The latest Texas Senate news from The Texas Tribune.
Is the health reform price tag in Texas $1.4 billion... or more like $24 billion? State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, asks HHSC Commissioner Tom Suehs to explain why his agency's estimate is so much higher than a federal estimate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_shot_2010-03-31_at_4.22.48_PM.png)
State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is no longer a candidate for U.S. Senate and says she'll refund about $1 million to her contributors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/florence_shapiro.jpg)
Residency requirements tripped up Brian Birdwell's previous effort to enter the Texas Legislature, and it looks like they will again. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/brian_birdwell.jpg)
At the heart of America's symbiotic relationship with Mexico is a long-standing and sometimes tense agreement over an issue more far-reaching than homeland security and immigration: water. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a96767597cb2fabc0705ba773baf3298/BD%20INC%20Border%2002%202009)
Former Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, wants his old job back. The senator-turned-lobbyist has been hinting for a couple of weeks and now says he'll be a candidate for his former seat now that Kip Averitt is resigning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/davidsibley.jpg)
Census Bureau questionnaires arrive at 8.4 million Texas homes this week. "Fill that sucker out," the bureau's regional director says, "so we don't have to come and knock on your door." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/dress_rehearsal_01.jpg)
Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, resigned from office Monday, a week after winning the GOP primary for reelection to a seat he no longer wants to hold. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/averitt.JPG)
Former state Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, is talking to people about getting back into the Legislature when Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, gets out. But he's not out yet, and there are two exits. Full Story
Some losing candidates in today's primary election could have one last chance to win — provided they meet one of three criteria. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/122209_vote001_go.jpg)
Forget about issues. The GOP primary for this Senate seat in Central Texas is all about honesty and integrity. Incumbent Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, says of his challenger, Ben Bius, "I can't remember the last time he said something truthful." Bius says of Ogden, "I can forgive a man a policy difference if he keeps his word." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3ca35599ac325800a87e006fcdce4aa/BD%20INC%20Ogden%20Bius%202010)
How will lawmakers deal with a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion — and maybe several billion more — in the next legislative session? In all likelihood, by doing what they did in 2003, when things were almost this bad. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/020810-budgetfail.jpg)
Sen. Cornyn said allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. military would hinder recruitment efforts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2010-01-11_guzman_event_cbm-212.jpg)
... against Washington, of course, and the less-than-resolute wing of his party: An interview with the Texas Railroad Commissioner, who'd like very much, thank you, to be the next Marco Rubio. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CM_Capture_1_______.png)
The Waco senator's exit could open the door for the Democrats, who don't have a candidate in the race but might get a chance to add one. Full Story
You cannot win if you do not play: Poker players know it, and the Ds, if they mean to make this a two-party state again, need to know it too. Full Story
A Burleson insurance agent who was challenging him in the primary is the beneficiary of his unexpected decision, as no Democrat filed to run in the race. Full Story
Should reporters wear muzzles when they're around politicians? Some states seem to think so, but not, thankfully, Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Texas_capitol.jpg)
Roll your own political videos ... interactive travel maps of your federal and state legislators ... scary movies, to keep the kids out of the border's scary drug wars ... puttting dropouts back in class ... rates squeezing families out of home health care ... how many lobby and trade associations do teachers in Texas need? ... enjoying the silence before an expected two-month siege of political advertising ... the dean of Texas political writers gets shut out of the gubernatorial debates ... and we have an interactive database of the state's best and worst public schools. The best of our best for a short news week, from December 19 to 26, 2009. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/zilkerlights.jpg)
The Republican state senator from Houston on whether he wants to run for statewide office in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/danpatrickscreengrab_.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/121509_missingcanidates.jpg)