TribBlog: The Most Important Caucus of Our Time
After the election last month, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, promised to start a Tea Party Caucus in the Texas Legislature. Today, Patrick has the names of the founding members. Full Story
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Him Again
State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, wasn’t expected back at the Capitol this session after seeking two high-profile higher education jobs over the summer. But both opportunities fizzled, and now the 70-year-old says he’s “gunned up and ready to go” for his seventh term in the Senate — even if he'll return with clout resembling that of a freshman. He’s without the aides who knew him best and stripped of the Jurisprudence Committee he used to chair. Still, his insistence on putting his own political views ahead of his party's could make him a key player at a time when Senate Republicans are a few votes short of a two-thirds majority. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
No Setting Sun on the TCEQ
With a panel of state legislators set to decide the future of a number of Texas agencies, the state's environmental agency seems likely to get the green light to operate for another 12 years, but with some changes. As Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, environmentalists are calling the situation a mild victory. Full Story
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Audio: Sunset on TCEQ
With a panel of state legislators set to decide the future of a number of Texas agencies, the state's environmental agency seems likely to get the green light to operate for another 12 years, but with some changes. As Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, environmentalists are calling the situation a mild victory. Full Story
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HuTube: Olbermann on the Supermajority
The new GOP supermajority in the Texas House made MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight. The host joked that Democrats "are now as relevant as the mythical chupacabra." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Weekly Tribcast: Episode 59
In this week's skirmish, Evan, Ross, Elise and Ben talk party switching, what's left of the speaker's race and the return of state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio. Full Story
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TribBlog: The Railroad Commission Holds Forth
Texas' three Railroad Commissioners today proposed ways to restructure and rename their commission in hearings today in the Capitol. Full Story
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Pete Gallego: The TT Interview
The 10-term Democratic state representative from Alpine on what he thinks of Tuesday's newly minted Republicans, the perils of party switching, the potential death of the middle and what the 49-member minority does now. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Achieving Closure
Lawmakers, bureaucrats and criminal justice advocates all agree that the state’s trouble-ridden Texas Youth Commission ought to close down two of its correctional facilities. Like other state agencies, TYC has been asked to cut its budget for the next biennium by 10 percent, or $40 million. But no one at TYC is saying which lockups should get shuttered. “They don’t want to bite that bullet and show leadership,” says state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. Full Story
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TribBlog: Kuempel Wins Father's Seat
Republican John Kuempel, a 40-year-old metal salesman and University of Texas graduate, won tonight's special election in House District 44 with 66 percent of the vote. Full Story
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The Defectors
After announcing they were defecting from the Democratic Party, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, were welcomed by Texas Republican leaders at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. Full Story
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TribBlog: Party Boys
Surrounded by statewide elected officials and a pack of fellow lawmakers, Democrats Aaron Peña of Edinburg and Allan Ritter of Nederland defected to the Republican Party this afternoon. Full Story
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Pena on Tea Party
Pena on Tea Party Full Story
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TribBlog: Peña on Party Switching
After serving eight years as a Democrat, Edinburg state Rep. Aaron Peña explains why he is joining the Republican Party. Full Story
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![State Rep. Aaron Pena of Edinburg in November, 2010.]()
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Pena on His Announcement
Pena on His Announcement Full Story
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Peña on Response
Peña on Response Full Story
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Pena on Others
Pena on Others Full Story
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Pena on His Future
Pena on His Future Full Story
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Pena on Twitter
Pena on Twitter Full Story
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