Politics & Policy
May 29, 2019
Who Counts?
Texas stands to lose a great deal if the 2020 Census doesn’t include every Texan—including congressional seats and billions in federal funding.
Politics & Policy
Reporting and commentary on the Legislature, campaigns, and elected officials
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Film & TV
May 28, 2019
New HBO Documentary Offers an Intimate Look at Beto O’Rourke’s Senate Run
A Q&A between filmmaker David Modigliani and Texas Monthly's Eric Benson, who followed O'Rourke for the 2018 'Underdog' podcast.
Politics & Policy
May 23, 2019
There’s a Grand Bargain on Property Taxes and Education Funding. But What Is It, Exactly?
The governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House announced a deal on property taxes and school finance. It sounds good, but offered awfully little in the way of specifics.
Politics & Policy
May 22, 2019
Seventh Time’s the Charm: Despite Repeated Bungling, the Lege Manages to Pass an Update to the Sandra Bland Act
Let us count the ways legislators passed, killed, and then resurrected what was a popular, bipartisan way to limit arrests for minor infractions.
Politics & Policy
May 22, 2019
Jonathan Stickland and the Case of the Special Session That Wasn’t
Stickland and his band of merry pranksters could have pushed the Legislature into a special session by killing a popular bill to increase mental health services for kids.
Politics & Policy
May 20, 2019
The Culture Wars Come Roaring Back in the Closing Days of the Texas Legislature
The last few days have brought tearful, angry debate over abortion, religious discrimination, and LGBTQ rights.
Business
May 17, 2019
Is a Proposed Ban on a State Income Tax Really a Stealth Move to Undermine the State’s Business Tax?
The Legislature’s own budget advisors have warned that a constitutional amendment prohibiting an income tax could cost the state billions in lost revenue from the business tax.
Politics & Policy
May 16, 2019
Valoree Swanson’s Cough May Have Killed a Controversial Elections Bill
House lawmakers are watching the clock as a key lawmaker's absence from the Capitol has suddenly imperiled a controversial elections measure.
Health
May 16, 2019
Austin, Fort Worth, and Houston Are at Risk of a Measles Outbreak—Thanks to Anti-Vaxxers
The ”don’t trust the government” right and the ”don’t trust the government” left overlap when it comes to vaccines.
Politics & Policy
May 15, 2019
Inside the Story of How Democrats Killed a Law That Could Have Saved Sandra Bland
In a fit of idiocy and confusion, Democrats in the Legislature not once, but twice derailed bipartisan legislation prohibiting police from making arrests for minor infractions.
Politics & Policy
May 13, 2019
The Loudest and Least Effective Legislator Has Actually Passed a Bill
But don’t think that means Representative Jonathan Stickland is all grown up. He’s still more or less the lib-baiting troll he’s always been.
Politics & Policy
May 8, 2019
Why the Sales Tax Swap Died a Painful Death
Here died Greg Abbott’s burden-shifting plan, orphaned and alone.
Energy
May 6, 2019
A New Pipeline Through the Hill Country Is Pitting the Oil Industry Against Landowners
The state’s biggest industry finds itself in an unusual position: facing landowner-friendly reforms at the Texas Legislature.
Politics & Policy
May 4, 2019
More STAAR? The Texas Senate Proposes Even Higher-Stakes Testing for Students.
On Monday, the Senate passed a proposal to add four more writing tests and tie school funding directly to third-grade test results.
Health
May 4, 2019
An Afternoon With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Texas Anti-Vaccine Movement
Kennedy’s presentation to vaccine activists at the Capitol was a master class in how to turn fears toward a dangerous cause.
Business
May 3, 2019
The Paid Sick Leave Fight is All About Whose Interests Matter Most at the Legislature
In a dispute between cities and the state, employees and employers, you can probably guess who has the upper hand.
Politics & Policy
May 2, 2019
Without the Votes for His Sales Tax Hike, Dan Patrick is Exploring Other Tax Increases
The Big Three are desperate to save their property tax proposal. Among the ideas to buy down property taxes is an increase in the oil and gas severance tax.
