Talking — the bully pulpit, as Teddy Roosevelt called it — is one of the biggest powers available to a Texas governor. Greg Abbott is trying to trim the state budget with a speech.
budget
Posted in
Health care
At state agencies without a public crisis, workers fear they won’t see raises
Advocates for state employees hope that lawmakers approve substantial pay raises — including for state workers who don’t work at an agency that’s facing a high-profile crisis.
Posted in
Health care
Texas Gov. Abbott’s statewide hiring freeze comes with some exceptions
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday imposed an immediate hiring freeze on state agencies through the end of August. His office said Tuesday that the Department of Family and Protective Services is among those exempted from it.
Posted in
Politics
In State of State, Abbott imposes hiring freeze, declares 4 issues “emergencies”
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked lawmakers to immediately take on so-called “sanctuary cities,” the state’s broken child welfare system and a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Posted in
Politics
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pans Texas House budget proposal
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday panned the Texas House’s budget proposal, suggesting it is fiscally irresponsible because it exceeds Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s biennial revenue estimate.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas university leaders warn of dire consequences if Senate budget is implemented
In a day-long hearing, university presidents and chancellors said their schools might have to lay off faculty and cut classes if hundreds of millions of dollars worth of “special items” aren’t put back in the budget.
Posted in
Politics
Straus seeks to publish efficiency report that Patrick wanted scrapped
House Speaker Joe Straus has asked a state agency to release its ideas for improving government efficiency. The request came on the heels of news that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had directed the board to do the exact opposite.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: A Senate budget that takes more off the top than it first appears
The Texas Senate’s proposed budget, with one exception, is a carefully assembled conservative start to a 20-week legislative spending negotiation. But they finished off their work with a chainsaw.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas colleges fret about $1 billion in expected funding missing from budget plan
Schools say they rely heavily on “special item” appropriations for higher education. The Senate hasn’t appropriated any so far, but it could add them later.
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: Spinning numbers in Texas lawmakers’ proposed budgets
For lessons in how to speak positively about bad news — without telling lies — you might consider studying at the feet of the people who write the Texas budget.
