In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith asks state Rep. John Zerwas, the chief budget writer in the Texas House, whether we have enough money to fund today’s priorities and tomorrow’s — and which hard choices we have to make.
86th Legislative Session
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: The challenge of reining in property taxes at no cost to schools
A Texas Senate committee is moving rapidly to require voter approval for local property tax increases over 2.5 percent. But some want to see the Legislature’s school finance bill before they vote on property taxes.
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Graphics and data reporting
Texas’ savings account is poised to hit $15 billion. How much will lawmakers spend?
As lawmakers debate costly investments in property tax reduction and public schools, they’re eyeing the state savings account for a sizable withdrawal.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: A green appointee’s harsh introduction to Texas election politics
Between his office’s bungled efforts to find noncitizens among the state’s registered voters and Democrats pouncing on state actions they believe are targeted at Hispanics and other groups, Texas Secretary of State David Whitley’s confirmation is in peril.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Point of Order: Everybody hates property taxes
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks with state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Property Tax Committee, about off-the-charts appraisals and off-the-leash local officials — and whether his reform plan has the votes to pass.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Secretary of State David Whitley defends releasing flawed data about voter citizenship review
At his confirmation hearing, Whitley faced tough questioning from Democrats over his decision to erroneously question the citizenship status of tens of thousands of voters.
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Texas Legislature 2019
“This is very personal to us”: Santa Fe survivors are expecting results from the Texas Legislature
After last year’s massacre at Santa Fe High School, survivors told lawmakers the school safety measures they want to see enacted during this year’s legislative session. How many of them will become law?
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Texas Legislature 2019
Watch Texas Secretary of State David Whitley’s confirmation hearing
The secretary of state’s office has faced criticism for its handling of efforts to review the citizenship of 95,000 registered voters. Now, Secretary of State David Whitley — a Gov. Greg Abbott appointee — faces a confirmation hearing.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Needing Democratic support, Texas’ secretary of state faces a rocky path to confirmation
Republican David Whitley faces questions from Democrats about how he handled an attempt to review the citizenship of 95,000 registered Texas voters.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht calls for nonpartisan judicial elections, bail reform
In the wake of a midterm election that saw four major state appeals courts flip on partisan lines, Hecht called on lawmakers to consider changing Texas to a system of merit selection and retention elections.
