Does tapping the Rainy Day Fund have 90 House votes to move on to the Senate — and how much will the process of getting there damage the even bigger task for lawmakers of setting the next biennium’s budget?
Rainy Day Fund
Posted in
State Government
3.2 Billion From Rainy Day
Texas House Appropriations committee approves use of 3.2 billion of rainy day fund for 2011 budget.
Posted in
State Government
Appropriations Votes to Spend $3.1 Billion From Rainy Day Fund
Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund.
Posted in
State Government
Lacking Governor’s OK, Pitts Adjourns Rainy Day Fund Hearing
House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, thought he had a deal with Gov. Rick Perry and his staff to tap the Rainy Day Fund to close the current biennium shortfall. But with no public support from the governor’s office, Pitts adjourned his hearing.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas Politics Recap: 3/7 to 3/11
No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We’ve made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome.
Posted in
Economy
Texas Tribune Weekly Rundown
The Texas Tribune’s rundown of capitol politics for the week of March 7-11, 2011.
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State Government
Lights Out for Seniors, Poor
State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, is concerned about budget cuts to a program that discounts utility bills for the elderly and those with low incomes.
Posted in
State Government
LiveBlog: Budget Writers Weigh Tapping Rainy Day Fund
We’re liveblogging the House Appropriations Committee hearing, where lawmakers are expected to consider whether to tap into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
Posted in
State Government
TribLive: Straus on the Rainy Day Fund
At today’s TribLive conversation, Speaker Joe Straus stopped short of supporting the tapping of the Rainy Day Fund to cover the current biennium’s $4.3 billion deficit, but he left the door open.
Posted in
Energy
When Is a Tax Not a Tax?
Many Texas lawmakers have forsworn taxes, but they also promised to educate kids, to build roads, to care for the needy and to do what government is expected to do. It’s the adult version of those mathematical story problems that made sixth grade so much fun.
