Voters will have 10 state constitutional amendments to consider on Election Day this Tuesday. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on Proposition 7, which would create a parks system in El Paso County.
Ben Philpott
Ben Philpott is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin’s National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Posted in
Public Education
Little Opposition to Measure That Would Increase School Funding
Proposition 6 on the Texas constitutional ballot would allow the land commissioner to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to public education. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports that the measure has seen little opposition.
Posted in
State Government
Perry Promotes Galveston-Style Social Security Opt-Out
In his flat-tax speech on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry also listed five ways to fix Social Security. One of those, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, is based on a system Galveston County created after opting out of the federal program.
Posted in
Health care
In Tax Speech, Perry to Push for Balanced Budget Amendment
Though Gov. Rick Perry’s economic speech today is expected to focus on his proposal for a national flat tax, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the governor is also expected to push for a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Posted in
Energy
Parched Western States Looking to Perry’s Water Record
You won’t hear about the water problems out West during the GOP presidential debate, but as Ben Philpott reports for KUT News and the Texas Tribune, the problems are there — and the next President could play a role in the solutions.
Posted inState Government
Parsing Perry’s Energy Plan
Gov. Rick Perry today announced initial details of his energy-centric jobs plan. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune examines how the plan, centered on domestic drilling, has fared with energy experts.
Posted inState Government
What to Look for in Tonight’s GOP Debate
Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune on what to look for in tonight’s Republican debate, what it will take for Gov. Rick Perry to rebound and why the governor may have the upper hand this time around.
Posted inState Government
Perry Campaign Says Economic Specifics Can Wait
Gov. Rick Perry, still bedeviled by critics, may be looking to turn the conversation back to the economy, but as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, Perry has yet to unveil a detailed plan on how to get America working again.
Posted in
Demographics
In New Hampshire, Perry Pivots on Immigration Answer
Immigration looked likely to dominate Rick Perry’s visit to New Hampshire this weekend — and dominate it did. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on Perry’s attempt to reformulate his answer to a question that has dogged his campaign.
Posted inState Government
Perry Looks to New Hampshire for Reboot
Gov. Rick Perry this weekend travels to New Hampshire, where he’s looking to regroup and, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, distinguish himself from his New England-bred competition.
