The Brief: Top Texas News for April 4, 2011
The House did its dance over the weekend, passing a stark $164.5 billion budget. Here are some highlights. Full Story
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On Energy, a Lesson for Texas From the 1970s
Unrest in the Middle East, rising oil prices and frustration with federal energy policy — for many Texans, today’s headlines must seem like déjà vu. While the situation is far less severe than the aftermath of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the parallels are unmistakable. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: The Best and Worst Legislators So Far...
For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked how the state's top leaders are doing so far this session and which lawmakers — and which freshmen lawmakers — are standing out, for better or for worse. Full Story
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Guest Column: The Red-Headed Exception
The authorities in Hudspeth County have realized what the rest of us have known for years: Before you start investigating the funny smell emanating from his tour bus, remember that he's Willie Nelson. The usual rules don't apply. Full Story
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The Score? About Two to One
Anything else would have been a surprise. Full Story
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House Budget Shrinks Spending, Slashes Services
The Texas House started with a $164.5 billion budget and ended with the same total. But lawmakers spent the better part of a weekend making changes inside the budget for 2012-13 before giving it their approval, 98 to 49. Full Story
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![Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, speaks with Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, on the House floor during the budget debate.]()
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VIDEO: Lawmakers Debate "Western Civilization"
In an ugly debate late Friday night, Rep. Wayne Christian proposed requiring that colleges and universities getting state funds should make sure that at least 10 percent of their courses "provide instruction in Western Civilization." Full Story
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Texas’ Clout in Congress Rises Along With GOP
Texas has the largest GOP delegation in Congress, and those members have high seniority, spots on key committees and seats at the leadership table — evidence, observers say, of the state’s sway inside the Capitol. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Tan's wall-to-wall coverage of the budget (with more from the rest of the Trib crew, interviews with some of the freshmen seeing this up close for the first time and a map of how it works), Philpott on the similarities between budget worries in Texas and those elsewhere, M. Smith explains school finance, Ramshaw on the dwindling insurance options for orphans, Grissom on legal fights over the drugs used for state executions, Aguilar on the run-up to the debate over sanctuary cities, Stiles maps the diversity of Texas counties, Galbraith on efforts to recycle plastic bags and Hamilton on calls for "entrepreneurship" at the University of Texas: The best of our best content from March 28 to April 1, 2011. Full Story
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Judge Denies Death Penalty Drug Challenge
Travis County District Court Judge Stephen Yelenosky this afternoon denied the request of two death row inmates to temporarily halt executions with Texas' new lethal injection drug. Lawyers for Cleve Foster and Humberto Leal said they would immediately appeal the judge's decision. Full Story
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The Week in Texas Politics Recap: March 28—April 1
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
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The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for April 1, 2011
Your afternoon reading: abortion enters budget debate; close vote cuts millions from Arts Commission; Republicans practicing "tough love," they say Full Story
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Budget Fun: Guess the Signature [Updated]
If the signatures of state representatives on the hundreds of amendments to HB1 are any indication, possession of legible handwriting is not a prereqisite for holding elective office. Full Story
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Liveblog: House Debates HB 1
We liveblogged the full debate over HB 1, the House version of the general appropriations bills for the next biennium, which passed late Sunday night 98 to 49. Full Story
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TribLive: Hands Over Texas
If there’s one sentiment we at the Tribune especially appreciate, it’s enthusiasm. And on that score, the policymakers, pollsters and politicos who have graced the stage at our TribLive events have certainly delivered. Full Story
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T-Squared: Our Second Monthly QRANK Winner is...
a smart and dedicated Trib reader who goes by the user name KentWillis. Don't you want to be our winner in April? Play QRANK:TT now! You could win a prize valued at more than $500... Full Story
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The Brief: Top Texas News for April 1, 2011
In the House budget battle, it's two bills down, one to go. But this one's a doozy. Full Story
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State Senators in Tricky Search for More Money
It’s not just that state Sen. Robert Duncan doesn’t like gambling. He doesn’t think he could get legalized casinos approved. But Duncan's got a mission: Find $5 billion to $6 billion. Full Story
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Guest Column: Of Course We Can Cut the Budget
Today, as we vote on House Bill 1, we are in the position of squeezing water out of rock, and the process is hard and dirty work. Democrats will say there is no water in the rock. They are wrong. Full Story
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T-Squared: Our Q1 Stats
In March we broke our previous records for monthly uniques and monthly page views — by a lot. And we're ahead of where we should be year-to-date in every category of fundraising. Full Story
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