Some Voters to Weigh in Twice This Month on Empty House Seats
Both this Saturday and then two weeks later, voters in San Antonio and Houston will weigh in on the future of their representation in the Texas House. Full Story
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![Ruth Jones McClendon (c), D-San Antonio, and Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, criticize Republican Senators and Gov. Rick Perry for an inadequate effort on April 28, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Spending More on Mental Health Care, but Waitlist Grows
Texas lawmakers tout recent improvements to the state’s mental health safety net, citing new funding and program expansions. But the state still struggles to provide psychiatric care for all patients who need it. Full Story
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![The Austin State Hospital is shown on April 29, 2016. Despite an infusion of funding from lawmakers for the state’s mental health care system, Texas struggles to provide psychiatric care for all patients who need it.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber/The Texas Tribune -
Embattled State Lawmaker on Losing End of Malpractice Suit
Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, already facing the possible suspension of his law license over charges he illegally solicited clients, was ordered Friday to pay $504,000 to a former client for keeping her share of a settlement. Full Story
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![Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, during a House Environmental Regulations Committee meeting on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: A Conversation with Glenn Hegar
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, I talked with Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar about the price of oil, economic incentives, taxes, spending, Texas vs. D.C., and more. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation about the Business Climate
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, I talked about the state's business climate with state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Bill Hammond of the Texas Association of Business, Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First, and state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation about Taxes
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, the Houston Chronicle's Chris Tomlinson talked about taxes with state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, 2014 Democratic candidate for comptroller Mike Collier, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and Dale Craymer of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation about the State Budget
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, Ross Ramsey talked about the state budget and spending with state Sens. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, and state Reps. John Otto, R-Dayton, and Donna Howard, D-Austin. Full Story
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Sunset Review Suggests Changes, New Name at Railroad Commission
The Texas Railroad Commission should beef up its oversight of oil and gas drilling, pipeline safety and abandoned wells and change its name to reflect what it actually does, the latest sunset review recommends. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Voter ID Law Will Stay in Effect For Now, U.S. Supreme Court Says
Even as a federal appeals court prepares to review the constitutionality of Texas’ controversial voter ID law, the law will remain in effect, the U.S. Supreme Court said in an order Friday. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Taking Culture Wars to the Toilets
Politically, bathroom bans are in the same category as requiring voters to show photo IDs — a favorite on the right — and renaming buildings and things after historical figures who haven’t fallen out of favor — a current liberal favorite. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht -
Pay is Climbing Fast for Texas University Leaders
In the past four years, the total pay for chancellors and presidents of Texas universities and systems has grown 70 percent, from an average total compensation of $565,000 in 2012 to an average of $955,000 now. Full Story
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![Texas chancellors William McRaven of UT, John Sharp of Texas A&M and Brian McCall of Texas State at the Senate Higher Education Committee meeting on April 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Fetal Tissue Research Limited but Important, Lawmakers Told
Texas public university officials told lawmakers on Thursday that scientific research using human fetal tissue was limited in scope but crucial to medical advances. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, listened to testimony about how researchers use fetal tissue on April 28, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles -
Bathroom Battle Begins Taking Hold in Texas
Activists, lawmakers and state leaders are eyeing Texas as the next battleground in what has become an explosive national debate: the right of transgender people to decide which bathroom they use. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was interviewed by Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith on Oct. 16, 2015.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge/ The Texas Tribune -
Video: A Conversation with San Antonio Lawmakers
Full video of my 4/26 conversation with four state representatives from San Antonio: Democrats Diego Bernal, Ina Minjarez and Justin Rodriguez and Republican Rick Galindo. Full Story
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Analysis: Texas Lawmaker Says Sunset Process Has Lost Some of Its Glow
If state Rep. Larry Phillips gets his way, the Sunset Advisory Commission could be up for the sort of operational review it's used to dishing out to other state agencies — forcing the agency to justify its existence. Full Story
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![Chairman State Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, sponsor of HB 910 open carry legislation, just before final passage of the bill April 17, 2015 by a 96-35 House vote.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lt. Gov. Patrick Slams Universities for Tuition Increases
In his most aggressive terms yet, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick excoriated Texas universities for raising their tuition in recent years, suggesting that the Texas Senate will try to limit tuition growth when it reconvenes next year. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Texas Capitol on April 15, 2015.]()
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Analysis: Texas Legislative Review Process in Need of a Review of Its Own
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is trying to rescue legislative reviews of state agencies from poachers in the lobby and in the Legislature itself. He says they've "made a mockery" of the process. Full Story
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![Speaker Joe Straus on the floor of the Texas House on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
On Way Out of Office, Some Lawmakers Keep Spending Campaign Cash
If Texas Sen. Troy Fraser is looking for a country music song to describe his recent months in office, “I’ve Been Everywhere” might do the trick. Full Story
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![Sen. Troy Fraser R-Horseshoe Bay on floor April 23]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Straus Stays Firm but Won’t Raise Voice in Texas House
Buried in a couple of vanilla announcements this week, House Speaker Joe Straus gently telegraphed some of his plans for next year’s legislative session. If you weren’t listening carefully, you probably missed it. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, campaigns for re-election at The Barn Door restaurant in San Antonio on Jan. 21, 2016.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Court Tosses Lawsuit Over Medicaid Cuts to Therapy Services
A Texas appeals court delivered a big loss on Thursday to a group of home health agencies and parents of children with disabilities who sued the state over payment cuts to in-home therapy providers. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman