The Texas Senate approved new political districts that protect all of the Republicans and all but one of the Democratic incumbents in that body and, after a delay, gave tentative approval to a House map already approved by the House.
82nd Legislative Session
Posted in
Economy
Combs Finds Another $1.2 Billion for Budget
Comptroller Susan Combs added $1.2 billion to her estimate of state revenues, making that much more money available to budget writers who are scrambling for cash. She said the state’s income is up.
Posted in
Politics
Guest Column: My Lege in a Box
Call it the Justin Timberlake Treatment: The Legislature has found itself boxed in as it searches for a way out of the budget divide.
Posted in
State Government
Senators Work to Narrow “Puppy Mill” Bill
A controversial bill meant to shut down puppy mills has drawn another opponent in state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. “I’m a barking ‘no,'” Patrick said during a recent public hearing.
Posted in
Economy
Conference Panel Approves Most of Budget
House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on everything in the state budget except for public and higher education and a section of general provisions that can be used later to make sure the numbers in the budget balance.
Posted in
State Government
House Adopts Voter ID Conference Report
House Democrats put up one final fight against the voter ID bill but begrudgingly saw it move one step closer to the governor’s desk today.
Posted in
Health care
House Passes Bill on Indigent Health Care for Legal Immigrants
A contentious measure that would allow Texas counties to consider the income of a legal immigrant’s sponsor when determining if the immigrant is eligible for indigent health care passed the state House today.
Posted in
Economy
Senate Votes $4 Billion From Rainy Day Fund for Deficit
The Texas Senate approved a $3.97 billion draw on the state’s Rainy Day Fund to cover a deficit of the same size in the current budget, but not before rejecting efforts to add on a larger amount to help balance the 2012-13 budget.
Posted in
State Government
College Dems Warn Republicans of Budget Backlash
Republicans should beware of the backlash cuts to higher education could bring, members of the Texas College Democrats said at a press conference today.
Posted in
Demographics
Audio: Todd Staples at TribLive
At last Thursday’s TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers, what he thinks about the Senate’s two-thirds rule, his nascent campaign for lieutenant governor in 2014 and more.
