Texas House of Representatives

VIDEO: A Conversation With Joe Straus

By Evan Smith March 14, 2011

Full video of our TribLive conversation with Speaker Joe Straus on March 10, 2011. Full Story
TribLive: Joe Straus on Taxes

By Evan Smith March 14, 2011

At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about whether the Texas House would consider raising taxes to pay down part of the budget shortfall. Full Story
TribLive: Joe Straus on Obama's Citizenship

By Evan Smith March 14, 2011

At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the ongoing controversy over Barack Obama's citizenship. Full Story
TribLive: Joe Straus on the Abortion Sonogram Bill

By Evan Smith March 14, 2011

At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the as yet unresolved differences between the House and Senate versions of the abortion sonogram bill. Full Story
TribLive: Joe Straus on Campus Carry

By Evan Smith March 14, 2011

At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about proposed legislation that would legalize concealed carry on college campuses in Texas. Full Story
Anchia vs. Berman on Adoption by Same-Sex Couples

By Evan Smith March 13, 2011

This morning on Austin's KXAN-TV, state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and that "compassionate young fella," state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, discussed adoption by same-sex couples — and whether there's a difference between "transvestite" and "transgender." Full Story
TribLive: Straus on the Rainy Day Fund

By Evan Smith March 10, 2011

At today's TribLive conversation, Speaker Joe Straus stopped short of supporting the tapping of the Rainy Day Fund to cover the current biennium's $4.3 billion deficit, but he left the door open. Full Story
New Day Rising: Four House Members on the 82nd Session

By Evan Smith March 9, 2011

At the Tribune's New Day Rising symposium on Feb. 28, four members of the Texas House talked about the issues affecting the Hispanic community — and all Texans — during the 82nd Legislative Session. Full Story
Family Says No Text Message Is Worth a Life

By Andrew Weber March 9, 2011

At the Capitol today, the family of a young girl who died in a car accident caused by texting and driving urged lawmakers to ban the practice. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Stubbornness, Turf War Could Hold Up Abortion Sonogram

By Emily Ramshaw and Julián Aguilar March 8, 2011

The biggest hurdle getting an abortion sonogram bill passed this session may be good old-fashioned stubbornness. Full Story

Credit: Daniel Lobo
House Fights on Familiar Ground: The Rules

By Ross Ramsey March 7, 2011

In the House, what starts with substance — abortion sonogram legislation, in this case — often ends with procedure. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Numbers Tell Tale of Who's Vulnerable in Redistricting

By Ross Ramsey March 3, 2011

You don't need a new map to find the political trouble spots in Texas — and by trouble, we mean officeholders who are vulnerable in the redistricting process. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Matt Stiles
State Affairs Takes on "Sanctuary Cities"

By Aziza Musa March 2, 2011

Tonight, the Texas House took on another of the issues that Gov. Rick Perry has designated an emergency: sanctuary cities, or cities where police do not enforce federal immigration laws. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva
Burka, House Members on the Future of Texas

By Evan Smith March 1, 2011

On Wednesday night, the LBJ Future Forum presented a conversation with six members of the Texas House about the future of Texas. Paul Burka of Texas Monthly moderated. Full Story

Credit: Matthew Chastain Wright - Flickr
Neil Remains Hopeful Despite Long Wait [Updated]

By Aziza Musa Feb. 23, 2011

The 82nd legislative session will be about halfway over by the time lawmakers on a specially appointed committee decide whether Republican Dan Neil or incumbent state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, won the disputed HD-48 seat. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Carter, Burkett and Anderson on the Speaker's Race

By Evan Smith Feb. 21, 2011

At last Wednesday's TribLive conversation, first-term House member Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, explained why she voted against Speaker Joe Straus. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, talked about losing the North Texas Tea Party's "approved" status after she voted for Straus. And Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, weighed in on his own vote for Straus. Full Story
TribLive: Carter, Burkett and Anderson

By Evan Smith Feb. 21, 2011

Last Wednesday, I sat down with three first-term members of the Texas House — Stefani Carter, R-Dallas; Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite; and Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie — to talk about their first weeks in office. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
Carter, Burkett and Anderson on the Rainy Day Fund

By Evan Smith Feb. 21, 2011

At last Wednesday's TribLive conversation, first-term House members Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, and Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, talked about whether the Legislature should dip into the Rainy Day Fund to reduce the size of the projected budget shortfall. Full Story
Texplainer: Where Did the Sunset Commission Get Its Name?

By Andrew Weber Feb. 18, 2011

Nothing scares the good men and women of state agencies more than one word: Sunset. But where did the Sunset Commission get its name? Full Story
Trib-ial Pursuit: The Know Your Elected Officials Game

By Christopher Chang Feb. 17, 2011

Would you recognize state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, if he passed you on the street? Could you pick state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, out of a lineup? How well do you know the faces of other Texas elected officials? Test your knowledge by playing this simple, addictive game. Full Story

Credit: Chris Chang