The Evening Brief: Feb. 28, 2013
Your evening reading: two Texas Republicans vote for Violence Against Women Act; state Senate panel approves $1.5 billion for public education; legislators protest security policy at Governor's Mansion Full Story
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Senator Would Fund Mental Health Training for Teachers
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on Thursday filed the latest in a slew of proposals aimed at improving school safety. His bill would provide state funds to train Texas teachers to recognize and respond to mental illnesses. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown, at a February Texas Tribune event.]()
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Barratry Charges Against State Lawmaker Are Dropped
Barratry charges against state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, were dropped on Wednesday following allegations of misconduct by the investigator who pursued the case against him. Full Story
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Court Reverses Death Row Inmate's 2003 Conviction
Death row inmate Nelson Gongora's conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court, which said that a prosecutor's comments regarding his decision to not testify denied him a right to a fair trial. Full Story
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Lawmakers Protest Security Policy at Governor's Mansion
At least three Texas state representatives opted not to attend a reception at the Governor's Mansion this week rather than submit to new security procedures requiring that even legislators submit to background checks to gain access. Full Story
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Senate Panel Backs More Money for Public Schools
A panel of senators voted Thursday to put $1.5 billion in additional public school funding in the state's two-year budget. That includes more money for pre-kindergarten programs, the state's Virtual School Network and Teach for America. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribuneFest: Accountability and Student Testing
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked accountability and student testing with Robert Duron, the state's deputy commissioner of education; Susan Kellner of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment; Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission; and former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation About Health Care
Full video of Emily Ramshaw's 2/27 TribLive conversation about health care with state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. Full Story
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In Hunt for Roads Funds, Texas Won't Model Va.
Texas lawmakers hope to follow in Virginia's footsteps this session and revamp the way they fund transportation. While Virginia opted to cut gas taxes and raise sales taxes, Texas is looking at other options. Full Story
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![Both Texas and Virginia have amassed billions of dollars in debt over the last decade in order to fund transportation. In February 2013, Virginia lawmakers overhauled how the state funds transportation by cutting gas taxes and raising sales taxes.]()
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Danny Krienke: The TT Interview
The North Plains Groundwater Conservation District board member on the district’s unusually strict water-meter requirements, the drought and how the iPad is making it possible to farm from a cafe. Full Story
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Border Officials: Federal Budget Inaction Could Weaken Security, Trade
“The border is safe.” That’s a common refrain from lawmakers who say the unprecedented buildup of law enforcement in the region has netted positive results. But as sequestration looms, lawmakers say federal inaction could put that reality in jeopardy. Full Story
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Fort Hood Braces for Sequester Cuts
The automatic federal spending cuts set to take effect Friday could have a profound impact on Texas. Cuts to Army bases, like Fort Hood in Central Texas, could cost the state’s economy more than $2 billion. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 28, 2013
The release of hundreds of immigrant detainees nationwide has further inflamed tensions in Texas over the looming sequester. Full Story
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Lawmakers Slam Disclosure Bill — and Rebuke Freshman Who Filed It
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione got a rude awakening in his transparency bill's hearing before the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday when members suggested his legislation was a political "vendetta." Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Feb. 27, 2013
Your evening reading: at Supreme Court hearing, conservatives skeptical of Voting Rights Act provision; Jeb Bush tells Texas lawmakers to "go big" on education reform; Perry's chief of staff returning to former job Full Story
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Raw Milk Bill Draws Proponents, Detractors to Hearing
Proponents and critics weighed in Wednesday on a bill that would allow the sale of raw milk at farmer’s markets and other sites like fairs and flea markets. Full Story
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TribLive: Zerwas and Schwertner on Women's Health
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, talked to Emily Ramshaw about the state's role in providing access to preventative health care for women. Full Story
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TribCast: New Guys, Battleground Texas and Voting Rights
Ross, Emily, Jim and Reeve discuss the attention Joaquin Castro and Ted Cruz are getting in Washington, D.C., the prospects for Battleground Texas' efforts to turn the state blue, and the battle over Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Full Story
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The Polling Center: Race and Change in Voter ID Support
Attorney General Greg Abbott's office has argued that Texans of all races strongly support voter ID. While this was true as recently as early 2011, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll shows that there has been a sea change. Full Story
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TribLive: Zerwas and Schwertner on Medicaid
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, told Emily Ramshaw they back Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid. Full Story
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