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Texas Republicans Work To Remove Power From Democratic-Leaning Austin

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R)

Texas Republicans are putting their boot down in one of the few places they don't politically control: the capital city of Austin.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is signing new laws that will draw power away from solidly Democratic Travis County. That's where a grand jury indicted former Republican Gov. Rick Perry and where judges have authorized a gay wedding and struck down GOP laws.

Liberal Austin has made itself a painful exception to Republican rule. But the big college town where Whole Foods got its start won't have such a prominent say in state business anymore.

One new law steers political corruptions cases out of Austin and to the hometowns of the accused. Travis County judges can also no longer singlehandedly upend major legislation over school finance.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.