State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, who is leading opposition to a company’s efforts to build a high-speed rail line, was once part of a group that supported private sector development of high-speed rail. An aide says she is not uniformly opposed to high-speed rail.
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 in
Contract High
Failed Hospital Deal Reveals Ties to Janek
Three years ago, a company called Geo Care Inc. gave HHSC chief Kyle Janek a blueprint for privatizing state hospitals. The only contract awarded — privatizing Terrell State Hospital — ended up going to that same company.
Posted in
Economy
Business Groups Offer Support for House Sales Tax Cut Plan
The House Ways and Means Committee heard mostly praise for Chairman Dennis Bonnen’s plan to cut the state’s sales tax and the business margins tax. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Senate remains committed to a property tax cut.
Posted in
Economy
Unable to Tighten Spending Cap, Senate Built a New One
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Republicans had hoped to amend the Texas Constitution to tighten the state’s spending cap. Short of the needed votes, they passed a measure creating a new cap in state law instead.
Posted in
Economy
Sponsor Softens Divisive Bill on Property Tax Rates
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, wants to make cities and counties ask voters for permission to enact tax rates that allow overall property tax revenue from existing homes and businesses to rise more than 6 percent.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Bill Targeting Bullet Train Project Advances
On a 5-4 vote, the Senate Transportation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would hobble a private company’s plan to build a $12 billion high-speed rail line from Dallas to Houston.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Committee Moves $211.4 Billion Budget Forward
Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said she expected the Senate version of the budget to be debated by the full Senate next week, “probably Tuesday.”
Posted in
Economy
Sales Tax Cut a Key Piece in Bonnen’s $4.9 Billion Tax Cut Plan
House Ways and Means Chairman Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, laid out a $4.9 billion tax cut plan Wednesday featuring cuts in sales taxes and business taxes. The Senate’s plan cuts business taxes and property taxes.
Posted inState Government
Budgetline: The Spending Cap
In this episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas Budget, Aman and Ross explore the state’s fuzzy limits on how fast the state budget can grow, what counts and what doesn’t, and how the politics work.
Posted in
Contract High
Details Murky on State’s Largest Contracts
The Tribune asked more than 20 state agencies for basic information on their largest contracts with private vendors. Most knew, but the embattled health commission, which believes it has $60 billion or so in contracts, couldn’t provide key details.
