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Ben Philpott is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin’s National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the use of corporate expenditures. And a new national poll released Monday by the Center for Politics and Governance at the LBJ School of Public Affairs takes an in-depth look at how the country feels about money in politics. Including how corporate money should be used in a campaign. KUT's Ben Philpott reports how federal campaign finance could change after that ruling. Full Story
New poll numbers and the national healthcare debate aside, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has decided she will hold on to her seat until after the March primary. A new poll has Gov. Rick Perry 11 percentage points ahead of Sen. Hutchison. That Rasmussen poll comes just 10 days after the UT/Texas Tribune Poll showing Perry ahead by 12 points. . Full Story
Kay Bailey Hutchison won't resign from the Senate to run for governor. Hutchison and her aides began calling other Republicans Friday afternoon to tell them to make other plans. Full Story
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Should the state set limits on political contributions? Depends on which candidate you ask. Full Story
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Gilbert, a Democrat running for governor, says campaign finance regulation is the only way to control special interests. Full Story
Schieffer, a Democrat, says current regulations of campaign finance are "not serving anybody's interest." Full Story
Ben Philpott reports on the gubernatorial candidates' stands on campaign finance. Some want reform. Some want the status quo. Full Story
Hutchison, a U.S. Sen. and gubernatorial candidate, says the state ought to impose limits on the size of campaign contributions. Full Story
Rick Perry's campaign spokesman says the governor opposes limits on contributions and thinks the solution is transparency, so that voters know who's backing whom. Full Story
Friedman, in his second run for governor, says public financing is the way to go. Full Story