On this week’s TribCast, Aman talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about how the special session might end now that we’re at the halfway point and reports that Rick Perry might be Trump’s next head of Homeland Security. Plus, an update on Dawnna Dukes’ corruption case.
special sessions
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: No, the Texas Legislature isn’t lowering your property taxes
Texas legislators would love to lower your property taxes, but none of the proposals they’re considering in the special session would do that.
Posted in
State Government
Halfway through special session, Patrick wants “better communications” with House
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick marked the halfway point of the special session Tuesday by calling for “better communications” with the House, which has moved much slower on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda than Patrick’s Senate has.
Posted in
Politics
Dallas, Fort Worth mayors discuss meeting with Abbott (video)
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price talked about their Tuesday meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott about several local control issues he put on the agenda for the special legislative session.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: For three Texas leaders, even some losses could be victories
Measuring the progress of legislation is easy: This one passed, that one didn’t. Political success in a legislative session is different: A mediocre legislative record can be a victory for all sides.
Posted in
State Government
Senate speeds through the special session
The Texas Senate is just about done passing bills on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda, including the controversial “bathroom bill.”
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: For lawmakers, like kids, education can be very difficult
The governor put a number of public education proposals on the Legislature’s plate for the current special session. Getting more than one or two into law would defy the odds.
Posted in
Energy
House approves tree removal bill, breaking from Abbott and Senate
The Texas House has given early approval to a bill that would allow property owners to plant new trees to offset municipal fees for tree removal on their land.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate backs bill that would roll back cellphone safety laws in dozens of Texas cities
The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to legislation that would roll back local mobile phone ordinances that go beyond the recent statewide ban on texting while driving.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Analysis: Texas Republicans deciding where to go on bathrooms
The rift over the bathroom bill in the Texas Legislature won’t end with the special session; it’s a prelude to the March 2018 primary elections.