CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_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="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/","20150320193720","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1426880240"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(n,e,t){function r(t){if(!e[t]){var o=e[t]={exports:{}};n[t][0].call(o.exports,function(e){var o=n[t][1][e];return r(o?o:e)},o,o.exports)}return e[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(n,e){function t(n){function e(e,t,a){n&&n(e,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(e),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(n,e){f[n]=c(n).concat(e)}function c(n){return f[n]||[]}function u(){return t(e)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:e,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=n("gos");e.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(n,e){e.exports=n("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(n,e){function t(n){return function(){r(n,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=n("handle"),o=n(1),i=n(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(n,e){window.NREUM[e]=t("api-"+e)}),e.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(n,e){function t(n,e,t){if(r.call(n,e))return n[e];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(n,e,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return n[e]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(n,e){e.exports=n("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(n,e){e.exports=n("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(n,e){function t(n,e,t){return r.listeners(n).length?r.emit(n,e,t):(o[n]||(o[n]=[]),void o[n].push(e))}var r=n("ee").create(),o={};e.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(n,e){e.exports=n("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(n,e){function t(n){var e=typeof n;return!n||"object"!==e&&"function"!==e?-1:n===window?0:i(n,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=n("gos");e.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(n,e){function t(){var n=h.info=NREUM.info;if(n&&n.licenseKey&&n.applicationID&&f&&f.body){c(l,function(e,t){e in n||(n[e]=t)}),h.proto="https"===d.split(":")[0]||n.sslForHttp?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var e=f.createElement("script");e.src=h.proto+n.agent,f.body.appendChild(e)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=n("handle"),c=n(1),u=(n(2),window),f=u.document,s="addEventListener",p="attachEvent",d=(""+location).split("?")[0],l={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-627.min.js"},h=e.exports={offset:i(),origin:d,features:{}};f[s]?(f[s]("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u[s]("load",t,!1)):(f[p]("onreadystatechange",r),u[p]("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(n,e){e.exports=n("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(n,e){function t(n,e){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in n)r.call(n,o)&&(t[i]=e(o,n[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=t},{}],13:[function(n,e){function t(n,e,t){e||(e=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=n?n.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-e||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=n[e+r];return i}e.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script> <title>Texas Weekly | Texas Weekly Vol: 32 Issue: 9 | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/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"> <meta name="author" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="copyright" content="漏 The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="language" content="EN"/> <meta name="audience" content="All"/> <meta name="publisher" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="distribution" content="global"/> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"/> <meta name="siteinfo" content="http://www.texastribune.org/robots.txt"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://static.texastribune.org/common/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="2RECdeH7aeA9-RQoGzkfTpP5i_3Qz4rtBIR-CdCtvus"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="3EMut9KLnb_7fohrI_bDaR4py76QIWAt4uPidjagbzI"/> <meta name="p:domain_verify" content="1a464e3e99298d39e0cdaaeeb2c10dfd"/> <meta name="y_key" content="36169ff9ee60f3ab"/> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="DB22C31255557D1E219990CA92192CBB"/> <meta name="medium" content="news"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://static.texastribune.org/common/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"/> <meta name="apple-touch-fullscreen" content="yes"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="Y14crMdw8j4Wf_TxG_g2Sus_mmAYSJI7pNS_LO35rCQ"/> <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/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720js_/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/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720cs_/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/20150320193720cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/tt_newsletters/app.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/20150320193720/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/20150320193720/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/20150320193720js_/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/20150320193720/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/20150320193720js_/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/20150320193720/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/20150320193720js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> </head> <body class=" txweekly responsive index"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/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"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasWeekly_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <section id="greeting" class="invisible"><br></section> <header id="site_header"> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/"><img alt="Texas Weekly:" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/txweekly-masthead-h1.png"></a></h1> <h2><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/"><img alt="An exclusive publication of the Texas Tribune" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/txweekly-masthead-h2.png"></a></h2> </header> <section id="greeting" class="invisible"><br></section> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150320193720/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="mobile-only hilite"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Current Issue</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/#rearview">Rearview</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/#people">People</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/tribwire">News