Federal Efforts to Reform Texas’ Foster Care System Move Ahead, Trump Goes After Cruz’s Wife

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningMarch 25, 2016 12:35 pm, ,

It’s time to check in with the week that was in Texas Politics with Texas Tribune politics reporter Aman Batheja.

Texas officials hoping to slow reforms on the state’s foster care system were dealt a blow this week. Rather than choose someone lawmakers were hoping for to oversee the reforms, a judge chose candidates suggested by advocacy groups.

“You can guess that those people are going to be really strict on Texas and really push for major reforms,” Batheja says. “This is all shaping up to next session when lawmakers come in. There’s a good chance that there’s going to be some sort of reform package on the table, and it’s going to be expensive.”

In the presidential race, Sen. Ted Cruz is turning his attention to Wisconsin.

“It’s also kind of being called Ted Cruz’s last stand,” Batheja says. “It’s April 5, and if he doesn’t do well in Wisconsin, it’s really hard to see a path forward to him to stop Trump.”

And, of course, the two GOP frontrunners – Trump and Cruz – are playing dirty on Twitter, with Trump dragging Cruz’s wife Heidi into the fray.

“Trump tweeted that Cruz better be careful or (he’ll) go after his wife,” Batheja says. “Cruz pretty much tried to take the high road, but Trump retweeted someone who was making remarks about Cruz’s wife’s looks. It’s really kind of gone into the gutter.”

Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.