The last act, usually, of the “fixin’ to fixin’ to” phase of every legislative session is the governor’s State of the State speech. They’re hard to remember, for the most part, because the Legislature has a tradition of listening politely, clapping a lot, and then ignoring some or all of the items on a given governor’s wish list. But some of it gets into the wiring, and into the ears of lawmakers and even, sometimes, the public.
Real Soon Now
Posted in
Health care
Big Mo and Little Mo
Gov. Rick Perry’s appraisal reforms don’t have nearly the momentum of last year’s school finance package, though both came out of task forces headed by political figures and comprised of business folks. School finance was hard to crack, but the Legislature wasn’t split on the need to do something. This time, you’ll find disagreement on the nature of the problem and the proposed solutions. This package will be harder to pass.
Posted inState Government
Government, On the Rocks
It probably tickles the Yankees when a little ice shuts down the Texas government this way, but until the cabin fever set in, it offered a nice break from the head-banging that went on during the first week of the legislative session.
Posted inState Government
Setting Sail
Gov. Rick Perry starts the session with higher education, health care, border security, appraisals and the state budget on his list of things to do. The governor, who’ll be sworn in for his second full four-year term next week, lived through a day of serial interviews with reporters, taking small bunches for a half-hour at a time. You’ll see varied reports depending on what he said to which group and what they thought was important. Some high points from our interview:
Posted inState Government
Crystal Balls
One of the rules of political reporting: Don’t predict the future.
Posted inState Government
Borderline Trouble
Democrat Ciro Rodriguez soundly beat U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio in an election triggered by redrawn congressional districts.
Posted inState Government
About that Fence
While business groups were trying to temper efforts to seal the border between the U.S. and Mexico this week, and Gov. Rick Perry was puncturing anti-immigrant proposals from the Legislature, the state’s chief financial officer was saying undocumented immigrants are a pretty good deal for Texas.
Posted inState Government
Looking for a Fast Car
We’ll have to wait a month or more to see how state legislative leaders handle a budget that’s bound to grow 30 percent or more.
Posted inState Government
It’s Only Money
It often happens in races for the Texas House and the Texas Senate: Losers spend more than winners in tight races. Not always, but often enough to make this exercise interesting.
Posted in
Health care
The Agony of Relief
State spending on school tax relief could force legislators to trample constitutional limits on budget growth next year, vexing conservatives who want both tax relief and limits on government growth.