Clips</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/elections/brackets/">Election Brackets</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/campaign-finance/">Campaign Finance</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/archive/">Past Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/blogs/inside-intelligence/">Inside Intelligence</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/">The Texas Tribune</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile active"><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Current Issue</a></li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/archive/">Past Issues</a></li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle"> Features<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/#rearview">Rearview</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/#people">People</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/tribwire">News Clips</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/elections/brackets/">Election Brackets</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/campaign-finance/">Campaign Finance</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/elections/endorsements/">Endorsements</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/blogs/inside-intelligence/">Inside Intelligence</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <script> $(document).ready(function(){ var $toggleBtns = $('a.dropdown-toggle'); $toggleBtns.each(function(){ var $toggleBtn = $(this), $dropdown = $toggleBtn.siblings('ul'); $toggleBtn.on( 'click', function(e){ e.preventDefault(); var $this = $(this); if ($this.parents('li').hasClass('active')) { $this.parents('li').removeClass('active'); $($dropdown).slideUp(); } else { $('.dropdown').hide(); $this.parents('li').addClass('active'); $this.parents('li').siblings().removeClass('active'); $($dropdown).slideDown(); } }); }); }); </script> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content bare"> <header class="secondary clearfix"> <h1 class="volume_header">Vol 32, Issue 9<a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/print/" class="print hide-for-medium-down"> <i class="icon-print"></i> Print Issue</a></h1> </header> <div class="grid" style="clear: both;"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/differing-views-display-senate-tax-relief-week/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/24/_S3R9996CMS_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, announces property tax cut measures embedded in SB1 the budget bill filed on Feb. 24, 2015."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/24/_S3R9996CMS_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, announces property tax cut measures embedded in SB1 the budget bill filed on Feb. 24, 2015." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, announces property tax cut measures embedded in SB1 the budget bill filed on Feb. 24, 2015.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/differing-views-display-senate-tax-relief-week/"> Differing Views on Display at Senate Tax Relief Week </a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> and <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 5 Mar 2015 23:08:00 -0600" title="2015-03-05 23:08"> March 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>Some think the promised tax relief is too much, too soon while others think it tackles the wrong priority.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/differing-views-display-senate-tax-relief-week/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story </a> </div> </div> </article> <article> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/welcome-house-and-senate/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/03/7C2A2899_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Leighton Schubert R-La Grange as he is sworn-in as Texas Representative for district #331 on March 3rd, 2015.Next to him is his wife Brittany"> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/03/7C2A2899_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Leighton Schubert R-La Grange as he is sworn-in as Texas Representative for district #331 on March 3rd, 2015.Next to him is his wife Brittany" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Leighton Schubert R-La Grange as he is sworn-in as Texas Representative for district #331 on March 3rd, 2015.Next to him is his wife Brittany</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/welcome-house-and-senate/"> Welcome to the House (and Senate) </a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> and <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 5 Mar 2015 23:06:00 -0600" title="2015-03-05 23:06"> March 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>Three new House members are sworn in, and a new vacancy opens with the departure of José Menéndez for the Senate.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/welcome-house-and-senate/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story </a> </div> </div> </article> <article> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/twitter-follow-leads-recusal/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB7448_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt="January 12th, 2012: TribLive event with Michael Quinn Sullivan, president and CEO of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility"> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB7448_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="January 12th, 2012: TribLive event with Michael Quinn Sullivan, president and CEO of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">January 12th, 2012: TribLive event with Michael Quinn Sullivan, president and CEO of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/twitter-follow-leads-recusal/"> A Twitter Follow Leads to a Recusal </a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 5 Mar 2015 23:04:00 -0600" title="2015-03-05 23:04"> March 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>In the brave new world of social media, does a follow preclude impartiality?</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/twitter-follow-leads-recusal/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story </a> </div> </div> </article> <article> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/inside-intelligence-about-tax-relief-and-those-b2b/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1_png_260x1000_q100.png" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1_png_800x1000_q100.png" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/inside-intelligence-about-tax-relief-and-those-b2b/"> Inside Intelligence: About Tax Relief and Those B2B Fights... </a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 5 Mar 2015 23:02:00 -0600" title="2015-03-05 23:02"> March 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the future of tax relief and business-to-business fights.