Texas moves forward with cuts of therapy services for disabled children
In two weeks, Texas will officially enact cuts of Medicaid reimbursement rates for disabled children's therapy services. Full Story
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![Lauretta Jackson, a physical therapist from Any Baby Can, works with Sara weekly to improve her body strength. Nonprofit therapy providers are worried budget cuts made by lawmakers will put them out of business.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Analysis: Some politicians want your attention and some don’t
It makes political sense for statewide officials like the governor and the lieutenant governor to do things that attract favorable attention from voters. Speakers of the House live a little farther from the limelight. Full Story
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![Joe Straus, Texas Speaker of the House, at an 85th Legislative Session preview at the Dallas Regional Chamber on Sept. 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
For fifth time, lawmakers to decide ban on texting while driving
Texas remains one of four states without a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Rep. Tom Craddick and Sen. Juddith Zaffirini plan to try again. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
In latest voter ID filing, feds argue Texas discriminated on purpose
The Obama administration is arguing that Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated when they passed a strict voter ID law in 2011. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton refuted the arguments in his own filing. Full Story
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![Voter ID regulations posted at a south Texas early voting location on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
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Trump administration could boost voucher push
A Trump administration may put wind in the sails of Texas lawmakers pushing for "school choice," allowing parents to use taxpayer money to send their children to charter, private and religious schools. Full Story
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![Donald Trump rallies a crowd of veterans at Drake University on Jan. 28, 2016, while other Republican presidential candidates hold a final Des Moines debate prior to the Iowa caucuses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas political changes in the wind — or the snow blower
The assembly of a Trump administration in Washington, D.C. could send a ripple through the political waters in Texas, particularly if the president-elect hires from within the state's congressional delegation. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to the Texas delegation at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on July 21, 2016.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn't everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Finding out exactly what the election winners have in mind
It won't change the color of the leaves on the trees, but the civics seasons in Texas have changed. Say goodbye to the elections and hello to the legislative session. Full Story
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![Monday was the first day lawmakers could pre-file legislation for the upcoming 83rd Texas Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
With Trump in D.C., Texas might spend less on border
If President-Elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to dramatically beef up security on the U.S.-Mexico border, leading Texas lawmakers say they might quit spending so much state tax money on it. Full Story
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![From Roma, Texas, Border Patrol Agent Isaac Villegas looks out over the Rio Grande and into Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Mexico, on March 8, 2016.]()
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Analysis: Texas GOP, no stranger to facing off with feds, now faces a shift
They might not have predicted this, but Republicans won full control of the federal government in Tuesday's elections. For Texas Republicans, that removes a major political foil. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond. Full Story
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![As the doors open at 7 a.m. on Election Day 2016, people stream into the George Washington Carver Library in Austin, Texas to cast their vote.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: An election without a mandate for Texas lawmakers
Some elections are referendums on issues, public votes that give lawmakers a good idea of what voters want. This election isn't one of those. 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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GOP operative John Colyandro to lead "school choice" lobbying group
Longtime GOP political operative John Colyandro has been tapped to head a new organization that will aggressively push Texas lawmakers to approve education savings accounts. Full Story
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![Executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and the Texas Conservative Coalition, John Colyandro gives testimony during a September 13, 2016 Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Texas politicians merely echoing the message they’re receiving
Sure, there's a lot of pushing and shoving going on among the state's elected officials, but there's a lot of pushing and shoving going on with Texas voters, too. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz, flanked by Gov. Greg Abbott and former Governor Rick Perry, campaigns in San Antonio a day ahead of Super Tuesday, Feb 29, 2016.]()
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Texas lawmakers mulling addition of paper backups to voting machines
Amid concerns about "rigged" voting machines, both Gov. Greg Abbott and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst have expressed interest in legislation to add paper trail backups to the state's electronic voting machines. Full Story
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![An election judge in south Texas tests a voting machine for accuracy after the end of voting hours on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
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Abbott, Patrick disagree on special session for school funding
Gov. Greg Abbott turned down Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's suggestion that he call a special session to overhaul school funding. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
UT/TT Poll: Bathrooms, the Constitution and other hot Texas issues
A slight majority of Texas voters — and an overwhelming majority of Republican voters — think transgender people should use the restrooms that match their birth gender, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Texas Republicans want to narrow scope of same-sex marriage ruling
Texas Republicans are asking the state Supreme Court to reconsider a case about benefits in what appears to be an attempt to narrow the scope of the landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Full Story
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![Couples embrace at the conclusion of the "Big Gay Wedding" ceremony on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol on July 4 after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June.]()
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UT/TT Poll: Texas voters give tough grades to top officials, institutions
Texas voters give tough grades to federal officials and better grades to state officials. Full Story
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Despite boasts, state has not blocked Planned Parenthood funds
Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials are largely silent on why they haven't fulfilled their vow to cut off funds to women's health programs offered to poor Texas women by Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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Credit: John Jordan