82nd Legislative Session

Marc Mauer: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom March 23, 2011

The Tribune sat down recently with national criminal justice expert Marc Mauer, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based reform advocacy group The Sentencing Project, to get his advice about how Texas can continue on its so-called 'right on crime' path even as lawmakers slice millions from the state budget. Mauer, who was in Austin for the Barbara Jordan Symposium at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, talked about how other states have handled controversial prison closings, how others have reduced criminal justice costs and how the Right On Crime Movement — with support from conservative leaders like Grover Norquist and Newt Gingrich — might give lawmakers the political freedom to be more than tough when it comes to crime. Full Story

Credit: Brandi Grissom
Marc Mauer: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom March 23, 2011

The national criminal justice expert on how other states have handled controversial prison closings and reduced criminal justice costs and how the Right On Crime Movement might give lawmakers the political freedom to be more than tough when it comes to crime. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
Short of Funds, State Eyes School Reserves

By Ross Ramsey March 23, 2011

The state’s 1,030 school districts have — in total — $10.2 billion in reserves and another $2.1 billion in unspent federal stimulus money. Can they use that money to avoid draconian cutbacks? It's not that simple. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Legislators Consider Repealing Driver Fees

By Justin Dehn March 22, 2011

Lawmakers at the Capitol debate eliminating a surcharge on traffic tickets that has been riddled with problems almost since its inception. Full Story
Brewpub Bill Gets Boost With Compromise

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 22, 2011

A bill that would give brewpubs more flexibility to sell their ales has been given a boost by a compromise with an influential beer lobby. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
Texplainer: Who Would Be Allowed to Carry on Campus?

By Reeve Hamilton March 22, 2011

Those with a concealed handgun license, which currently means they must be 21 years old. Though it won't necessarily be that way forever, which raises another question: When it comes to gun safety, does age matter? Full Story

Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News
Activists Rally for Home Health Care

By Andrew Weber March 22, 2011

Health care providers who treat profoundly disabled children at home face major budget cuts this session — cuts they say would devastate their industry and cost the state more in the long run. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Senate Approves Incentive for Out-of-State Doctors

By Becca Aaronson March 22, 2011

The Senate passed a bill today that would streamline the process of obtaining a medical license in Texas for out-of-state doctors. Full Story
Paul Burka: The TT Interview (audio)

By Ross Ramsey March 22, 2011

The Texas Tribune interview with Texas Monthly Executive Editor Paul Burka. Full Story
Paul Burka: The TT Interview

By Ross Ramsey March 22, 2011

The senior executive editor of Texas Monthly on the biennial list of the Best and Worst Legislators, now coming together for the 20th time, on how he decides who's in and who's out, and on how this crop of lawmakers is shaping up. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Anchia: "It's About Fewer People Voting"

By Justin Dehn March 21, 2011

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, (D) Dallas, expresses his concerns for the Voter ID bill. Full Story
Point of Order Derails Voter ID

By Justin Dehn March 21, 2011

Democrats stop Voter ID bill on a point of order. The bill now goes back to committee to fix before GOP returns it to Texas House. Full Story
Voter ID On Hold in House [Updated]

By Julián Aguilar March 21, 2011

One word in the voter ID bill brought debate in the Texas House to a halt today, postponing passage of the measure — one of Gov. Rick Perry's emergency items — for at least a couple of days. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Anglo Democratic Lawmakers: From Endangered to Protected Species?

By Ross Ramsey March 21, 2011

Anglo Democrats — an endangered species when the political mapmakers were working in 2001 — might be a protected species this year. Many of them represent districts full of minority voters they say are protected from disruptive redistricting. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Muliadi Soenaryo/Todd Wiseman
The Week in Texas Politics Recap: March 14 to March 18

By Reeve Hamilton and Justin Dehn March 18, 2011

No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome. Full Story
Hispanic Republicans Back Voter ID

By Julián Aguilar March 18, 2011

The Hispanic Republican Conference has thrown its weight behind the controversial voter ID legislation slated to hit the House floor next week. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Lawmakers Push for Changes to Hospital Hiring Law

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 17, 2011

Lawmakers today heard heated testimony on a number of bills targeting hospitals' ability to hire physicians. Full Story
Rural Hospitals Hope to Change Hiring Law

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 17, 2011

A Texas law dating back to the 1800s that keeps hospitals from directly hiring doctors comes before lawmakers today, in a flurry of bills designed to remove the ban — either for an individual hospital district, or for all the state's rural hospitals. Full Story
VIDEO: Will 90 Lawmakers Approve Tapping Rainy Day Fund?

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan March 17, 2011

Does tapping the Rainy Day Fund have 90 House votes to move on to the Senate — and how much will the process of getting there damage the even bigger task for lawmakers of setting the next biennium's budget? Full Story
Lawmakers Get an Earful About Campus Carry

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 16, 2011

Supporters and opponents of allowing concealed handguns on college campuses packed a House committee room today where a number of bills that would allow it were being discussed. Full Story

Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News