Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday that House members will not allow conservative activists threatening political retaliation, or gun activists threatening physical retaliation, to impact their votes.
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
Transportation
Erroneous Toll Bills Fuel Criticism at Hearing
Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation and Xerox surprised senators Wednesday by reporting that 30,000 drivers with valid TxTag accounts were erroneously mailed bills for using the state’s toll roads.
Posted in
Politics
GOP Taxonomy: The Flat Taxers and the Fair Taxers
Republican presidential flirts Rick Perry, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are cozying up to their positions on fixing, or dumping, the federal income tax. Get ready for much discussion of what’s flat, what’s fair and whether the twain shall meet.
Posted inState Government
Abbott, Hegar Propose Overhauling Subsidies for Events Funds
Gov. Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar are calling for the Legislature to overhaul controversial taxpayer-funded programs used to lure sporting events to Texas and move them from the comptroller to the governor’s office.
Posted inState Government
Speaker Straus Names Rep. Otto as Chief Budget Writer in House
House Speaker Joe Straus released his committee assignments Wednesday, including new chairmen for the two high-profile committees that will take the lead on writing the budget and crafting tax cuts.
Posted in
Transportation
Patrick, Nichols: Put Car Sales Tax Toward Roads
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, unveiled a plan Wednesday to boost transportation funding by dedicating some of the sales tax already collected on car sales to road work.
Posted inState Government
Senators Grill Agency Head Over Contracting Scandal
Senate budget writers on Tuesday described the state’s growing contracting scandal as “embarrassing” and “out of control” while the head of an agency at the center of the scandal defended its procurement policies.
Posted in
State Government
Abbott Aide: Maintain Film Incentive Program Funding
While state lawmakers have expressed interest in a widespread curtailing of the state’s economic incentive program, Gov. Greg Abbott is requesting $95 million for the state’s film incentive program in the next budget.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Public Integrity Unit Chief Testifies Before State Senators
The head of the state’s public integrity unit told Senate lawmakers on Monday that Gov. Rick Perry’s veto of its funding in 2013 forced the division — which investigates public corruption — to lay off staff and give up cases.
Posted in
Contract High
In State Contracting, Failure is an Option
Texas’s tendency to privatize state services has led to contracting scandals erupting regularly. But a history of cost overruns or bad performance hardly bars a company from winning future jobs.
