CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.texastribune.org:80/2015/04/06/brief/","20150407205140","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1428439900"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>The Brief: The House Takes a Different Route on Tax Relief | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/favicon.ico"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,n,t){function r(t){if(!n[t]){var o=n[t]={exports:{}};e[t][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=e[t][1][n];return r(o?o:n)},o,o.exports)}return n[t].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<t.length;o++)r(t[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(e,n){function t(e){function n(n,t,a){e&&e(n,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(n),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(e,n){f[e]=c(e).concat(n)}function c(e){return f[e]||[]}function u(){return t(n)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:n,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=e("gos");n.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(e,n){function t(e){return function(){r(e,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=e("handle"),o=e(1),i=e(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(e,n){window.NREUM[n]=t("api-"+n)}),n.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){if(r.call(e,n))return e[n];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,n,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return e[n]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){return r.listeners(e).length?r.emit(e,n,t):(o[e]||(o[e]=[]),void o[e].push(n))}var r=e("ee").create(),o={};n.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(e,n){function t(e){var n=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:e===window?0:i(e,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=e("gos");n.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(e,n){function t(){var e=d.info=NREUM.info,n=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&n){c(p,function(n,t){n in e||(e[n]=t)});var t="https"===s.split(":")[0]||e.sslForHttp;d.proto=t?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=d.proto+e.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(r,n)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=e("handle"),c=e(1),u=(e(2),window),f=u.document,s=(""+location).split("?")[0],p={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},d=n.exports={offset:i(),origin:s,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u.addEventListener("load",t,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),u.attachEvent("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(e,n){function t(e,n){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in e)r.call(e,o)&&(t[i]=n(o,e[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],13:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-n||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[n+r];return i}n.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUgleF1FdRRkSQl8RUFQVHhVdVkZEW3VfDU1UCEQnUUdQXg0=","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":241}</script> <meta name="description" content="The House's chief tax writer is dropping some clues on how his chamber's approach to tax relief this session will differ from their counterparts in the Senate."/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta property="twitter:card" content="photo"/> <meta property="twitter:site" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="twitter:title" content="The Brief: April 6, 2015, by John Reynolds"/> <meta property="twitter:description" content="The House's chief tax writer is dropping some clues on how his chamber's approach to tax relief this session will differ from their counterparts in the Senate."/> <meta property="twitter:image" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-title" content="The Brief: April 6, 2015"/> <meta name="parsely-link" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"/> <meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="April 6, 2015, 5:59 a.m."/> <meta name="parsely-author" content="John Reynolds"/> <meta name="parsely-section" content="FRONT PAGE"/> <meta property="parsely-image-url" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-type" content="post"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Brief: April 6, 2015, by John Reynolds"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:description" content="The House's chief tax writer is dropping some clues on how his chamber's approach to tax relief this session will differ from their counterparts in the Senate."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/http://use.typekit.com/brb4jmm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <link href="https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089/" rel="publisher"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/css/2c1c9bbe6a0c.css" type="text/css"/>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/css/story_base.css"> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-9827490-1', 'texastribune.org'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script>// var tt = tt || {}; tt.debug = false; tt.media_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/'; tt.facebook = {appId: '154122474650943'}; // Doubleclick integration tt.ads = { // targeting: {}, // addTarget: function(key, value) { if (typeof key === 'undefined'){ // get all attrs return tt.ads.targeting; } else { // set attr tt.ads.targeting[key] = value; } } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.18/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jqueryui/jquery-ui-1.8.18.