State Rep. Dennis Bonnen has become a go-to mouthpiece for House leadership, and the votes for his legislation are indicative of how closely in step with him his colleagues are. If he were out of line, someone would yank his leash. Nobody has.
Aman Batheja
Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Posted inState Government
The House Works a Late Friday Shift
The workload in the chambers picks up on the budget, contracting reform and taxes.
Posted in
Economy
With Amendment, Bettencourt Aims to Limit Property Tax Growth
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, managed to add an amendment to a bill Thursday that would make it more difficult for some local entities to raise property taxes.
Posted inState Government
Budgetline: Jane Nelson, From Renegade to Ringleader
In this episode of Budgetline, Aman and Ross sit down with Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, who voted against her first state budget in 1993 as a freshman senator and is now in charge of writing that most essential piece of legislation.
Posted in
Economy
House Passes $4.9B Tax Cut Plan That Includes Sales Tax Cut
The Texas House tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax relief plan Tuesday that includes a cut to the state’s sales tax, marking a clear line in the sand against the Senate, which favors property tax cuts.
Posted inState Government
A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick
Here’s an updated breakdown of House Bills 1-20 and Senate Bills 1-20, showing where House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are placing their priorities for the 84th legislative session.
Posted in
Demographics
A Look at How House, Senate Budgets Compare
This week, the House and the Senate named the members of a conference committee that will resolve the differences between the two chambers’ budget plans. Here’s a look at how the two proposals compare, with details on some areas where the plans diverge.
Posted inState Government
Budgetline: The Cemetery at the End of the Budget
In this episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Aman and Ross explore the place at the end of the budget where unfunded items go. While it’s charitably referred to as “the wish list,” budget watchers say it more often serves as “the cemetery,” or “where dreams go to die.”
Posted in
Transportation
Self-Driving Car Bill Stalled by Google, Carmakers
Both Google and an industry group representing major auto manufacturers have come out against a bill from state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, to create a pilot program to monitor and encourage testing of self-driving cars in Texas.
Posted inState Government
House Launches Contracting Inquiry at 11 State Agencies
State Rep. John Kuempel, chairman of the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee, launched an official inquiry Monday into contracting practices at 11 state agencies.
