State Equal Pay Act Survives the Senate
House Bill 950, by state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, a measure designed to prevent pay discrimination against women, narrowly passed the upper chamber with a vote of 17-14 on Wednesday. Full Story
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House Derails Achievement School District Bill
UPDATED: Sen. Royce West's proposal for a special statewide school district to manage underperforming campuses will have to find another lifeboat. The Dallas Democrat has removed the bill from the legislation he had attached it to after it died in the House. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Eiland Won't Seek Re-election
State Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, will not seek re-election, he announced in a tearful personal privilege speech on the House floor on Wednesday night. Full Story
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New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor's Desk
UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor's desk. Full Story
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House, Senate Pass Bills Key to Budget Deal
UPDATED: After days of jockeying and one-upsmanship, the Texas House and Senate each approved measures Wednesday evening critical to passing their next two-year budget. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: May 22, 2013
Your evening reading: committee dinner, paid for by lobby, racked up $22,000 tab; budget breakthrough in sight; Perry meets with health care hecklers Full Story
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Agenda Texas: Bill Kill, Vol. 2
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Another week, another series of legislative deadlines and another edition of Bill Kill. Full Story
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Bill Allowing Hotter Waste in Texas Passes House
A bill allowing hotter radioactive waste from other states to be deposited in a dump in Andrews County passed the House on Wednesday, after a brief debate between state Reps. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, and Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa. Full Story
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Health Care Hecklers Meet With Perry
UPDATED: Gov. Rick Perry met with three health care activists who helped organize a protest of his speech before Austin business leaders Wednesday. Both sides said the meeting was cordial, though there were no breakthroughs. Full Story
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Credit: Alana Rocha -
An Expensive Celebration, Courtesy of the Lobby
End-of-session dinners are commonplace for legislative committees at the end of the session, and they can be lavish affairs. One this week cost more than $22,000. Full Story
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School Marshal Bill Headed for Governor's Desk
The Senate on Wednesday gave its approval to House Bill 1009, which would allow school districts to designate certain employees to carry concealed weapons and serve as school marshals. Full Story
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Birdwell "Disappointed" With Stalled Campus Carry Bill
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, faces a growing and likely insurmountable challenge in his efforts to pass a bill allowing the concealed carry of firearms in buildings on university and college campuses. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribCast: A Budget Deal, John Carona and Bill Killing
Reeve, Aman, Jay and Ben talk about the final stages of lawmakers' efforts to put together a budget deal, state Sen. John Carona's day job and the legislative casualties of tension between the Senate and the House. Full Story
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Stephanie Schriock: The TT Interview
The president of Emily's List on the state's changing demographics, how those changes will help put candidates like state Sen. Wendy Davis in statewide office and why women will help turn Texas blue. Full Story
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Hopefuls Taking Aim at Strama's House Seat
While members of the Legislature are eyeing Memorial Day and Sine Die with increasing anticipation, a growing field of candidates looking toward 2014 has emerged, including four — so far — in Austin's House District 50, an open seat. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Standing Out on Multiple Fronts in Immigration Debate
Texas is showing how unique it is when it comes to matters of immigration. Statistics say it has more undocumented immigrants in detention centers than any other state. And organizers of a virtual march for immigration reform say the state is the perfect spot to host related events. Full Story
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Clock is Ticking as Lawmakers Work on Key Details of Education Bills
The next four days will probably be the most critical period in determining the fate of the session's major education bills, which address standardized testing and curriculum requirements, as well as charter school expansion. Full Story
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With Humor and Temper, Carona Plays the Maverick
Sen. John Carona remains a political maverick in the Texas Legislature, willing to stand alone in policy fights and raise money for Democrats, despite conservative grassroots pressure to conform to stricter ideology. Full Story
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Interactive: Track Energy and Environment Donors
From protecting endangered lizards to changing industry standards on fracking, energy and environmental groups have many competing interests in Texas. Use this interactive to track campaign contributions by some of the most influential such groups and donors. Full Story
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Continued Drought Means Another Big Drop for Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer suffered its second-worst drop since at least 2000 in a 16-county swath of the Texas Panhandle, new measurements show. With the drought showing little sign of abating, farmers face another tough year. Full Story
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Credit: Texas Water Development Board
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