Thanh Tan

Thanh Tan was a multimedia reporter/producer for the Tribune from 2011 to 2012. She previously worked at Idaho Public Television, a PBS station that serves a statewide audience. While there, she was an Emmy award-winning producer/reporter/host for the longest-running legislative public affairs program in the West, Idaho Reports, moderator of The Idaho Debates, and a writer/producer for the flagship series Outdoor Idaho. Prior to joining IdahoPTV, she was a general assignment reporter at the ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. and a political reporter for KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho. Her work has also appeared on the PBS NewsHour and This American Life. She graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with degrees in International Relations and Broadcast Journalism.

Past Contributions

GRAPHIC: How Lawmakers Set the Budget

By Thanh Tan and Ben Hasson March 30, 2011

Confused about the budget? Trust us — you’re not alone. Later this week, the House votes on several key pieces of legislation. We've created a flow chart to help keep track of the process. Full Story
House, Senate Budget Battle Looming

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan March 25, 2011

This week, we saw signs Senate budget writers may be willing to spend more than their counterparts in the House. Meanwhile, a new analysis of the House budget's possible effects on Texas jobs raised eyebrows. Full Story
Analysis of House Budget Divides Lawmakers

By Thanh Tan March 24, 2011

Lawmakers offered dueling interpretations Thursday of a Legislative Budget Board analysis predicting that the state could lose hundreds of thousands of jobs if the House's budget bill is passed. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
House, Senate Budget Goals Could Lead to Battle

By Thanh Tan March 23, 2011

As the House prepares for a vote on its budget bill, Senate lawmakers are hinting that they're looking to spend more than their counterparts on public education — setting the stage for a budget battle. Full Story
Infographic: The Politics of the Rainy Day Fund

By Thanh Tan and Ben Hasson March 23, 2011

Use our infographic to understand the intent of the Rainy Day Fund, what it takes to draw from that savings account, and the political arguments for and against using it. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson
VIDEO: Will 90 Lawmakers Approve Tapping Rainy Day Fund?

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan March 17, 2011

Does tapping the Rainy Day Fund have 90 House votes to move on to the Senate — and how much will the process of getting there damage the even bigger task for lawmakers of setting the next biennium's budget? Full Story
Appropriations Votes to Spend $3.1 Billion From Rainy Day Fund

By Thanh Tan March 15, 2011

Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Lacking Governor's OK, Pitts Adjourns Rainy Day Fund Hearing

By Thanh Tan March 14, 2011

House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, thought he had a deal with Gov. Rick Perry and his staff to tap the Rainy Day Fund to close the current biennium shortfall. But with no public support from the governor's office, Pitts adjourned his hearing. Full Story
Texas Politics Recap: 3/7 to 3/11

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan March 11, 2011

No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome. Full Story
Texas Tribune Weekly Rundown

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan March 11, 2011

The Texas Tribune's rundown of capitol politics for the week of March 7-11, 2011. Full Story