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var tt = tt || {}; tt.currentPage = tt.currentPage || {}; var shortenedHash = '1C8ERDv'; tt.currentPage.canonicalUrl = '/2015/04/06/brief/'; var authorTwitterAccounts = ['']; tt.currentPage.authors = [ "John Reynolds" ]; tt.currentPage.authorsText = "John Reynolds"; tt.currentPage.sections = [ "article" ]; tt.currentPage.sections.push("FRONT PAGE"); </script> </head> <body class="story responsive"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <div class="wrapper-r"> <div id="site_roofline" style="position:relative;"> <div class="hide-for-mobile large_ad_container"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-only"> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="greeting"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/" title="Register for your free Texas Tribune account">Register</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> </li> </ul> </div> <header id="site_header"> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input id="site_search_q" name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..."> <button type="submit" aria-label="Submit"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </form> </li> <li class="active hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="dropdown-toggle" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/"> Front Page </a> <div class="mega-dropdown grid" id="sections"> <div class="cell w-3 tab_nav_cell"> <ul id="sidemenu" class="tab-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sections-tab-container" class="cell w-9 tab_container" data-content-resource="/esi/components/megadropdown/"> <div style="padding: 1em; font-family: 'LeagueGothicRegular'; font-size:2.1em; color: #999; ">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/"> Data </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/"> Directory </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/"> Events </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="multimedia" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/"> Multimedia </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/subscribe/"> Subscriptions </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.tribtalk.org/"> TribTalk </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> <li class="mobile-only active dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/">Front Page</a> </li> <li> <a class="data" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/">Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.tribtalk.org/">TribTalk</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Sections<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"><i class="icon-search"></i></a> <div class="mobile-dropdown mobile-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="SEARCH"> <button type="search" alt="Do Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> </div> </li> <li class="mobile-only active" id="mobi_join"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/join/"> Support Us </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="ad last"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/join/" title="Contribute Today" style="display: block; padding-top: .5em"> <div style="background:url(//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/membership/TT-supportus-flag.png) no-repeat; width: 120px; height:60px; background-size: 120px 60px;"></div> </a> </div> <div class="below_nav"> <h1 id="logo"><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/logo.png" width="453" height="50" alt="The Texas Tribune"></a></h1> <time datetime="2015-04-07T15:51:39.345492">Tuesday, April 7, 2015</time> </div> </header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article class="last"> <header> <h1>The Brief: The House Takes a Different Route on Tax Relief</h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/" rel="author">John Reynolds</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 6 Apr 2015 05:59:00 -0500" title="2015-04-06 05:59"> April 6, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/comments/"><span class="value">8</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/84718/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8cb3fff9eee6e9eff8b1d8e4e9a9bebcd8e9f4edffa9bebcd8fee5eef9e2e9b6a9bebcd8e4e9a9bebccefee5e9eaa9bfcda9bebccdfcfee5e0a9bebcbaa9becfa9beX02015&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20The%20Brief%3A%20April%206%2C%202015%2C%20by%20John Reynolds.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/%0DThe%20House%27s%20chief%20tax%20writer%20is%20dropping%20some%20clues%20on%20how%20his%20chamber%27s%20approach%20to%20tax%20relief%20this%20session%20will%20differ%20from%20their%20counterparts%20in%20the%20Senate." title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://twitter.com/share?text=The Brief: The House Takes a Different Route on Tax Relief&url=http://trib.it/1C8ERDv&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="content"> <div class="media article_detail unprose"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015." class="lightbox"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_312x1000_q100.jpg" alt="State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border086Bonnen_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.