https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jasper-scherer/The latest news by Jasper Scherer.enFri, 02 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott/Abbott tapped into a powerful national conservative movement and his own campaign war chest to turn legislative races into multimillion-dollar affairs.By Jasper SchererFri, 02 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott/Gov. Greg Abbott takes a photo with students and staff after speaking about school vouchers at Parent Empowerment Night at Harvest Christian Academy in Edinburg on Feb. 6, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott takes a photo with students and staff after speaking about school vouchers at Parent Empowerment Night at Harvest Christian Academy in Edinburg on Feb. 6, 2025.Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/thc-hemp-regulations-senate-bill-3-texas-house/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called banning THC products a top priority. The latest draft of the lower chamber’s THC regulation bill would allow retailers to continue selling edibles and drinks.By Jasper SchererThu, 01 May 2025 13:04:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/thc-hemp-regulations-senate-bill-3-texas-house/Restart CBD displays beverages in a refrigerator on May 9, 2024 in Austin.Restart CBD displays beverages in a fridge on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Austin. Beverages are a really interesting opportunity for this industry as they are accessible like edibles, but also allow for people to consume drinks that aren’t alcohol but still have some sort of benefit.Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/greg-abbott-school-vouchers-republicans-hardball/Anti-voucher Republicans said they voted for the bill so they could fight to improve it, and also to fend off political retribution.By Jasper SchererThu, 17 Apr 2025 17:54:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/greg-abbott-school-vouchers-republicans-hardball/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at ‘Parent Empowerment Night’ at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at ‘Parent Empowerment Night’ at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2025.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-school-vouchers-public-education-funding/The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding.By Jaden Edison and Jasper SchererThu, 17 Apr 2025 02:13:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-school-vouchers-public-education-funding/State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, answers questions regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025. Lawmakers gave final approval to the school voucher legislation Thursday.State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, answers questions regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-house-vouchers-public-school-funding-vote/The Texas House also approved more money for schools in a bipartisan vote.By Jaden Edison and Jasper SchererTue, 15 Apr 2025 17:39:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-house-vouchers-public-school-funding-vote/State Rep. Brad Buckley answers questions from Democrats regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.State Rep. Brad Buckley answers questions from Democrats regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/mayes-middleton-attorney-general-candidate-ken-paxton/Middleton is the second Republican to join what is expected to be a growing field of candidates angling to succeed Attorney General Ken Paxton as the state’s top legal official.By Jasper SchererTue, 15 Apr 2025 13:19:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/mayes-middleton-attorney-general-candidate-ken-paxton/Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, has entered the race for Texas attorney general.Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/The lower chamber’s plan largely aligns with the Senate’s proposal and puts billions toward teacher pay, border security and property tax cuts.By Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo and Ayden RunnelsFri, 11 Apr 2025 03:09:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/texas-house-budget-approval/Texas House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, listens as state Reps. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton (from left), Richard Hayes, R-Hickory Creek, Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, negotiate in the lower chamber on April 10, 2025.House Parliamentarian Sharon Carter, left, listens as state Reps: Cody Vasut, Richard Hayes, Tom Oliverson and Trey Martinez Fischer, negotiate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-property-tax-cuts-budget/State budget watchers — and some Republicans — worry Texas is spending too much on property tax cuts.By Joshua Fechter and Jasper SchererThu, 10 Apr 2025 16:12:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-property-tax-cuts-budget/A row of high-density townhomes in Austin on March 23, 2025.A row of high-density townhomes in Austin on March 23, 2025.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-house-budget-day/Among the hundreds of amendments were ones that focused on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office and the Texas Lottery.