Past Contributions

• Rob Eissler on the Rainy Day Fund

  By Evan Smith Feb. 7, 2011

  The chairman of the House Public Education Committee on whether the Rainy Day Fund should be used, in part or in whole, to reduce the size of the budget shortfall. Full Story 

• A Conversation with Rob Eissler

  By Evan Smith Feb. 7, 2011

  For our latest TribLive conversation, I sat down with the chairman of the House Public Education Committee to talk about the coming cuts to public ed: how big they're likely to be, the prospect of tens of thousands of teacher and non-instructional-staff layoffs and whether new revenue sources are on the table. Full Story 

• Rob Eissler of the Size of Public Ed Cuts

  By Evan Smith Feb. 7, 2011

  The chairman of the House Public Education Committee on whether the cuts to public ed will be as bad as everyone says they'll be. Full Story 

• Rob Eissler on Public Ed Layoffs

  By Evan Smith Feb. 7, 2011

  The chairman of the House Public Education Committee on how many public school teachers, administrators and non-instructional staff members are at risk of being laid off as a result of the budget shortfall. Full Story 

• What They'd Do About the Budget Shortfall

  By Evan Smith Feb. 7, 2011

  We asked three big thinkers in the Capitol community — Talmadge Heflin, Eva DeLuna Castro and Bill Hammond — to tell us what they'd do if they had the power to take on the budget shortfall themselves. Full Story 

• Eissler: Don't Check Immgration Status of Students

  By Evan Smith Feb. 4, 2011

  In our TribLive conversation this morning, state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, the chair of the House Public Education Committee, said he opposed a bill by state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, that would require school districts to check the immigration status of students enrolling in Texas public schools. Full Story 

• "The Daily Show" Does the Speaker's Race

  By Evan Smith Feb. 4, 2011

  The long-awaited Daily Show segment on alleged anti-Semitism in the 2011 Speaker's race was, predictably, funny. And that John Oliver: such a punim! Full Story 

• Eissler: Don't Check Immgration Status of Students

  By Evan Smith Feb. 3, 2011

  In our TribLive conversation this morning, state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, said he opposed a bill that would require school districts to check the immigration status of public school students. Full Story 

• T-Squared: Guess Who Got a Makeover?

  By Evan Smith Feb. 1, 2011

  No, your eyes don't deceive you: The Trib looks different this morning — hopefully better. We couldn't be happier. Full Story 

• T-Squared: Competitive QRANK Starts ... Now

  By Evan Smith Feb. 1, 2011

  The time to acclimate yourself to our daily news trivia quiz has come to an end. Starting today, everyone who plays QRANK: The Texas Tribune Edition competes for fabulous prizes. And I do mean fabulous. Full Story