</div> </div> <h2>The Big Conversation</h2> <p>The House's chief tax writer is dropping some clues on how his chamber's approach to tax relief this session will differ from their counterparts in the Senate.</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150403-texas-houses-top-tax-writer-wants-the-same-cut-for-all-businesses.ece">Per a weekend story</a> from <em>The Dallas Morning News</em>' <strong>Bob Garrett</strong>, House Ways & Means Chairman <strong>Dennis Bonnen</strong>, R-Angleton, has in mind an even greater reduction in the rate on the business margins tax — 25 percent vs. the 15 percent cut in the Senate's tax cut legislation. He also abandons the Senate's expansion of the small business exemption from the margins tax.</p> <p>Garrett writes, "<span>The move by Bonnen, a southeast Texas legislator with huge refineries and manufacturing plants in his district, sets the stage for intense infighting between big business and small business groups as the session enters its final eight weeks."</span></p> <p><span>Bonnen would also take a different approach from the Senate in where to cut taxes, opting for a reduction in the sales tax rate rather than the property tax cut favored by the Senate.</span></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150403-texas-houses-top-tax-writer-wants-the-same-cut-for-all-businesses.ece">Garrett writes</a>:</p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory_468x60"> </div> </div> <blockquote> <p>Bonnen declined to discuss his proposal for cutting the 6.25 percent sales tax.</p> <p>“We’ll lay it all out to you next week," he said.</p> <p>He specified, though, that the House’s tax relief package would cost between $4.8 billion and $4.9 billion — indicating that under the House plan, the state sales tax might shrink almost to 6 cents on the dollar. Currently, local governments can add up to 2 cents more.</p> </blockquote> <p>The Senate is contemplating $4.6 billion in tax relief under its proposal.</p> <h2>Trib Must-Reads</h2> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/19TMpTZ">Analysis: Moving Integrity Unit Won't Curb Conflicts</a>, by <strong>Ross Ramsey</strong> — <span>Legislators frustrated and angry with public corruption prosecutions in Travis County want to move them somewhere else. But the problems are likely to tag along: It's always hard to prosecute the people who pay for the prosecutors.</span></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/1NMRagU">GOP Gun Measures Could Backfire With Minorities</a>, by <strong>Alexa Ura</strong> — <span>Republican lawmakers backing open carry and guns on campus are heading in the wrong direction for many black and Hispanic Texans who would prefer stricter gun laws, polling shows. It's another disconnect with minorities the GOP might regret.</span></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/1MGOxAe">"Bathroom Bills" Pit Transgender Texans Against GOP</a>, by <strong>Edgar Walters</strong> — <span>A set of bills from conservative lawmakers would make it illegal for people to use the bathroom other than the one designated for their gender assigned at birth. Members of the transgender community say the legislation specifically targets them and even places a bounty on their heads.</span></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/1Ibcv3e">Details Murky on State's Largest Contracts</a>, by <strong>Aman Batheja</strong> — <span>The Tribune asked more than 20 state agencies for basic information on their largest contracts with private vendors. Most knew, but the embattled health commission, which believes it has $60 billion or so in contracts, couldn't provide key details.</span></p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory2_468x60"> </div> </div> <h2>The Day Ahead</h2> <p><strong>•    </strong>The House convenes at 2 p.m.</p> <p><strong>•    </strong>The Senate border security subcommittee meets at 11 a.m. to take up sanctuary cities and <span>repeal of</span> in-state tuition for undocumented students (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/schedules/pdf/C6522015040611001.PDF">E1.016</a>).</p> <h2>Elsewhere</h2> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/as-lieutenant-governor-dan-patrick-remains-a-chris/nkm5t/">As lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick remains a ‘Christian first’</a>, <em>Austin</em> <em>American-Statesman</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150405-true-believers-embrace-ted-cruz-in-iowa-campaign-swing.ece">True believers embrace Ted Cruz in Iowa campaign swing</a>, <em>The Dallas Morning News</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruzs-2016-passion-play-116665.html">Ted Cruz's passion play</a>, <em>Politico</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Koch-backed-group-gearing-up-in-Texas-for-2015-6178992.php">Koch-backed group gearing up in Texas for 2015</a>, <em>San Antonio Express-News</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/05/this-conservative-group-is-tired-of-being-accused-of-climate-denial-and-is-fighting-back/">This conservative group is tired of being accused of climate denial — and is fighting back</a>, <em>The Washington Post</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Marijuana-reform-supporters-make-their-case-this-6180401.php">Marijuana reform supporters make their case this week</a>, <em>Houston Chronicle</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article17406125.html">Texas GOP lawmaker: Women ‘will die’ without key screenings</a>, <em>Fort Worth