Politics & Policy
May 2, 2019
‘A Hearing Can Save a Life’: Ban on Gay Conversion Therapy Gets a Courtesy Airing
Despite Representative Celia Israel’s emotional, personal testimony, her bill to curtail the discredited practice has little chance of becoming law.
Politics & Policy
May 2, 2019
Takeaways From Emerson’s Texas Senate and Presidential Poll
In a new presidential poll of Texas, Beto, Bernie, and Biden all look competitive against Trump. But it's far too early to make too much of that.
Politics & Policy
May 1, 2019
Joaquin Castro Says ‘No’ to Senate Run Against John Cornyn
The San Antonio congressman said he feels he can accomplish more in the majority party in the U.S. House
Politics & Policy
April 30, 2019
If You’re Looking for Dan Patrick This Legislative Session, You Might Find Him on Fox News
Once upon a time, the Texas Senate was Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s whole world. His turbulent 2014 campaign for the post was a radical change in Texas politics, the tea party revolution taking the throne. In his inauguration speech he proclaimed that his arrival marked “a new day
Politics & Policy
April 25, 2019
Dressing Down Parents at Houston’s Madison High School
No shower caps, bonnets, Do-rags, or saggy pants? The principal’s dress code for parents is about more than just school-appropriate attire.
Politics & Policy
April 25, 2019
‘I’m in Danger’: Migrant Parents Face Violence in Mexico Under New Trump Policy
At hearings in El Paso, asylum seekers forced to stay in Juarez told of violence and fear.
Politics & Policy
April 24, 2019
Can Out-of-State Liberals Oust a Texas Democrat?
The group that made Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a star in New York aims to unseat veteran Laredo congressman Henry Cuellar.
Politics & Policy
April 24, 2019
Everything Julián Castro Knows He Learned From His Mother
Rosie Castro is known in San Antonio as a firebrand political activist. Her son is a cautious career politician running for president. But don’t let appearances deceive you—they’re fighting the same fight.
Politics & Policy
April 23, 2019
Attacks on the Dallas DA Signal Trouble for the Criminal Justice Reform Movement
Big-city prosecutors are now driving the conversation around mass incarceration, and some lawmakers and law enforcement officials just can’t abide that.
Politics & Policy
April 22, 2019
Flush With Cash, Senator John Cornyn Is Daring Democrats to Challenge Him
The state’s senior U.S. senator is calling out Joaquin Castro and MJ Hegar in particular.
Best and Worst Legislators
April 20, 2019
Best & Worst Legislators in Real Time: Senator Bob Hall
If you’re going to traffick in conspiracy theories, at least be nice about it.
Politics & Policy
April 17, 2019
Dan Patrick’s Budget Negotiators Lack Racial, Ideological, and Geographic Diversity
The senators who will help finalize the state budget—which affects 28 million Texans—are all white and Republican, and four of the five are from the Houston area.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2019
The Governor Wants to Replace Property Taxes With ‘Consumption’ Taxes. That’s a Terrible Idea.
Many Texans think their property taxes are too high. But the highly regressive sales tax would put even more of a burden on those who can least afford it.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2019
Sorting Fact From Fiction in the Story of Pro-life Celebrity Abby Johnson
'Unplanned,' a new film about Johnson's conversion from Planned Parenthood administrator to anti-abortion crusader, puts her back in the spotlight. But her story still doesn’t add up.
Politics & Policy
April 15, 2019
Dan Patrick Gets His Way with Property Tax Reform, But Another Republican Has the Last Word
In a powerful floor speech Monday, Senator Kel Seliger offers a demonstration of decency that diminishes the lieutenant governor’s raw power play.
Politics & Policy
April 12, 2019
Dan Patrick Alerts Senate That He Intends to Use “Nuclear Option” to Pass Property Tax Reform
Unless a compromise can be reached next week, Patrick's decision to move forward will upend decades of Senate tradition.
