Past Contributions

• Lawmakers Say Sports Shaped Their Political Careers

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 24, 2015

  Five state lawmakers — all former college athletes — gathered at the University of Texas at Austin to talk about the parallels between athletics and governing and the lessons they learned from high school and college sports. Full Story 

• U.S. High Court to Hear Confederate Plates Case

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 21, 2015

  A battle over Texas license plates bearing an image of the Confederate flag will reach the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. The court will hear arguments about the extent to which First Amendment freedoms protect offensive speech. Full Story 

• Costco Joins Wal-Mart, Kroger in Liquor Push

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 18, 2015

  Wholesale giant Costco has joined Wal-Mart, Kroger and other retailers in the fight to loosen restrictions on the state liquor market and let public corporations sell hard alcohol in Texas. Full Story 

• House Committee Takes Up Open Carry, Campus Carry Bills

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 17, 2015

  One day after the Texas Senate voted to loosen state handgun regulations, a House committee Tuesday considered proposals to allow the open carry of handguns with a license and the concealed carry of handguns on college campuses. Full Story 

• Deregulating Tuition Slowed Increase, Universities Say

  By Ryan McCrimmon and Bobby Blanchard March 17, 2015

  Lawmakers riled up by higher education costs want to regain their control of setting tuition at state colleges and universities. But at most schools, tuition has gone up more slowly since the schools took over the job, a Tribune analysis shows. Full Story 

• During His Texas Years, a Focused Jeb Bush Stood Out From the Crowd

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 17, 2015

  As former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gears up for an expected presidential run, longtime friends and colleagues say the native Texan always had the aura of political potential hanging over him. Full Story 

• Talk Turns to Standards as Lawmakers Weigh Pre-K Bills

  By Morgan Smith and Ryan McCrimmon March 10, 2015

  As legislators considered several early education bills Tuesday afternoon, testimony was dominated by a debate over what standards school districts should meet to get additional state funding for pre-kindergarten programs. Full Story 

• Patrick, Hancock Propose Spending Cap Changes

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 10, 2015

  Senate leaders on Tuesday rolled out more legislation that would change how the state sets its limit on spending for each budget biennium, and let lawmakers pass tax cuts that don't count toward the cap. Full Story 

• Film Groups Want Separate Funding for Video Games

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 9, 2015

  Texas film heavyweights are asking lawmakers to create a separate funding strategy for video game incentives instead of continuing shared funding with film and television incentives. The video game lobby isn't ready for a split. Full Story 

• House: Dripping Springs the "Wedding Capital of Texas"

  By Ryan McCrimmon March 4, 2015

  The Texas House said “I do” to a proposal Wednesday by Republican Jason Isaac to designate Dripping Springs as the state wedding capital. Full Story