A bill up for debate in a House committee on Tuesday would prohibit ticket brokers and live event venues from restricting how fans re-sell their tickets. Venues and sports teams say the measure protects scalpers, not consumers.
April 2013
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Graffiti Sentencing Reform Faces Uphill Fight in Legislature
Lawmakers will debate different approaches to graffiti in a House committee hearing on Tuesday. While some argue for less harsh punishments, others say tougher consequences are the way to reduce graffiti crimes.
Posted in
Politics
The Brief: April 2, 2013
A clash of political heavyweights has pounded new urgency into the debate over Medicaid expansion in Texas.
Posted in
Public Education
A Head Start on the Big Stuff
With eight weeks to go in the legislative session, lawmakers got a running start at their big issues: water, education and the budget.
Posted in
State Government
Cable and Satellite Providers Square Off Over Tax Break
Cable TV providers are asking lawmakers to let them out of $200 million in sales taxes to offset local franchise fees their satellite competitors don’t have to pay. Some lawmakers are worried about the state programs that would go unfunded as a result.
Posted in
Health care
Texas Lawmakers Fight Over Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Rick Perry and other top GOP leaders said Medicaid is broken, and adding more Texans to the program would bankrupt the state. Expansion advocates said it would reduce the state’s uninsured population, largely on the federal dime.
Posted inState Government
Planned Cuts in Customs and Border Protection Staffing on Hold
Customs and Border Protection officials said on Monday that the agency’s proposed reduction in staffing has been put on hold after reviewing the 2013 budget the president signed last month.
Posted in
Politics
The Evening Brief: April 1, 2013
Your evening reading: press conferences highlight Medicaid expansion debate; FBI assisting Kaufman County murder investigation; House freshmen target budget to free up money for retired teachers
Posted in
Higher Education
Thousands Sign Up for UT-Austin’s First EdX Courses
On Thursday night, the University of Texas at Austin opened four massive open online courses for registration. By Monday morning, total enrollment in the free courses stood at 14,000 — and counting.
Posted inState Government
House Freshmen Launch Coordinated Strike on Budget
About a dozen freshman Republicans in the Texas House have filed dozens of amendments to the state budget with the same goal: defunding various programs and agencies and putting that money toward retired teachers.