At our Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, state Reps. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, and state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session.
82nd Legislative Session
The Hot Seat: West Texas Lawmakers on Public Ed Cuts
At last Friday’s Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, state Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, and state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, talked about the impact of cuts to public education.
First Minority Cancer Month Highlights Disparities
Lawmakers and health care advocates gathered today to kick off the state’s first annual Minority Cancer Awareness Month, designated in the last legislative session to bring awareness to racial disparities in cancer survival.
TribLive: Sadler Knocks Dewhurst
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Paul Sadler laid out the case against his possible general election opponent, Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Estes and Crownover
At our Hot Seat conversation at the University of North Texas in Denton on 2/28, state Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, and state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session.
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Valley Lawmakers
At our Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg on 1/24, state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and state Reps. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, and Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, discussed cuts to public education, redistricting and other by-products of the 82nd Legislative Session.
TribLive: A Conversation with David Simpson
Full video of my January 26 TribLive conversation with state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview.
State Employment Continues to Shrink
Texas cut nearly 8,000 state jobs over the last year, according to a new report from the state auditor’s office. Use this interactive to compare how the $15 billion in cuts passed by lawmakers in the last session has affected state-funded organizations within each article of the budget.
State Releases Much-Reduced List of Family Planning Contractors
The Texas Department of State Health Services has released a much-reduced list of organizations that will receive state dollars to provide birth control, STD testing and cervical and breast cancer screenings for the state’s poorest women.
TribLive: Sullivan on His Infamous Scorecard
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan defended the infamous scorecard he publishes grading the fiscal conservatism of state lawmakers.

