Topic: Rick Perry

Featured

13 Republicans who might run in 2016

The GOP has a history of nominating people who have run before, which could give heart to some familiar faces. But there’s also a crop of young rising stars who could steal the show.

All Content

Decoder Wire Wendy Davis goes to Washington: Did Texas abortion fight create a new star?

Wendy Davis gained national fame for her staunch opposition of a Texas abortion bill. Now, she's coming to D.C. to raise money and sounding like someone who might run for governor.
Texas Legislature passes abortion bill, Democrats vow a fight

In a few days, Texas Governor Rick Perry will sign into law a controversial bill banning abortions after 20 weeks. Democrats, who offered 20 amendments to the bill, all rejected, have vowed to fight it through lawsuits and at the ballot box.
Texas House passes abortion law: why it matters beyond Lone Star State

Legislation passed Wednesday that would ban abortion after 20 weeks and impose other restrictions. Texas has played an outsized part in keeping the issue on the national agenda.
Decoder Wire Rick Perry 2016: Did he just announce for president?

Rick Perry announced Monday that he will not run for reelection as governor of Texas in 2014, and said nothing about running for president in 2016. But he dropped plenty of hints.
Decoder Wire Will Rick Perry announce 2016 White House bid?

Rick Perry's announcement Monday in San Antonio may settle whether he'll run for a fourth term as governor – or open the door to a presidential bid in 2016. But as his 'oops' moment in 2012 signals, he's not predictable.
USA Update Controversial Texas abortion bill will pass in new session, Rick Perry vows

A day after calling for another special legislative session, Texas Gov. Rick Perry vigorously defended the failed abortion bill Thursday at the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas.
USA Update Filibuster of Texas abortion bill makes a star of Wendy Davis. Will that last? (+video)

A Democratic state senator in heavily Republican Texas, Wendy Davis rocketed to global social media prominence on the strength of her filibuster and the failure of the abortion bill she opposed.
Portrait of a filibusterer: Who is Wendy Davis?

Wendy Davis, the Democratic state senator from Fort Worth, Texas, is in the final hours of a 13-hour filibuster to defeat an anti-abortion bill. Wendy Davis was a single mom by the age of 19 but put herself through school and graduated from Harvard Law School with honors.
USA Update Texas abortion law won't go through if 13-hour filibuster succeeds

Texas abortion law would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and require abortion doctors to have visiting rights at nearby hospitals. The state is one of many trying to tighten restrictions.
Texas abortion law, that would shut down clinics, stalls in Senate

Texas abortion law would effectively shut down most abortion clinics. But a Democratic filibuster looks likely to derail it. Texas is the latest conservative state to try to enact tough new laws on abortion.
Gun control backfires? Rick Perry lures Connecticut gunmakers to Texas. (+video)

Strong gun control laws were recently passed in Connecticut and New York, so Gov. Rick Perry will visit gunmakers in both states this week to try to bring them to gun-friendly Texas.
USA Update FEMA denies disaster funds for West, Texas. Is that unusual?

West needs the disaster funds, say local and state politicians, but FEMA has turned down requests for non-natural disaster aid before. The decision is a new flash point between Texas and the Obama administration.
USA Update Oklahoma tornadoes: how you can help (+video)

The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and United Way are among organizations accepting donations to help those affected by tornadoes in Moore, Okla., and nearby areas.
Boy Scouts vote on allowing openly gay scouts

The Boy Scouts of America local troop leaders will vote Thursday on allowing openly gay boys to participate in the organization. The proposal, however, includes continuing a ban on gay scout leaders.
After tornado, Texas town begins to pick up the pieces

Though devastation is widespread, residents of Granbury, Texas will be able to return to their homes and retrieve what may be left after a huge tornado struck the town on Wednesday.
Decoder Wire Five ways the IRS scandal will change Washington (+video)

Whatever comes of the investigations into the IRS's targeting of conservative groups, the scandal promises to have broad repercussions in Washington, potentially through the 2014 midterms.
Fertilizer plant blast: how lax security hints at regulatory gaps in Texas

The Texas fertilizer plant, targeted for years by thieves who wanted anhydrous ammonia to produce drugs, reportedly had no fence, alarms, or guards. Yet state regulators raised few security concerns before the deadly blast.
As NRA meets, Great Gun Debate intensifies America's culture war (+video)

Both sides in the debate over gun policy are indulging in stereotypes and name-calling, fueled by a distrust bred from previous culture war fights. As the NRA convention continues this weekend, are red and blue America really so far apart?
Sarah Palin: Chewing tobacco is her latest prop (+video)

Sarah Palin chewing tobacco? Speaking at the NRA annual meeting, Sarah Palin pulled out a tin of chewing tobacco to tweak NYC Mayor Bloomberg for his proposed ban on displaying tobacco products.
Decoder Wire NRA 'Stand and Fight' convention: Political big guns will be there (+video)

The NRA's annual convention begins Friday, and the theme this year is 'Stand and Fight.' In the line-up to speak to the 70,000 attendees: a host of likely 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls.
Decoder Wire Ted Cruz presidential race 2016: Whose worst nightmare?

Some conservative leaders reportedly are urging Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to run for president in 2016. That could be a nightmare for either Democrats, other Republicans, or even Cruz himself.
Volunteer firefighting force decimated in Texas fertilizer plant explosion

At least 11 firefighters – most of them volunteers – appear to have died in a huge explosion and fire at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, reports signal. Much of the nation relies on volunteer firefighters.
Texas: Fertilizer plant blast injures hundreds

An explosion from a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas (north of Waco) on Wednesday left hundreds injured and some trapped in buildings. A nursing home, a middle school and private homes were among the buildings damaged in the subsequent blaze.
Bob Perry, megadonor behind 'swift boat' ads, dies

Bob Perry donated over $75 million dollars to political causes, including bankrolling the 'swift boat' attack ads against John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
Opinion Opponents of Medicaid expansion put politics over people

The rejection by several Republican-led states of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion to provide health care access to millions of America’s poor isn’t just partisan politics; it’s immoral. It’s not too late to press state leaders to put people ahead of partisanship.