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The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Into Thin Air

    By Matt Stiles

    Lobbyists spent a record $15 million on advertising during the 2005 session and another $12 million in 2007 — but less than $1 million this year. What happened? Full Story 

  • Shapleigh Ever After

    By Brandi Grissom

    The longtime El Paso state senator, who said last month that he would not run for reelection, hasn’t revealed his statewide ambitions, but his public and private remarks leave little doubt that he's seriously considering a gubernatorial bid. Full Story 

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    Credit: senate media services

  • 2010: Plano Dominoes

    By Ross Ramsey

    Plano City Councilwoman Mabrie Griffith Jackson is telling supporters she will resign that city job as early as Monday to put her name into the race to replace Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, who has decided he won't seek an 11th term next year. Full Story 

    State Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano
    Credit: House photo

  • Party Hoppers

    By Reeve Hamilton

    "It’d be like someone standing at the Alamo going, ‘I’m not gonna survive this thing,’ and all of a sudden he jumps up and starts speaking Spanish!" says Rep. Mark Homer, D-Paris. Maybe so, but switching parties usually works out. Full Story 

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  • Robert's Rules

    By Abby Rapoport and Brian Thevenot

    State schools chief Robert Scott recently failed to get the Legislature to increase the cap on charter schools — then found a legal way to do it anyway, much to the dismay of state Democrats and teachers unions. Full Story 

    Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott
    Credit: Elise Hu

  • 2010: Hopson's BFF

    By Ross Ramsey

    Republican Brian Walker, who lost a close race to Democrat Chuck Hopson in 2008, endorsed Hopson's reelection bid next year — now that Hopson has switched to the GOP. Full Story 

    Photo of Chuck Hopson
    Credit: chuckhopson.com

  • Forensic Science Chairmen Face Off

    By Elise Hu

    John Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney and the newly-appointed chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, spent his morning answering a steady stream of questions from Texas lawmakers. At issue, if and when his panel will re-open the investigation into whether faulty science led to the arson conviction of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by the state in 2004. Full Story 

  • TribBlog: Bradley Makes His Case

    By Matt Stiles

    Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley expected some verbal jousting today at the Senate Criminal Justice Committee about his plans for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He was right. Full Story 

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    Credit: Elise Hu

  • TribBlog: Sunset's Up

    By Ross Ramsey

    House Speaker Joe Straus' picks for the legislative committee that says whether the state should kill or keep state agencies: Reps. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Byron Cook, R-Corsicana. San Antonio attorney Lamont Jefferson, who's with the Haynes and Boone law firm, will serve as the House's public member. Full Story 

  • Hopson's Choice

    By Ross Ramsey

    Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, is switching parties, saying that ""President Obama and the Democrats in Congress just don't reflect the values of this district." That's a severe blow to Democrats hoping to win a majority in the Texas House. Full Story 

    Chuck Hopson ad.
    Credit: chuckhopson.com

  • The Polling Center: Our Inaugural Election Survey

    By Jim Henson and Daron Shaw

    The results of the first UT/Texas Tribune poll, which was in the field from October 20-27 and sampled 800 Texans who identified themselves as registered voters, shows Texas slowly turning their attention to the 2010 elections. Perhaps more to the point, they have become extremely skeptical about the direction of the federal government. Today we’ll focus on the election match ups and what they tell us about the state of play a little less than six months out from the March primaries. Full Story