Can Greg Abbott actually build Trump's border wall?
The governor wants to finish the wall that Donald Trump began on the Texas-Mexico border, but he'll have to overcome the same hurdles that impeded the ex-president's efforts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d9e5a6cef7bc23458f89a9ec9c06bf85/Trump%20Border%20Wall%20Construction%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
-
![Segments of the first border wall construction in Texas since President Trump took office near Donna in 2019.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Verónica G. Cárdenas -
Land Commissioner George P. Bush sues Biden administration over halt to Texas-Mexico border wall construction
The lawsuit says the president had no legal right to put a stop to wall construction on the Texas-Mexico border because Congress had already appropriated the funds. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5522c39ca84c6988f5076498eb4d221e/George%20P%20Bush%20Announces%20SF%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced his candidacy for Texas Attorney General at an event inside Buford's Bar in Austin on June 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
What it means to break quorum and what you need to know about the Texas House Democrats’ dramatic departure
Democrats are preventing the Texas House from having enough members to pass legislation. We explain what that means, what options Republicans have and what’s in the voting bills Democrats oppose. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/74deeb6a880bdec2fe4374f3cf928fdd/Special%20Session%20Opening%20Day%20SPTT%20%2098.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
To block voting legislation, Democrats put bail bills, legislative funding and other measures in peril
Conservative priorities to restrict pretrial release from jail and ban critical race theory in schools were up in the air after Democratic lawmakers chartered flights to Washington, D.C. But so was funding for retired teachers and legislative employees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab1679a87ee9393d4f5e8033f170b12a/Opening%20Day%20Dade%20Phelan%20SP%20TT%20156.jpg)
![Speaker of the House Dade Phelan gavels in the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
After hours of impassioned testimony, Texas Senate panel advances bills limiting the school sports teams that transgender athletes can join
Gov. Greg Abbott added the legislation to the special session agenda after similar bills failed to pass during the regular session earlier this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32133232c1e2ec17b9c52e8376142ce3/High%20School%20Sports%20iStock%20TT%2003.jpg)
![A high school volleyball player gets ready to serve during a game.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStock -
Texas Democrats land in Washington, D.C., and promise to stay out of Texas until after special legislative session ends Aug. 6
Texas Democrats said they are urging Congress again to pass federal voting laws, acknowledging that Gov. Greg Abbott would continue to call special sessions until the GOP elections bill was passed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d7498aaba224cca8a68f7c4690f0c815/Dems%20Leave%20Texas%20Presser%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, speaks to the press after Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives, who are boycotting a special session of the legislature to block Republican-backed voting restrictions, arrive at Dulles airport in Sterling, Virginia, on July 12, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein -
Deploy law enforcement? Call another special session? Texas GOP mulls options for elections bill after Democrats leave the state
A number of House Republicans indicated that they would support what’s known as a call of the House, a procedural move that would allow law enforcement to track down lawmakers who have already fled the chamber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25b3a679628f9a1e1fc2f30bdff0303c/Dems%20Leave%20Texas%20JV%20TT%2001.jpeg)
![Planes stationed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on July 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: There’s plenty still to play out ahead of 2022, but Greg Abbott is starting to run up the score
With a big endorsement and a record-setting fundraising period behind him, Texas' governor is in a political sweet spot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e4eb695fc37d9a06d38d59060cacd45/Senate%20Floor%20Abbott%20Patrick%20JJ%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to the Senate at the Capitol on the first day of the 2021 Legislature on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman -
Texas Senate bill seeks to strip required lessons on people of color and women from “critical race theory” law
The bill would also remove a requirement to teach that white supremacy is "morally wrong." One Democratic lawmaker said the bill’s attempts could lead to a “frightening dystopian future.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ffaf1710bc0352a45f51dec2d705eca5/Judson%20HS%20COVID%20AG%20TT%2034.jpg)
![The empty entryway of Judson High School on Aug. 11, 2020, in Converse.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers take first steps to restore Legislature’s funding after Abbott’s veto
