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TribBlog: Kuempel Wins Father's Seat
Republican John Kuempel, a 40-year-old metal salesman and University of Texas graduate, won tonight's special election in House District 44 with 66 percent of the vote. Full Story
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The Defectors
After announcing they were defecting from the Democratic Party, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, were welcomed by Texas Republican leaders at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. Full Story
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TribBlog: Party Boys
Surrounded by statewide elected officials and a pack of fellow lawmakers, Democrats Aaron Peña of Edinburg and Allan Ritter of Nederland defected to the Republican Party this afternoon. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Pena on Tea Party
Pena on Tea Party Full Story
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Pena on His Future
Pena on His Future Full Story
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Peña on Response
Peña on Response Full Story
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Pena on Others
Pena on Others Full Story
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Pena on His Announcement
Pena on His Announcement Full Story
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TribBlog: Peña on Party Switching
After serving eight years as a Democrat, Edinburg state Rep. Aaron Peña explains why he is joining the Republican Party. Full Story
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Credit: Justin Dehn -
Pena on Twitter
Pena on Twitter Full Story
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TribBlog: Sources Say Peña Will Switch Parties
State Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg has decided to change parties and will announce the switch at a press conference this afternoon with Gov. Rick Perry and House Speaker Joe Straus, according to Republican sources. Full Story
![State Rep. Aaron Pena of Edinburg in November, 2010.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
TribBlog: "Soft Corruption" at the Railroad Commission?
Members of the Texas Railroad Commission have become increasingly reliant on large campaign donations in the last decade, especially from industries they regulate, according to a new report to be issued today by Public Citizen's Texas office. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
What 100 Means
When state Rep. Allan Ritter, D-Nederland, switches parties today, he'll give the Republicans the votes to do anything they want. With a two-thirds majority, the GOP will be able to suspend the rules that govern House business and will have the numbers to keep working even if the Democrats take a walk. On a practical level, Ritter's switch gives Republicans an even bigger buffer on votes that just require a majority of the 150-member House. "It means we can lose 24 votes and still win," says state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Energy Boost
Energy is never far from the agenda at the Legislature. This year, Sunset Advisory Commission reviews of oil and gas and electricity regulators will keep the sector in the spotlight, as will renewed clamor for legislation — however unlikely to happen in a tough budget environment — to aid clean energy. Full Story
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TWIA Chief: I Cannot Defy Court Order
An ongoing proxy war between tort reformists and trial lawyers spilled into a joint House-Senate hearing Monday, as Texas Windstorm Insurance Association General Manager Jim Oliver told lawmakers he still cannot disclose sought-after attorneys fees details in a multimillion-dollar settlement with Hurricane Ike homeowners. Full Story
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TribBlog: Texas Juries Gave Only 8 Death Sentences in 2010
Texas juries sentenced just eight people to death in 2010, the smallest number since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment here in 1976, according to a report published today by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Full Story
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Interactive: House Travel
Retiring state Rep. Joe Crabb, R-Atascocita, led all Texas House members in government-funded travel expenses in the last fiscal year, according to a Texas Tribune review of expense reports obtained from the state comptroller. Crabb spent $48,400, versus a per-member average of about $11,000. In all, 14 members spent more than $30,000. View a sortable table of travel totals by member. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Gone With the Wind?
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association offers homeowners along the Texas coast their only coverage against potential hurricanes. But some lawmakers say the pool is paying out too much — and they want to limit what sort of coverage it offers in the future. Full Story
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Credit: Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr. -
Inside Intelligence: Lawmakers Should Be Paid...
For this week's installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders on issues of the moment, we asked whether whether lawmakers ought to be paid full-time salaries instead of the $600 per month they make now — and whether they should be required to disclose more details about their personal income and assets. Full Story
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