3.2 Billion From Rainy Day
Texas House Appropriations committee approves use of 3.2 billion of rainy day fund for 2011 budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Appropriation.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Ban Synthetic Drugs, Lawmakers Say
Synthetic drugs and hallucinogenic plants shouldn't stand a chance in Texas, lawmakers on the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee said today, as they considered a set of bills that would ban the substances. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/k2_syntheticMarijuana.jpg)
![Synthetic marijuana]()
-
Appropriations Votes to Spend $3.1 Billion From Rainy Day Fund
Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RainyDayFund.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
GOP Lawmakers Call for Reform, Guest-Worker Program
Calling on Washington to fix the country’s “discriminatory” immigration system, Hispanic Republicans in the Texas Legislature also fired off the first salvos in what could be a divisive battle within the party over immigration legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Hispanic-Republican-Conference-Officers-with-Attorney-General-Abbott.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Perry: Campaign's Social Media Warrants a Book
Gov. Rick Perry, who has 52,000 fans on Facebook, said Tuesday that his 2010 re-election campaign's use of social media could make history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PoliticoPerry.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Politico -
Update: Protesters Gather Against Paddling
Some small school districts in Texas still paddle poorly behaving students, and protesters at the Capitol today said they want the swatting to stop. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/paddling.jpg)
![Protesters gathered at the Capitol to support a ban on corporal punishment.]()
-
Beach Projects at Risk From Lawsuit, Budget
The General Land Office has a lot on its plate these days — a controversial property rights lawsuit, the reopening of Texas’ favorite surf spot and an ongoing project to restore Texas’ most fertile fishing pier. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TexasCoast.jpg)
![Surfside Jetty Park in Surfside Beach, Texas - October 11, 2009]()
Credit: Judy Baxter -
Guest Column: How About a "Pro-Life" Budget?
I believe people should understand the gravity of their decision — which is why it's too bad there's no sonogram provision for the Texas budget process. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Data App: Lobbying Directory Details Spending, Clients
Lobbyists spent more than $1.2 million in the first two months of 2011 trying to influence lawmakers and state officials, according to the latest ethics filings, which are now accessible in our new lobbying data application. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/LobbySpendingApp_Art.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Cotera/Todd Wiseman -
Slideshow: Fighting for Public Education Funding
The past few days have seen thousands of students, educators and parents at the Texas Capitol to protest the budget cuts they say will do long-term harm to Texas students. Here are some images of the action. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB1141.jpg)
![Young boy protests school budget cuts during the Texas American Federation of Teachers rally at the Capitol. March 14th, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lacking Governor's OK, Pitts Adjourns Rainy Day Fund Hearing
House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, thought he had a deal with Gov. Rick Perry and his staff to tap the Rainy Day Fund to close the current biennium shortfall. But with no public support from the governor's office, Pitts adjourned his hearing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/pittsbudgetlayout_1.jpg)
![State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, lays out House Bill 1.]()
-
Bills Would Consolidate State Agencies to Cut Cost
In an effort to cut administrative costs, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed a group of bills last week that would eliminate four state agencies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/budgetcuts004.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Sanctuary Cities Bill Passes First Hurdle
Legislation banning “sanctuary city” policies in Texas was voted out of the House State Affairs Committee today, sending the controversial bill to the full House for consideration. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Sanctuarycities_1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva -
DA OKs SBOE Member's Lobby Connections
The Travis County District Attorney's Public Integrity Unit has concluded Thomas Ratliff has not committed a crime in serving on the State Board of Education while employed as a lobbyist. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100428-DSC_2854.jpg)
![State Board of Education member-elect Thomas Ratliffe speaks to a special hearing on history at the Capitol Extension.]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
VIDEO: A Conversation With Joe Straus
Full video of our TribLive conversation with Speaker Joe Straus on March 10, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/134724951_200_4.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Straus on Taxes, Abortion, Campus Carry and Obama's Citizenship
For our latest TribLive conversation, I sat down with the Speaker of the Texas House, Joe Straus, to talk about budget cuts, possible sources of revenue, hot-button social issues and more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CM_Capture_2_3.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
AUDIO: A Conversation with Joe Straus
Full audio of our TribLive conversation with Speaker Joe Straus on March 10, 2011. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribLive: Joe Straus on Obama's Citizenship
At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the ongoing controversy over Barack Obama's citizenship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/134724951_200_3.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Joe Straus on the Abortion Sonogram Bill
At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the as yet unresolved differences between the House and Senate versions of the abortion sonogram bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/134724951_200_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Joe Straus on Taxes
At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about whether the Texas House would consider raising taxes to pay down part of the budget shortfall. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/134724951_200.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e1585a1f4c68396eee2fd54bec4bf6b9/BD%20INC%20Lucio%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/82d90ef2f1cab7fe70bbb163469daaeb/Bd%20INC%20Straus%2003%202011)