Newsreel: Freshmen Invade, Perry Appoints
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: It's freshman orientation at the Texas Capitol, and Gov. Rick Perry has appointed a new Texas Supreme Court justice and a new secretary of state. Full Story
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For Freshman Legislators, Washington is No Texas
Freshman legislators are getting their first look at Washington and Austin, and the differences are as clear as red and blue. Full Story
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Ethics Commission Backs Off Plan Adding Some Investigative Powers
The Texas Ethics Commission backed off Thursday from a proposal to take some investigative authority away from the Travis County district attorney’s office, but the agency approved two recommendations aimed at enhancing criminal investigations of state elected officials. Full Story
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Little Hope for Overhaul as Fund Nears $1 Billion
Cost-cutting and fiscal transparency will likely dominate the upcoming legislative session, but lawmakers don't have high hopes for reforming the System Benefit Fund, a pot of $850 million not being used for its intended purposes. Full Story
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Puppy Mill Law Faces Legal Challenge
A Texas law that aims to prevent puppy and kitten breeders from abusing animals faces a court challenge, but advocates have come forward to defend the law. Full Story
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John Steen Named Texas Secretary of State
John Steen, a lawyer from San Antonio, will be Texas' next secretary of state. He is replacing Hope Andrade, who resigned Friday. The appointment takes effect Tuesday. Full Story
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Two Years After Big Cuts, Battle Over Budget Caps Looms
After the Legislature cut billions of dollars from the state budget in 2011, some hoped to see at least some of the funding restored in 2013. But with the next legislative session quickly approaching, others are pushing to limit that spending. Full Story
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Texas Democrats Gained, if Only a Little, in 2012
Texas Democrats don't hold any statewide offices, and they are terribly outnumbered in the state Legislature. But they were the only gainers in this year's elections. Full Story
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Name Change Among Possible Railroad Commission Changes
This month, the state's Sunset Advisory Commission released a series of recommendations on how the Railroad Commission — which governs the oil and gas industry, not railroads — could better serve the state. Among the recommendations: a name change. Full Story
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Candidates for 2014 Already Getting Busy
The 2012 elections just ended, and whether you're ready for it or not, the candidates for 2014 have already started their political engines. Full Story
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Accounting for the 2012 Election: Adds, Drops, and Turnover
Who's leaving, who's coming in, and how the numbers compare to turnover after the last 40 years of Texas elections. Full Story
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Employee Union Says Low Prison Pay Jeopardizes Security
Prison employee union leaders are pressuring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Legislature to provide better pay, arguing that understaffing is particularly dangerous during the holidays. Full Story
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Video: Lawmakers Look Ahead to 83rd Session
With the election behind them, the first round of bills filed and the start of the legislative session around the corner, Texas lawmakers will have plenty to talk about around the turkey table this Thanksgiving, including the House speaker's race. Full Story
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Lawmakers Expect Fight Over Anti-Trafficking Bill
Lawmakers have proposed allowing victims of human trafficking to sue advertisers for damages in civil courts. Advocates say they expect to battle advertisers over free speech. Full Story
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New Lawmakers Asked to Testify Against Consultant
They haven't been sworn in yet, but three candidates newly elected to the Texas House have been asked to testify on the eve of their first legislative session in a lawsuit filed against their political consultant. Full Story
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Secretary of State Hope Andrade Resigns
Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade is resigning effective Friday, her office has confirmed. Andrade has held the post since 2008, when her appointment by Gov. Rick Perry made her Texas' first Latina secretary of state. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation with Three New House Members
Full video of my 11/19 TribLive conversation with three incoming state representatives: Republicans Cecil Bell Jr. and Giovanni Capriglione and Democrat Mary Gonzalez. Full Story
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Teacher Retirement System Looks to Cut Costs
Texas lawmakers are once again heading into a legislative session facing concerns over the fiscal health of the state’s major pension systems, and changes to retirees’ health insurance may play a role. Full Story
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Newsreel: Racing, With and Without Wheels
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: George P. Bush announces he will run for something, Bryan Hughes steps up his run for House speaker, F1 is running residents out of Austin this weekend and three candidates are running for the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos' seat in Houston — so far. Full Story
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Guest Column: The Case for Joe Straus
Larson: The conservative House has a conservative speaker, and there's no reason to change leaders. Full Story
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