Updated: Senate Adjourns, Leaves TSA Issue in House's Lap
The Senate has adjourned Sine Die, leaving the burden of the TSA "anti-groping" bill in the House's lap. Full Story
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![State Rep. David Simpson (l), R-Longview, and State Rep. Allen Fletcher (r), R-Tomball, look for votes on the House floor during debate on SB9 "sanctuary cities" legislation on June 27, 2011. The measure passed second reading on a voice vote.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lawmakers Approve Windstorm Insurance Fix
Over objections from some Democrats and from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Legislature voted to revamp the state's windstorm insurance program, disposing of a prickly issue that could have forced a second special session. Full Story
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![Sen. John Carona R-Dallas, answers a question by Sen. Wendy Davis D-Ft. Worth regarding HB 3, the TWIA bill on Senate floor June 28th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Alex Jones Protests Altered "Groping" Bill
Infowars radio host Alex Jones protests in the halls of the Texas Capitol on Monday after legislators pass altered version of the TSA "anti-groping" bill. Full Story
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On the Records: Twitter Visual Tool Useful — and Pretty
A new data visualization tool, the Tweet Topic Explorer, makes analyzing a user’s Twitter feed quick, painless and beautiful. Check out what Gov. Rick Perry tweets about most on his personal twitter feed, and see how his tweets compare to others. Full Story
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The Final Push: A Special Session Update
Lawmakers must wrap up the special session on Wednesday, with a few outstanding priorities left to tackle. Here's a rundown of where the Texas Legislature stands going into the second-to-last day of the special session. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Lawmakers Optimistic About Windstorm Deal
June 27, 2011 State Rep. Larry Taylor of Friendswood explains why he is optimistic about the compromise reached on reforms of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Full Story
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Video: Donna Howard on Rainy Day Funding for Schools
An amendment from Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, that would have directed surplus money from the Rainy Day Fund to pay for enrollment growth in public schools perished in conference committee, but came up again in debate before the final vote on a fiscal matters bill to which it was attached. Full Story
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Windstorm Insurance Deal Ready for Final Vote
State legislators say they've reached a compromise on reform of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, potentially averting a second special session this summer. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House TSA Bill Still Alive, Senate Passes Its Own
The Senate passed its version of the TSA "anti-groping" bill tonight. Meanwhile, the House version is still alive — and significantly changed. The House tentatively approved it on a voice vote this afternoon. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Dewhurst: It's Up to the House to Pass Sanctuary Cities
During the Senate's afternoon recess, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst offered his thoughts on the special session's unanswered questions on sanctuary cities legislation, the TWIA compromise and the chances of coming back in July. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst speaks to reporters on June 3rd, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Passes TSA "Anti-Groping" Bill Out of Committee
A Senate committee approved a new version of the TSA "anti-groping" bill today, which substitutes the language "probable cause" for "reasonable suspicion." Full Story
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The Midday Brief: June 27, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Sanctuary cities bill isn't dead; UT System and former adviser Rick O'Donnell reach settlement; House passes health reform bill; George Will says Rick Perry is a "potentially potent candidate"; debating how much credit Perry deserves for jobs creation; TSA removes 95-year-old woman's diaper Full Story
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![Texas Governor Rick Perry gestures as he speaks at the ceremonial bill signing of HB3727 regarding property tax evaluations of aircraft at the Boeing facility in San Antonio on June 23, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob -
Updated: Sanctuary Cities Bill Clinging to Life
State Rep. Burt Solomons says at least one version of the contentious sanctuary cities bill will advance out of committee today, despite the morning cancellation of a House State Affairs meeting. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: June 27, 2011
Will they or won't they? That's the question lawmakers, who seem to have met for a matter of minutes in the waning days of the special legislative session, face today on a series of controversial measures Gov. Rick Perry added to the call. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Hit List
Gov. Rick Perry isn’t backing down from his push for a “no-frills” approach to higher education. He wants students to move and be moved through the system quickly and efficiently. And if that wasn’t clear enough already, he underscored it with his veto pen. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Next Time?
Now that lawmakers have drawn, approved and sent congressional redistricting maps to the governor for approval, the Senate voted to hand future mapmaking to a bipartisan, non-legislative commission. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Staying After School
The special session hasn't done much to alter the school finance plan that dragged lawmakers into overtime. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
No Sanctuary
Precious days are dwindling away in the first-called special session of the state legislature, leading to speculation that one of the most divisive issues of the regular and special session, the “sanctuary cities” legislation, may not make the deadline. 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.]()
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A Legislative Vortex
Gov. Rick Perry is promising to bring lawmakers back for another special session if they can't dig their way out of the TWIA hole. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Summer Reruns
The bill numbers have been changed to protect the innocent. If you had left Austin for a couple of weeks starting, say, right after the regular session, you'd have returned to find new congressional maps in place and little else to show for the special session. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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