The latest Joan Huffman news from The Texas Tribune.
The Senate could vote as early as next week on transportation funding and criminal justice measures that died in the first special session. Those measures were quickly approved Tuesday by two Senate committees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/02/NicholsHuffman.jpg)
UPDATED: Friday morning's clash between the House and Senate appears to be water under the bridge. Lawmakers in the upper chamber said it was a tussle over a local Houston matter — but that they're working to resolve it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6da69a88f62d4421f60f8fe0396dc42/BD%20INC%20Dutton%20001%202013)
Two days after an advocate for a bill establishing a commission to review wrongful convictions lashed out at a state senator who voiced opposition to the bill, the measure's Senate sponsor says he doesn't have the votes to move the legislation forward. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6eb639622b9730e249852c98ea1508f/BD%20INC%20Ellis%2001%202011)
The daughter of a former Texas House speaker tops the latest round of campaign announcements. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Craddick-1.jpg)
Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Jacquie Chaumette says she will challenge state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land, in next year's Republican primary. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/charlie-howard.jpg)
Texas’ long-shot efforts to take control of Medicare and Medicaid — the health programs for the elderly, the disabled and the state’s poorest children — from the feds are back on the table. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/medicaid-pills.png)
The Senate passed the "reptile bill" today, which creates regulations for hunters who want to collect snakes and horny toads along Texas highways. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/highway-texas-hillcountry.jpg)
The mission and jurisdiction of the ever-controversial Texas Forensic Science Commission would get some clarification under a bil the Senate approved today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TX-Forensic-Protester001-TP.jpg)
Texas has the dubious distinction of being home to one of the busiest human trafficking routes in the country: the stretch of Interstate Highway 10 that runs from El Paso to Houston. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HumanSmuggling.jpg)
Sunset Advisory Commissioners unanimously approved a series of changes to the troubled Division of Workers' Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance on Tuesday, but not before aggressively rewriting the Sunset staff's original recommendations to improve the division's medical quality review process. Full Story
The 31-member body spent nearly $16 million last fiscal year on travel, staff and office expenses, according to records from the office of the Secretary of the Senate. Overall spending by individual senators ranged from $206,000, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, to $637,000, by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/senate_spending.jpg)
It's time to harvest the political speculations of the last several months: Democrats and Republicans have until January 4 to put their names on the ballots, or not, in anticipation of the March 2 primaries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/120309_genericballot.jpg)
With 198 legislators on the ballot next year, there ought to be more fear in the air. But only a few are in obvious political trouble. Who's on the list, and what makes them vulnerable? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/111809_targets002_jv.jpg)