Deuell: Make Cuts, but Raise Taxes Too
State Sen. Robert Deuell, R-Greenville, would rather raise taxes a little bit than make the cuts lawmakers are considering now, he told the Tribune this evening. Full Story
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Lawmakers Talk Grading, Attendance Policies
The Senate Education Committee has sent legislation on minimum grading and attendance policies to the full chamber, but bills on residential development and special education policy have stalled. Full Story
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Disability Advocates: "No Cuts! No Cuts!"
Disability advocates gathered at the Capitol today to call on lawmakers to use the Rainy Day Fund, to raise new revenue and, above all else, to not cut community-based services for the disabled. Over and over again the crowd chanted, "No cuts! No cuts!" Full Story
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![People with disabilities protest at the Texas Capitol against budget cuts to home and community-based services on March 1, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Voter ID Gets Tense Hearing
The voter ID bill came before House lawmakers this morning — and it was a tense scene. Even supporters of the measure had to grapple with testimony from people who endorse the bill on anti-illegal immigration grounds. Full Story
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Calling It Quits on Smoking Cessation?
Finding ways to cut health care costs is all the rage under the Pink Dome — and curbing smoking is a proven way to do it. But budget proposals slash tobacco cessation programs by more than 80 percent. Full Story
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Are Texas Hispanics Up for Grabs?
Republican analysts said at today's Texas Tribune "New Day Rising" forum that as Texas' Hispanic population continues to surge, its traditionally Democratic electorate is more and more up for grabs. Full Story
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![Voting signs in Austin during the 2010 election cycle.]()
Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Rev. Carroll Pickett: The TT Interview
The onetime death house chaplain on what it was like to witness the most state executions of anyone in his job (95, by lethal injection), what changed his mind about the death penalty and why lawmakers should continue to fund the chaplain program. Full Story
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Forensic Commissioners Answer to Legislators
The Senate Nominations Committee voted 4-2 today to recommend approval of the state forensic board Chairman John Bradley's appointment. Sens. José Rodríguez and Kirk Watson voted against Bradley's nomination. Full Story
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![Williamson County DA John Bradley during his Senate Nomination Committee to the Forensic Science Committee. February 28th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
For Republicans, the Hazards of Red Meat
The growth of the state’s Hispanic population and the rise of immigration as a political issue put Texas Republicans in a tight spot — especially the ones with statewide aspirations. Full Story
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![Demonstrators stand in front of the Texas Capitol on Feb. 22, 2011 to show their opposition to immigration legislation.]()
Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Berman Leads Charge From GOP's Right Flank
In 2009, state Rep. Leo Berman's bills — like the ones restricting illegal immigrants to certain geographical regions and denying them access to higher education — failed to gain traction. But with a Republican supermajority now in control, this could very well be the session of Leo. Full Story
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![Former state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, is shown in 2011.]()
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In Dallas, "Big D" May No Longer Fit
Big D may need a new nickname. Despite a surging state population, the city of Dallas grew by a paltry 1 percent in the last decade — a rate lower than any of the 20 largest cities in Texas. Full Story
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![Gilberto Saucedo tends to a grill during a family barbecue in Oak Cliff's Kidd Spring Park.]()
Credit: Caleb Miller Bryant -
Perry, O'Malley Talk Wisconsin, Jobs at Governors Meeting
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the Republican Governors Association chairman, squared off with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, the Democratic Governors Association chief, this morning. Here's the video, courtesy of Politico. Full Story
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Zerwas on Abortion and Women's Health Programs
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation about health care, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, warned against defunding providers of women's health services as an unintended consequence of defunding abortion providers. Full Story
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Zerwas and Zerwas and Dunkelberg on What's Good and Bad About "Obamacare"
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation about health care, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and Anne Dunkelberg of the Center for Public Policy Priorities talked about what they like and don't like about federal health care reform. Full Story
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Zerwas on Health Exchange Legislation
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation about health care, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, explained why he's introduced legislation to implement a crucial part of federal health care reform. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation About Health Care
For our latest TribLive event, I talked about federal health care reform with state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, Anne Dunkelberg of the Center for Public Policy Priorities and Tom Banning of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, at TribLive on February 23, 2011.]()
Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo -
Voices of the Mentally Ill
As lawmakers consider cutting community-based mental health care services, the Tribune talks with mentally ill Harris County Jail inmates and with consumers who use community-based services to stay out of jail and off the streets. Full Story
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![Nearly one-quarter of the 10,000 inmates at the Harris County Jail are on psychotropic medications.]()
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Why Gambling's Odds Have Improved (Hint: We're Broke)
Like the Republican Party of Texas and many of his core voters, Gov. Rick Perry no longer supports expanded gambling here. This year, that might not make any difference. Full Story
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Mental Health Cuts Would Strain Local Jails
Proposed reductions in community-based mental health treatment, experts say, will mean more mentally ill Texans are likely to end up on the streets, in emergency rooms and behind bars, where it will cost local taxpayers even more to care for them. Full Story
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![Jail officials across Texas are worried that state budget cuts to community-based mental health care services will mean more mentally ill inmates in their facilities.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Do Texas Schools Spend Too Much on Administration?
For lawmakers scrutinizing every possible saving, “administrative costs” presents an easy mark. But there may be less to cut than they imagine. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman
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