Texas political news

• Redistricting Roundup: Flurry of activity moves total completed maps beyond two-thirds Jan 27, 2012
• Ballot Law Update: Year begins with slew of court actions Jan 26, 2012
• Redistricting Roundup: As 2012 sessions begin, states look to finalize maps Jan 13, 2012

• Redistricting Roundup: A holiday gift for candidates as states approve new maps before end of the year Dec 23, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Two states alter 2012 primary dates Dec 16, 2011
• Texas elections in state of confusion after US Supreme Court blocks redistricting maps Dec 13, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Court drawn maps seeming likely to be used in Texas for 2012 elections Dec 02, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Court presence steadily increasing in redistricting Nov 18, 2011
• Federal court releases interim Texas redistricting plans after maps denied preclearance Nov 18, 2011
• Proposition 8's defeat leaves many Texans scratching their heads Nov 16, 2011
• Election aftermath: Democrats hold Iowa Senate, Independent wins in Missouri special elections Nov 09, 2011
• Election aftermath: 7 Texas amendments approved, 3 defeated Nov 09, 2011
• Election preview: 2011 state and local measures serve as precursor to 2012 Nov 07, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Governor kicks redistricting chair off commission Nov 04, 2011
• Texans to vote on ten constitutional amendments next week Oct 31, 2011
• Student loans on the ballot in Texas Oct 31, 2011
• Federal courts inch closer to deciding fate of Texas redistricting maps Oct 28, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Another week, another special session leads to a completed map Oct 21, 2011
• Ballotpedia's 2011 Ballot Measures Breakdown: Ohio and Texas Oct 21, 2011
• Doggett-Castro primary race heats up before the Texas redistricting ink dries Oct 15, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: Texas feels the heat, medical marijuana takes on Montana Oct 04, 2011
• Texas burns at record levels, water issues take focus in November election Sep 30, 2011
• Federal judge puts Texas redistricting maps on hold Sep 30, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: States Release New Maps As Texas Faces Federal Scrutiny Sep 23, 2011
• DOJ rejects two Texas maps Sep 23, 2011
• Closing arguments heard in Texas redistricting case, decision may be delayed Sep 16, 2011
• Texas sonogram bill halted in federal court Sep 01, 2011
• Texas Democrats join federal redistricting case Aug 19, 2011
• Judge orders Republican emails released in Texas redistricting battle Aug 16, 2011
• Rick Perry announces presidential run Aug 16, 2011
• Rick Perry still undecided on Presidential run Jul 28, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: measure flatline continues as initiative sponsors play the waiting game Jul 19, 2011
• Health care compact gains momentum with Texas and Missouri Jul 19, 2011
• Rick Perry's prayer rally causes national stir Jul 16, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Reaction continues to proposed North Carolina maps Jul 08, 2011
• Ballot Law Update: Electronic signatures rejected in CA Jul 06, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: Seasoned judges, gambling - the subjects of two newly certified measures Jul 05, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: No southern hospitality in the South Carolina Senate Jul 01, 2011
• House Representative Fred Brown resigns Jun 30, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: DOJ approves maps in Louisiana, Virginia Jun 24, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: Alabama heaps on 10 more amendments Jun 21, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Vermont takes step toward eliminating multi-member House districts Jun 17, 2011
• Texas Senate passes Sanctuary Cities Bill in special session Jun 16, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Christmas on June 10 for Californians: Draft maps arrive Jun 10, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Illinois maps reach governor's desk Jun 03, 2011
• Congressional redistricting makes the agenda in Texas special session Jun 03, 2011
• Special session called in Texas Jun 01, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: Texas thrusts 2011's ballot in to the double digits May 31, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: 2012 pushes forward, while activity continues to brew for 2011 May 24, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: Texas may push 2011's ballot count over the edge May 17, 2011
• Redistricting heats up in Texas as 82nd session nears its end May 13, 2011
• Controversial state budget passes the Texas Senate May 13, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Lawsuits pile up as states continue to dive into new maps May 13, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Chaos in Colorado: Compromise nowhere in sight May 06, 2011
• Texas House redistricting likely to end in court Apr 29, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: New maps sent to McDonnell in Virginia while controversy continues in Colorado Apr 28, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Citizen activist organizations work to reform redistricting Apr 22, 2011
• Lawmakers in nine state form caucus to battle TSA rules Apr 16, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Virginia legislature sends maps to governor's desk, inching closer to an on-time completion of the process Apr 15, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Lawsuits dominate early stages of redistricting processes Apr 08, 2011
• Hispanic lawmakers file redistricting lawsuit in Texas Apr 07, 2011
• Filing deadline passes with 175 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution Apr 01, 2011
• Hispanic Republicans settle into the Texas House Mar 31, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: no certifications but proposals continue to add up Mar 15, 2011
• Filing deadline passes with fewer bills on the table in Texas Mar 15, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Redistricting affects more than Congressional and state legislative districts Feb 18, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Push for redistricting commissions increases among minority parties Feb 11, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Let the games begin, as census delivers first round of local population data Feb 04, 2011
• The Tuesday Count: February begins with nearly double the number of proposed citizen initiatives Feb 01, 2011
• Texas fears partisanship in Obama's DOJ could affect redistricting Jan 28, 2011
• Redistricting Roundup: Even as full census data has yet to be released, already 4 states have lawsuits Jan 28, 2011
• Governors in the news: state executives battle with lawsuits and their own legislatures Jan 22, 2011
• Governors in the news: state executives are reaching out to fellow lawmakers to achieve their agendas Jan 19, 2011
• Texas Speaker race starts 82nd session off with a bang Jan 08, 2011
• Health Care Compact wants states, not feds, to handle health care Jan 03, 2011

