The Brief: Feb. 11, 2013
Hoping to flex what little muscle they have in the Legislature, Democrats this week plan to take aim at Republicans over public education. Full Story
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![Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer D-San Antonio, at back mike of house on February 7th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Weekly Newsreel: School Finance and the War Between the States
In this edition of the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The state's school finance system is ruled unconstitutional, committee hearings kick off at the Capitol and California Gov. Jerry Brown dukes it out with Rick Perry. Full Story
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Some Lawmakers and Lobbyists Tied by Blood
In a state capital where moving from the Legislature to the lobby — and, sometimes, the other way — is unremarkable, it’s also common to find the relatives of lawmakers lobbying the state government. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Teoh Chie / Humberto Pornaro -
Despite Reforms, Elected Officials Can Still Lobby
While members of the Texas Legislature can no longer act as lobbyists before state agencies, plenty of lawmakers still manage to lobby local governments. Others find work that critics would classify as lobbying by another name. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Perry Launches Business Tour in California
Californians heard from Texas Gov. Rick Perry on radio airwaves this week, in an ad their governor, Democrat Jerry Brown, called "barely a fart." Next week, they can expect to see Perry in person. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry at a State Board of Education meeting on Feb. 1, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: A Conversation with Joe Straus
Full video of my 2/6 TribLive conversation with Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. Full Story
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House Committee to Focus on Criminal Code
Last week, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed a committee to examine the state's Code of Criminal Procedure. Committee members and relevant interest groups were caught by surprise, but they say the code is long overdue for revisions. Full Story
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Signs of Legislative Motion
Lawmakers are diving into the state budget, figuring out which parts of the governor's State of the State speech they liked and didn't like, and watching out of the corners of their eyes at the latest in the 2014 race for governor. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Updated: CPRIT Leaders Testify Before House Panel
Leaders of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas offered candid testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, explaining how the institute has changed its processes to prevent future improprieties. Full Story
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TribLive: Straus on Health Reform
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, held open the possibility of a compromise with the federal government on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Full Story
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Watson Has Tough Words for Combs, Tax Subsidy Programs
Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, criticized Republican Comptroller Susan Combs on Wednesday, saying she had a “cavalier” approach to doling out millions of dollars in tax incentives, including the award eventually granted to the promoters of F1 auto racing. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribLive: Straus on the Budget
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, talked about the likelihood of withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund and whether the state can meet its obligations under the spending cap. Full Story
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TribLive: Straus on School Finance
At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, reacted to this week's ruling on the school finance lawsuit and talked about what happens now. Full Story
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Perry Calls for More Funds for I-69 Project
A planned interstate highway stretching from South Texas to Michigan remains decades away, but Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that lawmakers should find more money for the project and ones like it. Full Story
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![Traffic along US 77 between Driscoll and Kingsville, Texas. A 10-mile stretch of this road from Kingsville to Driscoll is right now a simple state highway with cross-traffic and stop lights. About $50 million is going to be used to upgrade it to interstate highway standards. 6/4/12]()
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Groups Bank on United Front in Gambling Push
Despite strong resistance inside and outside the Legislature, groups representing gambling interests hope that a collaborative approach can help them make a breakthrough this legislative session. Full Story
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Video: A Look at Texas Ethics, Then and Now
The last substantial Texas ethics reforms passed during the 72nd legislative session. It wasn't easy then — and won't be easy now. But members pushing for new rules say they're optimistic that their colleagues will support making the state's business more transparent. Full Story
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For Lobbyists, They're Gifts That Keep On Giving
The culture of gift-giving is alive and well in the Texas Capitol, and lobbyists are the chief benefactors. Full Story
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Video: Greg Abbott vs. Piers Morgan on Guns
On Monday night's edition of Piers Morgan Tonight, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott spoke out against both background checks for personal gun sales and a ban on high-capacity magazines. Full Story
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CPRIT Founders Lay Out Reform Legislation
The legislative founders of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas laid out the first draft of a bill to reform the embattled agency on Tuesday before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Full Story
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Jim Clancy and Paul Hobby: The TT Interview
The new chairman and vice chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission board on the state’s disclosure rules, their efforts to prioritize certain types of ethics complaints and the reforms they anticipate in the 83rd legislative session. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Todd Wiseman
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