Star-Telegram</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/how-a-texas-data-project-was-derailed-as-part-of-2/nkm5w/#914a171e.3580657.735693">How a Texas data project was derailed as part of 21CT fiasco</a>, <em>Austin American-Statesman</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_27851290/texas-border-operation-takes-credit-feds-work">Texas border operation takes credit for feds' work</a>, <em>El Paso Times</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Looming-Army-cuts-fill-leaders-with-dread-6178990.php">Looming Army cuts fill Texas leaders with dread</a>, <em>San Antonio Express-News</em></p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/1Gq8GW2">How a Football School Like UT Landed Shaka Smart</a>, <em>The Washington Post</em></p> <h2>Quote to Note</h2> <p>"Early in the session people would just stop and stare. The most disconcerting things to happen to me were hearing myself called 'it' and 'that.' It was gut-wrenching."</p> <p>— Former Capitol staffer <strong>Caomhán Ó Raghallaigh</strong> on some of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/04/bathroom-bills-pit-transgender-community-against-g/">reaction to his undertaking his transition</a> from female to male, which took place during the 2013 session.</p> <h2>Today in TribTalk</h2> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.tribtalk.org/2015/04/03/we-need-a-statewide-solution-for-uber-and-lyft/">We need a statewide solution for Uber and Lyft</a>, by <strong>Bill Hammond</strong> — <span>Texas' patchwork of onerous regulations for companies like Uber and Lyft is bad for business and limiting access to much-needed transportation alternatives. It's time for a statewide fix.</span></p> <h2>Trib Events for the Calendar</h2> <p><strong>•    </strong>A Conversation With Sen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/2015/apr/07/a-conversation-with-sen-robert-nichols-and-rep-joe-pickett/">Robert Nichols and Rep. Joe Pickett</a> on April 7 at The Austin Club</p> <p><strong>•    </strong>A Conversation With Sen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/2015/apr/09/a-conversation-with-sen-kevin-eltife/">Kevin Eltife</a> on April 9 at The Austin Club</p> <p><strong>•    </strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/2015/apr/10/transportation-the-next-five-years/">Transportation: The Next Five Years</a> on April 10 at Austin College in Sherman</p> <p><strong>•    </strong>A Conversation With Sen. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/events/2015/apr/16/a-conversation-with-sen-kel-seliger-and-rep-john-zerwas/">Kel Seliger and Rep. John Zerwas</a> on April 16 at The Austin Club</p> <p><strong>•    </strong>A Conversation With <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://trib.it/1xyiKdH">John Sharp</a> on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_24598040">May 7</span> at The Austin Club</p> </div> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/84718/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b689c5c3d4dcd3d5c28be2ded3938486e2d3ced7c5938486e2c4dfd4c3d8d38c938486e2ded3938486f4c4dfd3d09385f7938486f7c6c4dfda938486809384f59384X02015&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20The%20Brief%3A%20April%206%2C%202015%2C%20by%20John Reynolds.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/%0DThe%20House%27s%20chief%20tax%20writer%20is%20dropping%20some%20clues%20on%20how%20his%20chamber%27s%20approach%20to%20tax%20relief%20this%20session%20will%20differ%20from%20their%20counterparts%20in%20the%20Senate." title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://twitter.com/share?text=The Brief: The House Takes a Different Route on Tax Relief&url=http://trib.it/1C8ERDv&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/brief/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <footer> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related content_list"> <header> <h2>Related Content</h2> </header> <p class="help">No related articles found</p> </aside> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related"> <header> <h2>Related Tribpedia</h2> </header> <ul class="related topics indent sans-serif"> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/dan-patrick/">Dan Patrick</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/dennis-bonnen/">Dennis Bonnen</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a> </li> </ul> </aside> </div> </div> </footer> </article> <nav class="back_to_top"> <a href="#"><i class="icon-arrow-up"></i> Back To Top</a> </nav> </div> <div class=" rail cell w-4 hide-for-medium-down"> <section class="trib_newsletter"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://texastribune.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=68501b81bf" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <header> <h2>Sign Up for The Brief</h2> </header> <p>Our daily news summary</p> <div class="mc-field-group nowrap"> <input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" class="input_neue required email" id="mce-EMAIL" placeholder="enter your email here"> <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="btn_neue"> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"><input type="text" name="b_3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db_68501b81bf" tabindex="-1" value=""></div> </form> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_ATF_RightRail1_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sidebar_block content_list"> <header> <h1>New on the Trib</h1> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/perry-says-dream-act-repeal-state-legislators/">Perry: