The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The primaries are underway and a flurry of legislative scorecards is coming out, offering both information and misinformation about the candidates. The grades are useful so long as you know how they were determined. Full Story
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Wendy Davis has now laid out the first major policy initiative of her gubernatorial campaign. The policy area — education — was not surprising, but the extensive press coverage focused on a big unanswered question: How to pay for it? Full Story
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The Public Utility Commission's proposed changes to the electric market gained a powerful detractor in recent days: the Texas Oil and Gas Association, the state's oldest and largest petroleum organization. Full Story
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The Tribune's Morgan Smith has a must-read piece on what's next for the education reform group funded by tort reform champions that left a big imprint on policy debates during last year's legislative session. Full Story
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The challenge to Texas' law placing further restrictions on abortion facilities took another step toward a widely expected hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court with oral arguments before a three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Democrats continue criticism of proposed state regulations of health navigators; critics of new abortion law face tough questions at 5th Circuit; judge says Texas Supreme Court justice can stay on ballot Full Story
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Wendy Davis looked to go on the attack last week on the issue of payday lenders, but some misread reports have her campaign dealing instead with "fuzzy math" and "'oops' moment" headlines. Full Story
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The state's longest-serving governor is beginning his last year in office. His people are finding long-term jobs, and his allies and appointees can start thinking about what happens next. Full Story
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Kinky Friedman — noted singer, humorist, novelist and hawker of tequila — has tried in vain to add “elected official” to his résumé. His most recent attempt is all about legalizing marijuana. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Stockman in gray area with Bitcoin; Azle-area residents sound off on earthquakes; experts in Canada saying giving up citizenship easier than Cruz makes it appear to be Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, may have already begun receiving donations in Bitcoin since embracing the private virtual currency. That puts him firmly in a gray area of campaign finance law. Full Story
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The legislative changes coming in the 2014 elections mean several current lawmakers will be replaced. But their voters, in almost all instances, are likely to stick with politicians of the same party. Full Story
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These are heady days for Republican consultants, with an unusually large number of open seats creating a bumper crop of primary campaigns along with a challenge: finding enough staff to work them. Full Story
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Here's a novel strategy for state officials looking to avoid answering questions from the public: When in doubt, blame the Sugar Bowl. Full Story
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With a year left to go in Rick Perry's governorship, the future of the Texas Enterprise Fund is unclear. The two front-runners to succeed him have offered mixed messages on the fund in the past. Full Story
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The political conversation is wasting no time in 2014 pivoting to what is expected to be the biggest story of the year — the November clash between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis. Full Story
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Welcome to the marquee political contest this year in Texas, where the gubernatorial primaries are all but decided and both candidates are looking toward a November showdown with knives drawn. Full Story
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2013 wasn't supposed to be a very political year, but in this very political state, it became one. Full Story
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The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a test site to further study the uses of unmanned aircraft systems. Full Story
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For Texas Democrats, 2014 marks another run at the statewide offices that have remained out of their reach for two decades. Their challenge: convincing voters that a Democrat can win a statewide race here. Full Story
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