The House Appropriations Committee voted on Friday 21-0 to move forward a bill that would reinstate the funding after Abbott vetoed it to punish House Democrats who broke quorum in the final days of the session to kill two of his priority bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/62d46b84b96a5d548e6c9fb80e730914/House%20Floor%20May%2023%20JV%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Gov. Abbott declines to take questions from reporters during the legislative session on the house floor on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House attempting to reset on contentious elections bill with new author, new committee in special session
The lower chamber, led by House Speaker Dade Phelan, is trying to start off on a new foot with a controversial election bill that blew up during the regular session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23537e8890474e6e478ce70b8e89007e/ATX%20Early%20Voting%20Day%20Two%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)
![A voting sign at the South Austin Recreation Center polling site on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has colossal $55 million war chest for 2022 reelection bid
Abbott’s campaign coffers hit the balance after he raised over $18.7 million during the last 10 days of June, his campaign announced Thursday. The campaign said the cash-on-hand total was larger “than any other statewide candidate in Texas history.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7c0979ef47826cf6d9d3e298bd40ce13/Power%20Grid%20Bill%20Signing%20SP%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3 at the Texas Capitol on June 8, 2021. The omnibus power grid bills will change the state’s power grid and the people who oversee it.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Almost 150 guards are staffing an empty Texas prison as state officials work on Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to use it for immigrants
While many Texas prisons are understaffed, some dangerously so, the emptied-out Briscoe Unit in Dilley is in "maintenance mode" as officials scramble to implement the governor's plan to increase the state's role in border enforcement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f96db8e1dcef6f364c2e6477e224f73/Dolph%20Briscoe%20Unit%20CS%20TT%2003.jpg)
![The Dolph Briscoe Unit in Dilley on July 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A “special” session of culture wars, politics and unfinished business
The agenda for the special session that begins today previews some of the issues you're likely to hear about during the 2022 election cycle. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers are back for a special session. Here’s what you should know.
We asked our readers for their questions about the special legislative session that starts Thursday in Texas. These are the answers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/611417900621430785eadf0ff51d7d20/Capitol%20File%20Feb%201%20EL%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Democrats fear Texas Republicans will push even harder in second bid to pass new voting restrictions
As the Legislature's special session dawns, political developments have raised the stakes for how far Republicans might go in enacting new voting restrictions, and how they might impact voters of color. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ece989a57d6c6b12d9518e3a10a7e87d/Harris%20County%20Early%20Voting%20AM%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Harris County residents waiting in line at the Bayland Community Center during the first day of early voting in Houston on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Allen West’s final days as state GOP chair filled with intraparty drama
With only days before he steps down from the helm of the state GOP, West is embroiled in a fight with his vice chair and under attack by county GOP chairs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15965043cf6f76d3df15d3d9804284ba/GOP%20Lege%20Agenda%20Rally%20JV%20TT%2003.jpg)
![State GOP Chairman Allen West speaks at a Texas Republican Party rally on the east side of the Capitol Grounds on Jan. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Previewing the special legislative session
In this week's episode, Cassi speaks with Alexa and James about the upcoming special legislative session that starts July 8 in Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c1cf07b989adc72ba079f29f7744d7bd/TTE-SpecialSession-leadart-v2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Gov. Greg Abbott includes voting restrictions, critical race theory and rules for transgender student athletes on special legislative session agenda
Abbott also put border security and restoring funding to the Legislative branch — which he vetoed last month — on the special session agenda. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05f8d9cb41a611600ec97f1620eaabe5/Abbott%20Trump%20Wall%20Visit%20MG%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the surge in immigration in 2021 at a border wall tour accompanied by former President Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Former legislative leaders from both parties oppose Abbott veto of legislative funding as state defends him
In a new court filing, the attorney general's office said the governor properly used his veto power when he nixed funding for the Legislature in response to House Democrats walkout over a Republican priority bill on elections. Full Story
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4eba57dde41ac332316276fd86437444/House%20Floor%20May%2030%20JV%20TT%2027)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bbbc15c19cfb4aaf765b5885e57ce796/Abbott%20Border%20Announcement%20SP%20TT%2019)