The budget approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee is 2.9 percent bigger than the estimated size of the current two-year budget. It includes about $8.9 billion more than the first draft Senate leaders unveiled in January.
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
Health care
With Deadline Looming, House Sends Medicaid IOU Bill to Perry
House members unanimously approved a bill largely devoted to addressing a shortfall in Medicaid. Health providers for poor children and the disabled in Texas won’t get paid starting Thursday unless Gov. Rick Perry signs the bill soon.
Posted in
Transportation
Texas Lawmaker Files Bill to Regulate Self-Driving Cars
Under a bill filed by state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, self-driving cars like the one Google drove around Texas last month would have to have a licensed driver behind the wheel and meet minimum insurance requirements.
Posted in
Transportation
Republican Senator Proposes Tax Hike for Transportation
State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, wants Texas voters to approve a constitutional amendment to temporarily increase the state sales tax to pay off the Texas Department of Transportation’s debt.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmaker Hopes to Reverse Law That Makes Penny Theft a Felony
Texas legislators accidentally increased the penalty for theft of a penny to a state jail felony in 2011. Now, a lawmaker hopes to fix the statute, which was aimed at copper thieves.
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Health care
Senate Sends $6.6 Billion Budget Bill Back to House
The Texas Senate on Tuesday sent a $6.6 billion supplemental bill back to the House after Democrats in the upper chamber were assured that efforts to restore some funding to schools will be considered later.
Posted inState Government
DPS Changes Security Policy at Governor’s Mansion After Lawmakers Complain
Calling the old policy “stupid,” the head of the Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that congressional and state elected officials will no longer have to endure a background check to access the Governor’s Mansion.
Posted inState Government
Lawmakers Protest Security Policy at Governor’s Mansion
At least three Texas state representatives opted not to attend a reception at the Governor’s Mansion this week rather than submit to new security procedures requiring that even legislators submit to background checks to gain access.
Posted in
Transportation
In Hunt for Roads Funds, Texas Won’t Model Va.
Texas lawmakers hope to follow in Virginia’s footsteps this session and revamp the way they fund transportation. While Virginia opted to cut gas taxes and raise sales taxes, Texas is looking at other options.
Posted in
Health care
House Passes Bill to Address $4.5 Billion Medicaid IOU
With little debate on Thursday, House lawmakers passed House Bill 10, an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that needs to get to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk by next month to avoid bills owed to medical workers going unpaid.