07/02/2009

Texas Legislature ends special session without toll-road bill
While the bill was a priority for the governor, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said local transportation officials told Senate leaders the measure was not necessary.
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Tea Party's organizers hope to draw 50,000 to Southfork Ranch on Saturday
Southfork Ranch, the symbol of Dallas and doing things big, is the stage Saturday for the largest tea party in the nation, aimed at attracting 50,000 folks for fireworks, both in the air and from the microphone.

Perry formally applies for $4B in stimulus money for education
AUSTIN – On the last day to do so, Gov. Rick Perry formally applied Wednesday for $4 billion in federal stimulus money to fill gaps and boost state education needs.

07/01/2009

Toll road bill faces tough fight in Texas Legislature's special session
Gov. Rick Perry's special session effort to win new approval for public-private toll roads in Texas may be hitting the skids.

06/28/2009

Many want Gov. Perry to add to special session's agenda
Advocates for unfinished business, ranging from expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program to lowering homeowners insurance, are disappointed the governor won't tackle what they see as pressing needs.
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Texas legislators join Obama in immigration talks
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has hosted high-level brainstorming sessions on health care, fiscal policy and government transparency in his first five months. Last week, after several delays, he got around to hosting a summit on immigration.

06/27/2009

Unlike South Carolina's Sanford, most governors easy to find
Texas Gov. Rick Perry was raising money at campaign headquarters when an Associated Press reporter called his press staff to ask what he was doing. An hour later, he walked into AP's statehouse bureau to show he was alive and well and not, say, in South America for a romantic rendezvous.

06/26/2009

Transportation blog: Sen. Carona won't seek local-option tax in special session
Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, will not seek to win approval of a local-option transportation tax bill in the special session of the Legislature that begins Wednesday.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia shared tips at State Bar of Texas' annual meeting
Lawyers at the State Bar of Texas’ annual meeting at the Hilton Anatole got tips Friday on how to persuade judges to their point of view from one of the highest authorities possible: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Judge delays release of Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford
A federal judge ruled Friday that Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford will have to spend at least the weekend behind bars until he can review a decision to release the financier on bond until his fraud trial.

Politics blog: Gib Lewis, former House speaker, accused of DWI
The politician-turned-lobbyist had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit, police said.

06/25/2009

Special session may not be enough to keep Dallas-Fort Worth road projects going
For Dallas drivers, the governor's decision to summon lawmakers back to the Capitol next week to keep the Transportation Department in business will do little to keep traffic moving in North Texas or reduce its dependence on an ever-increasing number of toll roads.

Gov. Rick Perry calls for special legislative session
The session, which will begin next Wednesday, will tackle three major unresolved issues that failed to make it through the 140-day regular session that ended on June 1.
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Opinion: Special session is on
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Democrat Tom Schieffer announces candidacy for Texas governor
Lawyer-businessman Tom Schieffer's plunge into the Democratic governor's race Wednesday came with a double-barreled push to minimize his ties to the previous Republican governor and take aim at "a crisis of leadership" under the present Republican governor.

Schieffer takes a swing - and boos likely
AUSTIN – Former Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer delivered his pitch for governor Wednesday, tapping all the bases: health care, education, Texas' can-do spirit.

Hutchison, Perry camp trading jabs
WASHINGTON – With his rival calling him politically repulsive, Gov. Rick Perry's campaign shot back Wednesday that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison isn't so much a big tent Republican as a creature of the capital.

06/24/2009

Texas Sen. Van de Putte won't run for governor
AUSTIN – A Democratic lawmaker ended months of speculation Tuesday and said she won't run for governor.

06/23/2009

EPA echoes activists in challenging Texas' air pollution permits, practices, commission
Groups attacking Texas' environmental policies have gained an important ally: the Obama administration.

Texas rejects plan to adopt national school standards
Texas has decided to steer clear of a national effort – involving 46 states – to develop uniform standards for English and math instruction in public schools.
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Tyler Rep. Leo Berman expects to bow out of Texas governor's race
Tyler Republican Rep. Leo Berman said today he expects to abandon a plan to run for governor, a possible boon to Gov. Rick Perry as he prepares for a stiff primary challenge from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

06/21/2009

Texas Watch: GOP senators give Democrats voice on federal judge picks
WASHINGTON – The uneasy Texas truce over the selection of federal judges and prosecutors has quietly taken a turn. The new and improved committee that screens applicants for the state's Republican senators spent Friday at a downtown Dallas law firm, interviewing candidates for U.S. attorney.