Past Contributions

• The Brief: Tuition has skyrocketed. Will Texas rein it in?

  By Bobby Blanchard and Cassandra Pollock March 22, 2017

  The Senate Higher Education Committee is considering legislation this morning that would limit tuition increases at public universities in Texas. Full Story 

• The Brief: Senate Education committee takes up school choice legislation

  By Bobby Blanchard and Sanya Mansoor March 21, 2017

  The Senate Education Committee is expected to hear testimony Tuesday on a bill that would subsidizing private school tuition. Full Story 

• The Brief: Where does Texas stand on its budget?

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard March 20, 2017

  The Texas Legislature has another nine weeks to spar over its budget — an increasingly contentious issue as lawmakers debate a big question: How much will legislators spend from the state’s Rainy Day Fund? Full Story 

• The Brief: How Trump's budget could impact Texas

  By Cassandra Pollock and Bobby Blanchard March 17, 2017

  The Trump Administration's proposed budget, released Thursday, would cut around $14 million from Texas programs aimed at providing tutoring, mentorship and counseling for low-income students in the state. Full Story 

• The Brief: Will Abbott's pre-K program get funding?

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard March 16, 2017

  The Senate Finance Committee cut $180 million the Senate had allocated for pre-K funding in an earlier version of the budget, going against Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story 

• The Brief: Texas House committee taking up "sanctuary cities" bill

  By Cassandra Pollock and Bobby Blanchard March 15, 2017

  The House State Affairs Committee is expected to take up legislation that would effectively ban sanctuary cities in Texas. Full Story 

• The Brief: Bathroom bill debate looms in the Texas Senate

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard March 14, 2017

  Lawmakers could begin debating the so-called "bathroom bill" on the Senate floor as early as today. Full Story 

• The Brief: Some Texas congressional districts are illegal, federal judges say

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard March 13, 2017

  A handful of Texas' 36 congressional districts violate either the U.S. Constitution or the federal Voting Rights Act, federal judges ruled Friday. Full Story 

• The Brief: Will charter schools get more funding this session?

  By Cassandra Pollock and Bobby Blanchard March 10, 2017

  Legislators and advocates looking to increase charter school funding are facing an uphill battle this session. Full Story 

• The Brief: Travis County Veterans Court penalized for sheriff's immigration stance

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard March 9, 2017

  Gov. Greg Abbott cut $1.5 million in state grant funds to Travis County over its "sanctuary" policy. One program hit hard by the cut: the veterans court. Full Story