Lawmakers Set $7 Billion "Floor" for State Savings Account
Lawmakers on Thursday chose $7 billion as an appropriate minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund in a meeting that took just a few minutes but will have far-reaching consequences. Full Story
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Sunset Commission Backs Bid to Consolidate State Health Agencies
With the endorsement Wednesday of the Sunset Advisory Commission, legislators are set to move forward with a consolidation of the state's five health agencies into a single health commission with seven divisions. Full Story
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The Brief: Nov. 12, 2014
Scott Turner, the freshman state representative challenging Joe Straus for House speaker, affirmed on Tuesday that he will insist on a floor vote the first day of session, come what may. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 23, 2014
GOP statewide candidates uniformly hold sizeable advantages over their Democratic rivals. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 22, 2014
Criticism by state leaders of the Obama administration for failures in the response to the Ebola virus omits mention of the tools at the state's disposal that were not used. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry visiting soldiers at Fort Hood on Oct. 9, 2014. The 36th Engineering Brigade is preparing to deploy to Liberia to assist in the effort to control the Ebola outbreak.]()
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Report: Abortion Restrictions Tied to Poor Health Outcomes
States that put tight restrictions on abortion generally perform worse on women’s and children’s health outcomes, according to a new report released by two national groups that support access to the procedure. Full Story
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The Brief: Aug. 22, 2014
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that in the days before Gov. Rick Perry's indictment over his veto of funding for the public integrity unit, the Travis County DA's office had requested the next Legislature to restore most of the unit's funding. Full Story
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Commission Formally Recommends Closure of Some State Institutions
A Texas commission that reviews government agencies officially recommended Wednesday that lawmakers shutter an Austin-area institution for people with disabilities and identify five more statewide for later closure. Full Story
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![Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011.]()
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Senators Debate Funding, Merits of National Guard Deployment
At a state Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday, senators debated the merits and tactical strategies of Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to send Texas National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a Health and Human Services committee hearing on Feb. 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Inside Texas Politics: The Elephant in the Room
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, we talked about the new head of the Senate Finance Committee, the border surge, campaign finance reports, the ongoing UT-Austin saga and more. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on July 20, 2014.]()
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The Brief: July 18, 2014
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is on his way out in a few months, but on Thursday he moved to fill some key Senate leadership slots to help the chamber prepare for the coming legislative session in January. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst delivering his concession speech after losing his re-election bid on May 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Schwertner to Lead Senate Health and Human Services Committee
After appointing Sen. Jane Nelson to chair the Senate Finance Committee, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has picked Sen. Charles Schwertner to replace her as the head of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Full Story
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The Brief: July 17, 2014
Wendy Davis' fundraising figures from Tuesday that showed her raising slightly more money than her GOP rival for governor are now being questioned. Full Story
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![Texas gubernatorial hopeful Wendy Davis addresses delegates at the Black Caucus at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 27, 2014.]()
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Lawmakers Consider Closing Institutions for Disabled Texans
Lawmakers considered a proposal to shutter six of Texas’ 13 state-supported living centers over two days of public hearings, renewing a long-simmering debate over the future of the state’s institutions for the disabled. Full Story
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Uncertain Future for State's Division of Blind Services
The state is considering a proposal to integrate its Division for Blind Services with other rehabilitation services. While lawmakers are largely supportive of a consolidation, advocates for the blind are voicing concerns. Full Story
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Amid Recommendations, an Uncertain Future at Institutions for Disabled
A recommendation from the state's Sunset Advisory Commission to shutter six of Texas' 13 state-supported living centers has reopened a giant divide in the disability community that had seemed to narrow in recent years. Full Story
![Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011.]()
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The Brief: Feb. 21, 2014
Ted Nugent on Thursday became a litmus test of sorts for Republican officeholders in the wake of the rocker's appearance on the campaign trail with Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott. Full Story
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Senators Revisit Efforts to Expand Women's Health
The Senate Health and Human Services committee at a hearing on Thursday discussed Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state. Full Story
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![State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, addresses abortion rights advocates at the Texas capitol on Feb. 20, 2014.]()
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Senate Panel's Hearing to Examine Progress on Women's Health Services
State senators will hold a hearing Thursday to assess Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state. Abortion rights advocates say an essential issue has been left off the agenda. Full Story
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Seeking to Pare State Exams, Lawmakers Take Aim at Testing Firm
As the Texas Legislature looks to overhaul the state’s standardized testing program amid outcry from parents and school leaders, state lawmakers have focused their criticism on the company that develops the tests. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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