House Gives Early Nod to Puppy Mill Bill
Dog breeders would be regulated for the first time in Texas under a bill the House tentatively approved today. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Senate to the Feds: Pay for Border Security
Dear federal government: Texas needs help covering the cost of border security. Signed, the Texas Senate. A resolution adopted by the state Senate today is intended to send a message to Washington demanding more action on illegal immigration. Full Story
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Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Patrick: No Holdup on Abortion Sonogram
Holdup? What holdup? Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, says he's got the votes to send abortion sonogram legislation back to the House — but the timeline for doing it depends on how quickly the Senate passes the budget. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
What $7.8 Billion Less Means for Your School District
If the House has its way, there will be 7.8 billion fewer state dollars headed to Texas public schools. Here's our searchable database built from state Rep. Scott Hochberg’s projections of how the funding cuts would hit 1,024 school districts across the state. Full Story
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Outside Groups Lobby Texas Budget Writers
With the Senate set to debate the state budget this week, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports that several outside groups want to shape the conversation. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Conservative Coalition Expands Ad Campaign (UPDATE)
One day after the Senate passed its version of the budget for the next biennium, the Texas Public Policy Foundation expanded its media campaign for a "conservative budget." They produced a series of new ads now running on statewide television. The timing appears to be strategic, as the Senate and House prepare to reconcile their spending plans in conference committee. Full Story
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Credit: Conservativebudget.com -
Video: Lance Armstrong at TribLive
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Lance Armstrong about the need to protect cancer research funding in austere times and his advocacy on behalf of an indoor workplace smoking ban. Full Story
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TribLive: Armstrong on Cancer Research Funding
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lance Armstrong talked about the need to preserve cancer research funding in austere times. Full Story
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TribLive: Armstrong on Smoke-Free
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lance Armstrong talked about his advocacy on behalf of an indoor workplace smoking ban. Full Story
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A Political Tug-of-War Over Taylor County
Troy Fraser lost a redistricting fight 20 years ago. Now he's in another redistricting battle — with another Republican and based more on what part of the state is shrinking (his area's population) than on politics. He's determined not to lose. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Inside Intelligence: And on Redistricting...
For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers or the courts will end up drawing political maps and who they think is angling for the four new seats in the congressional delegation. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on a freshman lawmaker's rogue antics, Aguilar on how cartel violence affects tick eradication, Galbraith on Midland's water woes, Hamilton on the exit of a higher ed reformer, Murphy maps voting age by county, Philpott on the data breach at the Comptroller's office, Ramsey on why Susan Combs needs to eat crow, my TribLive interview with U.S. Sen John Cornyn, Ramshaw on Cornyn's refusal to take the "nickel tour" of Planned Parenthood, M. Smith annotates the contracts of superintendents, Stiles on a GOP-friendly redistricting map and Tan on a possible Rainy Day Fund raid: The best of our best content from April 18 to 22, 2011. Full Story
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Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: Apr. 18 to Apr. 22
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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Video: House Unlikely to Support Senate Budget
The Senate Finance Committee passed a budget this week that proposes spending about $12 billion more than the House in the next biennium. At first glance, House Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts says there's no way his chamber can meet the Senate halfway. Full Story
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Lawmakers Say Simpson Broke "Rules of Decorum"
The rogue antics of freshman state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview — knocking three bills, including veteran Democratic state Rep. Senfronia Thompson’s contentious puppy mill bill, off of a fast-track House calendar — are attracting glares and backlash from his colleagues, some of whom are considering returning the favor. Full Story
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bob Daemmrich -
"Daughters" Gets Early Victory in Fight Over Alamo
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas would continue to be the caretakers of the Alamo, under a bill the House gave preliminary approval to this morning. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Gives Initial OK to Craft Beer Bill
The House has given an early OK to a bill that would allow craft breweries to charge admission for tours, and include up to two six-packs of beers to give to tourists at the end. Full Story
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Puppy Mill Bill Bumped Off Fast Track
For the second time, Rep. Senfronia Thompson's contentious "puppy mill" bill has been bumped from the fast track. It will now be subject to debate on the general House calendar. Full Story
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Panel Approves $176.5 Billion Budget
A $176.5 billion budget for the 2012-13 biennium — 5.9 percent smaller than the current budget but almost $12 billion larger than the version passed earlier by the House — won approval from the Senate Finance Committee Thursday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 76
In this week's jam-packed episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss higher education reformers, data security at the Comptroller's office, redistricting, the budget, and birthdays. Full Story
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