The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Aliyya, Emma and Patrick about the word we’re awaiting from Beto O’Rourke, the latest on the controversial voter citizenship review, Dan Patrick’s teacher pay raise proposal and Julián Castro’s presidential bid. Full Story
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National Democratic groups are signaling they are serious about committing money in Texas. “It’s one of our top opportunities in the whole country,” said U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat who chairs the House Democratic campaign arm. Full Story
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State lawmakers are again trying to abolish daylight saving time in Texas, arguing it's antiquated. But supporters of the practice argue it gives Texans a crucial extra hour of light in the evenings during the summer months. Full Story
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After state officials conceded that at least a quarter of a list of nearly 100,000 Texas voters flagged for citizenship review should never have been questioned, a federal judge said, "I wish all of this could've been done back as the original effort." Full Story
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To watch the conversation online, you must be a member of This Is Your Texas, our Facebook group dedicated to civil discussion of politics and policy news. Join today to RSVP. Full Story
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If all 12 lawmakers are on the Senate floor when Whitley's nomination comes, he doesn't have the votes to be confirmed. Full Story
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O'Rourke, an El Paso Democrat, said he'll decide before the end of the month whether he'll join a growing list of Democrats hoping to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. Full Story
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State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments. Full Story
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A newly elected Democratic judge issued the decision in the latest turn of a 2013 legal challenge to Houston's policy extending benefits to municipal employees' same-sex spouses. Full Story
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If confirmed, Busby, a former U.S. Supreme Court clerk, would replace Justice Phil Johnson, who retired after 13 years on the high court. Full Story
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For the second week in a row, the Senate Nominations Committee failed to bring Whitley up for a vote. And he's gained a new public adversary: the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in. Full Story
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Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year. Full Story
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Weeks after state leaders trumpeted a consensus property tax reform proposal, few seem married to the bill's pitch to cut the rollback rate to 2.5 percent. Full Story
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Property taxes are one of three main sources of revenue for community colleges. If growth in those taxes is limited, the colleges say they may have to look elsewhere for revenue. Full Story
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Billed as a consumer-protection effort, the proposal would allow approved individuals to serve as investment advisers without registering with the state board — a felony under Texas law that Ken Paxton was charged with in 2015. Full Story
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As the president declares a national emergency to get more money for a border barrier, it's worth taking a look at what happened last time the government took private land along the Rio Grande. Full Story
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A 1,159-page spending package would shield major cultural sites like the National Butterfly Center from border fencing — but it would also pump $1.375 billion into additional barriers along the Rio Grande. Full Story
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The president looks poised to sign a bill that will avert another government shutdown, then use an emergency declaration to instruct the military to build his wall. From Congress to the border, Texans react. Full Story
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The emergency declaration could allow President Donald Trump to procure wall funding without approval from Congress, but Democrats have promised to challenge the move. Full Story
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