Politics & Policy
April 12, 2019
Showdown at the J.W. Marriott: What the Bonnen-McNutt Tussle Signals about the Political Wars to Come
In the pantheon of lawmaker-involved squabbles, what happened at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Austin on Wednesday night probably doesn’t rank higher (lower?) than the time Borris Miles whipped out a gun at a party, or the time Bob Bullock pulled a gun on
Politics & Policy
April 10, 2019
Is the Proposed State Sales Tax Hike Smart Fiscal Policy or a Hail Mary Pass?
The governor, lieutenant governor and speaker line up behind a penny increase to the sales tax to provide property tax relief.
Politics & Policy
April 10, 2019
Border Brinkmanship and the Texas Economy
The Texas Senate has tacitly endorsed President Trump’s threat to shut down the border if necessary—a dangerous move for the economy and the president’s political future.
Politics & Policy
April 5, 2019
Dolores Huerta, Wyclef Jean, and More to Join LBJ Foundation Summit on Racial Division
The free three-day event starts April 8 and is a follow-up to the LBJ Foundation’s 2014 Civil Rights Summit.
Politics & Policy
April 2, 2019
Can Betomania Keep Up Its Momentum?
The strengths of Beto O'Rourke's senate candidacy have been cast in a harsher light now that he's a presidential contender.
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2019
Facing U.S. House Investigation for Voter Roll Review, Secretary of State Encourages Students to Vote
The embattled state official visited the Rio Grande Valley to encourage voter participation.
Politics & Policy
April 1, 2019
State Senator José Menéndez: The STAAR Test Is Hurting Our Kids. We Need to Act Now.
An op-ed from the San Antonio senator and member of the Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education.
Politics & Policy
March 28, 2019
Texas May Outlaw Unsolicited Sexual Images. Would That Be Enforceable—and Does It Even Matter?
The legislation would be an example of law’s “expressive” power, potentially curbing behavior regardless of how many creeps are prosecuted.
Health
March 22, 2019
Texas Might Raise the Age Limit on Tobacco Products to 21—and Tobacco Companies Are Fine With It
The support from Altria marks a reversal from the tobacco company's viewpoint in 2017.
Politics & Policy
March 20, 2019
The Texas Lege’s Culture War on Austin Has Come to a Cuddly Ceasefire
A step towards a less partisan future. Or at least a furrier, friendlier one.
Politics & Policy
March 15, 2019
Joaquin Castro “All But Certain” to Challenge John Cornyn for U.S. Senate, Source Says
A Joaquin Castro candidacy instantly makes next year's Senate race competitive, observers say.
Politics & Policy
March 14, 2019
Beto O’Rourke Is Running for President: “Our Democracy Has Never Been Under Attack Like It Is Now”
In an interview with Texas Monthly, O’Rourke says he’ll offer “bold leadership”—but offered few specifics.
Politics & Policy
March 13, 2019
Testing the Test: New Legislation Filed to Audit STAAR
More challenges emerge to Texas’s least favorite exam.
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2019
Q&A: Starbucks Cofounder Howard Schultz on Running for President
“We believe we have a path to [winning] … if the Democrats choose a far-left person who is espousing socialistic policies.”
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2019
Will Hurd Has Defied Both Liberals and Donald Trump. Is He the Future of the GOP or a Party of One?
The outspoken congressman left a promising career in the CIA and became a rising Republican star. But his political balancing act is dicier than ever.
Politics & Policy
March 11, 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Outdraws Presidential Candidates at SXSW
The freshman congresswoman even took a question from Bill Nye, the Science Guy.
The National Podcast of Texas
March 7, 2019
Wendy Davis: “The Midterms Were a Wake-up Call for Republican Leaders in Texas”
On the latest National Podcast of Texas, the 2014 gubernatorial candidate on her latest thinking about a potential run against John Cornyn, Beto O’Rourke’s future, and the status of the upcoming Sandra Bullock film centered on her filibuster.