Rep. Diane Patrick Files Bill To Reduce Number of Student Tests
State Rep. Diane Patrick, an Arlington Republican, has filed school legislation that would reduce the number of end-of-course exams from 15 to 3.
View ArticleWill Lawmakers Buy Perry's Tax Cut? An Analysis Of His State-Of-State Address
Two SMU political science professors disagree on whether Governor Rick Perry’s call for a tax cut will sail through the legislature. We asked professors Cal Jillson and Matthew Wilson to watch the...
View ArticleRep. Coleman Shares His Story Of Mental Illness, Encourages Others
The battle to help mentally ill people is personal for one state legislator. Representative Garnet Coleman, a Houston Democrat, has bipolar disorder.This week he participated in a mental health...
View ArticleRep. Giddings: House Appropriations Won’t Restore School Cuts
State lawmakers are more than a third of the way through their session and key legislation is beginning to take shape. As a member of three powerful committees Rep. Helen Giddings of Dallas is among a...
View ArticleSen. West Cites Baby's Death In Voting To Close Dawson State Jail
State Senator Royce West, a Dallas Democrat, says he expects the full legislature to adopt a measure that will close the Dawson State Jail in Dallas where the deaths of a baby and some inmates have...
View ArticleRep. Crownover Says Expanded Newborn Testing Will Save Lives
On Wednesday state lawmakers on the House Public Health Committee will consider screening newborns for congenital heart defects. The bill filed by Denton Republican Myra Crownover continues her efforts...
View ArticlePlano Mom Pleads With Lawmakers For Newborn Testing
A Plano mother whose infant son died pleaded with state lawmakers today to approve a bill that would automatically test newborns for congenital heart defects.
View ArticleGroup Asking Citizens To Stand Up For State Parks' Funding
A group that wants state lawmakers to restore funding for parks is asking the public to get involved.Tonight in Dallas, “Keep Texas Parks Open” will hold a town hall meeting. The group is holding town...
View ArticleRep. Branch Tackles Texas' Poor College Graduation Rate As He Weighs A Race...
State Rep.Dan Branch says he’ll decide whether to run for attorney general at the end of the legislative session in May.Right now the six-term lawmaker has his hands full as Chairman of the House...
View ArticleRep. Chris Turner: Medicaid Expansion Not Dead In Legislature
Gov. Rick Perry has said there’s no way he’ll sign legislation that expands access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, what he calls Obamacare. But one North Texas Democrat believes that issue...
View ArticleState Budget Deal Adds Money For Schools, Water-What About Roads?
The two-year state budget deal that appears to be coming together in Austin would restore $3.93 billion of the $5.4 billion in public education money cut last session. It would also take $2 billion in...
View ArticleCritics Say Bill Does Little To Make Judges More Accountable
The Texas Senate and House have passed legislation that’s supposed to rein in judges who are abusing or misusing their authority.It’s a problem KERA looked at last year in a special series, Texas...
View ArticleSchool Marshals Get Final Approval In State Legislature
A bill creating school marshals is headed to the Governor for his signature. The state Senate gave final approval to the bill today.
View ArticleLawmakers Debate Bill Before Governor That Would Arm School Employees
One of the bills awaiting Gov. Perry’s signature, House Bill 1009, would allow trained school employees to use firearms to respond to threats.
View ArticleGovernor Adds Abortion Restrictions, Prison Sentencing To Special Session
Gov. Rick Perry has added proposed legislation tightening abortion regulation and a mandatory life sentence for murders committed by 17 year olds to the agenda of Texas' special legislative session.
View ArticleDemocrats Ready To Filibuster Bill With Stricter Abortion Restrictions
Senator Wendy Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat, says she’s prepared to filibuster to block new restrictions on abortion. Early this morning the House passed a bill that would ban abortions after the 20th...
View ArticleUPDATE: Marathon Filibuster, Roaring Crowd Stop Abortion Bill
Update, 6:20 a.m.: Fort Worth Democrat Wendy Davis started it. A raucous, roaring crowd of spectators finished it. And when the dust finally cleared about 3 a.m., Texas Republicans admitted it: One of...
View ArticleWendy Davis: A Texas Senator's Humble Beginnings
From Austin to Hollywood to the White House, Wendy Davis had the political world riveted Tuesday night with her marathon filibuster of bill that would have given Texas one of the toughest abortion laws...
View ArticleGovernor Calls Another Special Session To Vote On Abortion Restrictions
A victory for those opposing new abortion restrictions in Texas may be short-lived.Gov. Rick Perry has asked state lawmakers to take up strict new abortion rules in a second special session to start...
View ArticleSen. Davis Says Perry Will 'Cram' Abortion Restrictions 'Down The Throats Of...
Those celebrating the legislative defeat of new abortion restrictions in Texas had a short-lived victory. Governor Rick Perry has called a new, 30-day special session beginning Monday where...
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