SUMMER 2005
 

June 2004 July 2004
 August 2004 September 2004
October 2004 November 2004
December 2004 January 2005
February 2005 March 2005
Spring 2005

Legislator Makes Emergency Run
as Lobbyists Extend Helping Hand

Competitive Primaries Shaping Up
in 18 Texas House Districts or More

Hupp's Decision to Not Run Again
Fuels House Exodus Speculation

Former School Board President
Running for House Seat in Austin

Talton Leads Conservative Pack
as Eagle Forum Issues Scorecard

Ex-School Board Members Might
Do Battle for Shot at Todd Baxter

Senator Mentioned in FBI Probe
Sponsored Housing Legislation

Perry Wants Schools to Justify
Spending $2 Million on Lobby

Targets of Dewhurst Wrath Are
Symbols of Old School and New

Feud Gives Perry Chance
to Be Session Statesman

Craddick Ad Firm Advises
Trial Lawyers and CLOUT

New Laney Foe Predicts Stronger
Showing than Last 2 Challengers

Texans on NCSL Seattle Program
Find Travel Plans Touch and Go

Senate Leaders End Session
with Broadside at Lobbyists

House Revives School Finance
Effort with Tax Plan Resurrection

Galveston Lawyer Might Take Aim
at Dewhurst in Lt. Governor's Race

Dewhurst Takes Inside Track in PR
 Battle as Session Consolation Prize

Telecom Bill Sails through House
Despite Fight by Cable Industry

House Members Armed with Stats
Amid Outcry on Pension Pay Vote

Firm Uses Trial Lawyer Funds
to Help Rick Perry and Others

Hamric Ropes Sheriff's Support
But Nixon Gets Beecherl Boost

Craddick Wants to Pull the Plug
on Session Despite Senate Plan

House Pair Takes Stab at Tax Cut
as Senators File Teacher Pay Bill

Candidates Line Up for House
and Senate Races in Houston

Consolation Proposal Could Be
Ticket Out of 2nd Special Session

Bills' Demise Spurs Speculation
about Possible Speaker's Race

House Tense after Special Meeting
on Possibility of Early Adjournment

Senators Might Try to Replace
SB 8 with More Modest Plan

Lawyers for Strayhorn Could Face
Dilemma in 2006 Governor's Race

From Ailing Wife to Backers' Cheers,
Bell Finds Inspiration for Gov Race

Special Session Could Rain
on Parades to National Events

Incumbents Hope War Chests
Will Keep Foes at Bay in 2006

The $100 Million Club: Texas
Firms Spend Big on Influence

Republicans Sink School Reform
after Leaders Lose Grip on House

School Finance Battle Could
Produce Wave of Retirements

Senate Cancels School Bill Vote
Amid Concerns about Meltdown

Democrats Say Election Timing
Gave the GOP Unfair Advantage

Perot Pushed for Technology
in Letter to Senate Conferees

Perry Blasts Tobacco Lobby that
Includes Ex-Administration Players

House Democrats Hope to Kill
Bill if Senators Can't Sandbag It

Filibuster Could Doom School Bill
Before Session Ends at Midnight

Lindsay's Departure Sets Stage
for Wide-Open Senate Contest

Tax Conferees Still Deadlocked
But School Reform Plan on Track

HB 2 Deal No Cause for Celebration
as Talks on Taxes Collapse at Capitol

Perry Raises More But Strayhorn
Makes Up Ground in Dollar Duel

Major Bills in Danger But Still
Breathing as Session Hits Stretch

Perry Gets Behind Cable Bill
as Way to Protect Tax Plan

Primary Election Threats Could
Undermine Fragile Majorities

Clinton Could Have Key Role
in Spence Bid for Governor

Strategist Fero Sparks Speculation
about Governor's Race with News

Denton Puts Grassroots Politics
over County Club Vote in SD 3

House Gambling Foes May Send
Tax Conferees Orders on Bingo

Dewhurst Sinks Business Tax
with Tie-Breaker to Save HB 3

Perry Staff Accused of Breaking
House Rules with Lobbying Push

Senate Delays Tax Debate Amid
Opposition to Business Expansion

Perry Gains Support from Police
Group Under Fire for State Grants

GOP Leaders Survive Close Call
When Phantom Votes Revealed

