The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Fishing and tourism in Matagorda Bay depend in large part on freshwater supplied by the Colorado River. But the drought has all but cut off those flows, and wildlife and recreation on Texas' Gulf Coast have suffered. Full Story
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The Obama administration said on Tuesday it is taking action to curtail the growing influence of "dark money" in U.S. politics. Full Story
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Your evening reading: gun advocates find hope in Abbott's open-carry proposal; O'Rourke stock purchase might have broken new restrictions; IRS issues new guidelines to squeeze dark-money groups Full Story
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How Texas state senators rank, from liberal to conservative, based on nearly 1,000 nonlopsided votes during the regular and special legislative sessions in 2013. Full Story
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If the state's Republican leadership succeeds, Texans could find themselves growing accustomed to the sight of openly carried handguns. Full Story
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A 2011 settlement between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Union Pacific could play a role in ending the current stalemate over the transfer of a Cameron County rail scanning machine. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was in fence-mending mode with conservative gadfly Glenn Beck on Monday Full Story
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Here's audio of Evan Smith's Nov. 18 conversation with veteran political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, whose new book on the 2012 presidential campaign, Double Down, is already a best-seller. Full Story
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Your evening reading: the changing face of Fort Bend County; fears of bigger voter ID headaches to come; noted D.C. political pundit weighs in on Wendy Davis' chances Full Story
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The state's two U.S. senators couldn't be more different — at least on the surface. They've done it in different ways and at different speeds, but both John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are near the center of national politics. Full Story
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Fort Bend has been called the most ethnically diverse county in America, with a population that comes close to an equal division among blacks, whites, Asians and Latinos. Full Story
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State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte launched her campaign for lite guv with a line of argument sure not to be repeated by her counterparts on the GOP side of the contest. Full Story
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Democrats seeking a return to the Texas Governor's Mansion are betting on the suburbs — and, in particular, on the women there. Full Story
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Texas voters will see two women at the top of the Democratic ticket in the 2014 election. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte made her run for lieutenant governor official Saturday in San Antonio. Full Story
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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Gov. Rick Perry says the Mexican energy industry may solve America's immigration problems, the LCRA gets a new leader and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte signals she's running for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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Long rumored to be a contender, state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte has now made it official: She is running for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Texas postpones closure of high-risk health insurance pool; SBOE blocks entry of Arizona-based charter school into state; railroad commissioner candidate rails against proposed textbook Full Story
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Senate Democrats have launched the nuclear option. Now what? Full Story
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Your evening reading: Abbott's privacy rights proposals scrutinized; Senate Democrats launch the nuclear option; Perry says "hell, yeah" to changing presidential debate format Full Story
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In a new video ad, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who is in a four-way primary race to keep his seat, attacks President Obama and his signature health care law, saying, "I can’t think of one thing I agree with him on." Full Story
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