Repeal of In-State Tuition Law is Up to Legislators</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 7 Apr 2015 15:26:03 -0500" title="2015-04-07 15:26"> April 7, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/perry-says-dream-act-repeal-state-legislators/comments/"><span class="value">1</span><span class="label">Comment</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-panel-weigh-private-property-gun-rights/">House Panel Weighs Private Property, Gun Rights</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 7 Apr 2015 14:29:17 -0500" title="2015-04-07 14:29"> April 7, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-panel-weigh-private-property-gun-rights/comments/"><span class="value">9</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/">Bid for Rainy Day Fund Changes Moves Forward</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 7 Apr 2015 11:55:10 -0500" title="2015-04-07 11:55"> April 7, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-eyes-rainy-day-fund-changes-pay-debt/comments/"><span class="value">1</span><span class="label">Comment</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/proposed-bill-aims-prevent-another-fertilizer-blas/">Legislation Aims to Prevent Another Fertilizer Plant Blast</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/">Eva Hershaw</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 7 Apr 2015 11:30:09 -0500" title="2015-04-07 11:30"> April 7, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/proposed-bill-aims-prevent-another-fertilizer-blas/comments/"><span class="value">6</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> </dl> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail2_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <aside id="the_most" class="featurebox "> <header class="featurebox-header"> <h1><span>The</span>Most</h1> </header> <div class="featurebox-content tabs ui-tabs"> <ul class="ui-tabs-nav"> <li class="most_shared"> <a href="#most_shared">Shared</a> </li> <li class="most_viewed"> <a href="#most_viewed">Viewed</a> </li> <li class="most_commented"> <a href="#most_commented">Commented</a> </li> </ul> <div id="most_shared" class="ui-tabs-panel"> <div class="fb_like_box"> <fb:recommendations site="texastribune.org" data-action="like" width="310" height="260" header="false" border_color="#fff"></fb:recommendations> </div> </div> <div id="most_viewed" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/ut-regents-call-meeting-discuss-new-wallace-hall-r/">UT Regents Call Special Meeting on New Wallace Hall Requests</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/05/gop-push-gun-measures-could-backfire-minorities/">GOP Gun Measures Could Backfire With Minorities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/05/how-football-school-ut-landed-shaka-smart/">How a Football School Like UT Landed Shaka Smart</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/04/bathroom-bills-pit-transgender-community-against-g/">"Bathroom Bills" Pit Transgender Texans Against GOP</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/perry-prosecutors-fight-keep-invoices-secret/">Perry Prosecutors Fight to Keep Invoices Secret</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/16/texas-senate-considers-key-gun-bill/">Texas Senate Approves Open Carry of Handguns</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/-state-tuition-repeal-bill-goes-subcommittee/">GOP Takes First Step to End In-State Tuition for Undocumented</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/bill-would-untangle-messy-hair-care-regulations/">Bill Would Untangle Hair Braiding Regulations</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/03/houston-dallas-would-become-largest-cities-allow-o/">Houston, Dallas Would Be Largest Cities to Allow Open Carry</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/amid-criticism-uncertainty-lingers-over-health-com/">Uncertainty Haunts Health Commissioner Kyle Janek</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most_commented" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/05/gop-push-gun-measures-could-backfire-minorities/">GOP Gun Measures Could Backfire With Minorities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/04/bathroom-bills-pit-transgender-community-against-g/">"Bathroom Bills" Pit Transgender Texans Against the GOP</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/citadel-perry-fuses-foreign-policy-biography/">At Citadel, Perry Fuses Foreign Policy With Biography</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/-state-tuition-repeal-bill-goes-subcommittee/">GOP Takes First Step to End In-State Tuition for Undocumented</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/06/senate-subcommittee-advances-sanctuary-cities-bill/">Senate Panel Advances Sanctuary Cities Bill</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <footer class="clearfix featurebox-footer"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="200x38" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_TheMostWidget_Bottom_Text_200x38"> </div> </footer> </aside> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail3_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryLanding_BTF_Footer_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div id="footer" class="grid"> <dl id="staff_writers" class="cell w-3"> <dt>Writers</dt> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/christine-ayala/">Christine