Point Austin: What Do They Conserve?

The 82nd Legislature sets a new standard for official recklessness

"...evoke one of the most moving moments of the 82nd session, as Houston Democratic Rep. Ana Hernandez Luna took..."

May 13, 2011 News Column by Michael King

Special Bills for a Special Session

UPDATE: Measures mix unfinished business, new ideas, grandstanding

"...The first special session of the 82nd Legislature is only 525 minutes old, but there has..."

May 31, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Day One on the Floor

Liveblogging from the House in the 82nd Legislature

"...And so it begins: The 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas begins today. We'll..."

Jan. 11, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Special Session? Sure

GOP's bad timing opens door to Dem filibuster

"...Look at that picture: That's how the 82nd Legislature really finished. With Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth,..."

May 30, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Riding the Pinwheel

The GOP redraws the map of Texas – brazenly sidestepping most of the state's newest voters

"...Outside a committee hearing room during the 82nd Texas Legislature, I ran into Austin political consultant (and..."

Aug. 26, 2011 News Feature by Lee Nichols

By the Numbers: Awful vs. Horrific

Schools and public health funding left hanging

"...As the 82nd Legislature moves from regular session to special, it does..."

June 3, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

School Finance Back in Dietz's Court

Eight years after Dietz ruled for massive reform, school finance returns

"...the massive public school funding cuts passed during the 82nd Legislature will be heard before Dietz in the 250th..."

Jan. 27, 2012 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Funding Travesty Cripples Health Clinics

The state severs its ties with Planned Parenthood

"...health care for women was cut drastically during the 82nd Legislature, leaving roughly $38 million, out of roughly $111..."

Sept. 9, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

TDH: 8/11/11

Spelman sets sights on high interest payday loans

"...The 82nd Legislature recently passed payday loan regulation, over some objections..."

Aug. 12, 2011 News Post by Wells Dunbar

Lege's Environmental Report Card

Most of Austin's delegation fares well on scorecard

"...Conservation Voters has released its Legislative Scorecard on the 82nd Lege, and the results are fairly predictable: Democrats scored..."

Aug. 12, 2011 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Not So Sine Die: What's Special About More of the Same?

The Legislature doesn't quite end

"...around Downtown, a casual observer might have thought the 82nd Legislature had ended. Yet as lawmakers, lobbyists, and staffers..."

June 3, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Closing Schools Won't Fix AISD Budget

We have the Legislature to thank for this mess

"...property taxes. But in his preliminary address to the 82nd Legislature, Senate Finance Committee Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, told..."

Jan. 21, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Horse Slaughter Back on the Table?

To lift the ban is to encourage the overbreeding of horses, witnesses testified

"...ag committee to decide whether to recommend the next Legislature, convening in January 2013, take action on the issue..."

July 20, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Show Them the Need

The great GOP wave breaks on the realities of the actual cost of government

"...The Texas Legislature did not return (or rather, did not stay around)..."

June 10, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Wentworth Rides Again

State senator says he wants to stay put

"...shaped – all of the maps that passed the 82nd Legislature are currently under court challenge (see "Riding the..."

Aug. 26, 2011 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Sparks to Lawmakers: Get Off Your Soapbox

Judge rejects lawmakers' attempts to join ultrasound lawsuit

"...denying a similar request filed by members of the Legislature who supported the Miller/Patrick law. According to the lawmakers'..."

Aug. 19, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Perry's Pride: Not So Special Tally

Perry always declares victory, even when he loses

"...wrap up the first called special session of the 82nd Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry said he was "proud" of..."

July 8, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Worst. Session. Ever.

With three days left, legislature hurtling to the abyss

"..."Well the liberal media now has its sound bites–82nd Leg. most racist and sexist Leg. in history! This..."

May 27, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

The Budget Implosion

School finance runs aground, but health spending will follow soon

"...Yesterday may become known as the day the 82nd Legislature imploded: After a late start, and hours wending..."

May 24, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

LegeLand: A Bill To 'Protect Our Women'

Yet another fight over abortion

Feb. 18, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Making the Best of a Bad Voter ID Bill

Dems hope to turn a lemon into lemonade

"...in November guaranteed that in almost every respect, the 82nd Legislature will not be a repeat of the 81st...."

Jan. 21, 2011 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Lege Land: Let the Show Begin

Watson proposes longer wait between budget drafting and final vote

"...The 82nd Legislature of the state of Texas was gaveled to..."

Jan. 14, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Pressure Groups Against Straus

Will outside bodies change minds inside the House?

"...Tea Party groups are threatening to head to the legislature en masse on Monday, in an attempt to (hopefully..."

Jan. 8, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

When Dewhurst Goes Back to Senate

How Cruz and Campbell's run-off wins rewrite the Legislature

"...just cut to the the chase and say the 82nd Legislature was a catastrophic mess. The GOP may have..."

Aug. 3, 2012 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Best Legislative Moment

Wendy David Filibuster, Sine Die

"...That was the consensus about the budget-slashing, tea party-driven 82nd Legislature, and the only saving grace was how it..."

Oct. 14, 2011 Best of Austin Feature

Best Grassrootsiest Movement

Save Texas Schools

"...There's no way to sugarcoat it – this year's 82nd Legislature was not a great session for public institutions..."

Oct. 14, 2011 Best of Austin Feature

City Hall Hustle: Rock the Vote! ... Not

Given a choice to move elections to November, Council holds fire in May

"...Senate Bill 100, a state law enacted by the 82nd Legislature that has rearranged federal primaries and potentially clustered..."

Sept. 30, 2011 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Worst Fears Confirmed for Women's Health

Family planning providers formally told they've lost funding

Sept. 2, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Wentworth to Run for Re-Election

Senator ends retirement speculation

"...– all of the redistricting plans that passed the 82nd Legislature are currently under court challenge (an issue that..."

Aug. 22, 2011 News Post by Lee Nichols

New Law Forces End of Central Health's Abortion Services

Board says it can't risk jeopardizing its overall health care mission

Aug. 19, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

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