82nd Legislative Session

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey June 25, 2011

An Everybody-in-the-Pool effort on what's left to do in the special session, Ramshaw on a doozy of a congressional race shaping up, Aguilar on the debate over sanctuary cities and other immigration proposals, M. Smith on the state's used-up Rainy Day Fund, Grissom on efforts to kick the special interests out of an insurance fight, Dehn and Tan on whether the special session helps or hurts the governor's national ambitions, Galbraith and KUT Radio team up for a series on the long-term outlook for Central Texas water, Aaronson on government attempts to balance openness and privacy with data releases, yours truly on Amazon's run at a sales tax break, and Hamilton on an ethnic gap in higher education: The best of our best from June 20 to 24, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: June 20 to 24, 2011

By Justin Dehn June 24, 2011

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
GOP Boosters Urge a "No" Vote on Sanctuary Cities

By Julián Aguilar June 24, 2011

Two Republican boosters have circulated a memo urging business owners to contact lawmakers to encourage them to vote against the “sanctuary cities” bills pending in committee. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / John Carleton / Marjorie Cotera
Measure Providing Extra Money For Schools Dies

By Morgan Smith June 24, 2011

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 has perished in conference committee. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Joaquin Castro To Take On Doggett for New Congressional Seat

By Emily Ramshaw June 24, 2011

San Antonio State Rep. Joaquin Castro will take on veteran U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett to vie for a newly-created congressional district that spans from San Antonio up to southern Travis County. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Justin Dehn
Updated: Straus Calls TSA Bill "Publicity Stunt"

By Becca Aaronson June 24, 2011

The House appears set on passing a non-binding TSA anti-groping resolution, instead of Rep. David Simpson's bill. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says a Senate committee will hear the upper chamber's version of the bill on Monday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
That $6 Billion Left in the Rainy Day Fund? Already Used, Some Say

By Morgan Smith June 24, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry’s neon-light promotion on the national stage of the $6 billion left in the Rainy Day Fund exposes a disconnect with the conservative lawmakers battling for his principles at home, where his party is working to divert negative public sentiment about the deep budget reductions. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Video: Does Special Session Help, Hurt Perry?

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan June 24, 2011

Strategists say the longer lawmakers stay in town, the more time Gov. Rick Perry has to show off his conservative credentials and appeal to a crucial bloc that could propel him into a national race: Republican primary voters. Full Story
Amazon Offers Jobs for Tax Breaks, and Lawmakers Balk

By Ross Ramsey June 24, 2011

Lawmakers aren't buying Amazon's latest pitch for a sales tax break in Texas. But Rick Perry is. Full Story

Credit: Kati Drisc
Sanctuary Cities Bills On Hold, On the Clock

By Julián Aguilar June 23, 2011

A decision on the whether to advance the state’s pending “sanctuary cities” legislation will not be made until Monday, leaving less time for lawmakers to consider the bills before Wednesday’s special session deadline. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Latino Leaders Give Perry Lukewarm Response

By Julián Aguilar June 23, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry made no mention of the federal government’s overreach or the violence he says is spilling across the state’s border during a brief and tense public appearance today before hundreds of Latino elected officials. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Texplainer: What Happens to a Bill Perry Doesn't Sign or Veto?

By Beth Brown June 23, 2011

Hey Texplainer: What happens to the bills that Perry doesn't sign or veto? Gov. Rick Perry has vetoed and signed a multitude of bills this year, but to date there have been 27 he allowed to become law by default. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Students, Federal Memo Muddle "Sanctuary Cities"

By Julián Aguilar June 23, 2011

Tearful testimony from students brought to the country illegally and a new ICE directive that stresses discretionary enforcement has raised more concerns over the state's pending "sanctuary cities" legislation. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 85

By Reeve Hamilton June 22, 2011

This week on the TribCast, Ross, Reeve, Thanh, and Ben talk about vetoes, groping, and the imminent end of the special session. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
The Last Seven Days: Special Session Update

By Brandi Grissom, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar, Becca Aaronson and Thanh Tan June 22, 2011

The Tribune counts down to the end of the special session with updates on where the major issues added to the agenda by Gov. Rick Perry stand. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Polling Center: Race, Ideology and Redistricting

By Adam Myers June 21, 2011

Which groups in Texas believe most strongly that their members of Congress don't represent people "like them"? Liberal and moderate whites. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
One School District Says No to Higher Property Taxes

By Morgan Smith June 20, 2011

After public resistance from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Empower Texans, an Austin-based conservative activist group, voters in a suburban Fort Worth school district turned down a 13-cent local tax hike over the weekend. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Burka and Blakeslee on Wendy Davis

By Evan Smith June 20, 2011

At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, the authors of Texas Monthly's biennial Best and Worst Legislators story, senior executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Nate Blakeslee, explained why state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, appears on neither list. Full Story
TribLive: Burka and Blakeslee on No Worst Democrats

By Evan Smith June 20, 2011

At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, the authors of Texas Monthly's biennial Best and Worst Legislators story, senior executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Nate Blakeslee, explained why no Democrats appeared on the Ten Worst list. Full Story
Audio: Burka and Blakeslee at TribLive

By Evan Smith June 20, 2011

At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, the authors of Texas Monthly's biennial Best and Worst Legislators story, senior executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Nate Blakeslee, defended their 2011 picks. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich