Texas Legislature

Uncertainty Over Maps Dampens Fundraising

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 17, 2012

With Texas' redistricting maps still the subject of court battles, the date of the primary elections remains uncertain. And that is causing a fundraising hurdle for a number of candidates. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Inside Intelligence: About That Primary Election...

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 16, 2012

For our latest nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked about the sliding primary dates, who it helps and hurts, and whether there is still a need for federal review of the state's political maps. Full Story
Policy Group Already Working to Shape 2013 Session

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Jan. 13, 2012

The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation today wrapped up its annual legislative primer, which has become a must-attend for state Republican leaders. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how the group is already working to influence next year's legislative session. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Sonogram Law Must Be Enforced Immediately, Court Says

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 13, 2012

Texas abortion providers were hoping they'd have a few more weeks to start abiding by a state law requiring them to play the heartbeat of the fetus and describe its image on a sonogram before performing the procedure. They're not going to get it. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Lobo
The Supremes Try to Untangle Texas Redistricting

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 13, 2012

The Supreme Court examines a simple question without an easy answer: Delay the Texas elections, or use maps that haven't been vetted? Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Primaries: The Maps Are Just the Start of It

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 13, 2012

Once they have maps, election administrators say they need 60 to 80 days to put an election together, and the April 3 primaries won't be possible, they say, if they don't have maps by the end of the month. That's just a couple of weeks. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
The Stopped Clock

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 13, 2012

Texas politics are on hold. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: Those Elusive Elections

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 12, 2012

For this week's edition of Inside Intelligence, we asked about election delays, redistricting maps, who is hurt and helped by delays, and whether Texas still ought to be covered by the Voting Rights Act. Full Story
TribLive: Sullivan on His Infamous Scorecard

By Evan Smith Jan. 12, 2012

At this morning's TribLive conversation, conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan defended the infamous scorecard he publishes grading the fiscal conservatism of state lawmakers. Full Story
TribLive: Sullivan on Straus

By Evan Smith Jan. 12, 2012

At this morning's TribLive conversation, conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan explained what he doesn't like about Speaker Joe Straus' leadership of the Texas House. Full Story
TribLive: A Conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan

By Evan Smith Jan. 12, 2012

Full video of our 1/12 TribLive conversation with the conservative activist, who heads the watchdog groups Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Full Story
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 114

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 11, 2012

Evan, Ross, Emily and Reeve analyze the New Hampshire primary results, consider what lies ahead for Rick Perry, and get updates on abortion sonograms and redistricting. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
If Courts Take More Time, So Will Primaries

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 11, 2012

If the federal courts don't come up with political maps in the next three weeks, Texas probably won't be able to hold primary elections on April 3. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Judges: Texas Can Enforce Sonogram Law Now

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 10, 2012

A panel of federal appellate judges has authorized Texas officials to enforce a controversial abortion sonogram law while its constitutionality is being challenged in court. Full Story
The Redistricting Arguments, and Who Made Them

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 10, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in Perez v. Perry, the current Texas redistricting case. Some selected quotes — some from judges, some from lawyers — follow. Full Story

Credit: Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court Mulls Another Delay of State's Primaries

By Matt Largey, KUT News Jan. 10, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a case that could determine what Texas’ legislative and congressional districts look like. Matt Largey of KUT News reports from Washington, D.C. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Supreme Court Hears Texas Redistricting Case

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 9, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about Texas redistricting today and now must decide whether the state's primaries must be delayed to buy time for the courts to approve new maps. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Politicus Interruptus

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 5, 2012

The bet here is that the U.S. Supreme Court wouldn't have taken the Texas redistricting case if they thought it was a good idea to hold elections using the San Antonio court's plan. If it was, why issue a stay, set arguments, and risk delaying the primaries? Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Texas Payday Lenders Face New Rules, Scrutiny

By Thanh Tan Jan. 5, 2012

Payday lenders are about to come under the microscope — the result of new laws designed to curb predatory lending and prevent a cycle of "debt and dependency." Full Story

Credit: James Malone
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Eiland and Taylor

By Evan Smith Jan. 4, 2012

At our Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on 12/14, state Reps. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other byproducts of the 82nd Session. Full Story