Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Twelve Texas counties lead the nation as having the highest percentages of children lacking health insurance

"We think parents are a sleeping giant."

Study of records reveals corporations that contributed to 2002 state election efforts.

Gov. Rick Perry need not call another special session on school finance.

Senator Shapleigh's notes and observations from the Capitol will keep you updated on what is happening behind the scenes in Austin as the Special Sessions of the 79th Legislature continue to be called.

They press on with school funding as 2nd session looms

"Under HB 2 and 3, nine in ten pay more for less, so one in ten can pay less for more. Texans elected us educate every child and leave no child behind. We can and must do better.”

The Legislature's special session on public school finance should collapse and die today.

Perry, Craddick, Dewhurst and their team struggle to put a happy face on a grim scene - but they have failed Texas. Again.

Tax negotiations going slowly, although aide hints of deal on schools.

In both the House and the Senate, negotiations on public school finance and taxes have been done in marathon private meetings by a handful of lawmakers.

In both the House and the Senate, negotiations on public school finance and taxes have been done in marathon private meetings by a handful of lawmakers.

As Texas lawmakers prepare to vote on a massive tax bill, some state Democratic Party leaders and grass-roots organizations are eyeing several Democrats who helped Republicans advance the controversial measure.

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it gets worse.

After abandoning their goal of modernizing the state's tax code and putting public schools on firm financial footing, lawmakers in Austin are left to tinker with the stopgap measures they've adopted.

Sen. Hinojosa, was one of five senators on the conference committee for House Bill 3 came soon after Hinojosa helped defeat moves from fellow Democrats.

Highlights of the ASARCO hearing which was held this week.

An editorial by Rep. Villareal about his vote against H.B. 3.

Instead of waiting 50 years to get funding to complete El Paso's major transportation projects, El Paso can now do it in five years. In addition, it can be done with more local planning and control. How is this possible? The El Paso RMA.

Illinois the fourth state to devote public money to embryonic stem cell research.