Past Contributions

• Abbott Touts Successful Session on Transportation

  By Aman Batheja and Jim Malewitz June 2, 2015

  The day after lawmakers ended their legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott touted a successful session for transportation funding and issues, as he signed three bills on a heliport in Dallas. Full Story 

• A Closer Look at the Final 2016-17 State Budget

  By Aman Batheja and Becca Aaronson June 2, 2015

  Here’s a look at how the Texas House and Senate budget proposals compared and what the two chambers ultimately settled on, using information from the Legislative Budget Board. Full Story 

• Contracting Measure Goes to Abbott; Another Made It Into Budget

  By Aman Batheja June 1, 2015

  Lawmakers sent a bill aimed at beefing up contracting oversight to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, while another died but will still largely be implemented through a budget rider. Full Story 

• Abbott Signals He'll Sign Cannabis Oil Bill

  By Jay Root and Aman Batheja May 31, 2015

  Gov. Greg Abbott is signaling that he will sign into law a bill allowing epilepsy patients to use medicinal oils containing a therapeutic component found in marijuana. Full Story 

• Effort to Tighten Spending Cap Dies With House, Senate Far Apart

  By Aman Batheja May 31, 2015

  The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure. Full Story 

• Texans to Vote on Plan to Boost Road Funding

  By Aman Batheja May 30, 2015

  The Texas Legislature voted Saturday to ask the state's voters in November to approve a plan to boost annual transportation funding by billions of dollars. Full Story 

• On Most Visible Budget Disputes, Senate Fared Better Than House

  By Aman Batheja May 30, 2015

  The $209.4 billion budget sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk includes hundreds of concessions made by the House and Senate. Yet on most of the high-profile disputes, the Senate won out. Full Story 

• Final Bill in $3.8 Billion Tax Cut Deal Sent to Abbott's Desk

  By Aman Batheja May 29, 2015

  The Texas House sent the last part of a $3.8 billion tax cut deal to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk Friday. Senate Bill 1 will increase the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution. Full Story 

• Legislature Sends $209.4 Billion Budget to Abbott

  By Aman Batheja and Julián Aguilar May 29, 2015

  Texas lawmakers in both chambers on Friday overwhelmingly approved a $209.4 billion two-year budget, a 3.6 percent increase over the current one. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Full Story 

• House Sends Franchise Tax Cut to Abbott, Defusing Veto Threat

  By Aman Batheja May 28, 2015

  Defusing Gov. Greg Abbott’s first public veto threat, lawmakers sent a bill cutting the business franchise tax to his desk Thursday. The House also sent Abbott a bill plugging holes in the 2014-15 budget. Full Story