If history is any guide, the Legislature will turn to accounting illusions to mask large portions of a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion. Trouble is, such trickery is a bet on the economy roaring back to life — and that’s no sure thing.
The Shell Game
Posted inState Government
Bombs Away!
In November 2007, when the presidential campaign of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, raised more than $4.2 million in a single day, the grassroots-fueled “money bomb” became part of the national political conversation. But while the tactic was in greater use this cycle, the underwhelming showing of candidates who employed it reveals its limitations.
Posted in
Health care
Magical Accounting
It’s 1983. Oil prices are in the toilet. The Texas economy is suddenly and unexpectedly reeling. Lawmakers, who happen to be in session, have a choice between big cuts or new taxes or something creative. Comptroller Bob Bullock and his top propeller-heads find a creative out — a way to balance the budget without big cuts or tax hikes.
Posted inState Government
Bill White Ad: “Man on the Move”
Bill White commercial, originally caught in the wild, but later released by his campaign. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate is running this in the Houston area starting tomorrow, May 3.
Posted in
Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Stiles and Thevenot’s searchable database of more than 5,800 public schools, Thevenot on why smaller high schools are better, Garcia-Ditta on the possible unification of Big Bend National Park with Mexico, Grissom on what’s likely to happen on immigration reform this year (nothing), Hamilton on how Admm Bobby Ray Inman is managing a crisis, Hu on the health care reform straw man, Ramsey on the no-shoo-in-for-the-experienced-guy special election in Senate District 22, Philpott on the likely post-Arizona immigration brawls, Ramshaw on the emergence of concierge care as a response to health care reform, Aguilar on how Texas will soon become Cuba’s top U.S. trading partner, Stiles and Babalola’s searchable database of more 160,000 inmates in Texas prisons, M. Smith on the depressing fact that every single U.S. Attorney position in Texas is now vacant, and my on-camera sit-down with Texas Transportation Commission chair Deirdre Delisi. The best of our best from April 26 to 30, 2010.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: Mapping U.S. Attorney Vacancies Nationwide
President Obama and the U.S. Senate haven’t yet installed U.S. Attorneys in any of Texas’ four federal court districts. As our national map shows, more than half of the country is in the same situation.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: Perry Rejects New Pool for High-Risk Patients
Texas will not commit to creating temporary health care pools for high-risk patients.
Posted inState Government
Changes Coming to the Big 12?
The Big 10 college sports conference is expected to add at least one new school sometime this year. Those in the know say Big 12 Conference member Missouri is the most popular choice. Losing one school isn’t likely to hurt the Big 12 — but what if the Big 10 adds 3 or 4 schools? What would that mean for the Big 12? Specifically, what would that mean for the Texas Longhorns? Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune filed this report.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Keller Gets Record Ethics Fine
Sharon Keller isn’t as meticulous on her personal finance reports as she is particular about court closing time, the Texas Ethics Commission found today.
