Calls for Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's resignation are limited — but growing — as his party plans to meet this week

by Cassandra Pollock

A handful of Republicans and Democrats have said the GOP leader of the lower chamber should step aside. And so far, no one from Bonnen's own party has publicly come to his defense.

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How hard should creating a Texas income tax be? Voters will decide with Prop. 4

Supporters want to send a clear message about Texas' business-friendly environment. Others think it's already hard enough to get such a tax passed, and future generations should be able to decide for themselves.

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Five takeaways from third-quarter fundraising reports in Texas' congressional races

by Patrick Svitek

Tuesday was the latest quarterly deadline for congressional candidates in Texas, an increasingly vital state in the battle for the House majority.

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The Dennis Bonnen recording is out. Here's what you need to know.

by Texas Tribune Staff

A just-released recording of a June 12 meeting between House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan could have major implications for the House and Texas Republicans, who are trying to fend off bullish Democrats from potentially flipping the lower chamber in 2020.

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U.S. House, including most Texas members, votes in disapproval of Trump's Syria actions

by Abby Livingston

Seven Texas delegation members were among 60 House Republicans to oppose the resolution.

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TribCast: The Tale of the Tape

by Evan Smith, Todd Wiseman and Fatima Espejo

In this edition of the TribCast, Evan talks to Cassi, Alex and Patrick about the now-public recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s infamous meeting with conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan.

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Analysis: In the Texas House, it’s going to be a little tougher to say, “Come, let us reason together”

by Ross Ramsey

The recording of Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's raw political conversation with a conservative activist threw a partisan rock into the state Legislature's normally bipartisan pool. Now the members have to sort that out.

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Dallas attorney Chrysta Castañeda to challenge Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton

by Patrick Svitek

Castañeda, a Democrat, is centering her 2020 campaign on the issue of flaring, or the burning of natural gas that companies do not move to market.

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Watch: Live TribCast recording

by Texas Tribune Staff

We're livestreaming this week's TribCast recording, hosted by The Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith and featuring political reporters Cassi Pollock, Alex Samuels and Patrick Svitek. They break down the Dennis Bonnen tape released Tuesday.

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Julián Castro raised $3.5 million in third quarter, but his cash on hand dipped to less than $700,000

by Alex Samuels

The former San Antonio mayor was vastly out-raised by the Democratic frontrunners.

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Beto O’Rourke goes after Warren, spars with Buttigieg as he and Julián Castro fight for political survival

by Abby Livingston and Alex Samuels

The two Texans vying for the Democratic presidential nomination initially got little attention during Tuesday’s debate before taking on opponents over taxes and gun control.

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Democratic hopefuls unveil third-quarter fundraising figures as John Cornyn's financial advantage grows

by Patrick Svitek

Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to report their third-quarter fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission.

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Local Texas officials balk at animus toward cities, plans for sales tax cuts in legislators' secretly recorded meeting

by Juan Pablo Garnham and Davis Rich

The recording revealed that top Republican lawmakers wanted the 2019 session to be painful for cities and counties — and 2021 to be even worse.

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House Speaker Dennis Bonnen says, “No laws were broken.” Legal hurdles remain.

by Emma Platoff and Jolie McCullough

Bonnen has been eager to dismiss speculation that he did anything illegal during a June 12 meeting with conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan. But a probe into the event is ongoing.

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T-Squared: We’re joining forces with ProPublica to investigate Texas — and spending more than $8.5 million to do it

by Evan Smith

Working together over the next five years, a team of watchdogs will hold people in power and institutions accountable in ways that serve the public interest. This is a big win for all Texans.

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Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions subpoenaed by grand jury investigating Giuliani and associates

by Matt Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett, The Washington Post

The subpoena seeks records about Sessions’ dealings with Rudy Giuliani and two business associates who had been helping Giuliani investigate Joe Biden.

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“This is all confidential”: Key excerpts from secret recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen

by Alexa Ura and Alex Samuels

In the hourlong conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan, the leader of the Texas House is heard offering press credentials and asking for political support for challengers in the 2020 primaries.

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Plastic company set to pay $50 million settlement in water pollution suit brought on by Texas residents

by Stacy Fernández

A judge had ruled that the company illegally dumped billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways.

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In their secretly recorded meeting, Dennis Bonnen and Michael Quinn Sullivan laid bare GOP anxieties about 2020

by Patrick Svitek

The recording, released Tuesday, features the two prominent Republicans airing their concerns about how Texas Republicans will fare next election, particularly in state House races.

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Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offered media access to Empower Texans, suggested it target certain Republicans, recording shows

by Cassandra Pollock, Emma Platoff and Patrick Svitek

Bonnen also spoke disparagingly about multiple Democrats, calling one House member “vile” and suggesting that another’s “wife’s gonna be really pissed when she learns he’s gay.”

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