Analysis: A Conservative but Complicated 84th Texas Legislature
Voters sent a conservative pack of lawmakers to Austin and got conservative results. But it's more complicated than that. Full Story
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![State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, shows off his Sine Die tie on the last day of the 84th Legislative session on June 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Patrick: I'm Not Running Against Abbott in 2018
Immediately after wrapping up the legislative session Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that he would never run against Greg Abbott for governor. "This will be my last position," the lieutenant governor said. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick spoke to reporters after the Texas Senate wrapped up the 84th legislative session on June 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Storify: The Last Day of the 84th Legislative Session
The 84th Legislative Session is wrapping up today. Here's a selection of what journalists, lawmakers and others shared on social media, along with the Tribune's on-the-ground reporting. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signs bills on the last day of the 84th session June 1, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Small Visions, Small Results in Session
Texas lawmakers started the legislative session without a list of big problems to solve or election mandates to fulfill. And they are ending it without the kinds of results that fill the history books. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol, May 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Effort to Tighten Spending Cap Dies With House, Senate Far Apart
The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are shown on May 21, 2015.]()
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On Most Visible Budget Disputes, Senate Fared Better Than House
The $209.4 billion budget sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk includes hundreds of concessions made by the House and Senate. Yet on most of the high-profile disputes, the Senate won out. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, the Senate finance chairwoman, and Rep. John Otto, the House appropriations chairman.]()
Credit: Erika Rich / Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: May 29, 2015
The Dallas Morning News takes a detailed look at the evolution of the deal on tax cuts this session and finds that at a few critical junctures, the deal almost derailed entirely. Full Story
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![House Ways and Means Chair Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks with House Appropriations Chair John Otto, R-Dayton, and House Administration Chair Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Open Carry Faces Filibuster Threat in Senate
State Sen. José Rodríguez said Thursday that if the opportunity arises, he plans to filibuster a bill allowing the open carry of handguns in Texas. Full Story
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![State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, said he would consider a filibuster on open carry legislation during a Texas Tribune event on May 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bill That Increases Unemployment Taxes Moves Ahead
Legislation pushed by a politically connected company would increase unemployment taxes for Texas employers. Proponents say it would help outsourcing companies avoid "double taxation." Critics say it's a special interest perk. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, at a Texas Tribune event in 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: May 22, 2015
Four large donors to the nonprofit currently documenting Texas lawmakers this session are well-known backers of conservative causes. Full Story
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Senate Wants Property Tax Cut This Year; House Wants to Delay It
The House and Senate negotiations over a tax cut deal have narrowed to a single sticking point: when a proposed property tax cut should go into effect. Full Story
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Senate's Procedural Change Has an Impact, but Not a Dramatic One
When the Texas Senate changed requirements on bringing legislation up for debate, Democrats said a process intended to encourage compromise would suffer. Several bills have been unblocked, but the conservative steamroller that Democrats feared hasn't emerged. Full Story
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![Parliamentarian Karina Davis watches as new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Texas Senate on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: May 19, 2015
Lawmakers are quick to say that the incident that left nine biker gang members dead wasn't relevant to the discussion of open carry despite some committee witnesses who attempted to draw a connection. Full Story
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![Sen. Joan Huffman R-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Bonnen on Dan Patrick
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, talked about his relationship with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — and the prospect of compromise with the Senate on taxes. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Dennis Bonnen
Full video of my 5/13 conversation with state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Full Story
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The Brief: May 12, 2015
The nonprofit group that has been secretly videotaping legislators this session has drawn the scrutiny of the Texas Rangers, the Houston Chronicle reports. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 11, 2015
The news organization Breitbart Texas confirmed that it has received footage of lawmakers shot by a nonprofit tied to conservative causes, but it has no plans to release any of it before the end of the legislative session in three weeks. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on the opening day of the 83rd legislative session, Jan. 8, 2013.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Pre-K Bill Faces Last Hurdle in Senate Vote
After surviving Tea Party-backed opposition in the House, the early education bill that Gov. Greg Abbott has called his top priority this session could face its final test in the Texas Senate as early as Thursday. Full Story
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![Pre-kindergarten students at the Dallas Independent School District's Cesar Chavez Learning Center.]()
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The Brief: May 7, 2015
The Legislature's two chambers are still not on the same page when it comes to figuring out how to extend tax relief. The prognosis on whether they find room to compromise varies as well. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Does "Voucher" Label Fit the Bill?
You can slow down or even kill a piece of legislation with a single word or phrase, if it's poisonous enough. Full Story
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Credit: Sameer Vasta