The Brief: Jan. 29, 2013
A major new federal immigration proposal has corralled bipartisan support, but Texas Republicans aren't biting. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 28, 2013
Your evening reading: Texans react to senators' immigration plan; report urges state to expand Medicaid; Boy Scouts may end ban on gay leaders Full Story
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Texplainer: What is the Blocker Bill?
The blocker bill, a tradition of the Texas Senate, gives the minority party power, because it requires that two-thirds of the Senate must agree before a bill is heard on the floor. Full Story
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![January 9th, 2013: Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston who is in favor of eliminating the two-thirds rule, speaks on the Senate floor. Senators have agreed to leave the rule as is.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Railroad Commissioner Wants Firearm Training for Employees
With the debate over gun rights still raging in Texas and across the nation, the head of one Texas agency, the Railroad Commission, is pushing to provide training for employees so they can carry concealed handguns on the job. Full Story
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![The Texas Railroad Commission, comprised of Chairman Barry T. Smitherman (center), and commissioners David Porter (left) and Christi Craddick (right) hold an open meeting in Austin, Texas on Jan. 15, 2013.]()
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The Brief: Jan. 28, 2013
The immigration debate about to descend on Washington has already pushed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz into the spotlight. Full Story
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![Ted Cruz at the JW Marriott hotel in Houston on May 29, 2012.]()
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Legislators Can Carry Bills That Benefit Them? Yep.
The common practice of lawmakers carrying bills or serving on committees that could directly affect their lives or livelihoods is permitted, so long as their efforts benefit all others in similar circumstances. But it still has vocal critics. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 25, 2013
Your evening reading: Republicans challenge group hoping to turn Texas blue; White House to begin immigration push next week; conservative groups come out against school security bill Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry with wife Anita at a Williamson County Republican dinner in Round Rock, his first public appearance since leaving the presidential race.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott Announces "Choose Life" Advisory Committee
Attorney General Greg Abbott announced on Friday the creation of the Choose Life Advisory Committee, a group that will make recommendations for spending money generated by "Choose Life" license plates. Full Story
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Race for SD-6 Seat Heads Toward Final Stretch
Slightly more than 8,200 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period in the special election to replace the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos. Election day is Saturday in the race, which is likely to head to a runoff. Full Story
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![State Rep. Carol Alvarado (left), D-Houston, and Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia are among the eight candidates vying to replace the late Sen. Mario Gallegos.]()
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TribLive: A Conversation with David Dewhurst
Full video of my January 24 TribLive conversation with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Full Story
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At Railroad Commission, a Push to Modernize
The Texas Railroad Commission regulates one of the most advanced industries in the world — oil and gas drilling. Yet the commission’s software systems, many of its rules and even its name are from another era. But change is coming. Full Story
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![Local pumper Bobby Thomason works on cleaning up an old well that was recently worked over to start producing again on a lease in Caldwell County near Luling, January 22, 2012.]()
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National Group Aims to Turn Texas Blue
Texas Democrats have been fighting an uphill battle against Republicans for almost two decades, but a new Washington-based group wants to invest tens of millions of dollars to turn Texas blue. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: Jan. 25, 2013
A new group may provide Texas Democrats with an answer to their long-ignored prayers for a political comeback. Full Story
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![Democratic supporters at the Driskill Hotel in Austin erupt in celebration as CNN projects President Obama's re-election victory on Nov. 6, 2012.]()
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 24, 2013
Your evening reading: state tax-break bill targets federal contraception rule; national Democrats launch Texas initiative; Texas Republicans rebuke Clinton over Benghazi testimony Full Story
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Bill Would Count Prisoners Differently in Redistricting
Resuscitating the 2011 redistricting battle, two lawmakers have filed bills requiring the state to count prisoners at their last home address rather than where they are incarcerated. They say it cheats urban districts out of representatives. Full Story
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TribLive: Dewhurst on Buddy Barfield
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about the ongoing investigation into allegations that a longtime campaign aide stole hundreds of thousands of dollars — or more —from his political accounts. Full Story
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TribLive: Dewhurst on Takeaways from 2012
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about what he learned in his unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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TribLive: Dewhurst on Funding Public Education
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about whether public education funding in Texas is sufficient and where additional money might come from. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 24, 2013
The 2013 legislative session may have just begun, but for half of the state Senate, the 2014 election season started Wednesday. Full Story
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![State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, faces Mark Shelton in a District 10 Senate debate at the Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth on Oct. 11, 2012.]()
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TribCast: Guns, Health and Politics
Ross, Reeve, Emily and Morgan discuss how legislators might react to a recent shooting incident, the state's approach to the women's health services and the upshot of the recently announced Senate Committee assignments. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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