campaign finance

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey April 20, 2013

Aaronson tracks the latest on Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on lawmakers’ openness to driving permits for non-citizens, Batheja on surprising support for higher state spending, Root and Galbraith on the state’s search for answers after the West explosion, M. Smith covers the debate over high school standards, Grissom finds a shadow payroll at the Capitol, Hamilton on the man with a plan at UT, Rocha spots a special deal for lawmakers accused of crimes, KUT’s Philpott on obstacles to road funding and Ramshaw on the privileges of legislative membership: The best of our best for the week of April 15-19, 2013. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Interactive: Health Care Lobbying in Texas

By Becca Aaronson April 17, 2013

Ahead of the 83rd legislative session, the state’s 10 leading health care associations gave more than $4.6 million to Texas candidates. This interactive shows how much — and to whom — health care associations donated in 2011 and 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Becca Aaronson
Losing a Once-in-a-Lifetime Political Donor

By Ross Ramsey April 16, 2013

With the death this weekend of Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, Texas Republicans lost one of their stalwarts, and one of their biggest and most reliable donors. So did a few Democrats. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Randal Ford / Todd Wiseman
Bill Would Double Campaign Finance Disclosures

By Ryan Murphy March 4, 2013

Legislation doubling campaign finance reporting, tighting up the laws governing political action committees in Texas and adding more detail to officeholders personal financial disclosures was unveiled Monday by Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Charitable Donations, With Political Benefits

By Ross Ramsey March 4, 2013

Charity fundraisers give lobbyists and political donors a way to show their support to officeholders during legislative sessions — when the law prohibits direct contributions. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Greg McMullen
Inside Intelligence: About That Revolving Door...

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 19, 2013

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about officeholders who leave government and join the lobby, about what they should report and about whether they ought to sit out for a while first. Full Story
Straus on Priorities; More Campaign Woes for Dewhurst

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 15, 2013

The speaker of the House dampens expectations for vouchers, tax breaks and transportation without ruling any of those things out. And the lieutenant governor unpeels another layer of problems he says arose from a campaign manager's embezzling. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Interactive: How Texas Stacks Up on Disclosure

By Ryan Murphy Feb. 5, 2013

Texas' financial disclosure practices for lawmakers may not be as thorough as ethics experts would like them to be. But the path Texas has taken to reach its guidelines puts it ahead of many other states. Use our interactive to see how Texas stacks up. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Todd Wiseman
Newsreel: State Budgets and Campaign Money

By Justin Dehn Jan. 19, 2013

In this edition of the Newsreel: The House and Senate have announced their starting budget proposals, and campaign funding numbers foreshadow the 2014 races for statewide offices. Full Story
Ethics Commission Fines Simmons' PAC Over Donations

By Becca Aaronson Jan. 2, 2013

The political action committee for Waste Control Specialists, which is owned by Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, was fined Wednesday by the Texas Ethics Commission over illegal political contributions. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Dewhurst Adviser, Accused of Embezzlement, Faces Criminal Inquiry

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 28, 2012

Criminal prosecutors are investigating allegations that Kenneth "Buddy" Barfield, a top aide to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Dewhurst's campaign accounts. Full Story

Credit: Eric Kayne
Interactive: Post-Election Finance Reports for Congressional Candidates

By Ryan Murphy Dec. 19, 2012

Congressional candidates recently had to file their post-general election campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission. This interactive includes the contribution, expenditure, cash-on-hand and debt totals gleaned from those reports. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Bill Koplitz
Close the Window

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 14, 2012

Election season ends Saturday, in a way, with the start of the biennial blackout on campaign contributions during a legislative session. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Steven Leggett
For Donors, the Political Season Comes to an End

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 10, 2012

The "late train" — the rush of supplicants making kiss-and-make-up contributions after an election — ended this weekend with the beginning of a blackout that outlaws political donations during a legislative session. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Newsreel: Speaker's Race, Campaign Finance Deadline

By Justin Dehn Dec. 8, 2012

This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Who's in – or thinking of jumping in – the race for House speaker? And the legislative session blackout on campaign contributions starts this weekend — after a flurry of fundraising over the last two weeks. Full Story
Interactive: One More Look at Super PAC Spending in Texas

By Ryan Murphy Nov. 21, 2012

The 2012 election marked the rise of Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited funds from individual and corporate donors. These groups spent more than $17 million in Texas, and received more than $100 million from Texas donors. Use our interactive to learn more. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Interactive: Last Look at Federal Candidates' Campaign Finance Totals

By Ryan Murphy Nov. 6, 2012

On Oct. 25, federal candidates filed their pre-general reports, the last campaign finance reports before the Nov. 6 general election. These reports are our last look at how much money each candidate had on hand before the big day. Use our interactive to view the contribution, expenditure, cash on hand and outstanding loan totals for each candidate. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Interactive: Candidates' Eight-Day Campaign Finance Report Totals

By Ryan Murphy Nov. 2, 2012

On Oct. 29, state candidates filed their eight-day reports, the last campaign finance reports before the general election. Use our interactive to view the contribution, expenditure, cash on hand and outstanding loan totals for each candidate. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Chad Kainz
News App: Campaign Finance Database Adds Recent Expenditures

By Ryan Murphy and Noah Seger Oct. 30, 2012

We've updated our campaign finance database to reflect state contribution and expenditure data reported by candidates and committees 30 days before Election Day. Use our tool to find out how much money was being spent in the final weeks of the 2012 election cycle. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Brett Ryan
Texas Weekly Hot List — With Campaign Finance Totals

By Ryan Murphy Oct. 26, 2012

Our latest look at the hottest races on the Texas ballot includes the money those candidates reported in their latest campaign finance disclosures. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Miles Bintz