The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
A decades-long ban on crude oil exports is up for repeal, legislation that is expected to glide through the U.S. House at the end of the week. While there is little doubt that the House will pass the repeal, it still faces serious obstacles before becoming law. Full Story
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Texas' highest criminal court has agreed to review the abuse-of-power case against former Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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In the 2015 Texas legislative session, state lawmakers weren't shy about using their religious beliefs to defend their policymaking. Check out "God & Governing," our documentary series on the role lawmakers' personal faith played in their legislating. Full Story
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Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says GOP presidential opponent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has "enabled" frontrunner Donald Trump by failing to call him out for his liberal positions. Full Story
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Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he is finally paying off the nearly $1 million in debts owed to campaign consultants and vendors since his lopsided loss to Ted Cruz in the 2012 U.S. Senate race. Full Story
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It should come as no surprise when political plotters and schemers try to pack a primary election to force an incumbent into a runoff. Their hope is that the runoff's greater concentration of partisan voters will be harder on the incumbents. Full Story
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When the national election is over, Cruz will either return to the Senate as a rank-and-file member; or if elected president, he will have to negotiate with his former colleagues. Many question whether he can do either job effectively. Full Story
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The first arguments were held Friday in a federal lawsuit challenging Texas policies that effectively deny birth certificates to some U.S.-citizen children of undocumented immigrants. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman questioned the state's reasoning. Full Story
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A top GOP consulting shop is laying down a marker in the Lone Star State, opening an Austin office that promises to be a major player in the lucrative industry of helping Texas Republicans win primary and general elections. Full Story
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Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has hired a Texas operative, Corbin Casteel, to help win the state. Full Story
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As the presidential political season starts in Texas, here's a look — based on the results in past general elections — at how the state's congressional and statehouse districts stack up for the candidates from both parties. Full Story
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Following an outcry from dozens of state lawmakers, Texas’ top health agency announced Thursday it will make less drastic cuts than originally planned to a therapy program for children with disabilities, even if that means spending more than lawmakers budgeted for the program. Full Story
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The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety on Thursday said it was absurd that some border residents claim state troopers are harassing residents during the ongoing border surge in the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk religion and the 2016 race with Sarah Posner of Religion Dispatches and WPLN reporter Chas Sisk. Full Story
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Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is ramping up her outreach to Hispanic voters, and Texas is playing a prominent role in the coming push. Full Story
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Starting Thursday, most U.S. health care providers must switch to a new system of computer codes for recording patient ailments. Opinions are mixed about the changes, but they are clearly fueling a greater demand for medical scribes, who focus on entering patient data. Full Story
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Former Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Wednesday endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, saying Clinton's deep history with Texas politics will pay off come Election Day. Full Story
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Amid an ongoing lawsuit over deep cuts made by lawmakers this year to a therapy program for children with disabilities, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday offered a sternly worded defense of the Legislature’s move. Full Story
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In a show of home-state prowess, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has secured the endorsements of more than three dozen state lawmakers in his bid for the White House. Full Story
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Urging Christians to “be bold” in standing up for religious freedom, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton touted his work as the state’s top lawyer on Tuesday, championing causes dear to social conservatives at a Baptist church. Full Story
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