Lubbock celebrates native Dustin Burrows’ rise to Texas House speaker
Meanwhile in the Panhandle, Republicans were less excited that Burrows won the speaker contest thanks largely to Democrats. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House speaker, on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session at the capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Rep. John Smithee emerges as House hero among Paxton supporters, floated for speaker
On the day the House impeached Ken Paxton, Smithee delivered a 20 minute speech, criticizing the impeachment process as opaque, rushed and unfair to the accused. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, discusses House Bill 214, which would limit health benefit coverage for elective abortions, on Aug. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Amarillo Republican lawmakers discuss property tax impasse, impeachment opposition
At a Texas Tribune event, state Reps. John Smithee and Four Price — who have historically resisted school-choice initiatives — take a wait-and-see approach to a future special session on the issue. Full Story
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A conversation with Price and Smithee (video)
Full video of my 10/4 conversation with state Reps. Four Price, R-Amarillo, and John Smithee, R-Amarillo, on the campus of Amarillo College. Full Story
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Curbs on Suing Insurers Rile Business Lobby
Businesses are joining consumer advocates in sounding the alarm about a proposal that critics say would stack the deck in favor of insurance companies at the expense of businesses and homeowners. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Smithee (l), R-Amarillo, with a reporter off the House floor in 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House Backs Senate Bill Making Execution Drug Providers Secret
Legislation that would keep the names of execution drug providers secret is headed to the governor’s office after the Texas House gave final approval on Tuesday to a Senate measure. Full Story
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House Passes $4.9B Tax Cut Plan That Includes Sales Tax Cut
The Texas House tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax relief plan Tuesday that includes a cut to the state’s sales tax, marking a clear line in the sand against the Senate, which favors property tax cuts. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, celebrates passage of his tax cut measures during the House session April 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Guardianship Reform Could Offer New Freedoms
Dawn Carlton is intellectually disabled, but she says she manages fine on her own. The 38-year-old woman is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas. Full Story
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![Dawn Carlton is pushing for a series of bills this legislative session to change the way court-appointed guardians are used in Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
The Brief: April 16, 2015
For all the talk about undocumented immigrants qualifying for in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities, it turns out that these students make up a very small portion of the college-going population. Full Story
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![Students arrive in caps & gowns to Texas Capitol on April 6th, 2015. The Senate sub-committee on border security will listen to testimony on SB #1819 relating to determination of resident status of students by public institutions of higher education]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Straus Aims to Expand Authority for House Investigations
When members debate the proposed rules for the House on Thursday, they'll discuss a plan from House Speaker Joe Straus to expand one committee's jurisdiction in investigating state agencies and practices. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Aug. 4, 2014
A new report raises fresh doubts about a key witness instrumental in securing the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. This new evidence forces again the question as to whether Texas executed an innocent man. Full Story
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![Cameron Todd Willingham was executed on Feb. 17, 2004.]()
Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
TribLive: A Conversation With Amarillo Lawmakers
Full video of my 2/7 TribLive conversation with three Amarillo lawmakers: state Sen. Kel Seliger and state Reps. "Four" Price and John Smithee. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 7, 2014
The rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the GOP lieutenant governor's race — and personified by state Sen. Dan Patrick — is angering several Hispanic party leaders to the point where one of them is considering voting for a Democrat in the general election. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Feb. 6, 2014
Chris Christie is coming to Texas on Thursday and with a large target on his back placed there by Democrats. Full Story
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![Mitt Romney and Gov. Chris Christie shake hands after Romney introduces him at event in Lebanon, N.H.]()
Credit: Ben Philpott -
The Brief: Feb. 5, 2014
Add Greg Abbott, apparently, to those wanting to turn the page on coverage of Wendy Davis' life story. Full Story
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![Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott talked about border security, criminal justice and other issues during his "Securing Texans" address in Dallas on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2014.]()
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The Brief: Feb. 4, 2014
Greg Abbott has reversed the campaign fundraising storyline of a month ago, raising more than three times the cash as the combined efforts of Wendy Davis and Battleground Texas. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott, then a candidate for governor and now the governor-elect, spoke at a NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church in Bedford on Nov. 12, 2013. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who was also running for governor, spoke to veterans at Luby's in Forest Hill the day before.]()
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The Brief: Feb. 3, 2014
The Tribune's Jay Root has the story on another secret audio recording released with the intent to impact the already contentious gubernatorial contest. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General and candidate for Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott gives keynote speech during the Texas Rally for Life on January 25th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Jan. 31, 2014
The House Republican leadership on Thursday released a one-page blueprint for immigration reform. But with its call to legalize 11 million undocumented workers, the immediate question was whether the plan would fly within the party. Full Story
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![The Rally for Immigration Reform on Congress Avenue near the Texas Capitol on Feb. 22, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Jan. 30, 2014
New research by a Sam Houston State University economics professor finds Texas fifth in income inequality. Could it become a big issue in the governor's race? Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 29, 2014
Time magazine on Tuesday posted an article talking about Wendy Davis' "moment of truth." Davis then spent the rest of the day making the most concerted effort of the past week to push aside critics who have seized on details of her life story to say she isn't fit for office. Full Story
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![State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, a Democratic candidate for Governor, speaking at the Travis County Democratic Fundraiser on Jan. 28, 2014.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman
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