A few stories to kick things off this week. Any of these could be good paper topics.
- State law allows for lobbying deep in the shadows of Texas. There are very few - if any - substantive rules on lobbying in Texas. Those that exist are barely enforced, so money flows freelu in Texas politics.
- Conflict brews as counties push for city to fund roads. An inside look at the battle over funding roads in local areas - cities versus counties versus utility districts.
- Texas Senate health chief opposes Villalba bill to limit vaccine exemptions. Texas legislators are responding warily to a proposal to make it more difficult for parents to opt out of vaccinating their kids.
- Texas school choice advocates gaining ground. Lt. Gov Patrick pet issue might be gaining traction this session.
- Harris County DA calls for grand jury reform. The content of this story will be printed up elsewhere, but this could be considered more fall out from the police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. It called attention to problems with how grand juries are selected. They tend to not reflect the general population, which leads to questions about whether the justice system here and nationally is fair.
- Bill Would Expand DNA Testing for Criminal Cases. More proposed reforms to the criminal justice system - this time as a result of the wrongful murder conviction of Michael Morton. This would make it easier for DNA testing to be allowed post conviction.
- Hearing set on open carry, campus carry gun bills. The Senate State Affairs Committee is set to consider two of the many gun bills that have been introduced in the legislature.
