The $4.2 Million Question
How much of Bill White's federal war chest could be used in a race for governor? Most of it. Full Story
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On the Records: Shami vs. Himself
Farouk Shami donated $4,800 to Bill White's senate campaign. Now the money could be used against him in the govenor's race. Full Story
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Debtors' Treadmill, Part Two: Political Payday
Groups that offer high-interest, short-term consumer loans and want to avoid state regulation contributed more than $1.4 million to Texas politicians over the past nine years, Texas Ethics Commission records show. Full Story
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The Weekly TribCast: Episode 004
In this week's podcast skirmish, topics include Dick Cheney, the Republican Governors Association and the complicated relationship between money and politics. Full Story
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Audio: Money, Politics and the Supremes
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the use of corporate expenditures. And a new national poll released Monday by the Center for Politics and Governance at the LBJ School of Public Affairs takes an in-depth look at how the country feels about money in politics. Including how corporate money should be used in a campaign. KUT's Ben Philpott reports how federal campaign finance could change after that ruling. Full Story
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Size Doesn't Matter
Americans are less concerned about the amount of money in politics than about where the dough comes from, according to a new survey done by researchers at UT-Austin. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
KBH resigns herself to staying in the Senate, Grissom investigates the broken border, Ramshaw outs IT contractors who make gigabucks from state agencies, Hu gives Hutchison and Perry the Stump Interrupted treatment, the new head of the Foresenic Science Commission faces his critics, Stiles posts a searchable database of fines levied by the state ethics commission, and Hamilton discovers the consequences of party switching (none): The best of the best from November 9 to 13, 2009. Full Story
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Campaign Cash: To Cap, or Not to Cap?
Should the state set limits on political contributions? Depends on which candidate you ask. Full Story
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Campaign finance: Mark Miner
Rick Perry's campaign spokesman says the governor opposes limits on contributions and thinks the solution is transparency, so that voters know who's backing whom. Full Story
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Campaign finance: Kinky Friedman
Friedman, in his second run for governor, says public financing is the way to go. Full Story
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Campaign finance: Kay Bailey Hutchison
Hutchison, a U.S. Sen. and gubernatorial candidate, says the state ought to impose limits on the size of campaign contributions. Full Story
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Campaign finance reform, anyone?
Ben Philpott reports on the gubernatorial candidates' stands on campaign finance. Some want reform. Some want the status quo. Full Story
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Campaign finance: Tom Schieffer
Schieffer, a Democrat, says current regulations of campaign finance are "not serving anybody's interest." Full Story
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Campaign finance: Hank Gilbert
Gilbert, a Democrat running for governor, says campaign finance regulation is the only way to control special interests. Full Story
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On the Records: Campaign-Finance FAIL.
Numbers and text don't mix. Full Story
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Credit: Matt Stiles -
2010: Dick Cheney in Houston Next Week
Former VP Dick Cheney is coming back to Texas. He'll be at a Houston fundraiser for gubernatorial hopeful Kay Bailey Hutchison. Full Story
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Sanction Season
The state is cracking down on officials who run afoul of election, lobbying and officeholder rules. Just ask Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole. Full Story
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On the Records: Dealing with FEC data
Long story short: It's a nightmare. Full Story
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