Every Texan in the U.S. House just voted for sanctions against Russia
Texans in the U.S. House on Tuesday uniformly backed sanctions against Russia and limited President Donald Trump's power to ease them. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2017.]()
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Congressman: If female GOP senators were South Texas men, I'd challenge them to a duel
A Texas GOP congressman says if the three female Republican senators who oppose a bill repealing Obamacare were men from South Texas, he might challenge them to a duel. One of those senators was caught on a hot mic mocking him. Full Story
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Texas Senate panel targets mail-in ballot fraud after high-profile case
A bill that largely relies on increased penalties to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud is headed to the Senate floor. Its movement is a new path for lawmakers who previously focused on rare in-person voter fraud. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Senate committee passes 'bathroom bill' after 10 hours of testimony
For the third time this year, state lawmakers on Friday held a marathon hearing on measures to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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![Citizens line up to testify during a July 21, 2017 Senate State Affairs Committee hearing where Senators will take up Senate Bill 3, the "bathroom bill."]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Kay Bailey Hutchison vows toughness on Russia as NATO ambassador
Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas told a panel of Senate lawmakers on Thursday that she will take a hard line on Russia if she is confirmed as ambassador to NATO. She appears to be on track for confirmation. Full Story
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![Former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, nominee to be U.S. ambassador to NATO, attends her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building on July 20, 2017.]()
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National Episcopal Church urges defeat of Texas "bathroom bill"
The national Episcopal Church is urging Texas House Speaker Joe Straus to remain "steadfast" in his opposition to legislation to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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![Faith leaders from around Texas gather at First United Methodist Church near the Texas Capitol as the Texas Believes coalition on Feb. 9, 2017. The group is opposing several upcoming anti-LGBT bills and is rejecting the use of faith as a political weapon to justify discrimination.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate gives OK to must-pass "sunset" legislation in midnight vote
A fast-moving Senate gave approval to critical “sunset legislation” after midnight Thursday, using two bills to extend the life of five state agencies held political hostage at the end of the regular legislative session. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appears in the Texas Senate with pizza and soda as senators arrive for a midnight vote during the special session on July 20, 2017]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Latest Texas fundraising totals shed light on key races
Statewide officials, state lawmakers and the candidates who'd like to unseat them faced a Monday deadline to report their campaign finances for the first half of the year. Here are some highlights. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Trump administration: Trust Texas on voter education spending
Federal courts should trust Texas to properly educate voters on new ID rules ahead of the 2018 elections instead of insisting that money be spent on a marketing campaign, President Trump’s justice department argues. Full Story
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![Voters line up at an early voting station in Houston on Oct. 24, 2016. Poll workers said the lines were much longer than normal for early voting.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Senate moves to fast-track special session agenda
On the opening day of the special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took a step to fast-track two bills reauthorizing the Texas Medical Board and four other state agencies jeopardized by inaction during the regular session. Full Story
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![State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, is challenged by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as she debates Sen. Kelly Hancock on a point of order in the Texas Senate during the first day of the special session on July 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
At the Texas Capitol, the bathroom bill is back
Both proponents and opponents of a Texas "bathroom bill" are steeling themselves once again as a special session kicks off in which Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to add the hot-button issue to the agenda. Full Story
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![Activists from Austin's LGBT community protested proposals to restrict bathroom use for transgender people on the steps of the Texas Capitol on June 28, 2017.]()
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As Abbott's special session begins, ill will lingers between Straus, Patrick
The coming weeks will reveal whether the ongoing hostility between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus has paralyzed state policymakers as they take up the 20 items on Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Joe Straus on the dais in the Texas House chamber for a ceremony memorializing the nation's veterans on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Four Texas Republicans in Congress were outraised by Democratic challengers
Four Texans in Congress – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and U.S. Reps. John Culberson of Houston, Ted Poe of Humble and Lamar Smith of San Antonio – were outraised by a Democratic challenger in the last quarter. Full Story
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![Clockwise from top left: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Reps. John Culberson, R-Houston, Ted Poe, R-Humble and Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio.]()
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Abbott: I'm keeping a list of lawmakers who oppose me during special session
Gov. Greg Abbott says he's going to keep a list of lawmakers who oppose his agenda during the special legislative session, and that property tax reform is his top priority. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Mulling third match with Hurd, Gallego says he's "energized about 2018"
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego is considering another run for the U.S. House seat he lost to Republican Will Hurd. Full Story
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![Former US Rep Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, concedes the 2016 Texas 23rd Congressional District race to Will Hurd, a San Antonio Republican, on Nov. 9, 2016]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
IBM ups the ante in fight against bathroom bill
As Texas lawmakers reconvene for a special legislative session, IBM and other major companies are re-upping their opposition to legislation they say would discriminate against transgender children and harm its Texas recruiting efforts. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holds a press conference outside Senate chambers two hours after House Speaker Joe Straus told reporters the House declines to negotiate with the Senate on its proposed compromise on a “bathroom bill.”]()
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At tail end of Texas redistricting trial, judges skeptical of state's defense
A three-judge panel peppered state lawyers with questions on Saturday that suggested they were having trouble swallowing the state’s defense of political maps that minority groups say minimize the political clout of Latino and black Texans. Full Story
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After dissident's death, Cruz hopes to change Chinese Embassy address
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is pushing legislation to rename the street outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., after pro-democracy dissident Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in Chinese custody on Thursday. Full Story
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![Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo in 2010.]()
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On day 5 of redistricting trial, Texas rebuts claim that current political maps discriminate
As lawyers for Texas defended the state's political maps against charges of intentional discrimination, a lawmaker at the center of the case invoked "legislative privilege" Friday to avoid answering some questions. Full Story
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![Rep. Drew Darby discusses the upcoming 83rd Texas legislative session at The Texas Tribune Festival 2012.]()
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With no opposition in sight, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott formally launches 2018 re-election bid
Before sign-waving supporters, Gov. Greg Abbott formally launched his re-election campaign Friday in San Antonio, days before he brings the Texas Legislature back for a special session. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott announces he's running for reelection, on July 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune
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