State Senate Finishes Starting
The beginning, at least for the Texas Senate, came to an end this week. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Charting the Budget
The first budgets from the House and Senate are out, marked by their authors as mere starting points. Here's how they compare to each other, and to the current budget. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Interactive Map: Senate Committees by Districts of Sitting Members
The members of the Texas Senate have been placed in their committees, but where in the state do the committee members come from? Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Senate. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy -
Perry Talks Water, Tax Relief in State of the State
In his seventh State of the State address, Gov. Rick Perry ignored controversial issues and urged state lawmakers to do the nitty gritty work of government: fund water projects, build more roads and improve education. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texplainer: What is the Blocker Bill?
The blocker bill, a tradition of the Texas Senate, gives the minority party power, because it requires that two-thirds of the Senate must agree before a bill is heard on the floor. Full Story
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![January 9th, 2013: Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston who is in favor of eliminating the two-thirds rule, speaks on the Senate floor. Senators have agreed to leave the rule as is.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Race for SD-6 Seat Heads Toward Final Stretch
Slightly more than 8,200 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period in the special election to replace the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos. Election day is Saturday in the race, which is likely to head to a runoff. Full Story
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![State Rep. Carol Alvarado (left), D-Houston, and Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia are among the eight candidates vying to replace the late Sen. Mario Gallegos.]()
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Senators Draw Lots to Determine Terms
The Texas Senate relied on chance Wednesday to determine which of them would serve for four years and which would serve for two years. For some legislators, the luck of the draw could have bigger political implications. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lost in Translation: From Legislature to English
The Legislature has its own jargon, and it sometimes feels like members are speaking a different language. Blocker bills? WADA? Chubbing? LARS? Here's a guide — in the form of a multiple-choice quiz — to what they're saying. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Ben Hasson / Kym McLeod -
Dewhurst Appoints Senate Committees
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst filled out his committee assignments late Friday afternoon, supplementing the chairmanship shuffle he announced late last year. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on opening day of 83rd Legislative Session, Jan. 8, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Slideshow: Sen. John Whitmire Through the Years
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, served 10 years in the Texas House before becoming the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate. Here's a photographic look back at the dean of the Senate's 40 years in elected office in Texas. Full Story
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![Whitmire at the front of the House chamber during the 64th session in 1975. House Speaker Billy Clayton is at the podium.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Texas State Library and Archives Commission -
Budget Plans Target Incentives and Testing
The budget proposals released by lawmakers this week show an interest in revamping school testing and the state's economic incentive programs. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Mikhail Popov -
Interactive: A Look at Growth in State Spending
The Texas Senate and House have released their first drafts of the state's next two-year budget. Use this interactive to explore how state spending has grown since 2004. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Ryan Murphy / Mike Rastiello / Todd Wiseman -
T-Squared: It's Only Bidness
Twenty journalists have spent nine months researching the personal financial interests of members of the 83rd Legislature. Eyebrows — and hackles — may be raised, but this kind of transparency is good for Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers Talk of Bold Measures This Session
Momentum is growing for Texas lawmakers to commit large amounts of money to address the state's long-term infrastructure needs, particularly water and transportation. Full Story
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Getting a Closer Look at the Makeup of the Lege
The state Legislature is diverse in some ways and homogenous in others. Here's a look at Texas' 83rd class of lawmakers, from their employment and higher education to their age, gender and demographics. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy -
Dewhurst: Set Money Aside for School Lawsuits
In a wide-ranging interview, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about the state budget, education, immigration, water, transportation, and his hopes and plans for the legislative session that began this week. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on opening day of 83rd Legislative Session, Jan. 8, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Preserves Two-Thirds Rule
Senators approved a new set of rules for the session on Wednesday that will allow a third of the Senate to continue to have the power to keep bills from coming up for a vote. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst swears in Sen. Leticia Van de Putte as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate on Jan. 8, 2013, the first day of the 83rd legislative session.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Inside the 83rd Session: The Seating Charts
Use these seating charts to locate where the 150 members of the House and the 31 members of the Texas Senate sit in their respective chambers. Full Story
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Slideshow: The 83rd Texas Legislature Gets Underway
Pomp and circumstance filled the pink dome for the start of the 83rd Texas legislative session on Tuesday, and the Tribune cameras were there to capture the scenes. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Session's First Day Long on Pomp, but Leaders Also Address Priorities
Texas legislators started their 83rd session with leaders who want to focus on water, infrastructure, budget transparency, education — and, perhaps, some tax relief. Full Story
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![The senators of the 83rd legislative session were sworn in Jan. 8, 2013, the first day of the session.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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