• States to begin legislative sessions in 2011 Dec 29, 2010
• Texas gains four congressional seats from 2010 Census Dec 22, 2010
• U.S. Census Bureau announces official figures for 2011 reapportionment Dec 21, 2010
• Judge in 20-plus State Attorney General suit expresses skepticism on mandate Dec 20, 2010
• Republicans clinch supermajority in Texas House Dec 17, 2010
• Voters go to the polls in two special elections tomorrow Dec 13, 2010
• Rainy day fund measure being considered in Texas Nov 29, 2010
• Governor McDonnell elected Vice Chairman of the RGA Nov 22, 2010
• English issue not riding into sunset as Texas considers measure Nov 17, 2010
• Republicans win big in Texas House Nov 15, 2010
• Republican Party projected to pick up 6 state Attorney General seats on November 2 Oct 24, 2010
• Competitiveness in national elections does not trickle down to state level Oct 05, 2010
• Lack of candidates leaves Texas voters with little choice in November Sep 16, 2010
• In 14 states, voters display very different attitudes toward school bonds and taxes Sep 09, 2010
• State legislative elections come into national focus Sep 08, 2010
• Texas AG challenger accuses Greg Abbott of shifting immigration opinion Sep 08, 2010
• Texas AG challenging Obama administration drilling moratorium Aug 26, 2010
• Texas AG sues BP over emissions Aug 13, 2010
• Democratic majorities in state senates at greater risk than Republican majorities, analyst says Jul 16, 2010
• Texas AG calls upon President Obama to "step up" on immigration Jul 06, 2010
• Texas AG takes action to prevent "overreach" of EPA Jun 21, 2010
• Texas AG candidate claims victims pay for "rape kits" Jun 13, 2010
• Texas AG sues Environmental Protection Agency Jun 01, 2010
• Texas AG celebrates widening lawsuits against Obamacare May 15, 2010
• Maryland, Ohio and Texas citizens consider banning red light cameras Apr 13, 2010
• Independent candidates for Congress file notice of intent in Texas Jan 13, 2010

• Texas city residents arguing for alcohol measure Dec 16, 2009
• Texas ballot measures show low turnout throughout the state Nov 19, 2009
• Texans hope to get top tier universities after amendment passage Nov 12, 2009
• All eleven Texas amendments pass Nov 04, 2009
• Early voting ends October 30th in Texas Oct 29, 2009
• Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections Oct 29, 2009
• Texas early voting begins Monday Oct 18, 2009
• Constitutional amendment forums open across Texas Oct 14, 2009
• Buda city council rejects petition Sep 18, 2009
• College Station attempts to oust camera referendum Aug 17, 2009
• Texas citizens file petition against change in land use Jul 31, 2009
• Man wants no cameras in small Texas town Jul 03, 2009
• Texans to vote on open beaches May 31, 2009

Casino amendment still alive

Democratic state senator Rodney Ellis is leading an effort in the Texas State Legislature to get a 2/3rds vote in the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives to put a constitutional amendment before the state's voters on the Texas 2009 ballot to create up to 13 urban Vegas-style casinos in Texas.^[1]

Casino amendment a possibility

Casino companies are lobbying the Texas State Legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would allow a dozen resort-style casinos to be built, and also allow slot machines at race tracks and the three recognized Native American tribes in Texas. Competing bills are expected as the Texas legislature convenes, looking for ways to make up the state's growing budget gap.^[2]

Texas voters approve $6 billion of new debt

May 13, 2008. Voters in Texas on Saturday, May 9 gave local governments the go-ahead to enter into over $6 billion of new indebtedness. The largest school bond issue was the Dallas Independent School District, where voters approved a $1.35 billion bond package. ...more