Capitol Inside has long been the most respected source of news and information on state politics and government in Texas. Our readers span the spectrum from the far left to the hard right and all points in between. The web site has received praise on both sides of the aisle for fair, objective and nonpartisan reporting and commentary on the events that shape the world inside the statehouse in Austin and behind the scenes.

Capitol Inside features a mix of daily news and analysis with popular special projects like the Texas Lobby Power Rankings - a feature that has changed the dynamics of the industry since its original unveiling on the day that the web site made its debut on January 23, 2003.

Capitol Inside was born on the spur of the moment without time for plan at the dawning of the era of Republican rule in the Lone Star State. The site has been a labor of love for Mike Hailey - an award-winning newspaper journalist who served as the press secretary for legendary Texas Democrat Bob Bullock in the lieutenant governor's office. Hailey conceived Capitol Inside after a stint as the communications director for the Texas Democratic Party. Hailey has been a diehard independent since the moment Capitol Inside came to life.

Capitol Inside has been a hit from day one - having been hailed by Campaigns & Elections for "breaking news ahead of the pack" before the first full year in business. Hailey has been honored by The Washington Post as one of the best state capitol reporters in the nation.

Hailey's career in the Texas Capitol press corps began in 1984 as a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman at the statehouse. Hailey joined the Austin bureau for the Houston Post in 1989 before moving to the state's largest city to be the chief political writer at the home base until the day that the newspaper died in 1995.

Hailey is a real Texan - having been born and raised in San Antonio before a move to the north to attend Baylor University where he earned a bachelor's degree with majors in journalism and sociology. Hailey was the Central Texas editor at the Waco Tribune-Herald before the eventual landing in the Capital City.