The changes to the budget proposal come after lawmakers and advocates protested the previous plan would hurt vulnerable Texans.
Donna Howard
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Michael Bloomberg promised to “help turn Texas blue.” Now some former employees and politicians are miffed that he’s fired his staff.
“Bloomberg was promising a long-term commitment to Texas regardless of who won the primary,” said one state representative. “It’s disappointing that with his defeat in the primary, the campaign has decided to reverse course.”
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas is trying to limit public money from going to abortion providers. Some fear other health services could get cut.
Starting in September, government agencies will no longer be able to provide anything of value to abortion providers or their affiliates. Opponents of the law fear it could mean the end of some public health and education programs across the state.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers look to the “cloud” for storing sensitive government data
In hopes of saving money on data storage, legislators are considering downsizing the state’s data centers and relying more on private tech companies.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power.
Posted inState Government
Texas House revises sexual harassment policy following reports of flaws
The revised Texas House sexual harassment policy includes language that strengthens protections against retaliation and provides specific steps to report inappropriate behavior. It comes about two weeks after The Texas Tribune detailed flaws in the former policy that often left victims to fend for themselves.
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: The state’s declining support for public education in Texas
Had the state kept its share of school funding constant for the past 10 years, voters might not be griping about rising property taxes. The state is spending more than it used to, but it’s spending less per student.
Posted inState Government
Livestream: Post-election TribCast
We’re livestreaming our live post-election TribCast recording in Austin.
Posted in
Economy
Video: A Conversation about the State Budget
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, Ross Ramsey talked about the state budget and spending with state Sens. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, and state Reps. John Otto, R-Dayton, and Donna Howard, D-Austin.
Posted in
Higher Education
Video: Is the Top 10 Percent Rule Working?
Full video of our 3/31 conversation about the Top 10 Percent Rule with Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, former UT-Austin President Larry Faulkner, and state Reps. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and John Zerwas, R-Richmond.