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoThu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/texas-house-budget-day/The Texas House voted on a $337 billion state budget early Friday.Texas House of Representatives Members convene in the House Chamber in Austin on April 10, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-us-senate-texas-republican-primary/The attorney general positions himself as a disruptor against the Republican establishment embodied in the longtime Senate fixture.By Jasper SchererTue, 08 Apr 2025 18:34:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/ken-paxton-john-cornyn-us-senate-texas-republican-primary/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at a press conference outside the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-congress-monica-de-la-cruz-democrats-target/The battlefield for both parties is again converging on South Texas, where De La Cruz scored one of the GOP’s high-profile wins last year when she secured a second term.By Jasper SchererTue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/texas-congress-monica-de-la-cruz-democrats-target/U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, waves to supporters after declaring victory against Democratic opponent Michelle Vallejo at an election watch party in Edinburg on Nov. 5, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/greg-abbott-special-election-sylvester-turner/The decision to wait until November means a narrowly divided Congress will be down a Democratic representative for most of 2025.By Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune, Natalia Contreras, Votebeat, and Kayla Guo, The Texas TribuneMon, 07 Apr 2025 16:34:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/greg-abbott-special-election-sylvester-turner/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Federalist Society during an event at The University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption.By Ayden Runnels and Jasper SchererFri, 04 Apr 2025 22:41:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/ken-paxton-whistleblower-case-judgment/In a statement Friday night, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling that found his former aides were fired improperly “a ridiculous judgment that is not based on the facts or the law.”Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in San Antonio on May 23, 2024..Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/dan-patrick-communication-style-thc-lottery/In an interview, the lieutenant governor talks about his recent pop-up investigations and how he uses storytelling to make a political point.By Jasper SchererThu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/03/dan-patrick-communication-style-thc-lottery/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has built on his career as a sportscaster and radio talk-show host to connect with voters and strengthen his political position as leader of the state Senate.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick leads a press conference on bail reform, an emergency item this legislative session, on Feb. 12, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-legislature-thc-ban-dan-patrick-special-session/Only Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoThu, 27 Mar 2025 10:02:18 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-legislature-thc-ban-dan-patrick-special-session/Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Lt. Governor Dan Patrick speaks during the Texas GOP Convention Thursday, May 23, 2024 in San Antonio.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-senate-budget-approval/Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.By Jasper Scherer and Kayla GuoTue, 25 Mar 2025 15:18:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/texas-senate-budget-approval/Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks with Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on Budget Day, March 25, 2025.Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks with Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, during a Texas Senate meeting on March 25, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-cost-texas/The new finding is about 20% higher than previous estimates of the known cost of the effort to remove Paxton from office.By Jasper SchererFri, 21 Mar 2025 10:10:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/ken-paxton-impeachment-cost-texas/Attorney General Ken Paxton sits with attorneys Tony Buzbee and Mitch Little at Paxton's 2023 impeachment trail, which ended in his acquittal.Ken Paxton sits with attorneys Tony Buzbee and Mitch Little on the ninth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-house-senate-school-choice-vouchers/The gaps over eligibility and on spending levels are narrower than the fundamental differences of the previous session.By Jasper Scherer and Jaden EdisonThu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-house-senate-school-choice-vouchers/Even with support for school vouchers in both houses, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows will have to bridge differences if this Gov. Greg Abbott priority measure is to become law.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows applaud as Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock gives the biennial State of the Judiciary speech in the Texas House chamber on Feb. 26, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-gambling-sports-betting-casinos-house-republicans/Gambling critics hope the net loss of more than a dozen votes for sports betting — and 10 votes for casinos — will be enough to block any action in the Texas House.By Jasper SchererWed, 12 Mar 2025 11:34:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/texas-gambling-sports-betting-casinos-house-republicans/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-comptroller-christi-craddick-don-huffines-2026-glenn-hegar/Hegar’s impending departure from the comptroller’s seat creates a rare opening for one of Texas’ coveted statewide offices.By Jasper SchererFri, 07 Mar 2025 12:54:57 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/07/texas-comptroller-christi-craddick-don-huffines-2026-glenn-hegar/Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines.Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines.Texas Tribune