel: Speaker's Race, Campaign Finance Deadline
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Who's in – or thinking of jumping in – the race for House speaker? And the legislative session blackout on campaign contributions starts this weekend — after a flurry of fundraising over the last two weeks. Full Story
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In Higher Education, More Bang Without More Bucks
For higher education in the 83rd Legislative Session, the central theme will be finding ways to get more bang for the same amount bucks, if not less. Full Story
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TribLive: Seliger on the Cost of a College Education
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, discussed the prospect of tuition reregulation and whether the state is adequately funding higher ed. Full Story
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TribuneFest: A Conversation with Kel Seliger
At the Trib's November 29 symposium on higher education at Texas A&M University, I talked tuition deregulation, changing demographics and other hot-button issues with state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the new chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Full Story
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For Speaker, a Different Kind of Challenge
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has at least one opponent in his bid for a third term in that job, but the circumstances that undid his predecessors in the post don't exist now. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: About the Infrastructure...
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about big-ticket infrastructure issues — whether lawmakers will approve any of them and where they might look for money. Full Story
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Lawmakers' Bills Target Perceived Overreach by Federal Government
Two bills filed by lawmakers recently seek to restrict the actions of federal agencies in Texas. Lawmakers say the bills are meant to stand up for Texans' freedom, but federal agencies say practices targeted by the bills keep people safe. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Trevor McGoldrick / Lotus Carroll
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