The mouse that roared? When it comes to textbooks, all Texas can say, is well, squeak, squeak.
The Brief: March 26, 2010
Posted inState Government
A Taxing Session?
The Texas Legislature will find itself in a multi-billion dollar budget hole when lawmakers return to Austin in 2011. Constitutionally, the state’s budget can’t run a deficit. Ben Philpott covers state politics and policy for KUT News and the Texas Tribune, and reports that lawmakers are expected to use a mixture of budget cuts and revenue raisers to keep the state in the black.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Barely Speaking
The state says that if it has the power to ban alcohol in strip clubs, then it can levy a $5 “pole tax.” But the clubs argued before the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday that nude dancing is a form of protected speech and that the tax violates the First Amendment.
Posted in
Public Education
The Textbook Myth
Despite all the handwringing about Texas’ influence on the textbook market nationally, it’s just not so, publishing insiders say. The state’s clout has been on the wane and will diminish more as technological advances and political shifts transform the industry.
Posted in
Economy
A Taxing Session?
Lawmakers will find themselves in a multibillion-dollar ditch when they return to Austin in January 2011. Constitutionally, they can’t write a deficit budget, so they’re expected to use not just cuts but revenue raisers to keep the books in balance. Ben Philpott, who covers politics and public policy for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
2010: White Attacks Perry’s Border Crime Claims
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White today called on GOP Gov. Rick Perry to remove claims on his public and campaign Web sites that crime on the Texas border has dropped 65 percent. Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner defended the claims. He said Perry’s claim refers to temporary crime drops in discreet areas during so-called “border surge” operations.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: California Shuns Texas Textbooks
A Golden State senator says our State Board of Education can put its conservative spin on U.S. history where the sun don’t shine.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Holding Steady
Texas unemployment held steady at 8.2 percent last month, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. That’s the same seasonally adjusted rate as in January, December, and November, but it’s up from 6.8 percent in February of 2009.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: March 25, 2010
Yesterday was likely one of the worst days of Hank Skinner’s life — before it became what was probably one of the best days.
