Inside Intelligence

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about one of the thorniest issues at the intersection of politics and government: redistricting. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about standardized tests in schools, about graduation requirements and about whether the tests should be given in private schools that get state money. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the public fussing between the University of Texas System regents, the governor and the administration at UT-Austin. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about term limits for statewide officials, for legislators and members of Congress, and whether officeholders should receive lifetime pensions for 10-12 years of service. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about exemptions from school property taxes and about the political future of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked whether state judges are paid enough, and whether judicial salaries should be unlinked from lawmakers' own pensions. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the state's gun laws, school choice, the governor's "fetal pain" bill, and about whether Texas election laws still need federal oversight. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about which civic problems are most important in the country and the state, how things are going and about Rick Perry. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the recent school finance ruling, and whether it will be upheld, whether it will result in tax increases, and who — if anyone — will get the blame for the consequences. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked for the legislative odds on some of the ideas in Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State speech. According to the insiders, he had some winners and some losers. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about federal health care and the state, about abortion legislation touted by the governor and about state money for Planned Parenthood. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about state ethics laws — about lawmakers' disclosure of personal finances, of client lists, and about what laws the insiders would change if they could. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked questions about the budget, about how lawmakers will spend the money they've got, the chances for a business tax, and the outlook for other fiscal proposals. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we returned to the subject of gun laws, asking the same set of questions posed after July's theater shooting in Colorado. After Connecticut's schoolhouse shooting, the answers have changed. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the influence of outside activists — in general, and then specifically on the race for speaker and proposals to change the Senate's procedural rules. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the power of the three leaders in the Capitol, and a ranking of who's strongest and weakest among the statewide elected officials in Texas. Full Story 

Ask the Texas public a question, and then ask the insiders in Texas politics and government the same question. The gaps are huge. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about big-ticket infrastructure issues — whether lawmakers will approve any of them and where they might look for money. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about issues important to conservatives and to Hispanics, and about whether Texas Republicans have a good shot at a majority of Hispanic voters in the near future. Full Story 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders from government and politics, we made temporary assignments in punditry, asking insiders to explain the elections, whether the governor is done and how legislative leaders' clout was affected. Full Story