Ayala</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/bobby-blanchard/">Bobby Blanchard</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rodney-gibbs/">Rodney Gibbs</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/">Eva Hershaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/corrie-maclaggan/">Corrie MacLaggan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a> </dd> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayan-mittra/">Ayan Mittra</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-murphy/">Ryan Murphy</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-muto/">David Muto</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-pasztor/">David Pasztor</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/emily-ramshaw/">Emily Ramshaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jay-root/">Jay Root</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/neena-satija/">Neena Satija</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/evan-smith/">Evan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/">Edgar Walters</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a> </dd> </div> </dl> <div id="footer_topics" class="cell w-3"> <h6>Sections</h6> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <dl id="offsite_outlets" class="cell w-3"> <dt>TT Social Media</dt> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external"><span class="favicon facebook"></span>Facebook</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external"><span class="favicon twitter"></span>Twitter</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune" title="YouTube" class="external"><span class="favicon youtube"></span>YouTube</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external"><span class="favicon instagram"></span>Instagram</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external"><span class="favicon linkedin"></span>LinkedIn</a> </dd> <dd class="hidden"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089" class="external" rel="publisher">Google+</a> </dd> </dl> <ul id="footer_nav" class="cell w-3"> <li>© 2015 The Texas Tribune</li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/privacy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a73746b6f7368737f695a6e7f627b696e6873786f747f3475687d" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/feeds/" title="Feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/mobile/" title="Mobile">Mobile</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/advertise/" class="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/signup/" title="Newsletter Signup">Newsletter Signup</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150407205140/http://www.texastribune.org/donate/" title="Donate" class="donate">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="1x1" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_Invisible_1x1"> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> tt.ads.addTarget("content", "story"); tt.ads.addTarget("slug", "brief"); tt.ads.addTarget("tribpedia", ["ted-cruz", "dan-patrick", "dennis-bonnen", "the-brief"]); tt.ads.addTarget("sections", ["front-page/"]); try { tt.ads.addTarget("is_member", "no"); tt.ads.addTarget("logged_in", "no"); var tt = tt || {}; tt.username = ''; } catch(e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window._tpm = window._tpm || []; window._tpm['paywallID'] = '36783210'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/http://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script> (function(){ function loadAddThis() { var addthis = document.createElement('script'); addthis.src = document.location.protocol+'//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb&domready=1'; addthis.type = 'text/javascript'; addthis.async = true; var at = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; at.parentNode.insertBefore(addthis, at); } window.onload(loadAddThis()); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150407205140js_/http://bit.ly/javascript-api.js?version=latest&login=texastribune&apiKey=R_6f6057d6b4eb2cded750a1bfde821d16"></script> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f74d4O38hiiiM.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 14324; _sf_async_config.domain = 'texastribune.org'; if (window.tt && tt.currentPage) { if (tt.currentPage.sections) { _sf_async_config.sections = tt.currentPage.sections.join(','); } if (tt.currentPage.authors) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authors.join(','); } else if (tt.currentPage.authorsText) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authorsText; } } /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150407205140/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> (function() { jQuery.scrollDepth(); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function(){try{var s,a,i,j,r,c,l=document.getElementsByTagName("a"),t=document.createElement("textarea");for(i=0;l.length-i;i++){try{a=l[i].getAttribute("href");if(a&&a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection") > -1 && (a.length > 28)){s='';j=27+ 1 + a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection");if (a.length > j) {r=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16);for(j+=2;a.length>j&&a.substr(j,1)!='X';j+=2){c=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16)^r;s+=String.fromCharCode(c);}j+=1;s+=a.substr(j,a.length-j);}t.innerHTML=s.replace(/</g,"<").replace(/>/g,">");l[i].setAttribute("href","mailto:"+t.value);}}catch(e){}}}catch(e){}})(); /* ]]> */ </script> </body> </html>