So what’s next for Ted Cruz after his splashy announcement Monday that he’s an official candidate for the White House in 2016? The answer is pretty straightforward: It’s now nose-to-the-grindstone time.
Drew Darby
Posted in
Economy
Video: The Battle over the Budget in the 84th Session
Here’s video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the budget debate. Panelists included state Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Kel Seliger and state Reps. Drew Darby and Donna Howard.
Posted in
Health care
The Evening Brief: Nov. 22, 2013
Your evening reading: Texas postpones closure of high-risk health insurance pool; SBOE blocks entry of Arizona-based charter school into state; railroad commissioner candidate rails against proposed textbook
Posted in
Demographics
The Brief: Nov. 21, 2013
Houston Mayor Annise Parker will move to extend health and life insurance benefits to same-sex legal spouses of city employees, despite a 2001 city charter amendment that was put to the voters specifically to prohibit the practice.
Posted in
Economy
Liveblog: Transportation at The Tribune Festival
We’re liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival’s Transportation track, which features panel discussions on planning, high-speed rail, road funding and rural transportation.
Posted in
Higher Education
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Darby and Duncan
At our Hot Seat conversation at Angelo State University, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session.
Posted in
Energy
With Little Help From Austin, Texas’ Solar Use Grows — Slowly
Renewable energy companies are looking to this big, sunny state as the next frontier for solar power. But solar is expensive, and once again the Legislature did not pass a statewide solar incentive. Some companies and communities are forging ahead nonetheless.
Posted in
Health care
Institutions for Disabled Unlikely to See Major Cuts
Advocates for shuttering Texas’ institutions for the disabled thought they had the numbers on their side: a budget crisis so severe that lawmakers would have to close some state-supported living centers. With less than a month left in the session, their hopes are largely dashed.
Posted in
Energy
Solar Backers Place Hopes in House Bill
Advocates of solar power made their case last night for passage of a bill that would add a dollar each month to residential electric bills to fund solar projects. Opponents worry about costs.
