Call it the Rick Perry gold rush: The governor wants to bring the state’s gold reserves back from a New York vault to Texas. 

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about exemptions from school property taxes and about the political future of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

The challenge for Texas leaders is: How do we ensure that our children can compete and thrive in this ever-changing economy?

In search of new revenue for road construction and maintenance, Texas lawmakers are weighing whether to raise fees on electric cars, a move that is gaining ground in some other states.

The budget proposals released by lawmakers this week show an interest in revamping school testing and the state's economic incentive programs.

The two-year-old revenue forecast used to justify massive cuts in the current state budget was wrong — and not by a little bit. But the conservative Legislature elected in 2010 wasn't complaining.

Austin will be the epicenter of the auto racing world this month when its new, $400 million track — the Circuit of the Americas — hosts the first Formula One race in the United States since 2007. 

A free trade agreement between the U.S. and Panama takes effect Wednesday, bringing with it the controversy over jobs and taxes that is associated with all tariff-reducing agreements. 

Most Texans believe that the country is on the wrong track but that the state is headed in the right direction, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll conducted this month. 

For this week's nonscientific survey of politics and government insiders, we asked about the direction of the state and the country, the state of the economy and the most important problems facing Texas and the U.S.

It has been more than 100 years since Texas and Mexico saw a new railroad line that spans both countries. That streak is set to end this year with the expected completion of the Brownsville West Rail Bypass International Bridge.

Women in Texas made 70 cents for every $1 that men made in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Use this interactive to examine the gender wage gap in Texas by industry and region.

At a time of bitter partisanship and fierce political competition, Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper found rare common ground Friday at a meeting about economic development strategies.

A new study by the Center for American Progress says that in Texas alone, there would be a $14.5 billion annual loss in tax revenue if all illegal immigrants in the state were deported. 

The state economy, and the state's finances, look relatively good. Tax revenue is far higher than the comptroller had predicted. But don't get too confident — there are some tough decisions ahead.

Texas may have reached a milestone in July, reporting two straight years of job growth. But the unemployment rate inched up again last month, from 7 percent to 7.2 percent, while economic growth remained relatively consistent. 

The comptroller's office announced Friday in its latest financial update that while the state will have more money in its coffers than previously thought, uncertainty about global economic strains could hurt Texas' two main money makers: energy and exports.

Though unemployment remains relatively high nationally, Texas faces a dearth of qualified truckers, spurred by high training costs and what some consider overly strict government regulations. And the state's economy is feeling the strain.