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/inside-intelligence-about-tax-relief-and-those-b2b/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story </a> </div> </div> </article> <article> <div class="media story_page"> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/calendar/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/Capsized4_jpg_260x1000_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/Capsized4_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>photo by: Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/calendar/"> The Calendar </a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by Texas Weekly </li><li><time datetime="Thu, 5 Mar 2015 23:00:00 -0600" title="2015-03-05 23:00"> March 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Key meetings and events for the coming week.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/calendar/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story </a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="rail cell w-4"> <div class="quotes"> <section class="sidebar_block"> <header> <h2><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/quotes/">Quotes of the Week</a></h2> </header> <div class="content prose"> <p class="quote">I will say I wish I hadn’t voted for that franchise tax.</p> <p class="cite">State Sen. <strong>Jane Nelson</strong>, R-Flower Mound, showing remorse for voting in favor of creating the business margins tax in 2006</p> <p class="quote">I thought it was decoration, but, no, that’s to muffle the sound of the bathroom behind her wall, so you can’t hear people that are on the toilet.</p> <p class="cite">Comptroller <strong>Glenn Hegar</strong>, on discovering an employee's real use for a quilt in her office. Problems created by deferred maintenance are surfacing at state facilities.</p> <p class="quote">One of them refused to leave us, and we took all the marijuana around him, but his natural instincts to run were somehow gone.</p> <p class="cite">Drug Enforcement Administration agent <strong>Matt Fairbanks</strong> testifying before a Utah panel on rabbits developing a taste for marijuana</p> <p class="quote">Climate change is often seen through a political lens. I’d like to discuss it from a military perspective. … Climate change poses a serious threat to America’s national security.</p> <p class="cite"><span>Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. <strong>Ken Eickmann</strong> to a House panel this week on the danger posed by climate change</span></p> <p class="quote">Once a politician, always a politician. To the end, he’d go over there and walk around and he’d say, ‘Hey, is that Bob Armstrong dip you’re eating? Well, I’m Bob Armstrong.’</p> <p class="cite"><strong>Will Armstrong</strong>, son of former Land Commissioner <strong>Bob Armstrong</strong>, who passed away this week,<strong> </strong>on his other legacy: the bowl of queso that carries his name at Matt's Famous El Rancho in Austin</p> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid index_bottom" style="padding-top: 1em;"> <section id="rearview" class="cell w-6"> <header> <h2><a class="plain" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/rearview/">The Week in the Rearview Mirror</a></h2> </header> <article> <div class="content"> <p>After grilling Gov. <strong>Greg Abbott</strong>’s three University of Texas System regent appointees last week, the Senate Committee on Nominations on Thursday recommended all of them to the full Senate for confirmation. Two of the nominees received "no" votes from <span>Sen. </span><strong>Konni Burton</strong><span>, R-Colleyville, who had pressed them on the UT Law School Foundation.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>After meeting behind closed doors for almost seven</span><span> hours, the University of Texas System Board of Regents did not name a finalist to replace <strong>Bill Powers</strong> as president of the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday tentatively approved $105 million in funding for hundreds more DPS troopers, but not before some border lawmakers on the panel questioned how the DPS would prove the money is being spent wisely.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>The 8,900 U.S. Border Patrol agents stationed on Texas’ border with Mexico can clock in next week knowing they’re still going to get paid after Congress on Tuesday voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>If voters approve, some of the taxes collected on car sales would be dedicated to building and fixing highways under the first two pieces of legislation to clear the Senate this session. Teachers might also see a pay boost under the measures.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>Texas public high school seniors who failed the state's mandatory exams might still get to graduate this May under a bill pushed by state Sen. </span><strong>Kel Seliger</strong>, which passed <span>Senate Education Wednesday.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>Doctors, law enforcement officers, and family members of crash victims gathered Thursday at the Capitol to testify in support of a statewide texting-while-driving ban. Supporters are hoping the third time's the charm. S<span>imilar legislation was vetoed in 2011, and another bill in 2013 failed to gain traction.</span></span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><em>Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/">here</a>.</em></p> </div> </article> </section> <section id="people" class="cell w-6"> <header> <h2><a class="plain" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/people/">Political People and their Moves</a></h2> </header> <article> <div class="content"> <p><span>The Texas House Republican Caucus has named two members to its leadership team. State Rep. <strong>Jason Isaac</strong> of Dripping Springs was named chairman of the Caucus Fundraising Committee and state Rep. <strong>Rick Miller</strong> of Sugar Land was named chairman of the Caucus External Communication Committee.</span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p>Ahead of Saturday's election of the next Republican Party of Texas chairman, candidate <strong>Jared Woodfill</strong> announced his endorsement by conservative grassroots leader <strong>JoAnn Fleming</strong>. Woodfill, a former Harris County GOP chairman, is one of four candidates.