The Brief: December 16, 2009
Larry, we hardly knew ye. Full Story
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Home Alone
The home health care cuts that Congress will likely make to fund federal health care reform will take an extra large swipe at Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Slideshow: Border Bus
On both sides of the border, there are calls to end the U.S. Border Patrol's Alien Transfer and Exit Program. But Border Patrol officials say their plan to break the connection between smugglers and immigrants is working. Full Story
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Guest Column: Rational Numbers
In every major urban and suburban Texas county, where the vast majority of Texans cast their ballots, the Democratic vote share increased betweeen 2004 and 2008. Montgomery County was the single exception. In Denton, Collin, Fort Bend, and Williamson Counties — four of the five most populous traditionally Republican suburban counties — the Democratic vote rose. Full Story
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The Rich are Different
When political consultants take on wealthy candidates, does that mean they can milk them and their campaigns for all they’re worth? Are they simply trying to help good people get elected? Or both? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Todd Wiseman -
The Midday Brief: December 15, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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Legal Lottery
Can Texas lottery winners sell all of their payments to private finance companies? State attorneys say no. A state appeals court says yes. The Texas Supreme Court will decide. Full Story
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TribBlog: Less Vitriol, More Laws on Immigration
The inflamed immigration rhetoric of the past couple of years has waned, but a report the National Conference of State Legislatures released today shows that state lawmakers still have passion for the issue. Full Story
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The Brief: December 15, 2009
If at first you don't succeed, you'd better hope the GAO gives you a second chance. Full Story
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Road to Nowhere
The U.S. Border Patrol says its illegal immigration repatriation program is working to break the crossing cycle in Arizona, but officials in Texas and Mexico worry the program creates more problems than it solves. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Never Can Say Goodbye
Texas voters won't be offered a real chance at change in the Legislature and Congress next year. Four out of five state and federal lawmakers face no real competition in their primary or general elections. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Guest Column: Fired, Publicly
As a consultant for campaigns in Texas and across the country, I have conceded elections on live TV. Republicans have held press conferences to denounce my hiring, and their lawyers have second-guessed my decisions under oath in a deposition. But none of these trials has struck me quite as strangely as reading about myself getting fired by a campaign. Full Story
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The Polling Center: Public Option, Universal Coverage Divide Texans
In the health care debate, universal coverage has significant if not overwhelming support, but is also marked by pronounced partisan differences, and Texans appeared truly split down the middle on the “public option.” Full Story
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Ads Infinitum: Topic of Debate
Say what you will about Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina — she delivers (on commercials, at least). Full Story
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The Midday Brief: December 14, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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Kinky Exits Governor's Race
Humorist and author Kinky Friedman is setting his sights on a new prize: the agriculture commissioner post. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: December 14, 2009
Kinky Friedman’s song “Before All Hell Breaks Loose” begins, “Time to resign from the human race.” Today, we will find out if he thinks it’s time to do the same in the governor's race. Full Story
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Does Texas Pre-K work?
One education model — with unproven results — serves almost a third of pre-kindergarteners in Texas. Its grade? Incomplete. Full Story
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Credit: Abby Rapoport -
Advice for Annise Parker
Congratulations, Mayor-Elect. Now you get to govern a great city — Houston — that’s much bigger than the electorate and much more complicated than the campaign. Perhaps you’d like some aspirin? Or a re-count? Full Story
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USDA Approved: Jail Construction
Some Texas sheriffs are looking to an unlikely source to get them out of the hole as private prisons win away federal contracts for inmates and put the financial squeeze on county jails. Full Story
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Credit: Ross Ramsey
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