The Evening Brief: Jan. 15, 2013
Your evening reading: Abbott posts 3-to-1 cash advantage over Perry; state lawmakers file bill to broaden financial disclosure; House Republican Caucus picks leader Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Most Legislators Won't Disclose Tax Returns
The Tribune asked all 180 current members of the Legislature to provide their last three tax returns — and got few takers. Most lawmakers either ignored the request or said they weren’t comfortable with that level of disclosure. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 15, 2013
If money's a show of strength, George P. Bush — who's angling for statewide office — just came out swinging. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
White House Responds to Texas Secession Petition
The White House, responding to calls for secession from Texas and seven other states, has called for healthy debate, but to not let "that debate tear us apart." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
T-Squared: It's Only Bidness
Twenty journalists have spent nine months researching the personal financial interests of members of the 83rd Legislature. Eyebrows — and hackles — may be raised, but this kind of transparency is good for Texas. Full Story
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News App: Exploring Lawmakers' Personal Financial Interests
The Lawmaker Explorer is a first-of-its-kind interactive tool that gives Texans a window into the personal interests of their state legislators. It is the linchpin of the Tribune's Bidness as Usual project, a session-long look at ethics and transparency in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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A Part-Time Legislature, but in Whose Interest?
With a lacking conflict disclosure system, virtually toothless ethics laws and a Legislature historically unwilling to make itself more transparent, Texans know little about who or what influences the people elected to represent them. Full Story
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His Job Safe, Straus Now Faces Session's Hurdles
After successfully fending off another challenge to his speakership, Joe Straus faces a tough task in the session. He will have to tackle issues that have been thorny for Republicans in the past, without further alienating the far right. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 11, 2013
The latest churn of the rumor mill has stoked speculation about the political futures of two prominent Texans. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribCast: Beginning of the Legislative Session
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben talk about the opening days of the new legislative session, including the comptroller's revenue estimate, the re-election of Speaker Joe Straus and the priorities of the leadership. Full Story
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(Many) Members of the 83rd Legislature on Twitter
Here's a list of the Twitter handles of the 120 state lawmakers who do the communications thing 140 characters at a time. Full Story
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Incentives for Business Scrutinized in Texas
Two legislative committees are set to hold hearings on state programs designed to encourage businesses to invest here, about a week after a New York Times series brought increased attention to Texas' approach to such incentives. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
TribuneFest: A Conversation About the 2012 Presidential Race
At the 2012 Texas Tribune Festival, I talked 2012 presidential politics with Hendrik Hertzberg of The New Yorker, Gwen Ifill of Washington Week and Julie Mason of Sirius/XM's The Press Pool. Full Story
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UT Regents Back Some Tuition Hikes, Commit to New Med Schools
Tuition will go up next year for most students in the University of Texas System, after a Board of Regents vote today. Regents also committed to developing medical schools in Austin and South Texas. Full Story
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Texas Gets a D+ in Public Integrity Study
Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators. Full Story
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More Texas Children Living in High-Poverty Areas
A new report says the number of Texas children living in areas of high poverty has increased about 40 percent over the past decade. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, advocacy groups hope the data will bolster anti-poverty programs. Full Story
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TPPF Criticizes Upcoming "Avalanche" of EPA Rules
A report released Monday by the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation renewed its criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists say the group's concerns are misplaced. Full Story
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Little Agreement on How to Fix School Finance System
A teachers group has urged Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session to address education funding. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, there's still plenty of disagreement on what fixing the school funding system would actually mean. Full Story
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Democrats Wait for the Political Winds to Change
Every Texas Democrat who has run for statewide office in the last 18 years has been defeated. Every Democrat on the ballot this year hopes to bust that slump. But Republicans in Texas have suffered a longer drought than what Democrats are currently facing. Full Story
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Budget Battles Still Ahead for Legislature
The state Legislature heads back to work in less than a year. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the state’s improving economy won't likely save legislators from the protracted budget battle that awaits them. Full Story
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