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Every week, a prominent Texan or politico records a funny, quippy introduction to the TribCast, our political podcast. Want to join their ranks? Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: Lawmakers are running out of time in the special session
The first 20 days of the special legislative session were quite a ride. Now the Legislature has 10 days left with 20 special session items to resolve and no bills on the governor's desk. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
With 10 days left, here's where Abbott's special session agenda stands
The special session started 20 days ago. It can only last 10 more days at most. Here's where lawmakers are on the 20 issues Gov. Greg Abbott asked them to tackle. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus meet at the short Cash Management Committee meeting on July 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Hopes of going 20 for 20 in special session circle the drain
In his first special session as governor of Texas, Greg Abbott is watching his hopes for 20 wins on 20 agenda items fall victim to the same legislative discord that marred the regular session earlier this year. Full Story
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![Supporters of the bathroom bill join pastors at a rally at the state Capitol on August 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Former Texas Gov. Mark White dead at 77
Mark White, who served as the governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987, has died at 77. Among his notable achievements was the legislation he signed that included the famous "no-pass, no play" law. Full Story
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![Former Governor Mark White speaking to Bears for Leadership Reform in Waco on November 10, 2016. Behind White: John Eddie Williams (left) and Randy Ferguson.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for "all our problems in America"
On television Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick chided Democratic city governments for causing problems nationwide. Full Story
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![After two days of contentious debate and several bills passed, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulates the Senate on what he says was a job well done on July 26, 2017. The Senate tackled bills on 18 issues, sending them over to the House for consideration in the special session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, steering Russia investigation, eyes intelligence chairmanship
U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, who currently leads the House Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russia election-meddling, told the Tribune he is interested in chairing that powerful committee in the future. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, speaks with farmers in San Angelo, Texas, on July 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Feds draw thousands of comments on Texas' request to renew women's health funding
The number of comments to a federal agency considering Texas' request to renew funding for its women's health program has surged this week as advocates on both sides weigh in. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion demonstrators march up Congress Avenue toward the Capitol in Austin for the Texas Rally for Life on Jan. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House OKs reversing cuts to disabled children's therapy services
The Texas House gave tentative and unanimous approval Thursday to a measure that would partially reverse a controversial cut to disabled children’s therapy services that was ordered by the 2015 Legislature. Full Story
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![Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, speaks to media regarding her request to add Ethics Reform to the special session on Aug. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House approves more abortion reporting requirements
Doctors performing abortions on minors would be required to report additional information to the state under a new measure given early approval by the Texas House Thursday. Full Story
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![Rep. Jim Murphy R-Houston, answers questions on House Bill 215, an abortion-related bill, on Aug. 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: School finance legislation up for debate in the Texas House this morning
As the curtains on day 13 of the special legislative session close at the Texas Capitol today, the House is readying to debate a handful of proposals this morning aimed at reforming the state's school finance system. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, announces that the Senate has agreed to a conference committee on House Bill 21, the school finance bill, on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Showdown shaping up in special session
Lawmakers have yet to send Gov. Greg Abbott a single bill to sign from the special session, and with less than two weeks left, it’s highly unlikely Abbott will get his entire 20-item agenda through the process. Full Story
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Texas effort targeting union dues mirrors initiatives in other states
As Texas Republicans try again to pass a law barring certain public employees from using payroll deductions to pay their union or association dues, it is following the lead of several other states that have seen mixed results. Full Story
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![The headquarters of Texas AFL-CIO in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Hey, Texplainer: Why can't we create a statewide property tax to fund public education?
It would be unconstitutional to impose a statewide property tax. Even if one was enacted, however, that wouldn’t solve the structural issues with the state’s school finance system. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park / The Texas Tribune -
Texas plans to move 1,000 inmates to air-conditioned prison units
Texas submitted a court-ordered proposal Thursday to move about 1,000 medically sensitive inmates from an uncooled prison southeast of College Station to air-conditioned units elsewhere in the state. Full Story
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![Inmates shuffle past new fans in the Darrington prison's main hallway on a hot July day.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas House committee tries shock therapy on school finance
An eye-opening proposal to kill the local school property tax in order to force Texas lawmakers to build a new school finance system won unanimous approval Thursday from the House's tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
In Texas House, property tax proposals range from minor tweaks to abolishment
After a proposal to give a property tax exemption to Purple Heart recipients hit a snag on the House floor Monday, a committee considered a more radical idea: eliminating school district property taxes altogether. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, speaks with his House colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, at a Texas Tribune events at the Austin Club on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Straus: Abbott should include ethics reform in special session
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is voicing agreement with two House members who want Gov. Greg Abbott to expand the special session agenda to include ethics reform. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus gaveled in a special session of the 85th Legislature on July 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison confirmed as NATO ambassador
The U.S. Senate confirmed former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison as the new ambassador to NATO. Full Story
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![Former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, nominee to be U.S. ambassador to NATO, attends her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building on July 20, 2017.]()
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Cornyn files bill to fund parts of wall, increase Border Patrol and ICE agents
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday unveiled a $15 billion border-security bill. The Building America's Trust Act would fund parts of a wall or fence, add Border Patrol and ICE agents to current ranks, and punish "sanctuary" jurisdictions. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks at a conference hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation on Jan. 13, 2017, at the Sheraton Hotel in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune