After Texas Ebola Cases, Bill Seeks to Fix Outbreak Response
Months after three people in Texas were diagnosed with Ebola, several key state lawmakers on Wednesday proposed ways to prepare the state for the next disease-related emergency. Full Story
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![Dr. Brett Giroir, center, head of the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response, speaks at a press conference on Oct. 6, 2014, with state Sen. Charles Schwertner, left, and Gov. Rick Perry, right.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Was 21CT Contract Built on Lie to Federal Agency?
When the Texas Health and Human Services Commission asked the federal government for $18 million to foot most of the bill for new Medicaid fraud tracking software, it assured Washington counterparts the deal had been competitively bid. That was not true. Full Story
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![Former HHSC Inspector General Doug Wilson, left, and his former second-in-command, Jack Stick.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel -
Stick's Investigators Got Badges, and Taxpayers Got the $36,000 Bill
Emblems of Jack Stick’s days as the state health agency's deputy inspector general remain: roughly 300 high-dollar badges he designed and ordered for his investigators at a cost to taxpayers of $36,000. Full Story
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![A photo of one of the $80 badges ordered by Jack Stick (left) when he was HHSC deputy inspector general.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel -
Inside Texas Politics: "Crazy State"
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey: a widely shared video in which a Florida congressman calls Texas a "crazy state." Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on Feb. 8y, 2014.]()
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Abbott Signals a Break From the Perry Era
Taken together, Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions in the early days of his gubernatorial administration seem to belie the notion — circulated by opponents during the 2014 campaign — that he would be Rick Perry 2.0. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott shake hands after reviewing Matthew 20:25-28 in the Gov. Pat Neff Bible on Jan. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Raising Political Money the Indirect Way
State officeholders cannot raise money for their own campaigns during legislative sessions, but they can ask supporters to back their favorite charities, or even the political parties that support them during election season. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry delivers a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Roundup: McRaven, Texting and Driving, Road Funding
This week in the Roundup: The new University of Texas System chancellor takes a stand on educating undocumented students, there's a renewed push for a statewide ban on texting while driving, and a proposed bill could land more funding for Texas roads. Full Story
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Video: McRaven on Graduation Rates
At our 2/5 conversation, Admiral William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, talked about the flagging four-year graduation rates at our public universities — and what to do about them. Full Story
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Video: McRaven on Campus Carry
At our 2/5 conversation, Admiral William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, explained his opposition to campus carry legislation. Full Story
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Drug Testing for Welfare Benefits Back on the Table
After a few failed legislative attempts, Republican lawmakers are once again working to make drug testing mandatory for some Texans who receive state welfare benefits. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: It's a Mess, but It's Someone Else's Mess
Government misadventures, like the current contracting scandals in Texas, don't make voters happy. But they don't necessarily hurt the people in office — especially when it's easy to hang the blame on the officeholders they replaced. Full Story
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![The day before Greg Abbott was sworn in as governor, he met with his predecessor, Gov. Rick Perry, who marked the 1925 Pat Neff Bible on Jan. 19, 2015, and passed it on to Abbott.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Families Urge Support for Texting-While-Driving Ban
More than 30 families who have lost someone to distracted driving gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to rally support for legislation that would ban texting while driving in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Tim Caynes -
Abbott Aide: Maintain Film Incentive Program Funding
While state lawmakers have expressed interest in a widespread curtailing of the state’s economic incentive program, Gov. Greg Abbott is requesting $95 million for the state's film incentive program in the next budget. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott at a Nov. 24, 2014, press event on President Obama's executive action on immigration.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The HHSC-21CT Contract Investigations: How Did It Get to This Point?
A now-canceled deal between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and a software maker is the subject of scrutiny and is also causing greater talk of state contract reforms. Here's a look back at the deal and what led to the current investigations. Full Story
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![Irene Williams, the CEO of 21CT, and Jack Stick, who recently resigned as the top lawyer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Erich Schlegel -
Rep. White Explains Her Views on Muslims
In an interview with the Tribune, state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, said she didn't intend to ignite controversy with her comments last week about Muslims, but stood by her suspicions of the religion. Full Story
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![Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, in her Capitol office.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Disclosure Rules Let Lobbyists Split Tabs and Hide Names
Lobbyists are required to report everything they spend on government officials, including expensive meals at fancy restaurants. But state disclosure laws allow lobbyists to split the bills to avoid naming whom they've wined and dined. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Rand Paul's Recent Moves
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey talk about U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who's showing all the signs that he's gearing up for a presidential run. Full Story
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![Tribune executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" on Feb. 1, 2015.]()
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Abbott: Common Core Users Experiencing "Buyer's Remorse"
On Fox News Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott and former U.S. Education Secretary Bill Bennett debated Common Core – standards overseen by the National Governors Association that Texas lawmakers refuse to use. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Playlist: Thursday
There was no shortage of news coming out of the Capitol this week, but last Thursday was so singular that we built our entire playlist around the events of that day. Kicking things off: Wes Montgomery’s cover of “A Day In The Life” by The Beatles. Full Story
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In State Contracting, Failure is an Option
Texas's tendency to privatize state services has led to contracting scandals erupting regularly. But a history of cost overruns or bad performance hardly bars a company from winning future jobs. Full Story
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