</p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p>Land Commissioner <strong>George P. Bush</strong> has named six appointees to the Alamo Endowment Board, which will raise money for the state historic site. They are: <strong>Ramona Bass</strong><span> of </span><span class="il">the</span><span> Fort Worth Bass family, engineering executive and former UT System Regent </span><strong>Jim Dannenbaum</strong><span>, Clear Channel Communications co-founder </span><strong>Red McCombs</strong><span>, Rackspace executive </span><strong>Lew Moorman</strong><span>, real estate broker and current UT System Board of Regents Vice Chairman </span><strong>Gene Powell</strong><span> and Houston real estate developer and University of Houston System Regent </span><strong>Welcome Wilson Jr.</strong></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p>Texas Medical Association has named <strong>Dave Spalding</strong> to be the chief operating officer of <span>TMA PracticeEdge, the new physician services organization launched by the medical society. He m<span>ost recently served as board chair of Availity, LLC, a company which facilitates information exchange between physicians, providers and health plans.</span></span></p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><strong>Deaths:</strong> <strong>Bob Armstrong</strong>, 82, who counted stints as state representative, land commissioner, candidate for governor and a presidential appointee at <span class="il">the</span> U.S. Department of <span class="il">the</span> Interior on a long and distinguished resume of public service.</p> <p><strong>•    Mike Higgins</strong>, chief of staff and legislative director for the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters.</p> <p><strong>•    Dudley Thomas</strong>, 76, who served as Department of Public Safety director from 1996-2000 as a capstone to a 40-year career with the agency.</p> </div> </article> <article> <div class="content"> <p><em>Disclosure: The <span>Texas Medical Association</span> is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. <em>Red and Charline McCombs are major donors to the Tribune. Linda Aaker and Bob Armstrong were donors to the Tribune. </em>A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/">here</a>.</em></p> </div> </article> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div id="footer" class="clear grid"> <div class="cell w-3"> <div> <h2 class="visuallyhidden">Texas Weekly</h2> <p> <span class="volume">Volume <span class="value">32</span></span>, <span class="issue">Issue <span class="value">9</span></span> </p> <p><time>06 March 2015</time></p> <p>Contributors: <span class="name">John Reynolds</span></p> </div> <div> <p><em>John Reynolds, Editor</em></p> <p>Phone: 512-716-8656</p> <p>Email: <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff958d9a869190939b8cbf8b9a879e8c8b8d969d8a919ad1908d98" class="value"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="600a1205190e0f0c041320140518011314120902150e054e0f1207">[email protected]</span><script cf-hash="f9e31" type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&&t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]> */</script></a></p> </div> <div> <p>© Copyright 2015 The Texas Tribune</p> </div> <div> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/about/">About Us</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="cell w-3 hide-for-medium-down offsite"> <h3>Offsite Outlets</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/http://twitter.com/texasweekly">Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/feeds/texasweekly/">RSS</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/">The Texas Tribune</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="cell w-3 hide-for-medium-down"> <h3>Recent Issues</h3> <ol> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-11/">20 March 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-10/">13 March 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-9/">06 March 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-8/">27 February 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-7/">20 February 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/vol-32/no-6/">13 February 2015</a></li> </ol> <p><a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/archive/"><strong><em>Archive</em></strong></a> </div> <div class="cell w-3 hide-for-medium-down"> <h3>Contact Us</h3> <div class="vcard"> <p class="fn org visuallyhidden">Texas Weekly</p> <div class="adr"> <p class="street-address">823 Congress Ave STE 1400</p> <p><span class="locality">Austin</span>, <span class="region" title="Texas">TX</span> <span class="postal-code">78701</span></p> </div> <div> <div class="tel"> <p><span class="type">Phone</span>: <span class="value">512-716-8656</span></p> </div> <div class="tel"> <p><span class="type">Fax</span> <span class="value">512-716-8601</span></p> </div> <p><em><a class="email" href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#acc6dec9d5c2c3c0c8dfecd8c9d4cddfd8dec5ced9c2c982c3decb">Contact us by email</a></em></p> </div> <div> <h4>Subscriptions</h4> <p><em><a href="#" class="tinypass-toggle">One-year online $349</a></em></p> </div> <div> <p>For more information about your subscription:<p> <p><strong>Phone:</strong> 512-716-8606</p> <p><em><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="/web/20150320193720/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e397869b8290948686888f9aa397869b829097918a81968d86cd8c9184"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef9b8a978e9c988a8a848396af9b8a978e9c9b9d868d9a818ac1809d88">[email protected]</span><script cf-hash="f9e31" type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */!function(){try{var t="currentScript"in document?document.currentScript:function(){for(var t=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute("cf-hash"))return t[e]}();if(t&&t.previousSibling){var e,r,n,i,c=t.previousSibling,a=c.getAttribute("data-cfemail");if(a){for(e="",r=parseInt(a.substr(0,2),16),n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)i=parseInt(a.substr(n,2),16)^r,e+=String.fromCharCode(i);e=document.createTextNode(e),c.parentNode.replaceChild(e,c)}}}catch(u){}}();/* ]]> */</script></a></em></p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> 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'] = '14890501'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720js_/http://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150320193720js_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/scripts.hellobar.com/a0b14295d377f4052f6c446d03d05e4b4b935f91.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720im_/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/20150320193720/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150320193720/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">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-627.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WRRIeFV1WRkRPRkIGT1gDR1l9QEJCBGBZBk4fAVUX","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":407}</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>