The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The legislative session ends in less than two weeks, and lawmakers won't take up a bill to redraw the state's congressional districts until later this week. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how the delay could affect how the new lines are drawn. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Redistricting_Map_Tweasers.jpg)
Lawmakers working on a final version of the state's two-year budget have agreed to close down a Texas prison for the first time in the state's history, according to a report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prisoners_CM.jpg)
Call it the Justin Timberlake Treatment: The Legislature has found itself boxed in as it searches for a way out of the budget divide. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BudgetBox_1.png)
Candidates in next year’s U.S. House and Senate elections in Texas raised more than $5 million in the first quarter from individuals. Most live in Texas. But a significant portion came from outside the Lone Star State, according to the Federal Election Commission. California led the way, followed by Virginia, Washington, D.C. and New York. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/fec-contribs-us.png)
At a meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents in Austin Thursday, UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa won unanimous support after laying out his “framework for advancing excellence throughout the university system.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b952902aa65c77c18b6bc80491c34bd7/BD%20INC%20Cigarroa%202011)
Multiple higher education sources with knowledge of the events that transpired before the Texas A&M chancellor's surprise "retirement" announcement on Tuesday say that members of the system's board of regents told him it was time for a change. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Mckinney_system.jpg)
Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards, a native Texan and daughter of former Gov. Ann Richards, visited the Capitol on Wednesday to defend funding for womens' health services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PP_Still.jpg)
In recent months, a set of seven "breakthrough solutions" for higher education have been discussed, debated and mulled over in the press, the Legislature, and various academic circles. Arguably lacking in the debate is the voice of a disinterested third party — until now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/012810_paperwork.jpg)
The Texas Senate passed a budget this week for the next biennium, but only after nearly suffering a meltdown. Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden has blamed some of the drama on the meddling of outside interest groups. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PhilGramm_1.png)
Members of Congress from Texas — and potential candidates for those offices — have raised more than $9 million in the first quarter of this year in advance of the 2012 federal elections, campaign records show. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SpendingAppScreenShot.jpg)
With school districts across the state passing belt-tightening budgets due to cuts expected at the Legislature, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports that some districts are gearing up for legal challenges. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SchoolFundingCuts.jpg)
This afternoon, the University of Texas System released much-anticipated data on faculty "productivity" — noting, however, that the 821-page spreadsheet is in a raw draft form that has not been fully verified and "cannot yield accurate analysis, interpretations or conclusions." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/filesandfiles.png)
Jeff Sandefer, the author of the "seven breakthrough solutions" that have rocked the Texas higher education community, has broken his silence on the matter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/THECB.jpg)
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Bill Powers and Bowen Loftin, the presidents of the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, respectively, about the need to quantify the financial contribution of faculty members as part of a higher ed accountability effort. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TxTrib-LoftinPowers-JV018_2.jpg)
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Bill Powers and Bowen Loftin, the presidents of the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, respectively, about the seven "breakthrough solutions" proposed for higher ed by advocates of reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TxTrib-LoftinPowers-JV018_1.jpg)
At a panel hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, UT president Bill Powers, TPPF senior fellow Ronbald Trowbridge and speaker of the A&M faculty senate Robert Strawser discuss the conservative think tank's seven proposed reforms to higher education. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PowersPanelEducation-1.jpg)
At a panel hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation today, Bill Powers, the president of the University of Texas, and Robert Strawser, an accounting professor at Texas A&M University and the speaker of its faculty senate, responded to the conservative think tank's proposed higher education reforms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PowersPanelEducation.jpg)
Taxpayers and students make considerable financial investments in Texas universities. As such, they deserve excellence in both teaching and research. Full transparency and accountability are needed to ensure that neither of those priorities is shortchanged. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/IMG_6808.jpeg)
One week ago, Rick O’Donnell’s employment at the University of Texas System came to an abrupt end after 50 days marked by tension and confusion in the higher education community — especially at the University of Texas at Austin. So what happens now that he’s gone? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bb32cac2ccc1f2efa8404242c492233b/DO%20NOT%20USE%20After%20Rick%20ODonnell%2001%202011)
With the Senate set to debate the state budget this week, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports that several outside groups want to shape the conversation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c04504d6dc51a11a9aa2de3962a9d41d/BD%20INC%20Save%20our%20State%2003%202011)