Analysis: A different way to look at Texans’ differences — by looking at similarities
A new look at Texas attitudes and preferences aims to find a way out of our politically polarized public square. Full Story
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Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
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![Crowds march through Austin in celebration of Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 20, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas lawmakers are working on an incomplete budget
The Texas Legislature is working on a budget that spends around $250 billion. But it doesn't include billions in federal COVID-19 relief money or account for big changes that could rock the state's Medicaid programs. Full Story
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![Lawmakers on the House floor on March 30, 2021. The Texas Legislature lacks diversity as 73% of lawmakers in both chambers are male, compared to 50% of Texas residents.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature starts its biennial race against the clock
Lawmakers have only six weeks left on their calendar, and most of the big things they set out to do aren’t finished. A session that started very quietly will end with a sprint. Full Story
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![Maskless lawmakers speak to one another on the Senate floor prior to the session beginning on March 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Returning to normal before the Texas herd has immunity
Texas is still about 13 million people away from herd immunity to the coronavirus. The state is chasing that goal even as Texans begin to act like the pandemic is over. Full Story
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![Fans watched a game between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field on April 11, 2021.]()
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Analysis: 2022 candidates are popping up faster than bluebonnets in Texas
Texas voters might still have a hangover from the 2020 elections, but the prospective candidates don’t — they’re already maneuvering for the 2022 elections. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A $5.5 billion shift in who pays for public education in Texas
It's an old and bittersweet story in Texas: Property values rise, local property tax revenue rises and the state government spends less on public education. Full Story
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![Students walk with their desk barriers to their next class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A Texas state budget — minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money
The state budget approved by the Texas Senate on Tuesday is just the start: Lawmakers still have to decide what to do with billions in federal COVID-19 relief money. Full Story
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![Levi Pedrick peaks out of his kindergarten class window on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Corporations aren’t buying what GOP leaders are selling in voting debate
Corporations generally stay out of legislative fights that don’t directly affect their business, but some are weighing in against proposed Republican restrictions to voting laws. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY via REUTERS -
Analysis: Texas’ proposed voting restrictions have more to do with 2018 than 2020
New voting restrictions working their way through the Texas Legislature have more to do with the 2018 election cycle than the one in 2020. Full Story
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![Cars lined up to vote in the drive-thru line at NRG Stadium in Houston during the first day of early voting on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After statewide power outages, Texas lawmakers reconsider an ounce of prevention
Power outages during a winter storm have the Texas Legislature considering remedies — and a flaw in their response to a previous storm. Full Story
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![Gabriel Martinez shovels debris from burst pipes at an apartment in downtown Dallas. Texans across the state are now working to recover from the winter storm that left many people dealing with repairs and water issues.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune