Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund.
March 2011
Posted in
Demographics
GOP Lawmakers Call for Reform, Guest-Worker Program
Calling on Washington to fix the country’s “discriminatory” immigration system, Hispanic Republicans in the Texas Legislature also fired off the first salvos in what could be a divisive battle within the party over immigration legislation.
Posted in
State Government
Perry: Campaign’s Social Media Warrants a Book
Gov. Rick Perry, who has 52,000 fans on Facebook, said Tuesday that his 2010 re-election campaign’s use of social media could make history.
Posted in
Public Education
Update: Protesters Gather Against Paddling
Some small school districts in Texas still paddle poorly behaving students, and protesters at the Capitol today said they want the swatting to stop.
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for March 15, 2011
Your afternoon reading: tentative deal to tap Rainy Day Fund struck; Perry making robocalls for conservative group; Senate approves “Choose Life” license plates
Posted in
Energy
Beach Projects at Risk From Lawsuit, Budget
The General Land Office has a lot on its plate these days — a controversial property rights lawsuit, the reopening of Texas’ favorite surf spot and an ongoing project to restore Texas’ most fertile fishing pier.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Top Texas News for March 15, 2011
The scuffle over tapping the Rainy Day Fund took an awkward turn on Monday.
Posted in
Economy
At South by Southwest, Another Type of British Invasion
Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune sat down with Dominick Chilcott, deputy ambassador for Britain, to talk about what lures companies from across the pond to South by Southwest.
Posted in
State Government
Guest Column: How About a “Pro-Life” Budget?
I believe people should understand the gravity of their decision — which is why it’s too bad there’s no sonogram provision for the Texas budget process.
Posted in
State Government
Data App: Lobbying Directory Details Spending, Clients
Lobbyists spent more than $1.2 million in the first two months of 2011 trying to influence lawmakers and state officials, according to the latest ethics filings, which are now accessible in our new lobbying data application.