After emotional debate, Texas House tentatively passes "sanctuary" legislation
The 93-54 vote fell along party lines and came after one of the slowest moving but most emotional legislative days at the state Capitol. Full Story
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![Texas House members on April 26, 2017, voted on an amendment to Senate Bill 4, legislation that would outlaw "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House committee makes changes to anti-"sanctuary" bill
More than 600 people signed up on Wednesday to testify before the House State Affairs Committee on the lower chamber's version of the controversial proposal to outlaw "sanctuary" jurisdictions. Full Story
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![State Affairs Committee member Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, at the hearing on Senate Bill 4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Top Republican counsels against secret taping
After unconfirmed reports that House members were recording private conversations with colleagues, the Republican who oversees internal affairs in the chamber said he's asked members to refrain from any surreptitious taping. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, chairman of the House Administration Committee, looks toward the gallery while House members watch severe weather during debate on May 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Six years later, fight over anti-sanctuary cities bill has changed
Bills targeting "sanctuary cities" failed to pass the Texas Legislature in 2011 and 2015, but similar efforts this session have better chances of making it to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
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![Protesters hold signs reading "No Arizona Hate in Texas" — a reference to a recently passed law in that state — during a 2011 demonstration against "sanctuary city" legislation in Austin.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Top House Republican says dark money debate won't kill ethics reform
Rep. Charlie Geren, the powerful Fort Worth Republican pushing ethics reform in the Texas House this year, is determined not to let a fight over so-called "dark money" torpedo the effort as it did in 2015. Full Story
![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, chairman of the House Administration Committee, looks toward the gallery while House members watch severe weather during debate on May 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Chris Kyle Widow Demands Bo French Stop Using Him in Campaign
Lawyers representing Taya Kyle, the widow of famous Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, sent a cease-and-desist letter Wednesday to Texas House candidate Bo French. Full Story
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![Taya Kyle receives the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor that Gov. Greg Abbott awarded to her late husband, Chris Kyle, on Aug. 26, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: The Future of the Texas House Could Be Seen in Eight Races
Will bragging rights in the Republican primaries for Texas House seats go to the management now in place or to those opposed to the current leaders? Watching these races involving incumbents will provide some answers. Full Story
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![Clockwise, from top left: Republican state Reps. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, John Frullo of Lubbock, Byron Cook of Corsicana and Matt Rinaldi of Irving.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: May 29, 2015
The Dallas Morning News takes a detailed look at the evolution of the deal on tax cuts this session and finds that at a few critical junctures, the deal almost derailed entirely. Full Story
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![House Ways and Means Chair Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks with House Appropriations Chair John Otto, R-Dayton, and House Administration Chair Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Lawmaker Slams "Superficial" Senate Ethics Reform
The already tortuous path for ethics reform at the Texas Capitol took another sharp turn Wednesday when a powerful House leader criticized the package passed by the Senate and praised by Gov. Greg Abbott two weeks ago. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, on the House floor on May 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 6, 2015
News broke Tuesday afternoon of plans by an activist group to release videos this summer of state lawmakers that purportedly capture "a whole variety of bad behavior" but that lawmakers said was harassment. Full Story
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![Empty Texas House seat with paperwork, May 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Two Powerful Incumbents Already Have 2016 Foes
State Reps. Charlie Geren and Jim Keffer, once among the vanguard as Republicans took control of the House, already have challengers who will try to outflank them to the right in 2016. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: April 23, 2015
The word of the day on Wednesday was tension, which infected the traditional weekly breakfast work meeting held by the state's top three leaders and later manifested itself on the House floor as members selected their budget negotiators. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (left) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Committee Waters Down Ethics Reform Legislation
Proposed ethics reform legislation underwent a significant overhaul Thursday in a Senate committee. Gone is the plan to take state pensions from lawbreaking lawmakers. Also out: a proposal to stop legislators from cashing in on a piece of the public debt business. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Gov. Greg Abbott; and state Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Sid Miller's Style Sparks Blowback at the Capitol
Recent episodes highlight a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the cowboy hat-wearing agriculture commissioner and the Legislature that once counted Sid Miller as one of its own. Full Story
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![New Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller does a fist pump on election night Nov. 4, 2014.]()
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The Brief: March 13, 2015
Steelworkers and Shell Oil have struck a tentative agreement on a labor deal that would end a strike at 15 refineries and chemical plants, the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday night. Full Story
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![Houston Ship Channel - March 16, 2012, Baytown, TX]()
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Geren on "Former Fetus" Signs: House "Not a College Dormitory"
State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on Thursday explained why he removed signs at the Capitol identifying some legislators as former fetuses. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford.]()
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The Brief: March 12, 2015
One lawmaker's protest against Planned Parenthood supporters at the Capitol on Wednesday had turned into something else later in the day: a threat that the gloves were about to come off in his fight against the House leadership. Full Story
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![Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford.]()
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"Former Fetus" Signs Cause Stir at Capitol
Signs identifying some state lawmakers as former fetuses are generating controversy at the Capitol. Full Story
![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford.]()
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High Hopes for Ethics Reform, but It's Early
Gov. Greg Abbott's full-throated embrace of ethics reform, a rarity under the Capitol dome, is breathing new life into the issue of years of failed efforts. But changing the status quo remains very much a work in progress. Full Story
![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Gov. Greg Abbott; and state Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Ethics Commission Approves Pay Increase for Lawmakers
The Texas Ethics Commission gave approval on Friday to a $40 increase in what lawmakers are given to cover daily expenses while in Austin, which amounts to a $5,600 increase in their pay over the course of the 140-day regular session. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman
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