$337 billion, two-year budget gets Texas House approval
The lower chamber’s plan largely aligns with the Senate’s proposal and puts billions toward teacher pay, border security and property tax cuts. Full Story
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Jasper Scherer is a politics reporter for The Texas Tribune. He previously covered Texas politics and government for Hearst Newspapers' Austin bureau, which he joined after stints covering City Hall for the Houston Chronicle and Bexar County for the San Antonio Express-News. A native of San Francisco, Jasper graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in journalism and political science. He is based in Austin.
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![House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, left, listens as state Reps: Cody Vasut, Richard Hayes, Tom Oliverson and Trey Martinez Fischer, negotiate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.]()
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Texas plans to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts. It may not be sustainable.
State budget watchers — and some Republicans — worry Texas is spending too much on property tax cuts. Full Story
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![A row of high-density townhomes in Austin on March 23, 2025.]()
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Budget day in the House: Texas lawmakers approve $337 billion spending plan
Among the hundreds of amendments were ones that focused on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office and the Texas Lottery. Full Story
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![Texas House of Representatives Members convene in the House Chamber in Austin on April 10, 2025.]()
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Texas AG Ken Paxton officially joins U.S. Senate race challenging John Cornyn
The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.]()
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National Democrats to target GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s South Texas district in 2026
The battlefield for both parties is again converging on South Texas, where De La Cruz scored one of the GOP’s high-profile wins last year when she secured a second term. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat
The decision to wait until November means a narrowly divided Congress will be down a Democratic representative for most of 2025. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.]()
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Attorney General Ken Paxton’s former aides win $6.6 million in whistleblower case
Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..]()
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The Dan Patrick Show: How to build an audience — and political power
In an interview, the lieutenant governor talks about his recent pop-up investigations and how he uses storytelling to make a political point. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick leads a press conference on bail reform, an emergency item this legislative session, on Feb. 12, 2025.]()
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes fail
Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.]()
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Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas Senate
Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help. Full Story
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![Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks with Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.]()
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