The media (and we do include ourselves, thanks) loves the sort of legislative or political story line that goes like a cliffhanger episode of a TV show. And the Lege always seems to provide at least one during the session. Will they finish in time? Will they fail and go into overtime? Full Story
The Texas A&M University System announced a bid today to become one of the nation’s key centers for defense against infectious diseases and other biological threats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BioVac.jpg)
Thousands of Texas students have been forced to put their college plans on hold as the Legislature, working on the state budget, determines what level of funding there will be for TEXAS Grants, the state's principal financial aid program for financially needy college students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_CollegeFunding_MS_1.jpg)
Where did the time go? Texas legislators are a mere nine days away from the end of the session and still have to finish work on several bills to finish up their budget for the two-year period that starts September 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2102a8c043d1024306a24f24dee84f94/BD%20INC%20Dewhurst%20Ogden%2006%202011)
After days of debate, the House finally passed a key fiscal matters bill — Senate Bill 1811 — that raises necessary funds to balance the proposed budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1dca8436635fa7e8162403f8399301c0/BD%20INC%20PItts%2012%202011)
Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Capsized4_1.jpg)
Root and Galbraith on a Dallas billionaire's radioactive waste dump victory, Grissom on the passage of eyewitness ID reform, Hamilton on the old grudges bedeviling the debate over higher ed, Philpott on the status of congressional redistricting, Ramsey on Rick Perry's un-campaign for president, Ramshaw on why medical schools are the scorned children of the state's education budget, my session-wrap interview with three veteran Democrats, M. Smith on why Rob Eissler can't pass mandate relief for school districts and Stiles on who's giving what to which Texas candidates in 2011-12 congressional races: The best of our best content from May 16 to 20, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/052011_Tribweek.jpg)
The Texas House tentatively approved a statewide ban on smoking in public places tonight, adding the measure onto another bill that must pass in order to make the two-year state budget balance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/VerySmokeyCigarette.jpg)
A bill that would clarify and expand the jurisdiction of the Forensic Science Commission appeared to have fizzled in the Texas House. But tonight lawmakers revived the bill and voted it out of committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/de6cca7ae7243e4d3d6f103edcb40517/BD%20INC%20Chuy%202011)
With a deal in the works tonight on the state's two-year budget — the biggest priority of the legislative session — the House and Senate are debating a crucial school finance measure and another critical bill that raises the money to pay for it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA8942.jpg)
Sanctuary cities legislation was revived today and will be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration. A Senate committee reversed course, approving the legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7d041d350653ac3860644966aea582f/BD%20INC%20Williams%2001%202011)
As the debate over the future of Texas’ higher education continues to swirl, it's increasingly intertwined in old political rivalries and long-held grudges and resentments. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/27361caa0f5a08cc74cd5288ed0b990f/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Bailey%20Perry%2001%202009)
Your afternoon reading: budget talks stuck; Wentworth blames Straus for campus carry loss; Forensic Science Commission reform stalls Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_Capitol_MS_2.jpg)
The Federal Trade Commission is warning that one of the key health care reform bills trumpeted by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, could substantially harm consumers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA8916.jpg)
State Sen. Jeff Wentworth charged today that his San Antonio colleague, House speaker Joe Straus, used undue influence last night to strip an amendment allowing concealed handguns on college campuses out of a fiscal matter's bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/WentworthCMS.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6f53bfb54e615637654097a2c388de69/TT%20Event%20Elis%20Turner%20VandePutte%202011)
House and Senate lawmakers struck a major deal on education funding late Thursday that could help avert a special session. But with time running short, they're still not out of the woods. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d30f8f9aad0c54e3d7fa747f4bb14d6/BD%20INC%20Dew%20Shefield%2001%202011)
State Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, is a widely liked Republican chairman with a supermajority to back him up. So why has his signature education bill this session, a mandate relief package for school districts, stumbled so badly? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b6049a7d9af132fcaecafd5ab406310/BD%20INC%20Eissler%20Touching%20Face%202011)
Gov. Rick Perry is in a great position in the race for president. His name is in the conversation. He’s in place if there’s a draft, but not at risk of an embarrassing loss. How can you lose a race you’re not running? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/gaggle006CMS.jpg)
Hand fishing — that is, sticking your hand down the throat of a fish — is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. But not for long. State lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill to legalize hand fishing, sending it to the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-Noodling-2-007.jpg)