Meanwhile, an independent analysis shows that the state needs $6 billion in additional general revenue to maintain "current services" in the next budget.
Full StoryA large group of Republican voters came out in the first round. Will they come back, and could they tip the scales in favor of the runner-up in the second round?
Full StoryFor this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the newest officeholders, the GOP presidential candidates from Texas, about oil prices and an unpopular tax.
Full Story
Key meetings and events for the coming week.
Full StoryU.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, was one of several insurgent candidates to challenge House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio for Speaker of the House. The common thread among the challengers was dissatisfaction with Boehner's perceived willingness to work with Democrats on legislation. Boehner ended up winning re-election with Gohmert receiving a total of three votes, including his own.
Voting ended Tuesday night in three crowded elections — in Senate District 26, House District 17 and House District 123 — and all are now headed for runoffs. In SD-26, two state San Antonio Democratic representatives — Trey Martinez Fischer and José Menéndez — will square off, while former San Antonio City Councilman Diego Bernal, a Democrat, faces off against Republican Nunzio Previtera in the HD-123 runoff. Two Republicans, John Cyrier and Brent Golemon, qualified for the HD-17 runoff. Dates for the runoffs have yet to be determined.
As they weigh the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law, federal appeals court judges on Wednesday challenged arguments presented by the state and abortion providers in tough questioning that buoyed hopes among some abortion rights supporters that new restrictions on abortion facilities might be overturned.
A swarm of small earthquakes started shaking the Dallas area a few days ago, leading teams to head to the area to find out what exactly is behind the sudden occurrence of the temblors.
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott on Thursday called for a citizen panel on government waste to replace the Sunset Commission. He said the Sunset system “seldom eliminates unnecessary agencies.” In addition, he called for an end to local bans, ranging from prohibitions on plastic bags to tree removal to fracking.
The Texas Water Development Board's three members on Thursday unanimously voted for the 72,000-acre Marvin Nichols Reservoir — which the thirsty Dallas Fort-Worth region hopes to build in Northeast Texas — to stay in the State Water Plan. The vote, though, dismayed opponents from counties where some of the land would have to be flooded to make way for the reservoir.
State or local government employees giving out same-sex marriage licenses would stop receiving their salaries under a bill filed Wednesday for the 84th legislative session. The bill, filed by state Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, is an attempt to stop the courts from overturning the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Oral arguments are set for Friday in a federal appeals court on the constitutionality of the ban.
Gun rights advocates announced this week that they will use a 3-D printer to manufacture weapons at the Texas Capitol during an armed rally set for the opening day of the 2015 legislative session.
Gov. Rick Perry, who is in the final two weeks of his time in office, has issued a large set of judicial appointments. They are:
The terms for all eight appointments run through the 2016 general election.
Lori Wrotenbery has joined the Railroad Commission of Texas as the new director of its oil and gas division. She comes to the agency from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission where she was director of administration.
Karen Robinson, the state's chief information officer and executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources, officially retired on Dec. 31. She will take over as U.S. president of Robots and Pencils, Inc. in February.
Mike Rosen left Congressman Michael McCaul's press shop at the end of December. He reports that he has accepted an offer from an Austin technology firm to be its government affairs director.
Mark Miner and Holly DeShields have been hired by McGuireWoods Consulting to direct its Austin office. Miner served as chief spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry in his gubernatorial campaigns and his presidential campaign. DeShields served as chief of staff for state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-LaPorte.
Brian Garrett Yarbrough and Janiece Crenwelge have announced the formation of BGYarbrough & Associates, offering legal and governmental affairs consulting services.
Gay Gaddis has been named the next chairwoman of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Gaddis, the founder of the T3 advertising agency, is the group's sixth leader in its 20-year history and the first woman to hold the post.
John Hall has hired on as Texas director for the Environmental Defense Fund's clean energy program. His past public service includes stints as the executive director for the Texas Environmental Research Consortium in Houston as well as chairman of the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Disclosure: The Texas Business Leadership Council was in 2013 a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