Partisan Lines Vanish as House
Kills Business Choice Tax Plan

Perry Huddling with GOP Caucus
Before House Showdown on Taxes

Keffer Plan Might Make Comeback
Amid Waning GOP Support for HB 3

Perry Campaign Celebrates
July 4th with New Radio Ad

Lottery Meeting Posting Points
to Potential Shakeup at Agency

GOP Leaders Save School Bill
with El Paso Med School Deal

Conservative Leaders Say Budget
Cuts are Best Approach for Session

Craddick Breaks Tie as House
Tables Democrats' School Plan

 

 

08-12-05: Commercialized

08-05-05: Cutting Losses

07-27-05: Pitts Stop

07-21-05: Unusual Suspects

07-15-05: Off the Record

07-07-05: Roller Coaster Ride

06-30-05: Lotto Politics

06-23-05: Fair to Midland

06-15-05: Party Politics

06-08-05: Pick Your Poison

06-01-05: Internal Combustion

05-24-05: No Choice

 

Lobby Tab Nears $1 Million
for Each Legislator in Texas

The $100 Million Club: Texas
Firms Spend Big on Influence

Conferees Ride Power Surge
As School Tax Fight Drags On
 Select lawmakers wield big influence in special sessions while attempting to negotiate deals on challenging issue that won't go away

Top Texas Legislators

Unsung Heroes and Proven
Leaders Stepped Up to Plate
The stars came out to shine in a myriad of unique ways in a regular session that defied convention and stereotype - Top 50 lawmakers who made a difference in 2005

Good Friends in High Places: Making Connections in 2005
Original hired guns still blazing away in third annual power rankings featuring Lobby Hall of Fame, Top Associations, Top Law Firms and more
Conservative Voting Index
Conservatives Rule in House
But Senate is Moderate Land
 Capitol Inside checks the record to see who's really most conservative, most moderate and most liberal legislators at Capitol.		 Conservative Voting Index

 

The Eyes of Democrats Will Be
on Their Own in HB 2 Showdown

DeLee Graduates to Top Press
Slot on Craddick's Capitol Team

Dozen State House Districts
Have Battleground Potential

Keel Taking On Incumbent
Judge Holcomb in 2006 Race

Perry Getting Second Chance
as House Lacks Votes on HB 3

Governor's Office a No-Show
at House Hearing on Tax Plans

Plans on Fast Track as Perry
Points to Common Ground

State Senate Race Flap Spurs
Classic Study in Reaction Politics

Perry Takes Aim at Sales Tax
Loopholes But No Payroll Levy

Budget Execution Rider Could
Take Teeth Out of Veto Tactic

Democrats Resurrect School Plan
and Revise it for Special Session

Social Conservatives Wanted Veto
But Supporters Blame Retribution

School Funding Veto Backfired
on Governor Once Upon a Time

Perry Could Upstage Strayhorn
with News on Special Session

Strayhorn Son's Resignation
Spurs Speculation on Abbott Bid

KB Hutchison Gets High Marks
from Republicans in New Poll

SD 3 Hopefuls Accuse Staples
of Trying to Hand-Pick Senator

Dems See Opportunities
Against Isett, Goolsby, Wong

Secretary of State's Office Mum
on Press Secretary's Sudden Exit

More Sons of Former Members
Eye Bids for Austin House Seat

Name of Ex-Speaker's Son
Surfaces in Open House Race

Keel Giving Up House
Seat for Shot at Court Job

R's Pass Twice as Many Bills
But D's Take Individual Honors

Speculation at All-Time High
on School Finance Dilemma

Hutchison Might Offer School Plan
- Eventually - for State Lawmakers

SREC to Consider Move to Honor
11 in House Who Opposed Budget

Staples Could Have Clear
Path to Agriculture Job

Farm Chief Rolls Dice
on Comptroller's Race

Dems Take Aim at Baxter
and May Set Sights on Keel

Senator Hutchison Likely to Wait
Until Vetoes for Announcement

Tom Craddick Hits the Ground
Running for 3rd Speaker Term

Governor Suggests Possible
Special on School Finance
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